South Africa: Mangaung communities outline expectations ahead of Presidential Imbizo Residents of Mangaung, Free State, are eagerly awaiting to hear more on the development plans government has for their area, as President Cyril Ramaphosa undertakes a Presidential Imbizo there today. President Ramaphosa is in Mangaung today to engage with communities on the District Development Model (DDM) and how this will be implemented to improve their quality of life. The visit to the province is the second post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) Presidential Imbizo, where engagement with citizens is themed on the Presidents SONA call to action -- Leave No One Behind. Shortly before the commencement of the Presidents visit, SAnews conducted a snap survey in the area to get the views of the locals about the much-anticipated Presidential Imbizo. Boitumelo Rampeti, a local resident in Mangaung, said she is keen to hear more about plans aimed at reducing unemployment. If given a chance, I would ask the President to give priority to young people with regard to job and business opportunities. There is high youth unemployment in this area. Rampeti believes if government prioritises youth for work opportunities, there will be less crime in the area. Most young people have resorted to substance abuse, which leads them to commit crime to sustain their criminal lifestyle, she said. Echoing the same sentiments, Chris Mabaleng said he would ask the President to consider young people when it comes to business opportunities, as this will reduce the high number of youth unemployment in the area. Young people are capable of doing anything if given a chance, Mabaleng said, adding that many unemployed young people have qualifications or tertiary education. Mother of two, Bridgett Kgetsi, appealed to the President to crack the whip on municipal officials to improve service delivery. Service delivery in this area is very poor. Our roads are in a bad state. In some instances, it takes days for garbage to be collected and in some instances, blocked sewage [is unattended for] days. An elderly Ntate Amos Moagi said he would ask the President to increase the older persons grant, as some of the elderly have a lot of responsibilities. We too have financial commitments, just like anybody else. Government must consider increasing our grants, he said. Turning the metro around Cabinet this week approved an intervention by the national executive in the governance of Mangaung Metro, in terms of Section 139(7) of the Constitution. Following failure by the Free State provincial executive to implement a financial recovery plan in the metro, the municipality has now been placed under national intervention. In a statement on Friday, The Presidency said this intervention is directed at helping the metro to improve its finances and deliver on its mandate, and to return to sound governance and a better life for residents, the business community and other stakeholders. The Presidential Imbizo will assist to highlight challenges and unblock any blockages to service delivery in line with the District Development Model (DDM). President Ramaphosa will interact with communities on their experience of daily life in the province, service delivery challenges and initiatives and solutions by communities to improve socio-economic conditions, the Presidency said. Putting the DDM to work Cabinet adopted the DDM in August 2019. It is a comprehensive planning model for cooperative governance, which seeks to be a new, integrated, district-based service delivery approach aimed at fast-tracking service delivery. It also seeks to ensure that municipalities are adequately supported and resourced to carry out their mandate. The model was approved by government structures, including Cabinet, to integrate service delivery in a more practical, achievable, implementable and measurable manner, and clearly aligned to the key priorities of the government. The model seeks to change the face of rural and urban landscapes by ensuring complementarity between urban and rural development, with a deliberate emphasis on local economic development. The model, which has helped the country to restart and rebuild the local municipal economy, is key to service delivery in the Free State. Todays imbizo is aimed at giving impetus to the Presidents stated commitment that no one will be left behind as government works with all sectors of society to move the country forward. Ahead of the imbizo, the President will visit the Vereeniging Interchange, following the extension of Vereeniging Ave and the construction of a bridge over the railway line. This infrastructure project was initiated for spatial integration and to alleviate traffic congestion. The President will proceed to the Motheo TVET Artisans College, which is one of the four public Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges in the Free State. It comprises six campuses, including a Centre for Entrepreneurship, Rapid Incubator and an artisan academy. The President will then engage communities at the Dr Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein. The visit to the Free State is the second Presidential Imbizo after President Ramaphosa visited Mahikeng, North West, in March. The President is accompanied on the visit by the Premier of Free State, Sisi Ntombela, a delegation of Ministers, members of the provincial executive council and the Mayor of Mangaung. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2022-04-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Across China: Residents share true stories of Xinjiang Xinhua) 10:43, April 09, 2022 URUMQI, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Residents from northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region shared stories from their lives and careers at an online press conference on Friday to refute a recent "public hearing" of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security concerning the so-called "forced labor act." "Respecting the will of workers has always been an important basis for formulating Xinjiang's employment policies, to ensure workers of all ethnic groups here can work and live freely," said Xu Guixiang, spokesperson for the regional government. Xu said the so-called "public hearing" gathered a group of so-called "witnesses" who know nothing about the real facts in Xinjiang. The "public hearing" fully demonstrates the hypocrisy and absurdity of the U.S. legal and judicial system. "The 'forced labor' accusation by the United States and the sanctions it imposed are extremely absurd. There is no so-called 'forced labor' at all," said Alida Tuerahmat, director of human resources at a garment manufacturing company in the Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture. "Our products are sold overseas, with 320 employees of Han, Uygur, Kazak, Hui and other ethnic groups," Alida Tuerahmat said. "Employees voluntarily sign labor contracts with the company, which fully protects their rights and interests." With the help of the government, many ethnic-minority workers in Xinjiang have found satisfactory jobs in other provinces and regions. Aynur Amir, from Xinjiang's Makit County, applied for a job at an electronics factory in the city of Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, in 2020. In just over a year, she grew from a beginner to a technical expert. "In the first year, I saved tens of thousands of yuan and bought a new electric bike for my parents and several sheep for my family," Aynur Amir said. "For a long time, governments at all levels in Xinjiang have attached great importance to the issue of employment," said Xu. "They have pursued a proactive employment policy and tried every means to create jobs. The fundamental purpose is to protect the employment rights of workers and enable people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang to live a better life." (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji) TAIPEI, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan's exports to the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong rose to 18.03 billion U.S. dollars in March, up 13.4 percent year on year, according to data released by the island's finance authority. The mainland and Hong Kong remained Taiwan's biggest export destinations, accounting for 41.4 percent of the island's total exports in March, and Taiwan's trade surplus to the mainland was 10.09 billion U.S. dollars in the month, the data showed. In the first quarter of this year, the island's trade surplus with the mainland and Hong Kong totaled 27.63 billion U.S. dollars. The island's finance authority said that the strong global chip demand and investment boom in the semiconductor industry would underpin Taiwan's exports in the future. There are no more visa appointments at the United States Embassy in Trinidad for 2022, so be WITH the countrys murder toll standing at 190 yesterday, evidence abounds that the crime profile has risen significantly over the last 12 months. At this time last year, that count was 119. We are once more in a zone in which the national social profile is coloured by fear and increasing despair. CONCORD, N.H. (AP) The medical technician who drew blood from New Hampshire Rep. Peter Schmidt after he broke his leg in February was registered with the state, thanks to a 2014 law enacted after a traveling medical technician infected dozens of people with hepatitis C. But by the time Schmidt was back on his feet, colleagues had hijacked his bill aimed at improving the registry. House lawmakers passed a bill last month eliminating the registration requirement altogether, and Schmidt is now urging senators to reject it. Please do not pass this, this is a terrible idea, Schmidt said. I think we need to continue to register these medical technicians, otherwise we are opening ourselves up to a potential repeat of the Exeter experience. New Hampshire created the Board of Registration for Medical Technicians in response to David Kwiatkowski, who is serving 39 years in prison for stealing painkillers and replacing them with saline-filled syringes tainted with his blood. At the time, officials hoped the board would become a model for other states, but that hasnt happened. And those who want to ditch it say it creates unnecessary bureaucracy at a time when health care facilities are struggling to hire workers. The actions of one bad actor, however heinous, are not reason to require thousands of technicians to register and pay fees, said Rep. Carol McGuire, R-Epsom, when the House passed the bill last month. But Linda Ficken, a Kansas woman who contracted hepatitis C from Kwiatkowski in 2011, said she believes any medical worker with access to drugs should be registered and should undergo frequent drug testing. Every time I go into the hospital, I cant help but wonder, is this a repeat? she said. Cured or not, the thoughts and anxiety are still there. Despite being fired numerous times over drug allegations, Kwiatkowski had worked in 18 hospitals in seven states before being hired in at Exeter Hospital in New Hampshire. After his arrest in 2012, 46 people in four states were diagnosed with the same strain of the hepatitis C virus he carries, including one who died in Kansas. The case highlighted the fact that medical technicians arent as closely regulated as nurses or doctors, whose misconduct and discipline are tracked via a nationwide database. While some states require certain technicians to be licensed, four of the states where he worked didnt license any of them at the time of his arrest, including New Hampshire. The registry New Hampshire eventually created applies to all health care workers who are not otherwise already licensed or registered and have access to both patients and drugs. Hospitals are required to report disciplinary actions to the board, which also investigates complaints and takes disciplinary action. The board has struggled to maintain a quorum, however, and hasnt met in more than a year, said Lindsey Courtney, director of the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification. Were greatly concerned the state is not meeting its obligation to protect the public, she said at a public hearing. Courtney, who isnt taking a position on eliminating the board, supported Schmidts original proposal to convert it to an advisory panel that would make recommendations to her office. There are currently 1,691 registered technicians, and although complaints are rare, the board has taken action in a handful of cases each year. Schmidt said his goal was to shift some of the administrative burden from the board to the larger agency. He hopes the Senate will either kill the amended bill or return to his original idea. While hospitals are on the front lines of preventing and responding to drug diversion, partnering with public health, licensing and law enforcement agencies is essential, said Dr. Matthew Crist, a medical officer with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He said the CDC isnt aware of outbreaks in recent years related to drug diversion and is cautiously optimistic given that health care facilities have improved security around controlled drugs, and many state licensing agencies have taken steps to improve communication across state lines. In the decade before Kwiatkowskis arrests, similar hepatitis C outbreaks had been traced to other hospital technicians in Texas, Colorado and Florida, and CDC officials said at the time that the Kwiatkowski case highlighted a problem that was a growing concern across the public health system. Even though other states didnt follow New Hampshires lead, the registry likely has deterred people like Kwiatkowski from coming to the state in the first place, said state Sen. Tom Sherman, D-Rye, who led the bipartisan effort to create the board. Sherman, a gastroenterologist who is running for governor, played a key role in discovering Kwiatkowskis misconduct when he and his colleagues noticed a cluster of hepatitis C cases among their patients and realized they all had been treated in Exeter Hospitals cardiac catherization lab. Hes now urging his fellow senators to consider the price of doing an experiment to see what happens if we get rid of the board. People died because of that outbreak, he said. This was a very carefully thought-out solution that has worked. To take it away now means we just dont learn from history. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Missile kills at least 52 at crowded Ukrainian train station KYIV, Ukraine (AP) A missile hit a train station in eastern Ukraine where thousands had gathered Friday, killing at least 52 and wounding dozens more in an attack on a crowd of mostly women and children trying to flee a new, looming Russian offensive, Ukrainian authorities said. The attack, denounced by some as yet another war crime in the 6-week-old conflict, came as workers unearthed bodies from a mass grave in Bucha, a town near Ukraine's capital where dozens of killings have been documented after a Russian pullout. Photos from the station in Kramatorsk showed the dead covered with tarps, and the remnants of a rocket with the words For the children painted on it in Russian. About 4,000 civilians had been in and around the station, heeding calls to leave before fighting intensifies in the Donbas region, the office of Ukraines prosecutor-general said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who says he expects a tough global response, and other leaders accused Russias military of deliberately attacking the station. Russia, in turn, blamed Ukraine, saying it doesn't use the kind of missile that hit the station a contention experts dismissed. Zelenskyy told Ukrainians in his nightly video address Friday that efforts would be taken to establish every minute of who did what, who gave what orders, where the missile came from, who transported it, who gave the command and how this strike was agreed to." Cheers for Jackson, who declares, 'We've made it, all of us' WASHINGTON (AP) Tearfully embracing a history-making moment, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson said Friday her confirmation as the first Black woman to the Supreme Court showed the progress of America, declaring, Weve made it all of us." Jackson delivered emotional remarks on the sunny White House South Lawn a day after the Senate approved her nomination, saying, it was a development the entire country could be proud of. We have come a long way toward perfecting our union," she said. "In my family, it took just one generation to go from segregation to the Supreme Court of the United States. President Joe Biden, who made his own history by nominating her, stood by her side for Friday's event, celebrating her confirmation as a moment of real change in American history. On Jackson's other side: Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black woman to attain her high office. Jackson will take the bench later this year, filling the seat of retiring Justice Stephen Breyer on a court that was made up entirely of white men for almost two centuries, that declared her race unworthy of citizenship and endorsed American segregation. Whitmer kidnap plot: 2 men acquitted, hung jury for 2 more GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) A jury acquitted two men of all charges in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer but couldnt reach verdicts against the two alleged leaders, a stunning defeat for the government after a weekslong trial that centered on a remarkable FBI sting operation just before the 2020 election. Whitmer did not immediately comment on Friday's outcome, though her chief of staff was critical, saying Americans are living through the normalization of political violence. The result was announced on the fifth day of deliberations, a few hours after the jury said it had been struggling to find unanimity on charges in the 10-count indictment. The judge told the panel to keep working, but jurors emerged again after lunch to say they still were deadlocked on some counts. Daniel Harris, 24, and Brandon Caserta, 33, were found not guilty of conspiracy. In addition, Harris was acquitted of charges related to explosives and a gun. The jury could not reach verdicts for Adam Fox, 38, and Barry Croft Jr., 46, which means the government can put them on trial again for two conspiracy charges. Croft also faces a separate explosives charge. They'll remain in custody. Trans kids fear Alabama laws targeting medicine, bathrooms MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) Ninth grader Harleigh Walker, 15, spends her time after school like many girls her age: doing homework, listening to Taylor Swift, collecting records and hanging out with friends. But this year, her spring break also included trying to persuade members of the state House and Senate to reject legislation banning gender-affirming medications for transgender kids like her under 19. She was unsuccessful. On Thursday, Alabama lawmakers passed the measure, and Gov. Kay Ivey signed it into law on Friday, meaning Harleigh's doctor would face prison time if she continued to prescribe her testosterone-blocking drugs. Honestly, Im a little scared now, Harleigh said Thursday after learning the bill had passed. "But were still going to fight, no matter what. She said she is holding out hope the bill will be blocked by a court. Will Smith gets 10-year Oscars ban over Chris Rock slap LOS ANGELES (AP) The motion picture academy on Friday banned Will Smith from attending the Oscars or any other academy event for 10 years following his slap of Chris Rock at the Academy Awards. The move comes after a meeting of the academy's Board of Governors to discuss a response to Smith's actions. The 94th Oscars were meant to be a celebration of the many individuals in our community who did incredible work this past year; however, those moments were overshadowed by the unacceptable and harmful behavior we saw Mr. Smith exhibit on stage, the academy said in a statement. I accept and respect the Academys decision, Smith said in response. He pre-emptively resigned from the academy last week during the run-up to the meeting, calling his actions "shocking, painful, and inexcusable. Smith will keep the Oscar he won after the slap, and he will remain eligible to be nominated for and to win more of them in the 10-year period, though he can't show up to accept them. CNN: Trump Jr. text shows ideas to overturn 2020 election WASHINGTON (AP) Donald Trump Jr. texted White House chief of staff Mark Meadows two days after the 2020 presidential election with strategies for overturning the result if Trump's father lost, CNN reported Friday. The text was sent two days before Joe Biden was declared the winner, according to CNN. It reportedly laid out strategies that then-President Donald Trump's team pursued in the following months as they disseminated misinformation about election fraud and pressured state and federal officials to assist in that effort. The cable news network reported that Trump Jr.'s text made specific reference to filing lawsuits and advocating recounts to prevent certain swing states from certifying their results. It also suggested that if those measures didn't work, lawmakers in Congress could dismiss the electoral results and vote to keep President Trump in office. Trump Jr.s lawyer Alan S. Futerfas, in a statement Friday to CNN, said: After the election, Don received numerous messages from supporters and others. Given the date, this message likely originated from someone else and was forwarded. CNN said the Trump Jr. text had been obtained by the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol. In the last week, the committee has interviewed former President Trumps daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner. Their virtual testimonies are the closest lawmakers have gotten to the former president. State Department: WH gift records for Trump, Pence missing WASHINGTON (AP) The State Department says it is unable to compile a complete and accurate accounting of gifts presented to former President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials by foreign governments during Trump's final year in office, citing missing data from the White House. In a report to be published in the Federal Register next week, the department says the Executive Office of the President did not submit information about gifts received by Trump and his family from foreign leaders in 2020. It also says the General Services Administration didnt submit information about gifts given to former Vice President Mike Pence and White House staffers that year. The State Department said it sought the missing information from National Archives and Records Administration and the General Services Administration, but was told that potentially relevant records are not available because of access restrictions related to retired records. The State Departments Office of Protocol reported the situation in footnotes to a partial list of gifts received by U.S. officials in 2020. The office publishes such lists annually in part to guard against potential conflicts of interest. A preview of the 2020 report was posted on the Federal Register website on Friday ahead of its formal publication on Monday. The report notes that the lack of gift information could be related to internal oversights as the protocol office neglected to submit the request for data to all reporting agencies prior to January 20, 2021, when the Trump administration ended and the Biden administration began. However, it also noted that there had been a lack of adequate recordkeeping pertaining to diplomatic gifts between Jan. 20, 2017, when Trump took office, and his departure from the White House four years later. Jackson's speech highlights US race struggles, progress In my family, it took just one generation to go from segregation to the Supreme Court of the United States. With those words, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson acknowledged both the struggles and progress of Black Americans in her lifetime. Her words, delivered from the South Lawn of the White House on Friday, one day after her historic Senate confirmation, were a tribute to generations of Black Americans who she said paved the way for her elevation to the nations highest court. I have now achieved something far beyond anything my grandparents could have possibly ever imagined, Jackson said, noting they had gained only grade school educations before starting their family and later sending their children to racially segregated schools. The path was cleared for me, so that I might rise to this occasion, she said. And in the poetic words of Dr. Maya Angelou, I do so now. EXPLAINER: BA.2 variant takes over. What's known about it? In the latest battle of the coronavirus mutants, an extra-contagious version of omicron has taken over the world. The coronavirus version known as BA.2 is now dominant in at least 68 countries, including the United States. The World Health Organization says it makes up about 94% of sequenced omicron cases submitted to an international coronavirus database in the most recent week. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it was responsible for 72% of new U.S. infections last week. Dr. Wesley Long, a pathologist at Houston Methodist in Texas, said hes seen BA.2 quickly become dominant in his medical system. At the end of last week, the variant was responsible for more than three-quarters of cases in Houston Methodist hospitals. Less than two weeks earlier, 1% to 3% of cases were caused by BA.2. Its not terribly surprising because it is more contagious than the original omicron, Long said. Live Updates | Scheffler fires 67, leads Masters by 5 AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) The Latest on the Masters (all times local): 7:30 p.m. Scottie Scheffler left a birdie putt short on the final hole Friday but still shot a 5-under 67 to take a five-shot lead into the weekend at the Masters. The world's No. 1 player bogeyed two of his first three holes but did little else wrong to finish 36 holes at 8-under 136. Charl Swartzel, Sungjae Im, Shane Lowry and Hideki Matsuyama were tied for second at 3 under. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. PHOENIX Advocates are pushing the Food and Drug Administration to allow gay and bisexual men to donate blood as the country continues to deal with one of the worst blood shortages to date. When Johnny Martin, a voting rights organizer with the Arizona Faith Network, was 17 and old enough to donate blood, he knew he was gay and thought he would never be able to donate blood because of his sexuality. Theres nothing about being a gay person or a gay man in particular that makes my blood any more dangerous or less desirable when it comes to somebody who many need it to save their life, said Martin, now 29. Obviously, we want to make sure that the blood donations are safe, but lets not throw any group or community under the bus. According to the Human Rights Campaign, gay and bisexual men have higher chances of contracting bloodborne diseases, and at the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, men who had sex with men were banned from the donor pool. The lifetime ban was changed in December 2015 to allow gay and bisexual men to donate if they had not had sex with other men for 12 months. In April 2020, that abstinence period was reduced to three months. U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Phoenix, is among those pushing the FDA to remove restrictions and prohibitions preventing gay and bisexual men from donating blood while supplies nationwide still are limited due to the effects of the pandemic. In a February letter to leaders at the FDA, the Department of Health and Human Services and the White House COVID-19 Response Team, Stanton urged them to allow all healthy Americans to donate blood by repealing the rule on gay and bisexual men. The reality is we need that blood to help save lives, and I know there are so many gay men that would love to help others by giving blood, so we dont want to engage in self-defeating public policy, Stanton told Cronkite News. The American Red Cross announced in January that the country was facing its worst national blood shortage in more than a decade, which led to doctors having to pick and choose who received transfusions. While some types of medical care can wait, others cant, Dr. Pampee Young, chief medical officer of the American Red Cross, said in a statement in January. Were doing everything we can to increase blood donations to ensure every patient can receive medical treatments without delay, but we cannot do it without more donors. We need the help of the American people. People eligible to donate answered the call to action. Courtney Slanaker, the executive director for the American Red Cross in southern Arizona, said the amount of blood in the national blood bank slowly is returning to normal. But she urged people to donate so that a drastic shortage doesnt happen again. At the height of the blood crisis, we were operating with a less-than-one-day supply of blood, Slanaker said. A good place for us is about a five-day supply of blood, and since the Red Cross supplies 40% of the nations blood supply, we have to collect on average about 13,000 to 13,500 units of blood daily to meet that. But blood banks are at the mercy of the FDA when it comes to donor eligibility rules. The Red Cross is working closely with the agency to find a pathway forward, Slanaker said, and its working with other blood centers Vitalant and OneBlood on an FDA-funded study to evaluate the individual risk factors of men who have sex with men when it comes to donating blood. Its really the first step in getting data to help the FDA really determine if the donor history questionnaire based on individual risk would be as effective right now, Slanaker said. If the studys scientific evidence supports the use of different eligibility questions, it could lead to a lot greater efforts around the (men who have sex with men) eligibility criteria. Casey Simon is the senior director of health care operations at the Southwest Center for HIV/Aids, an integrated medicine and wellness clinic with an emphasis on HIV treatment and prevention. He said at this point, the restrictions stem from fear and stigmas of the LGBTQ community. HIV has a little bit of a different path to being detectable in your blood, which we do recognize from a science standpoint since it can take up to three months for HIV to be detectable, he said, noting the stigma still is affecting scientific decisions and unnecessarily excluding potential donors. Simon and his husband have been married and in a monogamous relationship for a year and test regularly for HIV, but they still cant donate blood. We want to be treated the same way as any heterosexual couple, and we advocate for risk-based approach, he said. But regardless of our prevention status, knowing our status and our relationship type, were omitted from being able to help in the middle of the biggest blood shortage crisis in our lifetime. 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. Davis is a Democratic candidate for the Arizona House of Representatives in Legislative District 18: Our right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy. When our republic comes under attack by a faction seeking to curtail the right of citizens to vote and participate in government, it is paramount that we remove that faction from power through the ballot box. We are, once again, witnessing the rollback of voting access across the United States and right here in Arizona. The recent efforts to restrict or eliminate mail-in voting and to undermine the confidence in the outcome of our elections typify the current attacks on the democratic process. Widespread adoption of mail-in voting in the United States has its roots in the Civil War. In the 1864 election, 19 Union states passed laws to ensure soldiers far from home could participate in that pivotal election. Mail-in voting would continue to be used for soldiers throughout the 19th and 20th centuries and eventually many states expanded the option to the civilian population. In 1991, Arizona voters were allowed to request an absentee ballot for any reason. In 2007, lawmakers created the Permanent Early Voting List (PEVL) to allow citizens to vote by mail without requesting a mail-in ballot every year. Today, nearly three-quarters of Arizona voters cast their ballots by mail. Voting by mail is widely used by Republicans, Democrats and Independents. The latest attacks, including last years bill to eliminate the PEVL and the recent attempt by the Arizona Republican Party to have the Arizona Supreme Court rule early voting unconstitutional, are an affront to our rights as citizens in a democracy and contrary to the wishes of most Arizonans. A recent poll by OH Predictive Insights showed that Arizonans (74% overall) support mail-in voting. Additionally, support is very strong among voters aged 55 and older (84%), voters enthusiastic to vote in the upcoming election (81 percent) and voters who have lived in Arizona for more than five years (79%). I believe that the Arizona Legislature should adopt three key policies to strengthen voting rights and access to the ballot. First, the Legislature should reinstate the Permanent Early Voting List. Last year Gov. Doug Ducey signed SB 1485, which eliminated the Permanent aspect of the PEVL. I fully support the current initiative to restore the PEVL and expand voting accessibility for Arizonans. Second, the Arizona Legislature should pass a law to allow voters mail-in ballots to be counted so long as they are postmarked by Election Day and received within two weeks of Election Day. This would end the confusion surrounding when the last day to mail in a ballot is and allow voters all the time they need to deliberate their vote. Third, the Arizona Legislature should pass legislation to establish Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) and Same Day Voter Registration (SDVR). According to the US Census Bureau, nearly 1 in 4 Arizona citizens over the age of 18 are not registered to vote. With AVR, citizens are automatically registered to vote when they interact with a government agency like the Motor Vehicle Department. (Citizens can opt out of registration after the fact.) SDVR would allow voters to correct errors, such as updating an address or changing a name, or new citizens of Arizona to register to vote on or near Election Day. The narrative of our nation is one of democratic expansion. Through constitutional amendments and legislation, we expanded citizenship and voting rights to previously excluded groups, including Blacks, Native Americans and women. New technologies allowed for voting to be more easily counted and new policies, such as voting by mail, allowed easier access to the ballot. Im running for the Arizona House of Representatives in Legislative District 18 to fight for our fundamental and constitutional rights as citizens of both Arizona and the United States. We deserve a legislative majority that will work to expand democratic participation, not place hurdles in the path to progress. Nathan Davis is an educator, entrepreneur, and Democratic candidate for the Arizona House of Representatives in Legislative District 18. He lives in Tucson. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Once spring is sprung, we can look forward to consistency in the weather and therefore start planning on places to go, events and festivals to attend, correct? Of late, it seems winter just doesnt want to let go, but now its time to move forward and see what fun festivities are headed our way! While I was making a list of the various festivals and events, what stood out first and foremost were the music and art festivals. In Stillwater, you may attend both an art and music festival in the same day. The Stillwater Arts Festival is April 15-16 on Main Street, and I feel it is important to note, this particular festival is in its 43rd year! Thats always impressive. Once you take in all the wonderful art featured by close to 100 artists, head over to the City of Stillwater Community Center for the Stillwater Music Festival, also April 15 and 16. There will be two days of free music, but also food and, of course, fun! The popular Festival of the Arts is set for April 19-24 at Bicentennial Park in Oklahoma City. Famous for its International Food Row, if you have never been, this is an amazing event that is always a joy to attend. And dont forget the Norman Music Festival is April 28-29 on Main Street in Norman. It will feature over 100 bands, covering a wide range of music. The Downtown Edmond Arts Festival runs from April 29 to May 1, and The Trail of Tears Art Show wraps up on April 30 at the Cherokee Springs Plaza in Tahlequah. The Mural Fest 66 brings artists to Miami, a popular Route 66 stop to honor and admire the arts along the Mother Road. And if hitting the road or cruising is part of what you enjoy, then most certainly these events and festivals highlighting automobiles and motorcycles may peak your interest. How about Cruise in for Coffee April 16 in Midwest City, or Cruisn Oklahoma Hennessey Edition on April 24, where numerous activities there can keep you happily occupied. Cruisin the Chisholm Trail Car and Motorcycle Show will be taking place on Main Street in Duncan April 22 and 23. A distinctive kind of thrill can be found at three events, the first of which is the Apache Rattlesnake Festival, April 14-17 in Apache. From April 22-24 is the annual Waynoka Rattlesnake Hunt, which began in the 1940s, and at the Greer County Courthouse Square will be the Mangum Rattlesnake Derby. If adorable baby goats are more to your liking, the Un-Wine with Baby Goats event is April 30 in Drumright. Wine tastings, hors doeuvres and relaxing outside where baby goats will be running free will be on the agenda. But note that this event is for ages 21 and over. For pure beauty, you cannot go wrong with one of the largest spring bulb displays in the state at the annual event known as Tulsa Botanic Blooms. This culmination of color to me is both relaxing and breathtaking and, through April 17, can be enjoyed by all. The Azalea Festival in Muskogee runs through April 30. The skies over Enid certainly light up with incredible color during the Kites for Enid spring event, April 23 and 24. Now at most of the festivals and events mentioned here, you will be able to find some pretty tasty food. But if you are looking for a concentrated event where the main attraction is food, look no further than A Taste of Claremore April 23, where the citys favorite eateries are featured. At Enids Stride Bank Center is where you can find plenty of barbecue at the Red Dirt BBQ April 22 and 23. If you are a dine on all-you-can-eat kind of person, drive to Chandler April 29 for the Bell Cow Boil Crawfish Festival. Besides crawfish, you can partake of potatoes, corn, red beans and rice at this popular annual event. Dino Lalli is the co-host and one of the feature reporters for the weekly television travel show Discover Oklahoma. DAMASCUS, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Israel carried out missile strikes against Syrian military sites on Saturday, state news agency SANA reported. The missile strike was initiated from the airspace of Lebanon, targeting military sites in central Syria, SANA quoted a military source as saying. The Syrian air defenses intercepted most missiles, it said, adding the attack left damage only. It's the latest Israeli strike to hit Syrian sites in Syria. One thing Henry Louis Gates Jr. has learned in his years of fascination with genealogy: The differences that separate human beings are microscopically small. At the genome level, Gates said, all human beings are 99.99% the same. And there are demagogues that want to make us forget the fact that we are all created in the image of God. Gates was in Tulsa on Friday morning as the final speaker for Tulsa Town Halls 2021-22 season. He spoke to a full house in the Tulsa PACs Chapman Music Hall and took part in an informal question-and-answer session with students from Tulsa Community College prior to his lecture. Gates, a literary critic and professor at Harvard University, has written more than 20 books and earned 59 honorary degrees for his work in exploring and expounding upon the history and contributions of Black culture. However, he is perhaps best known as the host of Finding Your Roots, the popular PBS series in which he guides celebrities through the often densely packed branches of their family trees. Gates said his interest in his own family history began in 1960, at the funeral of his grandfather, a man so light-skinned that the children in the family secretly referred to him as Casper. After the funeral, Gates father took him and his brother to the top floor of their grandfathers house to show them a collection of old ledger books that Gates grandfather had used as scrapbooks. He started turning through the pages until he found what he was looking for, Gates said. He pointed to a clipping, then showed us a photograph of a woman. He said he wanted us to remember this person. She was Jane Gates, Gates great-grandmother. She was a midwife, and the headline for her obituary described her as estimable colored woman. The last thing I did before I went to bed that night, Gates recalled, was to get out the big red dictionary on my desk and look up the word estimable. When I saw what it meant (worthy of great respect), I thought maybe some day I could be estimable, too. Like many African Americans, Gates was galvanized by the story told in Alex Haleys book Roots and by the landmark TV mini-series adapted from it. It wasnt until 2000, when DNA testing had developed to the point where it could determine the various strands of a persons ancestry, that the idea for what would become Finding Your Roots was born. Originally, Gates focused on famous African Americans, such as astronaut Mae Jemison, composer Quincy Jones, actress Whoopi Goldberg and media mogul Oprah Winfrey. Why did I want Oprah (to be in the first series)? Gates asked of the Town Hall crowd. Simple I needed $6 million in order to do the series. Gates later expanded the scope of the program after receiving a letter from a woman of Russian and Jewish heritage, accusing him of racism because the show did not include people of other nationalities and cultures. Finding Your Roots is one of the highest-rated series on PBS, something that Gates attributes to the fact that the United States is, in the words of Martin Luther King Jr., a nation of exiles. Everyone here is from somewhere else, Gates said. And what truly makes America great is the fact that we welcome those people who are willing to risk everything to a find a home in this city on a hill, as Ronald Reagan called it. Gates believes that one of the most effective ways to heal up the divisions in our society is to use the history and science involved in genealogy. Students would be tasked with searching through databases of census records to create their own family trees, then follow that with DNA tests to reveal ones true ancestry. After all, Gates said, your favorite subject is always yourself. And when you open that vault of history and stories of your ancestors, you will discover information about who you are in ways you could never imagine before. Your genome is a walking family tree, he said. And being able to help let these stories live is why Im so honored to host Finding Your Roots. Featured video: Tulsa Race Massacre graves researchers need DNA, genealogies to tie burials to victims Staying in? We've got you covered Get the recommendations on what's streaming now, games you'll love, TV news and more with our weekly Home Entertainment newsletter! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) New York is set to rely on an influx of federal funds and higher-than-expected tax revenues to balance a $220 billion, one-year state budget, which went into law Saturday. The sale of to-go cocktails became legal once Gov. Kathy Hochul signed budget legislation Saturday. Disagreements over policy issues held up passage of the spending plan over a week past an April 1 deadline. The budget has often served over the decades as a vehicle for passing major policy legislation, and elected officials are using this year's to tackle issues expected to resonate with voters during an election year. The budget boosts pay for health care and home care workers, shaves 16 cents off the cost of a gallon of gas through December and helps New Yorkers with unpaid rent and utility bills. Some Democrats voted against parts of the spending plan, in part for cracking down on people with repeated low-level offenses. Those lawmakers also called for more spending on home care workers rather than spending an eventual $850 million supporting a new $1.4 billion stadium for the Buffalo Bills, which is owned by billionaires Terry and Kim Pegula. Here's a look at what's in the budget. TAX RELIEF Homeowners can expect tax relief: New York will spend $2.2 billion in one-time property tax rebates for low- and middle-income homeowners. That rebate would arrive this fall, when the Democratic governor is set to appear on the ballot. New York will also decrease tax rates for the middle class by $162 million by April 2023, instead of waiting until 2025 to fully phase in those long-planned tax cuts. BAIL, GUN CRIMES The budget follows through with Hochuls proposal to give judges more power to jail people who were repeatedly ticketed for minor theft or property damage offenses. Judges have to release people if the court determines the alleged theft is negligible and not in furtherance of other criminal activity. Criminal justice advocates say the new law will lead to more poor and minority New Yorkers being held behind bars while awaiting trial. New York has also added more firearm possession crimes to the list of offenses that could land people who cant afford bail behind bars. GAS TAX CUT New York will cut state gas taxes by 16 cents a gallon from June 1 until the end of the year in response to soaring gasoline prices, with the state asking counties to consider doing the same. TO-GO COCKTAILS Liquor and wine are now available for take-out and delivery for three years, as long as the purchase includes a substantial food item. That revives a practice instituted during the pandemic to help struggling restaurants. State regulators will decide whether French fries or other snacks will count as substantial items. MENTAL HEALTH Courts can now order people to undergo more assisted outpatient treatment if they are perceived to be a threat to themselves or others. It's an expansion of Kendras Law, which New York passed on a trial basis in 1999 when 32-year-old Kendra Webdale was pushed in front of a subway train by a man living with untreated schizophrenia. The law is set to expire June 30, but New York is extending that expiration to 2027. CASINOS, BUFFALO BILLS The state will start accepting bids for three new casinos this year, one year earlier than planned. A new casino will need two-thirds approval from a community board consisting of political appointees selected by the governor, mayor and state and local representatives. Hochul can also move forward with a deal to send $600 million in state funds for the Buffalo Bills new stadium. Erie County would pitch in another $250 billion. The state will provide over $250 million in capital and maintenance subsidies over three decades. Good government groups say there's a potential conflict of interest: Hochul's husband William works for Bills' concession vendor Delaware North. Hochul defended the deal as needed to ensure the Bills franchise doesn't leave New York, telling the news program Capital Tonight on Friday she has a very solid wall between her work and her husbands. HOUSING HELP The spending plan directs $250 million to help New Yorkers with unpaid utility bills and $925 million for landlords struggling with overdue rent amid the pandemic. The budget excludes some measures backed by legislative Democrats, including $250 million for a new statewide rental subsidy. CHILD CARE New York will spend about $1 billion over the next fiscal year to increase eligibility for child care subsidies to 300% of the federal poverty level. Thats $83,250 for a family of four. Hochul said the move will help expand access for more than half of New Yorks young people. The budget also increases reimbursement rates for certain child care providers. HEALTH WORKER PAY The state will spend $7.4 billion over several years to give a $3-per-hour raise to home care aides who bathe, feed and provide other non-medical services in clients homes. Thats lower than the 50% minimum wage raise sought by backers of the Fair Pay for Home Care Act. Aides generally are private employees, but the state Medicaid program funds about 90% of their services. The budget also includes $1.2 billion in bonuses for other health care workers, aimed at keeping people in the industry after a grueling two years. UNDOCUMENTED HEALTH The budget pares down a proposed $345 million for a state health coverage option for more than 150,000 low-income New Yorkers whose immigration status bars them from getting health insurance. Instead, New York will expand coverage for New Yorkers living in the state illegally who are age 65 or older. CLIMATE SPENDING Voters in November will decide whether to approve $4.2 billion in bonds to fund environmental and energy projects such as conservation, climate-change mitigation, zero-emission school busses and green buildings. The budget doesn't include Hochul's proposal to ban natural gas in new buildings, to the disappointment of climate activists. She said she hopes to keep trying to pass that change. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. After a painstaking five days of jury selection, the trial of the man accused of killing a Tulsa police officer is 39 panelists closer to the final round of voir dire the questioning of potential jurors but still a couple of court days away from having a jury seated. The French term pronounced voy-dyer in Oklahoma, District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler joked means to speak the truth, which is what District Judge Bill LaFortune and counsel attempted to guide 100 random Tulsa County residents to do, first through a 14-page questionnaire and then in four days of individual questioning focusing on their knowledge of the case, opinions of the defendants guilt or innocence, beliefs about the death penalty and ability to serve another three or four weeks. The week was a constant collision of the light-hearted and life-or-death that moved about as slowly as the courthouse elevators. Between chuckles about who would be grateful to have a break from their job or whose spouse would be happy to have them out of the house were reminders of what remains at stake and what has been taken. LaFortune made it a point to apologize to the potential jurors after they had likely witnessed him, his clerks and the attorneys chit-chatting or cutting up while they sat for hours filling out their surveys. He encouraged them to disregard the banter, a common stress reliever at the courthouse, and emphasized his and others understanding of the seriousness of the issue at hand. His life is on the line, LaFortune said, motioning to the defendant. David Ware, 34, was present every day in suit and tie, facing panels of people as attorneys asked them whether they could look at him and truthfully say that, in the case of his conviction, they could give meaningful consideration to all three sentencing options for first-degree murder: life with the possibility of parole, life without parole and death. Most said yes. Others, who said theyd only or never consider his execution, were excused. Ware is accused of shooting Tulsa Police Sgt. Craig Johnson and Officer Aurash Zarkeshan during an overnight traffic stop in east Tulsa in 2020, killing Johnson, 45, and critically wounding Zarkeshan. Zarkeshan, 26 at the time of the shooting, returned to work after several months of rehabilitation and is expected to testify during the trial. The incident was not the first time in recent history that Tulsa police have been shot in the line of duty, but it was the first line-of-duty death the department had experienced in 24 years. The jury pool drew in strangers that spanned cultural, occupational, gender and age divides, and about a quarter said they had never heard about the case. Some happened to be considerably connected to it; among those excused for cause was the father of a Tulsa Police Department crime scene detective who could be called as a witness in the case. Others had had brushes with the parties throughout their lives but never realized until someone brought it to their attention after the shootings. One man said his son identified Ware as his high school peer who had once annoyed the man by calling too late. Another recognized Zarkeshans father from the news as the man whose children attended a Persian cultural school with his children in their youth. And a business owner was reminded that Johnson was the then-corporal who briefly visited his office years ago to research the names of suspected copper thieves. At the time, Johnson was leading an initiative to combat copper wire theft from highway lights that left spans of traffic arteries in the dark. His efforts later led to the strengthening of the Oklahoma Scrap Metal Dealers Act, now named for him. Spectators who came and went from the courtroom throughout the week included law interns, other attorneys and a retiree-turned-novelist conducting research for a murder-mystery. All eyed Ware. The nerves he showed Monday seemed to melt with each of the questioning sessions. Swiping through scanned copies of the panelists survey responses on a tablet devoid of internet connection, he was attentive to the discussion and conferred quietly with his attorneys, Kevin Adams and Robert Gifford, if he had a question or suggestion about a potential juror. Ware has been segregated in the Tulsa County jail for the past two years, Gifford said, with minimal connection to the outside world. He chalked up his clients relatively amiable manner to his apparent enjoyment of the human interactions and conversations displayed before him. Once we have a jury seated and it starts, I think the gravity will hit him, Gifford said. Ware ate sparingly on candy Gifford brought him throughout the week first Hi-Chews, then Sour Patch Kids and Mike and Ikes. During recesses, he would either sit alone at his counsel table while bits of conversations whirled around him or be escorted by deputies to an undisclosed holding area. On one such trip, he turned his body away from deputies while waiting for an elevator, gazing out a sunny seventh-floor window. He is also expected to testify during the trial. Kunzweiler, who is trying the case with Assistant District Attorney Kevin Gray, said he thought the jury selection process had made good progress by the end of the week, considering the capital punishment aspect. Fifty-five first-round qualified jurors are sought to continue into the second round of voir dire, which will touch more on other general aspects of the case. Its been slow, but I get it; this is probably one of the more publicly profound cases in our community that weve had for a long time, Kunzweiler said. Were really grateful for the jurors who have been here. Theyve been very patient. About a dozen jurors from the first 100 brought in will undergo questioning throughout the day Monday, and a new pool of 50 jurors will be gathered to take the survey and launch into the same process. From the results of each, Kunzweiler said he hopes to have 55 with whom to begin the second round of questioning sometime Tuesday. The goal is to eventually have 12 jurors seated and three alternates. If I can get evidence on on Thursday, Im going to try, Kunzweiler said. If not, well be looking at evidence the following week. 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. Three men who were part of a group protesting the continued imprisonment of Leonard Peltier face federal felony assault charges stemming from an altercation that left a Tulsa police officer injured. A federal grand jury named Jacob Richard Nokusece Wind, Sandy Williams and Jason Robert Hopson in a one-count indictment charging them with assault resulting in serious bodily injury in Indian Country. The charge was filed under seal March 21 and made public Monday with the arrest of Williams, 41, of Seminole, according to Tulsa federal court records. The charge identified the three as American Indians, thus subject to federal prosecution under the U.S. Supreme Courts McGirt decision. The ruling meant state prosecutors no longer have criminal jurisdiction in much of eastern Oklahoma when cases involve a tribal member. Wind, 39, of Grove and Hopson, 36, no address available, have yet to make a court appearance, according to court records. Williams was released on an unsecured bond after he made an initial appearance in federal court Monday, records show. The indictment alleges the three men assaulted the Tulsa police officer Feb. 7, resulting in serious bodily injury to the officer. The arrests came as the three men and other activists protested outside the Page Belcher Federal Building at Fourth Street and Denver Avenue over the continued imprisonment of Peltier. The protest was part of nationwide demonstrations planned across the country aimed at urging President Joe Biden to grant Peltier clemency. Sometime during the demonstration a Tulsa police officer was injured after he requested protesters to move a car that was blocking Fourth Street, according to police. Police said the protesters wrongly claimed they did not have to follow the officers instructions, citing the U.S. Supreme Court McGirt ruling on tribal jurisdiction. They were incorrect in this assumption and were, in fact, violating city of Tulsa ordinances by parking illegally and interfering with the flow of traffic, police said. Police said the officer was surrounded by several protesters; the officer put his hand on a protester twice to create some distance between (himself) and the group, and a scuffle ensued. During the scuffle, the officer ended up on the ground, during which, police said he tore a knee ligament and its meniscus and fractured the top of his tibia. Police arrested Wind and Williams at the scene and said later that they were looking for a third suspect. The federal assault charge carries a statutory term upon conviction of up to 10 years in prison Meanwhile, within days of the incident, the Muscogee Nation announced it had charged Wind and Williams with felony assault and battery in a protected class (the police officer). The Muscogee Nation said Friday it will continue to prosecute the two men. Hopson has not been charged in tribal court, according to the Muscogee Nation Office of the Attorney General. The Muscogee (Creek) Nation has concurrent jurisdiction with our federal partners, according to a statement attributed to the nations Office of the Attorney General. As such, our Muscogee (Creek) Nation prosecutors will be moving forward with these cases and intend to prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. The next tribal court date for Wind and Williams, who are free on bond, is Aug. 24. Peltier, an Anishinaabe and Dakota man who was convicted by a federal jury in 1977 in the shooting deaths of two FBI agents on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, has been in federal prison since his conviction. Many people consider Peltier a political prisoner and say he was wrongfully convicted. Calls for Peltiers release or the overturning of his conviction have been heard from Peltiers first appeal in 1978 through President Barack Obamas denial of his clemency request in 2017, but those calls have increased in urgency since Peltier, now 77, tested positive for COVID-19 on Jan. 28. 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. OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals refused Thursday to overturn the convictions of a death row inmate found guilty of the machine-gun slayings of four people on Memorial Day 2005. In a unanimous decision, the five-judge court affirmed the first-degree murder convictions and sentences against Gilbert Ray Postelle, 25, who was found guilty by an Oklahoma County jury in the deaths of James Alderson, Terry Smith, James "Donnie" Swindle Jr. and Amy Wright on May 30, 2005. Postelle received two death sentences and two sentences of life in prison without parole. He was accused of plotting with his father, older brother and a family friend to kill the victims. Prosecutors believe that Swindle was responsible for a motorcycle accident that crippled Postelle's father, Earl Bradford Postelle, in February 2004. Prosecutors claim that the victims were herded out of a south Oklahoma City mobile home and that someone emptied a 30-shot magazine of an AK-47 assault rifle into them. Another six shots were fired into Swindle's head with a rifle. The victims' bodies were found outside the mobile home. In 2007, Earl Postelle was declared incompetent to stand trial because of brain injuries suffered in the motorcycle accident. His other son, David Postelle, was convicted of four counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Family friend Randall Wade Byus also was charged with murder, but those charges were dropped after he reached a plea agreement with prosecutors and testified against Gilbert Postelle. Postelle's attorney, Andrea Miller of the Oklahoma County Public Defender's Office, urged the court in October to give Postelle a new trial because of legal errors at his first trial and the fact that others prosecuted in the case were not sentenced to death. Miller also said Postelle has an IQ of 76 and suffers from neurological issues because he has used methamphetamine since he was 11. But in a 61-page decision written by Chief Judge Arlene Johnson of Oklahoma City, the court said any evidence in Postelle's favor was outweighed by evidence that supports his murder convictions and death sentences. "Having reviewed the record in this case, we find that Postelle's death sentences were not the result of trial error or improper evidence or witness testimony," the appellate court states in the ruling. "The jury's finding that Postelle created a great risk of death to more than one person and that the murders were especially heinous, atrocious or cruel were amply supported by the evidence." No execution date has been set for Postelle. SUBHEAD: An appeals court affirms his four murder convictions and two death sentences plus two life terms. Original Print Headline: Death row inmate's convictions upheld Oklahoma made national news this past week when lawmakers purposely passed an unconstitutional abortion ban bill that is considered among the strictest in the nation. Some are cheering the measure; others are horrified. No ones mind is being changed on this complicated and politically triggering issue. The problem is how the political majority is fighting this culture war by knowingly passing illegal legislation. Senate Bill 612 from Rep. Jim Roland, R-Roland, is meant to directly challenge the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that guaranteed women the right to an abortion. It will take time and money to defend the law, which those who are against abortion want but our state can hardly afford. It plays well during an election year but ignores other issues that would bring down the number of abortions, such as funding contraception-access programs and mandating health courses in school that would include evidence-based sex education. This particular anti-abortion measure is redundant. Oklahoma legislators a few years ago passed a law that would return the state to its pre-Roe v. Wade bans on abortion if the U.S. Supreme Court reverses that decision. With recent justice appointments to the high court, many observers believe that Roe v. Wade could be overturned or evolve, giving more power to states to restrict the procedure. A decision is pending in a case challenging a Mississippi law that would ban nearly all abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. During oral arguments in December, four of the courts conservative justices suggested that they were ready to overturn Roe v. Wade. Texas passed a more restrictive law that placed enforcement in civil court, where anyone could sue anyone who enabled an abortion. When the Supreme Court refused to order an injunction in that case, it gave further optimism to the anti-abortion movement. This session, Oklahoma lawmakers have entertained no fewer than half a dozen proposals, and one of them, SB 1503, is similar to the Texas law in that it would allow for third-party lawsuits and would ban abortion after six weeks. Thats before most women know theyre pregnant. The only exemption is a medical emergency. SB 1503, from Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, passed the Senate 33-11. Then the House Public Health Committee voted 7-1 on Wednesday to send the proposal to the House floor to be heard possibly next week. If passed, it would take effect immediately. Rolands bill, SB 612, was a holdover bill from last session. It would outlaw all abortions except to save the life of the woman, with penalties of up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine for anyone who provides an abortion. The House passed it last week 70-14, and it has been sent to Gov. Kevin Stitt. If approved, it will go into effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns. Neither measure contains an exemption for rape or incest. Its not surprising that the Legislature is pushing through these types of bills. Abortion has become a political litmus test, and many lawmakers were elected based on their anti-abortion positions. But intentionally passing unconstitutional legislation is no way to govern. Time would be better spent in solving the challenges that lead to abortion. 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. MERSING, Malaysia -- A French woman and British man who disappeared while diving off the coast of Malaysia were found safe on Saturday, drifting at sea two and a half days after they went missing, police said. Four people went missing on Wednesday at around noon on a training dive near Tokong Sanggol, a small island off the southeastern town of Mersing. The group's instructor, Kristine Grodem, 35, from Norway, was rescued on Thursday. Fishermen spotted Alexia Alexandra Molina, 18, from France, and Briton Adrian Peter Chesters, 46, at around 1 a.m. (1700 GMT on Friday) in waters off Pengerang, a considerable distance to the south of where they disappeared, Mersing district police chief Cyril Edward Nuing told reporters. Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) officers are seen at the search and rescue operation command centre of the missing divers at Mersing, Johor, Malaysia, April 9, 2022. Photo: Reuters "Both individuals ... are reported to be in stable condition," he said, adding that marine police had taken them to hospital. He declined to provide more details of the rescue. Rescuers were searching for Chesters' 14-year-old son, Dutch citizen Nathan Renze Chesters, Nuing said. Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) officers search for the missing divers during the search and rescue operation off the Mersing coast, Johor, Malaysia, April 8, 2022. Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency/Handout via Reuters Grodem told officials the group surfaced about an hour into their dive on Wednesday but could not find their boat. She was later separated from the others after being caught in strong currents. The boat operator who took them to the dive site was detained after testing positive for drugs, police said. Mersing district police chief Cyril Edward shows a picture of French woman Alexia Alexandra Molina, who was found safe after drifting at sea for two and a half days, during a press conference at Mersing, Johor, Malaysia, April 9, 2022. Photo: Reuters A delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, led by Deputy Minister Sergey Levin, has paid a working visit to the Vietnamese Embassy in Moscow, with an aim to boost bilateral agricultural trade. During their meeting hosted by Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi on Friday, the two sides discussed measures to beef up agricultural cooperation between the two countries, the Vietnam News Agency reported. They shared the same comment that the market opening for each others agricultural products, despite significant improvements, has yet to meet the two countries' need of market access, as well as their expectations and their businesses capabilities. By the end of 2021, Russia had allowed 50 Vietnamese enterprises to ship aquatic products to the Russian market, while 55 Russian enterprises have been entitled to export meat to Vietnam and 77 others can deliver aquatic items to the Southeast Asian country, said Ambassador Khoi. He emphasized that such developments have created a significant foundation for the two countries to continue consolidating and expanding cooperation in agricultural production and trade. Russias advantageous exports to Vietnam include wheat, corn, vegetable oil and fertilizers, while Vietnam is Russias leading supplier of coffee, aquatic products, cashew nut, pepper and tea, among others, Deputy Minister Levin said. Both countries have a lot of potential for strengthening bilateral agricultural trade in the coming time, said the Russian official. The two sides agreed that great efforts of agricultural cooperation between the two countries during 2021 had brought fruitful results in mutual trade. Last year saw Vietnams farm produce exports to Russia reached US$612.7 million, up 20 percent from 2020, while Russian exporters earned $523.1 million from agricultural items shipped to Vietnam, posting a year-on-year growth of 21 percent. Russia was Vietnams leading provider of pork in 2021, with a turnover of $137 million, accounting for 43 percent of Russias total pork export value. Fertilizers exported from Russia to Vietnam last year also surged by 162 percent from 2020 to reach $153.3 million. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Check out the news you should not miss today: Society -- Severe traffic jams broke out at Hanoi gateways on Friday night as thousands of people rushed to leave the capital city for their three-day holiday, marking the Hung Kings Commemoration Day. -- Huong Tran Kieu Dung, vice chairman of real estate developer FLC, and Nguyen Quynh Anh, CEO of BOS Securities Company, were arrested on Friday for allegedly being accomplices of Trinh Van Quyet, former chairman of the group, in manipulating the stock market. -- Thirteen people aged 16 to 23 have been sentenced up to 10 years in prison for stealing 18 motorbikes and other assets belonging to many passersby in Ho Chi Minh City. -- A man from south-central Binh Thuan Province has been arrested on Monday for raping a 14-year-old girl. Lifestyle -- Tens of thousands of people flocked to the first-ever pedestrian street in northern Nghe An Province on Friday to relax, go shopping, and enjoy cultural events. -- Thousands of people visited Cua Lo Town, located in north-central Nghe An Province, on Friday night to enjoy 15-minute firework shows as part of the opening ceremony for the Cua Lo Tourism Festival 2022. -- Ho Chi Minh Citys Hung Kings Festival 2022 kicked off at the Hung Kings Memorial Site in the National Historical and Cultural Park in Thu Duc City on Friday night. The event will last until April 11. -- The Quilling Card Company in Ho Chi Minh City, which specializes in quilling greeting cards, has been awarded a Guinness World Record for creating the world's largest quilling painting. Education -- Deputy chairman of the Peoples Committee of Hanoi Chu Xuan Dung signed on Friday afternoon an official decision to allow kindergarten students in all of the capitals 30 districts and towns to resume direct class attendance from April 13. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Authorities in Binh Duong Province affirmed on Friday that an electric leakage from a public lighting system was the cause of two mens deaths in the southern Vietnamese province early this week. The two victims were Son Phen, a 54-year-old bricklayer from the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu, and Trinh Thanh Luong, a 49-year-old resident of Thu Dau Mot City in Binh Duong. Phen suddenly fell to the ground and was knocked unconscious while he was cleaning a concrete mixer following a heavy rain at the construction site of Luongs new house project on Monday evening. Luong immediately rushed to turn off the houses circuit breaker and check Phens situation, but also collapsed and got unconscious. The two men were later declared dead. An electrical technician examines power and communication cables near a street light after an electrocution incident killed two men in Thu Dau Mot City, Binh Duong Province, Vietnam, April 4, 2022. Photo: Thu Dau Mot Power Corporation A unit of the Thu Dau Mot Power Corporation dispatched some technicians to the scene at 6:26 pm on that day. They found that a piece of a wire behind the galvanometer of the public lighting system was peeled off. This wire touched the iron pole of a street light, transmitting an electric current to nearby communication cables that were broken and dangling above the ground. As a result, when the victims worked nearby after the rain and touched the communication cables, they were electrocuted. The part of the public lighting wire that was peeled off and leaked an electric current through the telecommunications cable system, causing the deaths of two men in Thu Dau Mot City, Binh Duong Province, Vietnam, April 4, 2022. Photo: Thu Dau Mot Power Corporation The Thu Dau Mot Power Corporation then suggested the Urban Management Bureau of Thu Dau Mot City, which manages the citys public lighting system, handle the peeled-off lighting wire, remove communication cables no longer in use, and review both systems. A representative of the Peoples Committee of Thu Dau Mot City said on Friday evening that it had yet to receive any report on the case from the citys Urban Management Bureau. The citys police are further investigating the case. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Ally Masoud speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, April 7, 2022. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua) DAR ES SALAAM, April 9 (Xinhua) -- On the afternoon of April 2, 2022, Tanzanians were treated to good news that sounded like music in their ears -- it was the day that their fellow citizen, 49-year-old cartoonist, radio producer and radio presenter unveiled his locally made electric car in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam. It was the day that Ally Masoud, commonly known as Masoud Kipanya, realized his dream that spanned almost a decade. "The future is electric," Masoud, a father of eight children, told Xinhua at the beginning of a recent interview in which he explained his new invention. "I have been receiving a lot of phone calls from people since I unveiled my electric car, thanking me for showing how the impossible can be possible," said Masoud wearing a broad smile. "From 2013 all around I have been thinking about why other people make all these cars, ships, boats, nice things in the world. How come we Africans do not produce the way other races are producing? We are more of consumers, we only take, and we only receive. We drive cars but they are made by other people," he said. He said his journey to making the electric car began when he started thinking about those questions and he first designed a small truck which he resolved to make. "So from 2013 I kept on changing and improving and fine-tuning the idea," said Masoud. In 2017, he started to look for a place where he could build or hire for his project until in 2019 when the Dar es Salaam regional manager for Small Industries Development Organization, a state-run organization offered him a place at Vingunguti. "In February 2020 when I was about to start my project, COVID-19 came in. So I had to postpone the commencement of the project. By July 18, 2020 I started the project that took us 21 months to complete," said the soft-spoken Masoud. He said an important component for making an electric vehicle apart from the body of the car is the engine. Since Tanzania does not have this technology for making the engine, Masoud's company called Kaypee Motors bought it from outside the country for reasonable prices. The chassis and body were procured locally. "It took us almost two years to make the prototype because a prototype is the first thing of the project...When you have something on paper it is quite different from making it real," he said. He said Kaypee Motors has been receiving some orders from people, adding that his company is trying to solicit funds for machines to enable it to go for mass production. "We are planning to buy machines for mass production from India or China. And once we are ready we are planning to release about 100 cars per month," he said. He said his company is getting full support from the government through the Tanzania Investment Center and the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology. Masoud believes that the future is electric. He said when one looks at developed countries, they are in the process of phasing out all fossil fuels cars by 2030 and 2035. "So we have to join the race. We need to have champions in this endeavor, we need to have pioneers in doing it," he said, Asked how he juggles his time from drawing cartoons, radio presenting, and now making an electric vehicle, Masoud said he goes for his first job as a radio presenter from 6 a.m. up to 9 a.m. and then he goes for his second job which is cartoon drawing and this takes time to think about the idea that takes one to two hours depending on the complexity of the drawing. "And the third job is the car. It is possible. You can do six jobs a day," he said. Residents view Ally Masoud's locally made electric car during an unveiling ceremony in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, April 2, 2022. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua) A Malaysian visitor has posted a public apology after sharing a photo of her wearing the Vietnamese ao dai without trousers during a boat ride in Hoi An Ancient Town, a famous destination in central Quang Nam Province, earlier this week. The tourist, who is a popular model and influencer, apologized in Vietnamese, English, and Chinese on her Facebook page on Wednesday. There was a posting of mine that truly upset the people, and I deeply and sincerely apologize for my actions/content and the disrespect to the traditional culture of Vietnam, she wrote after taking down the photo. In the photo that she posted earlier this week, the Malaysian visitor was donning a Vietnamese ao dai without pants while riding a boat along the Hoai River in Hoi An Ancient Town. The woman also made a sensual pose while holding a candle-lit lantern, exposing her undergarment. The 'ao dai' is a Vietnamese traditional outfit, worn by both sexes but now most commonly put on by women. In its current form, it is a tight-fitting, double-flapped silk tunic worn over trousers. The photo received hundreds of thousands of comments, most of which were criticizing and demanding that she remove the photo and apologize. In 2019, a young Vietnamese woman received a lot of backlash after appearing in a short video in which she was posing without a shirt and her jeans unbuttoned on top of a building overlooking Hoi An Ancient Town. She then had to delete the video and extended an apology for her action. Located in Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province, Hoi An Ancient Town is a well-preserved example of a small-scale trading port active between the 16th and 19th centuries. The 30-hectare town, with a buffer zone of 280 hectares, was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Severe traffic jams broke out at Hanoi gateways on Friday night as thousands of people rushed to leave the capital city for their three-day national holiday. Public workers in Vietnam are enjoying three days off from Saturday to Monday to celebrate the Hung Kings Commemoration Day, which falls on April 10 this year. The waves of holidaymakers and domestic migrant workers leaving for their hometowns started crowding the city gateways at 5:00 pm on Friday after finishing their last working day. The darker it got, the worse traffic congestion was. Vehicles crowd Ring Road 3 in the direction to the outskirts of Hanoi at 5:00 pm on April 8, 2022. Photo: Ha Quan / Tuoi Tre It normally took me 30 minutes to reach the expressway, but it almost doubles today, said Lai Van Thang, a 25-year-old migrant worker from northern Bac Giang Province. The seemingly-endless lines of vehicles remained moving at a snails pace by 7:00 pm on the day. My Dinh and Giap Bat Bus Stations were in the same situation. Their management boards estimated that about 6,000 passengers departed from the stations on the holiday. Passengers are pictured at Giap Bat Bus Station in Hanoi, April 8, 2022. Photo: Ha Quan / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The government of Belarus will settle its obligations before the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) in Belarusian rubles, the press service for the Belarusian Council of Ministers said. "Belarus will fulfill its obligations to repay the principal debt and interest on foreign government loans from the IBRD [World Bank], EBRD, and NIB in Belarusian rubles at the Belarusian ruble's official exchange rate to the corresponding foreign currency on the date of payment," the press service said, citing a joint resolution of the government and the National Bank. "This is a necessary measure, given that Belarus is limited in its settlements with Western creditors in U.S. dollars and euros owing to the imposed sanctions, as well as because of similar actions taken by the above organizations to stop settlements of the obligations," according to the press service. More than 45,000 Ukrainians were illegally deported to Russia and Belarus from the temporarily occupied territories, coordinator of humanitarian corridors from the President's Office Tetiana Lomakina said at a briefing at the Ukraine media center. According to her, Ukrainians are forcibly taken away from Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Kherson regions. Also, the facts of abduction were recorded during the occupation of some settlements in Kyiv and Chernihiv regions. According to the President's Office, the occupants detain people while receiving humanitarian aid, or when they are trying to evacuate. It is also known about the abduction of Ukrainians directly from shelters, in particular, in Mariupol. First, people are deported to the occupied territories of Donetsk region, where they are placed in filtration camps, and then transported to the Russian Federation and Belarus. By Keri Kelly I was a full vacation virgin. Wait a second. Were not leaving a day early? I asked my fiance during our honeymoon as I dug my feet nervously into the sand. Why would we leave early? he asked, reaching for my hand. So, let me get this straight. Were staying until checkout. Like the originally scheduled checkout? Thats usually what people do when theyre on vacation. Not my people. Three days into seeing the footprint on Plymouth Rock during our familys 1983 summer vacation, my father announced, So, what do you say we go home tomorrow? By Day Five of our familys 1988 Disney trip, my father wasnt humming. Its a Small World. He was desperately singing The Beach Boys tune Sloop John B. On Day Seven of our two-week annual trip to the Jersey Shore in 1994, my father laid out detailed plans to depart three days early. At 25 years old, I had never stayed the entire length of a planned vacation. Id learned to cope with Premature Evacuation Vacation Syndrome by never emptying my suitcase under any circumstances, being ready to check out at a moments notice, and purchasing souvenirs on the first day. Vacation schedules were about as reliable as hands-free soap dispensers. Over the years, my fathers premature departures got progressively worse. Day trips turned into hour-long stays, visits for lunch were brunches, and once, at my daughters birthday party, my dad bailed on the festivities before my youngest even blew out her candles. So, your mother and I are going to head home tonight instead of Sunday, my father said over dinner with my kids on the Thursday night of a weeks stay. But, Pop-Pop, you always leave, my oldest daughter pleaded. My dad shifted in his seat. Well, its been fun. Well see you later. He stood up and dropped money on the table before bailing. My girls looked pleadingly at their grandmother. He loves you both so much, my mother said before kissing the girls goodbye. Later that night, after I put the kids to bed, I called my dad. Did you mow the lawn I sure did. It was almost a foot tall, he said. And the leaving early? Its Vietnam, right? My dad, a drafted GI, was scheduled to leave the Vietnam War on Dec. 24, 1967, but he was called to depart a day earlier than expected. On Dec. 23, 1967, the tank my father drove exploded. If my dad had stayed a day later, he wouldve been killed. Im sorry, he simply said. I love you, Dad, I replied. I love you too, Boo. Keri Kelly Keri Kelly is the creator and founder of R U Joking, an award-winning author and comedy writer, and mom. When shes not creating, Keri can be found surfing small Jersey Shore waves with her family and fist-pumping. Learn more and say hello at www.kerikelly.com. Uwandu Michael is now staying in Boulogne (Aaron Chown/PA) (PA Wire) A black refugee from Ukraine hoping to join family in the UK has said nobody is talking to us after he and other people of colour were split up from a group of Ukrainians in France. Uwandu Michael, originally from Nigeria, said he was really shocked when he realised he had been sent to a hotel around 70 miles away from other Ukrainian refugees when they were bussed out of Calais this week. The 37-year-old, who moved to Ukraine in 2009 and secured permanent residency eight years ago, said he was granted Ukrainian citizenship in late February but had to flee before he could collect his passport. As he attempted to travel across the border into Poland, he became separated from his Ukrainian ex-partner and nine-year-old daughter and has not been able to contact them since. Hoping to join his sister and cousin in London, he made his way alone to Calais, where he was helped to apply online for a visa by a charity. The majority of Ukrainians who had gathered at the port town were taken to hotels near Lille on Wednesday, close to where a pop-up visa centre is being set up, or nearer to existing centres in Paris or Brussels. But Uwandu Michael and around five other people of colour with UK relatives were taken to a hotel on a remote industrial estate near Boulogne-sur-Mer. We are alone - nobody is talking to us Uwandu Michael, a refugee from Ukraine They say they have been given no information about why they were separated and are unclear which authorities put them into the mini van. They have received no update about their visa applications or had any help from officials since they arrived. The 37-year-old told the PA news agency he feels tired of life, traumatised, and confused. He suspects they may have been treated differently because of the colour of their skin, adding: We are alone nobody is talking to us. He said: Its like all the stress, everything is beginning again to multiply. I think we dont have anybody to speak to, except you We cannot continue to be living in this kind of tense condition, coupled with what weve seen in Ukraine. Story continues Uwandu Michael said he is desperate to reach the people who love him so they can heal my wounds, and urged the UK Government to speed up the visa process. He said: I just want them to help us, because our situation here, we lost a lot of things and putting me here is actually making me go crazy. He also described experiencing discrimination when trying to get a train from Lviv, with Ukrainian women and children given priority over people of colour, including his daughter who is mixed race. He said he believes he was able to get to Poland because a journalist tipped him off that a train was leaving on another platform that most people were not aware of. Another refugee, Kevin, originally from Kenya, was three months away from completing his computer science university course in western Ukraine, where he had a temporary residence permit, when the country was invaded. He wants to continue his studies in England and join his uncle in Northampton. He believes the group were separated from the other refugees because they are not Ukrainian, which has left him feeling awful, neglected, angry. He said: Its pretty awful, it makes us feel like were left out. But all were doing is just escaping the war and hoping for the best for ourselves. Refugee Kevin is currently staying in Boulogne after fleeing Ukraine (Aaron Chown/PA) (PA Wire) Clare Moseley, founder of Care4Calais, said the charity had initially understood that people living in Ukraine who were not Ukrainian nationals would be eligible under the current scheme if they had loved ones in the UK. Home Office guidance says applicants must be joining UK-based family members, be Ukrainian or have an immediate relative who is a Ukrainian national who is applying to the scheme, and have been residing in the country on or immediately before January 1 2022. Her biggest fear now is what will happen to people who for one reason or another are at the edges of the scheme, who dont quite qualify who do have family in the UK. Ms Moseley said the group near Boulogne-sur-Mer are very scared due to the lack of certainty. They speak English and several are students who would like to continue learning in England, but have been repeatedly asked to apply for asylum in France. She said: If theyve got close family relations in the UK who are willing to support them, then it doesnt make any sense for them to live in France where they dont know anyone. Asked if she believed racism may have played a part in the decision to move them to a separate location, she said: Its a very big coincidence that the nationality of these people is basically Kenyan, Nigerian and Yemeni. And it seems extremely coincidental that all the people that have been taken elsewhere are these nationalities. Details of a separate visa route, allowing UK individuals and companies to sponsor people from Ukraine to come to the country, and who will be eligible, are due to be set out next week. A Government spokesman said: We are standing shoulder to shoulder with Ukrainians which is why weve made it easier for those with Ukrainian passports to come here. This is alongside changes to visas to ensure Ukrainians in the UK can stay here. We have expanded our Visa Application Capacity to 13,000 a week, deployed additional staff across the EU, with a 24/7 helpline in place to ensure those who need appointments can get them to come here. This allows us to balance security risks while welcoming those in need. Home Office minister Baroness Williams of Trafford told peers 1,305 visas for Ukrainian refugees had been issued as of Thursday morning, adding: Those figures are going up rapidly and that is a good thing. A strike blamed by Ukraine on Russia against a railway station in the east of the country that left at least 50 people dead can be classified as a crime against humanity, France said on Friday. "They hit a station where there are refugees, civilians and so this can be seen as a crime against humanity," Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told France 5 television on Friday, calling for experts to head to the scene in Kramatorsk to gather evidence so the perpetrators can be held to account. At least 52 people were killed, including five children, and hundreds more injured in a rocket attack on a train station in the eastern Ukrainian city that is being used for civilian evacuations, according to Donetsk region governor Pavlo Kyrylenko. "These crimes cannot remain unpunished. Experts must go there quickly and document urgently to provide proof of crimes against humanity," Le Drian continued. 'Abominable' He said such crimes against humanity "of course" needed to be handled by the Hague-based International Criminal Court (ICC). World leaders condemned the attack with US President Joe Biden accusing Russia of being behind an "horrific atrocity" while British Prime Minister Boris Johnson described it as "unconscionable". President Emmanuel Macron on Friday denounced the attack as "abominable" and reiterated that France would "support the investigations so that justice is done." "Ukrainian civilians fleeing to escape the worst. Their weapons? Prams, toy dolls, baggage. This morning at the station in Kramatorsk, families who were leaving experienced horror. Deaths by the dozens, hundreds injured. Abominable," Macron said in a tweet. Evil with no limits Le Drian denounced the "total cynicism" of Russia in the conflict, warning that the "war will last so long as the objectives set out by President (Vladimir) Putin are not reached". Story continues He said Putin's immediate aim was to mark the 9 May victory day in World War II "with some trophies" and was clearly targeting taking the entire Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described Russia as an "evil with no limits" after the attack and calls for a "firm global response". Russia's defence ministry said suggestions it had carried out the attack were "absolutely untrue". Instead, Russia's defence ministry has accused Kyiv of carrying out the attack, saying it wanted to use fleeing residents "as a 'human shield' to defend the positions of Ukraine's Armed Forces". Descend into decay The bombing came as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell were in Kyiv to show solidarity with Ukraine. The pair met President Zelensky after visiting a mass grave in Bucha, a town north of the capital where Russian forces are accused by Ukraine's allies of carrying out atrocities against civilians. Von der Leyen warned Russia would descend into "economic, financial and technological decay, while Ukraine is marching towards a European future". On Thursday, the EU approved an embargo on Russian coal and the closure of its ports to Russian vessels as part of a "very substantial" new round of sanctions that also includes an export ban and new measures against Russian banks. In addition, it backed a proposal to boost its funding of arms supplies to Ukraine by 500 million ($544 million), taking it to a total of 1.5 billion. So far, the bloc has frozen 30 billion in assets from blacklisted Russian and Belarusian individuals and companies under sanctions, it said Friday. Borrell told journalists the EU would supply 7.5 million to train Ukrainian prosecutors to investigate war crimes, which Russia is accused of committing in the country. (with wires) NAIROBI, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Nine pastoralists were killed and several others injured during an attack by cattle rustlers in the northern Kenyan county of Isiolo, local police confirmed on Saturday. According to police and eyewitness accounts, the bandits killed the herders during mid-day on Friday, and later drove a large herd of cattle even as an elite security unit intensified crackdown on the criminals. The attack came in the wake of a pledge by Fred Matiangi, Kenya's Internal Security Minister that patrols would be intensified in the volatile northern Kenyan counties that have been experiencing resource-based conflicts, banditry and terrorist attacks. Matiangi said at a briefing with lawmakers that the government will invest in roads, water pans, education and health to open up the northern frontier districts and boost the resilience of local herders and subsistence farmers. Tennis star Boris Becker could be jailed for transferring hundreds of thousands of pounds from his business account after his bankruptcy. The three-time Wimbledon champion, 54, told a jury his 50 million US dollar (about 38 million) career earnings were swallowed up by an expensive divorce from his first wife Barbara Becker, child maintenance payments, and expensive lifestyle commitments. Former world number one Becker said he was shocked and embarrassed when he was declared bankrupt on June 21 2017 over an unpaid loan of more than 3 million on his estate in Mallorca. The German, who has lived in the UK since 2012, said he had co-operated with trustees tasked with securing his assets, even offering up his wedding ring, and relied on the advisers who managed his life. But the six-time Grand Slam champion, who was supported in court by his partner Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro and eldest son Noah, was found guilty of four charges under the Insolvency Act by a jury at Southwark Crown Court on Friday. Boris Becker made a vast amount of money during his playing career but later declared bankruptcy (James Manning/PA) The charges include removing property, two counts of failing to disclose estate, and concealing debt. Judge Deborah Taylor released Becker on conditional bail ahead of sentencing on April 29, when he could face a jail sentence carrying a maximum term of seven years for each count. The court was told the BBC commentator received 1.13 million euro (about 950,000) from the sale of a Mercedes car dealership he owned in Germany, which was paid into a business account used as his piggy bank for personal expenses. He was found guilty of transferring hundreds of thousands of pounds to other accounts, including those of his ex-wife Barbara and estranged wife Sharlely Lilly Becker, the mother of his fourth child. Becker also spent 48,000 euro (around 40,000) on an ankle operation at a private clinic, paid 12,500 euro (more than 10,000) to a private jet company, and splashed out 6,000 euro (around 5,000) at a luxury golf resort in China. Story continues He was also convicted of failing to declare a property in Germany, and hiding an 825,000 euro (almost 700,000) bank loan and shares in a tech firm. He was acquitted of a further 20 charges, including nine counts of failing to hand over trophies and medals from his tennis career. He told jurors he did not know the whereabouts of the memorabilia, including two of his three Wimbledon mens singles trophies, including the 1985 title that catapulted him to stardom aged 17. Becker in action against Patrick Rafter during the 1999 Wimbledon tennis Championships. Rafter defeated Becker 6-3 6-2 6-3 (PA) The other prizes were his 1992 Olympic gold medal, Australian Open trophies from 1991 and 1996, the Presidents Cup from 1985 and 1989, his 1989 Davis Cup trophy and a Davis Cup gold coin which he won in 1988. Becker was cleared of failing to declare a second German property, as well as his interest in the 2.5 million Chelsea flat occupied by his daughter Anna Ermakova, who was conceived during Beckers infamous encounter with waitress Angela Ermakova at London restaurant Nobu in 1999. Giving evidence, Becker said he earned a vast amount during his career, paying cash for a family home in Munich, a property in Miami, Florida, and the estate in Mallorca, which was worth about 50 million euro at the height of the property market. But Becker, who went on to coach current world number one tennis player Novak Djokovic, work as a commentator and act as a brand ambassador for firms including Puma, said his income reduced dramatically following his retirement in 1999. He said he was involved in an expensive divorce from Barbara Becker in 2001 which involved high maintenance payments to their two sons, and had to support Ms Ermakova and her mother in a deal which included the Chelsea flat. Becker, who was resident in Monte Carlo and Switzerland before moving to the UK, said he had expensive lifestyle commitments, including his 22,000-a-month rented house in Wimbledon, south-west London. Becker could be jailed when he appears for sentencing (PA) He also owed the Swiss authorities five million francs (about 4 million) and separately just under one million euro (more than 800,000) in liabilities over a conviction for tax evasion and attempted tax evasion in Germany in 2002. The court heard Beckers bankruptcy resulted from a 4.6 million euro (about 3.85 million) loan from private bank Arbuthnot Latham in 2013, and 1.2 million, with a 25% interest rate, borrowed from British businessman John Caudwell, who founded Phones 4u, the following year. He said bad publicity had damaged brand Becker, meaning he struggled to make enough money to pay off his debts, while his QC Jonathan Laidlaw said at the time of his bankruptcy Becker was too trusting and reliant on his advisers. The AP Interview: Zelenskyy seeks peace despite atrocities KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he's committed to pressing for peace despite Russian attacks on civilians that have stunned the world. He also told The Associated Press in an interview Saturday that he's renewed his plea for more weapons ahead of an expected surge in fighting in the countrys east. Zelenskyy looked visibly exhausted yet animated by a drive to persevere a day after at least 52 people were killed in a strike on a train station in the eastern city of Kramatorsk. That attack came after evidence of civilian killings emerged as Russian troops withdrew from the outskirts of the capital, Kyiv. War Crimes Watch: A devastating walk through Bucha's horror BUCHA, Ukraine (AP) Walking through Bucha, The Associated Press spoke with two dozen witnesses of the Russian occupation. Almost every one said they saw a body, sometimes several. Civilians were killed, mostly men, sometimes picked off at random. Several survivors were adamant about that. Many, including the elderly, said they were threatened themselves. The question that survivors, investigators and the world would like to answer is why. Some believe the Russians werent ready for an extended fight or had especially undisciplined fighters among them. The deterioration was swift and horrific. They needed to kill someone, one survivor says. And killing civilians is very easy. More flee as Ukraine warns of stepped-up Russian attacks KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Civilian evacuations are moving forward in patches of battle-scarred eastern Ukraine a day after a missile strike killed at least 52 people at a train station where thousands were waiting to leave before an expected Russian onslaught. In the wake of the attack in Kramatorsk, several European leaders made efforts to show solidarity with Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted the support during an interview Saturday with The Associated Press, but said Of course it's not enough to change the change the course of the war. Zelenskyy calls the train station attack the latest sign of Russian war crimes. Russia denied it was responsible. Zelenskyy also repeated his call for a complete embargo on Russian oil and gas during his Saturday night video address. Pakistan's embattled PM ousted in no-confidence vote ISLAMABAD (AP) Pakistans political opposition ousted the countrys embattled prime minister in a no-confidence vote they won after several of Imran Khans allies and a key coalition party deserted him. The combined opposition that spans the political spectrum from the left to the radically religious will form the new government, with the head of one of the largest parties, the Pakistani Muslim League, taking over as prime minister. Anticipating his loss, Khan, who charged his opposition colluded with the United States to unseat him, on Friday called on his supporters to stage rallies nationwide on Sunday. Jackson, COVID and a retirement show Congress' partisan path WASHINGTON (AP) A milestone Supreme Court confirmation that endured a flawed process. The collapse of a bipartisan compromise for more pandemic funding. The departure of a stalwart of the dwindling band of moderate House Republicans. These three events on Capitol Hill this past week illustrated how Congress near- and long-term paths point in one direction intensifying partisanship. Partisan fights in Congress are as old as the republic, and they routinely escalate as elections approach. But the bar for when to cast party differences aside has fallen in recent years. Shanghai hospital pays the price for China's COVID response BEIJING (AP) A series of deaths at a hospital for elderly patients in Shanghai is underscoring the dangerous consequences of Chinas stubborn pursuit of a zero-COVID approach amid an escalating outbreak in the city of 26 million people. Relatives say multiple patients have died at the Shanghai Donghai Elderly Care hospital. They say their loved ones werent properly cared for after caretakers infected with the virus were taken away to be quarantined, in adherence to the strict pandemic regulations, depleting the hospital of staff. Family members have taken to social media to plea for help and answers and are demanding to see surveillance video after getting little to no information about their loved ones from the hospital. In France, a nail-biting election as Macron's rival surges POISSY, France (AP) For months, French President Emmanuel Macron looked certain to become the country's first leader in 20 years to win a second term. But that scenario has blurred ahead of voting Sunday in the presidential election's first round. Cost of living concerns have become a dominant campaign theme and could drive many voters into the arms of far-right leader Marine Le Pen. In 2017, Macron trounced Le Pen by a landslide to become Frances youngest president. Their anticipated rematch this time appears far closer. At a town west of Paris where Macron campaigned, market-goers see Le Pen as having a real chance, and some were getting ready to switch their support from him to her. S&P downgrade indicates Russia headed for historic default BOSTON (AP) The credit ratings agency Standard & Poor's has downgraded its assessment of Russias ability to repay foreign debt. That indicates Moscow could soon default on external loans for the first time in more than a century. S&P Global Ratings issued the downgrade to selective default late Friday after Russia arranged to make foreign bond payments in rubles on Monday when they were due in dollars. It said it didnt expect Russia to be able to convert the rubles into dollars within a 30-day grace period. Tightened sanctions placed on Russia this week bar it from using foreign reserves held in U.S. banks for debt payments. Steelers QB Dwayne Haskins killed in auto accident FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins has been killed in an auto accident near Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Authorities say Haskins was hit by a dump truck while walking on a highway. The Steelers and Washington Commanders, his former team, released statements extending their condolences. The 24-year-old Haskins was a first-round draft choice of Washington in 2019 and started seven games, going 2-5 as a rookie. He was 1-5 in six starts the next season for the team, then was released on Dec. 29, 2020. A few weeks later, he was signed by Pittsburgh, but did not play in the 2021 season. Scheffler survives wild, windy cold day to lead Masters by 3 AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) Scottie Scheffler is one round away from winning his first major at the Masters. The No. 1 player in the world stretched his lead to as many as six shots in the third round. And then he held on for a 71 and a three-shot lead over Cameron Smith. Scheffler finished with a good bogey from the bushes. Smith had a 68 and was the only player to break 70. Sungjae Im was the only other player within five of the lead. Tiger Woods had his first four-putt in the Masters and his worst score at 78. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 DES MOINES President Joe Biden plans a visit Tuesday to Menlo, a small community just west of Des Moines, a White House official said this weekend. Biden will speak about his administrations plans to address rising costs to consumers and highlight investments in infrastructure, particularly in rural communities, the official said. Menlo is a town of 345 people, about 45 miles west of Des Moines in Guthrie County. More details about the trip will be released in the coming days, the White House official said. It will be Bidens first trip to Iowa for the first time since his election in November 2020. Biden has visited other states to tout the bipartisan infrastructure bill that was passed in November. Iowa will receive roughly $5 billion over five years in new federal funding under the bipartisan infrastructure bill, the White House said when the bill was being approved by Congress. Im thrilled to welcome President Biden back to Iowa, Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Ross Wilburn said in a news release issued Friday, when news of Bidens pending visit first broke. Thanks to President Bidens leadership, we now have the tools to repair Iowas roads and bridges, connect our rural communities with high-speed internet access, clean up our drinking water, and provide tens of thousands of Iowans with access to affordable health care, Wilburn said. Biden was last in Iowa on Oct. 30, 2020, for a campaign event at the Iowa State Fairgrounds just four days before the general election. While Biden lost Iowa by 8 percentage points, he defeated Republican President Donald Trump for the White House. That was Bidens only visit to Iowa during the general election campaign. He was a frequent visitor to Iowa in the months leading up to the February 2020 Iowa caucuses, in which he finished fourth behind Pete Buttigieg, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. As Republicans like (Gov.) Kim Reynolds and (U.S. Sen.) Chuck Grassley repeatedly turn their backs on Iowans and take credit for programs passed by Democrats, Im eager for Iowans to hear directly from our Commander-in-Chief how Democrats are lowering costs for working families, delivering for rural communities, and building a better Iowa, Wilburn said in his statement. Republican Party of Iowa State Chairman Jeff Kaufmann also issued a statement Friday about Bidens pending visit, noting Bidens low job approval numbers here. Just 35 percent of Iowans approve of Bidens performance as president while 59 disapprove, according to the most recent Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll, from early March. Id like to welcome Joe Biden back to Iowa, a state he lost by eight points, and where his popularity has sunk even lower today, Kaufmann said in his statement. Iowans and Americans are worse off than they were a year ago because of Bidens out-of-touch policies and broken promises. Maybe a trip back to Iowa will be just what Joe Biden needs to understand what his reckless spending, big government policies are doing to our country. When addressing ways to lower consumer costs, Biden may talk about corn-based ethanol, a key issue in the countrys top corn-producing state. According to a spokesman for POET, a biofuels company based just across Iowas northwestern border in Sioux Falls, S.D., said the company expects Biden to announce a federal waiver that would clear the way for gas stations to sell the E15 blend of ethanol a higher blend than the 10 percent ethanol fuel commonly available year-round. Currently, E15 cannot be sold in Iowa during the summer. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 1 Propaganda is as old as humans: It is interesting that propaganda has always been around and always will be around. Yet, good propaganda can only be used once effectively and then you must go on to higher levels.very much like a movie about monsters in the 1950s is laughed at by the children now who have grown up on monsters that make Frankenstein look like a clown I am watching the masses over this so called war between Russia and Ukraine/USA/UK/NATO/EU and whom every says they are on Team A and sending weapons to Ukraine. Weapons that will end up on the terrorist form of E-Bay and sold to the highest bidder, unless they get blown up by Russia first Humans are being numbed to real life and made by propaganda to be numb to reality. The minds of the masses in the West are all ready wandering to social media and looking for that next stupid thing to do. Attention spans of normal humans is not exactly a thing that can be relied upon, unless you want to rely upon no attention span, Eg. a goldfish The West has thrown all the propaganda out in a panicked weird fury and like sanctions the effect is waning away. Yet to expect anything else from a mental midget such as the Western Empire would be to think that there is some form of intelligence within the West and that my friend is lacking Intelligence would mean not getting the world into the position it is right now in the first place and as with caring, the West would not have been slaughtering millions of innocent humans all these years and getting away with it For basically 100 years the West has run on overload and going from one crises to another and most crises have been created by the West. Crises from the home front to the world stage.all done to hold on to what they have stolen and killed for and they are in a panic to keep what they plundered and not be tarred and feathered after they are caught red handed.which they have been caught! Thus the propaganda overload: For propaganda to work its best, you must have controlled propaganda and doll it out in minuscule parts. The long term effect is desirable, yet in a panic as what has happened in the actions of the West, they dumped all their tools in one time and place The West had unbelievable quantity of sanctions and propaganda already sitting in a box ready to use and they were close to starting the multiyear process of destroying Russia one slice at a time through sanctions and propaganda. They already were doing just that and were getting ready to never stop until Russia was dead Never in our lifetime has been such tools propaganda Internet has created a hot bed of information and the manipulation of that information is peaking and accepted by the masses. They lap up the daily, hourly even changes like a kitty and a bowl of milk. It is all to distract from reality and you all love it But: All great plans even by the scum of the earth, get screwed up.Thank God for that! Russia jumped their kit and they (NATO) panicked like a screaming teenage girl in a horror movie They just dumped everything in that box at once and found that they painted themselves into a corner and now they are grabbing anything and everything trying to make ca-ca stick to the wall It is like you have two assailants with knives and one double barrel shotgun. You in your panic pull both triggers at the same time and the assailant that you did not shoot, smiles and plunges the knife into you The over load of propaganda works, but only for a short time and them you have to rinse and repeat with every more soap every time to make it work. If you dump the whole box of soap into the washer? The resulting mess is horrendous, yet no more soap, no more mess once cleaned up.and little messes without so many soap bubbles is easier to see through The Western Psyops (Techniques used by military and police forces to influence the beliefs, emotions and behavior of its citizens.) in propaganda should have been dealt out slowly to be long term effective So therefore, while what propaganda has been exceeding anything to this date in our world, the next round is going to be very hard to propagate the same effect of propaganda, because everyone has been desensitized too much The Western audience is already looking around and too the delight of the pink haired Chinese girl dancing on TikTok to the latest music hit, she is getting her audience back Russia knows what it is doing.West says.war too slow.war to slow.war to slow! What they mean is War is boring and Russia is not killing everyone fast enough to keep the audiences happy. It takes a whole bunch to keep social medias attention away from the pink haired dancing TiKTok girl. Almost impossible for the long term Heaven help us when the Western World Rejects Neocons decide that to get their audience back from the pink haired girl, that they need to lob a Nuke and blame it on Russia.you only have yourself to blame for all that is happening for even playing along in the first place. We are children led to the slaughter and we laugh and play the whole way Time to wake up and you have heard me say that a million times upon this website Better yet: Just go watch the pink haired Chinese girl dance and we will all be better for it! Thanks WtR Never in our lifetime has been such tools propaganda Attempts to get them Goodies out by the West by helicopter succeeded partly and now that avenue is cut off by Russia. You only get brief moments to attempt such evacuations Four helicopters: two made it? Two died? That two helicopters died is proven and the two that made it is not proven. The two that died were full of MERCs from the west as I saw the images presented Now there still seems to be a whole bunch of goodies (I mean actual boots on the ground NATO), barricaded in a Mariupol factory area and what a prize that will be, when and if they can be pulled out alive! Mariupol is the hotbed and main headquarters for the Neo-Nazi and as they are seeing deep within catacombs under the city, touched by more than rumors, another major hotbed of Bio-Lab USA style with NATO workers trapped Thus, all; Fighting for their lives because being caught is not just to be an issue for Russia? It is an issue for the West and her lies after lies and after lies about what is going on. Why do you think Russia does not missile the factory into dust? There are precious goodies within those walls WtR Photo taken on March 23, 2022 shows students and their teachers posing for a photo with bikes donated by Hello Inc. at the Chok Primary School in Takeo province, Cambodia. (Photo by Van Pov/Xinhua) TAKEO, Cambodia, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Chhum Seavling, aged 12, is quite used to walking a few kilometers to school each day. Her family can not afford a bicycle for her, so when Hello Inc. donated some of the company's previously shared bikes to rural kids in Cambodia, it was a life changing event. Chok Primary School in Bati disrrict, roughly 50 km south of capital Phnom Penh, is one of the 67 rural schools that have been given bikes. "My parents are poor farmers. They can't buy a bicycle for me, so it takes me about half an hour to walk to school," Chhum told Xinhua. She now has no reason to drop out of school. "It takes me only five to 10 minutes to cycle to school now. I'm very happy and I don't want to quit anymore." Another sixth grader, Leang Sreynet, said the bikes had brought new hope and she promised to study hard to fulfill her dream of becoming a teacher. Vong Sovanminea washes his bike every day. "It is really useful. Besides riding to school, my parents ride it to market," he said. Khuon Chhorn, principal of the school, said it is normal to see students walking long distances to school. Some students walk seven km there and seven km back. "The bikes make it easier for them to come to school and relieve their family's worries," he told Xinhua. On behalf of his students, the principal thanked the donation. "I believe the bikes will change their lives," he said. Comparable bikes in Cambodia cost about 250,000 riel (60 U.S. dollars). Poor families don't earn that much in two months and Chhum made sure that all 35 bikes the school received went to the students in greatest need. The bikes were given out during the Chinese New Year and Hello has since received countless letters of gratitude, accompanied by videos and photographs of the bikes being used. Zhou Jinxiu, vice president of Hello, said with the help from China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation and COSCO Charity Foundation, the Hello Inc. had donated 1,000 bikes to students in rural Cambodia. "Although (the bikes) come from cities all over China and are still in good condition. We refurbished and cleaned them before shipping," she told Xinhua. The bikes went to Takeo, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, and Battambang provinces. "Most of the students are from low-income families, and we hope they will be useful, in both studies and daily lives," she said. "We're so happy for the beneficiaries, who we hope become ambassadors of China-Cambodia friendship when they finally leave school." Primary school students ride bikes donated by Hello Inc. to school in Takeo province, Cambodia, on March 23, 2022. (Photo by Van Pov/Xinhua) A primary school student washes her bike donated by Hello Inc. in Takeo province, Cambodia on March 23, 2022. (Photo by Van Pov/Xinhua) Shortly after discovering their 2-year-old son shot in the kitchen, Santa Fe police officer Jonathan Harmon told his wife their 4-year-old must have been playing with his off-duty gun. Courtney Harmon told police she found the boy upstairs crying hysterically. He was clad in Batman pajamas that were speckled with his brothers blood. I said were you playing with daddys gun? but he was scared to tell me, Courtney Harmon told Rio Rancho police in a gut-wrenching interview. I said why were you messing with daddys gun, and he said he was trying to put it on daddys belt because he wants to be just like his dad. The Attorney Generals Office provided KOAT-TV with interviews, police reports and other documents in the Dec. 8 shooting death of Lincoln Harmon at the familys Rio Rancho home. According to the 53-page police report, the toddler had been shot beneath the lip and the bullet exited the back of his head. The Office of the Medical Investigator ruled the death an accident. The couple told police they were sleeping in separate rooms, Courtney with their newborn and Jonathan with the two boys, according to the report. Jonathan Harmon said around 8 a.m. he woke up to a loud noise and heard the older brother screaming. The father found Lincoln curled over in a kitchen chair, bleeding profusely, and Jonathan Harmon told police his mind was spinning. Courtney Harmon told police her older son ran past crying and she found her husband giving Lincoln CPR. My son was on the floor, bleeding everywhere she told police, breaking down into tears. At first, the couple told police they thought the boy had fallen but then they spotted the gun. Courtney Harmon told police she put the gun in a cabinet. Arriving officers found a spent shell casing near the boy, who was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound. Jonathan Harmon, who owns multiple guns, told police he often keeps his off-duty gun in a safe. But, sometimes, he keeps it on the very highest kitchen shelf behind a coffee mug. Jonathan Harmon told police thats where he put it when he came home the day before the shooting. The 4-year-old told police he used a kitchen chair to reach chewing gum, which is kept in the same cabinet. The boy said he found his fathers gun and either pulled it up (possibly pulling it out of the holster) or pointed it up, (possibly at Lincoln), unintentionally firing it. A GoFundMe page was set up for the Harmon family shortly after the incident. Until this week, details in the shooting have been scarce. Rio Rancho police repeatedly refused to release records to the Journal, the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government and Santa Fe New Mexican. FOG and the New Mexican have filed a lawsuit over the denials. Attorney General Hector Balderas has said Rio Rancho officials broke the law by failing to turn over the records. Balderas office, meanwhile, has opened its own investigation into the shooting after the 13th Judicial District Attorneys Office declared a conflict. District Attorney (Barbara) Romo requested our assistance due to a conflict in her office, therefore we appointed an independent prosecutor and investigator to conduct an expedited legal review of the case, AG spokeswoman Jerri Mares said Friday. No one has been charged in the case. Benjamin Valdez, a spokesman with the Santa Fe Police Department, said Harmon is still on the job but on alternate duty status, which means non-field work conducting administrative tasks. He said an administrative investigation will be opened into Jonathan Harmon after Rio Rancho police wrap up their case. Investigators have questioned both parents about gun safety. Jonathan Harmon told police he was taught gun safety from a young age and his kids were no different. He said he tells them, even if its a toy, you dont point it at people. I dont know if it was them fighting over it. I want to tell myself (redacted) wouldnt shoot him, Jonathan Harmon told officers. I want to assume they were fighting over it on that chair. Courtney Harmon said her husband deals with the guns. I dont mess with them. I dont keep track with what he does with them, she told officers. Courtney Harmon said her 4-year-old had toy guns and one BB rifle, some brightly colored and others that make cocking noises. She said her husband is very strict about gun safety. Courtney Harmon said that prior to the shooting, they never have problems with the older brother actually touching his fathers guns although he does like to play dress up with his other police gear. I dont know what got in his mind to pull the chair and get into the cabinet and to think okay, today Im going to play with it I cant wrap my head around it, she said. KYIV, Ukraine Civilian evacuations moved forward in patches of battle-scarred eastern Ukraine on Saturday, a day after a missile strike killed at least 52 people and wounded more than 100 at a train station where thousands clamored to leave before an expected Russian onslaught. In the wake of the attack in Kramatorsk, several European leaders made efforts to show solidarity with Ukraine, with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson visiting Kyiv the capital city that Russia failed to capture and where troops retreated days ago. Johnson met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a surprise visit in which he pledged new military assistance, including 120 armored vehicles and new anti-ship missile systems. Zelenskyy noted the increased support in an Associated Press interview, but expressed frustration when asked if weapons and other equipment Ukraine has received from the West is sufficient to shift the wars outcome. Not yet, he said, switching to English for emphasis. Of course its not enough. Zelenskyy later thanked Johnson and Nehammer during his nightly video address to the nation. He also thanked the European Commission president and the Canadian prime minister for a global fundraising event that raised more than 10 billion euros ($11 billion) for Ukrainians who have had to flee their homes. He added that democratic countries are united in working to stop the war. Because Russian aggression was not intended to be limited to Ukraine alone. The entire European project is a target for Russia. Zelenskyy repeated his call for a complete embargo on Russian oil and gas, which he called the sources of Moscows self-confidence and impunity. More than six weeks after the invasion began, Russia has pulled its troops from the northern part of the country, around Kyiv, and refocused on the Donbas region in the east. Western military analysts said an arc of territory in eastern Ukraine was under Russian control, from Kharkiv Ukraines second-largest city in the north to Kherson in the south. But counterattacks are threatening Russian control of Kherson, according to the Western assessments, and Ukrainian forces are repelling Russian assaults elsewhere in the Donbas. Ukrainian authorities have called on civilians to get out ahead of an imminent, stepped-up offensive by Russian forces in the east. With trains not running out of Kramatorsk on Saturday, panicked residents boarded buses or looked for other ways to leave, fearing the kind of unrelenting assaults and occupations by Russian invaders that brought food shortages, demolished buildings and death to other cities. It was terrifying. The horror, the horror, one resident told British broadcaster Sky, recalling Fridays attack on the train station. Heaven forbid, to live through this again. No, I dont want to. Ukraines state railway company said residents of Kramatorsk and other parts of the Donbas could flee through other train stations. Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said 10 evacuation corridors were planned for Saturday. Zelenskyy called the train station attack the latest example of war crimes by Russian forces and said it should motivate the West to do more to help his country defend itself. Russia denied responsibility and accused Ukraines military of firing on the station to turn blame for civilian casualties on Moscow. A Russian Defense Ministry spokesman detailed the missiles trajectory and Ukrainian troop positions to bolster the argument. Major Gen. Igor Konashenkov alleged Ukraines security services were preparing a cynical staged media operation in Irpin, another town near Kyiv, intended to attribute civilian casualties to Russian forces falsely, he said and to stage the slaying of a fake Russian intelligence team that intended to kill witnesses. The claims could not be independently verified. Western experts and Ukrainian authorities insisted that Russia attacked the station. Remnants of the rocket had the words For the children in Russian painted on it. The phrasing seemed to suggest the missile was sent to avenge the loss or subjugation of children, although its exact meaning remained unclear. Ukrainian authorities have worked to identify victims and document possible war crimes in the countrys north. The mayor of Bucha, a town near Kyiv where graphic evidence of civilian slayings emerged after Russian forces withdrew, said search teams were still finding bodies of people shot at close range in yards, parks and city squares. Workers unearthed 67 bodies Friday from a mass grave near a church, according to Ukraines prosecutor general. Russia has falsely claimed that the scenes in Bucha were staged. Ukrainian and Western officials have repeatedly accused Russian forces of committing atrocities. A total of 176 children have been killed, while 324 more have been wounded, the Prosecutor Generals Office said Saturday. Speaking to AP inside the heavily guarded presidential office complex in Kyiv, Zelenskyy said he is committed to negotiating a diplomatic end to the war even though Russia has tortured Ukraine. He also acknowledged that peace likely will not come quickly. Talks so far have not included Russian President Vladimir Putin or other top officials. We have to fight, but fight for life. You cant fight for dust when there is nothing and no people. Thats why it is important to stop this war, he said. Ukrainian authorities have said they expect to find more mass killings once they reach the southern port city of Mariupol, which is also in the Donbas and has been subjected to a monthlong blockade and intense fighting. As journalists who had been largely absent from the city began to trickle back in, new images emerged of the devastation from an airstrike on a theater last month that reportedly killed hundreds of civilians seeking shelter. Military analysts had predicted for weeks that Russia would succeed in taking Mariupol but said Ukrainian defenders were still putting up a fight. The citys location on the Sea of Azov is critical to establishing a land bridge from the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia seized from Ukraine eight years ago. Many civilians now trying to evacuate are accustomed to living in or near a war zone because Moscow-backed rebels have been fighting Ukrainian forces since 2014 in the Donbas, a mostly Russian-speaking, industrial region. Ukrainian officials have pleaded with Western powers almost daily to send more arms and further punish Moscow with sanctions, including the exclusion of Russian banks from the global financial system and a total EU embargo on Russian gas and oil. Nehammer said during his visit to Kyiv that he expects more EU sanctions against Russia, but he defended his countrys opposition so far to cutting off deliveries of Russian gas. A package of sanctions imposed this week wont be the last one, the chancellor said, acknowledging that as long as people are dying, every sanction is still insufficient. Austria is militarily neutral and not a member of NATO. Johnsons visit came a day after the U.K. pledged an additional 100 million pounds ($130 million) in high-grade military equipment to Ukraine. Johnson also confirmed further economic support, guaranteeing an additional $500 million in World Bank lending to Ukraine, taking Britains total loan guarantee to up to $1 billion. ___ Anna reported from Bucha, Ukraine. Robert Burns in Washington, Jill Lawless and Danica Kirka in London 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 BEIJING A series of deaths at a hospital for elderly patients in Shanghai is underscoring the dangerous consequences of Chinas stubborn pursuit of a zero-COVID approach amid an escalating outbreak in the city of 26 million people. Multiple patients have died at the Shanghai Donghai Elderly Care hospital, relatives of patients told The Associated Press. They say their loved ones werent properly cared for after caretakers who came into contact with the virus were taken away to be quarantined, in adherence to the strict pandemic regulations, depleting the hospital of staff. Family members have taken to social media to plea for help and answers and are demanding to see surveillance video from inside the facility after getting little to no information from the hospital. The conditions and deaths at the hospital are a sharp rebuke of Chinas strategy of sticking to a zero-COVID policy as it deals with the outbreak in Shanghai in which most of the infected people dont have symptoms. With a focus on forcing positive cases and close contacts into designated collective quarantine facilities, the costs of zero-COVID may be outweighing the risk of getting sick. On Saturday, Shanghai Vice Mayor Zong Ming said the lockdown could soon be lifted or eased in communities that report no positive cases within 14 days, after another round of citywide COVID-19 testing. Shen Peiming, 71, was one such casualty of harsh measures. She died Sunday morning at the hospital, without any relatives by her side. A family member said they have been calling the hospital non-stop to find out the circumstances of Shens death, but have not gotten a clear answer. How many times have there been lockdowns since 2020? They still dont have experience managing this? the family member said. All they know is her doctor and nurses had not been there to care for Shen, who was partially paralyzed after a stroke. Her last nursing assistant had been quarantined for being a close contact of a positive case, the relative said, speaking on condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution. An unfamiliar worker called to inform them of her death. Later, the hospital said it was due to a chest infection. The hospital had a COVID-19 outbreak, the family heard from orderlies, but Shen had tested negative as of last week. Shanghai authorities have reported no deaths from this outbreak, but questions have been raised about the reliability of the data. A city health official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic, said that the criteria for confirming cases and deaths are very strict and susceptible to political meddling. It is unclear how many patients have died at the hospital, and whether any died of COVID-19. Families say they are talking with other families whose relatives have also died. An article from Chinese news outlet Caixin describing the deaths and infections was taken down shortly after it was published, apparently targeted by censors. Calls to the main office of Donghai Elderly Care went unanswered. The Shanghai government did not respond to a faxed request for comment. Most experts agree that Chinas zero-COVID approach was highly successful in keeping deaths to a minimum when there were limited drugs or vaccines. But now that shots are widely available in China, and with the advent of the omicron variant, many say the government should abandon the policy and focus medical resources on the elderly and vulnerable instead. Instead, Shanghai has locked down its 26 million people and carried out repeated mass testing to tackle an outbreak driven by the highly contagious omicron BA.2 variant. On Saturday, the city reported more than 23,000 new local cases, of which only 1,015 had symptoms. If youre asymptomatic, whats going to hurt you? said Ray Yip, the founding director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control office in China, who maintains close ties with Chinese health officials. The only people who get sick are those with diabetes, obesity, chronic disease, old people. Protect those people. You can protect them. A low vaccination rate among the elderly, though, remains a concern. Only 62% of Shanghai residents over 60 have been vaccinated, according to the latest data available. Some experts support the strict approach, saying China needs to raise that rate before it can safely live with the virus. The U.S. guidelines for asymptomatic cases, as in the U.K., are that individuals isolate at home for five days. In Shanghai, workers are rushing to set up massive temporary facilities in exhibition halls and elsewhere to try to house everyone who tests positive. The citywide lockdown has disrupted daily life and the economy. Many residents, trapped in their apartment buildings, are scrambling to buy food through apps and place bulk orders with neighbors. Some in quarantine have posted videos showing chaotic scenes of people rushing to get food and a lack of clean toilets. Others have posted pleas for relatives who need medicine urgently. The U.S. said Friday that it is allowing the voluntary departure of non-essential personnel and family members from its consulate in Shanghai because of the situation. The government has trumpeted its success in curbing COVID-19, touting it as evidence of the superiority of Chinas governing system especially compared to Western democracies, where deaths have far exceeded Chinas. That narrative, experts said, is making it difficult for Beijing to switch tactics. They bragged too hard to their own people about how wonderful they are, and now theyve painted themselves into a corner, said Yip. The only way they can control Shanghai now is to repeat what they did in Wuhan. The 11 million residents of Wuhan were locked down for more than two months at the start of the pandemic in 2020. Shanghais lockdown is an abrupt about-face from just a month ago, when some Chinese health experts publicly suggested softening pandemic control measures. The citys economic importance and advanced health care system left officials reluctant to impose strict measures and confident about combating any outbreaks. Further, Chinese leader Xi Jinping ordered that ongoing outbreaks in China be controlled at minimum cost in mid-March, emphasizing Beijings desire to protect the economy while curbing the virus. Shanghai took targeted steps, locking down individual office buildings, shopping centers and neighborhoods for 48 hours at a time but otherwise allowing life to go on as usual. With the soft measures, the citys case count rose. The outbreak spilled over to at least 71 other cities, according to a notice posted by Guangxi province in southern China, and pressure grew for harsher measures. On March 28, the city started an eight-day lockdown in two phases, which has since evolved into a citywide one with no end in sight. There is no time to waste, Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan said on a visit to the city last weekend, according to a government statement. We need to move forward faster and harder to provide strong support for the elimination of cases in society. The actions sent nurses and doctors into quarantine, causing conditions to worsen at Donghai Elderly Care. Chen Jielei said the outbreak at the hospital infected her unvaccinated, partially paralyzed 81-year-old mother. Because staff members also fell ill, her mother wasnt served meals on time and her sheets were unchanged for days. After a few days, a replacement worker started taking care of her. A college professor who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was afraid of retribution, said his family wasnt notified for more than a day after his 82-year-old father died on March 31. His last contact was on March 28 with a nursing assistant who called to warn there were positive cases and they could no longer take care of his father. In those three days, what happened to my father? What kind of mistreatment did he suffer? he asked. His fathers condition had been stable on March 28 when he spoke with the nursing assistant. Shen had lived on and off in the hospital for three years after her stroke. Family members visited every week. But visits were banned in early March as the COVID-19 outbreak spread through Shanghai, the relative said. They were not worried initially because the hospital had always been very responsive and they were in contact with the nursing assistants who took care of Shen. But one orderly warned on March 26 there were positive cases and many of Donghais staff were being quarantined. The hospital hired temporary nursing assistants, but many did not have healthcare experience, one nursing assistant said. The woman, who gave only her last name of Zhang, said an employment agency told her it was a cleaning job. They said your work is just to clean, you wont even have to wear a protective suit. But what they said was completely different from what I had to do, she said. Shen needed to be assisted with eating through a tube by having her food blended into a liquid. She also had a tube in her throat that had to be disinfected each day. In the past, if there was an issue, theyd always call me. This time, there wasnt even a voice message, and she died so suddenly, the relative said. Now the hospital is asking the families to sign a form to cremate the deceased. Shens relative said the family will refuse until they get a clear answer. The hospital sent an apology letter Wednesday to some of the families. The AP has viewed a copy. Because of the outbreaks emergency, and many of the seniors had not been vaccinated, this caused those with severe underlying illness and weak health to die, it said. While Chinese government researchers have begun exploring ways to end zero COVID, the government continues to punish officials with large outbreaks on their turfs. The space for discussion is now eliminated, said Yanzhong Huang, a public health expert at the Council for Foreign Relations in the U.S. The message is loud and clear: zero-COVID, no exceptions. ___ Wu reported from Taipei, Taiwan. Associated Press video producer Olivia Zhang in Beijing and researcher Chen Si in Shanghai contributed to this report. WASHINGTON A milestone Supreme Court confirmation that endured a flawed process. The collapse of a bipartisan compromise for more pandemic funds. The departure of a stalwart of the dwindling band of moderate House Republicans. Party-line fights on Capitol Hill are as old as the republic, and they routinely escalate as elections approach. Yet three events from a notable week illustrate how Congress near- and long-term paths point toward intensifying partisanship. THE SENATES SUPREME COURT BATTLE Democrats rejoiced Thursday when the Senate by 53-47 confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black female justice. They crowed about a bipartisan stamp of approval from the trio of Republicans who supported it: Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitt Romney of Utah. Yet by historical standards, the three opposition party votes were paltry and underscored the recent trend of Supreme Court confirmations becoming loyalty tests on party ideology. Thats a departure from a decades-long norm when senators might dislike a nominees judicial philosophy but defer to a presidents pick, barring a disqualifying revelation. Murkowski said her support for Jackson was partly rejection of the corrosive politicization of how both parties consider Supreme Court nominations, which is growing worse and more detached from reality by the year. Republicans said they would treat Jackson respectfully, and many did. Their questions and criticisms of her were pointed and partisan, with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., saying the Senate views itself as a co-partner in this process with the president. Yet some potential 2024 GOP presidential contenders seemed to use Jacksons confirmation to woo hard-right support. Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Josh Hawley, R-Mo., misleadingly accused her of being unusually lenient on child pornography offenders. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., suggested she might have defended Nazis at the Nuremburg trials after World War II, before she was born. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Richard Durbin, D-Ill., said some Republicans went overboard, as far as Im concerned, to the extreme, reflecting the reality of politics on Capitol Hill. Cotton was fundamentally unfair, but that is his tradition, said Durbin. SUPREME COURT BATTLES PAST Senate approval of high court nominees by voice vote, without bothering to hold roll calls, was standard for most of the 20th century. Conservative Antonin Scalia sailed into the Supreme Court by 98-0 in 1986, while liberal Ruth Bader Ginsburg won 96-3 approval seven years later. There were bitter fights. Democrats blocked conservative Robert Borks nomination in 1987 and unsuccessfully opposed Clarence Thomas ascension in 1991 after he was accused of sexual harassment. Hard feelings intensified in early 2016. McConnell, then majority leader, blocked the Senate from even considering President Barack Obamas pick of Merrick Garland to replace the deceased Scalia. McConnell cited the presidential election nearly nine months away, infuriating Democrats. Donald Trump was elected and ultimately filled three vacancies over near-unanimous Democratic opposition. Democrats opposed Brett Kavanaugh after he was accused of sexually assaulting a woman decades earlier, which he denied. They voted solidly against Amy Coney Barrett after Trump and McConnell rushed through her nomination when a vacancy occurred just weeks before Election Day 2020, a sprint Democrats called hypocritical. COVID SPENDING FIGHT, TRANSFORMED Senators from both parties agreed to a $10 billion COVID-19 package Monday that President Joe Biden wants for more therapeutics, vaccines and tests. With BA.2, the new omicron variant, washing across the country, it seemed poised for congressional approval. Hours later, bargainers led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, seemed blindsided when their compromise was derailed. Republicans wanted to add an extension of an expiring crackdown on migrants crossing the Mexican border that Trump imposed in 2020, citing the pandemics public health threat. Many Republicans were skeptical that more COVID-19 money was necessary. But their demand for an immigration amendment transformed a fight over how much more to spend on a disease thats killed 980,000 people in the U.S. into a battle over border security, tailor-made for GOP political campaigns ahead. Immigration divides Democrats, and Republicans believe the issue can further solidify their chances of winning congressional control in Novembers elections. Playing defense, Schumer postponed debate on the COVID-19 bill. Democrats deserved some blame for being outmaneuvered. House Democrats shot down a $15 billion agreement in March, rejecting compromise budget savings to pay for it. And in glaringly tone-deaf political timing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced April 1, just as bargainers were completing their latest compromise, that the Trump-era immigration curbs would lapse May 23. That gave Republicans an irresistible political gift to pursue. A MODERATES FAREWELL Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., announced his retirement Tuesday. Hes the fourth of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump last year to say they wont seek reelection. Upton attributed his departure to running in a new district, but that didnt stop Trump from proclaiming: UPTON QUITS! 4 down and 6 to go. The House impeached Trump over his incitement of supporters who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, but the GOP-run Senate acquitted him. Now in his 18th term, Uptons departure subtracts another moderate from a GOP thats shifted rightward in recent years, particularly when it comes to showing fealty to Trump. The pro-business Upton, 68, was a driving force on one law spurring pharmaceutical development and has worked with Democrats on legislation affecting energy and the auto industry. His bipartisan work and affability placed him in the ever-smaller group of Republicans who draw Democrats praise. To him, bipartisan and compromise are not forbidden words, said Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich. PARTY DIFFERENCES, THEN AND NOW Pitched battles are now habitual over bills financing federal agencies and extending the governments borrowing authority. When those disputes are resolved and federal shutdowns and defaults averted, lawmakers hail as triumphs what is their most rudimentary task keeping government functioning. Despite the divisions over COVID-19 money and Jackson, there has also been cooperation. Congress overwhelmingly voted Thursday to ban Russian oil and downgrade trade relations with that country following its invasion of Ukraine. Theres progress on bipartisan trade and technology legislation, and a bipartisan $1 trillion infrastructure measure became law last year. LONDON U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer on Saturday joined the stream of European leaders showing their support for Ukraine by traveling to the nations capital for face-to-face meetings with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Johnsons surprise visit included a pledge of new military assistance, including 120 armored vehicles and new anti-ship missile systems. This came a day after he promised to send an additional 100 million pounds ($130 million) of high-grade military equipment to Ukraine, saying Britain wanted to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression. Johnson also confirmed further economic support, guaranteeing an additional $500 million in World Bank lending to Ukraine, taking Britains total loan guarantee to up to $1 billion. Today I met my friend President @ZelenskyyUa in Kyiv as a show of our unwavering support for the people of Ukraine, Johnson said on Twitter. Were setting out a new package of financial & military aid which is a testament of our commitment to his countrys struggle against Russias barbaric campaign. The head of Ukraines presidential office, Andriy Yermak, said the conversation was rich and constructive, but offered no details. An image of the two leaders meeting was posted online by the Ukrainian Embassy in London with the headline: Surprise, and a winking smiley face. The package of military aid Britain announced Friday includes more Starstreak anti-aircraft missiles, another 800 anti-tank missiles and precision munitions capable of lingering in the sky until directed to their target. Ukraine has defied the odds and pushed back Russian forces from the gates of Kyiv, achieving the greatest feat of arms of the 21st century, Johnson said in a statement. It is because of President Zelenskyys resolute leadership and the invincible heroism and courage of the Ukrainian people that Putins monstrous aims are being thwarted. As Zelenskyy makes a continuous round of virtual appearances to drum up support from lawmakers around the world, an increasing number of European leaders have decided the time is right to travel to Ukraines capital, Kyiv, for in-person talks. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was in Kyiv on Friday, following earlier visits from the Czech, Polish and Slovenian prime ministers. Nehammer met with Zelenskyy earlier Saturday and pledged that the EU would continue to ratchet up sanctions against Russia until the war stops. As long as people are dying, every sanction is still insufficient, he said, adding that Austrian embassy staff will return to Kyiv from western Ukraine. Von der Leyen, who heads the European Unions executive branch, travelled to Warsaw on Saturday to lead a fundraising event for Ukraine. She was joined by Polish President Andrzej Duda, with Zelenskyy and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appearing by video link. At the end of the 90-minute meeting, von der Leyen said 10.1 billion euros ($11 billion) had been raised for Ukrainian refugees. The event was held in Warsaw because more than 2.5 million of the 4.4 million people who have fled Ukraine since Russias invasion began Feb. 24 have entered Poland. Many have stayed, though some have moved on to other countries. Convened jointly by von der Leyen and Trudeau, the event sought to attract pledges from governments, global celebrities and average citizens. It ended with Julian Lennon singing his father John Lennons peace song Imagine, which he said is the first time he did so publicly. Julian Lennon posted on social media that he always said he would only sing the song if it was the end of the world. He says its the right song to sing now because the war on Ukraine is an unimaginable tragedy, and he felt compelled to respond in the most significant way that he could. ___ Associated Press Writers Colleen Barry in Milan, Geir Moulson in Berlin and Monika Scislowska in Warsaw contributed. ___ Follow all AP stories on the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine. CANBERRA, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Australia's medical regulator has provisionally approved COVID-19 booster vaccines for adolescents as young as 12. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) on Friday announced provisional approval for Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine as a booster for Australians aged 12-15, recommending that people in that age group get a booster six months after their second vaccine dose. This decision follows the provisional approval granted to Pfizer for the use of COVID-19 vaccine as a booster in individuals 18 years and older on Oct. 26, 2021 and in individuals 16 and 17 years old on Jan. 27, 2022, said TGA. It is the first vaccine approved for the age cohort but must also receive approval from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) before it can be rolled out. Regulatory approval of the booster dose for this age group has also been granted in Israel, Britain and the United States, TGA said in a statement. "ATAGI will provide advice shortly on whether this vaccine should be included in the COVID-19 Vaccine program as the final step in the two green light approval process." According to the data from the Department of Health, so far about 68.6 percent of the eligible population had received booster vaccines. And there had been 6,526 total COVID-19 deaths and approximately 4.78 million confirmed cases in Australia as of Friday afternoon. The rollout of a second booster dose for elderly and vulnerable Australians began on Monday ahead of an expected winter spike in COVID-19 infections. On Saturday, Australia reported more than 50,000 new COVID-19 cases and 24 deaths, including 10 in New South Wales (NSW), the country's most populous state. A man surrendered to New Mexico State Police on Saturday afternoon following a standoff outside the agencys headquarters in Northeast Albuquerque. State Police spokesman Dusty Francisco said Andreus Lynch, 29, will be charged with battery on a household member and resisting, evading or obstructing an officer. He said the situation started around 11 a.m. when a woman walked up to the State Police office near Carlisle and Interstate 40 and reported a domestic violence incident. Francisco said the woman told officers the suspect later identified as Lynch was in a vehicle in the parking lot and had a gun. He said police shut down the surrounding area and called in the SWAT team and crisis negotiators to handle the incident. Francisco said negotiators spoke with Lynch and after a brief standoff he surrendered peacefully. He said the woman was treated by medics on scene and released. A local contest is giving young students a chance to flex their critical thinking skills while also tapping into their creative side. The nonprofit Creative Programs of New Mexico Inc. hosts New Mexicos Destination Imagination STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics) contest each year. This years event was held March 26 at Atrisco Heritage High School with 22 teams competing. The groups must use a skit to present solutions to a problem in one of the following categories: technical, engineering, scientific, fine arts, service learning, early learning or improvisational. Students from one local elementary school came home winners. Gifted teacher Mary Cunningham took a few teams from Hawthorne Elementary in Albuquerque to the competition. Her third-grade team, called Flying Bananas, took first place in the Daring Escape technical challenge category I use Destination Imagination curriculum to expand their critical thinking and creativity and also to teach them teamwork, she said. It doesnt matter what you do as an adult, you can use those skills. The Flying Bananas had to design and build two devices to overcome a hazard but only one of them could use electricity. They created a remote control penguin and a puppet mouse, and three obstacles a river of ice, a glacier crevasse and an ice cave each device had to maneuver. The fourth and fifth-grade Hawthorne Elementary Agoti team won second place in the Roll With It engineering challenge, and fourth grade team The Most Wanted finished fourth in Daring Escape. Teams from Santa Fe, Clovis, Ruidoso, Portales and Aztec also competed. Kelsey Prince, tournament director and a Creative Program board member, said an important aspect of the competition is that the students must do everything themselves. From the writing, to the building to the ideas, students must work independently from adults. Cunningham said she offers guidance, but cannot do anything, even helping with props. Its really up to the kids, she said. I can teach them how to saw wood, but I cant cut wood. They have to do their own cutting. And everything happens in my classroom, so parents cant do it for them either. Cunningham said the Flying Bananas are one of the most focused group of students she has ever taken to a competition. Cunningham has taken students for the past eight years, but this was her first time taken a team from New Mexico. She recently relocated to the state from Texas. Cunningham said she enjoys participating in the competition because it offers her students an opportunity to learn about perseverance and resilience. You see a problem and you fix it and it fails, she said. Then you fix it. It fails. You try again. Then it fails again and you still keep trying. These skills will really get you far in life. Taking a cue from the late Rudolfo Anaya, the light, the land and the mysticism of New Mexico meet center stage at 516 ARTS. Many Worlds Are Born, part one of Art Meets History, showcases that constellation of community and history, expressed through art. The exhibition challenges the traditional idea of a singular New Mexico story. To develop the projects, many of the artists researched the Albuquerque Museums Photography Archives and participated in 516s educational program Artist Lab: Art Meets History in New Mexico. Co-curated by Ric Kasini Kadour and Alicia Inez Guzman, a series of public conversations and activities accompanies the exhibition. Jeanna Penns Winona Day Nursery is a 24-by-48 inch collage with archival photographs inspired by her research into Albuquerques South Broadway Black community from the 1940s through the 1960s. Penn is the co-owner of a commercial muralist company in Oakland, California. I came looking for the Black community of Albuquerque specifically, she said. Im African American. Im a collagist. I like the idea of taking pieces in time and putting them together and creating a new narrative, she continued. I was looking at how the community provides for the children. Penn discovered Albuquerques Winona Day Nursery, established in the 1930s-40s on Arno Street by the Black womens Winona Art Club. It was created to provide child care to the workers on the railroad, Penn said. It was difficult for Black parents to find space for their children. She also researched the Bailey House, a rooming house located at Second Street and Mountain Road. Owners Madora and W.L. Bailey both worked for the Santa Fe Railroad. They built this house a Sears kit house, Penn said. Sears sold catalog and kit houses primarily through mail order from 1908 to 1940. Apparently, it was the biggest, grandest Black-owned house in Albuquerque, Penn said. They rented rooms to Black travelers. Apparently, it was a regular stop for musicians. This would be something youd find in the Green Book. The Green Book listed lodgings open to African Americans during segregation. The Ideal Hotel on Marquette Avenue, also open to Black visitors, featured both a funeral home and a nightclub. It had a saloon kind of feel to it, Penn said. "Winona Day Nursery (from the series 'Two Degrees East, Three Degrees West'), Jeanna Penn, watercolor, acrylic, marker, oil paint marker, inkjet prints on mounted watercolor paper, 24x48 inches. (Courtesy of 516 Arts) "Man making adobe bricks," ca. 1950, the Ward Hicks Advertising Agency. (Courtesy of Albuquerque Museum of Art History Photo Archive) Women grinding corn by Barnes & Caplin, which was a commercial photography firm hired by Ward Hicks Advertising Agency on behalf of Albuquerque National Bank. (Courtesy of Albuquerque Museum of Art History Photo Archive) Cylinders from "Mano a Mano" by Margarita Paz-Pedro (Laguna and Santa Clara Pueblos), fired earthenware. (Courtesy of 516 Arts) Prev 1 of 4 Next But it was illegal for African Americans to drink in bars in Albuquerque in the late 1930s, although the owners kept applying for a liquor license. They were repeatedly getting denied and denied, she said. I think it took them years and years. The structure that once housed the Winona Day Nursery is the only one of the three remaining today. Multidisciplinary artist Nikesha Breeze will present Stages of Tectonic Blackness, a collaborative filmed performance exploring Blackdom, the first and only all-Black community founded in southern New Mexico. The collaborators include Breeze, a second dancer, a violist and a filmmaker. Over 300 Black people moved here from all over the country, the Taos artist said. They owned over 12,000 acres about 20 miles south of Roswell. The people established their own school and a community church. Breeze also created a site-specific sculpture composed of found objects from the area animal bones, earth and tools. Our collaboration is really about pulling up to the surface the lost and erased history of the African American diaspora, Breeze said. Blackdom emptied in the 1920s due to crop infestations, well water depletion and racial politics. Many moved to Vado in Dona Ana County. Ceramicist Margarita Paz-Pedro responded by photo transferring Albuquerque Museum vintage photographs of Indigenous peoples hands onto four porcelain cups. The Albuquerque artist titled the black and white works Mano a Mano. It could mean side by side, back to back or a take down or a conflict, Paz-Pedro said. I like that people can translate it as they see it. She added historic pueblo pottery designs to her work. My photos look at the hands that shaped and made New Mexico as a reminder not to forget the struggle of the original inhabitants to counteract the initial use of historic photographs, she continued. Paz-Pedro teaches at both Albuquerques La Academia de Esperanza charter school and at Santa Fes Institute of American Indian Arts. She creates mosaic tiles and has worked on murals at the Albuquerque Convention Center and the Juan Tabo Library. The tension ratchets up early and remains high throughout Anne Hillermans well-crafted new mystery The Sacred Bridge. In the first chapter an unnamed young Navajo man uneasily recalls that as a boy his brother saved him from drowning in Lake Powell, which straddles Arizona and Utah. He is now walking gingerly along the slick sandstone edge of the same lake, heading back to his campsite and to a boat dock. Suddenly, behind him, he hears a whooshing noise, then a heavy thunk against the back of his head. He falls forward into lake and doesnt make it back to his tent. Navajo police Sgt. Jim Chee finds the body of the young man, later identified as Curtis Walker, floating in the water. His death is initially thought to be a drowning. A long way from his station in Shiprock, Chee is on break at Lake Powell when hes enlisted to help in the investigation of Curtis death, reclassified as a murder. Chee is busy. Hes reconsidering his future in law enforcement. Hes searching for a cave that may be home to ancient sand paintings. His friend and mentor, the legendary Lt. Joe Leaphorn, tipped him off to the existence of the possible art trove Leaphorn had discovered decades ago. Chee is seeking to pay homage to Rainbow Bridge, a national monument thats a famous rock formation at the lake. The bridge is sacred to Navajos. Hillerman shows Chee seeing a faded sign for the bridge, then the bridge itself: He breathed in its majesty as he approached. He admired the height of the graceful arch roughly as tall as the Statue of Liberty. He paused in gratitude, sang his prayer and blessed the spot and the day with sacred cornmeal. Hillerman said in a phone interview she loves writing about that areas beautiful landscape, not just Lake Powell, Rainbow Bridge and Glen Canyon, and telling a bit of the history of the enormous lake, the damming of it. Throughout the novel, Hillerman smoothly transitions from narrative to brief, vivid landscape descriptions and back. Heres an example of one such description while Chee is interviewing a woman about Curtis. They looked out at the lake, shimmering navy-blue water in the distance against a panorama of tan and red desert cliffs, with the endless sky arching over it all. Hillerman introduces a handful of characters who may have had reason to dispatch Curtis. One is Robert Azul, the owner of an area tour company where Curtis works with Roberts wife, Ramona. She and Curtis may have been more than coworkers and good friends, and their close relationship may have fed Robert to seek revenge. Another potential suspect is Paul Hendrix, the adult son of veteran, respected archaeologist Pete Hendrix, who for years treated Curtis as an adopted son. Pete and Curtis enduring friendship may have bred anger in Paul. A third person of interest is Brian Chinchili. He slashed the tires on Curtis vehicle and may have been jealous of Curtis acquaintanceship with a young woman named Wanda whom Chinchili considers his girlfriend. A second, though equally taut, storyline in the novel involves Navajo policewoman Bernadette Manuelito, Chees wife. Manuelito witnesses the fatal hit-and-run of an Asian man. His death may be tied to a hemp farm on the Navajo Nation. In what is probably her most dangerous assignment in the series, Manuelito goes undercover to see if the farm is an illicit marijuana growing operation run by criminals. That triggers a chase scene one of the most thrilling Hillerman has ever written in which Manuelito tries to escape the farm and save her Mama from harm. Hillerman first thought of Rainbow Bridge as the sacred arch for the title, though other bridges occurred to her. Theres the bridge of stories that families share. And the bridge when (Manuelitos sister) Darleen goes back to her family and the bridge when Manuelito comes back after being undercover, she said. The Sacred Bridge is the seventh novel in Hillermans popular Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series. The author promised that the sage Leaphorn, whose presence is diminished here, will always have some sort of mentorship role to Chee and Manuelito. Working on the novel in forced concentration during the pandemic helped the author refine her writing and her thinking. Im grateful for that, she said. Although the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary is necessarily remote near Ramah, officials are looking to new programs and social media as a means of making it more accessible. When the 60 animals in residence are treated Friday, April 15, to an enrichment basket full of goodies geared toward their special tastes, it will be broadcast live on Facebook, said Katie Forbis, the sanctuarys social media coordinator. The sanctuary on 100 wooded acres currently houses 60 animals ranging from full wolves, wolf-dogs, domestic dogs that were mislabeled as wolf-dogs as puppies, foxes, dingoes, coyotes, even New Guinea singing dogs. We do these quarterly celebrations to treat and reward and celebrate all the critters at our facility, she said. We fill the spring baskets, similar to Easter baskets, with straw, feathers, eggs decorated with nontoxic coloring, hot dogs, cheese sticks, dog-friendly herbs and spices. We stuff them with lots of different goodies. It is an opportunity for folks across the country and even the world to get a glimpse of the pups at play, Forbis said. Enrichment is a fun activity for animals in captivity, she said. It gives them something new and unique to intact with. Canids utilize a lot of scent-based sense, so the feathers and the straw and the herbs and spices are scents that excite them. Its a fun, extra treat on top of their regular stuff. It also gives potential donors an opportunity to see the animals and hopefully provide treats down the road. If someone has a favorite wolf or critter, they can provide them funds for their basket to put a little extra in, Forbis said. Well also take a video of the event and put it online so people can watch them feasting or destroying the baskets whenever they want. This is part of a ramped-up campaign to raise awareness about the sanctuary, she said. Were looking to promote them more heavily because we are so remote, Forbis said. These events are a great opportunity for those who cant come to the sanctuary to see the animals in action or see their donations in action. When Brittany McDonald was brought on as executive director in 2020, the emphasis changed to one of improving the viability of the sanctuary among stakeholders. Under her leadership, were networking with other people, owners and animal care professionals, Forbis said. Our goal is to become the leading authority on wolves and wolf-dogs in the country and the world. That means providing information to people who might have these types of animals in their care. When people are experiencing problems with animals, we seek to provide accurate, up-to-date, fact-based information to give them the best life possible, Forbis said. Through these efforts, private owners are more willing to trust us with animals in their care. A campground on the site will soon be opened, making it easier for visitors to interact with the sanctuary instead of having to stay in Grants or Gallup, she said, and there are plans to upgrade the grounds to make it easier for young children and those with disabilities to engage the animals. Additionally, the creation of a new educational building and programs make the sanctuary a perfect spot for school field trips, as well as anyone else interested in wolves and wolf-dogs Its where we display a lot of our interns educational projects, Forbis said. These displays can examine the sizes of different species paw prints, a look at fur samples and other tactile information that makes learning an interesting experience, she said. Additionally, weve created new programs and new departments, like improved vet care programs and educational programs and the enrichment program, Forbis said. Our long-term hope is to be involved in species survival plans with the government (for) the red and Mexican grey wolves and potentially releasing them into the wild. DailyObjects, a design-driven Global Lifestyle D2C brand, has announced the appointment of seven new leads at the company to strengthen its management team. The new recruits have been enrolled across various roles including branding & marketing, design, sales, Operations Supply Chain, and customer experience. The brand intends to intensify its foundation and strategies to fuel its expansion in the global markets. It further plans to hire more people in the coming months. Commenting on the hiring spree, Pankaj Garg, Co-founder & CEO, DailyObjects said, We are elated to onboard seven new unique talents in the DailyObjects family. We are building a successful homegrown D2C brand that intends to give an unconventional look to everyday products. To build a successful brand and company, people and right structures are very important, and keeping this in mind, we are taking proactive steps to build a great team and organization at DailyObjects. With great expertise, passion and energy, these new individuals are well suited for their respective domains at DailyObjects. We have aggressive growth plans for the coming years and want to establish ourselves as a global brand. This dedicated team of leaders & heads will be instrumental in helping us achieve that. We are growing at a significant pace and hence possessing the right talent becomes more crucial for us. They come with years of industry experience and fresh ideas that will help us traverse the path that we have set for ourselves. Details and background of new recruits are as follows: Marketing Team: Pranil Shah Pranil Shah as Senior Manager, Marketing & Growth: Pranil is responsible for the digital acquisition P&L for the DailyObjects platform. He will be exploring new channels for growth and partnerships & will lead data-driven optimization experiments. He will also work closely with various teams to chart out business strategies for growth. Before DailyObjects, Pranil was the founder at The Jholmaal Store, a bootstrapped e-commerce D2C brand that reached 10M+ turnover, fulfilled 12k orders. His startup was recognized by Facebooks Global Small Business Grant 2020. He is a gold medalist Chartered Accountant and has attained the degree in B.Com.(H), from Hindu College, Delhi University. Rini Goel Rini Goel as Brand Marketing Lead: Rini will be responsible for charting out the creative and strategic plans for branding and marketing. She will also spearhead partnerships and collaborations to curate unique experiences for the consumers. Rini holds a masters degree from MICA. Prior to joining DailyObjects, she has worked with VIP Industries Limited and Titan Company Limited as a Brand Manager. During her previous stints, she had worked on some of the successful launches of Fastrack perfumes and Skybags. CRM, Operations & Sales: Amit Kumar Amit Kumar as Head Customer Experience: With over 15 years of experience, Amit will lead the team of professionals to supervise the day-to-day operations of the customer experience team. He will also be responsible for improving customer satisfaction levels and reducing SLA. Amit has previously worked with leading organizations including Zomato, Jabong, and Vertex India Customer Services Pvt. Ltd. Among his several achievements, Amit helped the team at Zomato to scale up the outsourced vendor team to 300x in a span of 4 months for India operations. Rounak Goyal Rounak Goyal as Head Operations and Supply Chain: Rounak will oversee production management, inventory control, on-time delivery, process automation, P&L control. In his last stint, he had worked with Rivigo (Tech-enabled Logistics Startup) as a Program Manager. Before this, he worked with Apollo Tyres to lead the Sales and Business Development team to boost the business revenue by 73 percent year on year for the Delhi NCR. He automated various operational processes to make them efficient with minimal manual intervention. Leading the operations and supply team in Rivigo he increased overall vehicle utility to 46% y-o-y and improved driver lifestyle making them reach their home every 12 hours intending towards making their lives human. Vikrant Sharma as Senior Corporate Sales Manager: Vikrant will oversee the corporate & B2B lead generation & conversion for DailyObjects. He will build and sustain strong relationship clients for bulk orders. He will provide short and long-term market forecasts, reports, and trends to assist business development in the acquisition of new clients. He will also ensure the consistency in the messaging, branding, content, internal and external b2B communications and marketing materials. Design: Akhil Raj Akhil Raj as Head Industrial Design: A senior designer, Akhil is responsible for curating design language and strategy, and product development. Akhil spearheads the industrial design products team to set the tone and language of existing and new categories. He has previously worked with made-it spin and Sharkdesigns Pvt. Ltd. Dozens of his designed products are currently selling in the market. He is a graduate of the National Institute of Design. He has also attained academic expertise from one of the oldest in Italy, The University of Ferrara to strengthen his skills. Paridhi Poddar Paridhi Poddar as Head Designer: She is responsible for providing a creative vision and designing soft goods at DailyObjects along with guiding the team in every part of the design process. A graduate from the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Delhi, Paridhi comes with an experience of 5 years, heading design at Nappa Dori. Her expertise lies in working with bags, accessories, shoes, and other lifestyle products. Vikrant Sharma VLADIVOSTOK, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Russia plans to launch its Luna-25 moon probe from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Far Eastern region of Amur on August 22, Russia's RIA Novosti news agency reported Friday. This would be Russia's first mission to the Moon in 46 years, said Alexander Mitkin, Deputy General Designer for Electrical Systems at NPO Lavochkin, a spacecraft building factory where Luna-25 was made. The last lunar mission, Luna-24, was undertaken by the former Soviet Union in August 1976, which proved presence of water in samples brought back from the Moon. According to the report, the main tasks of Luna-25 would include testing soft landing technologies in the moon's circumpolar region and conducting contact studies of the lunar south pole. Luna-25 marks the reactivation of Russia's moon program. After Luna-25, the Luna-26 mission for mapping is expected to lift off in 2024, Luna-27 for soil exploration in 2025, Luna-28 for collecting lunar soil and working out the landing scheme for Russian cosmonauts in 2027-2028. BUDAPEST, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Payment in rubles for Russian gas is not a violation of European Union sanctions, Hungarian government spokesperson Zoltan Kovacs said on Saturday. "The EU so far has no common procurement of gas and oil for European countries. So as we speak, we still go by alongside those contracts we have with Russians regarding gas and oil, and according to those contracts, it is a technical issue, in what currency we have to pay," Kovacs said in an interview with CNN, which was posted on his Twitter page. Kovacs said more than 80 percent of the Hungarian population and the country's economy are dependent on Russian gas, with no physical alternatives. Kovacs made the remarks in response to a statement by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who said Friday that such a move was a violation of EU sanctions aimed against Russia. Earlier this week, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that his country would be willing to pay for Russian gas in rubles after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree stipulating that "unfriendly countries" would be required to pay for gas in the Russian currency. The EU was in discussions with Budapest about the currency issue, according to von der Leyen. On April 6, President Biden extended the pause on student loan repayments through August 31, which means the 43 million Americans who owe $1.6 trillion in student loan debt are off the hook for another few months. According to Biden, If loan payments were to resume on schedule in May, analysis of recent data from the Federal Reserve suggests that millions of student loan borrowers would face significant economic hardship, and delinquencies and defaults could threaten Americans financial stability. Strangely, Biden is using the excuse of a weak economy to pause student loan debt repayments while his administration is telling the American people that the economy is booming. For more than two years, the 43 million Americans with outstanding student loans have not had to make monthly payments. And, given that Biden has kicked the can down the road yet again, I am beginning to wonder if these 43 million Americans will ever be forced to repay them. In March 2020, during the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, President Trump signed a law suspending student loan repayments for 60 days. However, as is all too often the case in Washington D.C., this temporary program has no end in sight. Whats more, because Biden is receiving such pressure from the far-left flank of his party, it is well within reason to assume that the pause on student loan repayment could morph into cancellation over the foreseeable future. For many months, prominent progressives such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and countless others have been applying pressure on Biden to forgo the pause in favor of outright debt cancelation. As Ocasio-Cortez recently tweeted: I think some folks read these extensions a s savvy politics, but I dont think those folks understand the panic and disorder it causes people to get so close to these deadlines just to extend the uncertainty. It doesnt have the affect [sic] people think it does. We should cancel them. And, based on recent comments from White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, the administration is considering this option more than ever. When asked if Biden is considering a possible executive-level cancellation on a wide scale of student debt, Psaki responded, He has not ruled [it] out. She added, I would note that, again, he would encourage Congress to send him a bill canceling $10,000 in student debt, something that he talked about looking forward to signing on the campaign trail. So, where does the American public stand on the issue of student loan cancelation? Well, that depends primarily on their age and party affiliation, unsurprisingly. According to a December 2021 Morning Consult poll, among all voters, only 19 percent want all student loans forgiven while 28 percent dont think a single penny in student loan debt should be canceled. When broken down by age group, a whopping 34 percent of millennials want all student loans to be wiped away while only 9 percent of baby boomers agree. Yet, the divide is most stark when party affiliation is taken into the equation. Among self-identified Democrats, a staggering 85 percent believe some amount of student loans should be forgiven. On the other hand, almost half of Republicans polled said no student loans should be canceled. In the United States, contracts are sacred. When one enters into a contract, he is obligated to fulfill their end of the agreement. However, if student loan debt is canceled by presidential fiat, I cannot help but wonder if we may rue the day. After all, today it is student loans that are potentially on the chopping block. But who is to say it wont be credit card debt, auto loans, or even mortgages that could be the next thing leftists target for cancellation? In short, canceling student loans, whether by executive order or via Congress, would set a terrible precedent whereby some Americans (those who did the right thing and paid back their student loans) would get shafted but those who didnt fulfill their contractual obligations (for whatever reason) reap the rewards. However, we must remember that loans can never be canceled. Someone, namely the American taxpayer, will end up footing the bill. Put another way, if student loan debt is indeed canceled, those of us (including this author) who paid our student loans back will end up subsidizing those who the government arbitrarily decides dont have to pay back the money they borrowed. Not only is that blatantly unfair, but it could make a country already divided along partisan lines rip apart at the seams. Chris Talgo (ctalgo@heartland.org) is senior editor at The Heartland Institute. Image: Stilfehler Somewhere in East Asia, a man walks into a brothel. Its a place of human slavery and degradation. This man has his eye on a certain teenager, although his reasons might surprise you as much as they are about to surprise the proprietor and security personnel in this hideous business establishment. Suddenly fireworks go off somewhere in the building. Is that gunfire? In the pandemonium, the young woman and man sprint away to a safe house. She has nothing but what shes wearing, but she will happily begin the arduous journey to recovery and a better life. How is such a rescue possible? This escape is the result of a near-death tractor accident suffered in Iowa by a Christian farmer, and the Health Care Sharing Ministry that helped put him back together again. This is how it happened. Every year, a driver somewhere rolls a tractor, and thats what happened to Brad Hopp. He landed in a ditch, and the tractor landed on top of him. The tractor crushed his pelvis and Hopp required 12 screws to hold the shattered pieces together. The accident caused so much damage the EMTs were surprised he lived to tell the tale. Hopp had monstrous medical bills to remind him that survival, too, has costs. Financial burdens quickly became a second crisis. Along with those expenses, however, Hopp also had a community to turn to, and it made all the difference. A few years before, Hopp and his family joined a Christian Health Care Sharing Ministry, which negotiated Hopps bills of $150,000 to $130,000, and then cost-shared the $130,000. The communitys generosity was remarkable. To express his deep gratitude to his health-sharing community, and to celebrate his deliverance from death, Hopp wanted to help others. So Hopp started an online business to help fund the rescue and deliverance of young women from a life of sex slavery. Hopps company, Teshuah Tea, uses funds from sales to rescue girls and women from unimaginable situations and place them in a safe house to slowly reintroduce them back into society. Teshuah is the Hebrew word for deliverance. Human trafficking is an evil reality around the world, and greed is a deadly vice. But we have seen this before. Hundreds of years ago, an economist forecast that the profits of racial slavery would make it untouchable. Thank God he was wrong. Today, the economist might make the same prediction about the business of human trafficking, which is also grotesque and far too profitable. As reported in Psychology Today, this corrupting and abusive practice is a global $150 billion a year business. But there is no financial calculation that captures the cost to each person used and destroyed in this grotesque practice. Some of the victims are as young as 11 years of age. How do these girls end up in the backrooms of these clubs? Poor rural parents want something better for their daughters. They hear or read about opportunities in the big city, and their daughters, hopeful of a job, travel from home only to become trapped -- sometimes kidnapped -- into a nightmare of slavery. We will never know what God will do with a tragedy. As Hopp explains his near-death experience, he credits the incredible model of health care sharing: Health Care Sharing Ministries are just a group of Christians that get together and live out the biblical model set forth by the early church. We share each others medical bills. Its a model I like. Payments go directly to members. Whether I know that person or not, I know I have a brother or sister out there who Im watching out for and helping to support. Like abolitionists of days gone by, Hopp and his company will do what they can to disrupt the disgusting business of sexual slavery and work for its termination. And to think this work is the result of the prayer and support from the Health Care Sharing Ministry makes an even greater difference than money. Members really dig into prayer, and thats always been amazing to me, Hopp says. I can call these people I dont know, and theyre ready to help. Hopp concludes, Just as the health care sharing community helped me when I needed them, I want to help others in need. Executive Director of the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries, Katy Talento is a veteran policy advisor, health care reformer, epidemiologist and thought leader. She was the top health advisor at the White House Domestic Policy Council and an oversight investigator and legislative director on Capitol Hill, spearheading transformative policies to protect religious liberty in health care, and end secret health care prices. Image: Piqsels The Doomsday Clock is so broken that it is not even right twice a day. It currently sits at one hundred seconds before midnight, having not ticked since 2020. That's right, despite a sociopath in the Kremlin and an imbecile in the W.H., the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists occupies land that Doomsday time forgot. The clock's inertia was not so evident when Trump was president; though the apocalyptic threat was less then than now, it was moved forward three times during his presidency. The justification for a couple of those moves combined concerns over nuclear weapons and climate change, but these threats tick at different rates. The threat of nuclear war is much more imminent than climate change. Perhaps that's one reason the clock is now broken: it can't synchronize threats that have different timescales. Addressing the climate threat from nuclear bombs, renowned climatologist Alan Robock said, "[g]lobal warming is a problem and we certainly should address it but in 20 years, the temperature might go up by a few tenths of a degree and it will be gradual." In order to keep global temps under the aspirational limits set by the Paris Climate accord, the U.N.'S Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change insists that emissions from warming gases must be halved by the end of the decade. Their inherent mindset is that climate change is an immediate, existential threat, but even by their alarmist standards by the end of the decade. Contrast that with the immediate threat from Nuclear weapons under the control of a despot with a perverted view of geopolitical history. A Russian regime with little regard for life as it escalates conflict in order to deescalate under more favorable terms. The fact that Putin put his nuclear forces on high alert, a status essentially equivalent to our DEFCON 2, moves us perilously closer to midnight. Disconcertingly, those who are supposed to manage the clock, headed by Rachel Bronson, the president and CEO of the Bulletin, may be more ideological than scientific. Her PhD. is actually in soft Political Science, not hard science. While Concern about climate change is justified, the clock's operations betray an unscientific bias: three moves under Trump, including one in his first year, yet none under Biden requires the willing suspension of disbelief. As noted by Robinson Meyer in The Atlantic, the prospect of a nuclear exchange between Russia and the U.S. "would be worse for the climate than any energy policy that Donald Trump ever proposed." According to the Global Challenges Foundation, the top threats to civilization are nuclear war and extreme climate change. The Doomsday Clock is oblivious, but it doesn't take a doomsayer to appreciate that both are more sinister under Biden than Trump. Continues Nuclear war: After Putin's dire maneuvers, Medvedev reasserted Russia's right to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine. Moreover, Russian forces have literally bombed nuclear power plants in Ukraine. There has been a run on potassium iodide pills out of fear of nuclear radiation. Though Putin's evilness is entirely to blame, it does reinforce the utility of the "peace through strength" doctrine, something which Biden does not convey. Horrifyingly, a man-made global catastrophe is being discussed in polite company. Indeed, more has been spoken about nuclear detonation in the last few weeks than in years when the clock did move. That reminds me of JFK's terrifying words: "Every man, woman, and child lives under a nuclear sword of Damocles, hanging by the slenderest of threads, capable of being cut at any moment by accident or miscalculation or by madness." Given the prevalence of political madness, let's hope the cold war era MAD doctrine remains a deterrent. Climate change: Biden's climate policies have emboldened Russia, once described as a "gas station masquerading as a country," by the late Senator John McCain. He immediately shut down the Keystone XL pipeline and he has ridiculed and tormented our great, socially responsible energy companies. Presuming streamlined operations, the oil transported through the Keystone pipeline would more than offset what we imported from Russia. At a minimum, it would have reduced our dependence. The war on fossil fuels prompts some to speculate that Russian agents are egging on our climate change brigade to further ensure European dependence on their energy exports. Clearly, policies that lead to an energy shortfall are not conducive to a salubrious environment when Biden genuflects before despots with dirty oil, including Venezuela and Iran, whose production processes are worse for the environment. The Doomsday Clock remains the closest it has ever been to midnight. However, unlike other clocks, and time itself, it can move back and forward. Now is probably the time for recalibration. First, reversing the moves under Trump would put us back to three minutes before midnight. Then, not because of overheated worries about climate, but because of dire warnings that Putin might use WMD if Russia doesn't win in eastern Ukraine, move the clock forward 30 seconds. There's a sociopath in the Kremlin and an imbecile in the W.H. An imbecile whose gaffes about the war in Ukraine are fraying the slenderest of threads, and whose clean energy imperatives are counterproductive to the sustenance of our planet, the resplendent pale blue dot floating majestically in the dark void of space. It's time the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists fix its clock. Image via Pxhere. The philosophy of the schoolroom in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next. - Abraham Lincoln It is often said that when something controversial is being pounded into the public via media headlines, there is something else that is going on behind the scenes that the public is being distracted from. This is certainly the case with Americas education system. While the public has been hammered with a full-frontal assault by activists pushing Critical Race Theory and gender ideology in the schools overtly, there has also been a covert assault from the flank called Social-Emotional Learning or SEL. Social-Emotional Learning supposedly arose out of the COVID-19 pandemic and a need to attend to the emotional psyches of fragile youth. It is a shift in the role of a teacher from an educator to a therapist and places a high value on a childs emotional competency over academic performance. After locking kids in their homes, isolating them from their peers, muzzling them with ineffective face diapers, and pounding them with fear and doom for 2 years, activists have swooped in to provide emotional support in the classroom once they were permitted to return. In typical government fashion, it seems like a solution looking for a problem. They didnt create SEL to mend the fragile psyches of youth, they damaged the fragile psyches of youth to push SEL. Social-Emotional Learning is a backdoor for CRT and gender ideology. After returning to school, some students have complained that rather than work to get them caught up on missing a year of quality instruction, they were instead presented with pseudo-therapeutic questions about their emotional competency. Some examples of SEL questions that students have been presented with include How do you feel when you see two men kissing?, or If you didnt have a diverse makeup of friends in your friend group, is it racist to seek out another race to fill your friend group? This has resulted in even some lifetime Democratic voters raising red flags. Wed be remiss to believe that Idaho has escaped the nonsense. In a recent undercover journalism operation by the organization Accuracy in Media, several Idaho educators were secretly filmed admitting that though SEL was banned in Idaho under the CRT ban, they simply teach the same concepts and call it mental health or behavior adaptations. YouTube screengrab They call it a brilliant ploy to change the name but keep the concepts deployed. These activists know that what they are teaching is barred in Idaho and secretly celebrate flaunting state law to continue to push their activism on your children. This stands in direct contradiction to what leftists proclaim when they say, CRT is not taught in our classrooms. CRT and SEL arent curricula, but rather a worldview that is imparted to your children by activists. In a recent Twitter thread by podcaster Josh Daws of the Great Awokening Podcast, Daws lays out in 23 tweets how CRT and gender ideology have been deployed sequentially and their effect on the minds of Americas youth. Based on the work of postmodern critic James Lindsey, Daws suggests that the opening salvo of CRT was to tear down approved identity in the youth. It imparts guilt, shame, and social rejection of majority identities like whiteness, maleness, a binary gender paradigm, or even heterosexuality. Once a person has been made to reject their own race, gender, or sexuality, it is followed up with an approved list of identities from which they can choose in order to be socially accepted. This activist attack on traditionalism begins to explain the sharp increase in the percentage of the population that identifies as LGBTQ+. In 2012, 5.8 percent of millennials identified as LGBTQ+. Today, that number stands at 9.1 percent amongst the same millennials. Move a generation forward and 15.9 percent of Generation Z identify as LGBTQ+ and growing. As we have seen in the case of Floridas anti-Grooming legislation, the pushback against indoctrinating our youth has been vociferous. Attempts to ban sexuality and gender ideology from k-3 classrooms were intentionally misrepresented as banning the word gay from classrooms. This raises the question: why are activists so hellbent on pushing their ideas of gender and sexuality on the kids? The purpose of all of this miseducation is a direct attack on the family itself. Neo-Marxists promote the same end goals as the old Marxists, including the abolition of the nuclear family, which they view as a structure of the hegemony. When the young are made to believe that their inherent sex or race is a cause for social rejection, they infer that they were set up for this status by their own parents. This creates resentment and a schism in the nuclear family. Many parents can attest to children returning home from school and castigating their parents for raising them with a bigoted worldview. Many relationships are irreparably severed as a result. Despite legislation to ban certain ideologies in the classroom in many states, activists continue to rebrand their tired ideas with new labels and fill the malleable minds of the youth with divisive and subjective ideologies. It is for this reason that parents must continue to stay engaged in their childrens education and challenge educators, administrators, and school boards when they veer from the mandate theyve been entrusted with. Photo by Max Harlynking on Unsplash Brian Parsons is a paleoconservative columnist in Idaho, a proud husband and father, and saved by Grace. You can follow him at WithdrawConsent.org or find his weekly opinion column in the Idaho State Journal. Gab, email. Carl Philipp Gottfried von Clausewitz was a Prussian general and military theorist who stressed both the moral and political aspects of war. His most notable work was About War and is required reading for all senior military colleges both here and aboard. Even though written almost two hundred years ago, many of his maxims are applicable today. He is probably best known for the phrase "war is the continuation of politics by other means." According to Clausewitz, war has a dual nature and is pulled by opposing tendencies toward escalation and limitation. Given this duality, the degree of effort that should be made in war becomes a matter of judgment that requires a constant assessment of the probabilities of success in the light of known circumstances. We have seen the dual nature of escalation and limitation playing out in Ukraine over the last month. At the start of the invasion, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, confidently declared that "Kyiv would fall in seventy-two hours." Ukraine was initially written off by the Biden administration and left to its own defenses. As Clausewitz would say, due to our perceived outcome, we chose to limit our support. We opted to send our usual "thoughts and prayers" but vetoed Poland sending MiG aircraft that would have enabled Ukraine to establish a no-fly zone of its own not maintained by NATO aircraft. This tit-for-tat has been escalating ever since Russia launched what it called a "special military operation to destroy Ukraine's military infrastructure." Since then, Ukraine forces have proved their mettle and resisted Russian aggression and have even gone on the counteroffensive, pushing Russian forces out of territory they previously occupied. Unfortunately, we have seen the result of Russian war crimes inflicted on civilian men, women, and children. Russian troops attacked a rail station in Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine Friday morning, leaving more than 39 dead and more than 100 hurt. The station was being used by civilians trying to evacuate and is the latest evidence that Russians are deliberately targeting civilians. Slovakia prime minister Eduard Heger is sending a Soviet-era S-300 air defense system to Ukraine to "help save many innocent lives from the aggression of the Putin regime." "I can confirm that the Slovak Republic has donated to Ukraine an air defense system, the S-300. I believe that this defense system will help save many innocent lives from the aggression of the Putin regime," Heger said. So, as Clausewitz would have predicted, we are now entering into the risky escalatory phase of the conflict. Who knows where the escalation may end chemical or biological weapons, or, God forbid, the use of tactical nuclear weapons? It all proves that in the world of geopolitics, it pays to be bold and decisive and to think two steps of your adversary rather than be passive and react to his next move. After all, as Joseph Addison warned us, "he who hesitates is lost." "Swift and resolute action lead to success; self-doubt is a prelude to disaster." Image via Max Pixel. Why are the media suddenly attacking the president when they supported many of his policies during the 2020 primaries? With Biden, the media are behaving like a bartender who encourages the driver to drink and supplies him with alcohol but reports him to the police when the accidents and casualties start piling up. The corrupt media called President Trump's border fence "racist" while praising Biden's promise to provide free health care for anyone crossing the southern border illegally. With such a generous and rewarding immigration policy, the media knew that the southern border would see an explosion of illegal crossings and so there was. As illegal entries hit record levels, murder, drug crimes, and sex crimes skyrocketed in the border states. Suddenly, Biden's border policy was being criticized by the propaganda media. They were all in until things started collapsing. Before the 2020 election, a story broke regarding Hunter Biden's laptop, which was abandoned at John Paul Mac Isaac's Delaware repair shop. Along with reports that Biden's laptop contained disturbing images of a sexual nature, there were allegations that presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son had compromising financial dealings with Ukraine worth millions of dollars. Tony Bobulinski, a former business associate of Hunter, confirmed on Fox's The Tucker Carlson Show that Hunter's troubling emails were legitimate. The New York Post confirmed the authenticity of the laptop and published articles regarding some of its shady contents. That's when the formidable socialist propaganda apparatus went into full cover-up mode. The New York Times and Washington Post dismissed the laptop story. Democrats attacked anyone discussing the laptop and labeled the entire subject a Russian disinformation scheme. Social media banned The New York Post from sharing the story, and countless bloggers sharing the story saw their social media accounts suspended. Now, 18 months after Biden became president, the corrupt media have come out to say Hunter's laptop is genuine. So they are selling the American people snowballs in the winter. Maybe in a year or two, the fraudulent media will admit that the 2020 election was stolen. Image: National Archives. National Review's Kevin Williamson is urging conservatives to divorce, or at least separate, for a time, from the Republican Party that is, from the Donald Trump-led Republican Party. In a recent column, Williamson claims that what he calls "sensible conservatives" twenty years ago or so "could take a realistic, instrumental view of the GOP and find it reasonably useful for our ends." But not today. Not when the Republican Party consists of "vulgar" populists and "infantile" nationalists who loathe free trade, free speech, the U.S. military, and libertarians. Williamson apparently pines for the GOP of George W. Bush, which fought a "global war on terror" for 20 years, expending American blood and treasure in a doomed effort to spread democracy to the Middle East, of all places; that raised budget deficits to new heights in an effort to be seen as "compassionate" conservatives; that promoted "engagement" with China and thereby helped fuel its rise to economic and military superpower status while benefiting its Wall Street supporters; that promoted immigration "reform" which served as a magnet for illegal aliens to cross the southern border; and that sat idly by while China and Russia grew closer and formed a real "Axis of Evil" that threatens to dominate the Eurasian landmass. What's worse, Williamson expresses general agreement with the William Kristols and Joe Scarboroughs of the "old" and more "sensible" GOP. Anyone who thinks Joe Scarborough is conservative, let alone sensible, has never watched Morning Joe on MSNBC. The sum and substance of their supposed "sensible conservatism" is "Orange Man Bad." If Donald Trump is for it, they are against it. Williamson's "sensible conservatives" are Republicans (or former Republicans) who voted for and support Joe Biden and other Democrats. Williamson suggests that the current GOP "is not the only instrument available" to sensible conservatives. Ideas, he correctly notes, are more important than political parties, and he floats the idea of supporting a "third party." In the early days of National Review, writers and editors occasionally suggested to, and sometimes persuaded, NR's founder and editor, William F. Buckley, Jr., to withhold support for GOP candidates who did not fully agree with NR's brand of conservatism. Fortunately, most of the time, Buckley listened to the sage advice of senior editor James Burnham, who counseled that the magazine should support the most "rightward" electable GOP candidate. In 2016 and 2020, that was Donald Trump. But in both elections, Williamson's "sensible conservatives," including National Review's editors, chose to oppose Trump. And every time I read an NR piece criticizing the Biden administration for one or more of its policies and there are many such articles I think, "But you helped put these people in power. What are you complaining about? You reap what you sow." Image: National Archives via Picryl, public domain. A few days ago, Republican Texas governor Greg Abbott said illegal aliens who were secretly transported to Texas cities by the federal government will be sent to Washington, D.C. Abbott said the following, with his tongue placed firmly in his cheek: We are sending them to the United States Capitol where the Biden administration will be able to more immediately address the needs of the people that they are allowing to come across our border. Early this week, it was reported that human traffickers attempted to smuggle more than 100 illegal migrants into Texas in just two days. Those were the ones who were caught. Homeland Security reported that more than 2.5 million illegal aliens had crossed the southern border since Biden took over. The Title 42 policy, which President Trump implemented during the pandemic, empowers border officials quickly to expel migrants on health grounds. Under Biden, that will be terminated on May 23. The migrant caravans are now massing in Central America and Mexico, and would-be illegals have told the press they are tightly focused on that day. Once the surge of migrants makes it to the States, the migrants are then transported to poor and working-class neighborhoods. The result is that working-class citizens either lose their jobs or face depressed wages because the migrants often work off the books for less than the minimum wage and don't pay taxes. Resources such as hospitals, law enforcement, and fire services that are meager in working-class areas are already overburdened. Free spaces such as pavement and parks that are occupied by migrants are rendered unhygienic. During times when new variants of COVID-19 are frequently discovered, an influx of untested migrants is undesirable. The fact that the migrants are unvetted means there could be criminal elements among the groups that could wreak havoc in otherwise peaceful communities. Some could be drug consumers or, worse, drug peddlers. Gov. Abbott's plan to transport illegal migrants to Capitol Hill certainly is novel. It is a fine idea to compel the proponents of open borders who embrace Biden's flawed interpretation of U.S. immigration law to suffer the consequences and inconveniences of their actions. If D.C. is overrun by illegal migrants, lawmakers will be placed in the kind of peril faced by regular people in small towns of border states every day. Once House speaker Nancy Pelosi and socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez find it difficult to navigate through a swarm of illegal aliens, their eyes will be opened. Once Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Adam Schiff suffer due to the chaos, the health hazard, and the hygiene challenges caused by migrants, they will be compelled to change their policies. But let's return back to reality and understand the practical challenges. What if the migrants are unwilling to make the trip to Washington? Abbott says he will transport only those who are willing to go. What if the majority are unwilling to go? Abbott's proposal crashes before it takes off. What if states run by Democrats through which the buses have to pass en route to D.C. refuse entry to the migrant buses? Yes, the Democrats will be exposed for being hypocrites. But the problem of illegal aliens will remain unsolved even if a standoff continues. Let's say the buses reach D.C., and, much like the trucker protests, the D.C. police refuse them entry and barricade the city, as they did after Jan. 6, 2021. D.C. Democrats will be exposed for their hypocrisy, but how does that help? How long will the standoff continue? At some point, the migrants will have to be let go. What if the migrants are allowed into D.C. but are summarily picked up, placed on nightly flights, and transported back to Texas? Beyond these various hypothetical situations, the fact remains that enforcement of U.S. immigration laws lies with the federal government and not the states. The federal government will probably find a way to place impediments before the buses even depart from Texas. So how does a state governor combat the influx of migrants realistically? Border security is the responsibility of the federal government, and this is the root of the problem now that the Democrats hold power in all of D.C. The fact that many liberal judges are lenient while dealing with illegal aliens, even those who have committed additional crimes, makes matters worse. Abbott recently signed an order directing the Texas Department of Public Safety to thoroughly inspect vehicles entering Texas. Most state governors must implement similar measures. CCTV cameras must be placed within border precincts, and the footage should be monitored at all times. The moment any suspected activity is observed, those monitoring the CCTV footage should alert state officials. The state must enforce laws that prevent businesses, big and small, from hiring illegal aliens in any capacity. Employers caught hiring illegals must be fined and penalized. Law enforcement must always be vigilant. There must never be a situation like what occurred last year, when over fifteen thousand mostly Haitian migrants built makeshift camps under the International Bridge in Del Rio, Texas. It is impossible to know how many among these migrants are now within the U.S. It will take major changes to laws and restructuring to give more powers to state governors in combating illegal migration. Abbott's idea is attention-grabbing, but it is not practical. Abbott obviously knows that but is referring to it to highlight the point. The only way to control this madness is to vote for fearless, principled, and incorruptible Republicans this November and in November 2024. Image: Screen shot from 12 News via YouTube. Accepting the fake claims of a massacre is as bad as or even worse than denying a real one. Besides the immediate damage caused by the deception, it undermines trust and empathy when a real massacre happens. The allegations of the Bucha massacre are false. The Russian military left Bucha, Ukraine on March 30, 2022. On March 31, Bucha mayor Anatoly Fedoruk triumphantly declared Bucha liberated. On April 1, a video shot from a moving car appeared on Twitter, showing 7 (maybe 8) dead bodies on the Yablonska Street in Bucha. By April 3, the number of bodies found on the streets of Bucha had grown to 20, and mass graves were shown. Kyiv claimed that the Russian military had executed between 280 and 410 civilians in Bucha. Russia denied these accusations (RIA FAN in Russian, April 7) and demanded a special session by the U.N. Security Council to refute them. This request was blocked by Britain. Mass Graves The mass graves are real, but the decision to bury the deceased in a mass grave was made by the local authorities in consultations with clergy after the morgue was overflowing. Deceased people, including those who had died from natural causes and shooting by both sides, were buried there. Burying the dead in mass graves in Bucha was known since March 10, at least. It was discussed in Russian-speaking forums with videos. Satellite imagery of the dug grave (CNN, April 3) from March 10 matches the description by the local abbot (CNN, April 5): The local morgue in Bucha ran out of space as deaths mounted in March; to deal with all the bodies, a tractor was brought in to dig a mass grave in the grounds of the Church of St. Andrew. ... There were too many dead people, and there was no way to properly bury them because getting to the cemetery was simply unrealistic because of the shelling. Bucha was under Russian control at that time, so shelling was likely not by them. Until April 23, nobody claimed that victims of executions had been buried there. This practice of temporary burial in mass graves (" ," literally "brotherly graves") is being reported from other contested areas of Ukraine. It has nothing to do with alleged war crimes. There is a huge cultural misunderstanding. In the West, mass graves are associated with mass murder. In Russia and Ukraine, they are associated with fighting a war. Even permanent burial in mass or brotherly graves is not unusual in times of war. Other Evidence Among approximately 20 bodies shown in the photos and videos, some appear to be obviously staged. For example, one body photographed on April 3 had its hands tied behind with a snow-white shred impossible if the body had lain there for four days. Moreover, all the bodies were shown from angles from which the faces could not be seen. As of April 7, no names of victims have been released by Ukraine. In an interview with DW.ru, Mayor Fedoruk refused even to tell when the names would be released. No autopsy results were published. The territory is in the hands of the Ukrainian government, and it is supposed to provide evidence of executions, if any. The most attention went to the seven or so bodies on Yablonska Street. There are claims that they could be identified on satellite photos made as early as March 11. This is hard to believe, given the Russian and Ukrainian tradition to bury dead persons quickly and natural decomposition happening to bodies remaining exposed. Whether these seven people were killed when the Russian troops were in the town or later, the cause of death cannot be determined from the widely available evidence. These men might have been killed by Ukrainian artillery. Bucha, a small town (50,000 residents pre-war, per Mayor Fedoruk) bordering the slightly bigger town Irpin, was near the frontline for about a month, and Ukrainian artillery fired toward Bucha even after the Russian troops withdrew. The videos show craters next to some of the bodies. There could be air bursts, not leaving craters. Some of them might have died from a stray bullet or an attack by marauders. There is no evidence of a massacre by the Russian troops. The assertions that the bodies moved immediately after the car moved past them are not correct. Some people on the Russian side say that the men were murdered by the Ukrainian paramilitary organization Azov or other forces after the Russian military withdrew. I did not find any evidence in support of this and thus consider it not true. This claim has been followed by allegations that the same happened in other towns from which the Russian military retreated. We need to put an end to these lies because: they constitute blood libel; they increase hatred between Russians and Ukrainians; they guide our policy in the wrong direction. PS: I was born and raised in Kyiv while Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. Image via Pickpik. Hoshizuna no Hama is a small beach located on the northern tip of the remote Iriomote Island in Okinawa Prefecture, in Japan. Hoshizuna no Hama means star sand beach, and is so named because the grains of sand found here are shaped like tiny stars. These are not really sand but the exoskeletons of tiny one-celled organism, barely a millimeter across, called Baclogypsina sphaerulata that live among the sea grass. Baclogypsina sphaerulata is a protozoa belonging to the family Calcalinidae. Their exoskeleton (or shell) is shaped like a star with 5 or 6 pointed spines or arms that help them move from place to place and also store some of the diatoms that they feed upon. The outer shell is made of calcium carbonate, and when they die, they leave their star shaped exoskeleton behind to be washed up on the beaches in enormous numbers. Photo credit The best time to find these creatures, or rather their skeletons, is after a typhoon when the raging ocean looses them up from the sea bed and washes them on the beach along with fresh sand. In Iriomote Island, it can be found at every beach, if you look for it carefully. It is abundant at Hoshizuna no Hama. One reason they are so plenty on beaches in the Indo Pacific Ocean is that they prefer shallow waters, often using sea algae to anchor themselves. The locals have a different story. According to them, the star shells are the tiny offspring of the Southern Cross and the North Star. These children of the stars were born in the ocean just of Okinawa, but were killed by a giant serpent. Their tiny skeletons are all that remains. Also see: Beach of shells and beach of glass Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Photo credit Source: Japan-guide, Scribol, Japan.Inc, Feature: Beijing's half-century of medical assistance to Africa Xinhua) 10:52, April 09, 2022 BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- In 1968, the first team of health practitioners, 36 strong, traveled from Beijing to Africa, evidence of China's strong commitment to medical aid to the continent. More than half a century later, that commitment is still in place. Over the decades, 53 Beijing medical assistance teams involving over 1,000 personnel have been dispatched to 11 African countries and regions, including Zambia, Algeria and Guinea, establishing solid friendships between the peoples of the two sides. IMPROVING HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS The 29th Beijing medical assistance team to Guinea arrived in Conakry, on March 6 (local time) after a journey of more than 50 hours. The team has 22 members, 20 of whom came from Beijing Tiantan Hospital, while the other two came from the Beijing Municipal Health Commission and the Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control. "Our medical staff voluntarily signed up for this team and were selected from 15 clinical departments, including neurology, emergency treatment and intensive care," said Guan Zhongjun, Party secretary of Beijing Tiantan Hospital. Guo Wei, leader of the team, explained that it will work in Guinea for about 18 months, further strengthening China's cooperation with Guinean in the areas of clinical medicine, healthcare reform and public health. Zhang Wei, deputy Party secretary of Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, who was the leader of the 28th Beijing medical assistance team to Guinea, explained the importance of such work, particularly amid the pandemic. "The COVID-19 pandemic continues to influence the whole world, while Guinea is also threatened by many other infectious diseases, such as malaria, yellow fever, measles and Ebola. But the local hospitals still lacked a complete hospital infection response system," said Zhang. Therefore, the primary task facing Zhang's team was to help Guinean hospitals to set up an effective healthcare system to deal with infectious diseases. The Chinese staff worked jointly with their local peers to establish a tailored mechanism based on extensive consultation and investigation. At the end of March, the China-Guinea Friendship Hospital put forward a set of management regulations in response to possible COVID-19 infections in hospitals, which was expected to be expanded to more hospitals in Guinea. CONFRONTING EBOLA Kong Qingyu, deputy director of Beijing Anzhen Hospital, and the leader of the 23rd Beijing medical assistance team to Guinea, said that Ebola was a major issue confronting his team. "In 2014, Ebola broke out in Africa, but we knew little about the virus. The only thing we knew was that it was highly contagious and almost incurable," Kong recalled. The epidemic unfolded just as Kong and his team were about to conclude their work in Guinea, but they chose to stay, confronting the outbreaks shoulder to shoulder with African colleagues. "We immediately reported to China's medical authorities, and they sent us the latest research outcomes, with the help of which we guided people in Guinea to implement prevention and control measures accordingly," Kong added. At the same time, the 24th team, including 19 experts from Beijing Friendship Hospital, was ready to support the fight against Ebola in Guinea. "Nobody could remain immune to the Ebola epidemic, so we had to take responsibility and stand with the Guinean people. Some of our team members even made out wills before they left home," said Wang Zhenchang, deputy director of Beijing Friendship Hospital and leader of the 24th team. After the team arrived in August 2014, they provided healthcare training for nearly 1,700 local medical workers and health officials. "The training helped them understand the Ebola virus and adopt appropriate measures to contain the infection," he added. BUILDING HOSPITALS, FRIENDSHIP Thanks to the continuous efforts of the Chinese medical assistance teams in Guinea, the China-Guinea Friendship Hospital, founded in April 2012, has become one of the leading hospitals in Guinea. "When I was there, our priority was developing the intensive-care department, but the lack of capable medical staff was a major challenge for us," recalled Wang Yu, leader of the 25th Beijing medical assistance team to Guinea, which started its mission in January 2016. Wang Yu's team organized a comprehensive intensive-care training program for Guinean doctors and nurses, including more than 200 hours of theoretical training and over 400 hours of surgical training, with all the teaching materials translated into French, the official language of Guinea. "It is more important to help the Guinean people build a sound medical system and enable local medical staff to deal with diseases themselves, rather than just making prescriptions for patients," said Zhang, leader of the 28th team. Zhang said his team further improved the training project, adding short-term exchanges and online courses. According to Zhong Dongbo, Party secretary of the Beijing Municipal Health Commission, the past half-century of medical cooperation has been well worth the effort. "The 53 medical assistance teams from Beijing to African countries have kept our friendship alive," said Zhong. "Developing a healthcare community with a shared future is our common aspiration." (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji) Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie has condemned mindless idiots who placed one of his election posters with a noose around the neck outside a rally against the Northern Ireland Protocol in Co Armagh. The poster was removed from a bench in Lurgan on Friday evening by fellow unionist leaders Sir Jeffrey Donaldson of the DUP and Jim Allister of the TUV. Mr Beattie also hit out at one of the speakers at the event who referred to him as a traitor. The UUP leader, who has refused to attend the rallies claiming that they are raising tensions, told the PA news agency he would not be bullied, intimidated or distracted. A series of rallies have been taking place across Northern Ireland outlining unionist and loyalist opposition to the post-Brexit protocol which sees additional checks on goods arriving into Northern Ireland from Great Britain. Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie has refused to attend rallies against the Northern Ireland Protocol (Brian Lawless/PA) It is strongly opposed by unionists as a border in the Irish Sea. Mr Beattie announced he would not attend the events after a security alert halted a peace-building event in north Belfast which Irish Foreign Affairs minister Simon Coveney had been addressing last month. Since then, his constituency office in Portadown was attacked when the front window was smashed by a brick. Reacting to Friday nights events, Mr Beattie said: It is a poster and some mindless idiots have put a noose around my neck on it they are not reflective of the vast majority of people who were there. A poster can go in the bin, a window can be replaced, My concern for the people of Northern Ireland remains. Nothing has changed. Mr Beattie, an Army veteran who has been decorated with the Military Cross, said he was disappointed at being branded a traitor by a speaker at the event. He said: That is where my main disappointment is, in being called a Lundy and a traitor when Im clearly not. I am a unionist who supports the union, who will do everything I possibly can for the people of that union. A poster of the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, Doug Beattie, during a rally in opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol at Brownlow House in Lurgan, County Armagh (Liam McBurney/PA) I will neither be bullied nor intimidated nor distracted from the path that I believe is the right path for the people of Northern Ireland, so nothing has changed whatsoever. He added: Those who called me a Lundy and traitor or put a double-knotted noose around my neck on a poster are not the people who stood beside me in battle. They are not the people who I served alongside who were some of the finest men and women who have ever donned the Queens uniform, as we literally bled blood, sweat and tears in the heat of battle, in the service of our country. A minority shout the loudest and make a lot of noise as they seek to raise temperatures and create instability in Northern Ireland, but I believe the silent majority in Northern Ireland will want no truck with those comments and will despair at the type of leadership it represents for unionism. Mr Beattie added: I dont blame the vast majority of people who were there. The people who did it are the ones to blame, they are the ones who have to answer the questions and we should not lay blame at the feet of others when it was mindless individuals who did it. It (the poster) was taken down, it went in the bin, as far as I am concerned that is it. Sir Jeffrey, Mr Allister, loyalist Jamie Bryson addressed the event on Friday evening at Brownlow House. It was during an address by one of the organisers of the event, Roy Ferguson, that Mr Beattie was called a traitor. Mr Allister said he removed the poster of Mr Beattie from view because he felt its presentation, whether intentional or inadvertent, was entirely inappropriate. He said that if someone placed it to convey malevolence, that they were idiots. Sir Jeffrey told the rally that his message to the event was one of unionists working together. We must stand united. We must stand as one in opposition to the protocol, he said. Unionism is fully entitled to express its unequivocal opposition to the protocol in a public and peaceful way. The protocol has undemocratically altered Northern Irelands constitutional position and dealt a hammer blow to prosperity in all corners of our province. Not a single unionist representative supports the Irish Sea border. Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill said: There is absolutely no place in our politics, or community for such threats against public representatives, or anyone else. Those politicians involved in these anti-Good Friday Agreement, and anti-protocol rallies must refrain from inflammatory speeches which can whip up tensions and lead to a deteriorating political situation. Extinction Rebellion climate activists have staged a sit-down protest in Oxford Street and Regent Street, blocking traffic in the heart of Londons shopping district to call for no new investment in fossil fuels. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered at Speakers Corner at Hyde Park on Saturday morning before marching into the centre of the citys West End. The crowd sat down across Oxford Circus and the famous high streets it connects, chanting save our planet and whose streets, our streets. Activists from Extinction Rebellion demonstrate on Oxford Street in central London (Stefan Rousseau/PA) They carried banners that read I am here for nature and children, navel gazing into disaster and life on earth is dying. Some were seen eating their lunch while they sat in sunny weather. Mechanical engineer Verel Rodrigues, 27, of Bristol, told the PA news agency: We are currently in a dire situation and we are appealing to the government to stop investing in fossil fuels. We have no choice. We are sorry to be causing this inconvenience but we dont have any other choice. If an alarm is ringing because your house is on fire, you dont get p***ed off at the fire alarm. It is trying to save you and we are trying to raise the alarm of what is about to come. BREAKING "JUST SIT DOWN" Today hundreds of concerned citizens are standing up for #ClimateJustice & to end fossil fuels by simply sitting down. An Extinction Rebellion march sits in Oxford Circus, with disruption set to continue till Government respond to the crisis. pic.twitter.com/k8rhGomjSM Extinction Rebellion UK (@XRebellionUK) April 9, 2022 The Metropolitan Police said protesters were disrupting traffic on Oxford Street and Regent Street. The force tweeted: A number of protesters in Oxford St. & Regent St. are sitting in the road, blocking traffic in both directions. Traffic diversions are being put in place. A member of the public who wanted only to be named as Steve C, 50, of Ealing, west London, said Extinction Rebellions tactics have been obsessive. The tactics have given the Conservative party an excuse to reduce and remove all of our rights to protest. They have daily, repeatedly, blocked roads, whether it is small or large numbers. They have stopped people from taking their kids to school, they have stopped people from getting to work and to hospital appointments. It is just unacceptable. Mr C added said the protesters, whom he called the most un-diverse crowd you have ever seen in London, consisted of white middle-class, do-gooding liberals (who) do not represent London town. Hundreds of protesters marched from Hyde Park into the citys famous shopping district to demand an end to fossil fuel investment (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Protester Sunita Ramani, 23, of Bristol, who works in environmental communications, said the action was justified. Its absolutely not our intention to annoy people and disrupt their lives but looking throughout history civil disobedience has proven to be the most successful way that people are able to make movements like this successful, she told PA. We are doing this on behalf of everyone who deserves to have a liveable, justice-filled future. After starting the sit-in just after 2pm, the demonstrators were on the move again around 45 minutes later, heading into the city centre. Extinction Rebellion billed the protest as part of the final push in the plan to end fossil fuels. The group have said similar action to block areas of the city for as long as possible is planned every day for a week or more. They have pledged that our disruption will not stop until the fossil fuel economy comes to an end, according to the Extinction Rebellion website. On Friday, two protesters from the climate movement shut down Tower Bridge by abseiling off the sides of the London landmark and unfurling a huge banner that read: End fossil fuels now. The bridge, a main traffic artery across the Thames, was closed to vehicles, causing long queues. London mayor Sadiq Khan said the protest was counterproductive adding that demonstrators needed to win over public opinion at the same time as putting pressure on the government. Boris Johnson has said the West will supply Ukraine with the equipment it needs to ensure it can never again be invaded by Russia after holding surprise talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv. Following the Prime Ministers unannounced visit to the Ukrainian capital, Downing Street said Britain would be sending 120 armoured vehicles as well as new anti-ship missile systems. Appearing alongside Mr Zelensky in a recorded broadcast clip, Mr Johnson said the West would continue to ratchet up sanctions on Moscow as he praised the courage of the Ukrainian resistance. I think that the Ukrainians have shown the courage of a lion, and you Volodymyr have given the roar of that lion, he said. The UK and others (will) supply the equipment, the technology, the know-how, the intelligence, so that Ukraine will never be invaded again. So Ukraine is so fortified and protected that Ukraine can never be bullied again. Never be blackmailed again. Never be threatened in the same way again. The latest support package represents a significant stepping up of UK military assistance to Ukraine. Today I met my friend President @ZelenskyyUa in Kyiv as a show of our unwavering support for the people of Ukraine. We're setting out a new package of financial & military aid which is a testament of our commitment to his country's struggle against Russias barbaric campaign. pic.twitter.com/KNY0Nm6NQ3 Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) April 9, 2022 It comes just a day after Mr Johnson announced a further 100 million worth of kit for Kyiv, including anti-tank and anti-aircraft weaponry and so-called suicide drones, which loiter over the battlefield before attacking their target. The inclusion of the anti-ship missile systems came as British military intelligence said Russian naval forces were continuing to launch cruise missile strikes in support of ground operations in the region. It follows an urgent appeal by the Ukrainians for more weapons including armoured vehicles ahead of an expected Russian offensive on the eastern Donbas region, already part held by pro-Moscow separatists. Mr Johnson said that while Russian forces attacking Kyiv had suffered a defeat, their withdrawal was tactical as they prepared to refocus their military efforts on the east. Surprise pic.twitter.com/AWa5RjYosD Embassy of Ukraine to the UK (@UkrEmbLondon) April 9, 2022 He strongly condemned the war crimes being uncovered in the wake of their departure, with scores bodies of civilians who have been shot and killed being reported by the Ukrainian authorities. I think what Putin has done in places like Bucha and Irpin, his war crimes have permanently polluted his reputation and the reputation of his government, he said. Britains Ministry of Defence said the retreating Russian troops had left behind evidence of the disproportionate targeting of non-combatants. In its latest intelligence assessment, it said this included the presence of mass graves, the fatal use of hostages as human shields, and mining of civilian infrastructure. Mr Zelensky welcomed the UKs decisive and significant support for his country as he urged other Western allies to intensify the pressure on Moscow. We have to exert pressure in the form of sanctions. It is time to impose a complete embargo on Russian energy resources. They should increase the amount of weapons being supplied, he said. Britain could supply Mastiff armoured patrol vehicles (MoD/Crown Copyright/PA) As well as the additional equipment Mr Johnson also confirmed further economic support, guaranteeing an additional 500 million dollars (385 million) in World Bank lending to Ukraine, taking total UK loan guarantees to one billion dollars (770 million). There were no immediate details of the armoured vehicles being sent, although Defence Secretary Ben Wallace indicated during a visit to Romania on Friday that they would be Mastiff six-wheel-drive patrol vehicles. According to an intelligence assessment by the UK Ministry of Defence, Russian forces were continuing to hit non-military targets like the train station at Kramatorsk. At least 52 people died and many more were injured when a missile struck the station which was packed with thousands of women and children seeking to flee westwards ahead of the Russian advance. (PA Graphics) In his nightly video address, Mr Zelensky called on the international community to hold to account the Russian forces responsible. All world efforts will be directed to establish every minute of who did what, who gave what orders, where the missile came from, who transported it, who gave the command and how this strike was agreed, he said. The Kremlin has denied responsibility for the attack, however Western officials believe it was probably a Russian Tochka-U missile, which Nato refers to as a SS-21, which was fired indiscriminately towards the town centre. The Ukrainian authorities continued to urge civilians in the east to leave as Russian forces re-group following their withdrawal from the areas around Kyiv in the face of fierce Ukrainian resistance. Ten evacuation corridors were planned for Saturday in the hope of allowing residents to leave war zones in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, which comprise the Donbas, as well as neighbouring Zaporizhzhia. Meanwhile Downing Street declined to discuss details of Mr Johnsons travel to Kyiv, citing security reasons. His visit however coincided with the arrival of Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, who also held talks with Mr Zelensky, while European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen was in the city on Friday. Last month, the prime ministers of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia visited Kyiv in a show of support for the Ukrainians. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Alex Jones is facing a new lawsuit in Texas over accusations that the Infowars host hid millions of dollars in assets after families of Sandy Hook victims began taking him to court. Relatives of some of the 20 children and six educators killed in the 2012 Newtown, Connecticut, massacre have already won defamation lawsuits against Jones after he said the shootings never happened. The new lawsuit, which was filed Wednesday, comes as trials are set for this year over how much he should pay. After Alex Jones was sued for claiming the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary was a hoax, the infamous conspiracy theorist conspired to divert his assets to shell companies owned by insiders like his parents, his children, and himself," reads the lawsuit, which was filed in Austin, Texas, by some of the Sandy Hook families. According to the lawsuit, Jones is accused of drawing about $18 million from his Infowars company over three years, starting in 2018 when the defamation lawsuits were filed. Jones is also accused of claiming a dubious $54 million debt around that time to another company, which the lawsuit alleges is indirectly or directly owned by Jones. Norm Pattis, an attorney for Jones, said there was no effort to hide assets. The suggestion is ridiculous. We look forward to litigating these issues," Pattis said in an email Friday. The lawsuit was first reported by the Austin American-Statesman. The lawsuit was filed the same day Jones was questioned by lawyers for the Sandy Hook families. A judge had ordered the him to face mounting fines until he appeared for a deposition. More than three months after the mysterious deaths of two Black women in Bridgeport, Conn., a bill advanced to the full Legislature last week requiring police in the state to notify the family of a deceased person within 24 hours of identification. House Bill 5349 would require police who respond to a deceased person or the remains of a person to notify the family within 24 hours or if not, to document the reason they failed to do so. State Sen. Dennis Bradley, a co-sponsor of the bill, called it a no-brainer. "This is such a basic concept that we think should take place in the state of Connecticut to ensure human dignity, we want to make sure that the family is treated with a delicacy in a delicate situation that it deserves, Bradley said at a public meeting about the bill last month, according to the local NBC affiliate WVIT. "This piece of legislation, although at its first glance sounds pretty fundamental, will be monumental to ensure that we make a bridge between police departments and families." The bills advancement comes after Lauren Smith-Fields, a 23-year-old college student, died on Dec. 12 in her Bridgeport apartment after meeting up with an older man earlier that evening. Lauren Smith-Fields was found dead in Bridgeport, Conn., on Dec. 12, 2021. (Family photo) It wasnt until the next day that Smith-Fields mother, Shantell Fields, says she found out about her daughters death after finding a note on her apartment door to call the landlord. How do I not get any notification that my daughter passed away? Fields questioned in an interview with Yahoo News in January. I don't even get grieving time at all. It was only after the family called police after speaking to the landlord that Smith-Fields family was notified of her death. Darnell Crosland, the familys attorney, alleged that police failed on the first day of the investigation. There's a typical protocol that's followed when you have a situation like this, Crosland told Yahoo News. If you have a husband or wife or boyfriend or girlfriend call the police because one of them is dead, typically the person who is surviving is pivotal to the investigation. Most times they are looked at as a suspect, because they were the last person with the deceased, and in this particular case, the police have been very hesitant to even call this person a person of interest. The man Smith-Fields was last with identified by her family as Matthew LaFountain called the police the morning after their date to say she was unresponsive. He was never detained and has yet to be named a person of interest in the case. In a tragic coincidence, another Bridgeport woman, Brenda Lee Rawls, 53, went to visit a male friend near her home on Dec. 11, but never returned, according to Newsweek. After not hearing from Rawls for two days, her sister, Dorothy Rawls Washington, made a series of distressed calls to the police, only to be told that nothing could be done. It wasnt until Washington and two family members went to the friend's home that they were told that Rawls had died in her sleep a day earlier, on Dec. 12. "Nobody ever notified us that she died," Washington told NBC News. "We had to do our own investigation and find out where she was." After an investigation, the office of the chief medical examiner determined that Rawls died of natural causes, WVIT reported. "We have to have streamline mechanisms that we can get to the Inspector General rather easier with these cases, because if we're not, we'll be lost in the red tape, and we'll be having a bill with no teeth," said Crosland, an attorney also representing Rawlss family. Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim shared his support of the bill as public testimony. "This bill is about human decency, and the fact that human decency does not stop when someone dies. It extends to the living and to the family and loved ones of the deceased and should be carried out in a respectful and dignified way," he said. Russian President Vladimir Putin instated a new commander to lead operations in Ukraine as officials warn Moscow is looking to shift its focus in eastern Ukraine after more than six weeks of war. Gen. Alexander Dvornikov, commander of Russias southern military district (SMD), will now lead the invasion, first reported the BBC late Friday. RUSSIA INVADES UKRAINE: LIVE UPDATES Image released by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense on Thursday Feb 17, 2022 shows the frontline of Donbas, a conflict area with the Russian-backed separatists, during President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's visit to the Donetsk region in the east of Ukraine. EYEPRESS via Reuters Connect Dvornikov not only has known experience in Russias campaign in Syria, but also led military exercises in southern Russia last year, right along Ukraines border with the Donbas region. A western official told the outlet that the change in command will improve Russias flagging invasion after it failed to take the capital city of Kyiv despite weeks of shelling and attempts to push ground forces across the country. "Unless Russia is able to change its tactics, it's very difficult to see how they succeed in even these limited objectives that they've reset themselves," the official said. But Russia has made greater advances in the south and east of Ukraine an advancement that senior U.S. defense officials have said is largely due to its illegal eight-year occupation of areas like Crimea. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned this week that Russia is looking to focus its efforts on a "major offensive" in eastern Ukraine, where Russian-backed forces have been fighting the Ukrainian army since 2014 in the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics. The breakaway regions are located along Ukraines eastern border in an area known as the Donbas. Six months before Russia invaded Ukraine under the guise of a "special military operation," Dvornikov directly oversaw military exercises that practiced "combined arms operations from August 9 to September 15" in southern Russia, according to the Institute for the Study of War. The exercises reportedly included "tactical tasks" involving "motorized rifle, tank, and artillery battalions" in coordination with attached specialized units. RUSSIA TO MOBILIZE 60,000 RESERVISTS AS IT SETS ITS SIGHTS ON EASTERN UKRAINE: SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL The specialized units focused on "biological, radiological, and nuclear" defenses. Reconnaissance, logistics electronic warfare, medical training, aviation and military police exercises were also held. "Warships from the Caspian Flotilla and the Black Sea Fleet, naval infantry, and at least 80 fixed and rotary-wing aircraft" also participated in the exercises, noted the report. The trainings occurred along Ukraines eastern border as well as in occupied Crimea and parts of occupied Georgia. The report noted that Russian forces looked to practice joint operations based on lessons learned from experiences in Syria. The U.S. and NATO have pledged to increase military support as officials warn the war in eastern Ukraine is expected to become increasingly brutal. "This will be a knife fight. This could be very bloody and very ugly," a senior U.S. defense official told reporters Friday. "The Russians are limiting their geographic aims, and they still have a lot of combat power available to them." European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, Slovakia's Prime Minister Eduard Heger and Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stand next to a mass grave as they visit the town of Bucha, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, outside of Kyiv, Ukraine April 8, 2022. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko The official said the U.S. believes Russia is looking to add 60,000 recruits to its war effort as it hones in on eastern Ukraine an area roughly the size of West Virginia. U.S. and NATO security officials have warned the war in Ukraine could continue for months, if not years to come. Fran Grace, a religious studies professor at the University of Redlands, before leading the Loving Kindness meditation session on Zoom. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) One roamed for hours through an oak preserve asking God to speak to her through the silence. Another spent her days in meditation, using each exhale to send relief to her son, who had, by then, slipped out of consciousness. Not long before, a third woman had awakened in the middle of the night to what became a terrifying, recurring dream about descending into hell. Each woman members of three generations went through aspiritual journey that had been sparked, sped up or heightened by the pandemic. The last two years have transformed the stability of our families, our jobs and our collective understanding of science and sacrifice. But, for many of us, COVID-19's reach also rewired something more elemental: our faith. A Pew survey conducted early in the pandemic, found that nearly 3 in 10 Americans said their religious faith had become stronger since the coronavirus outbreak. Grace leads a meditation session for attendees from across the country. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) For others, this time has fundamentally changed their place within their religious traditions or led them to question long-held beliefs altogether processes ofintrospection andtransfiguration that can be, at once, painful and deeply fruitful. "Suffering," one of the women said, "sometimes forces us to look at the gold mine were sitting on." The pastor During the first fall of the pandemic, as she was clawing her way through a blinding depression, Esther Loewen told her wife, Paige, something she'd long feared would end both her marriage and her career as a Seventh-Day Adventist pastor. "Im afraid I might be trans." They sobbed and hugged and Paige made a promise: Im not going anywhere. A few months later, Loewen emailed her mother to explainthat the person shed long thought of as her eldest son was, in fact, her daughter. Her new name was Esther Elizabeth. Esther Loewen with her son as he practices the cello at home in Redlands. (Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times) The revelation was hard for her mother. But Loewen, now 40, said her mother has come far in a short time, switching from using her deadname to Elle, a short version of her new middle name. Next, Loewen and her wife told their two sons, then 9 and 6, who quickly settled on a nickname of their own: Mapa. In many ways, she said, the pandemic shutdowns provided the framework she needed to come out. For the first time ever, she was isolated from the social pressures and fears that had prevented her from transitioning. From her home in Redlands, she connected with other transgender Christians in Zoom support groups, which provided some relief from the bone-deep exhaustion that had come with pastoring a congregation with split views on masking and other COVID-19 safety measures. Loewen knew her denomination had a longstanding record of barring LGBTQ people from church leadership, but because she was preaching remotely at the time, she'd felt comfortable to begin growing out her hair, keeping her beard closely cropped and painting her toenails. But she hadn't yet decided whether to take hormones. Before she took that step, she wanted to hear a blessing from God and it finally came in January 2021 while at a retreat for church leaders at an oak preserve in Yucaipa. Esther Loewen poses for a portrait at her home. (Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times) During several hours of solitude, she prayed What do you want to tell me today? then she rounded a corner and saw hundreds of monarch butterflies. Like many trans people, she sees the caterpillar-to-butterfly transition as a beautiful analogy and, in that moment, she burst into laughter and then tears. It shifted from being like, Can I do this? she said, to I have to do this in order to be faithful to God. It felt just as clear as the calling, years earlier, to a life of ministry a vocation born out of the faith she'd clung to as a teenager after surviving a house fire that killed her younger brother. It was a job she loved dearly, but also one that often made her think about privacy and secrecy. Dont put your trash in the can out front, an older pastor once had advised her, explaining that church members had interrogated him after finding an empty carton of ice cream, which would be off limits to the strictest Adventists, who are vegan. She wouldnt lie outright, but Loewen decided that church members didnt need to know everything about her private life, including the time she wrote a letter to a friend, who is a lesbian, telling her she was loved by God exactly as she was and that the church was wrong on this issue. She never dared say such a thing publicly, a reality that made her feel complicit then and guilty now. She sometimes thinks about times she sat around boardroom tables, listening to church leaders say hurtful, exclusionary things and didn't speak up. And yet, she tries to welcome God's grace, understanding that deep down, even then, she knew she was trans. Last summer, as her depression deepened, she sat down with fellow church leaders and told them she was trans. She desperately hoped she could keep her job, she told them, suggesting they move her to a church in a more liberal area. The leaders handled the situation about as generously as they could have given church rules, she said, but it was clear she had to resign. Esther Loewen outside her home while her two boys play. (Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times) It was one of the heaviest losses of her life, she said, but still she feels closer to God than ever. On a recent afternoon, Loewen, who is studying to become a therapist, picked up her younger son from school and took him to a park. A little girl on the swing next to him looked over at Loewen and then turned to her grandmother. Whats wrong with that lady? Her son turned confidently toward the girl. Shes transgender and shes my Mapa. The 'exvangelical' One day, when she was 9, Hasasha Hasulube-George recalls sitting on her bed sobbing. Im such a bad girl," she'd written in her journal. She can't remember what she got in trouble for that day forgetting to clean her room, perhaps. But she vividly recalls her mother assuring her that if she asked Jesus into her heart, he would help her. So she prayed and relief washed over her. By 12, she had pored through the Bible and soon after she read I Kissed Dating Goodbye, a purity culture classic during the early aughts. She proudly wore a silver promise ring inscribed with "True Love Waits" and woke up early on schooldays to pray. And yet, a countervailing force buffeted her spiritual life: a dawning awareness that her family's racial identity her father is Black, her mother white set them apart from the rest of their worship community in suburban Chicago. Hasasha Hasulube-George flips through a religious journal she kept as a girl. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times) Hasulube-George, now 24, recalls a church picnic where members of their congregation repeatedly told her brothersto only take what they could eat and not go back for seconds. They said nothing to the other teenagers in line, who were white. So often, she said, conversations about race in white, evangelical circles when they happened at all quickly pivoted to the same line: "One day we'll all go to Heaven and color will not matter." Still, she found deep community among fellow believers. When she thought about her few friends who werent Christians, it filled her with dread. What if she never tried to convert them and they died? Going to hell, she'd learned, was like getting stuck in a dark cave, separated from God for eternity and surrounded by deafening silence. It was that same image that had haunted her dreams during the first summer of the pandemic. By then, her then-fiance, Hunter George, whom she'd met in college in Indiana, had been laid off from his job at a nonprofit and the cleaning job she had lined up after graduation fell through. The couple moved into Hunters parents' basement in Rochester, N.Y. Hasulube-George in the courtyard of her apartment in North Hollywood. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times) She could almost always hear Fox News on the TV upstairs, with rotating headlines about the impending presidential election and mask mandates, or talking heads framing the social justice protests after the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd only in the context of property damage. Family members sent her and Hunter, who is white, emails suggesting that Black Lives Matter was against God and Trump was ordained by the Lord. That's when the nightmares started. Like Arbery, who was shot to death by a white man while out for a jog, in her dreams Hasulube-George would be running when someone, often a neighbor, would shoot her dead. Shed then descend into the quiet-cave version of hell and be trapped there until she woke up in a panic. She told Hunter she needed to get rid of her Bible. She couldnt stop thinking about verses shed underlined years earlier that she now felt condemned by. He understood. In the weeks that followed, she remembers sitting on Zoom calls for Christian premarital counseling with a longtime mentor and thinking it felt like a farce. She and Hunter were actively trying to get pregnant, but she knew she couldnt be upfront about that. She was trying to hold onto the final shreds of her faith until her wedding day in September 2020. "My farewell party to my old life," she came to think of it. Hasulube-George has begun researching African spiritualism, specifically traditions from her father's native Uganda. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times) Soon after, she started having conversations, sometimes painful ones, with friends and family about her decision. A verse she'd once memorized Children, obey your parents in the Lord" nowfelt like a dagger. Her mother initially responded with deep fear, she said, but time has softened the situation. Since moving to North Hollywood last summer, the couple has continued to deconstruct their faiths. Hunter has vowed off organized religion and she has begun researching African spiritualism, specifically traditions from her father's native Uganda. She misses the structure her faith offered for years, she relied on prayer as a tool to regulate her anxiety but she has, again, found community in an online book club for fellow "exvangelicals." While she thinks she probably would have left her faith eventually, she said that watching the trifecta of pandemic-era scenarios play out in 2020 the "don't-wear-a-mask-God-will-protect-you" comments, the evangelical fervor for Trump and the response she saw from many Christians during the social justice protests both crystalized and sped up her decision. "That pushed me to decide, 'I'm done.'" The religious studies professor Fran Grace clearly remembers the origin point of a twisting spiritual pathway that has helped guide her through the pandemic. It was four decades ago and her high school English teacher was reading aloud from The Scarlet Letter." Only half-listening to Nathaniel Hawthornes tale of sin and repentance, she saw a pillar of light slice down, as if piercing through the ceiling, and felt as if she melted into the incandescence. She interpreted it, at first, as a sign that something infinitely loving existed inside of her. But the revelation calcified into fear after her mother took her to see the pastor of a small Protestant church in her Florida town. Youve got the devil inside you, young lady, he proclaimed. Now, further along in a journey that has included joining and leaving a fundamentalist Christian church, divorcing her husband, falling in love with a woman for the first time, drinking herself to near-death, finding sobriety and traveling to study world religions, Grace a professor of religious studies at the University of Redlands looks back fondly on that day in high school as the start of a lifelong quest that hasbuoyed her during the hardest times in her life. Grace's spiritual tools, including meditation and dream work, have grounded her since her 29-year-old son died of COVID last year. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) At the tail end of last summer, Peter Boyko her partner Diane Eller-Boyko's son, who'd she'd come to think of as her own was hospitalized with COVID-19. Before long, the 29-year-old father of three was struggling to breathe. Restricted from frequent visits, Grace and Eller-Boyko, who both follow the Sufi path, dug into spiritual tools they'd long relied on: meditation, dream work and paying attention to small signs. Soon after Peter died, a letter addressed to him showed up at the couple's home. The note from a children's charity included a line about accepting people just as they are a trait that was exceptionally true of Peter. It was a hint, Grace believed, from the inner world. She felt more tuned into the kindness of others, often reflecting on the proverb about how suffering often points us to the goldmine beneath us. And as the pandemic lingers, she has tried to help others find that spiritual gold. One Wednesday in December, Grace, 57, sat cross-legged in front of a camera inside the Meditation Room, an airy, carpeted space adjacent to her office at the University of Redlands. For years, Grace has led free, weekly meditation sessions for students and other members of the community and although she'd returned in person by December, most of the attendees were still joining virtually. One by one, their smiling faces popped up in small squares as they joined from San Diego, Tucson, Canada. Grace asked everyone to close their eyes. "Relax, relax, relax," she guided them. Sense your right leg, she said, and then your left. Let your belly fall open and relax the muscles in your throat. Open your heart and offer yourself in service to others. Think of a stranger and send them love. Later, they went around the virtual circle, sharing about their weeks and whom they had selected as their stranger while meditating. A 91-year-old from San Diego had thought of the volunteer who drove her to a dentist appointment a few days earlier. AnIowa State University student pictured the cafeteria employee who handed her ice cream on her birthday. A Presbyterian minister recalled a man on Death Row at San Quentin who had started as a pen pal and became a close friend; during the meditation, the minister said, she had prayed for the women he killed. Wow, Grace whispered. When it was his turn to share, a man from British Columbia, who was sitting cross-legged on his floor, told the group that his father had died a week earlier. He began to cry, resting his forehead on the ground. Grace closed her eyes. As she inhaled, she focused on breathing in his suffering. With her exhale, she sent out hope. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. There was activity on Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro before the heat rose on Thursday. On Friday, eight record high temperatures were tied or broken in the L.A. area. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) Friday marked a day of record high temperatures for the Los Angeles area, amid an unseasonable spring heat wave. Daily records were broken or tied in eight locations, according to the National Weather Service in Oxnard. Long Beach reached a sweltering 101 degrees, breaking the old record of 92 set in 2014, forecasters said. Camarillo reached 99, breaking the record of 86 set in 2003. Oxnard's high of 98 broke the previous record of 85 set in 1938. And Santa Barbara reached 90 degrees Friday, breaking the record of 87 set in 2019. Another look at our record highs today, with Burbank added with the daily high tied at 99. Cooler weather on the way, starting tomorrow (and tonight - overnight lows should be cooler!) #SoCal#CAwx#LAheatpic.twitter.com/Cx28g9Y2kI NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) April 9, 2022 At UCLA, the temperature reached 94 degrees; the previous record of 87 was set in 1989. Records were also broken in downtown Los Angeles which reached 95, vs. 92 in 1989 and Los Angeles International Airport at 97, vs. 88 in 1989 forecasters said. Burbank's high of 99 tied a record set in 1989, forecasters said. Forecasters issued a heat advisory, which expired Friday evening, and public warnings about increased fire danger and risk of heat-related illness. Conditions this week raised worries about the drought that continues to grip California. The latest U.S. Drought Monitor update, released Thursday, showed more than 40% of the state under extreme drought conditions up from about 16% three months ago. Nearly all of the state is classified as being under extreme or severe drought. Statewide snowpack on Thursday was an abysmal 27% of normal for the date, according to state data. Despite a smattering of winter storms, California recorded its driest first-quarter stretch, state officials said last week. January through March are typically the heart of Californias rainy season. Water regulators are increasingly concerned about dwindling supplies and backsliding conservation efforts. Urban water usage in the state decreased by just half a percent in February, compared with the same month in 2020. Some relief is on the way, with temperatures forecast to fall over the weekend. Highs are expected to be about 10 degrees cooler in most locations Saturday, forecasters said. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Boris Johnson has pledged to send 120 armoured vehicles to Ukraine, after meeting President Volodymyr Zelensky for talks in Kyiv. The Prime Minister said he made his unannounced visit to the Ukrainian capital as a show of our unwavering support for the people of Ukraine. As well as the armoured vehicles, in a significant stepping-up of UK military support, Mr Johnson said Britain would also be sending new anti-ship missile systems. It comes the day after he announced a further 100 million worth of UK military assistance, including anti-tank and anti-aircraft weaponry and so-called suicide drones, which loiter over the battlefield before attacking their target. Following his meeting with the Ukrainian leader, Mr Johnson said in a statement: Ukraine has defied the odds and pushed back Russian forces from the gates of Kyiv, achieving the greatest feat of arms of the 21st century. It is because of President Zelenskys resolute leadership and the invincible heroism and courage of the Ukrainian people that Putins monstrous aims are being thwarted. I made clear today that the United Kingdom stands unwaveringly with them in this ongoing fight, and we are in it for the long run. Britain could send Mastiff armoured patrol vehicles to Ukraine (MoD/Crown copyright/PA) We are stepping up our own military and economic support and convening a global alliance to bring this tragedy to an end, and ensure Ukraine survives and thrives as a free and sovereign nation. As well as the additional equipment Mr Johnson also confirmed further economic support, guaranteeing an additional 500 million dollars (385 million) in World Bank lending to Ukraine, taking total UK loan guarantees to one billion dollars (770 million). The announcements follow an urgent appeal by the Ukrainians for more weapons including armoured vehicles ahead of an expected Russian offensive on the eastern Donbas region, already part held by pro-Moscow separatists. The inclusion of anti-ship missile systems came as British military intelligence said Russian naval forces were continuing to launch cruise missile strikes in support of ground operations in the region. Today I met my friend President @ZelenskyyUa in Kyiv as a show of our unwavering support for the people of Ukraine. We're setting out a new package of financial & military aid which is a testament of our commitment to his country's struggle against Russias barbaric campaign. pic.twitter.com/KNY0Nm6NQ3 Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) April 9, 2022 There were no immediate details of the armoured vehicles, although Defence Secretary Ben Wallace indicated during a visit to Romania on Friday that they would be Mastiff six-wheel-drive patrol vehicles. According to the latest intelligence assessment by the UK Ministry of Defence, Russian forces are continuing to hit non-military targets like the train station at Kramatorsk. At least 52 people died and many more were injured when a missile struck the station which was packed with thousands of women and children seeking to flee westwards ahead of the Russian advance. In his nightly video address, Mr Zelensky called on the international community to hold to account the Russian forces responsible. All world efforts will be directed to establish every minute of who did what, who gave what orders, where the missile came from, who transported it, who gave the command and how this strike was agreed, he said. The Kremlin has denied responsibility for the attack, claiming it was carried out by the Ukrainians themselves as a provocation. However Western officials believe it was probably a Russian Tochka-U missile, which Nato refers to as a SS-21, which was fired indiscriminately towards the town centre. The Ukrainian authorities continued to urge civilians in the east to leave as Russian forces re-group following their withdrawal from the areas around Kyiv in the face of fierce Ukrainian resistance. (PA Graphics) Deputy prime minister Iryna Vereshchuk said 10 evacuation corridors were planned for Saturday in the hope of allowing residents to leave war zones in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, which comprise the Donbas, as well as neighbouring Zaporizhzhia. Meanwhile Downing Street declined to discuss details of Mr Johnsons travel to Kyiv, citing security reasons. His visit however coincided with the arrival of Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, who also held talks with Mr Zelensky, while European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen was in the city on Friday. Last month the prime ministers of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia visited Kyiv in a show of support for the Ukrainians. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. YEREVAN, APRIL 9, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan held a telephone conversation with President of Russia Vladimir Putin, the Armenian PMs Office said. Prime Minister Pashinyan informed the Russian President about the results of the April 6 meeting held with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the mediation of President of the European Council Charles Michel. The Armenian PM and the Russian President attached importance to the agreements on signing a peace treaty with Azerbaijan and starting the delimitation works. The Russian President expressed readiness to fully assist these processes. The recent incursion of the Azerbaijani units into the responsibility zone of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno Karabakh was touched upon. PM Pashinyan expressed the expectation of the Armenian side that Russian peacekeepers take concrete measures to ensure the withdrawal of the invading Azerbaijani units. The Armenian PM and the Russian President also discussed the mutual economic partnership between the two countries and agreed that they will discuss in detail also these issues during Pashinyans upcoming official visit to Russia scheduled on April 19. All those aged 18 or above and have completed nine months after the administration of the second dose, will be eligible for the booster dose A medic administers a dose of Covid-19 vaccine to a beneficiary at Nair Hospital, in Mumbai, Wednesday, April 06, 2022. First case of new Covid-19 variant called XE has been detected in Mumbai. (PTI) NEW DELHI: In a major move, the Centre has allowed booster doses or what it calls precautionary doses of the Covid-19 vaccine for everyone above 18 years of age at private healthcare centres from April 10. All those aged 18 or above and have completed nine months after the administration of the second dose, will be eligible for the booster dose. Adding an extra layer of safety! Precaution dose to be available to the 18+ age group from April 10, at private vaccination centres. All 18+ who have completed nine months after the administration of the second dose would be eligible for precaution dose, Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya twitted. The health ministry, however, made it clear that the ongoing free government vaccination drive for first, second as well as precautionary dose for healthcare workers, frontline workers and senior citizens will continue. The ministry said that the drive will also be further accelerated. The move to allow booster doses for all adults is expected to liquidate inventory lying with vaccine makers. Both Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech had stopped Covid-19 vaccine production recently owing to low demand and inventory pile up. Some private hospitals also have vaccine stocks lying with them. Calling it a crucial and timely decision, SII CEO Adar Poonawalla said it will further provide long-term protection against the virus. He said people who wished to travel were finding it difficult to do so without a third dose as several countries have placed restrictions on those who have not taken a booster dose. Unlike the booster shots announced for healthcare workers, frontline staff and those above 60, the third jab will not be free for most adults. End-users will pay Rs 600 for the booster dose and the hospitals will get the shots at a discounted price, Mr Poonawalla said in a statement. Last June, the Centre had capped the administration charges for private vaccination centres at Rs 150 per dose. The Centre instructed private centers not to charge more than Rs 780 for Covishield, Rs 1,410 for Covaxin and Rs 1,145 for Sputnik V including taxes and administration charges. Covishield costs Rs 600 per dose for private centers, while Covaxin costs Rs 1,200 per dose, and Sputnik V is priced at Rs 948 per dose (excluding GST). Biological E has said that it would price Corbevax at Rs 800 per dose (excluding all taxes). In a letter to the health ministry, SII had said in March that it is looking to price Covovax (Novavax vaccine) at Rs 900 (excluding taxes) in the private market. Zydus Lifesciences supplies its three-dose DNA vaccine ZyCoV-D to the Centre at Rs 265 per dose and the needle-free applicator device costs Rs 93 per dose. Both Covovax and ZyCoV-D are not available at private vaccination centers yet. Both SII and Bharat Biotech had stopped production of Covid-19 vaccines and were focusing on non-Covid vaccines as demand dwindled. SII has an inventory of 200-250 million doses of Covishield, while Bharat Biotech claims it has completed all its supply commitments. India has so far administered over 185.38 crore vaccines for Covid-19 to its eligible population. Over 2.4 crore precaution doses have also been administered to healthcare workers, frontline workers and elders above 60 years of age. About 96 per cent of all 15 plus population in the country have received at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose, while about 83 per cent of 15 plus population has received both doses. Nearly 45 per cent of the 12 to 14 years age group have also received the first dose. India had started the administration of precaution doses for everyone above 60 years of age on March 16. Earlier, precaution dose was allowed only for the healthcare workers, frontline workers and those above 60 years of age with comorbidities issue. Precaution dose is the third dose of the same vaccine that one has been administered against the SARS-CoV-2 infection. The necessity of a third dose was felt worldwide with the emergence of newer variants of the virus, while the immunity produced by two doses of the vaccine wanes gradually. Despite concerns over new mutations of the coronavirus, including the XE variant, infections in India have fallen to their lowest in more than a year, with 1,109 new cases reported in the past 24 hours and 43 deaths. The countrys total tally of infections now stands at more than 4.3 crore, with 5.21 lakh deaths. The active cases comprise 0.03 per cent of the total infections, while the national Covid-19 recovery rate stands at 98.76 per cent. There has been a reduction of 147 cases in the active Covid-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. The daily positivity rate was recorded as 0.24 per cent and the weekly positivity rate as 0.23 per cent. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,25,00,002, while the case fatality rate has been recorded at 1.21 per cent. The other news of the day: More and more Central Asian migrants are fighting for Russia (and Ukraine). Doubts are raised in Uzbekistan over a nuclear power plant under construction with Rosatom. One hundred Uyghurs have been arrested in a small Xinjang community. In India, the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly will adopt the unified liturgy by Christmas, ending a dispute within the Syro-Malabar Church. SAUDI ARABIA Saudi Arabia will authorise one million people both from the kingdom and abroad to travel to Makkah for this years Hajj; only a few thousand local pilgrims were allowed in the previous two years. In making its announcement, the kingdom's Hajj and Umrah Ministry said that only people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 under the age of 65 will be allowed to make the annual Muslim pilgrimage. PHILIPPINES CHINA Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, held a one-hour phone summit. The two leaders discussed the situation in Ukraine and bilateral relations during the Duterte administration, which is now nearing the end of its term. A statement from the Office of the President of the Philippines described the meeting as open, warm and positive. Both leaders stressed the need to maintain peace, security, and stability in the South China Sea. CHINA Chinese authorities arrested at least 100 residents of a small Uyghur hamlet of 700 people in the northwestern region of Xinjiang, Radio Free Asia reported, citing a local source. No reasons were given. The source, a local security guard, noted that the government also provided assistance to the families of the prisoners from Sheyih Mehelle, which is part of Chuluqay, a township of some 10,000 people. RUSSIA Russian authorities are increasingly calling up mostly non-Russian soldiers for the war in Ukraine, with fewer recruits coming from Moscow and St Petersburg. Recruitment is targeting especially Central Asian migrants with a Russian passport, this according to the Union of Migrants of Russia. The latter also noted that many migrants can also be found in the ranks of the Ukrainian military. UZBEKISTAN In Uzbekistan, uncertainty is growing over the construction of a US$ 11 billion nuclear power plant together with Russias Rosatom Corporation, which is not yet on the Western sanctions list. It is feared that business transactions related to the project, whose conclusion is scheduled for 2028, might be blocked. INDIA Archbishop Mar Antony Kariyil, archiepiscopal vicar of Ernakulam-Angamaly, announced that the exemption granted for the uniform celebration of the Holy Qurbana (Holy Offering or Holy Sacrifice), the Syro-Malabar Eucharistic liturgy, will end at Christmas, making the mode adopted last summer by the Synod of this Eastern Church mandatory after that date, as is already the case in all other dioceses. The decision follows a letter recently sent by the pope. by Shafique Khokhar The final vote, which is expected Saturday evening, should see the opposition harness enough support against the government. For his part, Prime Minister Khan has accepted the Supreme Courts ruling, but urged his followers to protect your sovereignty" tomorrow in a street protest. Christian leaders warn that if politicians fail to solve the crisis, the country will suffer the consequences. They also call for action in favour of minorities. Islamabad (AsiaNews) Pakistans National Assembly is in session today after the Supreme Court overruled Deputy Speaker Arif Alvi who, on the advice of Prime Minister Imran Khan, cancelled a no-confidence vote against his government and dissolved the lower house of parliament. The vote of no-confidence should take place this evening, and the outcome is expected to go against Khan after several defections from the coalition led by his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party. This gives the opposition at least 172 votes, a majority in the 342-member National Assembly. Last night Imran Khan addressed the nation in a televised speech in which he said he was saddened by Thursdays decision by the Supreme Court but accepted it. However, he reiterated his accusations of interference against the United States, adding that his party would not accept an imported government. Khan went on to call on his supporters to take to the streets tomorrow evening after the Ramadan fast, urging them to protect your sovereignty" without violence or causing damage to property. Meanwhile, the political stalemate of the past week continues to dominate public life. For the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, the Supreme Court ruling was a good thing. It is imperative that the court not compromise on any aspect of the constitution. Its decision will have a long-term effect and strengthen constitutional democracy. Pakistan Christian Association president Saleem Rajput told AsiaNews that the crisis should not dominate the countrys political life and the work of the government, leaving everything else at a standstill, prey to an already rampant lawlessness. If the political situation is not brought under control, both the economy and society will suffer greatly and revival will be impossible, Rajput said. Recently, the country's economy has been severely hit and the debt has increased. If politicians do not stop humiliating each other, the country will suffer the consequences. The Supreme Courts ruling will serve as a precedent to reaffirm the primacy of the constitution and the stability of democracy in Pakistan, said Fr Khalid Rashid Asi, from the Justice and Peace Commission, speaking to AsiaNews. "However, pro-democracy forces must not overstep their limits; instead, they must let parliament follow its own path without any interference and delaying tactics. Fr Asi also would like to see the Supreme Court look at the current situation of minorities in the political process. We demand better electoral reforms before the next elections, so that Christians can vote for their representatives, who can address minority issues in a better way. For Naveed Walter, president of Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP), the use of religion and anti-American slogans are not new, but have always been dangerous for Pakistans stability. In his view, Imran Khan contradicts himself when, in his last speech, he pledged to reserve seats for women and minorities while making unproven accusations that some lawmakers took money from the opposition to vote in favour of the no-confidence petition. "The practice of democratic values rather than the use of religion in politics favours Pakistani minorities, he added. In the country's second largest city, 40 soldiers yesterday forced their way into the Sacred Heart cathedral during Lent preparations, holding scores of worshippers for hours, including Archbishop Marco Tin Win. Meanwhile, in Yangon, the military took a 4-year-old boy hostage in lieu of his father, accused of supporting the resistance. Mandalay (AsiaNews) The violence of Myanmars military has reached the Archdiocese of Mandalay, the countrys second largest city. In a direct act of intimidation, some 40 soldiers stormed into the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart yesterday afternoon, in an area inhabited mainly by ethnic Tamil, while worshippers were preparing for a Lenten celebration. According to a Catholic News Agency contributor present at the scene, soldiers demanded to know where the gold and money and weapons were hidden, stopping anyone trying to get out. When Fr Dominic Jyo Du, vicar general of the Archdiocese, tried to explain that the only money they had were donations raised for the poor, he too was pushed into the cathedral. Archbishop Marco Tin Win, who was in another building at the time of the raid, was taken to the cathedral and made to seat with the others. Meanwhile, people who avoided capture warned other local Catholics to stay away from the cathedral. The prelate and the faithful were detained for more than two hours before they were released. However, some soldiers remained and are still there this morning. Archbishop Marco Tin Win is one of the voices of the countrys Church who most courageously spoke out against the violence that followed the coup d'etat of 1 February 2021. In the first days of the protests, he took to the streets with demonstrators and again last Christmas, he denounced the countrys tragic situation in an interview with AsiaNews. The condition of the Burmese people is similar to that of Mary and Joseph during the first Christmas: far from home, in the jungle, forests and caves of the country, they run for their lives," he said. This morning reports indicate that the military have cracked down again against groups linked to the opposition. Meanwhile in Yangon, the fate of a 4-year-old boy who was allegedly seized by soldiers in Ahlone township on 5 April in lieu of his father, is a source of grave concern. About 20 military in civilian clothes broke into his nursery school. Unable to find his father, who is accused of supporting the resistance, they forced the staff to hand the child over. Earlier, they had abducted his mother. According to the National Unity Government (NUG) set up by the opposition following the coup, the life of both mother and child are in danger. She is reportedly held at a military interrogation centre, while the whereabouts of her son are unknown. Many Yangon residents have voiced their concerns about their fate on social media. The 2022 Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge is unlike any Ghost ever produced. It's not for the old retired billionaire enjoying the spoils of their youth. The 2022 Black Badge Ghost is for the young millionaire who made a killing out of selling crypto, NFTs, being famous, or scoring huge from a software gig.It's the blackest car you'll ever see rolling off the assembly line. According to the automaker, it comes with the industry's darkest black, made by mixing 100 pounds of black paint. The grill, spirit of ecstasy, wheels, window trims, exhaust tips, and badges are all blacked out. You don't have to get it in black. Roll-Royce has 44,000 colors you can choose from.The luxury manufacturer says their new cars are for those who "reject suits for streetwear, use blockchain, and influence the analog world through digital endeavors."Unlike its predecessors, the 2022 Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge feels dressed down. Getting into the interior doesn't feel like walking into a treasure chest anymore, as Rolls-Royce decided to keep it simple. The interior has perfectly spec'd seats, technical carbon fiber trims, chrome-lined cup holders and finishes, and a plush-designed dash with easy-to-use hard buttons.Under the hood, the 2022 Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge comes with a twin-turbo 6.75-liter V12 mated to an 8-speed ZF transmission making 591 hp (600 ps) and 664 lb-ft (900 Nm) of torque. It will do 0 to 60 mph in 4.6-seconds.The new Ghost Black Badge comes with a sharper driving demeanor thanks to the all-wheel-drive system and 50:50 weight distribution ratio. Like any other luxury car on its level, it offers a tranquil driving experience. Jakub of TheStraightPipes says it was initially too quiet, due to the high-end insulation and double-glazed windows, Rolls-Royce had to add a little bit of sound back in.Forget how much it weighs. The 2022 Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge handles much better than you think it should for a car that stretches this much in any direction.All this glamor and attention doesn't come cheap. The 2022 Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge is your retirement home on wheels, starting at about $442,700. ICE Theres no way around it. Any car that has an internal combustion engine () must perform regular oil changes to function properly. This operation might be time-consuming, and in some cases, even expensive. Nobody thought of a way out or of a substitute, except for those carmakers that are now offering electric vehicles (EVs). These units have motors that dont require a periodic oil change and dont consume too much of this precious amber-like liquid when theyre put to the test.Not changing your oil according to the schedule indicated by the manufacturer or the mechanic might result in unwelcome surprises.But this hassle might soon be a thing of the past if youre attached to your ICE. Theres an American company that developed the necessary means to transform this whole thing into something thats done as easily as filling up.Enter the autonomous oil change system designed to make you more independent.It has already been patented, as the United States Patent and Trademark Office ( USPTO ) document attached down below shows. The recently disclosed filing indicates inventors Solomon Eisenbach, Shmaya Eisenbach, and Zacharia Eisenbach developed this advanced mechanism to service any make or model for a clean, no filter, hands-free oil change.The system comprises a hose connected to a drain plug, a magnet to secure the connection with the car, a sensor to measure the level of oil, and a pump that creates the siphoning of oil via the hose. All you have to do is connect the pump to your cars topside hole opening, swipe your card to pay, press start, and just wait a couple of minutes. The system automatically recognizes the car and knows what type of liquid it needs. Everything's done very fast. It can even determine if theres a need for a water washout before refilling.Very soon, changing the car's oil might be done exactly like going through an automatic car wash. You just need some money and a little bit of expertise to recognize the oil filler cap in the engine bay. Just remember that a patent isnt a guarantee of production. The company still needs funds to implement it nationwide or, at least, to find a test location that can prove its solution really is the best. Earlier this week, word got out that Katie Price is treating herself to a new custom Ferrari , which will presumably be her favorite shade of pink and set her back some $240,000. Price owes $4.2 million to creditors, has recently declared bankruptcy, and just as importantly, is banned for driving for nearly two more years. Technicalities, she probably thought to herself.Lisa Marie Brown, an entrepreneur that also happens to be the most famous female supercar collector in the UK, is helping Price with the customization. Speaking to The Sun , Brown says theyre yet to discuss the particulars of the deal, such as which model of the Ferrari will serve as base and how Price will be able to pay for it. But she does say this: it will be pink over a white interior.The Ferrari is the one Katie was interested in but we havent finalized the details yet, Brown explains. Well be looking at that in the next few weeks and making it happen. She really liked the white interior and weve got some ideas of how to spec that up. She wants something really bold and different, something that will stand out.A pink Ferrari with a white interior is one way to have a stand-out car, of course.Brown knows Price wont be able to drive the car for a while yet, but shes not unfazed by it. She says Price told her this was her way of treating herself after a rough patch in her life, which included the 2021 rollover crash than led to the latest driving ban.Price is one of the most infamous celebrity drivers in the country, and shes also famous for her love of pink customs . Brown can relate on the latter account: she is the first owner of a pink McLaren and a pink Ferrari in the UK, and shes spun her love of supercars into a profitable side-gig, including online content and paid appearances.Heres Browns custom and very pink McLaren 600LT Back in February, we got a sense of just how big the fleet of F-35s used by us Americans is getting, after one of the component suppliers for the plane, BAE Systems, announced the production of the 3,000th vehicle management computer (VMC) and 1,000th active inceptor system (AIS).In the near future, the U.S. Air Force ( USAF ) plans to deploy a staggering 1,700 F-35A variants, more than the total units of the most successful military airplane still flying, the F-16 Fighting Falcon, currently in service. Add to that the Marine Corps and the Navys variants, as well as the ones meant for export, and we can safely say were witnessing aviation history in the making.Bent on making the F-35 a reassuring sight in the minds of the citizens it protects, the USAF not only set up a dedicated demo team, but is also releasing a constant flood of images showing the beast in action.One of the most recent is the one we have here, showing something were likely to see increasingly over the coming years: not one, not two, but a whole pack of four such aircraft, flying together.The photo was snapped at the beginning of March over the Pacific ocean, where the planes were on a routine mission, meant to demonstrate commitment to allies and partners through the employment of military forces, demonstrating strategic predictability, while becoming more operationally unpredictable to adversaries.These particular planes , aligned in perfect fashion to be worthy of a feature in our Photo of the Day section, are deployed with the 355th Fighter Squadron, out of Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. 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. Over the course of Pierre Terblanches career, the man has led the design efforts for more than a handful of Ducati s finest machines, and we consider the limited-edition MH900e to be among his top achievements. Paying tribute to the legendary Mike Hailwood and his Isle of Man TT-winning Ducati NCR 900, this stunning rarity saw a production run of just 2,000 copies around two decades ago.Customers could place their orders directly on the manufacturers official website (a premiere at that time), and the first 1,000 units were sold out in a matter of minutes. Realistically speaking, the vast majority of these mechanical head-turners are bound to spend most if not all of their lives in storage or on display, which appears to have been the case with the specimen pictured above.Take a quick gander at the Ducs LCD display, and youll discover that its odometer shows a mere two miles (three kilometers). Moreover, theres not a single imperfection to be found on this 2002 MY MH900e , so its fair to say that were practically looking at a brand-new bike! To gain a better understanding of what the Italian phenom is all about, lets examine its main specs and features.Bolognas pearl draws power from an air- and oil-cooled 904cc L-twin mill, which packs a single belt-driven overhead cam, two desmodromic valves per cylinder and a compression ratio of 9.2:1. This bad boy is accompanied by a dry multi-plate clutch, and it keeps the motorcycles rear chain-driven wheel in motion through a six-speed transmission.When prompted, the fuel-injected powerplant will go about delivering 75 horses at 8,000 revs and 56 pound-feet (76 Nm) of torque lower down the rpm range. Before it plateaus at a respectable top speed of 133 mph (215 kph), Ducatis superstar can run the quarter-mile distance in no more than 11.9 ticks of the stopwatch.The powertrain componentry is placed inside a tubular steel trellis skeleton, whose front end sits on 43 mm (1.7 inches) inverted forks. At six oclock, suspension duties are managed by an adjustable piggyback shock absorber from Sachs. For ample stopping power, the MH900e relies on dual 320 mm (12.6 inches) brake discs and four-piston Brembo calipers up north, along with a single 220 mm (8.7 inches) rotor and a two-piston caliper down south.Finally, this TT-inspired beauty weighs a very modest 410 pounds (186 kg) on an empty stomach, and its fuel tank is able to hold 2.2 gallons (8.5 liters) of gas when full. In case your bank account is currently home to a small fortune, then the BaT (Bring a Trailer) website is the next place you ought to be heading, because the bike weve just admired needs a new home. The top bid is placed at $21,000, and youve got until April 13 to submit yours. Roman Abramovich is among the wealthiest Russian oligarchs targeted by ongoing international sanctions for their supposed ties with the Kremlin, as a response to Russias invasion of Ukraine. Prior to the war, his estate was estimated at well over $12 billion, comprising more than 70 pieces of real estate across the world, five yachts including two of the worlds largest, most expensive and technically advanced superyachts, three private jets and two helicopters, and a stellar collection of supercars. And thats just the stuff we know about.As per reports, the total of this collection is in the neighborhood of $3 billion but, because of the sanctions, Abramovich cant sell any of it. Meanwhile, he still has to foot the monthly bill for running costs and maintenance, and even with a skeleton personnel on all, hes still looking at at least $750,000 a week. Take that figure with a grain of salt, since theres no exact way of determining it when it comes to private property all the more since were talking about a Russian billionaire , but it should be enough to make you reach for the worlds smallest violin, as British tabloid the Daily Mail puts it.Recent reports claim that Abramovich, who is now either in Russia or Turkey, is feeling the pinch. With most of his assets frozen, including liquidities, he has no way to pay for monthly running costs of all his prized possessions. Abramovich is now poor, but a billionaires version of the word, where he still gets to live it up and still has outrageous stuff, but hes stressed about how hes going to pay for all.So Abramovich is asking friends to help him out. Hes reportedly turned to movie director Brett Ratner and members of the Rothschild family, hoping he could secure $1 million loans from each. This is a lot of money for us regular mortals, but it would be just a band-aid for Abramovich one he hopes would be large enough to cover staff bills and running costs for a while.Think of it this way: Abramovichs fleet of aircraft may be grounded, and the megayacht Solaris docked in Turkey , but Eclipse is still sailing in neutral international waters. Eclipse is believed to have cost anything between $600 million and $1.5 billion to build, which means its annual running cost is between $60 million and $150 million, even if its manned by a skeleton crew.Mo money mo problems, indeed. Scotty Kilmer is up to some very dynamic things lately. The mechanic-turned-YouTuber is exploring a lot of content options for his fans. He might have hit the jackpot now, as he recommends his followers to buy a German car thats just $2,800. Surprisingly, it has a V8 under the hood, it carries the three-pointed star, and it is a convertible!Kilmer says hes not a Mercedes-Benz fanboy, but invites those curious to look at a cheap toy thats been bought by a close friend of him with 120,000 miles on the odometer. Its a 20-year-old CLK 430 ! The car was so cheap because it was abandoned for a while with the top down, which let uninvited guests like mice settle in. Thats also why the car had such a low price.But this convertible already made a profit for the owner, as he sold it for $3,500 to someone else after just two years of ownership. The current owner added another 25,000 miles on it and didnt even have to do any repairs. He just changed the tires.The original owner paid over $57,000 for it when it was new. It sure had a lot of heritage back in the days, as the vehicle includes some reminiscences of the CLK GTR. The pedigree is there, so its no wonder that it can provide some joy.But with it not being a Toyota or a Lexus, you know there is some criticism coming from Kilmer and, of course, a little bit of sarcasm. Scotty goes around the car and shows it might need some repairs, as the upholstery is damaged after many years of use, the plastic components are cracking, the silver is coming off the side mirrors, the air intake is duct-taped, and the hydraulic system needs a lot of fluid to work properly.What Kilmer likes and praises here is the V8 engine that works like a charm and which he calls insanely reliable and beautifully made. He even says it has good gas mileage, but you have to remember the mechanics verdict: its just a toy, but a fun one!Now watch the check Scotty Kilmer does with his tools on this German car that he recommends. He finds only two errors! CVT SUV Priced cheaper than a Toyota RAV4 and cheaply built as a result, the only people who had anything nice to say at the end of ownership were leasees who got rid of them, right before their transmissions failed. But if tone-deaf cash grabs are your kind of automobile, the Rogue: Rogue One Star Star Wars Limited Edition is your beacon on a hill. The Rogue One Edition, as we'll mercifully try and call it, was everything wrong about Nissan in the late 2010s.But before we dive deep into the nitty-gritty of this sci-fi movie-themed Mother-mobile, a little bit of back story behind the Nissan Rogue. The second-generation T32 Rogue is an enigma in the annulus of automotive history. Normally, when an automaker sells hundreds of thousands of one singular vehicle for years on end, it's a remarkable achievement. But in regards to the Rogue, sales figures don't even tell half of the story.The reasons why the Rogue was so often problematic after the date of sale is not an easy thing to explain in a concise way. A lot of it still makes no sense. It involves internationally wanted business criminals being smuggled out of Asia to the Middle East and a locust-adjacent swarm of Jatcotransmissions going kaput well before the warranty was over. But let's break it down piece by piece to understand precisely why the Rogue was ultimately a failure for Nissan, at least for a generation.The obvious place to start in breaking down Nissan's fall from grace is the man who headed the company for almost 20 years. You've all no doubt heard the tragedy of Darth Plagueis... I mean... Darth Carlos the Wise. Otherwise known as Carlos Ghosn. Fitting, the man who signed off on a Star Wars-branded automobile has a track record like Emperor Palpatine.In the same way that Order 66 laid waste to the Jedi Order and gave rise to the Galactic Empire, the Renault-Nissan alliance of 1999 resulted in more than a small number of people losing their jobs or being made redundant in both the American and the Japanese markets. Some argue it's a cost-cutting move that saved Nissan in the end.No doubt because the profit margins are bound to be higher when your vehicle's head gaskets are seemingly made out of cheese, and your Jatco CVTs have belts made adjacent to the silly-string factory. Nissan paid dearly for cutting corners with the Jatco CVT-7 and CVT-8 automatics.Everything from the tiniest Versa to the highest trimmed Pathfinders came equipped with some variant of the Xtronic CVT for many years. The results were catastrophic, enough to wipe out any good feelings about record sales of the Rogue and the Sentra sedan under a tsunami of recall and extended warranty repairs.Renault-Nissan issued extended dealership warranties for the R52 series Pathfinder, T32 Rogue, and B17 Sentra for up to 84,000 miles depending on the specific model. Grand Master Yoda himself would struggle to keep the internals of the Jatco CVT transmission together after 50,000 miles or so, even with all his strength in the Force.So imagine when somebody who was unfortunate enough to buy one of these Nissan s used when the warranty is just past the expiration. They didn't stand a chance.As for the Rogue One movie, a pretty awesome flick in its own right, the Rogue Special Edition that bears its name fails to live up to the acting chops of Felicity Jones.Apart from a Sith Black or Storm Trooper White pain color on black rims and matching black trim pieces, there's nothing about this Special Edition Rogue that isn't present on a modestly optioned standard car. There's, of course, some obligatory Rogue One branding throughout the interior, with the Death Trooper helmet being our personal favorite.Apart from this, there's not much with this Special Edition Rogue, reluctant as we are to be too critical. At least in a vacuum where the Toyota Rav4 and Honda CRV don't exist, the Nissan Rogue Star Wars Edition is a pretty neat little trinket.But we don't live in a vacuum, and the half-baked George Lucas director's cut of a crossoverclearly attempted to appeal like the original trilogy but wound up wreaking like the prequel and sequel trilogy put together. Even Revenge of the Sith couldn't save it.Only 5,400 units of this branded Nissan SUV were ever produced, with all of them landing in North America. The Rogue platform is branded as the Nissan Qashqai in eastern markets. As such, it's pretty clear the Nissan Rogue: Rogue One Edition is spending the rest of its days in a Galactic Republic prison, right where Carlos Ghosn might end up if he's ever extradited back to Japan to face a jury for numerous accusations of financial crimes.As for Nissan, they've obviously shed as much of a trace of Darth Carlos from their public image. Thankfully, they realized using CVT automatics in SUVs is a terrible idea for the following fifth-generation Pathfinder, debuting for the 2021 model year.Check back soon for more from Limited Edition Month here on autoevolution, and may the Force be with you, always. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. 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. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Bakersfield, CA (93308) Today Clear skies. Low around 60F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Clear skies. Low around 60F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. MORE INFORMATION The Bakersfield Police Department reminded the community about a $10,000 reward available for information leading to an arrest and the filing of a criminal complaint in the death of James Kulstad on the fourth anniversary of his death, according to a BPD news release Friday. BPD officers found Kulstad at approximately 1:17 a.m. on April 8, 2018, in the 5700 block of Sandstone Lane. He was determined to be a victim of a shooting. A possible suspect vehicle, described as a newer model silver sedan, was seen in the area before the discovery of the death, according to the release. The reward is available through the Kern County Secret Witness Program. The Secret Witness phone line operates 24 hours a day, and secrecy is guaranteed to those who call, the release stated. Anyone with information regarding this investigation, or the identity of the suspect or suspects in the case is asked to call the Bakersfield Police Department at 661-327-7111 or Secret Witness at 661-322-4040. More information More information about the Caltrans Keene Pavement Project is available online at https://bit.ly/3LOxqwV Submit comments via U.S. mail to: Cecilia Boudreau, District 09 Environmental Division, California Department of Transportation, 500 S. Main St., Bishop CA 93514. Submit comments via email to: cecilia.boudreau@dot.ca.gov. WARSAW, Poland (AP) Air travel authorities in Poland are warning travellers of possible flight delays and cancellations at Warsaws airport due to a protest and some flight controllers quitting their jobs. The protest is in reaction to changes made in January to the functioning of the flight regulatory body, the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency, as well as to allegations that it was not properly ensuring airspace security. The controllers have also criticized the new salary system, although it allows those most experienced to earn up to 45,000 zlotys ($10,500) a month. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW YORK (AP) A former Goldman Sachs banker was convicted Friday of bribery and other corruption charges accusing him of participating in a $4.5 billion scheme to ransack the Malaysian state investment fund known as 1MDB. A jury reached the verdict at the U.S. trial of Roger Ng in federal court in Brooklyn. Jurors had heard nearly two months of evidence about tens of millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks allegedly orchestrated by Malaysian financier and fugitive socialite Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low. Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo told reporters outside court that he was surprised by the verdict because the evidence wasnt reliable, and that he was considering an appeal. He also said the defense team was more disappointed than his client. Ng is doing better than his lawyers, Agnifilo said. He has great fortitude. The embezzlement bankrolled lavish spending on jewels, art, a superyacht and luxury real estate. The spoils even helped finance wild parties and Hollywood movies, including the 2013 Martin Scorsese film The Wolf of Wall Street that starred Leonardo DiCaprio. With todays verdict, a powerful message has been delivered to those who commit financial crimes motivated by greed, U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said in a statement. Ng faces up to 30 years in prison. No sentencing date was set. A former head of investment banking in Malaysia, Ng is the only Goldman banker to stand trial in the 1MDB scandal. The 49-year-old had pleaded not guilty to three counts conspiring to launder money and violating two anti-bribery laws. Prosecutors alleged that Ng and other Goldman Sachs bankers helped 1MDB raise $6.5 billion through bond sales only to divert $4.5 billion of it to themselves and their co-conspirators through bribes and kickbacks. The harm to the people of Malaysia is immeasurable, prosecutor Alixandra Smith said during closing arguments. It is deeply unfair to everyone else who plays by the rules. Ngs defense attorneys have described the looting of 1MDB state investment fund as perhaps the single largest heist in the history of the world. But they contend U.S. prosecutors scapegoated Ng for crimes committed by others, including the governments star witness, Tim Leissner. Roger is basically the fall guy for this whole thing, Agnifilo said in his closing argument. And Tim Leissner is looking to close the biggest deal of his life. Agnifilo accused Leissner, a higher-ranking Goldman banker, of falsely implicating Ng in a bid for leniency in his own criminal case. Leissner never stopped lying ever, and he didnt stop lying in this courtroom, Agnifilo said. During several days on the witness stand, Leissner testified that he, Ng and Low used offshore accounts and shell companies to disguise the flow of funds. The money laundering efforts also involved drawing up fake contracts with banks, he said. If we told any bank the truth, it wouldnt work, he said. The house of cards would have fallen down. He also described a dinner in London around 2012 where Low informed he and Ng they would be receiving kickbacks. Leissner said he knew that would be illegal, but didnt care because if the deal went through he would be a hero at Goldman Sachs. Ng, he added, was particularly glad he was going to be paid some money because he felt the firm had undercompensated him over the years. The defense claimed that some of the $35 million Ng received through Leissner money prosecutors said were illicit proceeds from the scheme was actually the proceeds of a legitimate business transaction between the two mens wives. On cross-examination, Ng's attorney sought to attack Leissner's credibility by peppering him with questions about his history of lying about his marital status. He admitted he forged documents in 2014 to dupe his now-estranged wife, Kimora Lee Simmons, into believing he was divorced so she would agree to marry him. Simmons is a model, reality TV personality and ex-wife of rap mogul Russell Simmons. Leissner, 52, pleaded guilty in 2018 to paying millions of dollars in bribes to government officials in Malaysia and Abu Dhabi. He was ordered to forfeit $43.7 million as part of his guilty plea and agreed to testify against Ng. Low, who maintains his innocence, became well known in the New York City and Los Angeles club scenes. In 2012, he threw an opulent 31st birthday bash attended by DiCaprio, Kim Kardashian and other celebrities a fete described by The Wall Street Journal as the wildest party (Las) Vegas ever saw. The looting of the state investment fund led to the fall of Prime Minister Najib Razaks government in 2018. Najib was later convicted by a Malaysian court of abuse of power and other crimes related to the scandal and sentenced to 12 years in prison. The U.S. is getting a first glimpse of what its like to experience COVID-19 outbreaks during this new phase of living with the virus, and the roster of the newly infected is studded with stars. Cabinet members, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Broadway actors and the governors of New Jersey and Connecticut have all tested positive. Outbreaks at Georgetown University and Johns Hopkins University are bringing back mask requirements to those campuses as officials seek out quarantine space. The known infections likely reveal only the tip of the iceberg with actors and politicians regularly tested at work. Official case figures are certain to be vast undercounts of how widely the virus is circulating because of home testing and mildly sick not bothering to test at all. Across the nation, mask-wearing is at its lowest level since April 2020, said Ali Mokdad, a professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle. For every 100 infections, only seven are recorded in official tallies, according to his modeling group's latest estimate. That means a place like New York City thats averaging 1,600 cases a day has a dramatically higher true number of infections. Mokdad expects the high level of U.S. immunity built up from previous infections and vaccinations will protect the nation from a large surge. Were going to have some infections here and there, but it's not going to shut down the country, Mokdad said. Life has to go on. We have to be vaccinated and boosted. We need to protect the vulnerable, but we have to get used to it. On Broadway, several performances of the comedy Plaza Suite were canceled after Matthew Broderick tested positive, followed by his wife and co-star, Sarah Jessica Parker. Daniel Craig, too, has been sidelined from his revival of Macbeth. Large indoor gatherings with masks optional have led to infections, with a high-profile party in Washington, D.C., now seen as a possible super-spreader event. Other infection clusters outside of groups that are regularly tested might go undetected, said Josh Michaud, associate director of global health policy with the Kaiser Family Foundation in Washington. Its harder now than it was before to know whats happening. The future is a little fuzzier because we dont have as much information at our fingertips, Michaud said. If youre not an actor in a Broadway play or a politician you might fall through the testing cracks. The public health response will vary from community to community based on what's happening locally, Michaud said. Were fighting smaller fires instead of a raging blaze across the country and those smaller fires can be disruptive, Michaud said. It leaves everyone to choose their own adventure when it comes to pandemic response and individual behaviors." In Washington D.C., the outbreak has been particularly high profile striking multiple Cabinet secretaries and Congress members along with Mayor Muriel Bowser and the president of Georgetown University. At least a dozen of those infections can be traced to the Gridiron Club dinner, an annual fixture of the D.C. social calendar that took place Saturday for the first time in three years. The dinner is an example of a return to near-total normality thats taking place around the country, leading to a spike in positive tests, but not necessarily a corresponding spike in serious illnesses or hospitalizations. Washington, D.C., like much of the rest of the country, has greatly relaxed its COVID-19 stance in recent weeks. Bowser has allowed vaccination and indoor masking mandates to expire, and the city health department stopped reporting daily virus numbers in early March. Attendees at the Gridiron Club dinner, which Bowser did not attend, had to provide proof of vaccination, but otherwise no masking or social distancing protocols were observed. And other staples of the D.C. social calendar are also back to normal. The citys annual Cherry Blossom Festival has been going for weeks with dozens of associated events, including a parade scheduled for Saturday. Amid that general return to pre-pandemic behavior, there are a few cautionary steps backward. Georgetown University announced it would reintroduce its indoor mask mandate amid rising infection numbers that include university President John DeGioia Georgetowns Chief Public Health Officer Ranit Mishori, in announcing the new restrictions, described the infection spike as significant" particularly among undergraduates. Thankfully, with the vast majority of our community up to date on vaccination, we are not seeing cases involving severe illness, Mishori wrote. D.C. health chief Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt, in comments to reporters this week, has pointed to the ongoing low level of hospitalizations as proof that the vaccinations have successfully limited the severity of the illness. Virus metrics in Washington have crept up in the past month according to the city health department. The weekly case rate per 100,000 residents climbed from 51 at the beginning of March to 110 at the end of March. But thats still far below the weekly case rate of 865 per 100,000 residents reported in the second week of January during the omicron variant surge. Nesbitt said there were no immediate plans to reinstitute any of the lapsed virus protocols, but that always remained an option in the future. We need to remember that living with the virus does not mean forgetting about the virus. Its still out there, its still causing people to get sick and some people to die, Michaud said. If were not prepared, we could be in a bad situation quickly again. ___ AP writer Ashraf Khalil in Washington, D.C., contributed. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Lamar State College Port Arthur is offering its students two free courses during the summer semester. LSCPA President Betty Reynard said in news release the college wanted a way to give back to students who've been financially impacted by the pandemic and rising inflation costs. "Offering two free classes this summer is our way of making an immediate impact for our residents," she said in the release. "We're excited to see people take advantage and seek out a better future as part of this opportunity." Students could see savings of more than $700 for up to six credit hours between two free courses. Both technical and academic courses are eligible. RELATED: Local college to offer two free classes Current LSCPA students only need to register for up to six summer hours to take advantage of the opportunity. New students have to complete the summer-fall 2022 application at applytexas.org. LSCPA enrollment counselors will help new students through the rest of the process. To make an appointment with a counselor, visit lscpa.craniumcafe.com. To view all eligible class, visit lamarpa.edu and click on "class schedule" at the top of the home page. RELATED: Texas A&M to provide Ukrainian students free tuition, per report "Our staff is eager to offer all the help out residents need to take advantage of these two free summer classes," Reynard said. "We know this assistance will make pursuing a better future even easier than before." Summer I and III semesters begin June 6. Summer II semester begins July 12. For more information or questions, contact LSCPA enrollment services at 409-984-6467 or email enrollmentservices@lamarpa.edu. olivia.malick@hearst.com twitter.com/OliviaMalick This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate COLLEYVILLE, Texas (AP) In the three months since Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker and three of his congregants were held at gunpoint in their Texas synagogue, new carpet has been laid in the sanctuary, the walls have been repainted, the entry retiled and new doors installed. He said it has been healing to watch. Each time I came back in, I got to see us moving forward," Cytron-Walker said. Congregation Beth Israel in the Fort Worth suburb of Colleyville will be rededicated on Friday, and members will celebrate Shabbat in their own building for the first time since the attack. After the 10-hour standoff on Jan. 15 ended with the escape of the remaining hostages and an FBI tactical team rushing in and killing the gunman, the synagogue was left with broken doors and windows, bullet holes and shattered glass. Anna Salton Eisen, a founder of the synagogue, said the scene reminded her of abandoned synagogues in Poland still marked with bullets from World War II that she saw while visiting that country in 1998 with her parents both Holocaust survivors. "I was standing in my synagogue this time and it was just empty and silent and it showed the marks of the violence that had occurred, Eisen said. Eisen said the return will help the healing process. We are not defeated and we are not going to live in fear, she said. Leaders of the congregation made up of about 160 families said that as they return after holding services at a Methodist church during the repairs, they've been struck by the outpouring of love and support they've received. They also want to focus on fighting antisemitism, which led the gunman to their synagogue. Its my hope and my prayer that theres greater awareness about how damaging hate can be, said Cytron-Walker, who starts a new job in July at Temple Emanuel in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He was preparing for a morning service on Jan. 15 at when a stranger came to the synagogue's door. Cytron-Walker welcomed the man who said he'd spent the winter night outside, chatting with him and making him tea. Then, as Cytron-Walker and three of his congregants prayed and others watched online a click from a gun could be heard. During the standoff, British national Malik Faisal Akram demanded the release of a Pakistani woman serving a lengthy prison sentence in nearby Fort Worth after being convicted of trying to kill U.S. troops. The hostages have said Akram cited antisemitic stereotypes, believing that Jews wield the kind of power that could get the woman released. One hostage, 85-year-old Lawrence Schwartz was released after about six hours. At about 9 p.m., the remaining hostages made their escape as Cytron-Walker threw a chair at Akram and the hostages ran out a side door. Cytron-Walker has credited past security training for getting them out safely, including training he received from the Secure Community Network, founded in 2004 by Jewish organizations. The hostage-taking in Texas came just over three years after Americas deadliest antisemitic attack, when a gunman killed 11 worshippers from three congregations meeting at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue. We believe the training is absolutely critical," said Michael Masters, Secure Community Network's national director and CEO. You very rarely rise to an occasion in a critical incident, you fall back to your level of training." He said that last year they trained over 17,000 people, and that number was surpassed in the first three months of this year. Congregation Beth Israel President Michael Finfer said Thursday that it will continue to do security training and that going forward it will have "far more police security than weve had in the past. Jeff Cohen, one of the four hostages, said hes excited about the return. Thats part of that processing, its to look at where were going to be, said Cohen, the synagogues vice president and security director. EDISON, Neb. (AP) A wildfire in southern Nebraska fueled by dry conditions and strong winds forced the evacuation of the small village of Edison, destroyed several homes and factored into the death of a rural fire chief who was killed in a crash while responding to the blaze. The Nebraska State Patrol called for a mandatory evacuation Thursday night of the Furnas County community of about 130 people about 187 miles (301 kilometers) southwest of Lincoln. That order was later extended to rural residents around Edison and near the small town of Stamford, across the county line in Harlan County. Several schools in the area canceled classes Friday, and the National Weather Service reported that several homes were destroyed in the fire. The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency said the fire began when strong winds blew a dead tree into a power line. Shortly after 5 p.m. Thursday, an SUV carrying emergency officials to the fire collided with a water tanker on state Highway 283 in Furnas County as smoke from the fire cut visibility to zero, the patrol said Friday. Elwood Volunteer Fire Chief Darren Krull, 54, who was a passenger in the SUV, died at the scene, the patrol said. The SUV's driver, 40-year-old Phelps County Emergency Manager Justin Norris, suffered life-threatening injuries in the crash, the patrol said, and was hospitalized in stable condition Friday morning. The 28-year-old driver of the tanker was not injured, the patrol said. As of midday Friday, the fire had ballooned to 30,000 acres, or about 47 square miles (122 square kilometers), and 40 fire departments from around the region had responded to fight the blaze, said Jodie Fawl, a spokeswoman for the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency. The Nebraska National Guard also sent two Black Hawk helicopters to the site to drop water on the flames, she said. As of right now, it is 0% contained, Fawl said. That doesn't mean they haven't put out parts of the fire. It just means that a line around the outside of the fire is not established. Establishing that fire line has proven difficult, Fawl said, as high winds that gusted up to 60 mph (97 kph) Thursday and around 40 mph (64 kph) Friday across much of Nebraska and Kansas. Those winds coupled with low humidity pushed the fire south from Gosper County into Furnas County, according to the National Weather Service. Fawl said the fire had also jumped the Republican River, which might have might have helped contain it. She said the fire had damaged at least eight structures, including some homes, and six outbuildings, which could be sheds, garages or barns. Critical fire weather conditions were forecast for Friday from the central Plains to the northwestern Gulf Coast, including parts of Texas and Louisiana, the weather service said. No other deaths or injuries have been reported beyond the crash that killed Krull and injured Norris. Strong winds and drought also fueled fires in northwestern Oklahoma and that states Panhandle, where three fires forced evacuations of two small towns and had burned about 70.31 square miles (45,000 acres), state Fire Management Chief Mark Goeller said Friday. The towns of Ft. Supply, about 140 miles (225kilometers) northwest of Oklahoma City, and Forgan, about 195 miles (314 kilometers) northwest of Oklahoma City were evacuated for a few hours late Thursday and injured two firefighters who suffered burns, Goeller said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HOUSTON (AP) During hours of relentless questioning, Melissa Lucio more than 100 times had denied fatally beating her 2-year-old daughter. But worn down from a lifetime of abuse and the grief of losing her daughter Mariah, her lawyers say, the Texas woman finally acquiesced to investigators. I guess I did it, Lucio responded when asked if she was responsible for some of Mariah's injuries. Her lawyers say that statement was wrongly interpreted by prosecutors as a murder confession tainting the rest of the investigation into Mariahs 2007 death, with evidence gathered only to prove that conclusion, and helping lead to her capital murder conviction. They contend Mariah died from injuries from a fall down the 14 steps of a steep staircase outside the familys apartment in the South Texas city of Harlingen. As her April 27 execution date nears, Lucios lawyers are hopeful that new evidence, along with growing public support including from jurors who now doubt the conviction and from more than half the Texas House of Representatives will persuade the states Board of Pardons and Paroles and Gov. Greg Abbott to grant an execution reprieve or commute her sentence. Mariahs death was a tragedy not a murder. ... It would be an absolutely devastating message for this execution to go forward. It would send a message that innocence doesnt matter, said Vanessa Potkin, one of Lucios attorneys who is with the Innocence Project. Lucio's lawyers say jurors never heard forensic evidence that would have explained that Mariah's various injuries were actually caused by a fall days earlier. They also say Lucio wasn't allowed to present evidence questioning the validity of her confession. The Texas Attorney Generals Office maintains evidence shows Mariah suffered the absolute worst case of child abuse her emergency room doctor had seen in 30 years. Lucio still advances no evidence that is reliable and supportive of her acquittal, the office wrote in court documents last month. The Cameron County District Attorneys Office, which prosecuted Lucio, declined to comment. Lucio, 53, would be the first Latina executed by Texas and the first woman since 2014. Only 17 women have been executed in the U.S. since the Supreme Court lifted its ban on the death penalty in 1976, most recently in January 2021. In their clemency petition, Lucios lawyers say that while she had used drugs, leading her to temporarily lose custody of her children, she was a loving mother who worked to remain drug-free and provide for her family. Lucio has 14 children and was pregnant with the youngest two when Mariah died. Lucio and her children struggled through poverty. At times, they were homeless and relied on food banks for meals, according to the petition. Child Protective Services was present in the familys life, but there was never an accusation of abuse by any of her children, Potkin said. Lucio had been sexually assaulted multiple times, starting at age 6, and had been physically and emotionally abused by two husbands. Her lawyers say this lifelong trauma made her susceptible to giving a false confession. In the 2020 documentary The State of Texas vs. Melissa, Lucio said investigators kept pushing her to say she had hurt Mariah. I was not gonna admit to causing her death because I wasnt responsible, Lucio said. Her lawyers say Lucio's sentence was disproportionate to what her husband and Mariah's father, Robert Alvarez, received. He got a four-year sentence for causing injury to a child by omission even though he also was responsible for Mariah's care, Lucio's lawyers argue. In 2019, a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned Lucios conviction, ruling she was deprived of her constitutional right to present a meaningful defense. However, the full court in 2021 said the conviction had to be upheld for procedural reasons, despite the difficult issue of the exclusion of testimony that might have cast doubt on the credibility of Lucios confession. Three jurors and one alternate in Lucios trial have signed affidavits expressing doubts about her conviction. She was not evil. She was just struggling. ... If we had heard passionately from the defense defending her in some way, we might have reached a different decision, juror Johnny Galvan wrote in an affidavit. In a letter last month to the Board of Pardons and Paroles and to Abbott, 83 Texas House members said executing Lucio would be a miscarriage of justice. As a conservative Republican myself, who has long been a supporter of the death penalty in the most heinous cases ... I have never seen a more troubling case than the case of Melissa Lucio, said state Rep. Jeff Leach, who signed the letter. Abbott can grant a one-time, 30-day reprieve. He can grant clemency if a majority of the paroles board recommends it. The board plans to vote on Lucios clemency petition two days before the scheduled execution, Rachel Alderete, the boards director of support operations, said in an email. A spokeswoman for Abbotts office did not return an email seeking comment. Abbott has granted clemency to only one death row inmate, Thomas Whitaker, since taking office in 2015. Whitaker was convicted of masterminding the fatal shootings of his mother and brother. His father, who survived, led the effort to save Whitaker, saying he would be victimized again if his son was executed. Lucios supporters have said her clemency request is similar in that her family would be retraumatized if shes executed. Please allow us to reconcile with Mariahs death and remember her without fresh pain, anguish and grief. Please spare the life of our mother, Lucios children wrote in a letter to Abbott and the board. ___ Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter: https://twitter.com/juanlozano70 Inside the data Out of 236 fatal non-suicide drug overdoses among Vermont residents in 2021, 210 89 percent involved opioids. The remainder were related to stimulants, alcohol, huffing or prescribed medications. Cocaine was involved in 48 percent of all opioid-related fatal overdoses. A combination of cocaine and fentanyl was involved in 46 percent of all opioid-related fatal overdoses. Males comprised 69 percent of 2021 accidental and undetermined opioid-related fatal overdoses. Women comprised 31 percent. The average age of death was 41 and the median age was 40. Fifty-six percent of opioid overdose deaths occurred among persons between the ages of 30 and 49. Among all accidental and undetermined opioid-related fatal overdoses, 94 percent were white non-Hispanic Vermont residents. The lights of the Capitol dome shine as lawmakers work into the night in Sacramento, Calif., on Sept. 10, 2021. A nursing student administers the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination center at UNLV in Las Vegas in 2021. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Civilian evacuations are moving forward in patches of battle-scarred eastern Ukraine a day after a missile strike killed at least 52 people at a train station where thousands were waiting to leave before an expected Russian onslaught Community News Editor / Librarian Jeannie Maschino is community news editor and librarian for The Berkshire Eagle. She has worked for the newspaper in various capacities since 1982 and joined the newsroom in 1989. WILLIAMSTOWN After narrowing it down to two candidates, the Select Board will first offer the town manager position to Robert Menicocci. The Select Board voted Saturday afternoon to enter into contract negotiations with Menicocci. If he does not accept the job, the board plans to negotiate with its second final candidate, Alex Torpey. Though the board chose Menicocci as its initial pick, members praised both candidates in their deliberations Saturday. We love both these candidates, (they) definitely have different strengths, member Jeff Johnson said, but were in a no lose situation. Others agreed. I think they are both spectacular, member Jane Patton said. If negotiations with Menicocci dont work out, I want to be able to reach out very quickly to the second candidate, Select Board Chair Andrew Hogeland said. Id like to get one of them and not let the second one get away just by being slow. The Select Board interviewed the two final candidates on Friday. Menicocci currently lives in Santa Cruz, Calif., and has been the agency director of the Santa Clara County Social Services Agency in San Jose since 2015. He has also worked for the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health as deputy commissioner of management and budget, and had various positions at the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance. Torpey is a New Jersey-based consultant. Previously, he worked as an adjunct professor of governance and technology at Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J., and was elected mayor and village president in South Orange Village. Williamstown has long been looking for a its next manager. Former Town Manager Jason Hoch left the post in February 2021, and in the year since, Charles Blanchard has been the interim town manager. In October, the board interviewed candidates, but decided not to offer them the position. LEE Meghan Marohn checked in at The Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge looking to get away. Quote "We just keep walking the property. We are still looking for someone we hope is still alive and Im trying to do whatever I can to keep that hope alive." Peter Naple, brother of Meghan Marohn, who went missing in the Berkshires nearly two weeks ago. There had been an emotional upset, said Peter Naple, Marohns older brother. He is not comfortable elaborating on why Marohn, of Delmar, N.Y., was suffering, but said a friend of hers thought going to the historic inn might help. She was in contact with friends, who said, Just get a room in Stockbridge and just relax, Naple said Friday. It was Saturday, March 26 when Marohn arrived in Stockbridge. Naple got in touch with Marohn that day. I asked how she was doing, and she said Im just enjoying my soup, and Im reading a book, and Im just enjoying the room, he said of the conversation. It was their last talk before Marohn, 42, an English teacher, poet and activist went missing. The next day, residents spotted her black Subaru in the trailhead parking area at the 46-acre Janet Longcope Park in South Lee. On Tuesday, March 29, seeing the car hadnt moved, police began combing a wide radius around the Church Street area. Police this week reassured residents that they do not believe there was foul play involved with Marohns disappearance, and said there is no evidence to suggest the public is in danger or that the case is connected to any others. Naple, of Northville, N.Y., created a website, findmeghanmarohn.com, that has a message board for tips and is asking that anyone who saw her or might have any surveillance footage of her contact the police. He is hopeful his sister might still be alive, but also says he realizes the situation is shifting and not for the better. Sign-up for The Berkshire Eagle's free newsletters Sign up I think the investigation is focusing more on someone thats not alive, he said. Questions linger: Why her car ended up at the trailhead on a windy, snowy day. Why cellphone signals appear to show that Marohn might not have walked the loop trail at all, instead crossing the road into a rural residential area. The cell signal was lost across the street from the park, Naple said. Naple wonders why she chose the obscure Longcope Park, known mostly to Lee residents. Longcope wouldnt come up in a Google search of great places to hike, he said. Indeed, it does not. Nor had she ever mentioned the place. Asked if the artistic, sensitive Marohn knew the story of Janet Percy Dana Longcope, the propertys namesake, and the connection to poetry through Longcopes cousin, the poet William Alexander Percy, Naple said it had occurred to the family that she might have. We thought that maybe she did stumble on that persons name and that history, and that maybe thats why she went there, he said. Marohn, a poet and teacher at Shaker High School in Latham, would sit at her manual typewriter and whip up custom poetry on the spot, reported the website All Over Albany, in 2016: Meghan Marohn is terrible at small talk. Shell tell you so herself. But if you want to talk about the meaning of life or love, time, repetition, or the Collar City Bridge Meghan is happy to oblige. Youll find her sitting by the river at Troy Flea, or along River Street at the Enchanted City festival or Troy Night Out. Shes the red-haired writer behind the manual typewriter next to the sign that reads: Troy Poem Project. Naple has been to Longcope every day since Marohns car was found. He and family walk the conservation land and the woods and trails beyond it. The police continue their own official search and investigation. We just keep walking the property, he said. We are still looking for someone we hope is still alive and Im trying to do whatever I can to keep that hope alive. Ralph Gardner Jr. is a journalist whose work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and The New Yorker. He can be reached at ralph@ralphgardner.com . The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of The Berkshire Eagle. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, at podium, speaks Friday during an event on the South Lawn of the White House celebrating the confirmation of Jackson as the first Black woman to reach the Supreme Court. In John 1:29, John the Baptist saw Jesus coming and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John, who has often been called the forerunner, knew that Jesus was sent into the world to deliver humanity. Other times, the Bible explains that Jesus was not only the lamb of God but the perfect Passover lamb. What does Jesus being a Passover lamb have to do with him saving us? What Did the Bible Tell Us about the Passover? Jesus came to earth through the lineage of the Jews. It was Jewish custom to sacrifice a lamb at first Passover. You may remember the Passover in Exodus 12. God gave Moses instructions on what the feast of the Passover would be like. The Passover would become a permanent part of Israels religious worship In Exodus, God instructed Moses to tell the congregation that Passover would be like the first month of the year to them. They were to take a one-year-old lamb without blemish and sacrifice it. This was to commemorate their exodus from Egypt. You may remember that God sent a plague of death to Egypt. The Jewish people were instructed to put blood over their doorposts so that death would pass by their homes. The Passover is a memorial of the Israelites deliverance from Egypt. God delivered Israel from Egypt. This feast is a reminder of the grace of God. God gave Moses specific instructions on how the people were to conduct themselves during the Passover celebration. The lamb had to be a year old. It had to be a male lamb separated from sheep and goats (Exodus 12:5). Also, Gods people should eat the meal in haste with their shoes on their feet and a staff in their hand. This is symbolic of how they had to make haste to leave Egypt. Pharoah was so fickle. Even though God forced his hand, he tried to stop Israel from fleeing once he realized what had happened. The Passover has become a memorial for centuries of Gods goodness and kindness to Israels children and their descendants. God even gave instructions on how Israel was to educate generations about the purpose of Passover. The Lord told Moses in Exodus 12:27, That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lords Passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. When Israel left Egypt, they also took many who were not Jewish with them (Exodus 12:38). God made provisions for them to participate in the Passover if they were circumcised, and after Mount Sinai, those who accepted Gods laws also became part of the nation of Israel. Many no doubt missed death because of their affiliation with the nation of Israel. Why Does the Bible Call Jesus the Lamb of God? John is not the only one who talks about Jesus being the lamb of God. After Jesus death and resurrection, one of his disciples Philip explains to an Ethiopian that Isaiah 53:7 also speaks of Jesus: He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. All of Isaiah 53 foreshadows how Jesus came to earth and suffered our afflictions. He was despised of men, acquainted with grief, and bore our sorrows. He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. Jesus became the Lamb for us. There are no more sacrifices of sheep, goats, or lambs. That work was finished on the cross. Because Jesus sacrificed himself on Calvary, we can be saved. It was a sacrifice because God did not have to send Him. Since Jesus is one with the Father and the Holy Ghost, He agreed to be the Lamb so that humanity might be saved. Since humanity was created, we have been on a downward spiral. The blood of Jesus has made all the difference. How Did Jesus Become the Passover Lamb? Jesus became a Passover lamb for humanity. Everyone is not Jewish and not privy to the tradition established by God through Moses for the Jewish people. Jewish people have to keep the Passover. They have to eat the unleavened bread during this particular season. They have to keep the Passover forever until Jesuss return because God commanded it, and they trust Him. He made a covenant with Abraham. Jesus came as the Passover lamb; therefore, God cut a covenant with humanity anew. Now, all you have to do is confess with your heart that Jesus is real and that you believe that He is the Son of God. Everything has been made simple for us. You have to get baptized, sprinkled, or whatever your particular religion that you are a part of requires. Most Christians prefer baptism because Jesus was baptized and set the example (John 1:32). John baptized Jesus. This is symbolic of the remission of your sins. If you are not somewhere to get baptized, that is okay too. You have to believe. God says that His commandments are not grievous (1 John 5:3). I pray that God will give you a revelation of all that Jesus suffered so that you will appreciate and take advantage of the benefits that we have because of his suffering and because he became the Lamb for us. In 1 Corinthians 5:7, we are told that even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. What Did Jesus Say When He Had Passover with His Disciples? In Matthew 26, Jesus gives an example of holy communion during the last supper. This is also referred to as the Lords Supper or Jesus Passover with his disciples. The Passover memorialized the flight of Israel from Egypt. The Lords Supper memorializes how we are to partake of this often. We show remembrance of the Lords body sacrificed on Calvary and the blood of the lamb shed for the remission of sins. Jesus death on the cross finished the work so that we could be saved. I pray that you will get a revelation of everything Jesus dying on the cross means for humanity. Because Jesus shed blood accomplished something so powerful, we can also plead or pray the blood of Jesus when facing trials. As Clarence J. Haynes explains, the Bible describes Jesus shed blood doing particular things (protecting us from the devils accusations, covering us from judgment, purifying us of our sins, giving us access to the holy of holies). So, we are claiming what we already have when we pray the blood of Jesus: Praying in or through the blood of Jesus is simply laying hold of what the blood of Jesus has purchased for you. You are simply taking God up on his promise that the blood would do what he said it would do. If you will put your trust in the power of the blood then God will take care of the rest. You can ask God for the things he has promised to do because of the blood of Jesus. (Excerpted from What Does It Mean to Pray the Blood of Jesus?) When you pray, I plead the blood of Jesus, the devil will back up. Satan understands the blood and what it means. Before he got kicked out, the devil was in heaven with Jesus. Satan realizes what a big deal it is for God to have sent His Son to earth to die for us. I would plead for the blood regularly. I would plead the blood on trivial as well as important things. Not only do you need to plead the blood, but you also need to have a revelation of what this all means. Jesus died so that we could be saved, but He also died so that we might live more victoriously. Shock the devil today and simply plead the blood. The enemy does not want us to know who we are in God. Once you get that revelation, you will conduct yourself differently. You will walk into a newness of authority that a lot of stuff you have been putting up with is unnecessary and ends today. Further Reading: Passover in the Bible - Story and Meaning Why Did John the Baptist Call Jesus the Lamb of God? What Does Passover Celebrate? Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/kevron2001 Dr. Sandra Hamer Smith is a Christian and wife to Sylvester Smith. She has one stepson, Greg. Smith lives and resides in Memphis, Tennessee. The University of Memphis alumnae has been in education for about 20 years after receiving the call to teach. Dr. Smith primarily teaches language arts. Prior to education, she worked in local and national television news for 13 years including positions as an overnight news anchor, reporter, and assignments editor at two local network affiliate stations. Smith was also a freelance correspondent for BET news. Dr. Smith has freelanced for the Tri-State Defender newspaper and Contempora magazine. She is the author of the self-published novel GLORYTHE HAIR. Smith is also a playwright and poet. The Tennessee native is a member of Temple of Deliverance COGIC, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc, Omicron Delta Kappa, The Golden Key International Honour Society, and Kappa Delta Pi. This article is part of our larger resource library of popular Bible verse phrases and quotes. We want to provide easy to read articles that answer your questions about the meaning, origin, and history of specific verses within Scripture's context. It is our hope that these will help you better understand the meaning and purpose of God's Word in relation to your life today. Listen to our Daily Bible Verse Podcast Now! Science and Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh addresses the SCO meeting through virtual mode Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh called upon the countries of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to join hands to innovate affordable scientific solutions for common challenges like ensuring food, affordable healthcare and energy access for its people. Addressing the SCO meeting through virtual mode, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the member countries must jointly address emerging challenges of environmental problems like climate change and biodiversity loss. Dr Jitendra Singh pointed out that as a result of consistent boost to research and innovation, India has reached 3rd position in scientific publication as per National Science Foundation (NSF) database. The country has featured within the top 50 innovative economies globally (at 46th rank), as per Global Innovation Index (GII) and it has also reached 3rd Position in term of no. of PhDs, in size of Higher Education System; as well as in terms of no. of startups, the Minister added. The Genome Valley laboratory will house imaging instruments, automated liquid handlers, and analysis software US-based Enveda Biosciences, a leading biotechnology company harnessing the power of natures chemistry, is opening a lead optimisation laboratory in Genome Valley, Hyderabadthe Life Science Capital of India, which is home to more than 200 life science and pharmaceutical companies including Novartis and Lonza. Envedas 24,000-square-foot space there will bolster the companys growing workforce in India and enable it to more efficiently optimize lead compounds to identify clinical drug candidates. The Genome Valley laboratory will house imaging instruments, automated liquid handlers, and analysis software, among other state-of-the-art synthetic chemistry technologies used in the lead optimization cycle. The company expects to move into the new laboratory by the end of 2022. Enveda can expand its space in Hyderabad to accommodate nearly triple its current workforce. The company is also building out an advanced drug discovery and development center in the heart of Boulder, Colorado in the US. The 60,000-square-foot facility will significantly expand Envedas capacity to build a high-resolution chemical map of the natural world and identify new high-potential drug leads from it. The recombinant nanoparticle-based rabies G protein vaccine is prepared using Virus-Like Particle technology Ahmedabad-based Cadila Pharmaceuticals has developed a novel three-dose recombinant nano-particle based rabies G protein vaccine. A campaign has also been launched under the name One, Two, Three. Rabies Free. The vaccine - ThRabis is prepared by using Virus-Like Particle technology (VLP). The VLPs self-assemble from this recombinant G protein which is produced from genes cloned into baculovirus expression vectors and expressed in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) insect cells. The vaccine generates antibodies against rabies G protein, which leads to virus neutralisation, as well as prevents virus attachment to the cell to confer protection against rabies. The Cadila Against Rabies event held in Ahmedabad was attended by key experts from the Association for the Prevention and Control of Rabies in India (APCRI) Founder President and Mentor Dr MK Sudarshan; President Dr DH Ashwath Narayana; Secretary General Dr Sumit Poddar, and Treasurer Dr HS Ravish and other leading experts. It is estimated that globally, rabies kills 59,000 animal bite victims every year, mainly in Asia and Africa. Over 20,000 people die in India alone, mainly because many animal bite victims do not complete the full course of the available vaccine. Sunsets glitter over the Pacific. Poppies bloom cupa de oro in the spring. The Golden Gate Bridge shines through the foggy San Francisco Bay. These glimmers of gold may remain. But over the last 50 years, the Golden States luster has systematically been stripped away by sociopaths and egomaniacs in government. All golden specks of responsible, moderate government have been basted to oblivion like 19th century strip miners blasted away the Sierra Nevada foothills. Fiddlesticks to all. State officials in Sacramento have gone stark raving mad. Right now, at this very moment, theyre using the COVID-19 pretense to put forth a whole host of legislative proposals to trample personal privacy, abuse minors, bully doctors, and destroy livelihoods. Heres what we mean AB1993, for example, requires proof of COVID-19 vaccination for all employees and independent contractors to work in California. And AB1797 creates an immunization tracking system giving all government agencies access to vaccination records for all persons. But thats not all. Theres much, much more SB871 adds COVID-19 injection to the list of immunizations for pubic/private school, regardless of FDA approval, with no personal belief exemptions and very rare medical exemptions. SB866 lowers the age of consent for vaccination to 12 without parental consent or knowledge. This bill merely memorializes whats already been happening, where schools in Los Angeles have vaccinated minors in exchange for pizza without parental consent. SB1479 requires schools to create long term COVID testing plans and report test results to the CA Department of Public Health. SB1184 authorizes school health personnel to disclose a childs medical information to a third party without the parents consent. AB2098 classifies anti-COVID medical opinion as unprofessional conduct and subject to discipline by medical boards. SB920 authorizes medical boards to inspect a doctors office and medical records without patients consent. SB1464 requires law enforcement to enforce public health guidelines or lose their funding. Quite frankly, this is madness. But heres the kicker If you voice a contrary opinion like saying the risk of COVID-19 shots for healthy children far outweigh the actual risk of COVID-19 you will be breaking the law, and subject to civil penalties Illegal Speech State Senator Richard Pan an absolute dill has a mental fixation with controlling what people post to the world wide web. In 2018, Pan introduced SB1424, Internet: social media: advisory group. If outgoing Governor Jerry Moonbeam Brown hadnt vetoed SB1424, it would have required the state Attorney General to establish an advisory committee to review and create a plan to stop the spread of false information through internet-based social media platforms. The plan, before vetoed, contemplated requiring California based websites to use fact checkers to verify news stories prior to publishing them. Who exactly would be the fact checkers was undefined. Brown had the common sense to reject it. Yet now Senator Pan is at it again. This time with SB1390, Social media platforms: amplification of harmful content. The bill, in short, prohibits any person/entity from making statements the government deems untrue or misleading by any means including on the internet/ads. Heres an extract: This bill would prohibit a social media platform, as defined, from amplifying harmful content in a manner that results in a user viewing harmful content from another user with whom the user did not choose to share a connection. [] The bill would provide that harmful content includes libel or slander, as specified, threats of imminent violence against governmental entities, and disinformation or misinformation, including, but not limited to, false or misleading information regarding medicine or vaccinations, false or misleading information regarding elections, and conspiracy theories. The bill would also require the establishment of a complaint processwhere users report what they perceive to be harmful content to a database. Complaints would then be tracked and shared with the Attorney General. Social media platforms would then be required to remove harmful content within 24 hours of receiving notice from the Attorney General. Moreover, violators could be subject to civil penalties. The bill, in essence, gives government the power to decide what speech is legal and illegal based on some perceived idea of whats false or misleading. But how does government know whats false or misleading any better than the rest of us? Why the Digital Dollar will Destroy Free Speech Remember, last years conspiracy theory often become this years truth. Less than a year ago, for example, claiming the National Institute of Health funded gain-of-function research on bat coronaviruses at Chinas Wuhan lab was a conspiracy theory. Now it is a documented fact. Yet, under Senator Pans proposed bill, anyone who posted such a claim prior to the NIHs confession would have been reported to the Attorney General. These posts would then have been removed within 24 hours or civil penalties could be enforced. Government regulation of speech, no doubt, is the exploit of despots and tyrants. It has no place in a free society. Senator Pan may not be a despot, per se. But he does think hes smarter than you. He also thinks hes a better arbiter of fact and fiction than you are. Hes not. When government officials decide what is true or false, or what views are acceptable and allowed to be shared, whether by benevolence or ideological agenda, individual rights are destroyed. You see, the loss of free speech in society always coincides with the loss of economic freedom and financial privacy. And this goes much deeper than California Sacramento is an absolute dumpster fire. But at least these terrible ideas must go through the state legislative process. Washington, on the other hand, and in concert with big tech and mainstream media, has already been censoring free speech on social media for many years. Ideological based algorithms ferret out opinions that are not acceptable to the popular narrative. Yet this is just the beginning. Washington is currently building the infrastructure to suppress free speech by tying it to social credit. This would be extended to control and constrain how and when you spend your money. As recently noted, Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC) are coming. The rollout of a traceable and programmable digital dollar in the U.S. is being fast tracked to conceal a necessary and forthcoming dollar default. And with the abundance of sociopaths in Washington, not only will the digital dollar destroy economic freedom and financial privacy It will destroy free speech too. Say the wrong thing and your digital dollars are canceled. Is this merely a conspiracy theory? Maybe today. But, like a duck on a June bug, itll soon be the awful truth. * * * Im sure youve heard the phrase anything you say can and will be used against you? Well, now thats about to become every dollar you spend can be used against you. Surveillance tools that would make secret police salivate are about to be turned against your finances. Its absolute tyranny. And the walls are closing in quick. Quite frankly, it makes my blood boil. For this reason, Ive invested the past 6-months researching and identifying simple, practical steps everyday Americans can take to protect their wealth and financial privacy. The findings of my work are documented in the Financial First Aid Kit. If youd like to find out more about this important and unique publication, and how to acquire a copy, stop by here today! Top lawmakers in US Congress hosted Mamuka Mamulashvili, an infamous Georgian Legion warlord who has boasted of authorizing field executions of captive Russian soldiers in Ukraine. Georgian warlord Mamuka Mamulashvili visits Rep. Eliot Engel and members of Congress in 2017 Having taken up arms against Russia for a fifth time, Georgian Legion commander Mamuka Mamulashvili has bragged on video about his unit carrying out field executions of captured Russian soldiers in Ukraine. While Western media pundits howled about images of dead bodies in the city of Bucha, echoing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksys accusation that Russia is guilty of genocide, they have largely overlooked the apparent admission of atrocities by an avowed ally of the United States who was welcomed on Capitol Hill by senior lawmakers overseeing congressional foreign policy committees. Having fought in four wars against Russia, and despite allegations that he played a leading role in the massacre of 49 protesters in Kievs Maidan Square in 2014, Mamulashvili has taken multiple trips to the United States, where he received a warm welcome from members of Congress, the New York Police Department, and Ukrainian diaspora community. In an interview this April, Mamulashvili, was asked about a video showing Russian fighters who had been extrajudicially executed in Dmitrovka, a town just five miles from Bucha. Mamulashvili was candid about his units take-no-prisoners tactics, though he has denied involvement in the specific crimes depicted. We will not take Russian soldiers, as well as Kadyrovites [Chechnyan fighters]; in any case, we will not take prisoners, not a single person will be captured, Mamulashvili said, implying that his fighters execute POWs. The warlords battle dress shirt was emblazoned with a patch reading, Mama says Im special. Mamuka Mamulashvili, commander of the "Georgian National Legion" in Ukraine: "Yes, we tie their hands and feet sometimes. I speak for the Georgian Legion, we will never take Russian soldiers prisoner. Not a single one of them will be taken prisoner." pic.twitter.com/4GM9nHsOMo Russians With Attitude (@RWApodcast) April 6, 2022 Yes, we tie their hands and feet sometimes. I speak for the Georgian Legion, we will never take Russian soldiers prisoner. Not a single one of them will be taken prisoner, Mamulashvili emphasized Executions of enemy combatants are considered war crimes under the Geneva Convention. Ukrainian and Georgian Legion fighters celebrate after executing captive Russian soldiers on video " War crimes on the front lines Western governments continue to block a Russian request for a United Nations investigation into alleged massacres in Bucha, where scores of corpses were photographed following the Russian withdrawal from the city, some with hands bound and shot execution style as Mamulashvili described doing to prisoners. While the events in Bucha have become a source of outrage and heated contention, a clear case of war crimes by Ukrainian forces which took place just five miles down the road on March 30 as Russian troops withdrew has received a more muted response despite coverage by the New York Times. The macabre footage shows Russian paratroopers dead or bleeding out in the road, some with their hands clearly bound reportedly the handiwork of the Georgian Legion. Celebrating the ambushs success, the videographer calls the attention of his fellow soldiers: Georgians! Belgravia, boys! Belgravia refers to a nearby housing complex from which some of the non-Georgian fighters presumably hail. Look, he is still alive, one of the fighters says as a Russian writhes in a pool of blood. He was then shot three times at close range. Oz Katerji, a neoconservative British-Lebanese operative who has generated attention by sending threatening Whatsapp messages to journalists opposed to the US-backed dirty war in Syria, fantasizing about police torturing Grayzone editor Max Blumenthal, hysterically heckling former UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn at an antiwar meeting, and embedding with CIA-backed armed gangs in Syria, wound up at the site of the Russian convoy two days after it was destroyed. Filming himself against the backdrop of numerous burned out Russian tanks, Katerji tweeted that soldiers told him they had removed eight Russian corpses from the battlefield yesterday. Left: British neoconservative Oz Katerji in Lebanon; Right: Katerji at the site a destroyed Russian convoy on April 2. An equally sanitized depiction of the scene was published by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine on Twitter, which compiled shots of the destruction and an interview with a soldier over an intermittent electronic soundtrack. . , " " pic.twitter.com/uLm4ANgvt5 Defence of Ukraine (@DefenceU) April 2, 2022 In the original war crimes video, one of the men who gloated at the scene of the killings has been identified as Khizanishvili Teymuraz of the Georgian Legion. Previously, Teymuraz served as a body guard to former Georgian president and Mamulashvili ally Mikheil Saakashvili. A pet project of Washington neoconservatives, Saakashvili met disgrace after leading a disastrous war of choice against Russia over South Ossetia in 2008. He eventually accepted an offer from Ukraine to serve as governor in Odessa in 2015. It is necessary to create chaos on the Maidan The most deadly incident during the 2013-14 riots and protests on Kievs Maidan Square that eventually led to the ouster of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was the massacre of 49 demonstrators on February 20, 2014. The incident galvanized international outrage against Yanukovych and weakened his governments negotiating position. Yet it remains shrouded in intrigue. During the color revolution on the Maidan, Mamulashvili rallied his old war buddies to take up Ukraines cause. Near the central square, his group was reportedly told to ensure order so that there were no drunks, to maintain discipline and identify rabble-rousers sent in by the authorities. Mamulashvilis former comrades told Russian media that he eventually told them it is necessary to create chaos on the Maidan, using weapons against any targets, protesters and police no difference. President Vlodymyr Zelensky has described the killings on the Maidan as the most complicated case in our country, noting that the crime scene was tampered with and documents have mysteriously disappeared. International bodies also remain befuddled. While the NATO-funded Atlantic Council think tank has described the matter as unsolved, the United Nations has noted that justice remains elusive. Today, some researchers point to Mamulashvili and his Georgian Legionnaires as key suspects behind the mysterious killings. Ivan Katchanovski, a professor of political science at the University of Ottawa, is among those who believe Mamulashvilis allies were likely among those who fired on protesters from buildings over Maidan Square, generating bloodshed that was ultimately blamed on Ukraines then-government. Testimonies by several Georgian self-admitted members of Maidan sniper groups for the Maidan massacre trial and investigation and their interviews in American, Italian and Israeli TV documentaries and Macedonian and Russian media are generally consistent with findings of my academic studies of the Maidan massacre, Katchanovski commented to The Grayzone. While Katchanovski said his academic research did not focus on the involvement of specific individuals in the massacre, he stated that most of the Georgians who testified in the trial revealed their names, passport numbers and border stamps, copies of plane tickets, videos and photos in Ukraine or Georgian military, and other evidence to affirm their credibility. He added that some of their identities were verified by the Ukrainian border guard service and the Armenian and Belarusian authorities for the Maidan massacre trial in Ukraine. The Maidan massacre trial in November 2021 admitted and showed as evidence a testimony of one of these Georgians who confessed of being a member of a group of Maidan snipers, Katchanovski stated. Testimonies of 7 Georgians corroborate findings of my academic studies that both Maidan protesters & police were massacred by snipers in Maidan-controlled Music Conservatory & Hotel Ukraina in false flag massacre with Maidan leaders & far right involvement https://t.co/4HVM9TK7an Ivan Katchanovski (@I_Katchanovski) December 21, 2021 The US members of Congress that hosted Mamulashvili were either unaware of these allegations or believed the Georgian warlord was simply innocent. A warlord goes to Washington As this reporter recently documented for The Grayzone, photos posted by Mamulashvili on his Facebook page show the Georgian hard-man inside the US Capitol rubbing elbows with some of the top figures on the House Foreign Relations Committee. His hosts included then-Rep. Eliot Engel, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, former Rep. Sander Levin, Rep. Andre Carson, Rep. Doug Lamborn, and former Rep. Dana Rohrabacher. Additional photos show him visiting Senate offices, including that of Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the former chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and Kristen Gilibrand, who sits on the Intelligence Committee as well as the Armed Services Committee. Contacted by phone by this reporter, the offices of Senators Feinstein and Gilibrand have declined to comment on their hosting of the Georgian warlord. Mamulashvili with Rep. Carolyn Maloney in March 2018 " Mamulashvilis multiple trips to the United States have offered him the opportunity to attend events at the Ukrainian embassy in Washington, give talks at Saint George Academy, a Ukrainian Catholic School in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, and hold forth in an interview with the Washington office of US governments Voice of America in 2015. He has even posed for photo ops with officers of the New York City Police Department. Georgian warlord Mamulashvili with NYPD officers, June 4, 2017 " Additional photos show Mamulashvili holding the flag of the Georgian Legion with Nadiya Shaporynska, the founder and president of US Ukrainian Activists, a DC-based non-profit that has lobbied members Congress to take measures against Russia, held daily rallies outside of the White House, and fundraised tens of thousands of dollars to procure supplies for the Ukrainian military and refugees. In between these trips, Mamulashvili constructed three training bases and recruited hundreds of fighters. Some photos he posted to Facebook show the warlords subordinates training children (below) for battle against Russia. The practice of cultivating children for warfare is shared by Ukraines more notorious Azov Battalion. US volunteer with the Georgian Legion details executions, flees after threats In March, this reporter interviewed Henry Hoeft, a US army veteran who accepted Zelenskys appeal for foreign fighters and volunteered for the Georgian Legion. Hoeft told The Grayzone that members of the legion threatened to kill him when he refused to go to the front lines without a weapon. Heft also recalled how Georgian fighters put bags over the heads of two men who blew through a checkpoint and executed them on the spot, accusing them of being spies for Russia. While Western reporters have presented Mamulashvili as a brave and tactically deft battlefield commander since he entered the fight against Russia in Ukraine, his unit has also received mention in articles over the years on the unsavory figures it has welcomed into its ranks: neo-Nazis, bank robbers and fugitives like Craig Lang, who is wanted in the United States on suspicion of murdering a married couple in Florida. In the east of Ukraine, where Lang spoke to the media on behalf of the Georgian Legion (then sometimes called the Foreign Legion) from the front lines, the Department of Justice and FBI have investigated Lang and seven other Americans for war crimes. The group allegedly took non-combatants as prisoners and tortured them, sometimes to death before burial in an unmarked grave. Mamulashvilis Facebook page contains an un-captioned photograph of the American fugitive. As the war in Ukraine intensifies and the US deepens its commitment to escalating it, top foreign policy figures in Washington are wagging a finger at Russia with one hand and literally shaking the hand of Mamulashvili, an avowed war criminal, with the other. Pelosi's Taiwan visit plan must be canceled, not postponed: FM spokesperson Xinhua) 12:28, April 09, 2022 BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Friday reiterated China's position on U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's planned visit to Taiwan, urging the plan must be canceled immediately. Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a daily news briefing when answering a relevant question. According to reports, Pelosi's planned visit will be postponed to a later date due to her positive test result for COVID-19. After expressing his condolences to Pelosi and wishing her a speedy recovery, Zhao said that what she should do is not postpone the visit but cancel it immediately. (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji) Visakhapatnam: Advertising billboards erected in towns and cities across the state appear least bothered about advisories of electricity authorities regarding switching off lighting systems from 6 p.m. on a day to 6 a.m. the next day for saving electricity and overcoming power cuts. According to AP Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) chairman and managing director K. Santosha Rao advertisement hoardings and signboards should not use power between 6 p.m. every day and 6 a.m. the next morning. But when Deccan Chronicle checked, almost all advertisement boards in Visakhapatnam city had been glowing at night. Sources say the situation is similar across the state. An Andhra University professor dealing with electrical engineering said advertisers should not have any objections about switching off boards during late night hours, as nobody is there to see what billboards depict. This can help save thousands of megawatts of electricity. The same can be transmitted to areas starved of power. Speaking to DC, a functionary of an advertisement agency in Visakhapatnam said there are nearly 400 small to big-sized billboards within Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) limits. There will be nearly 2,000 billboards across 26 districts of the state. We can save at least 10,000 kilowatts of power if we stop all billboards at a time per hour, the ad functionary said. A staff of another advertising agency said they are ready to cooperate with government for safeguarding larger interests of people in the country. But the government had not given them any official instructions about switching off billboards. The reason is that government is thinking of revenue it will lose at the rate of 18 per unit of electricity a billboard consumes, he pointed out. An official of New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (NREDCAP) said solar-powered billboards are available in the market. Though these are expensive, they are energy efficient, save electricity and are economical in the long run. We do not have solar powered billboards in the state as of now. But there will definitely be proposals in the future, the NREDCAP officer told. One of Westmans most prolific painters is putting his work on display for the first time in more than two years with an exhibition titled, Brandon Heritage en Plein Air. Advertisement Advertise With Us One of Westmans most prolific painters is putting his work on display for the first time in more than two years with an exhibition titled, "Brandon Heritage en Plein Air." Weiming Zhao told the Sun that his new solo show, which opens today at the Daly House Museum, consists of 40 oil paintings that feature some of Brandons most recognizable urban structures, from the Brandon University campus to the Riverbank Discovery Centre and everything in between. While this exhibition is designed to celebrate the Daly House Museums 140th anniversary, Zhao admits it also means a lot to him personally, since he hasnt put together an in-person showing of his impressionist-inspired art since the COVID-19 pandemic began. "Normally, since 2004, I would have one [exhibition] a year," he said on Friday. "Theres one year I did three solo shows in three different locations. After the pandemic everything shut down, so this is the very first since then." Even though COVID has put a halt to a lot of arts-related events in the region, Zhaos desire to create has remained steady. "If I dont paint, I feel miserable," said the 61-year-old artist, whos spent the past 18 years producing a new work almost every single day. Zhao claims the restrictions and isolation brought about by the pandemic have even encouraged him to increase the frequency of his creative output, as well as broaden his presence online. "I acquired some new followers," he said. "A lot of people got to know my work such a long time ago, but there are new people who havent had a chance to see my works in person." In terms of the exhibit itself, the collection consists of paintings that Zhao completed before and during the pandemic, with a specific focus on architectural structures that have defined Brandons urban landscape for several generations. While the artist is known for depicting rural settings as well, the local cityscape has left a major mark ever since he moved from China to Brandon in 1991. "The first place I stayed was in the downtown area close to BU and I remember my first sight of Brandon was very, very impressive at that time to me, fresh from China," he told the Sun in 2016. Zhao originally started painting as a teenager in the 1970s, finding this creative outlet a reprieve from the government propaganda he was bombarded with during Chinas cultural revolution. During his years living in Brandon, Zhao has attempted to master the art of plein air painting, where every new work is completed outdoors. In order to fulfil his daily painting quota, Zhao even subjects himself to -30 C weather during the winter season. However, the artist insists that working outdoors is the only way to truly capture the emotion of a scene, which is a phenomenon that cant be replicated in a studio setting or by taking a photograph. "Because a photo is a very objective record of a thing, but a painting is more subjective in terms of your response to what you see," he said. "So it will conjure up more of a body of emotions in the person who views it." And even though hes created thousands of paintings by this point, Zhao told the Sun he doesnt plan on slowing down in terms of his daily output, since this practice has kept him steady throughout incredible turbulent times like the pandemic. "So I dont feel so isolated, because I have a venue to explore my own emotions in a very intimate way, where I dont need extra resources other than a paint brush and a few colours," he said. "Brandon Heritage en Plein Air" will be on display at the Daly House Museum until Sept. 30. The museum will also be organizing an open house featuring Zhao that is scheduled to take place on April 23 between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. All of the paintings featured in this showcase are also available for purchase, with Zhao pledging to donate 20 per cent of the proceeds from every sale to the Daly House Museum. kdarbyson@brandonsun.com Twitter:@KyleDarbyson A Peguis First Nation member honoured the legacy of her grandmother by placing rubble from the former Brandon Indian Residential School in St. Peter's Square after witnessing the Papal apology in Rome. Advertisement Advertise With Us A Peguis First Nation member honoured the legacy of her grandmother by placing rubble from the former Brandon Indian Residential School in St. Peter's Square after witnessing the Papal apology in Rome. As part of her journey to Italy and back, documentary filmmaker Jade Harper brought rubble from the residential school to lay at the foot of the Vatican. "The apology is a moment," Harper said. "A moment that brought some of us to tears, some filled with joy and relief and others with anger and grief. We must keep talking. We must keep singing and dancing. We must forge ahead and continue to reclaim our relations, our space and cultivate joy on the very lands that nourish us." Harper departed from Treaty 1 Territory North of Winnipeg for Italy on March 24 and returned to Manitoba on April 4. She was part of a crew of three filming the experience of residential school survivors in Italy on behalf of the Assembly of First Nations. It was a long and winding road bringing the rubble to Italy, as Harper had been holding on to the school bricks for seven years. When the Truth and Reconciliation Commission came to an end in 2015, Harper decided she needed to visit the former Brandon Indian Residential School. Her grandmother, Ruth Ratt, was forced to attend the facility from the age of five to 15 and perpetually attempted to escape too many times to count. "Her experience, like many survivors, was awful. It was abusive," Harper said. "Going there was a way for me to acknowledge her experience. It felt empty I tried to grasp the feeling as much as it felt just really lonely." Its believed there are 104 graves at the former Brandon Indian Residential School. SUBMITTED Jade Harper in Rome. Harper offered tobacco, sang a song and conducted ceremony at the site. Before leaving, she was compelled to take rubble from the walls of the school. The trip to the site ended up leading to more questions and feelings, Harper said. For the past seven years, she has been navigating her family history and the lasting impacts of colonialism that continues to impact modern-day life. "Intergenerational trauma amongst our families is something we are still navigating." When she returned home, Harper placed the pieces of rubble in a cloth bag with medicine: tobacco, sage, cedar and sweetgrass tucking it away for safekeeping. It felt like a reclamation being able to practise her culture when residential schools had attempted to strip it away from her ancestors, she said. The rubble remained untouched, waiting for the right moment to be unveiled. "A part of me felt a little bit afraid of it," Harper said. "Those walls have seen so much and so I wanted to protect myself from that. I wanted to wrap those pieces in medicine. It was cleansing and healing." As she was packing for her trip to Italy, Harper decided she had to bring the pieces of rubble with her. She was unsure where she would place the bricks at first, but she found a fountain in St. Peters Square on her last day in Italy. "Water is our medicine and its very sacred," Harper said. "Women, our responsibility is the water and so I felt it was important to take those pieces with a piece of sweetgrass and my tobacco tie and take it to the fountain." SUBMITTED Jade Harpers grandmother and residential school survivor Ruth Ratt. Placing the pieces helped her "feel still" in her heart, as she set down the tobacco and bricks and prayed for children, relatives struggling with the trauma, First Nation communities and others traumatized by residential schools. "Everyone was bringing gifts for the Pope and I didnt have any gifts because I didnt feel it was necessary to be gifting anything," Harper said. "I was there because I wanted to help amplify the voices of residential school survivors and I felt like I was returning something that never belonged to us in the first place." Harper attended the private audience with the Pope and was able to witness the apology in person holding her phone open with a photo of her grandmother. The Canadian Press reported Pope Francis 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. Pope 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. More than 150,000 Indigenous children in Canada were forced to attend state-funded Christian schools from the 19th century until the 1970s 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, reported The Canadian Press. The Catholic Church ran many of the Indian residential schools across Canada, including the Brandon facility from 1969 to 72. Nearly three-quarters of Canadas 130 residential schools were run by Catholic missionary congregations. The papal apology marked a significant historical moment, Harper said, that was only made possible by the courage of survivors who survived Canadas attempted genocide of Indigenous people, cultures and traditions. The apology can serve as a launchpad to talk about colonial history and the lasting impacts these actions continue to have on Indigenous communities. As these issues are understood, communities can work towards a healing path. "Every apology has to have action. They have to take responsibility and those steps need to happen," Harper said. "I think it was important the Catholic Church around the world has seen their leadership [apologize] and acknowledge those harms." ckemp@brandonsun.com, with files from The Canadian Press Twitter: @The_ChelseaKemp It wasnt a surprise the deficit in this years federal budget was higher than expected for Westmans members of Parliament, but it was a disappointment for them. Advertisement Advertise With Us It wasnt a surprise the deficit in this years federal budget was higher than expected for Westmans members of Parliament, but it was a disappointment for them. When Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland unveiled Budget 2022 on Thursday, the deficit rose from an earlier projection of $44.1 billion to $52.1 billion. "Its almost like theyre doubling down with Canadians money," Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa Conservative MP Dan Mazier said in a phone interview from Ottawa on Friday. "I cannot get over the amount of spending and its uncontrolled spending." Both Mazier and his caucus colleague Brandon-Souris MP Larry Maguire said they could see the influence of the NDP in the budget after the party signed a confidence and supply agreement to keep the Liberals in power through 2025 in exchange for concessions on items like pharmacare and dental care. One of the large focuses in the budget was on making housing more affordable, with approximately $10 billion earmarked to help increase the supply of homes, regulate the role of foreign buyers in the market and create a program that would allow people aged 40 years or younger to save up to $40,000 in a tax-free savings account to put toward buying their first home. Mazier is unconvinced the new policies will actually make an impact, saying the Liberals first touted affordable housing as one of their priorities when they first formed government in 2015 and he has yet to see any forward progress. "They talk about doubling the amount of homes that we have in Canada," Maguire said. "The only thing theyve doubled is the national debt." Earlier this week, the Conservatives put forward a motion calling for Canada to meet its military spending obligations as a member of NATO, which states member nations should spend at least two per cent of their gross domestic product on defence. That motion passed through the minority House of Commons with only the NDP voting against. Thursdays budget featured $8 billion in new military spending over the next five years. New spending will bring Canada closer to its NATO goal, but not all the way. The Canadian Press reported Thursday that defence analyst David Perry of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute said despite the new funds, Canada still risks falling behind its allies on military spending. "What they did will only bring it to about 1.5 per cent [of GDP] instead of the two per cent that we, the NDP and the Bloc wanted to get passed, wanted to encourage them to work towards," Maguire said. "The purchase of airplanes, the F-35s, will take years and years we cant take for granted our own defence." Speaking to media after the budget release, interim Tory leader Candice Bergen seemed happy that defence received a boost. "But were going to be looking for where theyre going to be spending it and that theyll actually get that money out," she said. On that point, Mazier agrees with his leader. He and Maguire also agreed with Bergens disappointment that the budget doesnt contain any provision of military supplies Ukraine has requested in its war against Russia, just money. Both Maguire and Mazier would have liked to see an emphasis on increasing Canadian energy exports, especially with countries in Europe trying to wean themselves off of their dependency on Russian oil and gas. Bergen has already signalled her party wont support the budget, but given that the Liberals will have the NDPs support, its likely to pass. Though Mazier didnt have anything positive to say about the federal budget, Maguire said he agreed with attempts to limit foreign influence in the housing market and a reduction in tax in small businesses. He believes the tax credits to help homebuyers could be helpful, but isnt sure how it will work out. On Friday, Manitoba Finance Minister Cameron Friesen released a statement saying the federal government failed to deliver on the most important item to all Canadians health care. "Now more than ever, the federal government needs to restore a sustainable health-care funding partnership through the Canada Health Transfer," Friesen wrote. "At just 22 per cent, the federal share is simply inadequate, as the pandemic sadly proved. Immediate and sustained investments are required to increase the federal share to 35 per cent. Our premier will continue to collaborate with her counterparts to press the federal government on this critical issue in the months ahead." The province will unveil details on how it intends on tackling affordability and health care in its budget being released next Tuesday. In a joint media conference held Thursday at the legislature, Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew and Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley also criticized the federal budget but said the lack of increase in health transfer will prevent the damage done to their respective provinces health-care systems by Conservative governments. "Manitobans are paying the price after years of living with a health-care system that is underfunded and unable to withstand PC cuts," Kinew said. "In all, 170,000 people are waiting for life-saving surgeries, tests and procedures. Health-care staff are overworked and exhausted and patients are being transferred hours away for care. We need to get Manitoba back on track and fix the damage the PCs have caused, and to do that we need a willing federal partner and a commitment at the provincial level to spend every new health dollar at the bedside." cslark@brandonsun.com Twitter: @ColinSlark The NSW government has stepped in to exempt aviation workers from close COVID-19 contact rules in a bid to relieve pressure on Sydney Airport over the Easter holidays as passengers on Saturday endured a third day of long queues. Amid a critical shortage of security screening staff and other workers, NSW Health authorities signed an order to include airport workers on a list of occupations exempt from close contact rules. Domestic passengers endure long queues at Sydney Airport early on Saturday afternoon. Credit:James Alcock NSW Health said critical air transportation workers identified as household contacts would now be allowed to return to work if they had no COVID-19 symptoms. The self-isolation exemption applies to people providing air transport services whose absence would pose a high risk of disruption as determined by their employer, such as pilots, baggage handlers flight attendants, security staff, it said. Western Australia has recorded 6566 new cases of COVID-19 overnight, with 236 now in hospital with COVID-19 and eight in intensive care. Three historical deaths dating back to April 2 have also been recorded, all were men in their 50s. Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson. Credit:Peter de Kruijff Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson announced the new figures on Saturday morning and also announced a new incentive to get children vaccinated as the Easter school holiday kicks off. Ms Sanderson said there were around 30 children per day presenting to Perth Childrens Hospital with COVID-19 which was quite significant. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Red is the soil and blue the endless sky over the heart of Queenslands coal country, but a change of colour could be on the wind. Its a region, politicians say, that holds elections in a vice-like grip, firm as the handshakes among its stolid industrial workforce and conservative voting base. Queensland Greens Senate candidate Penny Allman-Payne. But what about progressive voices in the north? At a federal level, there are none. And Penny Allman-Payne doesnt bat an eyelid when she says no one stands up for northern Queenslanders disenfranchised by distance, left disillusioned and downtrodden. The workers. The disadvantaged children. Teachers at the brink. Advertisement As a public school teacher of 30 years, now based in Gladstone, the lead Senate candidate for the Greens talks of children living out of sheds with no power and electricity. Day after day, depressed children arrive at school hungry, anxiety weighing more heavily than schoolbags. Allman-Paynes daughter couldnt get the maternity care she needed in Gladstone so had to fly to Brisbane every month. The disparity is clear, the political aspirant says, shaking her head as she sits at a wooden table outside the Greens office in the inner-Brisbane suburb of Milton. Days earlier, Allman-Payne quit her job. Smashing the status quo has always been tough but its worth doing. Penny Allman-Payne With Prime Minister Scott Morrison expected to call the federal election on Sunday morning, Allman-Payne has flown to Brisbane as the party machines ready themselves to roll into motion. Advertisement But the idea of a Greens senator elected in a resource-reliant region raises eyebrows. Traditionalist working-class populaces typically relate to people like the brash Pauline Hanson, long since removed from her humble days of cooking fish and chips yet still calling it how it is, her One Nation party promising a commonsense approach to government. Theres also Katters Australian Party, with father and son leaders Bob and Robbie Katter respected for their support of regional workers and tough stances on issues such as youth crime. A United Australia Party billboard on the Bruce Highway near Mackay. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer And who could overlook the colourful, cashed-up Clive Palmer, whose United Australia Party already dominates advertising online and on TV, his yellow billboards ever-present the further one travels north on the Bruce Highway. Palmer took credit for helping the Coalition retain government at the 2019 federal poll; this time around, he says Australians cannot trust the Liberals, Labor or the Greens, and UAP will preference the major parties last. Advertisement Whether its Hanson, Katter or Palmer, their policies are often carefully considered nods to national polling over recent years that show Australians dont trust politicians. But the Greens are pushing hard for a second Senate seat in Queensland, joining the states sole senator from the party, Larissa Waters. They believe they need a 1.5 per cent swing to win the seat. Its going to be a hard slog, but thats how its always been, yeah? Allman-Payne says. Smashing the status quo has always been tough, but its worth doing. Representation will be one of the biggest issues, she concedes, admitting many Queenslanders are yet to see what a Greens politician looks like in their area. Griffith University political expert Paul Williams says voters are typically more conservative in the regions, but being based outside Brisbane might help Allman-Payne. People from regional Queensland hate Brisbane and they hate Canberra even more. Paul Williams Advertisement The further north you go, where weve got eco-tourism [in places such as Cairns], the Greens tend to do well. But environmental progressive candidates dont do very well in conservative, provincial Queensland. However, he says its a foregone conclusion that the Greens will pick up that second spot. I reckon it will be two Labor, two LNP, one Pauline, one Green. Really, the race is between Hanson, Palmer and Campbell Newman of the Liberal Democrats Party. I think it would be very hard to see Pauline missing out. Shes a Queensland icon and they love her in regional Queensland. Although, Clive is spending big and hes polling well in other states. Campbell is apparently polling well on the Gold Coast because thats about freedom and individual responsibility and state government regulation. Advertisement Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Mae Hong Son, Thailand: In the mountains of north-west Thailand, a couple of sheets of corrugated iron stand between a border police outpost and war-torn Myanmar. Wandering around the barricade and down a dirt track, all is quiet as we cross briefly into this forest-covered corner of Thailands troubled neighbour. Two weeks earlier, after a shell landed near the Thai police camp here, Burmese forces and the local Karenni Army militia were asked to pack up their bases and shift their fighting further inside Myanmar. When the Burmese army withdrew from their base, the Karenni Army went up and burnt it down, says one of the Thai border police officers, speaking on the condition of anonymity and pointing to the remnants of the camp in a clearing atop a hill in the distance. As foliage crunches under our feet, an old motorbike with Burmese plates lies abandoned next to a wooden hut. Until recently, the Karenni soldiers gathered here to access an internet connection from Thailand. This is eastern Kayah or Karenni state, Myanmars least developed area and the setting for one of the fiercest campaigns being waged by the military since its February 2021 coup. Advertisement The Tatmadaw, as the military is known, has been in conflict for decades with ethnic armed groups that control vast swathes of the country. However, 14 months after generals seized power from Aung San Suu Kyis democratically elected government, they have elevated their offensive to a new, frightening scale. Border mark: Just across the border from north-west Thailand, Burmese civilians and resistance fighters have been left to fend for themselves. Credit:Chris Barrett The United Nations and rights groups have documented the targeting of civilians with air strikes and heavy artillery, as well as with systematic burning of villages and blocking of aid. They report more than 1600 people have been killed by security forces across Myanmar in the past 14 months. It was also in Kayah state in the township of Hpruso that 35 people, including children, were shot and burnt in their vehicles in a Christmas Eve massacre last year an atrocity that made global headlines. The brutal tactics may amount to war crimes, according to the UN, but the military makes no apologies for them. In a speech on Armed Forces Day on March 27, junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing vowed to annihilate opposition to his regime, people he regards as terrorists. Advertisement Its the worst situation Ive seen in our 29 years in Burma, says Dave Eubank, a former United States Special Forces soldier whose relief organisation Free Burma Rangers has long operated in Myanmars conflict zones. And talking to anybody that I know, and looking at history, its the heaviest fighting all over Burma since World War II. Eubank is speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age from outside Loikaw, the capital of Kayah state, after a nearly two-month stint in February and March in which his team went up and down the small state, witnessing a military assault that has gathered pace this year. In this image taken from drone video provided by Free Burma Rangers, smoke rises from burning buildings in Waraisuplia, Kayah State, Myanmar on February 18. Credit:AP Traversing the rice fields that lie between villages, his group captured footage of the Burmese armys bombardment with Russian-made fighter bombers, attack helicopters, drones and armoured vehicles and the torching of houses by ground infantry. Local media reports say as many as 200,000 people more than half the states population have fled their homes and are hiding in jungle caves, leaving its main towns all but empty. We dont need money. We just need weapons to protect our people. Our people are being killed and no one has come to help us. General Aung Myat, deputy commander-in-chief of the Karenni Army Attempting to withstand the onslaught is a quasi-civilian outfit called the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force, which includes people who have left their jobs as doctors, lawyers, teachers and factory workers to join the resistance. But its ragtag battalions, including the youthful Karenni Generation Z Army, are facing a force propped up by a continuing flow of weapons from Moscow, the juntas largest arms supplier, as well as from China, according to Tom Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar. Eubanks team witnessed the military attacking with Russian MiG-29 and Yak-130 jets and Hind helicopter gunships, but he says only 25 to 30 members of each 500-man resistance battalion has modern weapons and even those are barely serviceable. Advertisement Others have muskets, homemade single shotguns and homemade single .22s, small calibre we would normally use for shooting rabbits, says Eubank, who had three team members killed in recent weeks in Kayah as the rangers provided medical care for wounded resistance fighters. A Myanmar military helicopter fires rockets west of Loikaw in Kayah state on February 21, an image provided by Free Burma Rangers. Credit:Free Burma Rangers I have never seen a level of bravery like it, taking on a mechanised, armoured force with muskets. Theyre just getting pounded. [The military] were bombing clinics, they were bombing churches and theyre still doing it. Back across the border in Thailands Mae Hong Son province, the ruthlessness of the Burmese armed forces since the coup has come as no surprise to General Aung Myat, deputy commander-in-chief of the Karenni Army. He has been confronting the Tatmadaw for half a century, having joined the group, he says, at the age of 16 when he saw a Burmese soldier raping a woman in Demoso, his hometown. Sitting outside the headquarters of the Karenni National Progressive Party in the Thai village of Nai Soi, a rooster crows and dogs sleep in the heat as the general tells of how, centuries ago, the Karenni even stood against the Burmese kingdom when it invaded Siam, as Thailand was known. General Aung Myat, deputy commander of the Karenni Army. Credit:Chris Barrett Advertisement His rebel army has given training to the civilian fighters who have left their work or studies to join what is known broadly across Myanmar as the Peoples Defence Force (PDF). But it cant equip them with anything more than the improvised weapons firing metal balls or glass they take into battle. We have the spirit to fight because they have bombed our villages and they have oppressed us, he says. But the problem is these PDFs dont have guns and dont even have food to eat when they go to the frontline. They only have the spirit to fight, they dont have the arms. We dont need money. We just need weapons to protect our people. Our people are being killed and no one has come to help us. The Myanmar military commemorates Armed Forces Day in the capital Naypyitaw on March 27. Russia is the juntas biggest arms supplier. Credit:AP Nearby, in Nai Soi village, the Karenni National Womens Organisation, a humanitarian group, is arranging for the delivery of rice to the estimated 2000 people who have gathered on the Myanmar side of the border after the shelling of towns like Loikaw and Demoso. Mu Ree, the organisations first secretary, reports the military tried to drop a bomb on the camp in January but missed. Many there fear the settlement will be targeted again, she says. You can see it in their eyes. Theyve had to flee their homes, theyve lost their family members or are separated from their family members, so they feel awful. Advertisement HYDERABAD: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday challenged Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao to make a full public disclosure of all information and documents in the possession of the government that are related to drugs related cases in Telangana since 2017, including the identities of people who were found to be involved or otherwise related to cases. Telangana BJP president Bandi Sanjay Kumar, accusing the Chief Minister of complicity in allowing drug culture in Hyderabad city, said, Many of those involved in drug cases in Telangana are either closely associated with the Chief Minister. Many TRS leaders too are involved in the booming of the drug culture. Addressing a press conference, Sanjay said if the Chief Minister was clean, or his party leaders were not involved in drug-related cases, there was no need for the state government to hang on to documents related to the 2017 bust which exposed the drug culture in the Telugu film industry. Why is the government not releasing all the information as sought by the Enforcement Directorate? Why did the ED have to file a contempt petition in the High Court? This was because despite court orders to hand over all information, the government has not done so, he said. Sanjay said that whenever drug busts were properly investigated in the past, they all led to people with terrorist links using narcotics to raise funds for their activities. Everything the CM says about taking action on drugs is hot air. The drug culture in the city is sending parents into panic over the well-being of their children. Already, IT companies are sacking employees for drug use. More than 100 bars and pubs are managed by those close to the Chief Minister. Chandrashekar Rao must explain how under TRS the city became a hub for drugs, he said, adding the TRS is responsible for the exploding drug use in the city. London: Two-time Australian Open winner Boris Becker is facing jail after he was found guilty of hiding assets in a bankruptcy case. The former Wimbledon champion, 54, was found guilty on four counts of transferring hundreds of thousands of pounds to other accounts after he was declared bankrupt in 2017 over an unpaid 3 million ($5.25 million) loan on his estate in Mallorca. The charges include removing property, two counts of failing to disclose estate, and concealing debt. Boris Becker at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London in 2016 Credit:AP He could face a jail sentence of up to seven years for each count. In a bid to hide money from his creditors, Becker transferred around 350,000 to nine recipients including Barbara and Lilly Becker, his former wives, hid his ownership of a luxury villa in his native Leimen, Germany, where his mother resides, and failed to disclose a 620,000 debt and his stake in AI firm Breaking Data Corp. Boris Johnson has made a top-secret visit to war-torn Ukraine to offer Volodymyr Zelensky armoured vehicles and anti-ship missiles and heap praise on the invincible heroism and courage of the Ukrainian people. The British Prime Ministers unannounced visit to Kyiv, with just one aide from his private office and security personnel, was not briefed to media in advance and was revealed only when Ukraines embassy in the United Kingdom tweeted a photo of the two men with the caption: Surprise. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a top-secret visit to Ukraine. Johnson had travelled to Poland under the cover of darkness on Friday night, then across the border to the capital. With Moscow having declared Johnson the most anti-Russia leader in the world last week, only about half a dozen British and Ukrainian officials were aware the trip was to take place. Images of the men embracing Johnson looking his unkempt self in a suit with a blue tie and Zelensky in his familiar army-issue T-shirt and tracksuit top were released after Johnson left the country. has dropped prices of its Fi unlimited phone plans and rates now start at $20 per month per line for four or more lines, compared to the previous starting price of $30 per month. At this new lower price, Simply Unlimited will continue to be Google's most affordable unlimited plan especially for families and groups. "We're also adding more high-speed data -- an increase from 22GB to 35GB," said Dhwani Shah, Product Manager, Fi. Fi service provides telephone calls, SMS and mobile broadband using cellular networks. The company is also including 5GB of hotspot tethering and adding unlimited calling within Canada and Mexico. The Unlimited Plus plan now starts at $40 per month per line for four or more lines, compared to the previous price of $45 per month. Under this plan, the company will provide 50GB data from the earlier 22GB per month, along with unlimited calling within Canada and Mexico at no extra cost. With Unlimited Plus, you'll use your data on up to four additional devices with data-only SIMs at no extra cost and 100GB of cloud storage with Google One, said Shah. You also get international calls to more than 50 destinations and international data abroad in over 200 destinations. The Flexible plan will be $17 per month per line for four lines for unlimited calls and text, plus $10 per GB for data at home and abroad, said the company. --IANS (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.) Hafiz Talha Saeed, the son of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks mastermind and LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, has been declared a terrorist by the government. In a notification, the Union home ministry said that Hafiz Talha Saeed, 46, has been actively involved in recruitment, fund collection, and planning and executing attacks by the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in India and Indian interests in Afghanistan. He has also been actively visiting various LeT centres across Pakistan, and during his sermons propagating for jihad against India, Israel, the United States of America and Indian interests in other western countries, it stated. And whereas, the central government believes that Hafiz Talha Saeed is involved in and he should be notified as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), the notification said. was the brain behind the Mumbai terror attacks of November 26, 2008, in which 166 people were killed. He had been declared a terrorist under the same law a few years ago and is currently serving a jail term in Pakistan on terror charges. India has been consistently seeking Hafiz Saeed's custody but Pakistan has refused to do so. Apart from the 26/11 attacks, the LeT has been responsible for a series of deadly attacks in India, mostly in Jammu and Kashmir, in which scores of civilians and security personnel have been killed over the years. (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's a crime that siphons untold billions from the economy but many people have never heard of it. Business Compromise scams involve criminals hacking into accounts, pretending to be someone they're not and fooling victims into sending money where it does not belong. Although they get far less attention than the massive ransomware attacks that have triggered a powerful government response, BEC scams have been by far the costliest type of in the US for years, according to the FBI. The huge payoffs and low risks associated with BEC scams have attracted criminals worldwide. Some flaunt their ill-gotten riches on social media, posing in pictures next to Ferraris, Bentleys, and stacks of cash. Almost every enterprise is vulnerable to BEC scams, from Fortune 500 companies to small towns. Even the US State Department got duped into sending BEC scammers more than USD200,000 in grant funds meant to help Tunisian farmers, court records show. The scammers are extremely well organized and law enforcement is not, said Sherry Williams, a director of a San Francisco non-profit that recently fell victim to a BEC scam. Losses in the US due to BEC scams in 2021 were nearly USD2.4 billion, according to a new report by the FBI. That's a 33 per cent increase from 2020 and more than a tenfold increase from just seven years ago. And experts say many victims never come forward and the FBI's numbers only show a small fraction of just how much money is stolen each year. BEC scammers use a variety of techniques to hack into legitimate business accounts and trick employees to send wire payments or make purchases they shouldn't. Targeted phishing emails are a common type of attack, but experts say the scammers have been quick to adopt new technologies, like deep fake audio generated by artificial intelligence to pretend to be executives at a company and fool subordinates into sending money. In the case of Williams, the San Francisco non-profit director, thieves hacked the email account of the non-profit's bookkeeper, then inserted themselves into a long email thread, sent messages asking to change the wire payment instructions for a grant recipient, and made off with USD650,000. After she discovered what happened, Williams said, her calls to law enforcement went nowhere. The FBI told her the local US attorney's office won't take her case. She flew to Odessa, Texas, where the bank that initially received the stolen money was located. The money by then was long gone and the local detective was powerless to help. Williams asked her US senators for help and later learned the Secret Service was investigating, but she said it hasn't given her any updates. Crane Hassold, an expert on BEC scams and former cyber analyst with the FBI, has heard of federal prosecutors declining to take BEC cases unless several million dollars were stolen, a minimum threshold that speaks to how out of control the problem is. There's so many of them they can't possibly work them all, said Hassold, now director of threat intelligence at Abnormal Security. The Justice Department has launched months-long operations in recent years that have netted hundreds of arrests worldwide. Our message to criminals involved in these types of BEC schemes will remain clear: The FBI's memory and reach is long and wide-ranging, we will relentlessly pursue you no matter where you may be located, said Brian Turner, executive assistant director of the FBI's Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch. But security experts say the wave of arrests has had little impact, and the FBI's own numbers show that BEC scams continue to grow at a rapid clip. Sophisticated BEC scams targeting businesses and other organisations started taking off in the mid-2010s. It was also around that time when ransomware attacks in which hackers break into networks and encrypt data started to grow in frequency and severity. For years both BEC scams and ransomware attacks were treated largely as a law enforcement problem. That's still true for BEC attacks, but ransomware is now a key national security concern after a series of disruptive attacks on critical infrastructure like the one last year against the biggest fuels pipeline in the US that led to gas shortages along the East Coast. The National Security Agency's hackers have taken action to disrupt ransomware operators' networks. The Justice Department set up a special ransomware task force to better organise the law enforcement response. And US President Joe Biden has pressed the issue directly with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, where many ransomware operators are located. Nothing close to those efforts has been deployed against BEC fraud despite the huge financial losses. If the US were to launch a whole-of-government response to BEC fraud, it almost certainly would focus heavily on Nigeria. Nowhere are BEC fraudsters more active than in Africa's most populous nation, where scammers have able to operate almost unchecked for decades. Ramon Abbas, a well-known social Nigerian media influencer who went by Hushpuppi, had more than two million followers on Instagram before he was arrested in Dubai. Abbas' social media posts showed him living a life of total luxury, complete with private jets, ultra-expensive cars and high-end clothes and watches. I hope someday I will be inspiring more young people to join me on this path, read one Instagram post by Abbas, who pleaded guilty in the US to international money laundering related to BEC and other cybercrimes last year. His sentencing is currently set for July. (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 60-feet-long steel bridge was dismantled and stolen by a group of men posing as government officers in Bihar's Sasaram district, police said on Saturday. The bridge, weighing 500 tons, was built over the Arrah canal in Amiyawar village in Nasriganj police station area in 1972, they said. A group of men, posing as officers of the Irrigation Department, dismantled the defunct bridge with the help of gas-cutters and earthmovers over three days, police said. By the time the locals realised what was happening and informed the police, they had fled with the scrap, said Subhash Kumar, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Nasriganj police station. "It appears that the whole operation was executed with the help of unwitting local officials of the Irrigation Department," he said. A case was registered and a hunt was on to nab those behind the incident, Kumar said. Scrap dealers in the district have been alerted about the incident, he said. "The bridge was too old and declared dangerous some time back. A new concrete bridge was constructed adjacent to the old one, and that is currently used by the locals," said Mantu Singh, a resident of the Amiyawar village. Taking a dig at the government over the incident, Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav said the thieves were inspired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and BJP leaders. "If BJP and Nitish Kumar can steal the government of Bihar, then what is a bridge?" he said, apparently referring to Kumar's JD(U) severing ties with the RJD to form a government with BJP in the state in 2017. (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.) Vikarabad SP. N. Koti Reddy conducted a video conference with district officers and directed them to take measures for smooth conduct of festivals. Representational image/S. Surender Reddy Hyderabad: Following intelligence alerts of possible disturbances during the shobha yatras to mark Sriramanavami and Hanuman Jayanti, district police officials on Thursday reviewed the security arrangements and issued fresh orders. The Nirmal police denied permission to Hindu Vahini for taking out a procession in the communally sensitive area. As police had refused permission in Bhainsa, the organisers approached the courts seeking permission to hold the processions for Sriramanavami on April 10 and Hanuman Jayanati on April 16. Nirmal superintendent of police (SP) Challa Praveen Kumar said that Bhainsa police took the decision as last years law and order disturbances in which 12 persons were injured. "No one has approached us for permission in Nirmal. We will give the nod if they agree to the conditions that we have set forth," the SP said. Vikarabad SP. N. Koti Reddy conducted a video conference with district officers and directed them to take measures for smooth conduct of festivals. "All history-sheeters must be counselled in police stations. There should be a close vigil on their movements during the festive season," Koti Reddy said. Jogulamba-Gadwal SP J Ranjan Ratan said that he had interacted with religious heads in Gadwal town and directed them to install CC cameras at all places of worship to prevent untoward incidents. The CBI on Saturday registered an FIR against 10 people in connection with the murder of TMC leader Bhadu Shiekh, which apparently led to the killing of nine people in West Bengal's Birbhum district, a senior official said. Among those named in the FIR are Palash Shiekh, Sanju Shiekh, Sona Shiekh and Choto Shiekh -- who have been arrested, he said. The case was filed under IPC sections 302 (murder) and 120B (criminal conspiracy), and relevant sections of the Explosive Substances Act. The CBI visited Rampurhat police station during the day, and collected the case diary and documents linked to Bhadhu Shiekh's murder investigation, the official said. "The CBI officers spoke to the police personnel there. They also spoke to witnesses of the murder and took stock of the situation," he said. CBI officers also visited Bogtui Mor where Bhadu was killed, he added. The CBI took over the investigation of murder from the police, following an order of the Calcutta High Court. Bhadu's murder is believed to have led to the killing of nine people on March 21 in Bogtui village. The nine people, including two children, died of burn injuries after their houses were allegedly firebombed. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) president J.P. Nadda reached his home state of on Saturday on a four-day visit, during which he will participate in various programmes and hold organisational meetings in view of the upcoming elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in BJP's parliamentary party meeting had advised all leaders to visit their home states and reach out to the general public. After the party's spectacular win in the Assembly elections in four states, Nadda, with the Himachal polls in mind, will try to know the mood of the people and take feedback from them on welfare schemes of the government. Nadda will also take feedback from the party's state unit and then hold a meeting with the high command in the national capital on the basis of which the saffron party will formulate a strategy for the polls in the state. On Saturday, Nadda's visit will start with a grand roadshow from Vidhan Sabha Chowk in Shimla to Peterhof. After that he will address a public gathering at around 11.10 a.m. On Sunday, Nadda will hold a press conference in Shimla and hold a booth meeting in Daseran. He will also meet party workers in Tutu, Darlaghat, Namhol, Bandla, Kothi, Chauk, Ghumani. On April 11, the president will interact with party workers in Nichli Bhated - Mandir Shed, Salnoo, Mandrighat, Majhwar, Harlog, Hawan Panchayat Ghar, Talyana, Kuthera and Morsinghi. The next day, Nadda will visit AIIMS in Kothipura and inspect work going on there. Nadda will interact with party workers in Jhandutta, Kandaur, Ghagas and Raghunath Pura. --IANS stp/svn/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 Chinese mainland reported 1,334 new locally-transmitted COVID-19 infections on Friday, low compared to Thursday's 1,540 cases, the National Health Commission said on Saturday. Of the local confirmed cases reported on Friday, 1,015 were in Shanghai, 248 in Jilin, 13 in Zhejiang, and six in Beijing, according to Xinhua News Agency. The rest of the cases were reported in other 12 provincial-level regions. A total of 16 new imported COVID-19 cases were reported across the mainland. On Friday, 23,815 new asymptomatic carriers were reported in the mainland, including the 23,737 cases from the local ones and 78 were the imported ones, according to the commission. Among the asymptomatic carriers, 22,609 were reported in Shanghai and 706 in Jilin. A total of 1,996 COVID-19 patients were discharged from hospitals and 23,342 close contacts were discharged from medical observation on the Chinese mainland on Friday, the National Health Commission said Saturday, according to Xinhua. Altogether 135,218 patients had been discharged from hospitals across the mainland after recovery by the end of Friday, according to the report. Earlier, On April 3, sent the military and thousands of healthcare workers into Shanghai city which has been facing the worst COVID-19 outbreak, according to the Chinese media outlet. Citing Chinese People's Liberation Army Daily, Global Times reported that the country dispatched more than 2,000 medical staff to Shanghai in one of its biggest-ever public health responses. The medical staff were drawn from seven medical units affiliated with the army, navy and joint logistics support force. Upon arrival in Shanghai, they quickly carried out medical treatment, nucleic acid testing and other essential tasks, the newspaper said. According to Global Times, a Chinese Air Force heavy transport Y-20 aircraft was parked at an airport in Shanghai early Monday morning. Regions including East China's Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, and Jiangxi provinces, North China's Tianjin, and Central China's Hubei province have also sent medical teams to help Shanghai combat the outbreak, with the total number of medical staff from other regions supporting Shanghai reaching about 10,000 as of Sunday, as per Global Times. (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.) Dismissing the reports that sanctions imposed on by the US may also be considered on other nations, the said that it is the decision of each individual country whether it is going to import Russian oil. This comes after Deputy National Security Advisor (NSA) for International Economics Daleep Singh during his trip to India had warned not to purchase Russian oil. Speaking at the press briefing, Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Friday (local time) noted that India's imports of Russian energy represent only 1 per cent to 2 per cent of their total energy imports. "It is the decision of each individual country, including India, to determine whether they are going to import Russian oil, it is only 1 to 2 per cent of their imports. About 10 per cent of their imports is from the United States," Psaki said. She was responding to a question when Daleep was in India. He delivered US' warning to India to not raise purchases of Russian oil which hinted that if perhaps sanctions along similar lines are being considered for other nations, asking them to keep purchases of Russian oil only limited to previous levels and, perhaps, not raise (inaudible). She responded: "I wouldn't characterize it as a warning, nor did we at the time." India has defended its right to secure better deals for its energy needs. New Delhi has pointed out Europe's growing purchases of petroleum products from Moscow despite the war. Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said the European countries remain the biggest buyers of oil and gas from . He even slammed a "campaign" against India for buying Russian oil at discounts. has offered crude oil and other commodities at discounted rates to India after the US and its allies imposed sanctions on Moscow. India's import of crude oil from Russia stood at around an average of nearly 360,000 barrels a day in the first half of this month. As per the current shipment schedules, the average oil trade between the two countries is estimated to be around 203,000 barrels per day. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden signed two bills that will ban US imports of Russian oil and suspend normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus, as per . (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 Delhi High Court has dismissed an application by Red Bull seeking to injunct Pepsi from using tagline "Stimulates Mind. Energizes Body." for its energy drink Sting. The court said plaintiff Red Bull has failed to establish a prima facie case in its favour and balance of convenience is also in favour of defendant India Holdings Pvt Ltd for not granting interim injunction as the products of the defendants have been selling in the market with this tagline for almost five years. Red Bull sought interim injunction against Pepsico, restraining it from using the tagline "Stimulates Mind. Energizes Body.", which is claimed to be deceptively similar to the plaintiff's registered trademark/ tagline "Vitalizes Body And Mind". "Both the taglines used by the plaintiff and the defendants are descriptive and laudatory in nature. Whether the tagline of the plaintiff has acquired distinctiveness or secondary meaning in respect of the plaintiff's products can only be established at the stage of trial," Justice Amit Bansal said. In 2018, Red Bull had filed a trademark suit in the high court for its mark "Vitalizes Body and Mind." against PepsiCo's use of its tagline "Stimulates Mind. Energizes Body" for its energy drink product Sting. Red Bull claimed that the marks are similar and Pepsi's use of "Stimulates Mind. Energizes Body." amounts to infringement and passing off its trademark - "Vitalizes Body and Mind". It had argued that the mark had acquired distinctiveness and secondary meaning, thus entitled to protection. Pepsi, represented by J Sagar Associates, defended its use of the tagline as being descriptive of the product and thus no action for infringement can lie. Pepsi had argued that Red Bull's trademark itself is invalid since it is in contravention of Section 9 of the Trade Marks Act. (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 what could be the first such case in the country, XE variant of coronavirus, which is more infectious than the variant, has now been reported in Gujarat. According to state health department sources, a 67-year-old man from Mumbai was found to be carrying the variant after a private Covid testing done during his stay in Vadodara was sent for genome sequencing to Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC). "We have alerted the Maharashtra government since the infected person soon returned to Mumbai on March 14. Three other persons in Gujarat who came in contact with him were tested but found negative and without the variant," a senior state health department official told Business Standard. An Indian Sarscov2 Genome Consortium (INSACOG) laboratory in Gujarat, GBRC has now sent the samples to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), it has been learnt. Confirming the development, GBRC director C G Joshi said that the sequencing was also sent to another INSACOG laboratory National Institute of Biomedical Genomics in West Bengal after which the XE variant was confirmed. The XE variant case in Gujarat has been found after Mumbai civic officials reported a case of the new variant although the same is yet to be confirmed by INSACOG or the union health ministry at the Centre. In the case of Gujarat, the person had travelled from Mumbai to Vadodara on March 12 and had gotten himself tested after developing fever on March 13 and had returned to Mumbai the following day. More infectious than Omicron, but not as severe, the new XE variant has so far seen over 500 cases globally. A recombinant of the BA.1 and BA.2 subtypes of the variant, the XE variant attracted global concern after the (WHO) drew attention to its potential for increased infectiousness. Having activated the first anti-ship cruise missile battalion earlier this month, Filipino military personnel would start arriving in India from July-August onwards to receive training on operating the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system for which they signed a contract worth over USD 375 million in January. Government officials told ANI that presently, Indo-Russian joint venture company BrahMos Aerospace is helping the Philippines military in setting up the bases for the anti-ship missile system. The first set of system is expected to reach Manila in around the next 18 months. Their military personnel would start arriving in India for training on the missile system by July-August timeframe this year, the officials said. After activating their first battalion, the Philippines Marine Corps stated that it will be operating one of the best antiship missile systems on the planet which can quickly detect, track, chase and destroy targets, media reports from the Philippines said. BrahMos Aerospace would impart training to the Philippines marine corps personnel in Delhi and Hyderabad where they have main production and training centres. The deal with the Philippines for the BrahMos missiles is the biggest ever export contract signed by India with any foreign country and is expected to open doors for many doors in southeast Asia. The contract includes training of the firing and maintenance crew for the missiles. The missile system will be delivered to the Philippines within the stipulated timeframe. BrahMos Aerospace and DRDO have been working towards enhancing the capabilities of the inducted already in the three services and its range has been extended successfully. The missile was at the centre of a controversy recently when it got accidentally fired during a routine inspection from a missile base in western India and landed in Pakistan without causing any significant damage. After the incident, the Philippines and some other countries had sought clarification on the issue. The Indian officials from Delhi had communicated the reasons for the incident and they understood the matter completely, officials said. The issue is over for all sides and now the Philippines military is preparing for its future with the BrahMos missile 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.) As protests rise over Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement that Hindi should be accepted as an alternative to English and not to local languages, Kerala Chief Minister on Saturday said the move to impose Hindi cannot be accepted. Speaking at a seminar on Centre-State relations, organised by the CPI(M) as part of its 23rd Party Congress, Vijayan said India is a country known for its unity in diversity and the Sangh Parivar's agenda was not to recognise this diversity. Presiding over the 37th meeting of the Parliamentary Official Language Committee, Shah had on Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided that the medium of running the government is the official language and this will definitely increase the importance of Hindi. "India is a country which is known for its unity in diversity. The idea itself means accepting diversity. Our Constitution has also given importance to many in India. Most of the states were formed on the basis of language after a long struggle. The Sangh Parivar agenda is not to recognise diversity and federalism of our country. It's part of their agenda to weaken the regional languages," Vijayan said. He said are the basis of culture and life of each society and this diversity will be destroyed if a language is killed. "Such moves will create dangerous situations in the country. Hindi was used as part of the national movement and in that sense it is considered as a national-level language and that's why we have implemented the three-language courses in Kerala schools. However, imposing Hindi and destroying regional cannot be accepted. It will hamper the unity and integrity of the nation," Vijayan said. Kerala schools have three-language courses implemented with Malayalam, Hindi and English languages. Vijayan said recently, there was a demand for 'one nation, one language' during the celebration of Hindi Divas. "Similarly, in the draft of the New Education Policy, they tried to make Hindi a must language," Vijayan said. Prominent southern political parties have criticised Shah's statement on Hindi. Vijayan made these statements while inaugurating the seminar in which his Tamil Nadu counterpart M K Stalin was also present. (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.) Vice President on Saturday pitched for recognising the unsung heroes of the country, saying art forms such as cinema and music should be used to highlight their sacrifices. He lamented that people know about Robert Clive, but little was known about freedom fighters and historical figures such as Maharana Pratap, Chhatrapati Shivaji, Komaram Bheem and Alluri Sitaram Raju. Speaking at the Sangeet Natak Akademi and Lalit Kala Akademi awards ceremony here, the Vice President also emphasised that due importance should be given to mother tongues at all levels, be it at government functions, in teaching or in courts. Many unsung heroes made sacrifices but their stories remain largely unknown to the masses as they did not get enough attention in history books, Naidu said. Recognising the unrecognised is our duty. Our cinema, other art forms, music and literature should pay enough attention to this aspect. It is very much important to rejuvenate our great cultural past and the sacrifices made, he said. We were told about the history of Robert Clive but not about Rana Pratap, Shivaji, Alluri Sitaram Raju, Komaram Bheem etc. It is time that we correct this fault and restore the honour of our glorious past. Unfortunately, due to the colonial mindset, our textbooks, our history has not given proper and enough importance to these unsung heroes. It is time to recognise them and I am happy that the new education policy is focusing in that direction, he added, calling for correcting such distortions. He also emphasised that government institutions at all levels should organise programmes to recognise the unsung freedom fighters. Referring to the Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav' celebrations, he lauded the government and said that in the recent past, most of the lesser known heroes were given importance. The Vice President also called upon schools and parents to encourage children to learn any art form of their choice as part of efforts to preserve and promote India's rich cultural heritage. He stressed on the need to go back to the country's roots and promote mother tongues and also called for a cultural renaissance in Indian society. I encourage the youth to focus on their mother tongue and give something back to society. We should promote our mother tongue. People's language should be the language in administration, courts and teaching so that our culture and heritage is protected, Naidu said. Recalling the role of visual and performing arts in arousing patriotic feelings during the Independence movement, the Vice President said art was used as a powerful political weapon to tell the stories of the British oppression in an effective manner. He recalled how the fiery patriotic songs and poems of Rabindranath Tagore, Subramania Bharati, Kazi Nazrul Islam and Bankim Chandra Chatterjee inspired strong feelings of nationalism among the masses. The contribution of our freedom fighters through powerful artistic expression is integral to our freedom struggle and must not be forgotten, he stressed. He presented the honours to various artists for their contribution in the field of performing arts and fine arts. During the award ceremony, Naidu observed that art unites people across cultures, influences and inspires them, thus becoming a powerful agent of change in the process. Union Minister of Tourism, Culture and Development of North Eastern Region, G. Kishan Reddy; Chairman, Sangeet Natak Akademi and Lalit Kala Akademi, Uma Nandoori; Secretary, and Sangeet Natak Akademi, Temsunaro Jamir were also present at the award ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan. Reddy congratulated the recipients and said culture and arts are soul of the country. I wish all the distinguished artists who have been felicitated for their contribution in the field of traditional artistic forms. In coming times, cultural activities will be promoted, 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.) Live news updates: Prime Minister held an emergency meeting of his Cabinet on Saturday night as he vowed not to resign and "fight till the last ball", even though his government is expected to lose a no-confidence motion in the National Assembly. India reported a single-day rise of 1,150 new Covid-19 cases, taking the infection tally in the country to 4,30,34,217, while the count of active cases fell to 11,365, according to the Union Health Ministry on Saturday. The death toll due to the disease has climbed to 5,21,656 with 83 daily fatalities being reported, data updated by the ministry at 8 am showed. Pakistans parliament is slated to convene on Saturday to vote on removing as prime minister, an official notice said on Friday, potentially cutting short his term as leader. Pakistan's Supreme Court ruled late on Thursday that Khan must face the no-confidence vote, which he is widely expected to lose, meaning he would be ousted from office. The lower house of parliament has been convened for a session on Saturday at 10:30 am (11 am IST). A missile hit a train station where thousands of Ukrainians had gathered Friday, killing at least 50 and wounding dozens more in an attack on a crowd of mostly women and children trying to flee a new, looming Russian offensive in the country's east, Ukrainian authorities said. A day after Russia's suspension from the UN Human Rights Council amid its invasion of Ukraine, the on Friday said it does not anticipate the same for in the Security Council where it is a veto-wielding Permanent Member. The government would set up CCTV cameras at primary healthcare centres (PHCs) in consultation wards, labs and pharmacies to monitor the hospital staff. DC Image Hyderabad: The health department is planning sweeping changes in multiple areas to improve government-run healthcare infrastructure. According to sources, with a view to lowering the percentage of C-section deliveries, the government will provide a cash incentive of Rs 3,000 to healthcare staff facilitating every natural birth. It would remove the existing cash incentive on conducting C-sections. Currently, about 64 per cent of the births in Telangana are C-sections, among the highest in the country. The government would set up CCTV cameras at primary healthcare centres (PHCs) in consultation wards, labs and pharmacies to monitor the hospital staff. This was proposed after the government received reports of many patients being lured to private clinics by the staff within the PHCs. Sources say the health department has also asked doctors not to prescribe branded medicine. These are often not available at many hospitals. Instead, the advice is to prescribe generic medicines. To improve the administration of government hospitals, separate posts may be created to oversee the administration part. Infertility clinics were started at Gandhi Hospital recently. The government wants to open them at more hospitals in Hyderabad. In hospitals attached to medical colleges, action would be taken on faculty against those who do not perform their duties. To avoid delays in contractual works at medical facilities, the government has limited to five the number of blocks that each contractor can work on. In addition to this, superintendents of hospitals have been given freedom to spend from the budget to effect any other required changes. The government also wants to improve sanitation at government hospitals, especially in light of the recent incident at MGM Hospital, Warangal, where rats bit an unconscious patient and caused him to bleed. Over 90 per cent turnout was recorded till 2 pm in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council biennial on Saturday, officials said. Voting for 27 seats under local authorities' constituencies began at 8 am. According to the Election Commission of India, an average of 90.42 per cent polling was recorded in the state till 2 pm, with Barabanki registering the lowest turnout at 84 per cent, while Ghazipur constituency recorded the highest turnout at 94.67 per cent. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who was among those who turned up early to exercise their franchise, said that "after four decades, a situation has come when a ruling party (BJP) will be able to bag a huge mandate in the Legislative Council too". There are 95 candidates in the fray and polling is being held at 739 centres, according to the Uttar Pradesh chief electoral officer. As many as 1,20,657 voters are expected to exercise their franchise in these polls. In a tweet in Hindi, Adityanath, who voted in Gorakhpur-Maharajganj constituency, said, "For the creation of a new Uttar Pradesh, and for the victory of good governance, (I) discharged my duty by casting vote in the biennial for the legislative council from local authorities' constituencies." Prior to this, he in another tweet had urged people to vote for the victory of development, nationalism and good governance, and said "your one vote will give strength to the journey towards making a 'self-reliant Uttar Pradesh". "In the recent assembly election, the BJP (like in 2017) won more than two-third of the seats and formed a strong government. After four decades a situation has come when the governing party will be able to bag a huge mandate in the legislative council too," Adityanath told reporters in Gorakhpur. "In 2017, the (BJP) government used to face challenges, as the SP (Samajwadi Party) used to play a negative role and obstruct development and welfare programmes. But, I hope in this election we will get a huge mandate in the legislative council and development and welfare programs will move forward with pace," he said. Union minister Smriti Irani voted in Amethi, from where she is the Lok Sabha MP. Voting is being held for the local authorities' constituencies -- Moradabad-Bijnor, Rampur-Bareilly, Pilibhit-Shahjahanpur, Sitapur, Lucknow-Unnao, Rae Bareli, Pratapgarh, Sultanpur, Barabanki, Bahraich, Gonda, Faizabad, Basti-Siddharthnagar, Gorakhpur-Maharajganj, Deoria, Azamgarh-Mau, Ballia, Ghazipur, Jaunpur, Varanasi, Allahabad, Jhansi-Jalaun-Lalitpur, Kanpur-Fatehpur, Etawah-Farrukhabad, Agra-Firozabad, Meerut-Ghaziabad and Muzaffarnagar-Saharanpur. These seats are spread over 58 districts in the state, and voting will end at 4 pm while counting will take place on April 12. Nine MLCs from eight local authorities' constituencies have been elected unopposed -- Budaun, Hardoi, Kheri, Mirzapur-Sonbhadra, Banda-Hamirpur, Aligarh, Bulandshahr and Mathura-Etah-Mainpuri. Two MLCs were elected unopposed from the Mathura-Etah-Mainpuri local authorities' constituency, while from the rest of the constituencies, one MLC each was elected unopposed. Following a resounding victory in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the BJP has set its eye on becoming the single-largest party in the state legislative council as well by winning a majority of the 36 Upper House seats. It is an opportunity for the saffron party to enjoy a majority in both Houses of the Uttar Pradesh Legislature. In the 100-member Legislative Council, the BJP currently has 34 MLCs, the SP 17 and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) four. The Congress, Apna Dal (Sonelal) and NISHAD party have one member each in the House. The Teachers' group has two MLCs, while the independent group -- Nirdal Samooh -- and Independents have one MLC each. As many as 38 seats are vacant at present. The voters in this biennial election are village pradhans, members and chairman of block development councils, members and chairman of zila panchayat, and corporators in urban areas. MLAs and MPs are also voters in this poll. The Congress and the BSP have not fielded any candidate in the legislative council polls, making it a straight fight between the BJP and the SP, the principal opposition in the state assembly. Of the 36 BJP candidates, five are former SP leaders, who joined the saffron camp on the eve of the February-March state polls. They are Shailendra Pratap Singh from Sultanpur local authority constituency, CP Chand from the Gorakhpur-Maharajganj local authorities, Ravishankar Singh 'Pappu', the grandson of former prime minister Chandrasekhar, from Ballia local authorities, Rama Niranjan from Jhansi-Jalaun-Lalitpur local authorities and Narendra Bhati from Bulandshahr local authorities. The SP declared its candidates for 34 seats, leaving the Meerut-Ghaziabad and Bulandshahr seats for its ally the Rashtriya Lok Dal. Prominent among those who have been fielded are Dr Kafeel Khan from Deoria, Mashkoor Ahmad from Rampur-Bareilly, sitting MLCs Sunil Kumar Sajan, Rajesh Kumar and Udayveer Singh from Lucknow-Unnao, Barabanki, and Mathura-Etah-Mainpuri seats respectively. Adityanath has recently quit the legislative council seat after getting elected as an MLA from Gorakhpur Urban seat. With the death of Leader of the Opposition in the council, Ahmad Hasan, on February 19 after a prolonged illness, the SP has named Sanjay Lathar to the post. In the recently-concluded Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, the BJP won 255 of the 403 seats in the assembly, while its allies Apna Dal (Sonelal) and NISHAD party have won 12 and six seats respectively. The SP won 111 seats, while its ally the Rashtriya Lok Dal won eight. The SBSP, another ally of the Samajwadi Party, has won six seats. The Congress has won two seats, while the BSP has won one seat. (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.) Personal liberty of an accused cannot be sacrificed on the altar of preventive detention merely because a person is implicated in a criminal proceeding, the has said as it quashed a Telangana government detention order against a man for allegedly duping hundreds of job aspirants. The top court said that a mere apprehension of a breach of law and order is not sufficient to meet the standard of adversely affecting the "maintenance of public order". A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant accepted that the nature of the allegations against the detenu is grave, but observed that the detention order was passed under the Telangana Act of 1986 "without any application of mind". "We accordingly allow the appeal and set aside the impugned judgment of the High Court dated January 25, 2022. The order of detention which has been passed against the detenu on May 19, 2021 shall accordingly stand quashed and set aside," the bench said. The order of detention was challenged before the High Court which dismissed the petition on January 25, 2022. In its recent order, the bench said, "The nature of the allegations against the detenu is grave. However, the personal liberty of an accused cannot be sacrificed on the altar of preventive detention merely because a person is implicated in a criminal proceeding. The powers of preventive detention are exceptional and even draconian." It said that in this case, the apprehension of a disturbance to public order owing to a crime that was reported over seven months prior to the detention order has no basis in fact. "The apprehension of an adverse impact to public order is a mere surmise of the detaining authority, especially when there have been no reports of unrest since the detenu was released on bail on January 8, 2021 and detained with effect from June 26, 2021," the bench said. The top court said the powers of preventive detention are exceptional and even draconian, tracing their origin to the colonial era. They have been continued with strict constitutional safeguards against abuse, it said. "Article 22 of the Constitution was specifically inserted and extensively debated in the Constituent Assembly to ensure that the exceptional powers of preventive detention do not devolve into a draconian and arbitrary exercise of state authority," it said. "The case at hand is a clear example of non-application of mind to material circumstances having a bearing on the subjective satisfaction of the detaining authority. The two FIRs which were registered against the detenu are capable of being dealt by the ordinary course of criminal law," the bench said. The top court said that after the notice was issued by this Court, the state government has been served but no counter affidavit has been filed and it had declined to allow any further adjournment for filing a counter affidavit since a detailed and a comprehensive counter affidavit which was filed before the High Court was already on the record. "The liberty of the citizen cannot be left to the lethargy of and the delays on the part of the state," the bench said, adding that before the High Court the state government has said that the detenu must move the Advisory Board and the writ petition has been filed in a premature fashion. The top court also noted that in the last five years, this Court has quashed over five detention orders under the Telangana Act of 1986 for, among other things, incorrectly applying the standard for maintenance of public order and relying on stale materials while passing the orders of detention. It said that at least 10 detention orders under the Telangana Act of 1986 have been set aside by the High Court of Telangana in the last one year itself. "These numbers evince a callous exercise of the exceptional power of preventive detention by the detaining authorities and the respondent-state. We direct the respondents to take stock of challenges to detention orders pending before the Advisory Board, High Court and and evaluate the fairness of the detention order against lawful standards," the bench said. Referring to the 1966 case of Ram Manohar Lohia versus State of Bihar, the bench said that the distinction between a disturbance to law and order and a disturbance to public order has been clearly settled by a Constitution Bench in that case and it was held that every disorder does not meet the threshold of a disturbance to public order, unless it affects the community at large. The brother of the appellant Mallada K Sri Ram worked as an employee with an entity by the name of M/s IxoraCorporate Services, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. On October 13, 2020, a complaint was lodged on behalf of the Company with the SHO, Banjara Hills, alleging that K Mahendar, another employee at the Company, had opened a salary account with the Federal Bank without authorisation and in conspiracy with the detenu collected an amount of Rs 85 lakhs from 450 job aspirants. It was alleged that the co-accused who was in charge of the HR Department at the Company had, in collusion with the detenu, hatched a plan to collect money from individuals by misrepresenting that they would be given a job at the Company and collected money from aspirants for opening a bank account and supplying uniforms. An order of detention was passed against the detenu on May 19, 2021 under the provisions of Section 3(2) of the Telangana Act of 1986 after he was granted bail in cases lodged against him. (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.) 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 majors (SII) and on Saturday said they have decided to cut prices of the precaution dose of their respective COVID-19 vaccines to Rs 225 per shot for private hospitals after discussion with the government. "We are pleased to announce that after discussion with the central government, SII has decided to revise the price of COVISHIELD for private hospitals from Rs 600 to Rs 225 per dose," SII CEO Adar Poonawalla said in a tweet. On Friday, the company had said that the precaution dose of its Covishield against COVID-19 will be priced at Rs 600 per shot for eligible individuals. Co-Founder Joint Managing Director Suchitra Ella in a tweet said: "We welcome the decision to make available precautionary dose for all adults. In consultation with the Central Government, we have decided to revise the price of #COVAXIN from Rs 1,200 to Rs 225 per dose, for #privatehospitals." SII and have been major suppliers of COVID-19 vaccines to the government so far. The Union Health Ministry on Friday announced that those above the age of 18 years who have completed nine months after the administration of the second dose will be eligible for the precaution dose. According to the health ministry, so far, about 96 per cent of all those above the age of 15 years in India have received at least one vaccine dose, while about 83 per cent have received both doses. More than 2.4 crore precaution doses have also been administered to healthcare workers, frontline workers and those aged above 60 years. Besides, 45 per cent of beneficiaries in the 12-14 years age group have received the first dose, the ministry said. The ongoing free COVID-19 inoculation programme through government centres for the first and the second dose to the eligible population as well as the precaution dose to healthcare workers, frontline workers and those above 60 years will be accelerated, the ministry stated. (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.) With the arrival of four more Sri Lankan Tamils into the state, the government is preparing itself for more refugees hitting the shores of the state. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has already sent directives to various state government departments to prepare themselves for the arrival of more Sri Lankan Tamils as crisis in the island nation continues. A senior bureaucrat while speaking to IANS said: "Already 20 Sri Lankan Tamils are housed at the Mandapam refugee camp since their arrival following the financial crisis in Lanka and our Chief Minister has directed all the departments concerned to take a benevolent view of the refugees." Chief Minister Stalin has already sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar requesting them to involve in the matter. In the latest incident of refugee arrival, a family of four -- husband, wife, and two children -- reached Dhanushkodi. The Marine police took them into custody and handed them over to the Mandapam Camp. The Sri Lankan Tamil family, while speaking to reporters at the Mandapam camp, on Friday said that they were in abject poverty and did not have the means to provide even food to the family hence they had no other option but to reach India. Speaking to mediapersons, Kishanthan (34) said that there were no food and the family had to go to sleep without food for several days. He said that the family was helped by Sri Lankan fishermen to cross Indian shores and reach Dhanushkodi. He said that more refugees from the island nation will reach the Indian shores soon and that they were jobless. Kishanthan said that he was a fisherman but lack of fuel has led him to shift to masonry but regular power cuts have affected that job also. The Sri Lankan Tamil refugee said that this made him leave for India along with his family. Kishanthan also said that he had stayed at the Pudukottai refugee camp between 2006 and 2010 and his wife Ranjita has stayed from 2006 to 2010 at Krishnagiri refugee camp and hence were familiar with the Indian surroundings. He also said that he had a few relatives in who would be of help. Notably, 16 Sri Lankan Tamils had reached the shores of India as refugees on March 22 in two batches. They are housed at the Mandapam refugee camp after the advisory issued by the Commissioner of Rehabilitation and Welfare of Non-Resident Tamils. The Mandapam Marine coastal police told IANS that no cases were registered against them. --IANS aal/shb/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A self-styled commander of (LeT) terror outfit, who was involved in several attacks on civilians including non-locals and security personnel, was killed in an encounter in Anantnag district of on Saturday, police said. The slain terrorist was identified as Nisar Ahmad Dar alias Musaib, resident of Redwani Bala, Kulgam, a police spokesman said. Acting on specific information regarding the presence of the terrorist in village Sirhama, security forces had launched a cordon and search operation there, he said. As the search party approached his hideout, the terrorist fired indiscriminately at the security personnel who retaliated. In the ensuing encounter, the hiding terrorist was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of the encounter, the spokesman said. According to police records, the slain ultra was active since April last year. Inspector General of Police (IGP) (Kashmir) Vijay Kumar appreciated the joint team of security forces and termed the elimination of the terrorist as a big success as he was wanted by law for his involvement in gruesome terror activities. He was involved in several killing of civilians and outside labourers. Besides, he was also involved in grenade lobbing attacks on security forces. "For his terrorist activities, many FIRs were already registered against him. He was also instrumental in motivating gullible youth to join terrorist ranks, thereby attempting to revive terrorism, the spokesman said. "Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition have been recovered from the site of the encounter," the spokesman 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.) Voting for 27 seats coming under local authorities' constituencies in the biennial polls for the Legislative Council commenced on Saturday. According to the office of the chief electoral officer, there are 95 candidates in the fray. Polling will take place at 739 centres, and as many as 1,20,657 voters expected to exercise their franchise. Voting will be held for the following local authorities' constituency -- Moradabad-Bijnor, Rampur-Bareilly, Pilibhit-Shahjahanpur, Sitapur, Lucknow-Unnao, Rae Bareli, Pratapgarh, Sultanpur, Barabanki, Bahraich, Gonda, Faizabad, Basti-Siddharthnagar, Gorakhpur-Maharajganj, Deoria, Azamgarh-Mau, Ballia, Ghazipur, Jaunpur, Varanasi, Allahabad, Jhansi-Jalaun-Lalitpur, Kanpur-Fatehpur, Etawah-Farrukhabad, Agra-Firozabad, Meerut-Ghaziabad and Muzaffarnagar-Saharanpur. These seats are spread over 58 districts in the state. Voting began at 8 am and will continue till 4 pm. Counting will take place on April 12. Nine MLCs from eight local authorities' constituencies have been elected unopposed. The constituencies are Budaun, Hardoi, Kheri, Mirzapur-Sonbhadra, Banda-Hamirpur, Aligarh, Bulandshahr and Mathura-Etah-Mainpuri. Two MLCs were elected unopposed from the Mathura-Etah-Mainpuri local authorities' constituency, while from the rest of the constituencies, one MLC each was elected unopposed. Following a resounding victory in the Assembly elections, the BJP has set its eye on becoming the single-largest party in the state Legislative Council as well by winning a majority of the 36 Upper House seats. It is an opportunity for the saffron party to enjoy a majority in both the Houses of the Uttar Pradesh Legislature. In the 100-member Legislative Council, the BJP currently has 34 MLCs, the Samajwadi Party 17 and the Bahujan Samaj Party four. The Congress, Apna Dal (Sonelal) and NISHAD party have one member each in the House. The Teachers' group has 2 MLCs, while the independent group ('Nirdal Samooh') and Independents have 1 MLC each. As many as 38 seats are vacant at present. Addressing BJP workers a week ago, Chief Minister Adityanath said it was important for the party to win the 36 seats to advance his government's growth agenda without any hurdle. "Of these 36 seats, the BJP has won nine unopposed. If the party wins all the 36 seats, you can assume that it will have a two-third majority in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council and have no problem in taking forward the development schemes expeditiously," he said. The voters in this biennial election are village pradhans, members and chairman of block development councils, members and chairman of zila panchayat, and corporators in urban areas. MLAs and MPs are also voters in this poll. The Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party have not fielded any candidate in the legislative council polls, making it a straight fight between the BJP and the Samajwadi Party, the principal opposition in the state Assembly. Of the 36 BJP candidates, five are former Samajwadi Party leaders, who joined the saffron camp on the eve of the February-March state polls. They are Shailendra Pratap Singh from Sultanpur local authority constituency, C P Chand from the Gorakhpur-Maharajganj local authorities, Ravishankar Singh 'Pappu', the grandson of former prime minister Chandrasekhar, from Ballia local authorities, Rama Niranjan from Jhansi-Jalaun-Lalitpur local authorities and Narendra Bhati from Bulandshahr local authorities. The Samajwadi Party has declared its candidates for 34 seats, leaving the Meerut-Ghaziabad and Bulandshahr seats for its ally the Rashtriya Lok Dal. Prominent among those who have been fielded are Dr Kafeel Khan from Deoria, Mashkoor Ahmad from Rampur-Bareilly, sitting MLCs Sunil Kumar Sajan, Rajesh Kumar and Udayveer Singh from Lucknow-Unnao, Barabanki, and Mathura-Etah-Mainpuri seats respectively. Adityanath has recently quit the Legislative Council seat after getting elected as an MLA from Gorakhpur Urban seat. With the death of Leader of the Opposition in the Council Ahmad Hasan on February 19 after a prolonged illness, the Samajwadi Party has named Sanjay Lathar to the post. In the recently-concluded Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the BJP has won 255 seats, while its allies Apna Dal (Sonelal) and NISHAD party have won 12 and six seats respectively. The Samajwadi Party has won 111 seats, while its ally the Rashtriya Lok Dal has won eight. The SBSP, another ally of the Samajwadi Party, has won six seats. The Congress has won two seats, while the BSP has won one seat. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President believes that the US-India partnership is the most important relationship the United States has in the world, said Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Friday (local time). Speaking about the India-US 2+2 dialogue under the Biden administration next week, the Press Secretary said that the President expects that the dialogue will continue driving forward US' work with India and shared goals in Indo-Pacific region. "President Biden believes our partnership with India is one of the most important relationships we have in the world. As you know, he met with Presi- -- Prime Minister Modi and other Quad leaders in March. He expects that at this 2+2, Secretary Blinken and Secretary Austin will continue driving forward our work with India and our shared goals in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world," she said in a statement. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J Austin III will welcome Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in an enhanced honour cordon ceremony at the Pentagon on April 11 (Sunday). India and the US are set to hold the 2+2 dialogue between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and their respective American counterparts on Sunday. "The Dialogue would enable both sides to undertake a comprehensive review of cross-cutting issues in the India-US bilateral agenda related to foreign policy, defence and security with the objective of providing strategic guidance and a vision for further consolidating the relationship," a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement said. "The 2+2 Dialogue will also provide an opportunity to exchange views about important regional and global developments and how we can work together to address issues of common interest and concern," the statement added. The US State Department in a media has note informed that Secretary of State Antony J Blinken and Secretary of Defense will welcome their Indian counterparts in Washington DC on Sunday. "The 2+2 Ministerial is an important opportunity to advance our shared objectives across the breadth of the US-India Strategic Partnership, including enhancing our people-to-people ties and education cooperation, building diverse, resilient supply chains for critical and emerging technology, scaling up our climate action and public health cooperation, and developing a trade and investment partnership to increase prosperity for working families in both countries," the US statement had said. Saying that the dialogue will also be a chance to highlight the growing major defence partnership between the US and India, the US State Department said, "The relationship between the world's largest democracies is built on a foundation of common values and resilient democratic institutions, and the shared Indo-Pacific interests of a rules-based international order that safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity, uphold human rights and expands regional and global peace and prosperity." The EAM, who will be visiting the US on April 11-12, will also meet his counterpart, Secretary of State Blinken separately and is also scheduled to meet senior members of the US administration to advance India-US strategic global partnership, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi informed during a briefing. Ahead of the 2+2 dialogue, Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday spoke with EAM Jaishankar on a phone call to review regional and global priorities, including the situation in Ukraine. The last 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue between the two countries was held in October 2020 in New Delhi. India and the United States held a bilateral 2+2 inter-sessional meeting in September last year in Washington and exchanged assessments on developments in South Asia, the Indo-Pacific region and the Western Indian Ocean. (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.) expects that the Indo-US two-plus-two ministerial here next week will continue to drive forward the Administration's work with New Delhi, the said Friday ahead of the meeting. We also believe both sides will continue our close consultations on the consequences of President Putin's brutal war against Ukraine and mitigating the impact by addressing energy and food prices. Obviously, it could cover a range of topics, but we expect that to be a central one, Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters at her daily news conference. US Secretary of State Tony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin are all set to host their Indian counterparts External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for the 2+2 ministerial on Monday. This is the first such meeting between the two countries under the Biden Administration. The two Indian leaders are expected to arrive in Washington DC over the weekend. President Biden believes our partnership with India is one of the most important relationships we have in the world. As you know, he met with Prime Minister (Narendra)Modi and other Quad leaders in March. He expects that at this 2+2, Secretary Blinken and Secretary Austin, will continue driving forward our work with India and our shared goals in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world, Psaki said. Meanwhile, Congressman Mark Green met India's Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Met with India's Ambassador to the United States Taranjit Singh Sandhu this week. Our countries' strong partnership is critical. Grateful for the opportunity to reaffirm the USIndia relationship, he said in a tweet. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With new variants emerging every four months on average, UN Secretary-General has cautioned that the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over as large outbreaks are spreading in Asia. Guterres also called for governments and pharma companies to work together to deliver vaccines to every person, everywhere. In a video message One World Protected - Break COVID Now to the GAVI COVAX Advance Market Commitment Summit 2022, Guterres said Friday that the gathering is a critical reminder that the "COVID-19 pandemic is far from over." We're seeing 1.5 million new cases each day. Large outbreaks are spreading in Asia. A new wave is sweeping across Europe, he said, adding that some countries are reporting their highest death rates since the start of the pandemic. He said the Omicron variant of the is a startling reminder of how quickly COVID-19 can mutate and spread especially in the absence of high vaccination coverage. While some high-income countries are preparing for their second booster doses, one-third of humanity remains unvaccinated, he rued. This is a brutal indictment of our deeply unequal world. It's also a prime breeding ground for new variants more deaths and increased human and economic misery, he said. Guterres said the next variant is not a question of if but of when. We are far from our target of every country reaching 70 per cent vaccination coverage by the middle of this year. And with new variants emerging every four months on average, time is of the essence, he said. He added that governments and pharmaceutical companies need to work together to deliver vaccines to every person, everywhere not just in wealthy countries. A new strain of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, first detected in the United Kingdom, appears to be more transmissible than previous strains of the virus, the World Health Organization (WHO) had said. WHO said last week that the XE recombinant (BA.1-BA.2), was first detected in the United Kingdom on January 19 and more than 600 sequences have been reported and confirmed since. Early-day estimates indicate a community growth rate advantage of 10 per cent as compared to BA.2. However, this finding requires further confirmation, WHO had said. It added that XE belongs to the Omicron variant until significant differences in transmission and disease characteristics, including severity, may be reported. WHO continues to closely monitor and assess the public health risk associated with recombinant variants, alongside other SARS-CoV-2 variants, and will provide updates as further evidence becomes available. The WHO COVID-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update issued this week said that after the increase observed during the first half of March 2022, the number of new COVID-19 cases has decreased for a second consecutive week, with a 16 per cent decline during the week of March 28 through April 3 as compared to the previous week. The number of new weekly deaths also decreased sharply (-43 per cent) as compared to the previous week, when an artificial spike in deaths was observed. Across the six WHO regions, over nine million new cases and over 26,000 new deaths were reported. All regions reported decreasing trends both in the number of new weekly cases and new weekly deaths. As of April 3, over 489 million cases and over 6 million deaths have been reported globally. At the country level, the highest number of new weekly cases were reported from South Korea (2,058,375 new cases; a decline of 16 per cent), Germany (1,371,270 new cases; a 13 per cent decrease), France (959,084 new cases; a 13 per cent increase), Vietnam (796,725 new cases; a 29 per cent decline), and Italy (486,695 new cases; a 3 per cent fall). The highest number of new weekly deaths were reported in the United States of America (4,435 new deaths; a 10 per cent decline), Russia (2,357 new deaths; an 18 per cent decline), South Korea (2,336 new deaths; a 5 per cent decline), Germany (1,592 new deaths; a 5 per cent rise) and Brazil (1,436 new deaths; a 19 per cent fall). Noting that the supply of COVID-19 vaccines is not the issue as manufacturers are producing 1.5 billion doses per month, Guterres said progress in achieving vaccine equity is possible but the window is closing fast. This means countries fulfilling and accelerating dose-sharing and donation commitments to COVAX with better quality of supply. And it means having strong national vaccine-delivery systems at the ready including efforts to counter disinformation and get vaccines into arms. He called on countries to commit new funding for the ACT-Accelerator and COVAX this year. The COVAX Facility is the global pooled procurement mechanism for COVID-19 vaccines through which COVAX seeks to ensure fair and equitable access to vaccines for all 190 participating economies, using an allocation framework formulated by WHO. (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 distraught family members of the Indian student who was shot dead at a subway station entrance in on Saturday urged the government to help arrange visas for them to travel to Toronto and ensure that the killer is brought to justice. I do not know what is happening... We want the truth to come out at the earliest so we can know what happened with our child and why he was shot dead, Jitesh Vasudev, the father of 21-year-old Kartik Vasudev, said, adding the motive of the crime is not clear and the family is afraid that the matter may be hushed up authorities there to ''protect'' the city's image. He said they had got information about the incident around 5 AM (IST) on Friday and it was confirmed at around 11 PM. It has been over 48 hours but the family, which lives in Rajendra Nagar area of Ghaziabad, bordering the national capital, is yet to hear from government officials for any assistance in India as well as Canada, he said. I have not received any message or call from any authority. There was a tweet from Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar sir to which I even replied but there has been no follow-up. "From Canada, we got one email from an investigation official of my son's case who sought our permission for sharing his pictures with the media there. We are not being informed anything, Jitesh Vasudev told PTI. Vasudev, who works in an MNC in Noida, said the Canadian official did not tell him anything more about the situation and it was only after some insistence that he was told that it would take six to eight days for the body to be repatriated to India after due procedures through the Indian consulate there. We are unaware of the investigation which is going on. They (Canadian authorities) have not asked us anything. Neither did they ask anything from Kartik's cousin who lives in . I spoke to Kartik's work manager yesterday (Friday), the police had approached him and sought some information from him about Kartik, he said. According to his family, Kartik had moved to in January this year to study marketing management at the Seneca College in Toronto and was working part-time at a restaurant. The local Canadian police said he was shot dead by an unidentified man at the entrance of a subway station in Toronto while he was on his way to work and was taken to a hospital but succumbed to the injuries. We urge the Indian government to help us with the visa for the family to travel immediately to Canada so that we can see what investigation is underway there. "The body will come here but they may try to suppress the case, we do not want that. The body should be brought back soon and the third demand is that the culprit should be arrested at the earliest, Kartik's father said here. The Indian government should put some pressure on the Canadian government so that justice is done in the case and the culprit is arrested. We want to know the motive of the killing, he told PTI. Canadian police said the suspect in the shooting is a Black male standing five-foot-six to five-foot-seven inches tall with a medium build. He was last seen carrying a handgun walking south on Glen Road toward Howard Street, according to a local news channel. There was no word if the police suspect it to be a hate crime. Citing some initial media reports from Canada, Vasudev claimed a perspective was being created that Kartik was killed due to a personal problem with the shooter in order to prevent damage to the image of Toronto city. We have been demanding footage of the incident since starting so that the truth can come out. We want the truth to come out at the earliest so we can know what happened with our child and why he was shot dead, Kartik's father said. His mother Pooja Vasudev said Kartik never had a problem with anyone nor did he talk of facing any trouble in Canada. He was a sweet child, never raised his voice. His manager at work also appreciated him, she said as her younger son Parth consoled her. I want justice for my son. What has happened with my child should not happen with anyone else. People go there with hopes and dreams but look at what has happened. It's supposed to be such a safe city, she said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Arathy Somasekhar HOUSTON (Reuters) - rose 2% on Friday but notched their second straight weekly decline after countries announced plans to release crude from their strategic stocks. Brent crude futures settled up $2.20, or 2.19%, at $102.78 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose $2.23 to $98.26. For the week, Brent dropped 1.5% while WTI slid 1%. For several weeks, the benchmarks have been at their most volatile since June 2020. Trading was choppy all day and the contracts spiked higher just before settlement as traders covered short positions ahead of the weekend, said John Kilduff, a partner at Again Capital LLC. Member nations of the Energy Agency (IEA) will release 60 million barrels over the next six months, with the United States matching that amount as part of its 180 million barrel release announced in March. "There's some concern that by artificially lowering prices, you are only going to increase demand and that's going to burn off that supply pretty quickly," said Phil Flynn, an analyst at Price Futures Group. The release could also deter producers, including the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and U.S. shale producers, from accelerating output increases even with around $100 a barrel, ANZ Research analysts said in a note. The commitment of the OPEC+ group of oil exporting nations to output targets have contributed to absorbing an excess of supply in the market, Iraq's state-news agency cited the oil ministry as saying on Friday. PVM analyst Stephen Brennock said doubts remained on whether the supply from emergency reserve releases will address the shortfall in Russian crude. JPMorgan expects the reserves release to "go a long way in the short term" to offsetting the 1 million barrels per day of Russian oil supply it expects to remain permanently offline. "However, looking forward to 2023 and beyond, global producers will likely need to ramp up investment to both fill the Russia-sized gap in supply and restock IEA strategic reserves," the bank said in a note. U.S. producers added 13 oil rigs in the week to April 8, data from oil services firm Baker Hughes showed, a third straight week of gains. While Russia has found Asian buyers, Western buyers are shunning cargoes since the start of the conflict in Ukraine. The Kremlin on Friday said Russia's "special operation" in Ukraine could end in the "foreseeable future." Russia's production of oil and gas condensate fell to 10.52 million barrels per day (bpd) for April 1-6 from a March average of 11.01 million bpd, two sources familiar with the data told Reuters on Thursday. The U.S. Congress voted to ban Russian oil on Thursday, while the European Union is considering a ban. Germany might be able to end Russian oil imports this year, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said. On Thursday, European Union countries approved a ban on Russian coal imports, adding the bloc will now discuss sanctions on oil. But demand uncertainties kept a lid on prices Friday after Shanghai extended its lockdown to contend with fast-rising COVID-19 infections. Further pressure came from the strengthening U.S. dollar, after signals that the U.S. Federal Reserve could raise the federal funds rate another 3 percentage points by the end of the year. Money managers cut their net long U.S. crude futures and options positions in the week to April 5 by 3,147 contracts to 266,727, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) said. (Additional reporting by Rowena Edwards in London, Sonali Paul in Melbourne and Muyu Xu in Beijing; Editing by David Goodman, Kirsten Donovan, Andrea Ricci and Mark Porter) (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 has summoned a meeting of his cabinet ministers late on Saturday night, even though his government is expected to lose the no-confidence motion scheduled to take place later in the evening, according to local media reports. Khan has summoned the Cabinet Meeting at 9.00 PM at the Prime Ministers' House here. Important decisions are expected in the meeting, Geo News reported quoting high-level sources. However, the meeting has taken many by surprise as the no-confidence vote is expected to be completed by around 8.00 PM and Khan has little chance of surviving it. Khan, who has been saying that he will fight till the last ball, may delay the Opposition parties' no-confidence vote by making his Members of National Assembly make lengthy speeches on the purported "foreign conspiracy" in bringing down his government, the sources said. Khan has been claiming that the Opposition's no-confidence motion against him was the result of a foreign conspiracy because of his independent foreign policy and funds were being channelled from abroad to oust him from power. In an address to the nation on Friday, the 69-year-old prime minister reiterated his allegations that a senior US diplomat threatened regime change in . The US has bluntly rejected the allegations. (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 an apparent move seen as part of the strategy of the ruling Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) to delay the proceedings, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, while chairing the Saturday session to take up the no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government, said that the House should also hold a discussion on the issue of "international conspiracy". The Speaker's suggestion was met with strong protest by the Opposition MPs, who asked the Chair to stick to the mandate of the session spelt out by the Supreme Court. Urging the Speaker to carry out the proceedings of the House according to the norms of the Constitution, Shahbaz Sharif, Leader of Opposition in National Assembly, stated, "I hope you (Speaker) will carry out today's proceedings of the House as per the Supreme Court order. I urge you to stand for the Constitution and law. You must catch this moment with your conviction." During the session, Foreign Minister and PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi made it clear that it is the duty of the government to defend the no-confidence motion. "It is the Constitutional right of the Opposition to move a no-confidence motion against the government, and it's the government's duty to defend it," he added. Proceedings of the Pakistan National Assembly session with the specific mandate to take up the no-confidence motion against the Imran Khan-led government and the election of the new leader of the House got underway on Saturday. Heavy security has been deployed outside the Pakistan National Assembly in Islamabad. Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz, and other MNAs are attending the session of the National Assembly, reported Geo News. The Supreme Court had on Thursday ordered the incumbent government to face the no-confidence motion on Saturday. The court had turned down the ruling of the Deputy Speaker to reject the no-confidence motion. The top court's directives came after Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial took suo motu cognisance of Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri's ruling and the subsequent dissolution of the National Assembly, declaring all the decisions unconstitutional. As per the order of the Supreme Court, voting is to be held at all costs today and in case the PM is voted out, the election of a new Leader of the House will be held during the same session. The voting on the no-confidence motion is at the fourth position in the six-point agenda issued for today. Speaker Asad Qaiser can not take up agenda other than voting on the motion, and if he did not do so, he would have to face contempt of court proceedings, reported Geo News. It is pertinent to mention here that the Opposition has submitted the no-confidence motions against the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. However, Asad Qaiser can chair today's session according to the rules. The National Assembly officials told Geo News that according to the SC larger bench's written order, the NA Speaker has been made duty-bound to proceed with the no-trust motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government as per the April 3 agenda of the House. The NA officials said that the voting on the no-trust motion could take place within seven days of its submission and last Sunday (April 3) was the last day of voting. So, SC's larger bench ordered the Speaker to revive the April 3 agenda of the National Assembly and conduct voting on the no-confidence motion, they added. Therefore, today (April 9) will be considered the last day (seventh day) of voting on the no-confidence motion and it is essential to move with the set agenda, reported Geo News. The NA officials said if the no-trust motion against Prime Minister succeeds, the National Assembly session will be extended till Sunday to complete the process for the election of the new Leader of the House while the Secretariat will undertake the necessary documentation. When asked if the government tried to get the voting on the no-trust motion delayed for a day or a week, the NA official said that in this situation, the NA Speaker would violate SC's larger bench order and should get ready to face a five-year disqualification and contempt of court. Despite Imran Khan-led PTI government's hectic efforts to avoid voting on the no-confidence motion, the National Assembly will decide the fate of the premier today. Meanwhile, the ruling party has prepared its strategy to scuttle the proceedings and delay the voting by asking its MPs to give lengthy speeches on the 'foreign conspiracy", reported Geo News. The same was endorsed by Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chauhdry. Talking to Geo News, he said that the foreign secretary is going to brief the House on the "threat letter", so the voting on no-confidence may not happen and maybe deferred till next week. (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 Speaker and Deputy Speaker tendered their resignations just ahead of the against PM . In an impassioned speech, Speaker Asad Qaiser cited his 26-year-old friendship with for his decision, even as he recalled his association with the Tehreek-e-Insaaf party and Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital. Soon after this, Imran Khan's supporters staged a walkout in an apparent protest against Qaiser's move. Meanwhile, the no-trust vote process commenced a few minutes past midnight, Indian Standard Time. Ukrainian President on Friday hailed the visit of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the European Union's (EU) foreign policy chief Josep Borrell to Kiev as a signal of support for Ukraine, the state-run Ukrinform news agency reported. "This is a very strong signal that and the are together," Zelensky said at the joint press briefing with von der Leyen and Borrell in Kiev on Friday. Zelensky thanked the European officials for coming to in difficult times and for visiting Bucha outside Kiev, where hundreds of murdered civilians were allegedly found after Russian forces withdrew, Xinhua news agency reported. Von der Leyen said that is welcomed in the European family and handed over a questionnaire to Zelensky, the completion of which is a necessary step for granting the status of an EU candidate. "We are with you in your dreams of Europe. I want to say very clearly: Ukraine has a place in the European family," von der Leyen said. Separately, Borrell said that the EU will be supporting the Ukrainian Prosecutor General in providing training and equipment to support the investigation of the Bucha massacre. Von der Leyen and Borrell arrived in Kiev earlier on Friday for a visit, which marked the first trip by top EU officials to Ukraine since the start of the conflict with Russia. Before talks with Zelensky, the European officials visited the town of Bucha, some 28 km northwest of Kiev, where at least 280 people, including children, were found dead after the Ukrainian army retook control of the town from the Russian military. --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.) Rishi Sunaks wife said shell pay U.K. taxes on her global earnings, as the Chancellor of the Exchequer and his family seek to stem a slew of negative headlines that have severely damaged his standing within the ruling Conservatives and the British public. Akshata Murthy, a millionaire who it was revealed this week holds non-domicile status and hasnt been paying U.K. tax on overseas earnings, said that while her arrangements are entirely legal, she will no longer take advantage of the rules allowing her to avoid paying British taxes on income earned abroad. I understand and appreciate the British sense of fairness and I do not wish my tax status to be a distraction for my husband or to affect my family, she said in a statement. I will now pay U.K. tax on an arising basis on all my worldwide income, including dividends and capital gains, wherever in the world that income arises. I do this because I want to, not because the rules require me to. The chancellor and his family are trying to repair the damage to his reputation after a series of stories about his wealthy lifestyle fed into the growing perception that hes out of touch with the struggles of ordinary Britons. Murthys statement came soon after Sunak acknowledged holding a U.S. green card while already in his current role as the U.K.s finance minister. Alongside his wifes non-dom status, the revelation added to the perception that family isnt committed to living in Britain for the long-term. Green Card Murthy stressed that India remains the country of my birth, citizenship, parents home and place of domicile. But she added: I love the U.K. too. In my time here I have invested in British businesses and supported British causes. My daughters are British. They are growing up in in the U.K. I am so proud to be here. Sunak had the green card when he lived and worked in the U.S. prior to entering politics, and he returned it on his first trip to the country as Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer in October 2021, his spokeswoman said. Holding a green card grants the owner the status of a permanent resident of the U.S., and means they have to file U.S. tax returns, even when not living there. In a further sign that the U.K. medias attention is firmly on the chancellors personal affairs, the Independent late Friday reported that trusts in the British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands, set up to manage Murthys interests, listed Sunak as a beneficiary as recently as 2020. The paper cited people familiar with the matter and evidence it has seen. The chancellors spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Speaking before Murthys statement and the Independent latest report, Prime Minister Boris Johnson was forced to defend Sunak during a televised press conference on Friday alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz aimed at presenting a united front on Ukraine. Johnsons Backing Sunak has done absolutely everything he was required to do, Johnson said when asked whether the chancellor should have given up the green card sooner. The premier also said he had been unaware of Murthys tax status, but reiterated his view that politicians families shouldnt be under scrutiny. The chancellors spokeswoman said Sunak followed all laws and paid full taxes where required for the duration he held the green card. She said he used the green card for travel purposes and he filed U.S. tax returns as a non-resident. Still, the issue will add to the perception that Sunaks background and lifestyle is out of touch with that of regular Britons. The major risk for Johnson is that voters view his governments policies in the same light. The revelations also rekindle the memory of the words of former Tory Prime Minister Theresa May, who in 2016 said: if you believe you are a citizen of the world, you are a citizen of nowhere. The opposition Labour Party questioned why Sunak had held the green card for so long -- he became a Member of Parliament in 2015 -- why he ultimately gave it up, and whether he gained any tax advantages during the process. Tax Scrutiny The arrangements revealed this week are not open to the general public, Labours shadow chief secretary to the Treasury Pat McFadden said in a statement, referring to Murthys non-domicile tax status, typically used by very wealthy individuals. Sunaks green card begs further questions, he said. Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said the chancellor should resign. Members of Sunaks own Conservative Party were already angry at him about the non-domicile saga, with one privately calling his wifes tax status a disgrace that must be fixed. Theres growing speculation among MPs that Sunak may be removed from his post in a future Cabinet shake-up. The wave of damaging revelations for Sunak -- who was previously touted as the front-runner to succeed Johnson -- has also seen some of the chancellors allies accusing the premiers staff of briefing against him. If there are such briefings, theyre certainly not coming from us in Number 10, Johnson said at the press conference. Rishi is doing an outstanding job. Changing Fortunes Those comments highlight the dramatic change in fortunes for the countrys two most powerful politicians. Johnson himself was just weeks ago -- prior to the war in Ukraine -- battling to save his career over allegations of rule-breaking parties in Downing Street during the pandemic. The pressure is now on Sunak, who in the early months of his tenure was the countrys most popular Conservative politician. Hes faced intense criticism in recent weeks from politicians of all stripes -- as well as from economists and consumer groups -- for failing to protect ordinary Britons sufficiently from a growing cost of living squeeze. On Wednesday, a YouGov poll gave him a popularity score of minus 29, with 57% of respondents having an unfavorable opinion of him compared with just 28% who see him in a positive light. Sunak has also tumbled to 29th from 11th in a league table of Tory ministers attending cabinet compiled by the ConservativeHome website. Its a table he topped for much of 2020. Prime Minister is considered to be more hawkish towards India, while the PM in waiting, Shehbaz Sharif, may be more constructive towards a bilateral relationship. "India wants a soft government in Pakistan," Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the Vice Chairman of Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former Foreign Minister, said recently, Express Tribune reported. Qureshi said the neighbouring country is "disgusted" with a Pakistani government that defends its interests and adopts an independent foreign policy, the report said. The former FM added that the PTI aims for good relations with India, but will not tolerate the indiscretion against Kashmir. However, has of late being singing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's praise. The people and political leaders of were surprised when they resently saw their Prime Minister praising India's foreign policy before a crowd of thousands of supporters, The News reported. "It is amusing to note that Imran Khan, who, at one point of time, used to deride Narendra Modi as Hitler and Nazi leader at international fora, has now praised his foreign policy, at a time when his government is on the verge of collapse," The News reported. Khan praised Modi's foreign policy while addressing a public rally in Malakand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said, "I would like to praise our neighbouring country Hindustan for its foreign policy. India's foreign policy is free and independent, and its only aim is the betterment of its own people." The report said that Modi established friendly relations with countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Oman and Jordan, which were traditional friends of Pakistan. Now, Saudi Arabia has stopped giving loans to Pakistan, while the UAE has stopped raising the Kashmir issue despite prodding from Pakistan. One name that crops up for being close to former Pakistan Prime Minister is Indian steel tycoon Sajjan Jindal. Jindal had held a meeting with in Murree in 2017. The News had then reported that the meeting was sought by the Indian delegation to play a role for reduction in tension between the two nuclear neighbours. Jindal was part of the delegation that visited Pakistan during the impromptu visit of Narendra Modi back in December 2015. Jindal also reportedly hosted a lunch for during the latter's visit to India back in August 2014, The News reported. Confirmation of the contact came from Maryam Nawaz who had then dismissed suggestions that the meetings were "secret" in nature. She had then tweeted: "Mr Jindal is an old friend of the prime minister. Nothing 'secret' about the meeting & should not be blown out of proportion." --IANS san/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.) Colombo [Sri Lanka], April 9 (ANI): Negative social media has adversely impacted the sector of Sri Lanka, which is battling its worst economic crisis, according to the Managing Director of Lanka IOC, a subsidiary of the Indian Oil Corporation. In an interview with ANI, the MD of the Lanka IOC Manoj Gupta said: "For ordering shipments Sri Lanka requires USD 30-32 million to open the Letter of Credit (LC) and it is an extremely difficult task to open such LC in Sri Lanka these days." "A single bank cannot open such a big LC of 32 million and for that, we need to contact at least four to five banks. We are grateful to the Central bank of Sri Lanka and other licensed commercial banks, who have enabled us to open LCs to import fuel shipments," he added. Noting the problem of non-availability of dollars, Gupta noted, "Banks are also telling us that they don't have any dollars left with them. Even after free float of the LKR (Sri Lankan Rupee), the banks still do not have the liquidity to offer." The managing director said that fortunately had recently picked up but news articles on social media have adversely affected the sector. "After Covid pandemic, we were so happy, so proud, that every month thousands of tourists from across the globe used to come to visit the beautiful island. But some news articles on social media have made an adverse effect on the industry due to which many bookings got cancelled. I strongly believe that this too shall pass and we will sail through the tough time. Social media plays a very important role because everyone is on Twitter and Facebook and it is the fastest mode of communication," he said while expressing hope for Sri Lanka's future. The MD of Lanka IOC added that they are supplying diesel to hotels, schools, airports, hospitals, embassies, and construction sites, among others. "The place we are sitting right now is the World Trade Centre in Colombo which is also getting diesel supply from us because there is power cut of several hours at times", Gupta said. "I do appreciate, that we may not be able to contribute to the requirements as needed, due to our limitations of scale, but to a large extent, we are trying to contribute to the best of our abilities. I am confident now that going forward, definitely, the situation will change for betterment. I would reiterate that the biggest problem is the availability of USD. At the same time, I am confident that the way we have sailed through the pandemic, we shall get over this tough and challenging phase too," Gupta 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.) UK Prime Minister met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Saturday. Johnson said that he has travelled to Ukraine to meet President Zelenskyy in person and show solidarity with the Ukrainian people. "Today I met my friend President @ZelenskyyUa in Kyiv as a show of our unwavering support for the people of Ukraine. We're setting out a new package of financial & military aid which is a testament of our commitment to his country's struggle against Russia's barbaric campaign," Johnson tweeted. The Embassy of Ukraine to the United Kingdom tweeted a picture of sitting alongside Zelenskyy in an office. This visit comes as the Johnson government has announced defensive aid to Ukraine with a new 100m package. The new support will include: more NLAW anti-tank missiles, additional Javelin anti-tank systems, additional loitering munitions, additional Starstreak air defence systems, and additional non-lethal aid including ballistic helmets, body armour and night-vision goggles. This package amounts to more than 100 million and has been designed in consultation with the Armed Forces of Ukraine to ensure that it meets their military needs. This builds on the 350 million of military aid and around 400m of economic and humanitarian support that the UK has already provided. As well as providing bilateral lethal aid, the UK Armed Forces - alongside Polish, US and partners - have established an Donor Coordination Centre in Stuttgart. This plays a leading role in the effort and ensures that the military aid delivered to Ukraine is as coordinated and effective as possible. The team from 104 Logistics Brigade was established following the first International Donor Conference convened by the Defence Secretary in February. UK Prime Minister: "Putin has steeled our resolve, sharpened our focus and forced Europe to begin to rearm to guarantee our shared security. (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.) Hyderabad: Ministers Allola Indrakaran Reddy and Satyavathi Rathod on Friday hit back at Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan for saying that the government had not made preparations for her visit to the Yadadri temple. They said it's not possible to follow protocol if the Governor wanted to visit Yadadri temple within 20 minutes of deciding to make the visit. They strongly condemned the Governor's remarks made in Delhi that she could have pulled down the government had she kept her approval pending for 15 days for commencement of budget session of the Assembly, as this could have resulted in dissolution of the House for not meeting within six months of the previous session. In a media statement, Reddy said it was wrong on part of persons who hold Constitutional posts threatening to pull down democratically elected governments. He reminded Dr Soundararajan that the then undivided Andhra Pradesh Governor Ramlal who dissolved the N.T. Rama Rao government in 1984 drew the wrath of the public. Satyavathi Rathod questioned the Governor's rationale behind meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Delhi instead of President Ram Nath Kovind, as per Constitutional norms. "How can a Governor meet the PM and Union ministers in Delhi and submit false reports on Telangana government to defame it? This proves that she is functioning like a BJP leader. If she functions as Governor, we will respect the Governor," Satyavathi Rathod said. Reddy alleged that Dr Soundararajan she was acting in favour of BJP as she had earlier worked as the partys state president in Tamil Nadu. The urged donor nations on Friday to provide USD80 million for an emergency operation to remove a million barrels of from a tanker moored off the coast of war-torn Yemen since 1988 that could explode or leak causing a major environmental disaster in the Red Sea and beyond. David Gressly, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, made the appeal saying the FSO Safer tanker is a time bomb because a major oil spill from it would unleash a massive ecological and humanitarian catastrophe centered on a country already decimated by more than seven years of war. Without funding over the next six weeks or so the project will not begin on time, and this time bomb will continue to tick, he said. In early March, the and Yemen's Houthi rebels signed a memorandum of understanding after years of talks authorising a four-month emergency operation to eliminate the immediate threat by transferring oil on the Safer tanker to another vessel. In the longer term, the MOU calls for replacing the Safer tanker with another vessel capable of holding a similar quantity of oil within 18 months. Gressly, who signed the MOU on behalf of the United Nations, said the emergency oil transfer from the Safer needs to start in early June and finish by the end of September to avoid turbulent winds and currents that start in October and continue in the last months of the year which increase the risk of the tanker breaking up and for the transfer operation. Waiting beyond then could mean delaying the start of the project by several months, leaving the time bomb ticking, he said. The Houthis control Yemen's western Red Sea ports, including Ras Issa, just 6 kilometers (about 4 miles) from where the Safer is moored, and the U.N. has been negotiating with the rebel group for years to try to get experts on the tanker to examine it. Gressly said a UN-led mission in March to the Ras Issa peninsula near where the Safer tanker is anchored confirmed that it is rapidly decaying and beyond repair, and is at imminent risk of spilling a massive amount of oil due to leakages or an explosion. As an example, he said, the inert air that is used to inhibit explosions has long disappeared. A skeleton crew of about a half dozen remain on the Safer tanker and have done heroic work over the years to keep this thing from falling apart, but he said but there's a limit of what they can do with hardly any resources. The Safer tanker is a Japanese-made vessel built in the 1970s and sold to the Yemeni government in the 1980s to store up to 3 million barrels of export oil pumped from fields in Marib, a province in eastern Yemen that is currently a battlefield. The ship is 360 meters (1,181 feet) long with 34 storage tanks. Gressly said the UN estimated the USD80 million cost for the emergency operation which includes the salvage operation, leasing a very large vessel to transfer the 1 million barrels of crude oil, and payments for the crew and maintenance for the Safer for 18 months. The Netherlands, which has been a major player supporting the UN's efforts, will host a pledging conference in the first half of May, he said. Gressly said he will lead a mission next week to discuss the plan and seek support in Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Kuwait. He said raising funds for a replacement for the Safer tanker must also start now. While a final cost hasn't been set, Gressly said it will probably be an order of magnitude of let's say $25 million for a used vessel that's probably no longer appropriate for transporting but is still suitable for storing oil. He explained that any vessel will have to be modified because it needs a large piece of equipment that's attached to the bow of the ship that attaches it to the oil pipeline. (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 US and South Korea continue to adjust their joint defense capabilities to meet ever increasing threats from North Korea's advancing nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities, a spokesperson has said. Department of Defense Press Secretary John Kirby on Friday also highlighted the importance of South Korea-US joint training exercises, Yonhap news agency reported. "All our training events are meant to improve our readiness," the spokesperson said when asked if a US-South Korea joint military exercise, set to be held later this month, was meant to send a strong signal to the North. "It's not about message sending. It's about readiness, and that's our commitment on the peninsula. That's our commitment to our South Korean allies," he added. The remarks come after the South Korean defense ministry said it will discuss with the US about the possible deployment of US strategic assets to South Korea amid North Korea's continued missile launches. Pyongyang staged 12 rounds of missile tests this year, including seven rounds in January alone that marked the largest number of missile launches it has conducted in a single month. They also come after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister, Kim Yo-jong, said the North may use nuclear weapons if attacked by South Korea or the US. "We are well aware of the North Koreans', their efforts to advance their nuclear ambitions, as well as to advance their ballistic missile capabilities," said Kirby. "We don't need to hear threats and threatening comments from North Korean leaders to understand the actual threat that Pyongyang represents to the peninsula and to the region. And that's why we are continuing to adjust our posture as needed, to adjust our intelligence gathering posture as needed, and certainly to adjust our training and readiness with our South Korean allies," he added. --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.) The United States expanded export controls on Russia's and Belarus' access to everything on the US commerce control list to now cover categories such as chemicals, materials processing components, and nuclear-related items, the Commerce Department said in a statement. "In response to the Russian Federation's (Russia) ongoing aggression in Ukraine following its further invasion of the country, as substantially enabled by Belarus, this rule expands license requirements for Russia and under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to all items on the Commerce Control List (CCL)," the Commerce Department said in a press release on Friday. The new rule also removes license exception eligibility for aircraft registered in, owned or controlled by, or under charter or lease by or a national of Belarus, the release said. As a result of the latest change, the restrictions will now cover all ten commerce control list categories (numbers 0-9). The Commerce Department is now tightening export controls across categories 0-2, which include items related to chemicals, microorganisms, minerals, fertilizer, materials processing parts like valves, along with dual purpose nuclear-related materials and equipment. Previously, the restrictions targeting Russia were in categories 3-9, which covered items related to electronics, computers, telecommunications, lasers, marine materials, and aerospace and propulsion materials. The United States and its European partners have imposed a series of sanctions and export controls on Russia over its opposition to Russia's special military operation in Ukraine. On February 24, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine after the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk requested help to defend them from intensifying attacks by Ukrainian troops. The Russian Ministry of Defense said the operation is solely targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure and the civilian population is not in danger. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The United States would prefer India to move away from its long-term history of non-alignment G77 partnership with Russia, the Biden Administration has told lawmakers, observing that there is a great opportunity for defence trade with India. America's relationship with India is a very critical one, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman told members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee during a Congressional hearing early this week. They are the largest democracy in the world. We have a strong defence relationship with them. They are part of the Quad, with Australia and Japan, and we are moving forward on many achievements that are critical to Indo-Pacific prosperity and security, she said. We, obviously, would prefer that India move away from their long-term history of non-alignment G77 partnership with Russia, Sherman said in response to a question from Congressman Tim Burchett. The United States, she said, has told Indians that it will be very hard for them now to get spare parts or to get them replaced from because of the sanctions. They have increased their defence relationship with us, and defence sales, and co-production efforts. And I think this is a great opportunity for that to surge in the years ahead, she said. I'm wondering, will India's neutrality in Russia's war on and the country's general friendship with have any effect on our policy towards India? US policy towards India, I guess I should say, Burchett asked. Congressman Joe Wilson also asked about India's position on . The world's largest democracy should be standing firm with the other democracies, he said. We're in a conflict that has been identified by President Biden as totalitarianism against democracies. And so, either we stand for democracy's rule of law or we'll be facing around the world destabilization by governments that are the rule of the gun, he said. And so, how can we make an effort to replace the oil that India depends on and the military equipment that they depend on from Putin? This is just so illogical for the extraordinary country of India, the wonderful people of India, to be overlooking abstaining. That's incredible. That's such an insult to the people of India, Wilson said. America's relationship with India, the world's largest democracy, is critical in so many areas, Sherman said. We have had very direct conversations with them about how we can address their very legitimate needs for their country, she added. I think that there's progress being made to see what we can do to be supportive to them, while, at the same time, urging them to be more forthright regarding what's happening in Ukraine, Sherman said. I did note that they made comments, not surprising, about the horrors that have taken place in Bucha. And so, I think we just have to keep working at this relationship and understanding the complexity of it, and helping to support India to really understand what is in their national security interests, said the top American diplomat. (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.) Lemon Tree Hotels, at fag end of market hours on Friday, 8 April 2022, announced the opening of its second property, Keys Lite by Lemon Tree Hotels, in Tapovan, Rishikesh The hotel is located near the Ganges river and features 38 well-appointed rooms and suites. It is managed by Carnation Hotels Private, a subsidiary and the hotel management arm of Lemon Tree Hotels. Keys Lite by Lemon Tree Hotels, Tapovan, Rishikesh caters to both business travelers and tourists. Earlier, the company had announced the signing of a license agreement for 132 room hotel project at Rishikesh in Uttarakhand under the company's brand Aurika Hotels & Resorts. The project in Uttarakhand is a greenfield project and is expected to be operational by March 2025. Shares of Lemon Tree Hotels rose 1.91% to close at Rs 66.75 on BSE yesterday, 8 April 2022. Lemon Tree Hotels is India's largest hotel chain in the mid-priced hotel sector, and the third largest overall, on the basis of controlling interest in owned and leased rooms, as of 30 June 2017. On a consolidated basis, Lemon Tree Hotels reported a net loss of Rs 5.22 crore in Q3 2021 as compared with a net loss of Rs 45.73 crore in Q3 2020. Net sales surged 110.1% to Rs 143.65 crore in Q3FY22 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.) Mahindra & Mahindra announced that the company has received an intimation from Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India, a listed subsidiary of the Company (MHRIL) informing that KiinteistOy Rauhan Liikekiinteist 1 (Kiinteist, incorporated in Finland, has been merged with Supermarket Capri Oy (Supermarket), with effect from 8 April 2022. Kiinteistand Supermarket are wholly owned subsidiaries of Holiday Club Resorts Oy, Finland (HCR), which in turn is a wholly owned subsidiary of the MHRIL and a subsidiary of the Company. Pursuant to the above, Kiinteisthas ceased to be a subsidiary of HCR, MHRIL and consequently, that of the Company with effect from 8 April 2022. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Home Minister is likely to embark on a two-day visit to from April 16, which will be his first visit to the state after the last year's Assembly elections, said sources in the . Shah is likely to hold a series of meetings with the party workers during his visit in the state. According to sources, the Home Minister is likely to visit the state on April 16 and 17. He is also likely to take part in the programme "Three Bigha Corridor" in Cooch Behar on April 16. The Union Home Minister is also likely to visit the BSF camp on the India-Bangladesh border, said sources. Sources further informed that Shah on April 17 is likely to visit Kolkata where he may hold a meeting with the party MLAs and top state leaders of the . During the meeting, Shah is likely to take details on the internal evaluation of the state committee of the party on the outcome of the Assembly elections. Notably, the five-member panel set up by the had submitted its report to the Union Home Minister on the Birbhum violence in which nine people were charred to death. In a view of the incidents in Birbhum, discussion on the law and order situation in the state is also likely to take place during the visit of Shah. (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 Minister Araga Jnanendra on Saturday said central agencies are looking into the bomb hoax threat received by multiple private schools in via e-mail, with regards to a terror angle, if any. At least 15 schools in the city and its outskirts received bomb threats through e-mail on Friday morning triggering panic among students, parents and school managements, which the police later declared as a hoax after conducting searches. "Searches went on till last night. There was no bomb, it was a hoax. Our police are trying to find out as to who was behind the hoax threat, and central agencies are also specially looking into it seriously," Jnanendra told reporters here. The home minister, however, did not specify which central agency is involved in the investigation. Asked whether the state has referred the matter to central agencies, he said, "They have come themselves, to look into terror angle, whether the mail has come from outside... they will also inquire, collect details from our (police) investigation," he added. Bomb detection and disposal teams were sent to the schools that received threats on Friday to conduct searches, while police teams began investigating about threat e-mails and the sender. The e-mail threats to schools read, "A very powerful bomb has been planted in your school, attention is not a joke, this is not a joke, a very powerful bomb has been planted in your school, immediately call the police and sappers, hundreds of lives may suffer, including yours, do not delay, now everything is only in your hands!" Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday commenting on bomb threats said there seems to be a conspiracy to disturb peace in Karnataka, which is a progressive state. He also assured that all the necessary precautionary measures will be taken. Responding to a question whether the government has taken serious note of Al-Qaeda chief Ayman Al-Zawahiri's video statement in which he has used the recent hijab controversy in to target democracy in India, Jnanendra said the government has taken it seriously and all necessary measures are being taken. "I can't share the details, because it is not a normal thing. He (Zawahiri) is the head of an international terrorist organisation. If he has spoken about our Mandya girl, we have taken it seriously. It is a matter of securing our national unity and integrity, we will do whatever is required for it," he added. In a 8.43-minute video clip released by the terror group online, and verified by the American SITE Intelligence Group, Zawahiri said, "We must stop being deceived by the mirage of the pagan Hindu democracy". The Al-Qaeda chief also praised college student Muskan Khan (from Mandya) for confronting a group of students opposing hijab in her college in early February. (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 US has bluntly rejected Pakistan's embattled Prime Minister Imran Khan's latest allegations of a "foreign conspiracy" plotted in Washington to overthrow his government with the help of the Opposition parties, saying there is "absolutely no truth" to these claims. Khan has been claiming that the Opposition's no-confidence motion against him was the result of a foreign conspiracy because of his independent foreign policy and funds were being channelled from abroad to oust him from power. In an address to the nation on Friday, the 69-year-old prime minister reiterated his allegations that a senior US diplomat threatened regime change in . Khan has alleged that Donald Lu, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs in the Department of State was involved in the foreign conspiracy' to topple his government. Responding to a question on Khan's renewed allegations of the US encouraging the no-confidence vote against his government, deputy state department spokesperson Jalina Porter in a press conference on Friday said, "Let me just say very bluntly there is absolutely no truth to these allegations." "Of course, we continue to follow these developments, and we respect and support Pakistan's constitutional process and rule of law. But again, these allegations are absolutely not true," she said. Friday's rebuttal was the third time the US State Department has publicly commented on Khan's allegations. Previously, Pakistan's Dawn newspaper reported that the State Department had dismissed the allegation when it initially broke in late March. On March 31, State Department Spokesman Ned Price said, "We are closely following developments in Pakistan, and we respect, we support Pakistan's constitutional process and the rule of law. But when it comes to those allegations, there is no truth to them." Prime Minister Khan in a public rally in Islamabad on March 27 first disclosed about a "letter" and claimed that it contained a threat to the government from the US. On the basis of the letter and the alleged conspiracy plot, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri had dismissed the Opposition's no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Khan on April 3. The deputy speaker's ruling was struck down by the Supreme Court on Thursday. On Saturday, Pakistan's Parliament started its crucial session to take up the no-confidence resolution against the defiant prime minister. Earlier this month also, the US had denied reports of any "threat letter" sent to on the current political situation in the country. Last week, some Pakistani media outlets reported that the powerful Army has also contradicted Prime Minister Khan's remarks accusing America of hatching a conspiracy to topple his government, saying there was no evidence of interference in the country's internal matters. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi [India], April 9 (ANI/PNN): International Maritime Institute celebrated 30 years of excellence and the Government-led initiative Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. By hosting their inauguration ceremony for Full Mission and Desktop Based Engine Room Simulator for ME Engine or RT Flex Engine, and LNG Bunkering, on Tuesday 22nd March. Mementos were also presented by the Chairman, Captain Ashok Kohli. Director General Of Shipping, Amitabh Kumar, IRS attended the event as the Chief Guest. While Group Managing Director and CEO Of MSC Ship management Limited, Cyprus, Prabhat Jha attended the inauguration ceremony as the Guest Of Honor. (http://www.imi.edu.in/) International Maritime Instituteor IMI's main commitment has always been to impart top-notch training. This resulted in the birth of the Full Mission Engine Room Simulator & Desktop Based Engine Room Simulator. This simulator has all the latest RT Flex Electronics Engine, ME Electronic Engine, MEGI Electronic Engine with LNG Bunkering, and many more advanced features. Some of the advanced features present in this simulator are Ballast Water Treatment and Exhaust Gas Scrubber. Many prestigious personalities of the shipping fraternity-like Managing Director, MSC, Captain Mahendra Pal Bhasin; SIC MMD Noida, Captain Rajendra Poswal; Deputy General Manager, MMSI, Captain Virendra Yadav; General Manager, Executive Shipping, Captain Indresh Kharbanda, and many other members including MSC Ship Management's Senior Superintendents also attended the event. The main objective of this simulative training is to develop competencies and professionalism when it comes to Engineering Officers and Marine Engineering Cadets of MEO class 1, MEO class 2, and MEO class 3 by application of simulation technologies. Prabhat Jha, Guest of Honor along with Captain Bhasin, Managing Director, MSC visited the new International Maritime Institute Campus located in Sonpeda. This new IMI campus is over 25 km away from the existing IMI Campus. Both of them shared their impressive experience of witnessing the construction of the hostel, the administration block for GP Rating, the mock-up for Advance Fire Fighting, PSCRB, and the CMCC Course. The event was flagged off by the Guest of Honor, Prabhat Jha. He received a warm welcome from the head of the institution, Captain Saurabh Varshney as well as other class of people present at the event. Prabhat Jha addressed the Deck and Engine Cadets of MSC, took a tour of the IMI institute, admired their infrastructure, and praised working models of machinery which has applications on an onboard ship. He also expressed how elated he felt on meeting the cadets and learning about the progress of IMI. The Chief Guest, Amitabh Kumar, was greeted by the audience with a standing ovation, reverential march past, salute by the guard of honor, and each of the four platoons. Amitabh Kumar, Chief Guest, and Prabhat Jha, Guest of Honor was also presented with a memento by the Chairman of IMI, Captain Ashok Kohli. All the honourable guests then headed for inauguration towards the Engine Room Simulator. Ribbon cutting and lighting of the lamp was also done at the occasion. Followed by Chief Guest and Guest of Honor sharing the approval and delight they felt on seeing the Engine Room Simulator. This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Islamabad: Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser and Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri resigned on Saturday night minutes after the crucial session of the house resumed for after a break of over three hours. The crucial session of the house began at 10:30 am (11:00 IST) with Speaker Qaiser, a senior member of Prime Minister Imran Khan's party, in chair. Since then, the session was adjourned thrice for one reason or another. After announcing resignation, he asked Ayaz Sadiq of PML-N to chair the proceedings, who is now conducting the proceedings. Process of voting on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Khan has just started. 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 Japan to impose fresh bans, asset freezes on Russia Xinhua) 12:30, April 09, 2022 TOKYO, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Japan will impose additional sanctions on Russia, banning imports of coal and vodka, freezing assets held by major lenders Sberbank and Alfa Bank while halting new investments, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Friday. The five-point sanctions list is part of Japan's latest measures to add economic and diplomatic pressure on Russia, Kishida told a press conference. The Japanese government plans to expand the number of individuals subject to Japan's asset freezes to around 550 from the current 400. Shortly before Kishida's press conference, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said it will expel eight Russians including diplomats. (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji) News Details Micross opens sales office in Bangalore and appoints executives Date: 09-04-22 Semiconductor and high-rel electronics manufacturing' component solutions distributor Micross Components named Valli Murugappan as Sales Director for the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. Valli to operate from Singapore with responsibility of leading and coordinating all sales and customer success activities within the APAC region. Micross also opened a new Micross sales office in Bangalore, India. Bangalore office is headed by Anand Panneer as country manager to support its customers in India. Before this shift, Mr. Murugappan served as the Senior Director of APAC at Data Device Corporation for 12 years, and prior to DDC as the APAC Regional Manager for Curtis Wright for 2 years. He has good knowledge of APAC region for Microelectronic product solutions and systems for the Aerospace, Defense, and Space markets, with deep experience in the key APAC markets of India, Taiwan, Korea, China & Malaysia. Academically, Mr. Murugappan completed post graduate qualification in Systems and Information from BITS, Pilani, and undergrduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from Alagappa Chettiar College of Engineering and Technology. Graham Jefferies, Managing Director of Micross Components Limited, stated, Vallis appointment will further reinforce the Micross presence in the region, providing customers with a local executive resource for program development, sustainment, and technical support. We are excited to have such a capable and accomplished leader as Valli serve and expand our semiconductor and microelectronic distribution and supply chain services for the Asia Pacific market. Micross sources mission-critical microelectronic component solutions for high-reliability markets such as aerospace and defence. Some of the product and service solutions include semiconductor die and wafer services, Component Modification Services, Advanced Interconnect Technology, Custom Packaging & Assembly, Electrical & Environmental Testing and more. In July 2021 Micross acquired Semi Dice, LLC, a global provider of high-reliability semiconductor die and wafer products and value-added services. 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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 Photo: The Canadian Press Federal Conservative leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre signs a placard for a supporter during a meet and greet at the University of British Columbia, in Vancouver, on Thursday. With 10 days left for candidates to enter the Conservative party leadership race and 20 before $300,000 worth in fees are due what's capturing the attention of those watching as of late are the crowds. More specifically, who's drawing them in and who isn't. Pierre Poilievre would fall into the first category, as the longtime Ottawa-area MP has been consistently appearing before massive groups of people at rallies across the country. "The sort of draw that he has to bring people out is unprecedented," said Connor Hollingshead, president of the Conservative campus club at Simon Fraser University, who says he's not endorsing anyone. Poilievre recently spoke to students in Vancouver at an event co-hosted with Conservatives at the University of British Columbia. Later that Thursday, he addressed a rally crowd that his campaign said swelled to more than 1,000. Saturday, Poilievre will be speaking in Kelowna and Vernon. Staying late to smile for photos and greet those who waited out long lines to meet him has also been a common occurrence at events as has selling memberships. Signing up new members and then doing the followup work to make sure they fill out their ballots correctly and mail everything in on time is what successful leadership campaigns are about. As of Saturday, candidates have under two months left to sign up members before the June 3 deadline. Among the buzz being generated around Poilievre, who was the first to enter the contest, is who is attending his events. Not only is the Conservative faithful flocking, but also those who don't typically frequent political events, including the under-40 crowd. "The Poilievre movement has taken off all across the country, and it's only the beginning," tweeted Sen. Leo Housakos, a co-chair on his campaign. Hollingshead says he saw some of that firsthand. About 150 people, most of them students, came to the campus event. He said that was the largest crowd they have seen in five years, when reality TV star Kevin O'Leary ran for the party's top job in 2017. "He is certainly a different breed of politician," Hollingshead said of Poilievre. "He's speaking to a lot of the frustrations that young people have in this country." Railing against the price of a home is one of his go-to messages. In Vancouver, Poilievre also pledged to uphold free speech at universities, at one point joking that a sudden loud sound was censors coming to get him. When he promised to defund the CBC a popular Conservative rallying cry the crowd cheered. He also peppered his speech with mentions of historical figures like Winston Churchill and John Diefenbaker. For UBC graduate student Avril Lee, it's not just what Poilievre says, but how he says it. "My mom is on Instagram and we both follow Pierre and we easily watch his videos daily. Sometimes they're funny, sometimes they're serious. His messaging is very clear and simple." Longtime Conservative strategist Melanie Paradis, who is remaining neutral in the race, says Poilievre's crowds are impressive, comparing them to the support seen around Ontario Premier Doug Ford. The key will be turning that into memberships, she says. But Paradis cautioned that photos of the room don't always tell the full picture of what's happening on a campaign. Andrew Scheer won the 2017 leadership in church basements. Nobody took pictures of his rallies," she said Friday. When you dont see people out and about, thats not indicative that nothing is going on. Rather, theyre like a duck: They're smooth and calm on the surface, but theyre kicking their little feet as fast as they can under the water." One candidate who's been keeping a lower public profile and is known for his hustle in Tory circles is Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, who was recently added to the official list of candidates after he submitted his first $50,000 fee and met other party-stipulated thresholds. "Patrick has attended nearly 200 events in the last three weeks and is excited about the number of memberships that have been sold," campaign spokesman Jeff Silverstein said Friday. Michelle Coates Mather, a spokeswoman on Jean Charest's campaign, says the former Quebec premier has 1,500 volunteers, 400 organizers and was nearing $1 million in campaign fundraising. "The constant obsession with the status of our campaign on Twitter just confirms for us that some of our opponents are afraid our momentum," she wrote in an email to The Canadian Press, referring to how some have compared his crowd sizes to those of Poilievre's. "At the end of the day tweets are just tweets, photos of crowds are just photos, its membership sales that count." Paradis says members like to pick winners, and photos of packed rooms can be a motivator for supporters and volunteers. Leslyn Lewis, who placed third in the party's 2020 leadership race and is popular with the party's social conservative wing, recently announced she raised the $300,000 required to be on the ballot. She too has hit the road, campaigning in communities across the Prairies and most recently in Calgary and Red Deer, Alta., at times drawing hundreds and selling memberships at her events. "We have been having great attendance at Leslyn's events and are encouraged to see such high engagement across campaigns,'" campaign manager Steve Outhouse wrote in an email. "Having multiple strong candidates bringing in new members bodes very well for our party's fortunes in the next election." Candidates are set to appear face-to-face for what will likely be the first time on May 5 in a leadership debate hosted by the Canada Strong and Free Network to kick off its annual conference in Ottawa. Poilievre, Lewis and Charest have confirmed they will go, as have MP Marc Dalton and independent Ontario MPP Roman Baber. Re. Lloyd Vinish's letter Playing the blame game (Castanet, April 6) I agree with some, not all of Mr. Vinish's views and insights. The one point of view that I wanted to expand on is the backlog of surgeries and interventions and the lack of funding isn'?t the problem. I agree that meaningful change and innovation is needed. Our minister of health stated "B.C.ers need to have confidence in the health-care system and know that it is being funded responsibly, transparently and in their best interest" after the PHA fiasco last year and our premier stated "it's the extraordinary efforts of our public health-care system that gives me complete confidence that all will be well for me" with his cancer diagnosis. With three and a half years of corresponding with the Patient Care Quality , Patient Review Board, Cancer Program for B.C., Ministry of Health, B.C. Ombudsperson, etc., I found out that Interior Health at the time of my life-threatening incidence did not work with other hospitals within the Health Authority. I was on an eight-month wait list (way before COVID-19 impacted wait lists) at KGH and I could have gone to Vernon Jubilee, where the wait time was four to six weeks. This was never offered, nor did I know there were options. Before we look outside of Canada to share best practices, do provinces, health authorities, hospitals, departments work together? Joan Hama Photo: The Canadian Press Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in his office in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday that he is committed to pressing for peace despite Russian attacks on civilians that have stunned the world, and he renewed his plea for countries to send more weapons ahead of an expected surge in fighting in the countrys east. He made the comments in an interview with The Associated Press a day after at least 52 people were killed in a strike on a train station in the eastern city of Kramatorsk, and as evidence of civilian killings came to light after Russian troops failed to seize the capital where he has hunkered down, Kyiv. No one wants to negotiate with a person or people who tortured this nation. Its all understandable. And as a man, as a father, I understand this very well, Zelenskyy said. But we dont want to lose opportunities, if we have them, for a diplomatic solution. Wearing the olive drab that has marked his transformation into a wartime leader, he looked visibly exhausted yet animated by a drive to persevere. We have to fight, but fight for life. You cant fight for dust when there is nothing and no people. Thats why it is important to stop this war, he said. Russian troops that withdrew from northern Ukraine are now regrouping for what is expected to be an intensified push to retake the eastern Donbas region, including the besieged port city of Mariupol that Ukrainian fighters are striving to defend. Zelenskyy said he is confident Ukrainians would accept peace despite the horrors they have witnessed in the more than six-week-long war. Those included gruesome images of bodies of civilians found in yards, parks and city squares and buried in mass graves in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha after Russian troops withdrew. Ukrainian and Western leaders have accused Moscow of war crimes. Russia has falsely claimed that the scenes in Bucha were staged. It also put the blame on Ukraine for the attack on the train station as thousands of people rushed to flee ahead of an expected Russian offensive. Despite hopes for peace, Zelenskyy acknowledged that he must be realistic about the prospects for a swift resolution given that negotiations have so far been limited to low-level talks that do not include Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelenskyy spoke to the AP inside the presidential office complex, where windows and hallways are protected by towers of sandbags and heavily armed soldiers. He displayed a palpable sense of resignation and frustration when asked whether the supplies of weapons and other equipment his country has received from the United States and other Western nations was enough to turn the tide of the war. Not yet, he said, switching to English for emphasis. Of course its not enough. Still, he noted that there has been increased support from Europe and said deliveries of U.S. weapons have been accelerating. Just this week, neighboring Slovakia, a European Union member, donated its Soviet-era S-300 air defense system to Ukraine in response to Zelenskyy's appeal to help close the skies to Russian warplanes and missiles. Some of that support has come through visits by European leaders. After meeting Zelenskyy in Kviv earlier Saturday, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said he expects more EU sanctions against Russia even as he defended his countrys opposition so far to cutting off deliveries of Russian natural gas. The U.S., EU and United Kingdom responded to the images from Bucha with more sanctions, including targeting Putin's adult daughters. While the EU went after the Russian energy sector for the first time by banning coal, it has so far failed to agree on cutting off the much more lucrative oil and natural gas funding Putin's war chest but that Europe relies on to generate electricity, fill fuel tanks and keep industry churning. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson also made an unannounced visit to meet Zelenskyy, with his office saying they discussed Britain's long-term support. In Kyiv, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented Ukraine's leader Friday with a questionnaire marking the first step for applying for EU membership. The head of the blocs executive arm said the process for completing the questionnaire could take weeks an unusually fast turnaround though securing membership would take far longer. Zelenskyy turned introspective when asked what impact the pace of arms deliveries had for his people and whether more lives could have been saved if the help had come sooner. Very often we look for answers in someone else, but I often look for answers in myself. Did we do enough to get them? he said of the weapons. Did we do enough for these leaders to believe in us? Did we do enough? He paused and shook his head. Are we the best for this place and this time? Who knows? I dont know. You question yourself, he said. Please enter a monthly or single gift donation amount. We are sorry; We encountered a problem while processing your contribution. Please try again. Option 1 Become a Monthly CBN Partner Make the greatest impact! Your ongoing support is used for CBN's U.S. and international media evangelism and humanitarian aid through CBN TV programs and websites worldwide, Operation Blessing, Superbook, CBN News, CBN prayer centers, Orphan's Promise, and more. 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Your monthly giving supports CBN's job skills ministry and the rest of CBN's U.S. and international media evangelism and humanitarian aid efforts. You are making the greatest impact with your ongoing support of the CBN family of ministries. 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. This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions Bryan College hosted its annual Bryan Opportunity Scholarship Program dinner on the evening of April 7 at the Chattanooga Convention Center. The Bryan Opportunity Scholarship Program supports academically qualified Tennessee students with significant need. This year, 35 students are receiving support with an average family income of $19,676. One student benefitting from this program is Zacchaeus Zach Harvey, who shared his story with attendees at the dinner. A junior business major with focuses in accounting and human resources, Zach grew up in a Christian military family. He credits his family as being the most consistent driving force in his life and the reason he developed a strong work ethic and love for God. Zach arrived at Bryan in fall 2019, and he is grateful for the experiences he has had: Coming to Bryan has allowed so many opportunities of growth, of intense challenge, of fruitful relationships and a true assessment and formation of my relationship with God, he said. He went on to thank the Bryan community, "Each day, God continues to blow my mind through the dedication of all the faculty and staff, the motivation and willingness of the students, the sacrifices of our donors and daily showing of His character. There is nothing that I would trade for this experience, and I am sure that those who Bryan impacts would say the same thing. So I thank you for this opportunity and for being a part of my story." Following dinner, guests enjoyed a performance by Wintley Phipps. Mr. Phipps is the founder, president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Dream Academy, Inc., a national after-school program that offers skill-building, character-building and dream-building activities to children of incarcerated parents and those falling behind in school. He has sung for every living president and has been nominated for Grammy Awards twice. He serves as senior pastor of Palm Bay Seventh-day Adventist Church in Florida. "Guests were wowed by Mr. Phipps rich bass voice and vocal stamina. They were treated to powerhouse renditions of It Is Well, How Great Thou Art and Amazing Grace, as well as spirituals such as Swing Low, Sweet Chariot and Down by the Riverside," officials said. "At the end of the evening, $240,715 was raised for our students." Bryan College President Dr. Douglas Mann expressed his gratitude to donors, This Opportunity Program now has more than a decade-long history of growth and success, which positively impacts our alumnimen and women who seek in all aspects of their lives to live in service to Christ and service to those around them. At Bryan we were privileged to play a part in Gods work in their lives. That is the success of the Opportunity Program. We are grateful for our sponsors and donors who enable us to transform lives." A Tennessee Board of Regents Search Advisory Committee has selected four finalists for the next president of Cleveland State Community College. They will participate in open forums with the campus community and the public April 18-21, the next step in the selection process. The finalists are: Dr. Kathy Cecil-Sanchez, vice president of instruction and interim vice president of student success at Lone Star College in Houston, Texas. Dr. Cecil-Sanchez earned a Ph.D in higher education administration and a Master of Arts in English at Texas A&M University, and a Bachelor of Arts in English at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Dr. Tiffany E. Hunter, provost and senior vice president of academic affairs at Clark State College in Springfield, Ohio. Dr. Hunter earned a Ph.D in higher education leadership and a Master of Science in education at Capella University, a Master of Arts in birth to kindergarten education at Lenoir-Rhyne College, and a Bachelor of Arts in political science at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Dr. Barsha Pickell, vice president for academic affairs at Cleveland State. Dr. Pickell earned a Ph.D in government at the University of Virginia, a Master of Arts in political science at the University of Tennessee, and a Bachelor of Arts in history and political science at Carson-Newman University. Dr. Ty A. Stone, president of Jefferson Community College in Watertown, New York. Dr. Stone earned a Ph.D in organization and management at Capella University, a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in organizational strategy at Trinity University, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at Washington Adventist University. The finalists resumes and other information about the search process are posted on the presidential search page of the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) website at https://www.tbr.edu/hr/executivesearches/president-cleveland-state-community-college. Each finalist will visit the campus, meet with campus groups, and participate in open forums with faculty, staff, students and the public who wish to attend. The forums are all scheduled for 10 a.m. in the George R. Johnson Cultural Heritage Center Theater on the main campus, with Dr. Stone scheduled for April 18, Dr. Hunter on April 19, Dr. Cecil-Sanchez on April 20, and Dr. Pickell on April 21. The forums will be streamed on the TBR website, via links on the search webpage above. After the campus visits, TBR Chancellor Flora W. Tydings will gather input from the campus communities and forums, and meet with the finalists to select one candidate for nomination to the Board of Regents. Input and comments on the candidates may be submitted through an online survey that will be added to the search webpage above. The Board will appoint the next president, during a special called meeting to be scheduled later. The next president will succeed Dr. Bill Seymour, who last November announced his plans to retire this summer after 8 years as Cleveland States president and more than 43 years in higher education administration. The Board of Regents approved criteria for the next president at its Dec. 9 quarterly meeting. The position was posted, and an 18-member Search Advisory Committee was appointed, including three members of the Board of Regents as well as representatives of the Colleges students, faculty, staff and alumni, and civic and business leaders from the community. Chaired by Regent Thomas A.H. White, the committee held its orientation meeting and a public forum on Feb. 17. The committee spent subsequent weeks reviewing applicants and nominees before selecting the finalists. The president is the chief executive officer of the college, which opened in 1967 as one of the original three Tennessee public community colleges. Cleveland State primarily serves Bradley, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe and Polk counties in southeast Tennessee. In addition to its main campus in Cleveland, it provides classes, services and programs at its Monroe County Center in Vonore and the McMinn Higher Education Center in Athens. A woman on South Lyerly Street told police someone was knocking on her door and this wasn't the first time. When police arrived, there wasn't anyone around her door. The woman wanted this documented. * * * A man at 2230 Polymer Dr. said someone vandalized his Caterpillar excavator. It appears that someone had damaged the windows and mirror with a rock. The man was doing construction work at this location and the CAT was left on the site. * * * A man on Lee Avenue reported that someone dumped seven to 10 bags of garbage in the construction dumpster over the weekend. The people dumping trash were in an Enterprise rental truck. * * * A man on Highland Drive told police someone keyed his vehicle while he was out of town. He said both sides of the vehicle were keyed. * * * A woman at the Hayden Place Apartments at 237 Acorn Oaks Circle told police she noticed damage to her car that had been left at the apartments while she was out of town. She said there are big indentations on the drivers-side back fender. There is no proof at this time of how the damage was done. There have been no estimates yet. * * * A woman at Marys Bar and Grill at 2125 McCallie Ave. told police over the phone someone damaged her vehicle while parked at this location. The woman said she was not sure when it occurred but when she was dropped off from the club, she noticed a dent on the driver side. She noticed red and green colors on the dent. * * * A woman told police she was on Highway 153 northbound at Highway 58 when a vehicle merged in front of her. She said she give the other driver the middle finger. The two of them then proceeded to cross the dam on Highway 153. The woman showed police video of the driver on front of her hitting her breaks and changing lanes to prevent her from passing. The woman said the vehicle pulled into the shopping plaza beside Taco Bell and was unsure if they were still there. An officer searched the area and could not locate the other vehicle. * * * Police spoke with a woman walking on 12th Avenue. The officer asked the woman if she was okay and said someone had called police about her coming onto their porch. The woman said someone gave her a bottle of water and she was trying to get to the Community Kitchen because she forgot where her relative's house was in the area. Police transported the woman to the Community Kitchen without incident. * * * A man and a woman on Cowart Street, who are boyfriend and girlfriend, reported being out to dinner and leaving after a disorder ensued over the amount he was drinking. The officer asked both of them if there were any physical altercations between the two and they each said no. The officer observed no visible injuries on either person. The woman said she just wanted to go home and go to bed. She called the mans brother to come and pick her up from the Speedway, which he did. * * * Police were dispatched to 2809 East 50th St. for a burglar alarm. Upon arrival, officers found an open door on the south side of the building. Officers checked the building and didnt find anyone inside. Dispatch attempted to locate a person responsible for the building but were unable. Officers were unable to secure the door. * * * A woman on Ardis Lane called police and said there was suspicious activity at her trailer home. She said someone has been knocking on her door and window for some time. The woman said she was not aware of who was doing the knocking but just wanted to report it. Police suggested to the woman to put cameras up, hopefully to deter the activity. * * * Police were dispatched to a suspicious vehicle at 1028 Beason Dr. in a construction zone. Police spoke with a woman sitting in the driver seat of the car with no lights on. She initially lied to the police saying she was alone and had driven up there to see the lights. Upon further investigation, the woman later said a Chad individual had brought her up there and left to go use the bathroom. Police could see off in the distance in the tree line someone attempting to elude police detection. The woman was run and checked for warrants that all came back negative. She said she didn't know why her friend was avoiding the police. Police allowed the woman to leave the area without further incident. The Chad person wasnt found. Truth always rises to the surface. It seems the political class of insiders would do well to always embrace truth. I wish to set forth documents for public review. Unlike the subjects of this information, I do not seek elected office or an approximate $500,000 annually in taxpayer funded salaries and benefits for one family. Public inspection of the documents should occur, as the public welfare demands it. Weston Wamp, seeking the Hamilton County Mayors Office. Coty Wamp, seeking the Hamilton County District Attorneys Office. Zach Wamp, operates an influence peddling consulting firm locally. *Document 1: Zach Wamp Consulting, zachwamp.com The online of homepage of Zach Wamp Consulting defines their mission as, A boutique firm known for an uncanny hands-on approach to business development through high-level introductions and relentless advocacy. "hands-on" approach is grounded in relationships and ultimate trust with his clients. This is Zach Wamps firm, high level introductions and relentless advocacy, what has that got to do with Weston Wamp or Coty Wamp? A lot, since both Weston and Coty Wamp receive income from this firm, and are seeking the two highest elected offices in Hamilton County government. Lets continue. *Document 2: Chattanoogan.com titled, Weston What is Your Job? On November 15, 2021, the Chattanoogan.com published my question to Weston Wamp titled, Weston, What Is Your Job?; Weston Replies I asked Weston about his consulting contract with a political nonprofit called, Issue One, and income from Zach Wamp Consulting. I asked this verbatim in the publication. As it turns out, the nonprofit Issue One funds the Swamp Stories most likely through a contract reported in the nonprofit's 1099s that lists a contract with Zach Wamp Consulting for the last several years. The Issue One contract has compensated Zach Wamp Consulting approximately $119,000 to $136,000 annually over the previous three years, according to the GuideStar 1099 IRS filings for Issue One. Weston wrote the following response and emailed it to Chattanoogan.com. Since that time, I have been self-employed, serving as a consultant and conservative voice of a national reform organization, hosting a successful podcast called Swamp Stories. That business engagement has nothing to do with Zach Wamp Consulting, as Mrs. Eidson wrongly alleges. Weston Wamp wrote in a most public venue with emphasis, That business engagement has nothing to do with Zach Wamp Consulting. Weston and Zach Wamp are both contracted employees of the Issue One political group. Weston absolutely receives income from Zach Wamp Consulting contrary to all public statements of Weston Wamp, as he blatantly denies such parent supported financial connections. *Document 3: Wamp for County Mayor Televised Ad There is currently a televised political commercial that also is posted on the Weston Wamp for county mayor Facebook page. Weston Wamp states the following in paid television and social media advertising, I didnt inherit money or a job, just their good name. Lets continue. *Documents 4: Open Records Election Commission. While untruths in public responses and television ads abound from Weston Wamp about his parental financial support from Zach Wamp Consulting, I also learned that Coty Wamp, candidate for District Attorney receives financial support from Zach Wamp Consulting by their own admission to the Election Commission. The public welfare demands that we examine the connection of both Weston and Coty Wamp to a known influence peddler called, Zach Wamp Consulting. Afterall, the highest elected offices in Hamilton County, if acquired by Weston and Coty Wamp, both have financial and relative connection to a well-established influence peddler in ZW Consulting. Weston Wamp reported the following income sources to the Election Commission, see attached documents. Millennial Debt Foundation Issue One Zach Wamp Consulting It appears parent coattails was right on target, as Weston Wamp absolutely has gained employment through Issue One with his parent Zach Wamp. Make no mistake about it, former congressman Wamp is a primary leader in Issue One Reform Caucus, where Weston is a political consultant. Weston absolutely receives income from Zach Wamp Consulting, as reported to the Election Commission. Coty Wamp also reports income from Zach Wamp Consulting and of course the Sheriff Hammond job created by the political class. What does an influence peddling ZW Consulting, a County Mayor, and District Attorney in Hamilton County look like for we the people? When does arrogance of the Wamp candidates become so large that a pass is issued for untruths stated to the public? The voters will decide. In the meantime, there is income listed from the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation. However, those funds are passed through the Millennial Debt Foundation to fund activities and travels of Weston Wamp. The Millennial Debt Foundation also employs a current school board member and candidate for county commission, Tucker McClendon. The last obtainable 1099 IRS filing for Westons Millennial Debt Foundation is 2019 on GuideStar. The 2020, 1099 IRS filing for Millennial Debt Foundation should be disclosed, as it has not been submitted to Guidestar for public transparency. April Eidson The Martyrs' Families Foundation in the city of Al-Hasakah organizes a ceremony to announce a martyr in the Syrian Democratic Forces, at the shrine of the martyr Dijwar in the city. 12:00 (photos and video attached). Afrin IDPs at the camps in al-Shahba canton are facing difficult living conditions as a result of the Damascus government suffocating siege on the area, with the loss of domestic gas for nearly 10 days. (photos and video attached). Since its occupation of Afrin in 2018, the Turkish occupation continues to change the demographics of the Kurdish-majority region by manipulating the demographic change through the displacement of its residents, the establishment of settlement complexes with the cover and support of Gulf-Turkish-Palestinian associations with a brotherly orientation. (photos and video attached). Peoples of Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood expressed their denunciation of the siege imposed by the Damascus government on the neighborhood, and said that they would not succumb to these practices, which they described as immoral, stressing that they were experienced in facing the siege. (photos and video attached). A member of the Union of Muslim Scholars urged Syrian citizens not to believe the lies of the occupying Turkish state and called on them to avoid becoming tools in the hands of Turkey, which is employing them in its wars under a religious guise. (photos and video attached). Analysis The Turkish state, in cooperation with the Kurdistan Democratic Party, is preparing to launch new and comprehensive genocidal attacks in Basur (Southern Kurdistan), so what is its plan in Syria and Rojava? How will Rojava respond to the attacks of the occupiers on Basur? Is Rojava just a part of the occupier's attacks on Basur Kurdistan, or is it a strategic area and a target for the Turkish state? How will the plan for a possible attack on Rojava be implemented, and what are the possible developments? Kurdistan Yazidi dignitaries and politicians expressed their rejection of building the separation wall between the Shingal district and Rojava, stressing that its goal is to annihilate the Autonomous Administration in Shingal and to impose the siege on its people and make it a large prison, in implementation of the ambitions of the Turkish occupation state. (photos and video attached). The Secretary-General of the Kurdistan Communist Party, Necmettin Mullah Omar, called on international organizations to intensify activities and events to put pressure on Turkey to force it to lift the isolation of leader Abdullah Ocalan and achieve his physical freedom. (photos and video attached). ANHA Attorney Jim Exum has received the Bruce Bailey Volunteer Attorney of the Year award from Legal Aid of East Tennessee. Officials said Mr. Exum is known for his commitment in assisting individuals entering the court system. With more than 15 years of legal experience, he spends a great deal of time assisting those who cannot afford legal representation. Mr. Exums commitment to providing exceptional service to clients in need was recognized by Legal Aid of East Tennessee at its annual Pro Bono Night where Mr. Exum was presented with the award. Debra House, executive director of Legal Aid of East Tennessee presented the award to Mr. Exum. Mr. Exum said, Individuals coming into the court system do so at some of the most challenging times of their lives. I am honored to make the process easier for them to understand and enjoy helping individuals and families reach a reasonable resolution. I am honored and humbled to be this years recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award that honors the standards set by Bruce Bailey. Michael Val LaRoche, 69, departed this life for the next on Thursday, April 7, 2022, with his wife of almost 33 years, Kelley, by his side. Mike, a band member and director since his high school days and currently director of the First Baptist Church of Fort Oglethorpe, orchestra and Chattanoogas Big Band, Sweet Georgia Sound, plus the Oompah Oktoberfest band The Wurstbrats was known to many of his friends as Mikestro. Mike is remembered with love by many friends and family members. He is especially remembered for his contributions to the music community of the Chattanooga and North Georgia area, often playing for or directing orchestras at various plays and other performances in addition to the two bands he directed. He continued to play with many friends from over the years and even as far back as the high school band at Lakeview High School. He was recently honored as a Marquis Whos Who Top Artist. He also was inducted into the Chattanooga Music Hall of Fame in 2016. Mike survived spinal meningitis and hepatitis as a child, a draft number of 73 out of 95 called in the last draft of the Vietnam War era and subsequent service in the U.S. Air Force, where he attained the rank of Sergeant, throat cancer and radiation and chemotherapy in 2008, and the Ringgold Tornado in 2011. In the past few weeks, long term effects of the radiation finally proved too much to fight, but he expressed that he was thankful that it had given him thirteen more years to live. Mike was known for his strong opinions, but even more he was known for his gift of encouraging others. Younger musicians and performers have told of him coming to their performances, giving them positive feedback, and offering to help them in many ways. Many of his older church members have expressed deep appreciation for the music he helped make. He would often give batons to the younger kids in the audience at the performances of Sweet Georgia Sound, letting them help direct. He also took an interest in many high school and college students who played in the orchestra with him at church or acted in local productions he was involved with. Mike had many friends on social media from all over the world, and spent much time encouraging them and being a force for good rather than division. He even wished happy birthday the other day to all he had missed while in the hospital. He had kept up recently with former work friends from Ukraine as they escaped the terror there. Mike grew up attending West Side Elementary and Lakeview High School (Class of 1971), where he was band captain his senior year and received the Boy of the Year award from the Kiwanis Clubs International. He attended First Baptist Church of Chattanooga, TN growing up. His three younger sisters, Lynn, Tina, and Lee Ann followed him in everything he did, including joining the band and working at Lake Winnepesaukah. He graduated from Dalton Junior College in June 1987 with a degree in Business Computer Programming and was very proud of the quality education he got from our local community college. Mike was retired from Shaw Industries, where he worked as a systems analyst. Before that, he worked at Cigna, Olan Mills, Maytag, and Suntrust Bank. More than his day job, though, Mike took great pleasure in his side hustles playing in and directing bands. The words of the great philosopher Willie Nelson seem written especially for Mike: The life I love is making music with my friends. Although Mike and Kelley never had children of their own, he enjoyed his niece and two nephews, Hannah, Noah, and Daniel. He was thrilled with his great-niece, Everly. He and Kelley enjoyed traveling together. Mike is survived by his wife, Kelley DeBerry LaRoche, his mother, Mary Smith LaRoche, his three sisters, Lynn Whittenburg (Ed), Tina Narron (Dan), and Lee Ann LaRoche, sister-in-law Denise DeBerry Reedus (Paul), niece Hannah Whittenburg Chastain (Colt), nephews Noah Whittenburg (Katie) and Daniel Whittenburg, great-niece Everly Rose Chastain, as well as his devoted cats Jesse and Dexter Morgan. He was preceded in death by his father, Benjamin Teed LaRoche. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 13, at Heritage Funeral Home on Battlefield Parkway, Fort Oglethorpe. The funeral will be held on Thursday, April 14, at 11:30 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Fort Oglethorpe with visitation for an hour before the ceremony. Graveside service with military honors will be at Chattanooga National Cemetery at 1 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the music ministry of First Baptist Church of Fort Oglethorpe or the Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe band program. A Trion, Ga., man has been sentenced to serve 51 months in federal prison after pleading guilty in a child sex case. Eric Daniel Lewis appeared before Judge Charles Atchley in Chattanooga. Prosecutors said in March 2021 Lewis contacted a person on Facebook believing they were a minor male. In fact, the online minor was an undercover FBI agent. The two began online chats. Lewis was told that the minor was 14, though the age of 16 had been listed in an online profile. Prosecutors said, "The conversation quickly turned to a sexual nature and the defendant immediately made it clear that he was interested in meeting the minor to engage in illicit sexual contact." It was arranged that Lewis and the minor would meet in a park in Chattanooga. Lewis drove from his home in North Georgia on May 6, 2021, to meet the minor at the park. Lewis, who was 37 at the time of his arrest, left after he saw he was about to be approached. Later that day agents went to his work place. Lewis admitted one of his reasons for going to Chattanooga was to have sexual contact with the minor. He will be on supervised release for five years after completing his time in prison. TL; DR: A Royal Runaway Romance airs Saturday, April 9 at 8 p.m. ET on Hallmark Channel. Philippa Northeast and Brant Daugherty star. The movie is about a princess who falls for her bodyguard on a road trip across the U.S. Philippa Northeast as Princess Amelia and Brant Daugherty as Grady in A Royal Runaway Romance | 2022 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Kailey Schwerman RELATED: Sister Swap: Ashley Williams Has a Special Connection to the Actor Who Plays Her Mom in the Hallmark Movies A princess on the run falls for her bodyguard in Hallmark Channels newest rom-com. A Royal Runaway Romance airs Saturday, April 9, and stars Philippa Northeast and Brant Daugherty. A Royal Runaway Romance premieres Saturday, April 9 A Royal Runaway Romance premieres Saturday, April 9 at 8 p.m. ET on Hallmark Channel. Queen Ava of Bundbury plans to step down from the throne in one year and let her daughter, Princess Amelia, take her place as monarch. But theres a hitch. Amelia has fallen hard for Wes, the American artist hired to paint her royal portrait. Her mother doesnt approve of the match, but Amelia devises a scheme that will allow her to see Wes again. The princess proposes that she visit her uncle Andreas in Beverly Hills for his birthday. Unfortunately, Wes lives in Chicago and cant make it to California. Amelia asks her uncle to let her borrow his car to drive to Chicago. He agrees, but on one condition: His bodyguard Grady has to accompany her. On their cross-country road trip, Amelia and Grady get to know each other better. In the process, they discover they may have more in common than they thought. The movie stars Philippa Northeast and Brant Daugherty Philippa Northeast plays Princess Amelia in A Royal Runaway Romance. Shes an Australian actor who has also appeared in the long-running soap opera Home and Away. Brant Daugherty plays Amelias bodyguard Grady. Hes appeared in several other Hallmark movies, including The Bakers Son and Mingle All the Way. Daugherty also played Noel Kahn in Pretty Little Liars and Sawyer in Fifty Shades Freed. Sara Jane Redmond plays Amelias mother Ava and Vincent Gale is her uncle Andreas. Andre Anthony, who recently starred in the Lifetime movie Secrets of a Marines Wife, plays Wes. Other cast includes Khamisa Wilsher, Andre Anthony, Catherine Barroll, and Robert Wisden. How to watch A Royal Runaway Romance Sarah Jane Redmond as Queen Ava in A Royal Runaway Romance | Credit: 2022 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Kailey Schwerman A Royal Runaway Romance will air live on Hallmark Channel. If you dont have cable, there are still several ways to stream the new movie. Hallmark is included in the channel lineup for several live TV streaming services. At $6.99 per month Frndly TV, is the cheapest option. You can also stream Hallmark Channel with Sling TV, YouTube TV, and Philo. Check out Showbiz Cheat Sheet on Facebook! RELATED: Kevin McGarry Reveals How His Character in The Wedding Veil Is Different From Nathan on When Calls the Heart Captain Lee Rosbach from Below Deck posted a shirtless photo showing off his ripped abs and toned physique. In the past, Rosbach has talked about how dedicated he is to health and fitness and his hard work is clearly paying off. In the thirst trap photo, Rosbachs rocking a pair of swim trunks and wearing a dive mask on his head. Hes holding a speargun and a pair of flippers, ready to hit the water. Time to hunt for dinner, fish or bugs, not picky. Love the water, on top or down below, he captioned the photo Rosbach shared on Instagram. Below Deck fans and friends went wild. Below Deck fans and friends react to the hot photo Amongst his crew, Ashling Lorger, Connie Arias, and Kelley Johnson commented. Johnson couldnt help but tease him. You should have let me mist you that day. Give you a little shimmer to finish off the look, he joked in the thread. Miss you cap! Captain Lee Rosbach|Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank Lindsay Hubbard from Bravos Summer House added, We might need to do an April MANness.. and tagged Bravo fan account Two Judgey Girls who host a Bravo Hot Hall of Fame Bracket every March. Kasey Cohen from Below Deck Mediterranean shared, The STUD on LAND and SEA. Captain Lee reveals his health and fitness routines Rosbach said hes always hit the gym and spent time as an amateur boxer. Ive always been in pretty good shape, he told GQ. Ive been a gym rat my whole life. I was an amateur boxer for two years in my early 20s. I promised myself Id fight until I lost, which happened at the state finals in Michigan. Guy really rung my bell. I lost TKO. When hes not on charter hes probably working out. Im usually at the gym for two hours, he said. Ill do a little something to get my heart going, then Ill start with weight machines. I do a lot of repetitions without really heavy weights. On the bench press, Ill do 180 pounds, but Ill do three sets of 15 at that weight. Ill switch it up every couple of weeks so that my muscles dont remember the same routine. I do the StairMaster, he added, which hes sometimes seen using on Below Deck. Thats the only one you cant cheat on. I hate it with a passion. I call it vulgar, obscene names. We have this love-hate thing going on. And Ill do anywhere from 300 to 1200 crunches a day. If Im doing just 300, Ill add 100 pounds to that, because Im not getting the repetitions in. Captain Lee also keeps close track of what he eats Another hot captain, Captain Jason Chambers from Below Deck Down Under told Showbiz Cheat Sheet he stays lean by avoiding the snack cabinet on charter. Rosbach said that steering clear of the rich, decadent food is tough. Pasta is my weak spot, he admitted. God, I love it. If Im having a cheat day, Im going straight for a big old plate of pasta. I mostly try to avoid large amounts of anything. And just like that, 2022 is here and the season is more than half way through. So much to unpack this week. #belowdeck #belowdeckbravo #captainslog #captlee https://t.co/4ovamXu9Fm pic.twitter.com/1LGVartJNE Captain Lee (@capthlr) January 4, 2022 So what does he eat? Although hes often seen with his signature bowl of Cheerios on Below Deck, he usually has a protein shake in the morning. I add 50 grams of protein, usually just whey, plus a banana, two cups of blueberries, two cups of strawberries, and two cups of spinach, he said. Ill have that around nine, and itll carry me through until the early afternoon. RELATED: Chef Marcos From Below Deck Sailing Yacht Worked Like Crazy on No Sleep Jamie Sayed Exclusive Interview George Harrison didnt care what anyone thought of his music. It was great when fans liked it. However, George made music because he wanted to, not because fans or record companies demanded it. When George went in to record All Things Must Pass, he wanted to prove to himself that he could make a successful album. George wanted it to be perfect and had it all mapped out before stepping foot in a recording studio. Although, it didnt exactly turn out as perfect as George imagined. Later, George confessed he wasnt too happy with the reverb producer, Phil Spector added. George Harrison and Phil Spector | GAB Archive/Redferns George Harrisons son, Dhani, said George hated the reverb Phil Spector added to All Things Must Pass Over the lockdown, Georges widow, Olivia, their only son, Dhani, and Grammy award-winning producer, Paul Hicks worked on remastering All Things Must Pass for its 50th-anniversary edition. One of the hardest things about the project was respecting the originals while toning down Spectors reverb, which he used in most productions. However, George hated the reverb Spector added. It was one of his biggest complaints about the album. Rolling Stone wrote that the album has been subtly remixed both to bring added sonic clarity to Spectors lovingly dense and echo-heavy arrangements and to adhere to Harrisons own wishes before his death in 2001. He hated the reverb, Dhani said. He said this to me a million times: God, that reverb!' Klaus Voormann, bassist and one of The Beatles earliest friends from Hamburg, Germany, played on the album and recalled George making similar comments about the multiple overdubs. I remember him saying, Its too much,' Voormann said. When we did Wah-Wah, one of the first songs we recorded, I was knocked out, he continued. I thought, This is incredible what Phil did. It sounds like glass in one way and really hard in another. And George didnt like it. It was not the way he wanted the direction of the album to go. But then he started liking it. However, that careful balance, fulfilling Georges wishes while respecting Spectors originals, proved more difficult than either Dhani or Hicks imagined. RELATED: John Lennon Said George Harrison Looked Like an Asthmatic Leon Russell on the Cover of All Things Must Pass Georges wishes concerning Spectors reverb proved difficult Hicks carefully enhanced All Things Must Pass by way of a higher-resolution transfer that wasnt technically possible at the time of previous reissues, Rolling Stone added. Its a technique called ultra-remastering, which is trying to give it the maximum separation, Dhani said. So theres more low-end, more clarity. It wasnt easy; there was a lot of trial and error, and Georges wishes regarding Spectors reverb proved harder than anticipated. There are songs like Wah-Wah with the vocals burned into the reverb, Dhani explained. If you start taking the reverb off everything, it doesnt feel like an album. Theres only a certain amount you can do with the limits of taste. It was impossible to de-Spectorizing songs like Apple Scruffs, an acoustic. Hicks said, If you take out the delay, it sounds like a demo. After some time, the pair found a good balance that would have pleased George. Both Georges voice and the instruments sound more upfront in the newly remastered edition than Spectors originals. You want to be respectful of the original, Hicks said. Dhani and I hate the expression de-Spectorizing. Thats not the point of this project. Were not trying to reinvent the wheel, Dhani said. But these mixes have to be able to stand up alongside contemporary music and with headphones. The original mixes sound flimsy on a playlist. These mixes will give this album so much more longevity with a younger generation. Now it will be easier to sit down and listen to it. This album now sounds like it was just recorded yesterday. RELATED: Concert for George Showed Dave Grohl That Hed Been Mourning Kurt Cobain Through Music Dhani and Hicks didnt ask the producer for his approval to remaster the album Despite Spectors interesting method, Voormann said it was easy working with him. Everyone says Phil was crazy, but he wasnt crazy at all, the bassist said. He was very easy to work with. He was listening close to what people were playing. Whenever I played something, I would say, Is this OK? and hed say, Yeah, youre fine, youre fine.' On the other hand, George said Spector hardly did any work. He was like a giant person inside this frail, little body, George later said. I had a lot of laughs with Phil and a lot of good times. But I had a lot of bad times as well. Most of the stuff I did with Phil, I ended up doing about 80 percent of the work myself. The rest of the time I was trying to get him into hospital or out of hospital. Hed be breaking his arm and, you know, various other things. Remastering Georges famous album did not require Spectors approval. Absolutely not, Dhani said. So we never asked. The most important part was protecting Georges music. Ive never let anything bad happen to my dads music. Ive got to guard all this stuff and make sure only the highest-quality product comes out. Ill never scrape the barrel. Thats a promise I made to myself after he passed away. Dhani, Olivia, and Hicks hard work on All Things Must Pass: 50th Anniversary Edition has paid off. The project earned them a Grammy at the 2022 Grammy Awards. However, they didnt do it for recognition; they did it for George and his legacy. RELATED: Dave Grohl Had No Idea Who George Harrisons Son Was When They First Met Over the past few years, actor Idris Elba has been filling his filmography with notable roles that have enjoyed success. But initially, Elba was disappointed with how his career developed after starring in Mandela: The Long Walk to Freedom. Starring in the critically acclaimed biopic, Elba imagined his career going down a different path. Idris Elba had reservations about playing Nelson Mandela Idris Elba | Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images Initially, The Suicide Squad star was hesitant in putting himself in the shoes of the iconic revolutionary. In an interview with USA Today, Elba explained where that hesitance came from. I had a lot of reservations about it. Whoever plays Mandela has to do such a great job. Hes a real man. Its a lot of responsibility hes a living legend, Elba said. And I dont look like him. What are you saying, that all black people look the same? But after taking on the role, he received much critical acclaim for his performance. So much so that even his own co-star Naomi Harris felt he embodied the late icon. Both emotionally and physically. By the end of the movie, he really does look like him. He totally captured him. I went to the apartheid museum and I was like, Wow, he got him. Theres a connection there. He really managed to capture his essence and tune into him and transmit him, Harris lauded. The role was especially important to Elba since he looked toward his late father to inspire him for the role. My father passed recently. I based my character in Mandela on my dad. He was the only 70-year-old man I knew. Watching the way my dad got out of chairs was my basis for Mandela. Watching that film with him when he was alive was really surreal. He was so impressed. He (understood) what I was doing for the first time, he shared. Idris Elba was disappointed with his career after starring in Mandela Mandela may have been an important role for Elba. But afterward, it didnt help attract the roles Elba was hoping it would. Instead, Elba was being offered the kind of parts that couldve gone to any actor. You know, Id just played this iconic human being, and the scripts I got afterward were sort ofdisappointing, Elba told Details (via Contact Music) Look, I know that I work a lot, but Id prefer to wait sometimes because I dont want to just do rubbish films anymore or characters that anyone can play. How Idris Elba felt about not winning any awards for Mandela Although many had nothing but kind words for Elbas take on Mandela, it wasnt enough to earn any accolades. The Thor star didnt win any awards for his portrayal, but the actor shared it didnt bother him in the least. Well, its perspective, isnt it? Elba told Metro. In South Africa, it was the biggest film and they loved it. It was a very, very emotional time for them and when I go back to South Africa, its sort of hailed as a great performance, thank you very much. To Elba, the reaction from that audience was good enough. I am so pleased for that and actually that means a lot more to me than accolades in Hollywood, if Im to be honest. Here is someone that is real to a lot of people and they actually really enjoyed the film, so I kind of did get due where it matters most, he continued. RELATED: Idris Elba Dropped Major Hints About Replacing Daniel Craig as the Next James Bond Up until 2004, Alex Trebek and the staff at Jeopardy! had never seen a contestant like Ken Jennings. He was seemingly unbeatable. And throughout his 74-day winning streak on the classic answer-and-question program, he had the host worried about whether viewers would be turned off by such a dominant player. Jeopardy!s Alex Trebek in 2004 with 74-game-winning champion Ken Jennings | Jeopardy Productions via Getty Images Trebek said he got to know Jennings throughout his run on the show In his 2020 memoir, The Answer Is . . .Reflections on My Life, Trebek opened up about having Jennings on the program for such a long time. He and Jennings never spoke off the shows set at that time; it was against show regulations. Still, the two saw one another on a near-daily basis. If youve got somebody with you on the show for 16 weeks and you are interacting during the conversation segments, that all mounts up, the host, who died in November of 2020, wrote. Thats 37 hours Ken and I spent together. We got to know each other and feel comfortable with each other. Trebek, who quipped in the book that Jennings long stay was getting to be The Ken and Alex Show, added that late-night television hosts saw the humor in it as well: [David] Letterman joked about us taking out a license and moving to Massachusetts and getting married. The Jeopardy! host worried that viewers wouldnt want to watch a long-running contestant Current viewers of the program are used to buzzer beaters such as Matt Amodio and Amy Schneider with lengthy winning streaks. But in 2004 the shows rule limiting players to five wins had just been lifted the previous year. Its safe to say Jeopardy!s producers and Trebek were not prepared for Jennings. Ken had taped around 40 shows before any of them aired, the quizmaster continued. We werent 100 percent sure people were going to like watching a player be so dominant. Good God, why are we watching this guy? So that was sort of an unknown quantity. Jennings, as it turned out, caused an impressive bump in the shows ratings. When he finally lost, Trebek wrote, there was definitely a sadness. I had tears in my eyes. It just all happened so quickly. I remember thinking, Kens gone. My buddy. My pal.' Trebeks emotion at Jennings loss touched the G.O.A.T. player During his time on the program, Jennings explained in his 2006 book Brainiac, the very professional Trebek was all business in his dealings with him. His defeat revealed to him how much the host really cared. Congratulations, Ken, he says, offering one final handshake, Jennings recalled. Were going to miss you around here. I cant believe what Im seeing: the normally sure-voiced Trebek seems to have a frog in his throat and his eyes are even a little moist. What do you know. All those months, the old guy did like me after all. Im genuinely touched. RELATED: Jeopardy!: Mayim Bialik Said She Stopped Reading Comments That Compared Her Hosting Style With Ken Jennings Rapper and podcast host Joe Budden angered BTS fans this week over offensive remarks made during The Joe Budden Podcast. In the episode titled We Dont Lose, the rapper slammed BTS while discussing the 64th Annual Grammy Awards. His comments included mislabeling the seven-member Korean pop group as Chinese. Buddens rant comes days after hip-hop producer Mike Dean attacked the group in a series of tweets. Joe Budden | lya S. Savenok via Getty Images Joe Budden says he hates BTS In a profanity-laced conversation during his Apr. 6 podcast, Joe Budden said he hated BTS You can get mad at me, but I hate them BTS n****s. Co-hosts Ice and Ish asked him why to which Budden responded, Do I need a reason? I hate them n****s. I dont have to divulge my reason to you. I just hate them n****s. Budden ranted, I dont wanna hear that s***, I dont wanna see them dance moves, I dont wanna see you come down in the sky in a little umbrella. I dont wanna see your four f***ing (indecipherable) come from the audience and then link up like Voltron and do all of the 98 Degrees moves. I dont wanna see none of this s***. He was referring to BTS Grammy Awards performance, where they did intricate choreography while singing their hit song Butter. A crowd of their peers gave them a standing ovation when they finished. Budden was not invited to the ceremony. Cuz i dont like assembly belt pop https://t.co/Syt80HoBpB Joe Budden (@JoeBudden) April 6, 2022 Joe Budden mislabels the K-pop group as Chinese After explaining that he hates BTS for no reason, Budden then made xenophobic comments mislabeling the group. I know they big, I know its China, I dont wanna see it, Co-host Parks informed him that theyre actually from South Korea. I dont want to see Korean-Sync, Budden replied, laughing at his own joke. Why do you all think that because a group is big, because an act is big, that you cant hate them? Ice and Ish seemed uncomfortable with the remarks chiming in that its disgusting not to like someone without reason. Budden has not apologized for the comments and seems happy with the attention. When a fan asked him why hes trending on Twitter, he said, cause I dont like assembly belt pop. BTS fans think he is clearly a racist and should be ashamed of himself ARMY, the BTS fandom has not stayed silent since the Apr. 6 podcast was released. Some begged other fans not to give him the attention he so desperately craves, while others were upset and hurt by his statements. On a Reddit thread, one fan wrote, never heard of this nobody before, but he is clearly a racist. Another person asked, Does he hate them because theyre Asian?? A boyband??? Or a boyband that wears makeup??? People expressed gratitude toward Parks, Ice and Ish, Im glad the other men on the podcast called him out and corrected him. Fans also left their opinions under a Billboard News YouTube video, HATE is a very strong word, he should be ashamed of himself. Another fan wrote, theres never a reason for racism but the fact that he didnt even stop after getting called out is unbelievable. One ARMY shared, He needs to love himself. Thats what he needs to do. Hes been living in hatred and toxicity for too long, which seems to be the only thing he can spew out without any reasons. What a sad little human being. So much has been deprived. Someone go hug him! This isnt the first time Budden has garnered attention for negative behavior. He fired his previous podcast co-host on-air in an ugly blowup and faced domestic abuse allegations from his former girlfriend and Love & Hip Hop castmate, Tahiry Jose. BTS has not commented on the remarks. Theyre currently playing four sold-out shows at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV. How to get help: In the U.S., call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788. RELATED: Fans React to Joe Budden Firing His Podcast Co-Host Prince Harry and Meghan Markle went public as a couple in late 2016. The pair has since married and have two children together. However, some onlookers are not very confident in their marriage. In fact, a royal biographer claims that the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs marriage is a disaster because the two of them wind each other up. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry | Chris Jackson Pool/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been married since 2018 Harry and Meghan got married in May 2018. The couple had a star-studded wedding event at Windsor Castle that was watched by millions of people all over the world. In May 2019, Harry and Meghan welcomed their first child, a son named Archie. Several months later, the Sussexes moved to the United States, citing a desire for independence from the royal family. While living in California, Harry and Meghan welcomed a daughter named Lilibet into their family in June 2021. Later that year, makeup artist Daniel Martin, who is friendly with the couple, told People, They are loving life as a family of four. Theyve struck a rhythm as a foursome. Prince Harry and Meghan Markles marriage is a disaster, biographer claims RELATED: Prince Harry Made 1 Drastic Move Because He Reportedly Feared Meghan Markle Would Leave Him In the past few years, Harry has been involved in numerous legal battles with the media. The prince has accused some news outlets of publishing false information about him and defaming his image. According to royal biographer Tina Brown, Harrys lawsuits say a lot about his marriage with Meghan. Harry decided to absolutely not capitulate to any dialogue with the press who he believes killed his mother, ruined his life and ruined Meghans life, Brown said (via The Telegraph). Thats his view. And hes not entirely wrong. Brown continued, But doing battle with the British media is a lost cause. And, unfortunately, Meghan is as combative about it as he is. William and Kate calm each other down a lot; their marriage works very well in that way. In the Sussex marriage, they wind each other up and its Us Against the World, and thats a disaster. Another author said the marriage works because Meghan Markle makes decisions for Prince Harry Harry + Meghan made a surprise appearance during Spotify's Stream On event https://t.co/L1F4WOXLcN HELLO! Canada (@HelloCanada) February 22, 2021 However, other royal experts have a different view of the Sussexes relationship. According to author Tom Quinn, Harry and Meghan have a dynamic similar to that of Queen Elizabeths uncle, King Edward VIII, and his wife, Wallis Simpson. Mrs Simpson was a strong, dominant woman who gave Edward VIII everything his mother hadnt given him, he was vulnerable just as Harry is vulnerable, Quinn said, according to Express. If a man who is not very decisive meets a very decisive woman or the other way around they often get on very well because one makes the decisions and the other one goes along with it. Quinn added, Meghan and Harry work because Harry is quite a vulnerable person who only lived in this gilded cage, hes not very worldly. Meghan makes things happen, Meghan makes the decisions. RELATED: Meghan Markle Gave Prince Harry a Not So Pleasant Look at the NAACP Image Awards, Body Language Guru Says Damascus government checkpoints have imposed a siege on the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods in the city of Aleppo for nearly three years, preventing the basic materials into the two neighborhoods. The long-term siege imposed by the Damascus government has caused the loss of flour in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods, which threatens to cause a humanitarian catastrophe that threatens the lives of 200 thousand people. In this regard, our agency conducted several meetings with the residents of the neighborhood to talk about the issue. We are Syrian Citizen Yasmine Edelbi of the Arab component, is living in the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, points out that the siege imposed on the neighborhood causes them many problems in securing their living necessities. She pointed out that it is not the birth of today or yesterday, but rather has been going on for 3 years by the Damascus government. Yasmine described the residents of Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood as the resistant people and said that during the Turkish occupation's attacks on the neighborhood in 2016, the people withstood the mercenaries who imposed the siege, fired missiles and committed war crimes. "We withstood all challenges and the result, we won." She continued in this context, "After the mercenary were defeated, the government imposed a siege on us three years ago. There is no flour, no vegetables, not even fuel in the neighborhood. We are Syrians and we have the right to demand that the government be held accountable for these actions it is committing against us." 'We will not give in' As for Fairouz Haider, of the Kurdish component, she said that the resistance is the best response to the practices of the Damascus government, which is now fighting the people for their livelihood. Fayrouz also noted that cutting flour and bread will not cause their resolve to collapse, and indicated that they are now alert to those policies that will not work with the people of Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood. She recalls a number of scenes that remained in her mind during the attacks on Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, saying, "Dozens of mercenary battalions attacked us and we did not give in. During those attacks and the imposition of the siege, the flour was cut off and everything, even the water, did not yield, and we will not acquiesce today in front of these practices." Fairouz also confirms that the organization that the people of the neighborhood showed enabled them to support the forces defending the neighborhood and to confront the obstacles. 200 thousand people one hand Meanwhile, citizen Ibrahim Atallah of the Arab component said that they faced darker days than now during the attacks and the siege that was imposed years ago. Ibrahim stressed during his speech that they live within the idea of brotherhood of peoples in every sense of the word, as the Kurds, Arabs and Christians are one hand in the face of these immoral methods. A ANHA The spring 2022 anime season is full of highly anticipated returns, but one new series is drawing attention ahead of its release date: Spy x Family. Based on the manga series by Tatsuya Endo, the show makes its debut on April 9. Where can viewers watch new episodes of Spy x Family, and when exactly do they come out? Spy x Family episodes are coming to Crunchyroll Key art for Spy x Family | Tatsuya Endo/Shueisha RELATED: 7 of the Most Exciting Anime Movies Coming Out in 2022 When Crunchyroll announced its simulcast lineup for spring 2022, the platform revealed new episodes of Spy x Family would stream weekly following their premiere in Japan. According to the animes official website, each installment will air first on TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TV Setouchi, TV Hokkaido, and TVQ Kyushu Broadcasting. The broadcast will begin at 11 p.m. JST every Saturday. Afterward, Crunchyroll will make new episodes available in the following territories: North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, and CIS. The streamer has been hyping up this new release, and it looks to be a highlight of the spring season. What time can viewers expect it on the platform? When do new episodes of Spy x Family come out each week? RELATED: 10 of the Most Anticipated Anime Series Returning in 2022 Following their Japanese broadcast, episodes of Spy x Family will drop on Crunchyroll every Saturday. With new installments of The Rising of the Shield Hero and Kaguya-sama: Love Is War arriving on Wednesdays and Fridays, respectively, Spy x Family will finish the week strong. As for what time fans can expect new episodes on the platform, Crunchyroll revealed theyll arrive at 8:30 a.m. PST. Heres what that translates to in other time zones: CST: 10:30 a.m. EST: 11:30 a.m. GMT: 3:30 p.m. CEST: 5:30 p.m. AEST: 1:30 a.m. Those hoping to access the weekly releases will need a premium Crunchyroll subscription to do so. However, Spy x Family is part of the companys spring sampler. That means non-subscribers can enjoy the first three installments free with ads beginning a week after they premiere and running all the way up to May 31. What to expect from the anime adaptation of Tatsuya Endos manga So, what can viewers expect when the initial episodes of Spy x Family arrive? The anime promises to follow Tatsuya Endos manga closely, telling the tale of a spy who adopts a fake family. Little does he know his new wife and daughter have secrets of their own. According to the synopsis, hell wind up living with a telepath and an assassin: Twilight takes on the identity of psychiatrist Loid Forger and starts looking for family members. But Anya, the daughter he adopts, turns out to have the ability to read peoples minds, while his wife, Yor, is an assassin! With it being in each of their own interests to keep these facts hidden, they start living together while concealing their true identities from one another. That sounds like a recipe for disaster or for an entertaining story. The tension alone is enough to warrant checking this series out. And viewers will finally be able to do so when it premieres on April 9. RELATED: 10 of the Most Anticipated New Anime Coming Out in 2022 Another week, another WeCrashed episode recap. In the latest installment of the Apple TV+ original series, WeCrashed Season 1 Episode 6: Fortitude, the WeWork board questions Adam Neumanns (Jared Leto) leadership. At the same time, Rebekah Neumann (Anne Hathaway) embarks on a new project. [Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers from WeCrashed Season 1 Episode 6: Fortitude] WeCrashed Season 1 Episode 6 recap: The board begins to doubt Adam Neumanns ability to be a capable CEO Jared Leto | Apple TV+ WeCrashed Season 1 Episode 6: Fortitude, which premiered on April 8, 2022, according to Apple TV+, picks up right where the April 1 episode left off. Adam and Rebekah are sleeping in the WeWork offices after a night of partying following the Vanity Fair photo shoot. They manifest the sun and head to Corte Madera, California, leaving WeWorks co-founder, Miguel McKelvey (Kyle Marvin), to run the board meeting alone. While Adams surfing and Rebekahs dreaming, they get a visit from Bruce Dunlevie (Anthony Edwards). The investor tells Adam the board is turning on him. They want to take WeWork public. Moments after Bruce says there could be trouble brewing with the board, Rebekah informs Adam they must return to New York. Why? Because their daughter is falling behind in school. So they return and Adam is back in the office. But there is a new face. Cameron Lautner (O-T Fagbenle) is there on behalf of Benchmark to take a closer look at the company as they prepare for an IPO. Adam doesnt like it. He attempts to overwhelm Cameron with paperwork. It doesnt work because Cameron brought a team along with him to pore over WeWork financials going back a decade. Later, after Cameron and his team have combed through the documents twice, he recommends the board remove Adam as CEO. He hasnt grown up, he says. The board votes and Adam retains his position. Youre not a golden goose. You just have fortitude, Bruce tells Adam following the vote. Rebekah Neumann starts a WeGrow school Anne Hathaway and Kyle Marvin | Apple TV+ Rebekah and Adam create a school when they realize theyre not happy sending their daughter to any nearby ones. Its a massive undertaking, and one Rebekah doesnt stop despite Adams insistence. Much to Camerons dismay, she spends millions outfitting the school. As Rebekah tells it, the schools mission is to unleash every persons superpower and expand happiness. Their teachers? Dalai Lama and Mother Nature. On opening day, Adam arrives late wearing a bathrobe. He says a few words to the students, including a line about fighting for what you have, before telling Rebekah he built WeWork, not them. Masa ends his involvement in Project Fortitude Jared Leto and Kim Eui-sung | Apple TV+ While Cameron looks over WeWorks finances, Adam discretely works on a project of his own. He tells Masayoshi Masa Son (Kim Eui-sung), the man who invested heavily in WeWork during the March 25 episode, he wants to buy out the investors. We only answer to each other, he says. We show them what crazy really looks like. Masas response? I think you have fortitude. So Adam forges ahead with plans for Project Fortitude. He and Masa go back and forth in negotiations. Everything comes to a head when Adam is late for an important meeting. This time, he doesnt win them over with his pitch. Masa decides hes done with Project Fortitude and tells Adam so. Upon getting the news, Adam cries in Rebekahs arms. A new episode of WeCrashed starts streaming every Friday on Apple TV+. RELATED: WeCrashed Season 1 Episode 3 Recap: Summer Camp Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, second from right, kisses his wife Trudi, after they were presented a blanket in a ceremony after Inslee signed a bill that creates a first-in-the-nation statewide alert system for missing Indigenous people particularly women, Thursday, March 31, 2022, in Quil Ceda Village, near Marysville, Wash., north of Seattle. The law creates a system similar to Amber Alerts, which are used for missing children in many states. 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 Egyptian Coptic priest stabbed to death; suspect apprehended A knife-wielding man in Egypt stabbed a Coptic Orthodox priest several times in the neck, which led to his death. The countrys interior ministry says the accused, a 60-year-old man, has been arrested. Arsanios Wadeed, an archpriest of the Church of the Virgin Mary and Mar Bolous in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, was stabbed Thursday while he was walking in the Corniche area, a popular seaside promenade, Egypt Independent reported. Egypts Ministry of Interior announced Friday that the suspect had been arrested. The security services of the Alexandria Security Directorate were able to arrest a 60-year-old man who assaulted a Christian cleric while walking on the Corniche in the Sidi Bishr area of Alexandria using a knife he possessed, it said in a statement, adding that the priest died while being treated in a hospital. The accused had not been identified as of early Saturday, and the motive of the stabbing also remained unclear. The Coptic Church posted photos on social media showing the priests funeral at the Saint Marks Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria Friday, according to ABC News, which said a Bible was placed on the priests chest and a cross around his neck. While many details about the incident remain unclear, it does highlight the vulnerability that many Egyptian Christians face, particularly during the religious holidays of Ramadan and Easter, Jeff King, president of the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern, said in a statement. It is normal for Christians to face increased persecution during these seasons, and such an incident could inspire further acts of extremism, he warned. King added, Unfortunately, within the Egyptian context, it is common for the attacker to be accused of having a mental illness rather than addressing underlying extremist motivations. This trend is not only a disservice to authentic religious freedom, but also increases the marginalization of those with genuine disabilities. The Copts, who make up about 10% of Egypts population, are the descendants of a long line of ancient Egyptians who later converted to Christianity in the early first century, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. According to the persecution watchdog group Open Doors USA, Egypt is among the 20 worst persecutors of Christians in the world. Incidents of Christian persecution in Egypt vary from Christian women being harassed while walking in the street to Christian communities being driven out of their homes by extremist mobs, the group says on its website, adding that Christians are typically treated as second-class citizens. Egypts government speaks positively about the Egyptian Christian community, but the lack of serious law enforcement and the unwillingness of local authorities to protect Christians leave them vulnerable to all kinds of attacks, especially in Upper Egypt, it explains. Due to the dictatorial nature of the regime, neither church leaders nor other Christians are in a position to speak out against these practices. Churches and Christian nongovernmental organizations are restricted in their ability to build new churches or run social services, it adds. The difficulties come both from state restrictions, as well as from communal hostility and mob violence. Indonesia: Christian YouTuber sentenced to 10 years in prison for posting videos critical of Islam An Indonesian Christian YouTuber has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for posting a video that purportedly offended people across the Muslim-majority country. Muhammad Kace, a former Muslim cleric who converted to Christianity in 2014 and had been uploading videos to YouTube criticizing his former faith, was sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Ciamis District Court in West Java this week. On the day of his sentencing, Muslims surrounded the court demanding a harsher prosecution of the convert, according to the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern. Kace was arrested in Bali last August after he uploaded a sermon video in which he allegedly insulted the Islamic prophet Muhammad. According to UCA News, Muslim groups filed several complaints about that video in which he said: Muhammad is unknown by God and is only known by his followers because he is surrounded by devils. When prosecutors demanded a 10-year jail term for him, Bonar Tigor Naipospos, deputy chairman of the Jakarta-based rights group Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace, noted that Muhammad Yahya Waloni, a Muslim convert from Christianity, was recently convicted of a similar offense against Christians but he received only five months. Police allege that Kace uploaded at least 400 videos insulting Islam. And he did it intentionally to stir public unrest, chief prosecutor Syahnan Tanjung was quoted as telling the court. This is outrageous, so it warrants a stiff sentence, he said. In jail, Kace was beaten and tortured by a police official named Napoleon Bonaparte, who was detained in the same prison due to a corruption case, ICC said, adding that Bonaparte forced Kace to eat his excrement. Kaces lawyer, Martin Lucas Simanjuntak, has said his client will appeal the sentence. The Indonesian government should promptly repeal the blasphemy law, Andreas Harsono, a senior researcher for Human Rights Watch Indonesia, told ICC. Both Christian preacher Mohammad Kace and Muslim cleric Yahya Waloni need not to stay a single night in prison because of the toxic law. Timothy Carothers, ICCs advocacy manager for Southeast Asia, said: The right to speak ones mind is essential and must be protected. This sort of treatment and punishment under Indonesian law is a shameful reality. As long as Indonesia continues to enforce religious harmony through regulation and prosecution, it will continue to achieve the opposite. The Southeast Asian country is home to the worlds largest Muslim population. Its Constitution is based on the doctrine of Pancasila five principles upholding the nations belief in the one and only God and social justice, humanity, unity and democracy for all. However, there are many extremist groups in Indonesia that oppose Pancasila. Churches often face opposition from groups that attempt to obstruct the construction of non-Muslim houses of worship. Denzel Washington tells TD Jakes advice he gave Will Smith, says prayer was the only answer Over the weekend, Denzel Washington and T.D. Jakes talked in more detail about Washingtons encounter with Will Smith following the now infamous Oscar slap. The 67-year-old Washington was among those who spoke at Bishop T.D. Jakes International Leadership Summit in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Saturday. The minister asked the actor about the March 27 altercation between Smith and comedian Chris Rock, which is being called the slap heard around the world. Smith made headlines last Sunday after slapping Rock across the face at the Academy Awards, an action the Oscar winner has since apologized for. Smith also resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science. The Academy is moving forward with disciplinary proceedings. Smiths 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 on stage, Rock took aim at Pinkett Smith and her condition with a joke. At first, Smith appeared to laugh at the joke, but his wife was visibly uncomfortable. Her husband then walked to Rock and slapped Rock across the face. Washington and others were seen providing counsel to Smith after the altercation as the violent confrontation left their Hollywood peers in shock. While accepting his award that night for best actor, Smith shared a piece of advice Washington gave him following the incident. At your highest moment, be careful. Thats when the devil comes for you, Smith said Washington told him. During a conversation Saturday, Jakes told Washington that it seemed like he stepped in the middle of World War III and acted as a senior statesman trying to calm the situation. Washington responded: Theres a saying: When the devil ignores you, then you know youre doing something wrong. The devil goes, Oh, no, leave him alone. Hes my favorite. Washington, who in recent years has become very outspoken about his Christian faith, said the devil got a hold of things that night at the Oscars. Conversely, when the devil comes at you, maybe its because youre trying to do something right, Washington stated. And for whatever reason, the devil got a hold of that circumstance that night. He refrained from giving Jakes the details about the conversation he had with Smith at that moment, but he made sure not to criticize Smith for his actions. There but for the grace of God go any of us. Who are we to condemn? Washington maintained. I dont know all the ins and outs of the situation, but I know the only solution was prayer. Later in the conversation, Washington said that he felt led to approach Smith following the incident, according to The Hollywood Reporter. I couldnt have sat in my seat. No way I could have sat in my seat, he said. Thats just not who I am. A form of reparations: 4 reactions to Ketanji Brown Jackson's Supreme Court confirmation Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has become the first African American woman to be confirmed by the Senate to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court. In a vote of 53-47 on Thursday, largely falling along political party lines, Jackson was approved to fill the seat that will be vacated this summer when Justice Stephen Breyer retires. The forthcoming replacement of Breyer with Jackson will have no impact on the ideological balance of the court, which will still consist of six justices appointed by Republican presidents and three justices appointed by Democrat presidents. In February, President Joe Biden nominated Jackson, who serves as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, to fill the impending vacancy caused by the forthcoming retirement of Breyer, the courts longest-serving Democrat-appointed justice. His nomination of Jackson follows a promise on the campaign trail to nominate a female minority to the Supreme Court if given the opportunity to do so. A myriad of reactions have poured in about the confirmation, with many expressing happiness over an African American woman achieving a historic milestone while others express ongoing concern over her judicial philosophy. Here are four reactions to the Senate confirming Jackson. They include celebrations over the historic milestone to concerns over judicial activism. 1 2 3 4 5 Next China's L-15 Falcon Light fighter jets were acquired to replace the MiG-23 of the Ethiopian Air Force of its aging fighter fleet. More nations are opting for Chinese-made fighters that are getting more attention in defense expos showcasing cheaper and more capable military hardware than the US. These planes offer technology that is perfect for the security concerns of nations that are not that prosperous. China's L-15 Falcon Light Combat Aircraft The Ethiopian Air Force is expected to become the second export client for China's L-15 light fighter jet after the country's Defense Ministry ordered the plane in 2021, reported View60. Warplanes are expected to replace the country's outdated fleet of MiG-23 variable swept wing third-generation fighters, making up one of the nation's military two squadrons alongside bigger Russian-supplied Su-27 Flanker jets procured in the 1990s, cited Military Today. Plans drawn up for the replacement of the Su-27 have been hinted at modern variants of the same type as top choices. Along with Angola, North Korea, Syria, and Cuba, Ethiopia is one of just five remaining operators of the older and considerably lighter MiG-23, which has been out of production since 1985. The L-15 is a variant of China's JL-10 trainer, and it initially saw service in 2010. This is the most advanced of three current trainer classes, including the JL-8 and JL-9. It is classified as a light trainer with advanced combat characteristics compared to its competitor, capable of Mach 1.4 as the top speed with agile handling. But the Taiwanese Brave Eagle has the same capabilities in combat performance. Read Also: Xi Jinping: 5 Things To Know About China's President China's L-15 Falcon Light Fighter Jet has the advantages of its derivative, the JL-10 trainer; it is getting more from advanced combat and weapons used for it, noted Military History. Integration of a passive electronically scanned array (PESA) radar with a sensing range of over 110 kilometers and the ability to bring jammers for electronic assault missions are also significant enhancements. Falcon Capabilities The Chinese L-15 has two engines but is still considered a light fighter with low operational costs that are better due to its dual engines on combat missions. Its flight effectiveness is equivalent to that of the American F-16 Fighting Falcon, though its speed and endurance are significantly lower. It falls well short of the MiG-23, the world's fastest and highest-flying single-engine fighter. The L-15 has several advantages, the most notable are its modern construction materials and avionics and sensors, which are many decades ahead of the MiG-23, making it ideal for precision attack and air-to-air missions. Speculations that it can use PL-12 air to air missiles that are radar-guided with good attack range and better performance. The PL-12 will outrange both the MiG-29 fighters of neighboring Eritrea and, more important, the Egyptian Air Force's F-16, Mirage 2000, and Rafale fighters that use antiquated AIM-7 and MICA missiles. All of the mentioned fighters, except the Rafale, employ mechanically scanned array radars, which would be much easier to jam and less effective than the mechanically scanned radar of the Chinese light fighter. The conflict between Egypt and Ethiopia over the Grand Renaissance Dam project made the L-15's ability to counter such fighters, adding to the internal dispute with the Tigray uprising in Ethiopia backed by the western powers. China's L-15 Falcon Light Fighter Jet will be a game-changer for the Ethiopian Air Force, especially its characteristics perfect fewer money nations that mean value. Related Article: Chinese Shenyang J-16D Electronic Warfare Plane Joins Combat Exercise; Could It Match the American EA-18G Growler? @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Jen Psaki claims cross-sex hormones, puberty blockers are 'best practice' for gender-confused kids White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki defended giving experimental puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to children and teens suffering from gender dysphoria as a best practice and warned that the federal government would take action against states that ban such practices. Critics of medicalized gender transition and elective surgeries to remove breast tissue and mutilate the genitals of underage youth say these practices are unethical and lead to a lifetime of sterilization and maimed bodies. At a White House press briefing Thursday, Psaki condemned Republican elected officials for what she derided as engaging in a disturbing cynical trend of attacking vulnerable transgender kids for purely partisan, political reasons. Paski specifically singled out Republican lawmakers in Alabama for debating legislation that she claimed would target trans youth with tactics that threatens to put pediatricians in prison if they provide medically necessary, lifesaving healthcare for the kids they serve. Psaki Says Sex Reassignment Surgery, Puberty Blockers for Kids Is Best Practice, States Preventing It Will Be Held Accountable pic.twitter.com/ZmboFDFIYx Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) April 7, 2022 "Just like the extreme government overreach weve seen in Texas, where politicians have sent state officials into the homes of loving parents to investigate them for abuse just to harass and intimidate the LGBTQI+ community todays vote in Alabama will only serve to harm kids," Psaki said. Alabamas lawmakers and other legislators who are contemplating these discriminatory bills have been put on notice by the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services that laws and policies preventing care that healthcare professionals recommend for transgender minors may violate the Constitution and federal law. Though Psaki claimed that every major medical association agrees that gender-affirming healthcare" for gender-confused youth is a "best practice and potentially lifesaving, the American College of Pediatricians maintains that 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. Puberty blockers may actually cause depression and other emotional disturbances related to suicide," the American College of Pediatricians states. "In fact, the package insert for Lupron, the number one prescribed puberty blocker in America, lists emotional instability as a side effect and warns prescribers to Monitor for development or worsening of psychiatric symptoms during treatment. The American College of Pediatricians listed some of the side effects associated with the use of Lupron as a puberty blocker, including: osteoporosis, mood disorders, seizures, cognitive impairment and, when combined with cross-sex hormones, sterility. Side effects associated with cross-sex hormones include an increased risk of heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, blood clots and cancers across their lifespan. In addition to concerns about the side effects of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, testimony from detransitioners who previously underwent treatment seeking to change their gender but now identify with their biological gender has also motivated efforts to ban the procedures for minors. Appearing on 60 Minutes last spring, a group of detransitioners described how undergoing what supporters laud as gender-affirming care made their mental health worse, not better. One of the detransitioners, a male who once identified as female, reported that he had never really been suicidal before until I had my breast augmentation. He recalled that about a week afterward, I wanted to actually kill myself, adding: I had a plan, and I was going to do it but I just kept thinking about my family to stop myself. Another detransitioner, a female who once identified as male, developed a really disturbing sense that, like, a part of my body was missing, almost a ghost limb feeling about being like, theres something that should be there after having an elective mastectomy. Before she took questions from members of the White House Press Corps, Psaki concluded her opening remarks by proclaiming that LGBTQI+ people cant be erased or forced back into any closets and kids across our nation should be allowed to be who they are without the threat that their parents or their doctor could be in prison simply for helping them and loving them. Psaki then vowed that President Biden has committed in both words and actions to fight for all Americans and will not hesitate to hold these states accountable. The "Vulnerable Child Protection Act," the Alabama bill Psaki took issue with during Thursdays press conference, bans state employees as well as employees of school districts from prescribing, dispensing, administering, or otherwise supplying puberty blocking medication to stop or delay normal puberty, performing surgeries that sterilize, performing surgeries that artificially construct tissue with the appearance of genitalia that differs from the individuals biological sex and removing any healthy or non-diseased body part or tissue. The Republican-controlled Alabama House of Representatives approved the measure Thursday after the state Senate voted to approve it earlier this year. The Vulnerable Child Protection Act now sits on Republican Gov. Kay Iveys desk, where it awaits her signature. Arkansas has already passed a law banning the prescription of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for minors over the objection of the states Republican governor. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services has characterized such procedures as child abuse. Last week, a bill banning gender reassignment surgeries for minors became law in Arizona. Mighty Ducks star, recovering addict baptized by Greg Laurie on set of Jesus Revolution A former Disney actor who survived a years-long battle with drug addiction could be ready to give redemption a shot after landing his latest movie role. Shaun Weiss, best known for his role in the 1990s The Mighty Ducks film franchise, is set to make his first on-screen appearance in years in the upcoming Jesus Revolution, a biopic about pastors Chuck Smith and Greg Laurie and the 1970s Jesus movement. But according to Weiss, this movie shoot was unlike any other he had experienced. Weiss told The Christian Post he was filming on location Thursday at Pirates Cove in Corona del Mar, California, recreating the scene where thousands of hippies were baptized in the 1970s, when Laurie approached him in an apparent divine appointment. He came up to me and decided to start a relationship with me, and I ended up getting baptized in front of the whole movie production, said Weiss. It was a very nice process, it was really wonderful. It really wasnt anything I had been planning on or had thought about, but it made sense the whole time, he added. The 43-year-old Weiss first hinted at the role in an Instagram post in which he thanked faith-based filmmaker John Erwin and Lionsgate Films for the opportunity. According to Weiss, it all started when somebody at Lionsgate heard about his story and thought it would be meaningful to have him play the role of a drug-addicted Vietnam vet who is seeking to be saved and ends up getting baptized. By the end of the movie, his character which Weiss described as a small part undergoes a complete recovery from drug addiction and a sort of rebirth and he comes to Christ. Its a remarkable comeback story for Weiss, who served jail time in 2017 for petty theft and was subsequently arrested on charges of methamphetamine possession and, in 2018, for public intoxication. I kind of just surrendered things back when I was in that jail cell, he said. I found out that my story was public and the only way for me to really deal with it, being just in a really helpless situation, in a jail cell, not being able to tell my side of the story, it was very frustrating. So I really just had to surrender. The resulting mugshot of a shockingly gaunt Weiss went viral, shocking many of his fans who grew up on the classic Mighty Ducks franchise. Weiss played goalie Greg Goldberg in The Mighty Ducks (1992), D2: The Mighty Ducks (1994) and D3: The Mighty Ducks (1996). He took to Facebook in 2018 to share his struggle, telling fans he had checked into a rehab center after he found himself depleted, weak and shrouded by darkness. I AM going to recover. Im determined to return to my old self. My mind is set on health and well being [sic], Weiss wrote. Following another arrest for shoplifting in 2018, Weiss was arrested again in Jan. 2020 for allegedly breaking into a home in Marysville, California, after a homeowner reported someone broke into a car parked in the residents garage. Marysville police say Weiss shattered the passenger-side window of the vehicle. Officers found a man they later identified as Weiss, who they said displayed symptoms of being under the influence of methamphetamine. The burglary charge was dismissed by prosecutors in Yuba County after Weiss completed a court-ordered drug program, according to TMZ. After over 1,000 hours of therapy and now with Jesus Revolution, Weiss looks to finally put his past behind him. Jesus Revolution stars Kelsey Grammar, Anna Grace Barlow, Jonathan Roumie and is directed by brothers John and Andrew Erwin, who were behind other faith-inspired projects such as I Can Only Imagine and I Still Believe. The movie tells the true-life story of the Jesus movement that led to the rise of pastors Laurie, who started one of the countrys largest churches, Harvest Christian Fellowship; and the late Smith, who founded the Calvary Chapel movement. While he added the cast could not have been more supportive, Weiss said being back on set wasnt without its challenges: in one scene, his character was strung out and in bad shape and Weiss said it wasnt easy to put himself back in that headspace. Despite not having worked in Hollywood for years, Weiss says he felt right at home. I was in the makeup chair and my eyes were closed and they were putting makeup on me, and it was like nothing had changed at all, he said. Sitting in that makeup chair as an actor, I now had the benefit of chalking that entire section of my life up to research for my part. Weiss says that the biggest factor behind getting and staying sober has been what he called some kind of crazy experience that led [him] to this feeling of God. And when I had that feeling of being connected with God, it was an overwhelmingly euphoric feeling, just this feeling of overwhelming love and compassion, he said. So this thing happened. And when this thing happened, it came into my perception that I could feel this high that I was seeking without drugs. I could feel it if I sought God and I strengthened my relationship with God. So thats how really Ive been able to resist wanting to feel drugs again because I know that if I work towards it, that feeling is available to me without the substance. When asked whether he now considers himself a follower of Christ, Weiss said hes not so sure. I dont know if I would call myself a Christian, he said. When youre baptized, does that mean youre a Christian after that? I wouldnt wear that title right now. I dont know that Im ready to announce that Im a Christian, but I definitely benefited tremendously from the process. Weiss said hes set to visit Laurie's church on Sunday, so maybe I am a Christian, who knows? Republican lawmakers introduce bills to ban sex change surgeries for kids, taxpayer funding for mutilation Congressional Republicans have introduced two pieces of legislation that would ban gender reassignment surgery for minors in addition to preventing taxpayers from having to pay for elective gender reassignment surgeries. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., announced the introduction of "The Protecting Children from Experimentation Act" and the "End Taxpayer Funding of Gender Experimentation Act" in a press release published Tuesday. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., introduced companion legislation in the House. The Protecting Children from Experimentation Act would prohibit doctors from performing experimental gender reassignment treatments on children, citing the fact that puberty-blocking hormones can cause irreversible damage to childrens bodies, including an increased risk of cancer and permanent sterilization. The End Taxpayer Funding of Gender Experimentation Act would protect taxpayers conscience by prohibiting federal funding for gender reassignment surgeries and treatments. Both bills are supported by socially conservative organizations, including the Family Research Council, Heritage Action, the Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee, the American College of Pediatricians, and the American Principles Project. The introduction of the legislation comes weeks after the House passed the Equality Act, a wide-reaching bill that critics argue could force employers to include in their health plans things that they might object to like cross-sex hormones, puberty blockers for children and sex reassignment surgery. The push to ban gender reassignment surgery for children comes in the context of President Joe Bidens selection of the trans-identified Dr. Rachel Levine to serve as Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services. During a Senate confirmation hearing, Levine refused to answer when asked by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., if minors are capable of making such a life-changing decision as changing ones sex. Al Mohler, the president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, listed Levines nomination for a cabinet post as an example of the effort to advance the normalization of transgender ideology. Marshall argued that Bidens selection of Levine, who he said has a track record of politicizing public health issues, advocating for conversion therapy for pre-pubertal children, and has demonstrated a lack of support for parental consent was immoral and unethical. Protecting our children from experimental gender reassignment treatments and permanent hormone blockers couldnt be more important. These medical experiments are not FDA-approved and have irreversible consequences for the health of our kids, said Marshall. The legislation I introduced ... will ensure this practice is put to a stop and prevent taxpayers from ever having to foot the bill for these horrific procedures. In some cases, taxpayers already have to foot the bill for gender reassignment surgeries. Late last year, a federal judge in Wisconsin ruled that a man serving time in prison for raping his 10-year-old daughter was entitled to gender reassignment surgery at taxpayers expense because he now identifies as a woman. Radical ideologues are attempting to normalize medical experimentation with a childs biological sex under the guise of acceptance, LaMalfa warned. Vulnerable children are being pushed to undergo experimental treatments, like being injected with puberty-blocking hormones and cross-sex hormones or even surgeries, which have irreversible consequences, such as permanent sterility. Both the Protecting Children from Experimentation Act and the End Taxpayer Funding of Gender Experimentation Act would protect children and taxpayers from paying the high price of these unethical and experimental medical interventions. Children must be provided with the time and space to develop maturity rather than being pushed to make life-altering decisions that they may likely later regret, he added. Dr. Michelle Cretella, executive director of the American College of Pediatricians, said these bills " ... are the two most critical pro-child pieces of legislation introduced to date. No one is born with an opposite-sexed brain, and gender identity can align with biological sex across childhood and adulthood both with and without counseling to treat underlying traumas," she added. "The sterilization of emotionally vulnerable youth in any other circumstance would be seen for exactly what it is: eugenics. LaMalfa introduced versions of both pieces of legislation in the House during the 116th Congress, but a vote never took place due to opposition from House Democrats who held the majority. The bills face another uphill battle in the 117th Congress, where Democrats control not only the House but also the Senate and White House as well. The Protecting Children from Experimentation Act has secured 13 co-sponsors in the House and three co-sponsors in the Senate. The End Taxpayer Funding of Gender Experimentation Act has secured 14 co-sponsors in the House and four co-sponsors in the Senate. Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmation to Supreme Court likely as 3 Republicans signal support Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is expected to be confirmed to the United States Supreme Court nomination, as three Republican Senators have recently stated their intention to vote for her. In February, President Joe Biden nominated Jackson, a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, to the Supreme Court. While the United States Senate Judiciary Committee deadlocked on advancing Jacksons nomination to the full Senate, she will make it to the Senate floor for a final vote later this week. The Senate Judiciary Committee, which consists of 11 Democrats and 11 Republicans in reflection of the 50/50 split in the full Senate, failed to give Jackson a favorable recommendation to the full Senate Monday. While a favorable recommendation is usually an important step in the confirmation process, it is not a prerequisite to obtaining a seat on the Supreme Court. If confirmed, Jackson will replace long-serving Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer upon his retirement later this year. While the historic nature of her nomination won her praise among Democrats, many Republicans expressed concern that she failed to define the term woman when asked and repeatedly gave child pornography offenders much lighter sentences than the guidelines called for. After the Senate Judiciary Committee deadlocked, Senate Democrats brought a discharge petition seeking to advance her nomination to the Senate floor. The discharge petition passed in a 53-47 vote Monday, with Republican Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska and Mitt Romney, R-Utah, joining all Democrats in paving the way for a confirmation vote. So far, Collins, Murkowski and Romney are the only Republican senators who have indicated that they will vote in favor of her confirmation. Jackson receiving their support means she will likely be confirmed as the first African American woman Supreme Court Justice in U.S. history as all 50 Senate Democrats are expected to support her nomination and she only needs a simple majority to be confirmed. Collins became the first Republican senator to come out in favor of Jacksons confirmation, releasing a statement last week maintaining that Jackson possesses the experience, qualifications, and integrity to serve as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court. The senator recalled how in discussions with Jackson, Sometimes I agreed with her; sometimes I did not, suggesting that her disagreement with Jackson on past or potential future judicial decisions was not disqualifying. In my view, the role the Constitution clearly assigns to the Senate is to examine the experience, qualifications, and integrity of the nominee. It is not to assess whether a nominee reflects the ideology of an individual Senator or would rule exactly as an individual Senator would want, she wrote. In a statement Monday, Murkowski praised Jacksons qualifications, which no one questions; her demonstrated judicial independence; her demeanor and temperament; and the important perspective she would bring to the court as a replacement for Justice Breyer. Murkowski added that her support for Jacksons confirmation rests on my rejection of the corrosive politicization of the review process for Supreme Court nominees, which, on both sides of the aisle, is growing worse and more detached from reality by the year. She acknowledged that while I have not and will not agree with all of Judge Jacksons decisions and opinions, her approach to cases is carefully considered and is generally well-reasoned. She answered satisfactorily to my questions about matters like the Chevron doctrine, the Second Amendment, landmark Alaska laws, and Alaska Native issues. The support she has received from law enforcement agencies around the country is significant and demonstrates the judge is one who brings balance to her decisions. Romney did not support Jacksons nomination to the DC Circuit Court of Appeals, unlike Collins and Murkowski. However, he released a statement Monday announcing his support for Jacksons confirmation. Describing Jackson as a well-qualified jurist and a person of honor, Romney predicted that he did not expect to agree with every decision she may make on the Court, adding she more than meets the standard of excellence and integrity. I intend to vote in support of Judge Ketanji Brown Jacksons confirmation to be an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. My statement: pic.twitter.com/uGaxx8sJn5 Senator Mitt Romney (@SenatorRomney) April 4, 2022 Jackson is the first Supreme Court nominee since Clarence Thomas not to receive a favorable recommendation by the Senate Judiciary Committee. As was the case with the current Senate Judiciary Committee, an equal number of senators on the panel voted in favor of and against sending Thomas nomination to the full Senate as the body considered his nomination in 1991. Thomas was ultimately confirmed in a vote of 52-48 in the Democratic-controlled Senate following a contentious confirmation process. In a statement issued after the Senate voted on the discharge petition to force a vote on Jacksons nomination, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called on lawmakers to finish the job of confirming the Judge by the end of the week. Jacksons likely confirmation is not expected to alter the ideological balance of the court, which will consist of six justices appointed by Republican presidents and three justices appointed by Democratic presidents before and after she would join the bench. Texas Gov. Abbott plans to bus migrants to US Capitol in push back against Biden's border policies Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has vowed to send immigrants who illegally cross the border to Washington, D.C., ahead of an expected surge in unlawful border crossings. The Republican governor held a press conference in Weslaco, Texas, on Wednesday to illustrate how Texas is securing the border in the wake of [President Joe] Bidens decision to end Title 42 expulsions. To help local officials whose communities are being overwhelmed by hordes of illegal immigrants who are being dropped off by the Biden administration, Texas is providing charter buses to send illegal immigrants who have been dropped off by the Biden administration to Washington, D.C.," said Abbott. We are sending them to the United States Capitol, where the Biden administration will be able to more immediately address the needs of the people that they are allowing to come across our border, he added. Abbott designated Chief Nim Kidd of the Texas Division of Emergency Management as the person in charge of this operation. Kidd, who appeared alongside Abbott at the press conference, reported that his team "has already begun communication with our local officials to identify pickup location points, resources have been ordered and well be ready to implement our part of this plan tomorrow morning. Abbott noted that border cities overwhelmed by the large numbers of illegal immigrants in their communities have been transporting them to San Antonio. Ive got a better idea," Abbott recalled telling leaders of the Texas border communities. "As opposed to busing these people to San Antonio, lets continue the ride all the way to Washington, D.C. Kidd said that in past disasters, we have pulled up to 900 buses for operations to do evacuations, adding, We will use as many buses as we need to follow the governors direction to get this done. In response to a question from a reporter, Abbott explained that the migrants will be dropped off at the steps of the United States Capitol. Abbotts press conference comes after the Biden administration announced its intention to revoke Title 42, which allowed immigration officials to turn away border crossers due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control announced last week that it would terminate Title 42 on May 23 in light of current public health conditions and an increased availability of tools to fight COVID-19. In a phone call to reporters, an official with the Department of Homeland Security predicted that without Title 42 in place, as many as 18,000 illegal immigrants could cross the border on a daily basis. In a statement released last week, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas defended the CDCs move and maintained that the federal government was prepared for the influx of migrants associated with the abandonment of Title 42: We have put in place a comprehensive, whole-of-government strategy to manage any potential increase in the number of migrants encountered at our border. Mayorkas insisted that we are increasing our capacity to process new arrivals, evaluate asylum requests, and quickly remove those who do not qualify for protection, vowing to increase personnel and resources as needed and have already redeployed more than 600 law enforcement officers to the border. He also stated that we are referring smugglers and certain border crossers for criminal prosecution. Over the next two months, we are putting in place additional, appropriate COVID-19 protocols, including ramping up our vaccination program," said Mayorkas. "The root causes fueling irregular migration predate todays announcement, and we have experienced increases in migration over the past decade and long before. DHS is always preparing for the ebb and flow of migration patterns. Even with Title 42 in place, the U.S.-Mexico border saw a surge in border crossings since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021. Statistics compiled by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection reveal that the number of land encounters at the southwest border increased dramatically from 458,088 in fiscal year 2020 to 1,734,686 in fiscal year 2021, which began in October 2020. With five months of statistics compiled for fiscal year 2022, 838,685 migrants have crossed the border so far. In February 2021, the Biden administrations first full month in office, 101,099 migrants crossed the southwest border. The number of crossings consistently rose before reaching a record high of 213,593 in August 2021. Since then, the number of monthly illegal border crossings has remained above 150,000. Critics of the Biden administration have attributed the rise in border crossings to its discontinuation of the Migrant Protection Protocols, which required those seeking asylum to remain in Mexico while their asylum claims were adjudicated. Pushback against the Biden administrations move to revoke Title 42 extends far beyond Abbott, with the Republican attorneys general of Arizona, Louisiana and Missouri filing a lawsuit in federal court asking a judge to vacate the termination order. If the predictions of 18,000 illegal border crossings per day come to fruition, that would amount to roughly 540,000 per month and more than six million per year. Those figures would more than double the record number of border crossings measured in August 2021 and the nearly two million border crossings in fiscal year 2021. Abbott is not the first governor to suggest sending illegal immigrants to Democratic strongholds or the homes of Democratic politicians. Florida's Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis previously expressed interest in sending illegal immigrants in his state to Delaware, Bidens home state. When a despicable human being teaches us a lesson in courage Have you ever read an inspiring quote from someone whose beliefs or morals or character you abhorred? It might be a deep insight into human nature by someone like Chairman Mao. Or it might be an edifying thought from a God-mocking atheist. Reading such quotes leaves one with a mixed feeling. You like the quote. You do not like the source of the quote. How do you process your reaction? I had that mixed feeling recently when reading a quote from Nietzsche. He wrote, Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. Its a great quote and a great reminder, despite its source. But Im not one to say, As Nietzsche wrote during one of my talks. I would have to say, As even Nietzsche recognized So, the quote is edifying, but not the source. I had that mixed feeling in this case, very deeply mixed when hearing a quote from Adolph Hitler about courage. Hitler? What could such a despicable human being possibly say that could be edifying or helpful? Anyone but Hitler! What made matters worse was the fact that Hitlers attitude rebuked the cowardice of many who are on the right side of issues but refuse to stand for fear of consequences. Could a demonized human being like Hitler have something to say to them? Even to think such a thought shocks the system. Now, I have not been able to verify this quote in other sources, but I heard it for the first time while watching the first episode of the 2008 documentaryHitlers Bodyguard. The episode opens with these words: Adolf Hitler caused the death of 50 million people. While some would put the estimate a little lower, either way, the numbers are almost incomprehensible. And how many did Hitler directly murder? Yet, despite more than 40 attempts on his life, Hitler was never assassinated. Not only so, but despite Hitlers paranoia and his legions of bodyguards, he would often stand erect in his car when saluting the crowds. Wouldnt it be safer to sit down and be less visible? According to the documentary, Hitler explained, As there can be no absolute security against fanatics, I always make a point of standing upright in my car. The world belongs to the brave. If some assassin wishes to shoot me or blow me up with a bomb, I am no safer sitting down than standing up. Again, I have not been able to locate the source of this quote. But if it is accurate, it is a real rebuke to moral cowardice and it comes from a man who is the epitome of evil, the incarnation of wickedness. Talked about having mixed feelings when reading a quote. Yet what Hitler said was true, even if he lived by lies. Yes, The world belongs to the brave. Really now, how many cowards have been world-changers? Conversely, how many effective leaders have been spineless? How many double-minded, wavering people have inspired us? And who wants to follow a fear-filled commander? As the Christian author, C. H. Mackintosh (1820-1896) said, A coward heart will not do for the day of battle; a doubting spirit will not stand in conflict. So true! The Lord even says this in the book of Revelation: I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death (Revelation 21:6-8, my emphasis). As explained by the Greek scholar Ceslas Spicq, When Rev 21:8 places the fainthearted [i.e., cowardly] and the unbelieving in the lake of fire, it has in view Christians during times of persecution who, out of a fear of suffering, renounce their faith. It is a commonplace that human courage and cowardice are revealed in the face of death. For those of us who choose convenience over courage and comfort over conviction, not only does the Bible rebuke us, from beginning to end. And not only do the great leaders of the centuries rebuke us, especially those who gave their lives for a cause. But one of the vilest human beings who ever lived rebukes us. That is sobering indeed. Millionaires more outgoing, emotionally stable: German study claims If you want to be rich, it helps if you're outgoing, conscientious, emotionally stable and not averse to taking risks, according to data from a new study that analyzed trends among adults living in Germany. In the study, "The personality traits of self-made and inherited millionaires," published in the journal Nature, researchers Marius Leckelt, Johannes Konig, David Richter, Mitja D. Back and Carsten Schroder examined data on 23,721 individuals in the German Socio-Economic Panel. Among this sample group, 1,125 individuals recorded an individual net wealth of at least 1 million euros. Another 190 had an individual net wealth of at least 5 million euros, 61 had at least 10 million euros, while the richest five respondents had net wealth between 100 million and 131 million euros. Results of their review suggest that when the rich are compared with the rest of the German population they were found to be more outgoing, registered a higher degree of conscientiousness and had a higher tolerance for risk. In this paper, we have shown that the rich differ from the rest of the population not only with respect to their wealth but also with respect to their personality traits. The prototypical personality profile of the rich is marked by higher Risk tolerance, Openness, Extraversion, and Conscientiousness, and lower Neuroticism, the researchers concluded. Further, we provide initial suggestive evidence that this unique personality profile may contribute to wealth accumulation. The researchers found that self-made millionaires matched the "prototypical personality profile of the rich." The more closely their personalities aligned with the profile the richer they were, the study said. Rich people who inherited their wealth did not match the prototypical profile as closely as the self-made millionaires. We provide suggestive evidence that personality may be a driving force in the accumulation of wealth rather than a consequence thereof. We show that rich self-mades conform most closely to the prototypical rich personality profile. Rich inheritors, in contrast, do not conform to the prototypical rich personality profile: They are far less willing to take risks and more neurotic, the study said. Thus, it appears that being born into wealth does not automatically lead to the development of the prototypical rich personality profile. Researchers noted that the prototypical personality profile was also observed among non-rich self-made individuals to a lesser extent, which suggests that having a certain personality alone wasnt enough to lead people to wealth. This personality profile therefore does not automatically lead to economic success. Many other factors contribute to an individuals position in the wealth distribution, such as initial capital, education, and abilities. However, the evidence we have gathered conforms to the idea that the unique personality of millionaires is driven by individuals with a self-made personality having a higher chance of becoming rich, researchers noted. It was explained in the study that while the data offers compelling insights into the personalities of the wealthy who are usually difficult to access, the findings were limited because the sample of individuals studied came from only Germany a highly developed nation with a wide dispersion in wealth. It may not necessarily represent all high-wealth countries, such as the United States, where the wealth distribution is even more unequal, researchers said. Further, societal and cultural differences that shape personalities in Germany may also not be generalizable to other countries such as the United States, which is generally considered to be more individualistic than other countries. Matthew Busch /For San Antonio Express-News San Antonio's favorite parade, the Battle of Flowers, has returned and people are loving it after the parade was canceled over the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A small-scale Fiesta took place in June 2021, but the parade didn't occur out of precaution. The first Battle of the Flowers Parade took place on April 21, 1891, when a group of upper-class, Anglo women decorated their carriages and horses. They rode them in front of the Alamo and threw cherry blossoms at one another, according to the parade's website. It was organized to honor those who fought and died at the Alamo. It's also an honorary celebration of the Battle of San Jacinto. The last couple of weeks at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport have been chaotic. The convergence of SXSW, Circuit of the Americas, Dell Match Play, and other Austin-area events has led to over-crowded security lines, rental car nightmares, and a fuel-shortage at the airport. As ABIA gears up for its busiest year ever, we thought it apt to compare it to the closest major airport: San Antonio International Airport. SAT has its own issues. It's in the midst of a small identity crisis. Being one of the least impressive airports in Texas, it is now following a $2.5 billion, 20-year master plan to improve its amenities, capacity, and operations across the board. It was also involved in a rather high-profile controversy over a certain Christian-leaning chicken sandwich franchise. Here's how the two stack up. Location Austin Pro Photo Austin ABIA is located about 11 miles southeast of Downtown Austin, just west of city's border with Del Valle. Austin's last airport, Robert Mueller Municipal Airport, was much more centrally located, and is where the Mueller mega-development now sits. ABIA has more space to expand, which it plans to in the coming years as the city grows. San Antonio The Alamo City's airport is north of downtown off of Loop 410, San Antonio's main interchange that saw an annual average daily traffic count of 203,634 vehicles in 2020 for the stretch near the airport alone. It's surrounded immediately by hotels and suburban neighborhoods while also being seven minutes from one of North Star Mall. Terminals and Gates Dave Wilson Austin ABIA has two terminals: the main Barbara Jordan Terminal and the tiny South Terminal, which opened in April 2017. The terminals are not connected, and each has its own parking, check-in, security checkpoint, and more. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport ABIA has 37 total gates, with 34 at the Barbara Jordan Terminal and three at the South Terminal. As part of ABIA's master plan it intends to demolish the South Terminal and build a new concourse with between 10-20 gates. The only problem? KUT reported in February that Austin has spent almost $1 million in legal fees to oust the South Terminal's tenant, Lonestar Airport Holdings, which signed a 30-year lease in 2016. William Luther, Staff / William Luther San Antonio SAT also has only two terminals A and B with 25 gates total. Terminal A is the larger of the two with a total of 17 gates compared to Terminal B's seven gates. That will change as the city spends $20.8 million to expand Terminal B and add two gates, according to its most recent airport projects report. The master plan also calls for a Terminal C. Airlines Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Austin The Barbara Jordan Terminal services 16 airlines: Aeromexico, Air Canada, Alaska, American Airlines, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, KLM, Lufthansa, Norwegian, Southwest, Spirit, Sun Country, United, Vacation Express, and WestJet. The South Terminal is used for Allegiant Air and Frontier Airlines, bringing the total to 18 airlines at ABIA. William Luther /Staff photographer San Antonio There are 13 airlines that fly out of the San Antonio International Airport including AeroMexico, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, American, Breeze Airways, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, Sun Country, United, Viva Aerobus, and Volaris Airlines. These airlines facilitate 39 nonstop flights. Number of Passengers Dan Herron Austin ABIA was built in 1999, with the expectation that it would be able to serve 11 million passengers annually, a mark it nearly exceeded in 2014. By 2017, that number was 14 million. ABIA added nine gates in 2019, which bumped up the expected capacity to 15 million. But that same year was the airport's busiest ever, with over 17 million people passing through. In 2022, an extraordinarily busy year, ABIA expects to see 20 million passengers. The numbers are continually shifting, but a recent estimate put ABIA at an expected 31 million passengers by 2037. William Luther / Staff photographer San Antonio Passenger numbers show that the COVID-19 pandemic hit travel hard locally. SAT saw a total of 7.5 million passengers fly through in 2021, exceeding 2020 levels by 85%, according to a January 2022 passenger report. Those numbers are nowhere near the 2019 pre-pandemic levels of 10 million passengers in 2019. The airport has been owned and operated by the city since 1942 and didn't become a commercial airport until 1953. Terminal A was built 37 years ago. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg told the Express-News in September 2020 that "terminal experience" is key to attracting passengers, hence the $2.5 billion master plan approved in 2021. Food Austin Pro Photo Austin Austin prides itself on its locals-only food options (except, of course, for Starbucks). The Salt Lick, Peached Tortilla, Tacodeli, Jo's Coffee, and Second Bar + Kitchen are all Austin-area favorites that serve food inside the Barbara Jordan Terminal. There's also the only Hut's Hamburgers location, which opened in January 2019, just a few months before the iconic Sixth Street location shuttered forever after 50 years of service (and 80 total, dating back to its original South Congress location). Completely on-brand, the South Terminal has a food truck serving De Nada Tacos on its outdoor patio. Madalyn Mendoza, MySA.com San Antonio Dan Herron The San Antonio Business Journal reported in 2019 that the SAT officials were on a mission to make the terminals a destination showcase of local cuisine, bringing on well-known Chef Andrew Weissman, who moved Sip Brew Bar & Eatery into the airport. The pandemic slowed things down, but not before the city denied Chick-fil-A a spot in the airport. Conservative activists sued San Antonio claiming that it violated Texas' "Save Chick-fil-A" law in 2019. The Texas Supreme Court ruled this month that Conservative group didn't present evidence of a violation. The spot will soon become a Whataburger. Terminal A is still home to local restaurants like La Gloria, Smoke Shack, Rosario's and the future home of Weissman's Luxury. Budapest has had it with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's rhetoric slamming the government of Viktor Orban due to refusing to acknowledge Ukraine, causing disunity in the EU. After one of his rants, Foreign Affairs Minister Peter Szijjarto told Kyiv to practically keep quiet due to the insulting tones of the speeches. Since the start of the Ukraine incursion, many in the bloc were willing to listen but not Hungary, which did not want to get involved in the war. Hungary Wants To Stay Out of Ukraine War On April 6, the Foreign affairs minister to Kyiv said to stop insulting the will of the Hungarian people, reported the Express. The reaction of the Hungarian leaders is a blot that shows the disunity of the European Union trying have all bloc members not willing to support Ukraine. Szijjarto went on to say that they have been outspoken about the war in the nearby nation from the start, denouncing military aggression, supporting Ukraine's sovereignty, and admitting hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing for their lives, cited News Lanes. Stated the security of their nation is more important than anything else despite pressure by other members to comply, with Brussels unhappy about it. Furthermore, the Ukrainians have their agenda, and Hungary has no interest in it. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Budapest declared he is prepared to satisfy a Russian request to pay in rubles for Russian natural gas, contradicting Volodymyr Zelensky and the rest of the EU. Read Also: Vladimir Putin: 3 Facts You Didn't Know About Russia's President - From His Judo Records to His KGB Pseudonym The bloc's dependence on imports has kept it from taking harder penalties against the Kremlin. Blatantly Ukraine said on April 7 that the prime minister is defying the bloc's unity by siding with Moscow. Zelensky found himself getting rejected by Orban. The Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko strongly stated that if Hungary wanted to end the war, they should side with Kyiv and accept the demands, noted the Stars Post. Next, Hungary was expected to support that Ukraine is on the right side of history. Russia Has Been a Good Ally Szijjarto said last Thursday that Hungary acquired the first supply of nuclear fuel for its Paks nuclear reactor via Russia via air on Wednesday, after the war in Kyiv rendered rail transportation problematic. The official repeated that sanctioning Russian oil and natural gas and imposing limits on Hungary's nuclear energy program is an unacceptable red line. A Facebook video posted by the Hungarian official in Brussels said that the nuclear fuel delivered through rail is not viable; another method to move it is needed. He stated that the fuel supply reached Hungary via the airspace of Belarus, Poland, and Slovakia, with the permission of all three nations, as nuclear energy is not subject to European Union restrictions. Hungary planning to expand its 2-gigawatt Paks nuclear power plant with two Russian-built VVER reactors, all with a 1.2-gigawatt capacity. Orban's Budapest refuses to acknowledge Volodymyr Zelensky tells him not to expect anything from his government. Related Article: Hungary Pays for Russian Gas in Rubles Drawing Ire From the European Union, West @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate RICHMOND, Va. (AP) It's a crime that siphons untold billions from the economy but many people have never heard of it. Business Email Compromise scams involve criminals hacking into email accounts, pretending to be someone theyre not and fooling victims into sending money where it doesn't belong. Although they get far less attention than the massive ransomware attacks that have triggered a powerful government response, BEC scams have been by far the costliest type of cybercrime in the U.S. for years, according to the FBI. The huge payoffs and low risks associated with BEC scams have attracted criminals worldwide. Some flaunt their ill-gotten riches on social media, posing in pictures next to Ferraris, Bentleys, and stacks of cash. Almost every enterprise is vulnerable to BEC scams, from Fortune 500 companies to small towns. Even the U.S. State Department got duped into sending BEC scammers more than $200,000 in grant funds meant to help Tunisian farmers, court records show. The scammers are extremely well organized and law enforcement is not, said Sherry Williams, a director of a San Francisco nonprofit that recently fell victim to a BEC scam. Losses in the U.S. due to BEC scams in 2021 were nearly $2.4 billion, according to a new report by the FBI. Thats a 33% increase from 2020 and more than a tenfold increase from just seven years ago. And experts say many victims never come forward and the FBIs numbers only show a small fraction of just how much money is stolen each year. BEC scammers use a variety of techniques to hack into legitimate business email accounts and trick employees to send wire payments or make purchases they shouldnt. Targeted phishing emails are a common type of attack, but experts say the scammers have been quick to adopt new technologies, like deep fake audio generated by artificial intelligence to pretend to be executives at a company and fool subordinates into sending money. In the case of Williams, the San Francisco nonprofit director, thieves hacked the email account of the nonprofits bookkeeper, then inserted themselves into a long email thread, sent messages asking to change the wire payment instructions for a grant recipient, and made off with $650,000. After she discovered what happened, Williams said, her calls to law enforcement went nowhere. The FBI told her the local U.S. attorneys office wont take her case. She flew to Odessa, Texas, where the bank that initially received the stolen money was located. The money by then was long gone and the local detective was powerless to help. Williams asked her U.S. senators for help and later learned the Secret Service was investigating, but she said it hasnt given her any updates. Crane Hassold, an expert on BEC scams and former cyber analyst with the FBI, has heard of federal prosecutors declining to take BEC cases unless several million dollars were stolen, a minimum threshold that speaks to how out of control the problem is. Theres so many of them they cant possibly work them all, said Hassold, now director of threat intelligence at Abnormal Security. The Justice Department has launched months-long operations in recent years that have netted hundreds of arrests worldwide. Our message to criminals involved in these types of BEC schemes will remain clear: The FBIs memory and reach is long and wide-ranging, we will relentlessly pursue you no matter where you may be located, said Brian Turner, executive assistant director of the FBIs Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch. But security experts say the wave of arrests has had little impact, and the FBIs own numbers show that BEC scams continue to grow at a rapid clip. Sophisticated BEC scams targeting businesses and other organizations started taking off in the mid-2010s. It was also around that time when ransomware attacks in which hackers break into networks and encrypt data started to grow in frequency and severity. For years both BEC scams and ransomware attacks were treated largely as a law enforcement problem. Thats still true for BEC attacks, but ransomware is now a key national security concern after a series of disruptive attacks on critical infrastructure like the one last year against the biggest fuels pipeline in the U.S. that led to gas shortages along the East Coast. The National Security Agencys hackers have taken action to disrupt ransomware operators networks. The Justice Department set up a special ransomware task force to better organize the law enforcement response. And U.S. President Joe Biden has pressed the issue directly with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, where many ransomware operators are located. Nothing close to those efforts has been deployed against BEC fraud despite the huge financial losses. If the U.S. were to launch a whole-of-government response to BEC fraud, it almost certainly would focus heavily on Nigeria. Nowhere are BEC fraudsters more active than in Africas most populous nation, where scammers have able to operate almost unchecked for decades. Ramon Abbas, a well-known Nigerian social media influencer who went by Hushpuppi, had more than 2 million followers on Instagram before he was arrested in Dubai. Abbas social media posts showed him living a life of total luxury, complete with private jets, ultra-expensive cars and high-end clothes and watches. I hope someday I will be inspiring more young people to join me on this path, read one Instagram post by Abbas, who pleaded guilty in the U.S. to international money laundering related to BEC and other cybercrimes last year. His sentencing is currently set for July. BLUFFS Village board members have chosen resident Kathy Brooks to fill a vacancy on the board. Three people submitted letters expressing interest in taking the seat, which was vacant because of the death Feb. 6 of Rita Brockway. In other business, Village Clerk Terry Kunkel is planning to retire June 1. The village must find someone to replace Kunkel by the May meeting so the replacement has a chance to work with Kunkel to learn the position. Dennis Lister, representing American Central Insurance Services, addressed the board about the village's contract with Blue Cross Blue Shield which he said would have a 34% rate increase. Lister tied the increase to COVID-19 and disagreements between Blue Cross Blue Shield and Springfield Clinic. Blue Cross Blue Shield has dropped Springfield Clinic from its in-network providers, which has affected about 100,000 people. Springfield Clinic wanted a 75% increase in payments from the insurance company, according to Lister. He discussed other insurance agencies and rates, but the board voted to stay with Blue Cross Blue Shield for employees' insurance. The village is going back to Ameren for electricity delivery in June because it had the lowest rates. Letters will be sent out to residents about the change, but no action is necessary on residents' part. The board accepted a $1 million bid from Leander Construction of Canton to build a new water tower. The village has a 30-year loan and payments will begin in January. Engineering costs estimated at $79,000 have been paid and the village has two $4,500 grants from COVID relief money that will go toward the project. The board agreed to pay off an estimated $16,700 loan to the bank that paid for engineering done in the planning of a water tower in the past. The village did not continue with that project but still had the engineering costs toward the project. The money will come out of the water fund. NEW ORLEANS (AP) The Environmental Protection Agency is investigating whether Louisianas health and environmental agencies discriminated against Black residents in connection with air pollution from existing and proposed facilities between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. The director of EPA's civil rights compliance office, Lilian Dorka, recently notified environmental groups and the state about the investigation of Louisiana's departments of health and environmental quality. It involves two complaints. Both accuse the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality of paying too little attention to environmental justice; one also accuses the state Department of Health. The complaints involve at least seven existing plants and two huge planned projects in two parishes in the industrial corridor between Louisiana's largest cities. The two in planning are a $9.4 billion Formosa Plastics complex in St. James Parish and a $400 million grain terminal in St. John the Baptist Parish. Existing plants include the Denka Performance Elastomers plant, which the Japanese company bought in 2015 in St. John. Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality officials believe the agency's permit process is unbiased, press secretary Gregory Langley told The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. LDEQ handles all issues with a fair and equitable approach," he added. "LDEQ will work with EPA to resolve this matter. Steven Russo, general counsel for the Louisiana Department of Health, told the newspaper, We take these concerns very seriously. We have received the complaint in full from EPA and are reviewing it closely. In January, Administrator Michael Regan said EPA will make surprise inspections of industrial sites suspected of causing health problems through air and water pollution. Environmental groups call the southeast Louisiana industrial corridor Cancer Alley. Nearly every census tract between Baton Rouge and New Orleans has ... a higher estimated cancer risk from air toxics than at least 95% of U.S. residents, said a complaint from Tulane Environmental Law Clinic against the environmental department. The department needs to set policies and procedures that address and prevent the disproportionate burden of air pollution suffered by Black communities, Professor Lisa Jordan, the law clinics director, said in an email to The Associated Press. The complaint alleges that air emission permits approved for the grain terminal and chemical complex are part of a pattern dating back at least to 2016 and involving permits for at least six existing plants. The clinic represents several groups fighting plans for the grain terminal, which they say is likely to release fine particle pollution. Greenfield Chief Executive Officer Cal Williams told the newspaper Friday that the terminals emissions would be below EPAs most stringent air quality standards. Earthjustice and the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, which filed a complaint against both state departments, have complained that Denka's plant the only U.S. facility making chloroprene continues to release the carcinogen and that other nearby plants emit cancer-causing ethylene oxide. The health department failed to give predominantly Black residents in St. John information about health threats from Denka's emissions, according to the complaint filed for the Concerned Citizens of St. John and the Sierra Club. Their complaint also says the Sunshine Project complex planned near Donaldsonville by Formosa Plastics Group member FG LA LLC would release particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, volatile carbon monoxide, benzene, formaldehyde and ethylene oxide. The Sunshine Project has been thoroughly vetted and approved by parish and state bodies because it relied on sound science in design and met all regulatory criteria," spokesperson Janile Parks said in a statement emailed to the AP. Denka spokesman Jim Harris said state tumor registry figures don't show widespread elevated cancer rates in St. John the Baptist Parish. State agencies consider real science rather than sensational pseudo-studies," he told the newspaper. According to a 2014 National Air Toxics Assessment by the EPA, the individual lifetime cancer risk from both chloroprene and ethylene oxide was at the rate of 2,000 cases per 1 million people the nation's highest rate near the Denka plant. Denkas chloroprene emissions have dropped dramatically since the company agreed to install new equipment in 2018. But during the past year, levels at several local monitoring sites have been above the EPA cancer risk level of 0.2 micrograms per cubic meter. Denka has asked EPA to reconsider its listing of chloroprene as a likely human carcinogen, based on a company-sponsored peer-reviewed study. Dorka said her office will look into whether DEQ runs its air pollution control program in ways that either have the intent or effect of subjecting individuals to racial discrimination, and into the states handling of Denkas permits. It will also review whether the health department has provided information about health threats from Denka and other nearby sources of pollution, she wrote. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) A former sergeant for the Alabama Department of Corrections has been sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison for assaulting two inmates at Elmore Correctional Facility, federal prosecutors said. Ulysses Oliver Jr., 47, was sentenced Friday to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release. According to court documents, the inmate assault happened on Feb. 16, 2019. Prosecutors said Oliver went to an observation room where two inmates were handcuffed. Oliver reportedly pulled the first victim into a hallway and struck him multiple times with his fists and feet, then struck him with his collapsible baton about 19 times. Oliver then returned to the observation room and pulled the second man into the hallway, where he reportedly kicked him and used his baton to strike him about 10 times. The handcuffed victims did not resist and posed no threat, the Justice Department said. Prosecutors said Oliver, who pleaded guilty in the case, assaulted the inmates as punishment because he believed the victims had brought contraband into the facility. The assaults occurred near other correctional officers, who did not intervene. Two other former corrections officers have pleaded guilty in connection with the incident, and a third was convicted at trial. The actions of Mr. Oliver and his co-defendants run completely counter to the responsibilities and trust given to correctional officers, said U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Stewart for the Middle District of Alabama. Oliver knew that the use of force in this case was unnecessary and excessive, and so did the other officers involved. While I fully support the difficult and dangerous jobs that these officers undertake each day, my office remains committed to holding those that ignore their oaths accountable. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BOALSBURG, Pa. (AP) Voters are digesting a newly hostile Democratic primary race for Pennsylvania's open U.S. Senate seat as the top candidates came together Saturday, face to face, for the first time since Conor Lamb first attacked rival John Fetterman in earnest. Fetterman, Pennsylvania's lieutenant governor, has been on the defensive, after a week of attacks by Lamb and a third candidate, Malcolm Kenyatta, as well as by a super PAC supporting Lamb that is running a TV ad statewide accusing Fetterman of being extreme. Neither Lamb nor Kenyatta made any reference to Fetterman in their remarks to a crowd of about 200 Penn State-area Democrats in a hotel ballroom just outside State College. Fetterman, however, told the crowd he would only run a positive campaign. My commitment to you is that if youve entrusted any of your resources to our campaign, not one dollar of that will ever be weaponized against a fellow Democrat," Fetterman said. If you wanted to harm a Democrat, you can write a check to the RNC. Theyre much better at it and theyre much more efficient at it." With just over five weeks until the May 17 primary, Democrats are jockeying for the nomination to try to succeed retiring Republican Sen. Pat Toomey in perhaps the party's best chance nationally to pick up a seat in the closely divided Senate. The national party has not gotten involved in Pennsylvania's primary race this year after doing so twice before in 2010 and 2016 in a bid to beat Toomey. Saturday's crowd of Democrats a blue dot around Penn State's main campus in a sea of Republican-dominated central Pennsylvania was a blend of voters who have settled on either Fetterman, Lamb or Kenyatta, and some who are undecided or leaning. Many have seen the TV ad or read about criticism of Fetterman over a 2013 incident when, shotgun in hand, he confronted someone who he believed to be involved with gunfire on a street nearby Fettermans home in Braddock. Lamb and Kenyatta raised the issue again at a Muhlenberg College forum last Sunday that Fetterman didnt attend. Lamb criticized Fetterman in other ways, including calling him a flip-flopper because Fetterman changed his position on natural gas drilling in recent years. On Friday, Kenyatta confronted Fetterman at an online forum hosted by a progressive group over the 2013 incident, calling it a type of vigilante justice. Fetterman countered that he made a split second decision in the interest of public safety. At Saturday's event, nobody who decided to support Fetterman or is thinking about supporting him said the attacks were affecting their decision making. Lydia Vanderbergh, who works for Penn State's Sustainability Institute, said she is deciding between Lamb and Fetterman, seeing them as the most electable Democrats in Novembers election. Her questions for them are about moving on from planet-warming fossil fuels in the age of climate change Pennsylvania is the nations No. 2 natural gas producer and what they are doing to reach out to voters in rural Pennsylvania. Some are concerned about what the attacks will mean for Fetterman's prospects in November. Patty Stephens, who serves on her municipal board, has long supported Kenyatta, but worried that should Fetterman win the primary, he is carrying a lot of baggage that will be weaponized against him by Republicans. Steven Smith, a retired professor of piano at Penn State, is leaning toward supporting Fetterman, and worries about the attacks. But, he said, it's probably better to deal with it now, instead of in the general election campaign, to give people a chance to come to grips with it. A Franklin & Marshall College poll in February found that Fetterman appeared to have an early lead in the Democratic primary, but many voters were undecided. Saturday was the first time that Fetterman and Lamb have crossed paths after Lamb changed the tone of the race barely a week ago by attacking Fetterman on Twitter over the 2013 incident. Attendees on Saturday didn't view Fetterman as extreme, or even as liberal as Kenyatta. Smith said he viewed Lamb and Fetterman as having basically the same positions, and is leaning toward Fetterman as the best candidate to win back blue-collar voters that Democrats have lost. Peter Buck, a Kenyatta supporter who works at Penn State's Sustainability Institute, said he expects Democrats will move on after the primary, because we have a Democracy to save and a climate to save, and we as Democrats know that. ___ Follow Marc Levy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/timelywriter. BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) Cornelia Walker Bailey devoted her life to documenting and preserving the Saltwater Geechee culture on Sapelo Island until her passing in 2017, but it seems the isolated islands beloved matriarch has more wisdom to impart. Baileys interactions with the island and its people are the focus of the award-winning documentary, Sapelo. The documentary made its U.S. premiere Thursday on PBS. An episode of the American ReFramed documentary series on WORLD Channel, the film can be streamed at worldchannel.org. Directed by Swiss documentarian Nick Brandestini, Sapelo looks through Baileys eyes at the fading Saltwater Geechee culture in the islands Hog Hammock community. Here in this last enclave of the Georgia sea islands unique Geechee people, the film captures Baileys efforts to preserve this rich African American culture for posterity in the face of increasing development pressures. At the same time, Bailey perseveres with the raising of her two adoptive boys, JerMarkest and Johnathan, on this unbridged island. Sapelo Island is accessible by ferry. The filming of Sapelo took place before Baileys death at age 72 on Oct. 12, 2017, but editing and final production work was not completed until recent years. The film has since had several film festival screenings, earning Best Documentary Feature at the RiverRun International Film Festival in the spring of 2021 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Thursday marked the documentarys public premiere. Cornelia Walker Bailey was an amazing woman who I shared a lot of laughs with, Brandestini told The News. She was a powerful voice for Sapelo who worked tirelessly to preserve the Gullah-Geechee culture. Like the Gullah along the shores of South Carolina, coastal Georgias Geechee culture emerged from the fierce determination of enslaved Blacks to maintain their African roots and traditions. Despite enslavement, an advanced knowledge of rice cultivation and a resistance to malaria afforded them a degree of independence under which their African traditions were preserved and adapted over the generations. When emancipation came, the newly-freed Geechee settled on barrier islands such as Sapelo, employing their understanding of the unique coastal environment to forge self-sufficient farming and fishing communities. Born on Sapelo Island, Bailey grew up immersed in the Geechee culture and traditions. She was a direct descendant of Bilali, the literate enslaved man who practiced his Muslim faith while rising to overseer of Thomas Spaldings Sapelo Island plantation in the early 19th century. Bailey became a tireless champion of the Geechee and their place on Sapelo Island, the secluded beauty of which has brought increasing pressure from developers of luxury homes in recent decades. A gifted storyteller, Bailey was much in demand as a speaker. She founded the Sapelo Island Cultural Day Festival to raise further awareness of Geechee culture. Perhaps the defining book on this unique coastal Georgia culture is Baileys 2000 memoir, God, Dr. Buzzard, and the Bolito Man: A Saltwater Geechee Talks About Life on Sapelo Island. Brandestini said getting to know Bailey was a highlight of the films making. Tapping into her wisdom and keen sense of humor was key to the films success, he said. In the process, he learned that family members such as son Maurice are working to keep her dreams alive. Her unique legacy lives on in many ways, Brandestini said. Her stories remain alive and her agricultural projects are now being led by her son, Maurice. I am hoping that viewers will be called to action to ensure that this historic community continues to thrive well into the future. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) Warnings that strong winds and hot and dry weather could produce dangerous wildfires blanketed most of New Mexico on Saturday as crews continued to battle at least two blazes that started as prescribed burns but then got out of hand. The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings and fire weather watches that extended into Monday evening for the entire state except for snow-covered areas in higher elevations. In southeastern New Mexico, air tankers assisted crews from at least six agencies battling a fire that had burned 3 square miles (7.7 square kilometers) of mostly grassland along the Pecos River southeast of Roswell as of Saturday and was contained around 50% of its perimeter, officials said in a statement. The federal Bureau of Land Management said the fire was started Thursday as a prescribed burn to clear potential fire fuel but was declared a wildfire that afternoon after it grew outside the planned boundary due to a wind whirl, a small rotating wind storm generated by a fire's extreme heat. The fire damaged power lines and threatened homes at times, officials said. We didnt actually have to evacuate. We did tell people be ready, so they were up and ready," Dexter Fire Chief Justin Powell told KOB-TV. It did burn right up to some peoples houses, right beside them but we did keep it off them as much as we could." In northern New Mexico, crews battled a wildfire declared Wednesday after winds caused spot fires that took a prescribed burn outside its planned area. The fire is at the base of a peak in the Santa Fe National Forest about 12 miles (19.3 kilometers) northwest of Las Vegas. A higher-level multiagency incident management team on Monday will begin taking over command of the firefighting effort that included at least five ground crews aided by helicopters, fire officials said Saturday. No structure damage was reported but officials said crews were working to keep the fire out of a municipal watershed. The fire burned 350 acres (1.4 square kilometers) as of late Friday and was burning toward a wilderness area. ___ This story has been updated to correct the first name of Dexter Fire Chief Justin Powell. ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) A jury convicted a man of a federal murder charge Friday in the shooting death of a northern Illinois sheriffs deputy. Floyd E. Brown, 42 of Springfield, was found guilty of the second-degree murder of Jacob Keltner, attempted murder of a federal officer, assault and weapons charges. He was acquitted of first-degree murder. The 35-year-old Keltner was a McHenry County deputy working with a U.S. Marshals Service fugitive task force serving Brown an arrest warrant when he was killed on March 7, 2019. Brown was wanted in a string of downstate burglaries. Brown testified Thursday, admitting he shot his AK-47 assault rifle through his hotel room door after he heard the sound of a gun being cocked when the task force knocked on the door. Prosecutors said he then jumped from a third-floor window and shot Keltner, who was positioned outside. WASHINGTON (AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin may use the Biden administrations support for Ukraine as a pretext to order a new campaign to interfere in American politics, U.S. intelligence officials have assessed. Intelligence agencies have so far not found any evidence that Putin has authorized measures like the ones Russia is believed to have undertaken in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections in support of former President Donald Trump, according to several people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive findings. But given Putins antipathy toward the West and his repeated denunciations of Ukraine, officials believe he may see the U.S. backing of Ukraines resistance as a direct affront to him, giving him further incentive to target another U.S. election, the people said. It is not yet clear which candidates Russia might try to promote or what methods it might use. The assessment comes with the U.S. electoral system already under pressure. The American public remains sharply divided over the last presidential election and the insurrection that followed at the U.S. Capitol, when supporters of Trump tried to stop the certification of his loss to President Joe Biden. Trump has repeatedly assailed intelligence officials and claimed investigations of Russian influence on his campaigns to be political vendettas. Tensions between Washington and Moscow have reached levels not seen since the end of the Cold War. The White House has increased military support for Ukraine, which has mounted a robust resistance against Russian forces accused of committing war crimes, and helped impose global sanctions that have crippled Russia's economy. There's no sign the war will end soon, which some experts say could delay Moscow from pursuing retaliation while its resources are mired in Ukraine. But its almost certain that a depleted Russian military after Ukraine is going to again double down on hybrid tactics to wreak havoc against us and other allied countries, said David Salvo, deputy director of the German Marshall Fund's Alliance for Securing Democracy. In Ukraine and in past campaigns against adversaries, Russia has been accused of trying to spread disinformation, amplifying pro-Kremlin voices in the West and using cyberattacks to disrupt governments. Top U.S. intelligence officials are still working on plans for a new center authorized by Congress focusing on foreign influence campaigns by Russia, China and other adversaries. Avril Haines, the U.S. director of national intelligence, also recently appointed career CIA officer Jeffrey Wichman to the position of election threats executive several months after the departure of the previous executive, Shelby Pierson. Our Election Threats Executive continues to lead the Intelligence Communitys efforts against foreign threats to U.S. elections," said Nicole de Haay, a spokesperson for Haines, in a statement. "Were also continuing to work to deliver on the legislative requirement to create a center to integrate intelligence on foreign malign influence. De Haay declined to comment on what intelligence officials think of Putin's intentions. Russias embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment. Foreign adversaries have long looked to interfere in American politics, according to investigations of past elections and indictments brought against alleged foreign agents. The U.S. has accused Putin of ordering influence operations to try to help Trump in the 2020 election. And a bipartisan Senate investigation of the 2016 election confirmed intelligence findings that Russia used cyber-espionage and information efforts to boost Trump and disparage his opponent, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Special counsel Robert Muellers nearly two-year investigation found no conclusive evidence that the Trump campaign conspired with Russia, but Mueller declined to pass judgment on whether Trump obstructed justice. Trump continues to falsely insist that the election he lost to Biden was stolen, with Republicans in many states following his lead and opposing election security measures. Law enforcement and intelligence agencies continuously investigate foreign influence efforts. The Justice Department last month charged five men with acting on behalf of China to harass Chinese dissidents in the U.S. and derail a little-known congressional candidate. Experts say the proposed Foreign Malign Influence Center would bring much-needed direction to efforts across government studying adversaries. Congress provided partial funding for the center in the budget passed last month because the budget funds the government through September and not a full year. The center has been previously delayed over questions within the intelligence director's office and on Capitol Hill about its structure and size and whether it would unnecessarily duplicate efforts that already exist in government. In a sign that some of those questions remain unresolved, Congress last month also required the director's office to complete within six months a report on the future structure, responsibilities, and organizational placement of the center. Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, said in a statement that the committee was closely watching the malign activities of our adversaries" and the proposed center could be one way to help. As Russia continues to use disinformation campaigns in Ukraine, we are reminded to be strategic in our response to countering their tactics, Turner said. It is no secret that our adversaries use disinformation to undermine the national security interests of the U.S., so we must take into account all viable options to protect our democracy. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) Shortly after Riley Briones Jr. arrived in federal prison, he cut his long, braided hair in a symbolic death of his old self. As a leader of a violent gang and just shy of 18, Briones drove the getaway car in a robbery turned deadly on the Salt River-Pima Maricopa Indian Community outside Phoenix in 1994. He was convicted of murder and given a mandatory sentence of life without parole. In prison, he has been baptized a Christian, ministers to other inmates who call him Brother Briones, got his GED and has a spotless disciplinary record, his attorneys say in their latest bid to get the now 45-year-olds sentence cut short. Hes clearly on the side of the line where he should be walking free, said his attorney, Easha Anand. The U.S. Supreme Court opened the door for that possibility with a 2012 ruling that said only the rare, irredeemable juvenile offender should serve life in prison. Over the past decade, most of the 39 defendants in federal cases who received that sentence have gotten a reprieve and are serving far fewer years behind bars. Briones is among those whose life sentences have been upheld. His attorneys attorneys recently petitioned the full 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to give Briones another chance to reduce it. At the same time, more than 60 legal experts and scholars have asked the federal government to cap sentences for juvenile offenders at 30 years, create a committee to review life sentences in the future and reconsider its stance in Briones' case. Prosecutors in Briones' case have until May to respond to the latest petition. They've previously acknowledged he's improved in prison and ultimately expressed remorse but say that's not worthy of early release because he has minimized his role in the Eastside Crips Rolling 30s and its crimes that terrorized Salt River amid a surge of gang violence on Native American reservations in the 1990s. Briones' prison sentence started in 1997 after he was convicted in the death of Brian Patrick Lindsay, a Northern Arizona University student who was home for the summer and working a solo shift at a Subway restaurant. Briones drove four other gang members to the restaurant on May 15, 1994, and waited outside. Lindsay was preparing sandwiches when one of the gang members went outside to talk to Briones, came back inside and shot Lindsay in the face. The shooter pumped more bullets into Lindsay as he lay on the floor. The gang took the food and a bank bag with $100. Prosecutors said the murder was the most egregious of the violent crimes that Briones helped plot and carry out on the reservation about 15 miles (24 kilometers) from Phoenix. But there were others that demonstrated a murderous, unrepentant and unapologetic attitude, they said, including drive-by shootings and fires set at rival gang members' homes. Briones also was convicted of arson, tampering with a witness and assault with a dangerous weapon. Three of his co-defendants in Lindsay's death were sentenced to life in prison. One cooperated with authorities and received a lesser term. Because Briones was a juvenile at the time of the murder, he was eligible for a resentence after the Supreme Courts 2012 decision in Miller v. Alabama. It was part of a series of cases in which the court found minors should be treated differently from adults, partly because of a lack of maturity. The February letter seeking reform from the Justice Department pointed to statistics that show the median sentence for adults convicted of murder in the federal system is 20 years nearly half the median for the juvenile offenders. The agency did not respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press. Briones' case has ping-ponged through courts as laws changed regarding juvenile offenders. A three-judge 9th Circuit panel most recently ruled against Briones, who is enrolled San Carlos Apache and Salt River Pima-Maricopa. The full court could reconsider. Emails and a phone message left for Lindsay's parents were not returned. In a letter to the court during Briones' 2016 resentencing, Sharyn and Brian Lindsay said the passing of time has done little to mend their hearts. Isn't a lifetime without our son enough without having to go through another court proceeding? they wrote. They were in the courtroom during the trial when prosecutors played the 911 recording in which Lindsay told dispatchers through a mouthful of blood that he had been shot. I can still almost hear that tape, Paul Charlton, one of the prosecutors at the time, recently told The Associated Press. And if you had been through that trial, if you had seen the callous and remorseless way in which these individuals faced the evidence against them and their lack of remorse at that time, most people would be as I remain today, unsympathetic to Mr. Briones arguments. Bennit Hayes, who served time with Briones at the federal prison in Beaumont, Texas, said he believes Briones is a changed man. He said Briones studied intently, worked hard and encouraged others to lead better lives. He was the light in the candle that I put up against everything else going forward," said Hayes, whose sentence was commuted by President Barack Obama in 2016. Briones now is at the federal prison in metropolitan Phoenix, near Carmen Briones home on the Salt River reservation. She said they keep in contact but haven't seen each other since last May because of pandemic restrictions. Releasing Riley Briones from prison would mean they could be a family in a more meaningful way, she said. But whatever the 9th Circuit decides, she said it wont change who her husband has become. Hes still going to continue wherever hes at to minister, to mentor, to be a positive example and give guidance to those who he has contact with, said Carmen Briones, who is Pascua Yaqui. Weve had enough appeals come and go that ... wisdom would tell you just pray and see what happens. ___ Fonseca covers Indigenous communities on the APs Race and Ethnicity team. Follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/FonsecaAP Joe Biden's gaffe about sending troops to Ukraine caught White House staffers off guard as the president went off-script. US Press Secretary Jen Psaki had to clarify what the comment would set off another field on the president.Polls that show they don't support the POTUS could backlash an already hampered Biden presidency. Psaki Clarifies Biden's Remark Psaki waded into another situation involving Biden while speaking at North America's Building Trades Unions Conference, saying that US troops could be sent anytime, reported the Express UK. WATCH: After Biden told Union leaders regarding Ukraine, 'and by the way, if I gotta go to war, Im going with you guys,' Press Sec. Psaki says "he has no intentions of sending troops to the ground." "That was a reflection of his long love for labor unions." pic.twitter.com/LXXKs12ALG Breaking911 (@Breaking911) April 6, 2022 On several occasions, he was recorded as going off-script the regime change related to the Ukraine incursion, noted France24. The president remarked that Russia has already failed in its initial war goals thanks to the Ukrainian people's bravery, fortitude, and fighting spirit. Moscow wants to occupy Kyiv and its democratically elected government, but the Ukrainian capital still stands and its government, so the war is not over yet. Biden stressed that the war is not done and could take time. However, the US will help President Zelensky, and the Ukraine people fight for democracy. This is what he wanted them to know. Next came Biden's gaffe line, which caused worry for the White House. He said that if the US had to go to war and send US troops to Ukraine, he would be with them, and he'll tell them. And he meant it. Read Also: Vladimir Putin: 3 Facts You Didn't Know About Russia's President - From His Judo Records to His KGB Pseudonym Russian Oil Cannot Finance the War When Psaki was questioned about the statement, she clarified there was no intent to send troops to a war to fight Russia, cited Anadolu Agency. It was characterized as a reflection of his long respect for labor unions and their members instead of a sign of a shift in general US policy. Washington has complete confidence that Ukraine will defeat Russia in the conflict, even if it might go on longer than planned. According to Pentagon spokesman John Kirby who said the Ukrainians could win. He added all the proof is seen every day, and they could win against the Russian war machine. As of this report, the UK is cooking up more penalties directed at Russian oligarchs and Russian financial institutions like the Sberbank and Credit Bank of Moscow. Brussels is debating whether to stop buying imported Russian coal over the alleged war crimes that have not been verified. New sanctions announced by Washington, which the ex-comedian president Volodymyr Zelensky says should not be ignored. On Wednesday, he spoke to the Irish parliament, convincing all European countries to sanction Russia fully. But many will not sacrifice their energy security. Adding that Russia needs the money from its energy exports to finance its expenses, the Ukrainian foreign minister has been stonewalled by some bloc members who disagree with Kyiv's demands. According to Jen Psaki, trying to avoid another blowback, the White House walked Joe Biden's gaffe back as it meant sending troops to Ukraine; that was not the implication. Related Article: Joe Biden Gets Blowback for the Regime Change Gaffe Resulting in Call Power Removal, US Poll Reveals @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. HELENA, Mont. (AP) Montanas recreational cannabis sales through the first quarter of the markets first year are outpacing projections and its not even tourism season yet. Montana providers have sold $72.9 million in cannabis products, including both medical and recreational, since the start of 2022, according to figures released April 6 by the Montana Department of Revenue. Recreational cannabis had its biggest month yet in March with nearly $15.9 million in sales. Medical sales came in at $9.8 million. To date, recreational cannabis sales have totaled more than $43.5 million, setting Montana on track to reach $174 million by the of the year. But efforts to push recreational cannabis sales out of Montanas largest county may hamper that trajectory, and a perennial cannabis opposition group says its launching a county-by-county campaign to ban recreational marijuana business where the margins on the 2020 legalization vote were slim. Last year the state budget office projected Montana would see $130 million in recreational sales in 2022. That number was adjusted down from earlier projections made by economists which expected Montana might see more than $200 million in sales. State fiscal analysts had drawn the numbers down due to lawmakers enacting more more extensive regulations than what was in the ballot initiative prior to the states legalization vote in 2020. This isnt people growing weed in their shed anymore, this is big business, J.D. Pepper Petersen, president and CEO of the Montana Cannabis Guild, told the Montana State News Bureau. Petersen was one of the architects of Montanas legalization ballot initiative in 2020 and continues to closely monitor the industrys rise. Along with running a trade group, he also owns the Cannabis Corner in Helena. We have a tremendous number of out-of-state customers coming into the dispensaries, and that number is just going to grow and grow, he said. The earlier forecast from the Bureau of Business and Economic Research predicted out-of-state customers would be the largest driver of growth in sales, from about $30 million in 2022 to $84 million in 2026. By that time, the BBER projected Montana could see more than a quarter billion in sales annually for recreational cannabis alone. With the baseline 20% tax on recreational sales (medical sales are taxed at 4%), Montanas tax revenues could be more than $50 million each year. Kate Cholewa, government affairs representative for another trade group called the Montana Cannabis Association, said that summer bump from tourist sales likely wont benefit Montana providers equally, but regionally, like the areas around Glacier and Yellowstone that have developed around the tourist seasons. As for how providers are faring in the first months of the recreational market, Cholewa said MTCIAs members are holding steady with inventory. People are doing well, she said. I think mostly the challenges have to do with incoming rules, changing testing requirements more so than keeping pace with the market. Local jurisdictions can also add a 3% tax on both recreational and medical sales to draw some of the tax revenues into local coffers. Park, Missoula, Dawson and Yellowstone counties have each elected to do so, although Yellowstone County, where cannabis opposition has deep roots, will vote in June on the question of banning cannabis sales within the county. SafeMontana, the anti-marijuana group headed up by Billings car dealer Steve Zabawa, has already raised more than $14,000 to support Yellowstone County opting out of recreational cannabis sales, $13,500 of which is Zabawas own cash. State campaign finance records show the group has also set up another committee for a similar effort in Granite County, population 3,300 in western Montana. Zabawa said Wednesday he believes the support to legalize cannabis in the 2020 election was inflated by promises in the ballot initiative to allocate tax revenues toward easements, parks and trails. That allocation became a contentious political football when lawmakers were developing their own legalization framework in 2020. The final version of the legislation included $5.4 million for public lands easements, less than half the amount promised in the initiative. But Zabawa also believes Montanans, particularly those in conservative-leaning counties where legalization did not pass by a wide margin, will have changed their minds on marijuana now that dispensaries are cropping up across the state. With political committees to support opt-out efforts already established in Yellowstone and Granite counties, Zabawa is placing his next bet on Flathead County, with an eye on Ravalli County next. Im making the bet that theres less people that want recreational now that the reality is coming dead in their face, Zabawa said in a phone interview. Montanans also passed a constitutional ballot initiative in 2020 that legalized marijuana use and possession statewide, but 27 counties currently have a ban on recreational cannabis sales. Only one county, Dawson, has so far used the opt-in/opt-out provisions passed by the Legislature to flip the county from red to green. Yellowstone County has seen the highest sales figures each month for combined cannabis and medical sales. In March alone the county accounted for $4.5 million of the $25.7 million total in statewide sales, about 18%. Im thinking about how Yellowstone County is out of its collective mind for considering a ban on recreational sales, Petersen said. Look at this revenue that theyre choosing to ignore and it makes no sense. The figures released by the state revenue department also show Montana is nearing the $10 million mark in tax revenue from recreational and medical marijuana sales. The legislatures final framework allocated the first $6 million toward the HEART fund proposed by Gov. Greg Gianforte, a new substance use disorder treatment and addiction recovery program. The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services said those funds should be touching down at the community level soon. DPHHS continues to work on various pieces of the HEART Initiative, and were excited to begin the distribution of these funds into the community, as well as increasing services to low-income Montanans in need of substance abuse and mental health treatment, said Jon Ebelt, a spokesperson for DPHHS. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) When Ted Budd won a surprise endorsement from former President Donald Trump last year, he was a little-known congressman running for a Senate seat in North Carolina against some of the states most recognizable Republicans, including a former governor. As he enters the final stretch before the states May 17 primary, Budd is again hoping for a boost, banking on the power of Trumps endorsement to put him on top of a field that includes a dozen other Republicans. We feel weve got strong momentum, Budd told The Associated Press. Whether its grassroots, trend lines in polling or fundraising, we think were in a very good place. Budds candidacy will serve as an early test of whether Trumps backing is powerful enough to lift someone from relative obscurity to the GOP nomination for a critical Senate seat. A strong showing by Budd could provide clues about how Trump-backed candidates in other states, including Georgia, that vote in quick succession after North Carolina, will fare. The race will be a test of the Trump effect on North Carolina among North Carolina Republicans, I think not just for North Carolina but nationally, said Mike Rusher, a political consultant who previously worked for the state GOP. Democrats have made inroads across the South in recent years, winning a presidential election in Georgia in 2020 for the first time in 28 years and picking up two Senate seats. North Carolina has experienced similar demographic changes, driven by an influx of new residents to the Raleigh and Charlotte areas. But for now, Democrats have struggled to make the same progress in the states presidential and Senate races. Barack Obama was the last Democratic presidential contender to carry North Carolina in 2008, and a Democrat hasnt won a Senate seat since Kay Hagan the same year. Trump returned to the state on Saturday for a rally in rural Johnston County, just southeast of Raleigh, where he hyped Budd as a great guy and a tremendous person. Some people didnt know him, but now they know him," he said. Trump was a boon to North Carolina Republicans in the 2020 campaign, boosting turnout so that GOP candidates with few exceptions won races up and down the ballot even as Trump himself only narrowly eked out a win. Budd is running for retiring Republican Sen. Richard Burr's seat against former Gov. Pat McCrory, who is viewed as a moderate and has kept some distance from Trump while backing his economic policies. A dozen other Republicans are also seeking the nomination, including former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker, who has resisted Trump's entreaties to drop out. The winner is expected to take on presumptive Democratic nominee Cheri Beasley, a former state Supreme Court chief justice, in November's general election. Like nearly all statewide races, the general election should be close, and a Democratic victory could thwart GOP hopes of retaking the Senate majority. While McCrory entered the race as its best-known candidate, Budd and his advisers are increasingly optimistic that his position is strengthening in the races final weeks. Budd credited Trumps endorsement as the single biggest factor to help advance and get attention on this campaign. He has also benefited from millions of dollars in super PAC spending on his behalf, including from the Club for Growth's political wing. The group's ads heavily feature Trump's endorsement, casting Budd as a reliable conservative while highlighting McCrory's past criticism of the former president and slamming him as a disloyal, liberal loser." McCrory became governor in 2013 but lost reelection after he signed a bathroom bill targeting transgender people that cost the state billions. Saturday's rally comes amid questions over whether Trump's influence is fading amid stumbles in other states. Last month, he withdrew his endorsement of Rep. Mo Brooks, who was struggling to gain traction in Alabama's Senate primary. Last year, his endorsed candidate in Pennsylvania's Senate race, Sean Parnell, dropped out amid allegations of abuse by his estranged wife. As aides have warned that he is setting himself up for failure by offering too many endorsements, Trump has held off picking sides in several competitive Senate contests, including in Missouri and Ohio, where early voting is underway. Seeing Walker as a potential spoiler, Trump has tried to no avail to pressure him to leave the race a tactic he has used successfully in other contests to bolster his favored candidates' chances. The top vote-getter must garner more than 30% of the vote to avoid a runoff. Otherwise, the top two finishers advance to a runoff in late July. Look, we appreciate President Trump and the work that he did for our country, but it doesnt mean that he makes the right decisions and sometimes he gets bad counsel, Walker said in an interview. And in this particular incident, he has hitched his wagon to the wrong horse. McCrory, meanwhile, dismissed polling out this week suggesting he had lost his early edge, saying theres time for a counterattack. This race is going to be a dead heat. Its neck and neck right now, and its amazing that were even in that position, considering $7 to $8 million have been spent against us from a special interest group in D.C., McCrory said in an unnamed reference to Club for Growth Action. Many voters have yet to make up their minds, with early in-person voting beginning April 28. John Dismukes, 48, of Carolina Beach describes himself as "100% undecided." "Im looking at all three of them, he said. Billy Shomaker, a retired commercial pilot from Beech Mountain, said he supports Budd regardless of Trump's endorsement. I like President Trump. I dont like everything he does, said Shomaker, 68. Trumps preferred candidates in North Carolina havent always been successful. In 2020, political newcomer Madison Cawthorn comfortably won a GOP congressional primary runoff over Trump's pick. But Trump soon embraced Cawthorn, who won the general election at age 25 and became one of the ex-presidents strongest supporters. Now, Trump is returning the favor, featuring him as a rally speaker and endorsing him for reelection even as Cawthorn has faced backlash over recent incendiary comments. McCrory said he had other events to attend Saturday and wouldnt have shared the stage with Budd, Cawthorn or Trump even if offered. Trump says I dont represent his values, McCrory said, referencing the former presidents words when he endorsed Budd 10 months ago. I agree with the policies of Trump. But yeah, we maybe have different opinion on values. ___ Colvin reported from New York. The following are being sought on arrest warrants, according to various sheriffs departments. The addresses listed are the last known addresses provided by the warrants and may be outdated. Stewart N. Wilson, 37, of 60 Whispering Pines, Loami, is being sought on a warrant accusing him of failing to appear in court on charges of driving while license suspended and failing to give notice of an accident. He is a white male standing 5 foot 9 and weighing 145 pounds. He has brown hair and blue eyes. Eric D. Givens, 22, of 117 E. Chambers St. is being sought on a warrant accusing him of failing to appear in court on a domestic battery charge. He is a Black male standing 6 feet tall and weighing 155 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. Morgan County Jacksonville Police ARRESTS, CITATIONS A 12-year-old boy was arrested at 11:58 a.m. Friday on a disorderly conduct charge after causing a disturbance at Garrison Alternative School, 936 W. Michigan Ave. William D. Guyton, 51, of Jacksonville was cited on charges of driving while license is suspended and operating an uninsured vehicle after a traffic stop at 9:53 p.m. Thursday in the 100 block of Hardin Avenue. THEFTS, BURGLARIES A backpack and a tool bag were taken from a residence in the 200 block of West Beecher Avenue, according to a report filed at 1:31 p.m. Friday. A cellphone was taken from a backpack at Jacksonville Middle School, 664 Lincoln Ave., according to a report filed at 3:29 p.m. Friday. Cass County Beardstown Police ARRESTS, CITATIONS Juan L. Salguero-Lica, 43, of Beardstown was arrested March 31 on a domestic battery charge. Joshua T. Domenech, 23, of Beardstown was arrested March 27 on charges of possession of cannabis, possession of a controlled substance, obstruction by driver side window tint, driving while license is suspended and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Oscar Rodriguez-Jimenez, 46, of Beardstown was arrested March 23 on charges of driving under the influence, illegal transportation of alcohol and improper backing. Martin Carrillo, 30, of Beardstown was cited March 23 on a charge of driving while license is revoked. Santiago C. Arroyo, 29, of Beardstown was cited March 23 on charges of speeding, following too closely and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Maria M. Villegas-Diaz, 43, of Beardstown was cited March 20 on a retail theft charge. Carlos M. Espinal-Luna, 19, of Beardstown was cited March 20 on charges of operating an uninsured motor vehicle and having no valid driver's license. Rafael Pavon, 46, of Beardstown was arrested March 20 on charges of domestic battery and unlawful use of a weapon. Levi R. Thurman, 29, Beardstown was cited March 13 on charges of operating an uninsured motor vehicle, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, violation of classification and having no valid registration. A Beardstown juvenile was cited March 10 on a battery charge and released to parents. Evan D. Zimmerman, 24, of Beardstown was arrested March 7 on an aggravated assault charge. Jamie L. Campbell, 33, of Beardstown was arrested March 3 on a domestic battery charge. Mark W. Anderson, 63, of Beardstown was cited March 1 on a charge of having no valid insurance. Compiled by David C.L. Bauer ISTANBUL (AP) A powerful earthquake hit eastern Turkey on Saturday but no casualties or serious damage were immediately reported, the country's disaster service said. The 5.2 magnitude quake struck the town of Puturge in Malatya province at 5:02 p.m. local time (1402 GMT), Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate (AFAD) said. The tremor was recorded at a depth of 6.7 kilometers (4.2 miles). This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) Thousands of Sri Lankans rallied in the countrys main business district and Christian clergy marched in the capital to observe a day of protest on Saturday calling on the debt-ridden nations president to resign, as anxiety and anger over shortages simmered. Protesters carrying national flags and placards, some bemoaning the hardships through songs, blamed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his administration for mismanaging the crisis. He has remained steadfast in refusing to step down even after most of his Cabinet quit and loyal lawmakers rebelled, narrowing a path for him to seek a way out as his team prepares to negotiate with international lending institutions. Go home Rajapaksas" and "We need responsible leadership, read the placards. The protest also included a large number of youngsters who had organized themselves through social media and refuse to accept any political leadership. Many carried signs, saying You messed with the wrong generation! The protesters stayed around the presidents office and vowed not to leave until their mission is accomplished. For months, Sri Lankans have stood in long lines to buy fuel, cooking gas, food and medicines, most of which come from abroad and are paid for in hard currency. The fuel shortage has caused rolling power cuts lasting several hours a day. The Indian Ocean island nation is on the brink of bankruptcy, saddled with $25 billion foreign debt over the next five years nearly $7 billion of which is due this year alone and dwindling foreign reserves. Talks with the International Monetary Fund are expected later this month, and the government had turned to China and India for emergency loans to buy food and fuel. Much of the anger expressed by weeks of growing protests has been directed at Rajapaksa and his elder brother, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who head an influential clan that has been in power for most of the past two decades. Five other family members are lawmakers, three of whom resigned as ministers last Sunday. Thakshila Jayasinghe, a 35-year-old lawyer who joined the protest, said that she felt sorry for voting for Rajapaksa in the 2019 presidential election. I wonder what sin I have committed by voting for this president when I see the people suffer," she said. Reports said that at least four elderly people have died while standing in lines for hours trying to buy cooking gas or kerosene oil. Jayasinghe said she voted for Rajapaksa believing he was the best candidate to restore national security following the 2019 Easter Sunday bomb attacks that killed more than 260 people. The attacks, blamed on local Muslim militants with ties to the Islamic State group, also shattered the tourism industry, alongside the pandemic, depriving Sri Lanka of hard currency. At the same time, critics accuse Rajapaksa of borrowing heavily to finance projects that earn no money, such as a port facility built with Chinese loans. Catholic clergy and lay people joined a rally from the martyrs cemetery in Negombo, north of the capital Colombo, where more than 100 people who died in the suicide attacks in the area's St. Sebastian's Church are buried. They protested the economic crisis as well as the government's alleged failure to uncover the conspirators behind the bombings. Today the country needs a major change and a new beginning, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, the archbishop of Colombo, told protesters. We ask from every citizen of this country to come together and change this system. To get together and tell these people to leave. Its enough now, its enough destroying the country, now leave and hand it over to someone who can govern this country, he said. The protest later moved near the Anglican cathedral in Colombo. The Catholic Church in Sri Lanka has been critical of the investigation into the bombings, citing allegations that some members of the state intelligence units knew and met with at least one of the attackers. Rajapaksa earlier proposed the creation of a unity government following the Cabinet resignations, but the main opposition party rejected the idea. Parliament has failed to reach a consensus on how to deal with the crisis after nearly 40 governing coalition lawmakers said they would no longer vote according to coalition instructions, significantly weakening the government. With opposition parties divided, they too have not been able to show majority and take control of Parliament. LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (AP) Muslim students want Georgia's largest school district to mark the holiday Eid al-Fitr with a day off on next year's school calendar. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the request by students at Gwinnett County Public Schools could be the first of its kind in Georgia. Noor Ali, a freshman at the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology, has spoken to the Gwinnett school board and started an online petition for the holiday that has more than 8,000 signatures, the newspaper reported Friday. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, a Muslim holy month during which observers fast. It falls on May 2 this year. Ali said she will have to choose between going to school or celebrating with family and friends. Students may take the day off as an excused absence, but they will go to school if they have an exam that day, Ali said. I owe it to my friends, my little cousins, my school and the coming generation of Muslims all over the nation to at least try, she said about her effort to make Eid al-Fitr a school holiday. District staff are expected to finalize the calendar for the 2023-24 school year later this year. Any consideration of adding additional holidays to the calendar must be balanced with the knowledge that this action would result in days being added to the school calendar, Superintendent Calvin Watts told the newspaper in an email. Gwinnett school board chair Tarece Johnson said shes supportive of efforts to promote equity in the district calendar. To truly achieve equity, we must meet the needs of our diverse population and also respect their major holidays, she said. LANSING, Mich. (AP) Supply chain issues have delayed the opening of the Michigan statehouse's $40 million welcome center. Heritage Hall, the State Capitols underground visitor center, had been set to open in May. But Executive Director Rob Blackshaw said in an email that the Capitol Commission now anticipates it won't open until late June. The delay is due to sourcing aluminum for the frames of glass panels on a curtain wall that's part of the project, the Lansing State Journal reported. Aluminum delays were discussed at last months Capitol Commission meeting as potentially stemming from a lack of access to Russian materials as the countrys invasion of Ukraine unfolded. But Blackshaw said that while some U.S. manufacturers get their aluminum from Russia, the commission has not been told that the product we are using comes directly from Russia." Unfortunately, there are many unknown factors within the supply chain that affect the delivery of materials," he added. Heritage Hall, a 40,000-square-foot (3,716-square-meter) basement facility, will offer space for legislative events, private gatherings, student groups and tours by supplementing Michigan's State Capitol grounds. It will boast adjustable space for meetings and catered events. Last week, the Midland and Odessa chambers hosted their first-ever joint D.C. Fly-In. The goals were to educate, advocate and tell the story of the charms and challenges of our region. Those challenges include supporting one of the most important economies of the world while protecting our infrastructure, providing for public education and supporting a balanced approach to immigration. We arrived at a time when Capitol Hill wasnt really back to business as usual. D.C. is a city still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Jan. 6 insurrection and a war being waged in Ukraine. It was no small task, and together we were up for the challenge. Once the initial idea for the Fly-In was approved, the staffs of the Midland and Odessa Chambers got to work planning. Beyond Chamber support, the program needed help from the business community and found it with support from Diamondback, Chevron, Pioneer, and the Sewell Family of Companies. Sixty leaders from Midland and Odessa (including six UT Permian Basin students) learned about the process and heard from policy experts along with national media professionals. Even though most of the attendees are engaged citizens and leaders in their fields, they still benefited tremendously from the behind-the-scenes look at how Congress works. Former Ambassador to Mexico Christopher Landau gave us insights on the complex issues around immigration. A media panel that included a former White House press secretary and current broadcast journalist who covers The Hill shared details about how news decisions get made and encouraged us to support local media. Its something I agree with as a daily reader of the Reporter-Telegram. The Washington Post will always cover what happens in D.C., but without local news, we wouldnt always know what happens at city council or school board meetings. And, of course, we heard directly from our elected officials Congressman August Pfluger, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. We were reminded by Mark Strand of the Congressional Institute that those who work on the Hill, including many elected officials, are often generalists. Most of them, certainly those from states other than Texas, cannot explain the difference between fresh and produced water, between tubing and casing, or understand the unique challenges that come with an economy rooted in energy production. It is up to us to tell the story of our community and industry needs while retaining the humanity of who we are and what we do. What do we do now? Continued coordinated efforts will produce the most success for this region. Each chamber has an Advocacy Committee that can take the lead in establishing a joint agenda. Chamber leaders and members can prioritize this agenda in their work. That is just the beginning. We often have high-level politicians swing through our Permian Fundraising ATM. I get it. I spent the last decade of my career as a fundraiser. And we can all do better. Can we ask the next politician who is helping to bolster their campaign account to stay overnight in the area thats helping to fund their re-election? Can we organize more than a picture opportunity or press conference in front of a rig, but an actual meaningful visit to learn? To witness the opportunities and challenges we have at Midland ISD and Ector County ISD. To see the incredible grow-your-own progress at The University of Texas Permian Basin College of Engineering. To tour the Midland International Air and Spaceport and have Sara Harris showcase the economic footprint. To witness the collaboration ignited by the Permian Strategic Partnership. We need our federal leaders to see, hear and understand both the rich innovation and the continual struggle of life in the oil patch. The Midland and Odessa chambers have long been the conveners of this work and will continue to present the communities with ways to engage and advocate. Many chambers visit D.C. every year. In fact, San Antonio was there when we were. They had 100 delegates. It is a win that we had 60 in our first year and its proof of a combined West Texas community that wants to be better engaged. We are better together! I am hopeful that this trip will produce a more robust and coordinated effort for us to help our elected officials and their colleagues to move beyond quick soundbites and to govern in a way that recognizes and elevates all we do in West Texas. We need your help telling that story together. Individual citizen engagement is important. A phone call or email can make a big difference. Visiting with your representatives is not a burden or imposition but a right and privilege. Both chambers will continue to be the conduit to this important work at the state and federal levels. -- Kate Williamson is the Chair, Midland Chamber of Commerce board of directors, and the executive director, Shepperd Leadership Institute, UTPB. -- Heres a few fast facts about the DC Fly-In: The Midland Chamber of Commerce and Odessa Chamber of Commerce organized the D.C. Fly-In. In all, about 60 West Texans and local leaders attended the D.C. Fly-In. Here are some quick highlights from the D.C. Fly-In itinerary: Capitol Hill 101 & briefings from U.S. Chamber experts Speaker: Christopher Landau, Former ambassador to Mexico Speaker: U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz Bipartisanship Panel Discussion, including West Texas Congressmen August Pfluger and Jodey Arrington, along with others Media Panel Discussion, moderated by Tatum Hubbard, UT Permian Basin Chief of Staff and Executive Director of Communications Commercial Space Industry Discussion In this weeks news, a study of airfares finds they are already higher than pre-pandemic levels and still rising; JetBlue offers to outbid Frontier in a takeover attempt for Spirit Airlines; United delays SFO-Melbourne service until June; German carrier Condor will fly SFO-Frankfurt this summer; JetBlue sets a date for new Boston-London flights; international route news from Aer Lingus, American, Air France, ITA, Delta; JetBlue/AA alliances battle with Delta for middle America markets; Alaska Airlines sets flat rate for in-flight Wi-Fi; San Francisco International reopens yoga rooms; Wyomings Jackson Hole Airport shuts down for three months; and Frontier wants to get rid of jet bridges at Denver International. Last month, we reported on a study that showed airline bookings for this spring and summer are surging, bringing traffic back to near pre-pandemic levels. Now another new report finds that air fares are going up just as fast if not faster specifically, they have increased 40% since the beginning of this year, and theyre still rising. The analysis by Hopper, the big travel booking and pricing data firm, found that current airfares are already above comparable pre-pandemic 2019 levels. At (an average of) $330/roundtrip, domestic airfare is trending 7% above 2019 prices, Hopper said. It is also the highest average domestic airfare weve seen since we started collecting this data. International airfare is matching 2019 prices at $810/roundtrip. The company predicts that domestic fares will jump another 10% in May to an average of $360 round trip, and that international prices will go up another 15% by June to an average of $940 round trip a 5% gain over June 2019 fares. In addition to exploding passenger demand, the airlines are facing jet fuel costs that jumped from $2.20 a gallon in January to as much as $4.10 a gallon in early March after Russia started its Ukraine invasion. Usually price increases in jet fuel take a few months to show up in airfare, and the extent to which it appears can vary depending on airlines hedging programs and how much of the cost is passed through to the consumer, Hopper said. Since prices are up 40% since the beginning of the year, wed expect an 8-12% increase in airfare attributable to jet fuel if prices remain at this level, some of which weve likely already seen. The only thing that could possibly reverse the rise in airfares, Hopper said, is another wave of COVID that could put a damper on demand. That February announcement of a merger agreement between Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines the nations two largest ultra-low-cost carriers has suddenly been thrown into doubt by JetBlues decision this week to make its own $3.6 billion bid to acquire Spirit. While Frontier offered Spirit shareholders a combination of cash and Frontier stock in the proposed merger approved by both companies boards of directors JetBlues unsolicited proposal is a more generous all-cash offer of $33 per Spirit share, a premium of 50% over that airlines April 4 closing price. In response to the new offer, Spirit said its directors have decided to begin discussions with JetBlue to determine whether that companys proposal is indeed superior to Frontiers, although it noted that it remains bound by the Frontier agreement for now. JetBlue Frontier and Spirit had argued in February that their combination would mean more low fares for more consumers, and now JetBlue is claiming the same thing for a JetBlue-Spirit merger. The merger would make JetBlue the most compelling national low-fare challenger to the four large dominant U.S. carriers by accelerating JetBlues growth and expanding the reach of the JetBlue Effect, the company said, which occurs when legacy carriers react to JetBlues unique combination of low fares and award-winning customer service. JetBlue triggers significantly greater fare decreases from legacy airlines when it enters a new market than when ultra-low-cost carriers enter a market. (JetBlues claim to a JetBlue effect seems to be stolen from Southwest Airlines, which for decades has claimed a Southwest effect i.e., that fares on all carriers go down when it enters a new market.) But there are some factors that could make a JetBlue-Spirit combination problematic. For one thing, JetBlues Northeast Alliance (NEA) with American Airlines by which those two airlines coordinate their schedules out of New York and Boston and code-share on many of those routes is already facing a court challenge from antitrust regulators at the Department of Justice. And those same regulators would have to approve a JetBlue-Spirit merger or a Frontier-Spirit combination. JetBlue doesnt seem to consider that an obstacle. It said that the Northeast Alliance has supercharged our growth in New York and Boston and we view a combination with Spirit as perfectly complementing the NEA. But DOJ regulators might not share that opinion. For another thing, while both carriers depend mostly on Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft, there are significant differences between JetBlues passenger product and Spirits. For example, JetBlue offers a premium Mint cabin on many longer routes (including its New York-London flights), with lie-flat seats and superior in-flight service. Spirit offers a Big Front Seat option for a surcharge, providing more space and legroom, but it isnt comparable to JetBlues Mint cabins. Spirit imposes a fee not only for checked bags but for carry-ons in the overhead bins, while JetBlue allows passengers to stow carry-ons in the overhead for free (except purchasers of its cheapest Blue Basic fares, who cant do so except on London flights). JetBlue offers free high-speed Wi-Fi while Spirit is still installing Wi-Fi technology on its fleet and charges a fee for its use. As for possible labor complications, the Air Line Pilots Association represents pilots at both carriers, but JetBlues flight attendants belong to the Transport Workers Union while Spirits are represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA. In international route developments, United has delayed its resumption of San Francisco-Melbourne service by about a month. The airline had planned to revive the route May 10 but now has set a resumption date of June 5, initially operating three 787 flights a week. In other Australia news, Delta said this week it will increase service on its Los Angeles-Sydney route to 10 flights a week beginning Dec. 16, adding a second departure on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. And in other trans-Pacific news, Hawaiian Airlines set July 2 for its return to New Zealand after a two-year hiatus, with plans to fly three times a week between Honolulu and Auckland. Trans-Atlantic markets from the western U.S. are getting more service. The German leisure carrier Condors new summer schedule includes nonstop service from San Francisco International to Frankfurt three days a week starting May 19, departing SFO on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Condor uses 767-300s with economy, premium economy and business class seating. Condors schedule also includes three weekly Frankfurt flights from Portland starting May 13, from Los Angeles beginning May 24, and from Phoenix as of May 21. Aer Lingus has set May 12 for its return to Los Angeles International, where it will offer daily flights to Dublin, and July 7 for Seattle-Dublin service, with five weekly flights. At Phoenix Sky Harbor, American Airlines this week brought back London Heathrow service with daily flights (a route also served by AAs partner British Airways). At Denver, Air France plans to resume seasonal service to Paris Charles de Gaulle on May 4 with three weekly flights. On the East Coast, the skies between Boston and London are getting crowded. JetBlue this week announced plans to begin its long-expected Boston-London service to supplement the New York-London flights it introduced last year. JetBlue plans to operate daily flights from Boston to London Gatwick starting July 19 and to London Heathrow beginning Aug. 22, with both routes using the airlines specially configured trans-Atlantic A321LR (Long Range) aircraft that come with 24 redesigned Mint suites in the front cabin. JetBlue is jumping into Boston-London competition with United, which is due to start flying the route April 14 with a daily 767-300 flight (offering 46 Polaris business class seats and 22 in premium economy), and with BOS-LHR incumbents American, British Airways, Delta and Virgin Atlantic. Air France In other trans-Atlantic news, Air France has resumed service between New York JFK and Paris close-in Orly Airport, and said that by early June, it will combine with its partner Delta to offer an exclusive shuttle service between JFK and Paris Charles de Gaulle, offering eight flights a day (six on Air France and two on Delta). Also at JFK, Italys new ITA Airways has introduced service to Milan Malpensa five days a week, in addition to its existing JFK-Rome service. At Atlanta, Delta resumed service to Barcelona this week with three weekly flights, increasing to daily April 14. And that new summer schedule from Germanys Condor Airlines mentioned above also includes service to Frankfurt from New York JFK, Boston, Baltimore/Washington and Minneapolis-St. Paul, all beginning in May. On the domestic side, its no secret that Delta is pretty upset about the JetBlue-American Airlines Northeast Alliance (NEA), which those two carriers are using coordinated schedules and code-sharing to maximize their growth at New York and Boston airports. How upset is Delta? Last week, as part of that NEA, JetBlue moved into heartland markets that it previously ignored, introducing new routes from New York JFK and Boston to both Milwaukee and Kansas City. So now Delta is planning to start daily service on June 6 from JFK to Milwaukee and Kansas City cities it already serves from New York LaGuardia. Last fall, JetBlue started flying from JFK and Boston to San Antonio, and Delta now plans to add a JFK-San Antonio route beginning Sept. 12. In other news, Delta plans to discontinue four domestic routes from its Minneapolis-St. Paul hub in September, cutting service to Albany, Rochester and Syracuse, New York, and to Providence, Rhode Island. Jim Glab Alaska Airlines announced an overhaul of its pricing for in-flight Wi-Fi usage, replacing variable fees based on distance with a flat rate of $8 for Wi-Fi on its mainline aircraft with Intelsat satellite connectivity. The company said with its new satellite service, Our web portal now loads 50% faster than before with a one click-to-connect web experience, and connection speeds are 20 times faster than our previous, basic Wi-Fi system. The upgraded Wi-Fi permits streaming content to passengers personal devices from services like Hulu, Netflix and YouTube, and the Wi-Fi is available from gate to gate, not just in the air. Alaska said nearly 80% of its fleet is currently equipped with satellite Wi-Fi. Alaskas new flat rate matches the $8 single price United introduced earlier this year for MileagePlus members (its $10 for non-members). In airport news, San Francisco International said this week it has reopened its yoga rooms for passenger use. Located post-security in Terminals 2 and 3, theyre available at no cost during regular passenger hours. Common-use yoga mats are available for free in the space and will be disinfected regularly, the airport said, but instruction is not provided. SFO has offered free yoga spaces for several years, in an effort to make air travel less stressful and more enjoyable, the airport noted. Were you planning to fly to Wyomings popular Jackson Hole Airport a gateway to Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks for a spring getaway? Well, you cant. The airport will be closed from April 11 through June 28 for a major improvement project that includes runway and terminal renovations. Due to the volume of traffic in and out of Jackson Hole, the Transportation Security Administration said it is beefing up staffing at the closest alternate facility, Idaho Falls Regional Airport 100 miles to the west. Other alternatives for travel to Jackson, Wyoming, include Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport in Rock Springs, Wyoming; Yellowstone Regional Airport in Cody, Wyoming; and Montanas Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport. Will Waldron/Albany Times Union Remember when air travelers walked to their aircraft and climbed up stairs to board, and when they used both the front and rear doors of the plane to get on and off? Thats the world Frontier Airlines wants to recreate at its Denver International hub. Frontier and the airport have asked the Denver City Council for approval to build a 120,000 square foot, 14-gate facility at the east end of DENs Concourse A that will use ground boarding i.e., no jet bridges. Ground boarding is generally used only for smaller regional aircraft, but Frontier wants to employ it at the proposed DEN facility for mainline planes, and to use both the front and rear aircraft doors for faster boarding and deplaning. Frontier president Barry Biffle said that strategy will cut aircraft turnaround time by 50%, permitting almost twice as many aircraft operations per gate. That will help Frontier add many more flights from DEN, increasing its current network of 80 destinations served from that airport. 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 The Pyramids of Giza were designed on such axes that produced a perfect alignment that was done without modern surveying technology. Other than this mystery associated with Giza structures like unknown voids or hidden rooms is misunderstood how it was built, same as alignment with no relevant technology.. Alignment of the Pyramids of Giza Glen Dash, an archaeologist and engineer, explained it in a 2017 study published in The Journal of Ancient Egyptian Architecture The square sides of the Pyramid of Khufu, about 455 feet, are all straight and almost perfectly aligned at the cardinal point of north, south, east, west, reported Science Alert. Dash explained how the Great Pyramid of Khufu was constructed with an accuracy of better than four minutes of arc, or one-fifteenth of a degree, with the cardinal points. Of the three of the largest pyramids in Egypt, two at Giza with one at Dashur are perfectly aligned, which is impressive since no drones, blueprints, and computers were available to analyze them based on the final structure. The three other pyramids have the same error; they rotated slightly counterclockwise from the cardinal points. Several explanations existed to describe how ancient Egyptians did the alignment. The pole star was the key to aligning the ancient structures using the sun's shadow, but nothing clearly answered how it worked. Dash had suggested a more straightforward idea that the Egyptians about 4,500 years ago might have used the autumnal equinox reach achieve the perfect alignment seen in the Pyramids of Giza. Read Also: Vladimir Putin: 3 Facts You Didn't Know About Russia's President - From His Judo Records to His KGB Pseudonym This equinox happens twice a year when the plane of the Earth's equator passes in the middle of the sun's disc, and the length of day and night is nearly equal. Egyptian's Method To Align the Pyramids Initially, equinox measurements were disregarded as a potential alignment technique because they were considered to be insufficiently precise. But the work to achieve precision is using a rod called a gnomon, said Dash. Dash used an experiment devised to solve the problem, beginning on the initial day of the fall equinox in 2016 to September 22 in the same year; a gnomon was used to cast a shadow to work out the problem. Making a smooth arc of points by noting the shadow as it traveled to regular intervals. At the end of the day, he intercepted two of the curve's points with a taut piece of string wound around the pole, creating an almost perfect east-west line. It is also called the Indian circle method when a surveyor will spot the tip of a shadow in a straight line from east-west during the equinox. He also showed that the degree of error is significantly counterclockwise, identical to the minor error identified in the alignment of Giza's Khufu and Khafre pyramids and also Dahshur's Red pyramid. Dash's experiment was done in Connecticut, USA, although it might apply to Egypt. According to Live Science, the Egyptians needed to align the pyramids, as explained by the scientist. It is no accident that ancient Egyptians learned to define the fall equinox by counting 91 days starting from the summer solstice. The paper's hypothesis points out that this method could have been used to align the pyramids, but this remains uncertain with bare few clues left. Related Article: Archaeologists Scan Ancient Pyramid of Giza in Egypt With Cosmic Rays Revealing Hidden Voids @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The new Labour Force Survey reveals unemployment for very recent immigrants is the lowest on record and employment is growing faster than Canada's population. Unemployment rate among Canadian immigrants at historic low The new Labour Force Survey reveals unemployment for very recent immigrants is the lowest on record and employment is growing faster than Canada's population. Unemployment rate among Canadian immigrants at historic low The new Labour Force Survey reveals unemployment for very recent immigrants is the lowest on record and employment is growing faster than Canada's population. Unemployment rate among Canadian immigrants at historic low The new Labour Force Survey reveals unemployment for very recent immigrants is the lowest on record and employment is growing faster than Canada's population. Shelby Thevenot Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A The unemployment rate for immigrants who landed in Canada within the past five years was at a record low according to Statistics Canadas March Labour Force Survey. The newly-released report captured Canadas labour market conditions during the week of March 13 to 19. During the reference week, provinces were easing public health restrictions. All capacity limits and proof-of-vaccination requirements were lifted in Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and Quebec. Overall, Canadas unemployment fell 0.2 percentage points to 5.3%, the lowest rate on record since comparable data became available in 1976. Statistics Canada calculates the unemployment rate by the number of unemployed people as a percentage of the labour force. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration The adjusted unemployment ratewhich includes people who wanted a job, but did not look for onewas below its pre-pandemic level for the first time at 7.2%. The unemployment rate for core-aged immigrants who landed within the past five years was 8.3%, the lowest since comparable data became available in 2006. Canadian-born workers had an unemployment rate of 4.5%. The gap of 3.8 percentage points is the same that was observed before the pandemic in March 2019. With the unemployment rate so low, virtually all industries are bumping up against labour shortages, including those hospitality sectors that have yet to fully recover, writes Nathan Janzen Assistant Chief Economist at RBC Economics. Employment growth outpacing population growth Canadas total employment rose by 73,000 in March, driven by gains in full-time work. Employment gains since September 2021 have outpaced the population growth. Since September when Canadas employment first recovered from the pandemic, employment has grown 2.4%, compared to the population aged 15 and older, which has grown at a rate of 0.8%. The slow rate of population growth coupled with high job vacancies and fast employment growth will likely be cited to make cases for facilitating the entry of foreign workers. One way to counteract downward pressure on the labour market is to open the door to international talent. This past week, Canada introduced measures to support temporary foreign workers in an effort to address labour shortages. Some of these measures have already gone into effect, such as the two-fold increase in Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) validity period. LMIAs effectively show that a foreign worker will not be taking a Canadian workers job, and they are required for some work permits. Also, the maximum duration of employment for High-Wage and Global Talent Stream workers has been extended from two years to three. In addition, there is no longer a limit to the number of low-wage positions that employers in seasonal industries can fill through the TFWP. Two more measures will come into effect on April 30, including new rules for what percentage of an employers staff can be foreign workers. Canada will also end the automatic denial of LMIA applications for low-wage occupations in the accommodation and food services and retail trade sectors in regions with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher. For permanent immigration, Canada is set on admitting a new record number of newcomers this year. According to the 2022-2024 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada wants to admit 431,645 newcomers in 2022. Immigration is largely responsible for Canadas population growth. Statistics Canadas 2021 census recently revealed that Canada had the fastest growing population in the G7 thanks to immigration. Four out of five of the 1.8 million people added to the population between the 2016 and 2021 censuses were either temporary residents or immigrants with permanent status. The remaining population growth was due to natural increase, which is the difference between births and deaths. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options. Wilkes Barre, PA (18701) Today Rain likely. High 52F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch.. Tonight Showers in the evening, then cloudy overnight. Low 39F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Captured images show a Russian Su-34 Fighter releasing decoy flares while conducting air raids. These decoys draw away Ukrainian missiles firing at the Russian fighter bombers. Used in the air campaign are the Sukhoi Su-35E Flankers and the heavy-duty Su-34. Su-34 Fighter From Russia Seen in the Donetsk region in Eastern Ukraine is a plane flying overhead and releasing heat traps where Russia carried out airstrikes, reported the Eurasian Times. A video of the plane releasing flares was posted on social media. It came after Ukraine's anti-aircraft missile shot down a Sukhoi Su-34 fighter plane over Kharkiv, according to a new video released by Ukrainian authorities, cited the Business Insider. Footage of a big flaming object falling from the sky was published on Facebook by Ukraine's General Staff of the Armed Forces a few days ago, claiming it to be a Russian Su-34. Early in the Ukraine, incursion saw the twin-seat fighter as force multipliers to suppress the Ukrainians. Later seven of the fighter-bombers were seen flying over the City of Kharkiv. According to Russian state media, Russia's newest fighter plane costs $36 million each unit, yet, it has allegedly fallen short of its capabilities in the Ukraine conflict. Kyiv claims to have downed several Su-34 fighter jets, including one on March 27. The allegations could not be independently confirmed. Russian Su-34 fighter jets are actively deploying large flares in Ukraine, especially in the airspace of the Donbas republic. Due to the large-scale supply of anti-aircraft missiles used by the Ukrainians. Read Also: Volodymyr Zelensky Children: Does the Ukraine President Have Kids? These Man-Portable Air defense systems (MANPADS) like Javelins, Stingers, NLAWs, and Starstreak have caused damage to Russian military forces. Especially Russian planes are flying low over the landscapes. Other systems used by Ukraine are the S-300, and S-125 Neva, has accounted for shot-down aircraft. The last time Russia was in the news for utilizing heat traps was onboard a Tu-124PU during President Vladimir Putin's visit to Syria in 2017. Su-30SM escorting the Russian President Putin's aircraft encircled it; to form heat traps to stop a portable MANPAD attack. Decoy Flares Flares are carried by the Soviet jets that are hot, which are ejected to keep missiles away to protect it, mentioned Science ABC. Most decoy flares are made of materials that instantly burn when they contact air. These pyrophoric flares, also called decoy flares because they burn up as soon as they 'touch' the air, work wonders in preventing a heat-seeking missile from hitting its (intended) target. Heatseekers will be fooled by the hot flares which distract After launching phantom flares, the pilot may move the plane away from the steep angle at which the flares were shot. Engine power is limited to regulate or minimize the plane's thermal signature. Even if they are not in actual conflict, helicopters and ground attack aircraft may practice firing flares when entering high-risk sections. They are also included in their performance envelope and operations wherein shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles may be available. During training dogfights, warplanes will discharge flares whenever an adversary is within the firing range of their short-range missiles. Seeing a twin-seater Russian Su-34 Fighter eject large decoys is the best countermeasure if a MANPAD can be fired at it; to avoid getting shot down. Related Article: Mirage 2000 Fighter Plane: French Multi-Mission Aircraft Used by Many Air Forces Worldwide @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Haiyang becomes first Chinese city to enjoy zero-carbon heating with nuclear power 12:52, April 09, 2022 By Xu Peiyu ( People's Daily On April 1, a commercial nuclear heating project launched by the State Power Investment Corporation Limited (SPIC) overfulfilled the task of ensuring heating for urban residents of Haiyang, a county-level city in east Chinas Shandong province, during the first heating season since it was put into operation, making Haiyang the first Chinese city to enjoy a winter with carbon-free heating. During the heating season, the project supplied heat to users from all urban areas in a continuous and stable manner for 143 days, with its services covering an area of nearly five million square meters and benefiting 200,000 urban residents of Haiyang. Meanwhile, various performance indicators of the project reached design requirements and the whole system of the project worked well. Its believed that the project has provided the first nuclear heating scheme for an entire county-level city that can be replicated and promoted in other cities across China, which represents an important contribution to the realization of clean heating in northern China. The nuclear heating project in Haiyang has received wide praise from local residents. According to them, room temperature of their houses was quite stable, and unlined clothing was warm enough for the elderly and children; the nuclear heating project has not only helped extend the heating season, but lower the heating bills. An urban resident of Haiyang city, east Chinas Shandong province, shows the actual room temperature measured at her home, Nov. 13, 2021. (Photo by Jing Yi) The pollution-free nuclear heating project enabled us to bid farewell to dependence on coal for heating. We have truly benefited from the development of nuclear energy, said a resident. The project has taken many measures to ensure the safety of heat supply, including building multiple isolation barriers to make sure no direct connection exists between nuclear power plant and end-users, and employing online monitoring equipment to guarantee that the process of heat supply is absolutely safe. In the project, steam is first extracted from nuclear generating unit to be used as heat source, and then multi-stage heat exchange is carried out in physical isolation before heat is finally transferred to the houses of users. In 2018, when the worlds largest cogeneration unit, No. 1 unit of Haiyang nuclear power plant was put into commercial operation, Shandong Nuclear Power Company (SDNPC), a subsidiary of the SPIC and also the operator of Haiyang nuclear power plant, took the lead in the research and practice of cogeneration using large-scale pressurized water reactors together with the local government. In 2019, they put into operation the first phase of Chinas first commercial nuclear heating project; and last year, they put into service the second phase of the project, which has covered all the urban areas of Haiyang city with nuclear heating service. The second phase of the project has shown significant environmental benefits. It has not only raised the air quality in Haiyang city during the heating season, but effectively improved the marine ecology and environment of its surrounding areas. Haiyang nuclear power plant in Haiyang city, east Chinas Shandong province. (Photo/State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council) During the first heating season since it was put into operation in November 2021, the second phase of the project provided two million gigajoules (GJ) of clean heat and replaced 12 coal-fired boilers. Compared with heat supply in the past, it can, in every heating season, save 180,000 tons of raw coal, which is equivalent to planting 1,000 hectares of broad-leaved forests, and cut carbon dioxide emissions by 330,000 tons, oxynitride emissions by 2,021 tons, sulfur dioxide emissions by 2,138 tons, and emissions of smoke and dust by 1,243 tons. Besides, it has reduced the average PM2.5 density, a key indicator of air pollution, by 16 percent, increased the share of good air quality days by 17 percent, cut heat emitted into the environment by 1.5 million GJ, and decreased the area of ocean waters with a temperature rise of two degrees Celsius by 25 hectares from the previous heating season. Photo shows the first heat exchange station of Haiyang nuclear power plant in Haiyang city, east Chinas Shandong province, Nov. 13, 2021. (Photo by Jing Yi) At present, preparations for the third phase of the project featuring the demonstration of comprehensive utilization of nuclear energy, are vigorously pushed forward in Haiyang city. The construction of the 900 MW nuclear heating project, the countrys largest single-unit steam extraction heating project, is slated to kick off within this year and be completed before the heating season of the next year. It will coordinate heat storage and new energy power generation functions to help solve the problems of the utilization of new energy and cross-regional clean heat supply. Upon completion, the annual power output of each generating unit of the third phase of the project will reach 9.5 billion kWh, while the clean heat produced by the project will cover a combined area of 30 million square meters and satisfy heating needs of one million residents. At the same time, the third phase of the project will also be able to provide steam for industrial use, when the thermal efficiency of its generating units will reach 55.9 percent, 1.5 times that of the thermal efficiency before, and the amounts of carbon emissions and other pollutants reduced by it will be five times that realized by the second phase of the project. Its believed that the country will embrace more economical, eco-friendly and effective schemes that integrate the utilization of nuclear energy, new energy, and energy storage on its journey toward the goal of peaking carbon dioxide emissions and achieving carbon neutrality. (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji) On Friday, Ukrainian Prosecutor General Iryna Venedyktovae announced that 164 dead had been recovered in the Bucha district of Kyiv, where a massacre of civilians was discovered after Russian soldiers withdrew. Venedyktovae claimed 26 people were discovered under the wreckage of a collapsed building in Borodianka, another Kyiv neighborhood, yesterday, and two additional dead were discovered on Friday. She predicted that additional corpses will be found in the town's demolished structures, CNN reported. Russia Attacks Railway Station Used by Evacuees Meanwhile, Russian forces launched a missile strike on a train station in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine, that was being used by civilians fleeing the war, killing at least 50 people, including five children, Ukrainian officials reported Friday. Pavlo Kyrylenko, the chief of the regional military administration in Donetsk, where the incident occurred, stated 98 people were injured, including 16 children, 46 women, and 36 men. Nearly 300 people were injured in the walkout, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. During the previous two weeks, the mayor estimated that 8,000 people visited the station to flee. When the missile hit, up to 4,000 people were present. Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's foreign minister, described the incident as a "deliberate massacre." As Russia attacked a railway station today, horrified residents reported fields of dead bodies, and their faces charred off. Even as reports of the most barbarous bombardment out east circulated throughout Ukraine, north Kyiv rose from the ruins of shattered villages, according to Mirror. The railway station in Kramatorsk was attacked by missiles, one of which was labeled "For What Has Been Done To The Children," killing at least 50 people, including five children, and wounding up to 300 more. President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the Russians of lacking the strength and courage to confront us on the battlefield and of shamelessly slaughtering civilians. The despicable bombardment in Kramatorsk today was matched by the atrocities that residents in areas north of Kyiv were revealing. "We are defending the right to live." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tells Scott Pelley "human values" are on the line. Sunday, on 60 Minutes. https://t.co/FICtGz2IG3 pic.twitter.com/1JQdJGV90j 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) April 8, 2022 Read Also: UN Ousts Russia From Human Rights Council as Official Estimates Higher Figures in Brutal Invasion of Ukraine EU Vows To Hasten Ukraine's Accession Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission's chief, said the civilian casualties in the Ukrainian town of Bucha demonstrated Russia's army's "cruel face" and promised to work to hasten Ukraine's accession to the European Union. During a visit to Bucha on Friday (April 8), where forensic investigators began exhuming victims from a mass grave, von der Leyen was clearly disturbed by what she witnessed in the town northwest of Kyiv, where Ukrainian officials claim Russian soldiers slaughtered hundreds of people. Russia denies targeting civilians, calling reports that Russian soldiers murdered people in Bucha while occupying the city a "monstrous forgery" intended to discredit the Russian army, as per The Strait Times. A missile attack on a railway station filled with civilians fleeing the possibility of a massive Russian invasion in eastern Ukraine killed at least 50 people and injured many more just as EU officials were about to arrive in Kyiv. Von der Leyen blasted "the cynical actions" of people who inscribed "for our children" on firearms recovered near the scene at a press conference. Approximately 4,000 people were gathering at the station at the time, according to the mayor of Kramatorsk in Donetsk's eastern area. Related Article: [Report] Russia Attacks More than 20 Schools in Ukraine Each Day; Troops Cut out Civilians' Tongues, Turning Ukrainians Into 'Silent Slaves' @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In a memo, U.S. District Court Judge R. Brooke Jackson acknowledged he had undeclared financial conflicts of interest in 36 cases, including some in which his colleagues had already recused themselves for their own conflicts. After slapping Chris Rock during the Oscars last month, Will Smith has been barred from attending the event for the next ten years. In a statement to members on Friday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences termed Will Smith's actions "unacceptable" and stated the newly minted Academy Award winner would be barred from attending any events or activities offered by the organization for the next ten years. Will Smith Gets 10-Year Ban From Oscars Over Chris Rock Slap Per CNBC, Will Smith approached Chris Rock onstage after the comedian made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's close-cropped hair. Pinkett Smith suffers from alopecia, a disorder that causes hair loss. Smith returned to his seat after hitting Rock and yelled profanities at his co-star. The board of the academy was supposed to meet on April 18 to examine possible disciplinary sanctions, such as suspension or expulsion from the organization. Smith, on the other hand, resigned from the group last week, calling his actions "shocking, painful, and inexcusable." Will Smith apologized to the academy and his fellow nominees during his acceptance speech for the best actor award, which he won for his portrayal of Richard Williams in "King Richard." He apologized to Rock via social media the day after the ceremony. Smith's departure means he is no longer a member of the Academy's voting body, but it does not exclude him from being nominated in the future, according to a person familiar with the situation. Traditionally, the best actor winner from the previous year gives the best actress award for the current year and the reigning best actress presents to the best actor trophy. Because of Smith's exclusion, the Academy Awards will have to break with custom. The day following the incident, Smith apologized to Rock on social media, CNN reported. Smith reportedly contacted the show's producer, Will Packer, the next morning, apologizing and expressing his embarrassment, according to the producer. Packer claimed officials from the Los Angeles Police Department were ready to arrest Will Smith for violence during the interview with "GMA," but Chris Rock indicated he didn't want that. "Deep thanks to Rock for retaining his cool under unusual circumstances," the Academy wrote in its letter. Read Also: Grammy Awards 2022: A Look at Celebrities' Stunning Red Carpet Outfits Will Smith's Ban From the Academy Awards Garner Reactions Meanwhile, 50 Cent said that the Academy Awards had "done Will Smith dirty" by forbidding him from attending Academy events for a decade. Will Smith has been given permission to keep his Oscar for his role in King Richard. Following the announcement of his ban, 50 Cent - actual name Curtis Jackson - slammed the decision on Twitter. The rapper from Disco Inferno isn't the only one who has reacted to the news, with Ricky Gervais making a joke on social media. Following the star-studded event last month, an inquiry into his activities was initiated, as per Mirror. Got Damn they doing Will dirty, This is too harsh so he cant come back till he 63 years old. and the law suit aint even hit yet. SMH #bransoncognac #lecheminduroi pic.twitter.com/llMjL57FOb 50cent (@50cent) April 8, 2022 Hopefully, he'll only do 6 years with good behaviour. https://t.co/26Et5zsLWA Ricky Gervais (@rickygervais) April 8, 2022 Chris Rock may not be ready to speak about the incident, but his brother has been eager to express his thoughts on the topic, previously claiming that the actor's Best Actor award should be rescinded by The Academy. Related Article: Will Smith Loses Major Projects After Slapping Chris Rock at Oscars 2022; Expert Says He 'Deeply Damaged' His Career @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 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. Google Fi's unlimited plans are now cheaper. Google recently announced in a blog post that the price of its Google Fi's unlimited phone plans and feature updates to all its phone plans would start at $20. The company is also offering either a discount or a Google Fi bill credit if interested customers want to join or add a Google Fi line for a limited time to celebrate the price reduction. Google Fi Simply Unlimited Price Reduction According to Google's blog post, the price of Google Fi's Simply Unlimited plan will now start at $20 per month instead of its previous price of $30 per month. The company says that the price reduction further secured the Simply Unlimited plan's reputation as Google's most affordable unlimited plan, especially for families and groups. Google's infographic on the Simply Unlimited plan supports its claim, with the $20 starting price covering more than four lines. This more affordable price is perfect for families and bigger groups. The company also reduced prices for Simply Unlimited plans covering less than four lines. The Simply Unlimited plan for three lines now costs $25 instead of $30, while the subscription covering two lines has a price tag of $40 instead of $45. Finally, the Simply Unlimited plan covering just one line now costs $50 from its original price of $60. Summary for Simpley Unlimited: 4+ lines- $20/line 3 lines- $25/line 2 lines- $40/line 1 line- $50/line Read More: Most Distant Galaxy Ever Discovered Spotted by Numerous Telescopes In addition to the price reduction, Google increased the plan's high-speed data from 22GB to 35GB and included 5GB of hotspot tethering for internet connection sharing to other devices while on the go. Google also added unlimited calling within Canada and Mexico with its Simply Unlimited Plan. Google Fi Unlimited Plus Price Reduction Google Fi's Unlimited Plus plan also received a price reduction of five dollars in all of its plans. As such, the Unlimited Plus plan for more than four lines now costs $40 instead of $45, and the plan for those with three lines, two lines, and one line cost $45, $55, and $65, respectively. Summary for Unlimited Plus: 4+ lines- $40/line 3 lines- $45/line 2 lines- $55/line 1 line- $65/line Just like with the Simply Unlimited plan, Google added more high-speed data to the Unlimited Plus plan. It now has 50GB of high-speed data per month as well as unlimited calling within Canada and Mexico for free. No Changes on Google Fi's Flexible Plan CNET reported that Google Fi's Flexible plan did not receive a price reduction. As such, it would continue to have a price tag of $17 a month per line for four lines for unlimited calls and texts, plus $10 per gigabyte for data at home and abroad. However, the plan did receive unlimited calling within Canada and Mexico at no extra cost. Limited Time Discounts Google revealed that it would offer either a discount or a Google Fi bill credit for a limited time to celebrate the price reduction. Interested customers who want to join or add a line to their plan can save up to $500 on select phones or get a $100 bill credit if they bring their own phone. However, Google reminds people that its Terms apply to the discount, which can be read on their website. Google Fi is Google's cell phone carrier which gives customers data service on both T-Mobile and U.S. Cellular, something which a compatible phone will intelligently switch between, per Android Central. Related Article: Google Turning On Search Tracking History: What Does It Mean for Workspace Users? Axiom launched the world's first all-private astronaut Ax-1 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). With the help of SpaceX's space rocket, Axiom was able to complete the ISS mission that marked the beginning of a new generation of low-Earth orbit, commercial space tourism. This will also be the first-ever launch in Axiom Space's history which holds an important significance in the emerging era of commercial space travel. Axiom Launch of Ax-1 With SpaceX Axiom Space's ground-breaking commercial space flight is aptly named Ax-1, short for Axiom Mission 1. The Ax-1 private mission to the ISS was aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that launched from the NASA Kennedy Space Center at 11:17 a.m. ET/8:17 a.m. PT on Friday. This takes commerce to a whole new level. @Axiom_Space's #Ax1 mission is on its way to the @Space_Station in @SpaceX's Dragon Endeavoura key step in our ongoing work to open opportunities for space travelers in low-Earth orbit. pic.twitter.com/SZk7Tseykw NASA (@NASA) April 8, 2022 The Axiom space launch was greeted with nearly the ideal weather. Throughout their 10-day mission, the astronauts will spend eight days on the ISS, where they will conduct more than 25 scientific research and technology demonstrations. This diverse portfolio expands the opportunities available to scientists and researchers around the world, and it will contribute critical data to the preparations for Axiom Station, the world's first commercial space station. Michael Suffredini, president and CEO of Axiom Space, stated, "I first want to congratulate Michael, Larry, Eytan, and Mark. We will usher in a new era in private human spaceflight when they cross the threshold to enter the ISS." Suffredini added, "This journey is the culmination of long hours of training, planning, and dedication from the crew and the entire Axiom Space team, our partners at SpaceX, and of course, a credit to NASA's vision to develop a sustainable presence in low-Earth orbit." After docking, the Ax-1 crew will be greeted by astronauts from NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) as well as cosmonauts from Roscosmos already onboard the ISS. NASA administrator Bill Nelson stated that all the teams involved had worked tirelessly to make this launch a reality. Nelson added: "NASA's partnership with industry through the commercial cargo and crew programs has led our nation to this new era in human spaceflight - one with limitless potential. Congratulations to Axiom, SpaceX, and the Axiom-1 crew for making this first private mission to the International Space Station a reality." Read Also: #SpaceSnap: NASA Perseverance Rover Looks Back at Wheel Tracks Axiom Launch: The Ax-1 Crew The Axiom launch today includes four Ax-1 crew members. As reported by CNN, the commander of the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule is Michael Lopez-Allegria, a former NASA astronaut from 1995 to 2007 who now works in Axiom Space. Another private astronaut onboard Ax-1 is Larry Connor, an Ohio-based real estate and tech entrepreneur. Next is another businessman, Eytan Stibbe, who is a former fighter pilot from Israel. Lastly, Mark Pathy, a Canadian businessman and philanthropist. Our #Ax1 crew is now seated in the Dragon spacecraft and will begin pre-launch checklists. comms check seats rotated suit leak checks NEXT: side hatch for flight will close for flight = key visual milestone on the timeline to liftoff! pic.twitter.com/rqdlcwyY0l Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) April 8, 2022 Axiom Space is a Houston-based startup that aims to book rocket rides, provide all necessary training, and coordinate flights to the ISS for anyone who can afford to pay for the privilege. All of this is in line with the goal of the United States government and the private sector to increase commercial activity on the ISS and beyond. The company did not disclose how much the Ax-1 crew paid to have a seat on their first space flight, however, at a previous press conference, Axiom disclosed a price of $55 million per seat for a 10-day trip to the ISS. Since the ISS is a government-funded and operated facility, the mission is made possible through close collaboration among Axiom, SpaceX, and NASA. Related Article: NASA Astronaut Mark Vande Hei Returns to Houston After 355 Days in Space On the heels of a bankruptcy that wiped out billions of dollars owed to creditors, a new regulatory filing reveals Frontier Communications estimates it paid its new executive chairman last year $48.5 million the most of all Connecticut publicly traded company executives. The compensation topped by several million dollars the amount earned by the CEO of Stamfords Charter Communications who was the second-highest paid executive. Frontier operates the historic Southern New England Telephone network that dates back to the earliest days of the telephone, with its eastern operations center in New Haven where SNET had been based. In 2016, the company absorbed a massive amount of debt to take over Verizon territories in California, Florida and Texas, which never produced sufficient profits and contributed to Frontiers April 2020 bankruptcy. Frontier continued normal service during its bankruptcy, while making Connecticut one of its early states for an upgrade to fiber-optic broadband. After dropping broadband territories in four northwest states through a sale, the company now operates a patchwork of territories across 25 states and entered this year with 15,600 employees. Frontier revenue totaled $6.4 billion in 2021, down 10 percent from the previous year. Excluding a $4.5 billion gain that included elimination of debt, in the final eight months of last year Frontier recorded $414 million in profits, reversing a $404 million loss in 2020. The company continues to carry ample debt at $7.7 billion. While Frontier has committed to maintaining its headquarters in Norwalk through February 2023 as a condition of Connecticut regulators approving its bankruptcy restructuring, the company in January leased nearly 100,000 square feet of office space in Dallas where CEO Nick Jeffery lives. Frontier installed Jeffery as CEO a year after its bankruptcy filing, paying the former Vodafone executive $17 million for his first nine months leading Frontier. That was more than his predecessor Dan McCarthy accumulated across his first four years as CEO of the company. McCarthy stepped down months before the 2020 bankruptcy filing. In his role as executive chairman, John Stratton made far more than Jeffery at $48.5 million in 2021, according to a company filing this week with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. His compensation was largely in the form of stock awards that could result in a different final tally depending on the price of shares when he cashes in. Strattons total compensation was more than twice as much paid last year to the CEO of Verizon Communications, where Stratton worked for 25 years before stepping down in 2018. On a February conference call, Stratton said Frontier has built a pay-for-performance compensation philosophy into the companys executive compensation program. From just under $27 in May 2021 when Frontier debuted a new stock listing coming out of bankruptcy, the company shares traded Thursday morning at just over $29, a 7 percent gain even as shares ebbed for several rival broadband carriers. In recent years, there has been a growing investor backlash against big pay packages for CEOs, resulting in initiatives like say on pay in which investors can pressure boards to ratchet back compensation, and a requirement for companies to report how much more CEOs make than workers at the median of their payrolls. Frontier spokesperson Erin Kurtz said this week the companys board deemed the CEO and executive chairman packages as necessary to getting the best possible talent to lead it out of bankruptcy. Frontier shareholders can weigh in on the 2021 pay packages at an annual meeting that will be held online May 17. Big paydays are nothing new in the broadband industry. In Stamford, Charter Communications paid CEO Tom Rutledge $41.9 million in compensation last year, while it also recommitted to the city for the long term with a new headquarters complex. Altice USA, the New York company that owns Optimum, awarded its CEO Dexter Goei $48 million in the first year of the pandemic. It was one of the 20 largest U.S. compensation packages in 2020 as tracked by the AFL-CIO. A spokesperson in the office of Connecticut Attorney General William Tong declined to comment, citing an ongoing investigation of Frontiers customer service announced in April 2020 after more than 1,000 customers lodged complaints. Speaking on a February conference call, Jeffery addressed Frontiers efforts nationally to improve customer service. We have put in place hundreds, if not thousands, of operational changes to make the customer experience better, Jeffery said in February. The brand is repairable and indeed is repairing quite rapidly. Frontier is now upgrading its Connecticut offering by stringing fiber optic cable directly to customers for 2 gigabit broadband service. The company is using a mix of staff and external contractors from out of state to install those lines, according to the head of a Frontier labor union in Connecticut. Workers voted to ratify a new contract in February that increases pay 9 percent over the three years of the deal. In its annual proxy to investors on Monday, Frontier reported its median employee nationally made $80,500 last year. The corporate greed level in this country is not any secret, said Dave Weidlich, president of Local 1298 of the Communications Workers of America union based in Hamden. They are doing a fiber-to-the-home build in Connecticut, and thats good news for us. Those people they brought in knew something about how to build a business rather than the previous group of people who knew a lot about killing a business. Includes prior reporting by Paul Schott and Luther Turmelle. Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A quarter-century ago, a desire within Connecticuts Department of Environmental Protection to preserve more land from future development led Deputy Commissioner David Leff to look at one of the most densely built cities on the planet. At the time, more than 1 acre in every 5 acres of land in New York City qualified as open space undeveloped land set aside for outdoor recreation, habitat preservation or for its scenic beauty and Leff said he believed Connecticut could do better. I thought, Well, if New York City, which is a very densely populated place, could have over 20 percent open space, why couldnt Connecticut? he recalled in an interview last year. I also liked the idea of 21 percent for the 21st century, it seemed like a catchy thing, but frankly it never caught on. Nonetheless, Leff and his co-workers eventually came up with an idea that was formally adopted by Connecticut lawmakers in 1997 requiring the protection of 21 percent of Connecticuts land area a total of 673,210 acres as designated open space. A year later, state officials set the deadline of 2023 for reaching that goal. Now, with only a few months left to go in the 25-year plan, Connecticut remains well behind the pace of preservation needed to meet its goal. Despite a head start of hundreds of thousands of acres already set aside in the late 1990s, the state and its partners in the open space initiative cities, towns, private land trusts and water utilities have since set aside less than half of the additional lands needed to meet the 21 percent goal. According to the most recent estimates by the now-named Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, a total of 514,653 acres, or about 76 percent of the goal, have been set aside. An analysis of land acquisition data by Hearst Connecticut Media found that at no point over the last two decades was the state on track to meet the 21 percent open space goal, though policy makers invested a much higher amount of resources toward land acquisition in the initial years after the 1997 act was passed. Then, beginning in about 2005, the state slashed spending on new tracts of land. Several years later, as the Great Recession depleted state finances, advocates say that grants aimed at helping towns, land trusts and utilities add to Connecticuts open space inventory became smaller and less frequent. Between 1998 and 2008, the state spent more than $214 million through its two largest drivers of open land acquisition: the Recreation and Natural Heritage Trust Program for state lands and the Open Space Watershed Acquisition Program, which provides grants to other entities to purchase land dedicated for open space. Too little invested Over the next 11 years, the amount spent through those two programs dwindled to around $87 million. (DEEP did not report the amount of grants awarded through the OSWA program in two of those years, 2016 and 2017). Theres been chronic under-investment in protecting open space from the very beginning, said Eric Hammerling, executive director of the Connecticut Forest and Park Association. Weve had 20-plus years of investments that have not been what we needed them to be. At the current rate of land acquisition by the state and its partners, it would take at least another 62 years for the state to reach its open space goal, Hammerling said in recent testimony to lawmakers. To ramp up the states pace of land preservation, lawmakers this year have proposed legislation to double the amount of annual bonding for the OSWA program from $5 million to $10 million. Funding for open space was one of many priorities that fell victim to years of budget woes that forced lawmakers to cut down on borrowing and state spending, said state Rep. Joe Gresko, D-Stratford, the sponsor of that legislation. Now backed by budget surpluses and surging interest by residents in state parks and outdoor recreation, Gresko said lawmakers are approaching the states open space goals with renewed vigor. Everyone is seeing the importance of open space, he said. Everyone has been trapped in their homes the last two years due to COVID. Smaller tracts of land As lawmakers seek to increase funding for open space programs, DEEP is also reevaluating its priorities as it seeks new parcels of lands to protect. Mason Trumble, deputy commissioner for environmental conservation, told Hearst last year that he wanted to avoid making the agency so focused on the 21 percent goal that smaller tracts of undeveloped land in densely populated areas are ignored. If we only cared about acreage, that was the only thing that mattered, we probably wouldnt conserve land in and around cities, because usually those parcels are smaller, right, because theres just less land available, Trumble said. We want to make sure were balancing out those priorities. Still, Trumble said the agency was not pivoting away from the 21 percent goal and said he and other officials were hopeful that a federal land conservation plan announced by President Joe Biden could inject much-needed funds into the states initiative. For Leff, the former DEEP official who helped come up with the idea of setting aside more open space, the 21 percent goal was both practical and aspirational for a state known as much for its rolling hills and river valleys as its urban and industrial centers. I agree with (Trumble) that its not just about sheer acreage but the quality of that acreage both in terms of the natural habitats it protects and its accessibility to people, Leff said. Especially people in urban areas that might not otherwise have access to natural spaces. Its not either or, I think you need to do both. To meet Connecticuts goal of preserving over one-fifth of its land area as open space, lawmakers tasked DEEP with meeting about half that amount protecting 10 percent of the states land through purchases or easements while municipalities, utilities and private land trusts were expected to cover the other 11 percent. According to the most recent figures provided by DEEP, the state is about 10 percent closer to reaching its share of the goal than its municipal and private partners. But land trusts and other partners in the open space initiative struggled for years to fund new purchases as the state cut back on grants offered through the OSWA program, said Amy Paterson, executive director of the Connecticut Land Conservation Council. In the initial years after setting the goal, the OSWA program typically offered two rounds of competitive grant funding each year, before funding shortfalls reduced the frequency to once a year. In 2009 and 2011, no new grants were awarded through the OSWA program, according to DEEP records. Even now, with the program offering annual grant rounds, the timing of the awards varies, Paterson said, making it difficult for land trusts to plan large purchases. It went from offering it two times a year, to one time a year but then it started to become inconsistent. Patterson said. So land trusts and others that rely upon it arent sure when the grant is going to be announced and they havent been sure of when the award is going to be announced. Keeping track of tracts In addition to limited resources for acquiring new open space, DEEP has also lagged in its efforts to gather a full inventory of land parcels that are already protected. The agencys most recent comprehensive map of protected lands is more than a decade old, and with data missing from several towns. As part of a Green Plan adopted in 2016 to bolster efforts around open space, officials set a goal of gathering better data on existing open spaces and identifying new lands that would be most valuable for preservation. Hammerling, of the Forest and Park Association, said it can be a challenge to raise awareness about the need for open space, particularly in areas of the state where much of the land is seemingly wild and undeveloped. What might be undeveloped today could be developed tomorrow, he said. Its really important that some protection be in place for a piece of property to be considered a part of the states mandate. According to DEEP, Connecticut lost about 115,000 acres of forestland to development between 1985 and 2010. In addition to protecting vital habitats and helping the state meet its climate goals, protecting open space can also help attract new residents and companies seeking amenities for its workers, DEEPs Trumble said. Connecticut currently has more state parks than New Jersey and Rhode Island combined, he noted. When we look at our state compared to other states in terms of competitiveness for people moving and our economic development, I think our open space is a big part of that story as well, Trumble said. ATLANTA (AP) When she ended her first bid to become Georgia governor in 2018, Stacey Abrams announced plans to sue over the way the state's elections were managed. More than three years later, as she makes another run at the governor's mansion, the lawsuit is going to trial. Filed in November 2018 by Abrams' Fair Fight Action organization, the suit alleged that state officials "grossly mismanaged the election, depriving some citizens, particularly low-income people and people of color, of their right to vote. The lawsuit originally called for a sweeping overhaul of the state's elections, but its scope was considerably narrowed after the state made changes that addressed some allegations and others were dismissed by the court. The trial is set to begin Monday. Even if U.S. District Judge Steve Jones sides with the plaintiffs, its unclear whether that will affect elections this year. Jones and other federal judges have been reluctant to order last-minute changes, noting that the Supreme Court has repeatedly said federal judges shouldnt alter rules on the eve of an election." In the months preceding the 2018 election, Abrams, a Democrat, accused her Republican opponent in the governors race, then-Secretary of State Brian Kemp, of using his position as Georgia's chief elections officer to promote voter suppression, an allegation Kemp has vehemently denied. In the more than three years since that fiercely fought contest captured national attention, the focus on Georgia's elections has only intensified. Problems during the 2020 primary drew sharp criticism. Later that year, former President Donald Trump hurled insults at state officials who declined to overturn his narrow general election loss in the state. And the nation watched closely in January 2021 as a pair of Democrats unseated the states two incumbent Republican U.S. senators. Numerous GOP-led state legislatures passed election bills last year after Trump stoked false claims that widespread fraud led to his 2020 defeat. Georgia's bill, which Kemp signed into law a year ago, was one of the broadest. Among other things, the state's measure reduced the window to request an absentee ballot, stripped power from the secretary of state and sharply curtailed the use of absentee ballot drop boxes in populous and Democratic-voting metro Atlanta counties. Voting rights groups and the U.S. Department of Justice promptly sued; those lawsuits are pending. Republicans in Georgia this year passed legislation to let the Georgia Bureau of Investigation initiate probes into alleged election wrongdoing. Meanwhile, Abrams, a state lawmaker who was little known outside Georgia when she ran four years ago, has become a household name and Democratic Party star. The only Democrat running for governor, she'll face Kemp again in November if he fends off a primary challenge from former U.S. Sen. David Perdue. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger accused Abrams and her allies of trying to undermine the integrity of Georgia elections. Her 3-year stolen election campaign has been nothing more than a political stunt to keep her in the national spotlight, and its a disservice to Georgia voters, he said in an emailed statement. Fair Fight says it works to promote voting rights and support progressive candidates around the country, and its PAC has raised more than $100 million since its founding. It filed the lawsuit along with Care in Action, a nonprofit that advocates for domestic workers. Several churches have also joined as plaintiffs. Fair Fight collected statements from people who said they had problems voting. The lawsuit cited multiple alleged problems, including the purging of eligible voters from voter rolls under a use it or lose it policy; the states so-called exact match voter registration rules; an insufficient number of voting machines at some precincts; and a lack of sufficient training for election officials. It asked a federal judge to find that Georgias elections processes violated the U.S. Constitution and federal law. Since the start of this lawsuit, we have highlighted real voters and their challenges because we believe that is one of the most effective ways to demonstrate the barriers in Georgias elections system," Fair Fight executive director Cianti Stewart-Reid said in an emailed statement. She added that voters from around the state will testify at trial about obstacles faced while trying to vote. Some of the alleged problems were addressed by changes in state law. For example, a 2019 law called for replacing the state's outdated voting machines. The new system was implemented statewide in 2020. In February 2021, Jones threw out parts of the lawsuit, saying some allegations were made irrelevant by changes in state law or the plaintiffs lack of standing. Among them were some of the claims about voting machines and election technology, as well as the security of voter lists and polling place issues. The following month, Jones dismissed claims targeting the use it or lose it policy and some allegations of inadequate training of poll workers. He also dismissed some claims relating to provisional and absentee ballots. The issues remaining for the trial have to do with the exact match policy, the statewide voter registration list and in-person cancellation of absentee ballots. The plaintiffs claim that Georgia's secretary of state and State Election Board members are denying and abridging Georgians' right to vote" in violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the U.S. Constitution. Under the exact match policy, information from voter registration applications is checked against information held by the state Department of Driver Services or the federal Social Security Administration. If there's a discrepancy, the would-be voter must show identification to county officials before being able to cast a regular ballot. The plaintiffs say data entry errors or differences as minor as a missing hyphen or apostrophe can trigger a non-match and that naturalized citizens can also be wrongly flagged as noncitizens if records are outdated. These problems disproportionately affect people of color and can depend on where a person lives because counties do things differently, the plaintiffs say. The statewide voter registration database is error-ridden, the plaintiffs say, resulting in the erroneous deletion of eligible voters' registration or critical information being incorrect. That can prevent eligible voters from being able to vote or force them to overcome undue burdens to do so, the plaintiffs say. The plaintiffs also say election officials aren't sufficiently trained on canceling an absentee ballot if someone chooses to vote in person instead, which can cause voters to be turned away or forced to cast a provisional ballot. Lawyers for the state argue the claims in the lawsuit are not supported by the evidence. The number, geographic scope and severity of the alleged problems experienced by voters identified by the plaintiffs do not rise to a level sufficient to demonstrate an unconstitutional burden on voting in Georgia, state lawyers wrote in a filing. Additionally, they argue, the alleged problems cited are not the responsibility of the state officials named in the lawsuit. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate RICHMOND, Va. (AP) A shopping spree in Beverly Hills, a luxury vacation in Mexico, a bank account that jumped from $299.77 to $1.4 million overnight. From the outside, it looked like Moe and Kateryna Abourched had won the lottery. But this big payday didn't come from lucky numbers. Rather, a public school district in Michigan was tricked into wiring its monthly health insurance payment to the bank account of a California nail salon the Abourcheds owned, according to a search warrant application filed by a Secret Service agent in federal court. The district and taxpayers fell victim to an online scam called Business Email Compromise, or BEC for short, police say. The couple deny any wrongdoing and have not been charged with any crimes. BEC scams are a type of crime where criminals hack into email accounts, pretend to be someone theyre not and fool victims into sending money where it doesn't belong. These crimes get far less attention than the massive ransomware attacks that have triggered a powerful government response, but BEC scams have been by far the costliest type of cybercrime in the U.S. for years, according to the FBI siphoning untold billions from the economy as authorities struggle to keep up. The huge payoffs and low risks associated with BEC scams have attracted criminals worldwide. Some flaunt their ill-gotten riches on social media, posing in pictures next to Ferraris, Bentleys and stacks of cash. The scammers are extremely well organized and law enforcement is not, said Sherry Williams, a director of a San Francisco nonprofit recently hit by a BEC scam. Losses in the U.S. to BEC scams in 2021 were nearly $2.4 billion, according to a new report by the FBI. Thats a 33% increase from 2020 and more than a tenfold increase from just seven years ago. And experts say many victims never come forward and the FBIs numbers only show a small fraction of how much money is stolen. Its one of the most lucrative things out there, said Shalabh Mohan, chief product officer at Area 1 Security. In the nail salon case involving Grand Rapids, police say $2.8 million was stolen. Banks were able to recall about half that amount once the scam was discovered, court records show. A Secret Service agent said in an affidavit as part of a search warrant application that someone hacked into the email account of one of the school districts human resource employees and sent emails that persuaded a colleague in the finance department to change the bank account where the health insurance payments were sent. The emails were brief and unfailingly polite. Please kindly update the records, one of them said words the real HR employee would later tell police she never uses, according to the affidavit. Police tracked the money to the salons bank account owned by the Abourcheds, the affidavit says. After the theft was detected, Moe Abourched contacted a Grand Rapids police detective and said hed been fooled by a European woman named Dora into accepting the funds and forwarding them to other accounts, according to the affidavit. The Secret Service agent said Abourcheds claims were false and hed used a similar ruse with police after he received money from a BEC scam targeting a Florida storage company. Police put the couple under surveillance and in October searched their apartment, offices and BMW, court records show. Police said earlier this year they needed more time to examine the data in the couple's phones and computers. The Abourcheds lawyer, Kevin Gres, said his clients have done nothing wrong and no charges should be filed. My clients were unwitting victims in this scheme, he said. BEC scammers use a variety of techniques to hack into legitimate business email accounts and trick employees to send wire payments or make purchases they shouldnt. Targeted phishing emails are a common type of attack, but experts say the scammers have been quick to adopt new technologies, like deep fake audio generated by artificial intelligence to pretend to be executives at a company and fool subordinates into sending money. In the case of Williams, the San Francisco nonprofit director, thieves hacked the email account of the organization's bookkeeper, then inserted themselves into a long email thread, sent messages asking to change the wire payment instructions for a grant recipient, and made off with $650,000. After she discovered what happened, Williams said, her calls to law enforcement went nowhere. The FBI told her the local U.S. attorneys office wont take her case. She flew to Odessa, Texas, where the bank that initially received the stolen money was located. The money by then was long gone and the local detective was powerless to help. Williams asked her U.S. senators for help and later learned the Secret Service was investigating, but said it hasn't given her any updates. Crane Hassold, an expert on BEC scams and former cyber analyst with the FBI, has heard of federal prosecutors declining to take BEC cases unless several million dollars were stolen, a minimum threshold that speaks to how out of control the problem is. Theres so many of them they cant possibly work them all, said Hassold, now director of threat intelligence at Abnormal Security. Almost every enterprise is vulnerable to BEC scams, from Fortune 500 companies to small towns. Even the State Department got duped into sending BEC scammers more than $200,000 in grant money meant to help Tunisian farmers, court records show. The Justice Department has launched months-long operations in recent years that have netted hundreds of arrests worldwide. Our message to criminals involved in these types of BEC schemes will remain clear: The FBIs memory and reach is long and wide-ranging, we will relentlessly pursue you no matter where you may be located, said Brian Turner, executive assistant director of the FBIs Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch. But security experts say the wave of arrests has had little impact, and the FBIs own numbers show that BEC scams continue to grow at a rapid clip. You can arrest 100 of the guys and theres no ripple effect, said Hassold. Many of those arrested by U.S. authorities are lower-level money mules, who move stolen money around the banking system until its out of reach to authorities. Mules dont need hacking skills and come from a variety of backgrounds. A South Florida man, Alfredo Veloso, pleaded guilty in 2019 after prosecutors say he recruited women he met through his business making kink pornography videos to be money mules for BEC and other cyber scams. Sophisticated BEC scams targeting businesses and other organizations started taking off in the mid-2010s. It was also around that time when ransomware attacks in which hackers break into networks and encrypt data started to grow in frequency and severity. For years both BEC scams and ransomware attacks were treated largely as a law enforcement problem. Thats still true for BEC attacks, but ransomware is now a key national security concern after a series of disruptive attacks on critical infrastructure like the one last year against the biggest fuels pipeline in the U.S. that led to gas shortages along the East Coast. The National Security Agencys hackers have taken action to disrupt ransomware operators networks. The Justice Department set up a ransomware task force to better organize the law enforcement response. And U.S. President Joe Biden has pressed the issue directly with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, where many ransomware operators are located. Nothing close to those efforts has been deployed against BEC fraud despite the huge financial losses. Its a bunch of tiny little silos, and they still havent figured out a way to have just a single source that goes after these things, said John Wilson, a threat researcher at the cybersecurity firm Agari. If the U.S. were to launch a whole-of-government response to BEC fraud, it almost certainly would focus heavily on Nigeria. Nowhere are BEC fraudsters more active than in Africas most populous nation, where scammers have able to operate almost unchecked for decades. The well-worn Nigerian Prince scam may now be a global punchline, but a new generation is making fortunes through sophisticated BEC fraud. BEC scammers from Nigeria are glorified in pop songs and show off their wealth on Instagram and Facebook, posing with expensive cars or piles of money. Ramon Abbas, a well-known Nigerian social media influencer who went by Ray Hushpuppi, had more than 2 million followers on Instagram before he was arrested in Dubai. Abbas social media posts showed him living a life of total luxury, complete with private jets, ultra-expensive cars and high-end clothes and watches. I hope someday I will be inspiring more young people to join me on this path, read one Instagram post by Abbas, who pleaded guilty in the U.S. to international money laundering related to BEC and other cybercrimes last year. His sentencing is currently set for July. Pete Renals, a threat researcher at Palo Altos Unit 42, said tech-savvy Nigerian criminals started learning how to use available malware to steal victims credentials around 2014. As the software changed, the scammers changed too. In 2018, he said, researchers started seeing Nigerian malware being developed in-country by the BEC scammers themselves. It does not seem like theres a whole lot slowing them down," he said. They see no reason to stop. Obinwanne Okeke was one of Nigerias best known young entrepreneurs when he was a featured panelist at an event hosted by the prestigious London School of Economics. If its not born in you to take up challenges, you cannot do it, Okeke said at the 2018 event when discussing his entrepreneurial drive. But just days before he made those comments, Okeke had been busy sending fake invoices and defrauding the British sales office of the heavy equipment manufacturer Caterpillar out of $11 million through a BEC scam, according to the FBI. He was arrested at Dulles Airport outside Washington in 2019, pleaded guilty to wire fraud a year later and is now serving a 10-year prison sentence. BEC scammers arrested by police in Nigeria often have better luck and win back their freedom by paying fines or bribes, experts say. Adedeji Oyenuga, a sociology professor at Lagos State University who has studied cybercrime culture, said theres little fear by BEC scammers of being punished if caught. The person will walk around the streets freely knowing nobody is going to say anything about what he or she is doing, Oyenuga said. In the Hushpuppi case, U.S. prosecutors have also charged Abba Kyari, a top Nigerian law enforcement official who prosecutors say falsely imprisoned one of Abbas criminal rivals. Kyari remains in Nigeria, where media reports say hes been arrested on a separate charges related to alleged drug smuggling. Doug Witschi, an assistant director at the global police organization Interpol, said tech companies that help facilitate BEC crimes need to be more active in stopping such behavior. We cant arrest our way out of this challenge, he said. Unlike ransomware operators who try to keep their communications private, BEC scammers often openly exchange services, share tips or show off their wealth on social media platforms like Facebook and Telegram. A Facebook group called Wire Wire.com, which was until recently available to anyone with a Facebook account, acted as a message board for people to offer BEC-related services and other cybercrimes. The page, which had a profile picture of a duffle bag filled with cash, was created in 2015 and had more than 1,400 members. It was taken down shortly after The Associated Press asked Facebook about it last month. The company declined comment. In the case of the stolen Grand Rapids money, it was social media that helped law enforcement when seeking a federal judges approval for a search warrant. Included in the application was a vacation Instagram post by Kateryna Abourched, which linked the timing of her trip with a $3,503 payment to a luxury resort in Mexico made from the bank account that had received the stolen Grand Rapids money. Vacation is always inspiring, she wrote in her Instagram post. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and lawmakers were poised Friday to use the state's $220 billion budget to make it easier for judges to incarcerate certain people awaiting trial. The Democratic-led Senate and Assembly began taking votes Thursday and Friday on parts of the spending plan, which contains a cornucopia of policy initiatives, including pay bumps for health care and home care workers, and suspending the states gas tax through December because of high fuel prices. Lawmakers were expected to continue debating and voting on budget bills late Friday and likely into Saturday. Hochul, a Democrat, is expected to sign the bills. Some left-leaning Democratic lawmakers voted against parts of the spending plan, and chastised Hochul for pushing a big subsidy for the Buffalo Bills billionaire owners and trying to roll back bail reform: We cannot legislate based on reactionary scare tactics, State Sen. Julia Salazar said. Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, a Republican, said Democrats tweak to the bail law wouldnt do anything to address crime. Dont be fooled: this is political window dressing to create the illusion of solving the problem, he said. Hochul said she doesnt want to undo a landmark 2019 bail law that did away with pretrial incarceration for people accused of most nonviolent offenses. But she has faced pressure from centrist Democrats and Republicans who want legislative action in response to a rise in violent crime during the COVID-19 pandemic. The budget released Friday would follow through with Hochul's proposal to give judges more power to jail people who were repeatedly ticketed for minor theft or property damage offenses. Judges would have to release people if the court determines the alleged theft is negligible and not in furtherance of other criminal activity. The budget bill doesn't include more sweeping measures proposed by Hochul: She pitched a dangerousness provision that would have put defendants into a bail or jail category while allowing judges to consider a defendants criminal history and potential for more harm. Still, criminal justice advocates say the legislation will lead to more poor and minority New Yorkers being held behind bars while awaiting trial. Bail-setting in gun cases has actually increased in the last year, and the same is true for so-called repeat offenders, said Scott Levy, the managing director of policy with the Bronx Defenders, a legal services organization. Judges already have broad discretion to set bail in most cases where a person is rearrested. New York is also set to add more firearm possession crimes to the list of offenses that could land people who can't afford bail behind bars. All told, the changes could lead to about 4,500 more people a year newly exposed to bail, jail or other consequences, according to Zoe Towns, vice president for criminal justice reform at FWD.us, an advocacy organization. The budget deal would also expand Kendra's Law, which gives the state the power to order mental health treatment for people perceived to be a threat to themselves or others. New York passed that law on a trial basis in 1999, when 32-year-old Kendra Webdale was pushed in front of a subway train by a man living with untreated schizophrenia. The law is set to expire June 30, but the budget would extend that expiration to 2027. If the budget passes, courts could order people to undergo more assisted outpatient treatment if a physician determines their mental illness symptoms substantially increased, and if those symptoms interfere with a major life activity. That provision would apply to people who finished court-ordered treatment within the last six months. Harvey Rosenthal, CEO of the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services, said the bill's language is way too broad and is part of officials' efforts to equate violence with mental illness. It's a complete violation of rights, and our lawyers will sue and I'm confident we will win, he said. ___ Associated Press writer Michael R. Sisak contributed to this report This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SANTIAGO, Chile Dozens of protesters gathered in front of the Russian embassy in Chiles capital of Santiago on Saturday to denounce the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Protesters unfurled a large banner featuring the colors of the Ukrainian flag. The group included Ukrainians living in Chile. Some protesters lay down on the ground and clutched stuffed animals to honor child victims of the war. A large banner read, Stand with Ukraine. We want to be united at this time with our children, with our families, said Alina Prus, a Ukrainian living in Chile. Several of us have our families who are now living the horror of what war means. Another protester, Daria Gryshko, said many Ukrainians living in Chile have family or friends living both there and in Russia. It is painful to see how families break up, how relationships break up, when opinions are divided within a family, she said. Because the people who live in Russia are exposed to a lot of propaganda, even when you show them video of what is happening now, they dont believe, because they dont come out from their TV. ___ KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR: Zelenskyy, in AP interview, says he seeks peace despite atrocities War Crimes Watch: A devastating walk through Buchas horror S&P downgrade indicates Russia headed for historic default Civilian evacuations continue in battle-scarred eastern Ukraine Intel: Putin may cite Ukraine war to meddle in US politics Go to https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine for more coverage ___ OTHER DEVELOPMENTS: BORODIANKA, Ukraine Firefighters continued searching Saturday for survivors or the dead in the debris of destroyed buildings in a northern Ukrainian town that was occupied for weeks by Russian forces. Residents of Borodianka expect to find dozens of victims under the rubble of the several buildings destroyed during fighting between Russian forces and Ukrainian troops. The town is about 75 kilometers (47 miles) northwest of the capital of Kyiv and had more than 12,000 residents. Russian troops occupied Borodianka while advancing towards Kyiv in an attempt to encircle it. They retreated during the last days of March following fierce fighting. The town is without electricity, natural gas or other services. A 77-year-old resident, Maria Vaselenko, said her daughter and son-in-laws bodies have been under rubble for 36 days because Russian soldiers would not allow residents to search for loved ones or their bodies. She said her two teenage grandchildren escaped to Poland but are now orphans. The Russians were shooting. And some people wanted to come and help, but they were shooting them, she told The Associated Press. They were putting explosives under dead people. ___ MARIUPOL, Ukraine -- Shelling by Russian forces of Ukraines key port of Mariupol on the Sea of Azov has collapsed several humanitarian corridors and made conditions seldom right for people to leave. It was not clear Saturday how many people remained trapped in the city, which had a prewar population of 430,000. Ukrainian officials have put the number at about 100,000, but earlier this week, British defense officials said 160,000 people remained trapped in the city. Ukrainian troops have refused to surrender the city, though much of it has been razed. Resident Sergey Petrov said Saturday that recently two shells struck around him in quick succession, but neither exploded upon landing. He was in his garage at the time and said his mother later told him, I was born again. A shell flew in and broke up into two parts but it did not explode, looks like it did not land on the detonator but on its side, he said. He added that when another shell flew in and hit the garage, I am in shock. I dont understand what is happening. I have a hole in my garage billowing smoke. I run away and leave everything. I come back in several hours and find another shell lying there, also unexploded. ___ ATHENS, Greece A Ukrainian soccer club on Saturday opened a series of charity games on a government-backed Global Tour for Peace wearing the names of heavily bombarded cities on its jerseys. The tour by the Shakhtar Donetsk club aims to raise money for Ukraines military in the war against Russia, and also help Ukrainian refugees displaced by the war. Its first game Saturday was a 1-0 loss to Greek league leader Olympiakos. Soccer clubs around Europe have been offering to play games against Ukrainian clubs and host youth players after soccer in the country was shut down when Russia invaded in February. Shakhtar already was displaced from its home of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine in 2014. Playing in the Athens area on Saturday, Shakhtar players replaced their names on the back of their jerseys with those of cities bombarded by Russian forces, including Mariupol. ___ BUCHA, Ukraine -- Civilians remaining in Bucha lined up Saturday for food donated by the local church in the battered Kyiv suburb where Ukrainian forces and journalists reported evidence of war crimes after Russian soldiers withdrew. With other civilians fleeing in the wake of Russias invasion, most of the people remaining in Bucha were elderly, poor or unable to leave loved ones. Russian troops withdrew more than a week ago. Volunteer Petro Denysyuk told The Associated Press that he and fellow church friends started providing food, with a wide array of basic foodstuffs and hot meals. We have gathered together with the youth from our church and prepared food for the needy, Denysyuk said. We prepared pilaf, boiled eggs, prepared meat, sausages, noodles. Ukrainian forces and journalists that went into Bucha saw bodies strewn in the streets, evidence of summary executions and the remains of people who could not have threatened soldiers. Russia has denied accusations of war crimes and accused Kyiv of staging them. ___ KYIV, Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the leaders of Britain and Austria for their visits to Kyiv on Saturday and pledges of further support. In his daily late-night video address to the nation, Zelenskyy also thanked European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for a global fundraising event that raised more than 10 billion euros ($11 billion) for Ukrainians who have had to flee their homes. Zelenskyy said democratic countries were united in working to stop the war. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer became the latest of several European rulers to meet Zelenskky in Kyiv. Because Russian aggression was not intended to be limited to Ukraine alone, to the destruction only of our freedom and our life, he said. The entire European project is a target for Russia. Zelenskyy repeated his call for a complete embargo on Russian oil and gas, calling them the sources of Russias self-confidence and impunity. But Ukraine does not have time to wait. Freedom does not have time to wait. When tyranny begins its aggression against everything that keeps the peace in Europe, action must be taken immediately, he said. He added: And an oil embargo must be the first step. Moreover, by all democratic states, the entire civilized world. Then Russia will feel it. Then it will be an argument for them to seek peace, to stop the senseless violence. ___ LVIV, Ukraine Eyewitness descriptions are coming from Kramatorsk, the town in eastern Ukraine where a missile hit a train station packed with evacuees on Friday. The Sydorenko family could have been among the 52 dead and more than 100 wounded, but their taxi didnt show and they had to wait for another one. They finally arrived for the 11 a.m. evacuation train just three minutes after the explosion. Ivan Sydorenko says there were around 2,000 people inside the station and on the platforms when the missile hit. He says they got out of their taxi in a scene of burning cars, burning pieces of the missile and people fleeing for their lives. Ivan managed to escape by bus and then train with his wife and daughter, eventually reaching the relative safety of Lviv in western Ukraine. The Sydorenkos are just one of thousands of families clamoring to leave eastern Ukraine ahead of an expected Russian onslaught there. Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said 10 evacuation corridors were planned for Saturday, and other stations were open for trains full of refugees. Russia meanwhile has denied responsibility, accusing Ukraines military of firing on the station to try to turn blame for civilian slayings on Moscow. ___ KYIV, Ukraine Panicked residents of eastern Ukraine boarded buses or looked for other ways to leave Saturday, a day after a missile strike killed at least 52 people and wounded more than 100 at a train station. The attack in in Kramatorsk left the city with no trains running and came with thousands of people seeking to leave. Ukrainian authorities have called on civilians to get out ahead of an imminent, stepped-up offensive by Russian forces in the east. Residents on Saturday feared the kind of unrelenting assaults and occupations by Russian invaders that brought food shortages, demolished buildings and death to other cities elsewhere in Ukraine. It was terrifying. The horror, the horror, one resident told British broadcaster Sky, recalling Fridays attack on the train station. Heaven forbid, to live through this again. No, I dont want to. Western military analysts said an arc of territory in eastern Ukraine was under Russian control. It was from Kharkiv Ukraines second-largest city in the north to Kherson in the south. But Ukrainian counterattacks are threatening Russian control of Kherson, according to the Western assessments, and Ukrainian forces are repelling Russian assaults elsewhere in the Donbas region in the southeast. ___ WASHINGTON U.S. intelligence officials predict Russian President Vladimir Putin may use U.S. support for Ukraine as justification for a new campaign to interfere in American politics. Intelligence officials tell The Associated Press that they have yet to find any evidence that Putin has authorized measures like the ones Russia undertook in the last two elections to support former President Donald Trump. Several people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive findings said it remains unclear which candidates Russia might try to promote next. Trump has repeatedly assailed U.S. intelligence officials and claimed that investigations of Russian influence on his campaigns to be political vendettas. In Ukraine and elsewhere, Russia has been accused of trying to spread disinformation, amplifying pro-Kremlin voices in the West and using cyberattacks to disrupt governments. Top U.S. intelligence officials are still working on plans for a new Foreign Malign Influence Center, authorized by Congress, that will focus on foreign influence campaigns by Russia, China and other adversaries. ___ KYIV, Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told The Associated Press on Saturday that he is committed to seeking peace despite Russian attacks on civilians that have stunned the world. He said no one wants to negotiate with people who tortured their nation as a man, as a father, I understand this very well. But he said we dont want to lose opportunities, if we have them, for a diplomatic solution. Zelenskyy said hes confident Ukrainians would accept peace despite the horrors they have witnessed in the war. But meanwhile, Russian troops are regrouping for an expected surge in fighting in eastern Ukraine, including the besieged port city of Mariupol that Ukrainian defenders are battling to retain. So Zelenskyy renewed his plea for countries to send more weapons. He says they have to fight for life -- not for dust when there is nothing and no people. Thats why it is important to stop this war. ___ KYIV, Ukraine U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, promising so much support that his nation might never be bullied again. Johnsons surprise visit included a pledge of 120 armored vehicles and new anti-ship missile systems, part of another 100 million pounds ($130 million) of high-grade military equipment. Johnson also confirmed an additional $500 million in World Bank lending, taking Britains total loan guarantee up to $1 billion. Johnson said Ukraine defied the odds pushing Russian forces from the gates of Kyiv, achieving the greatest feat of arms of the 21st century. The prime minister credits Zelenskyys resolute leadership and the invincible heroism and courage of the Ukrainian people for thwarting what he calls the monstrous aims of Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Johnson says Britain and its partners are going to ratchet up the economic pressure ... not just freezing assets in banks and sanctioning oligarchs but moving away from use of Russian hydrocarbons. Johnson also described a vision for a future Ukraine so fortified and protected by the equipment, technology and know-how of Britain and its partners that it can never be threatened in the same way again. In the meantime, Johnson said, there is a huge amount to do to make sure that Ukraine is successful, that Ukraine wins and that Putin must fail. - MILAN An Italian government source said Italian Premier Mario Draghi is traveling to Algeria on Monday to sign a deal for more gas. Italy has been urgently looking for alternatives to natural gas from Russia since its invasion of Ukraine. Russia is Italys biggest supplier, representing 40% of total imports. Italys foreign minister has traveled to Algeria as well as Azerbaijan, Qatar, Congo, Angola and Mozambique to secure more deals. Algeria is Italys second-largest supplier of natural gas, which is the main source of the nations electricity, providing some 21 billion cubic meters of gas via the Trans-Mediterranean pipeline. Italian energy company ENI has operated in Algeria for 40 years. ENI announced a significant oil and gas discovery in Algeria last month and said it would work with Algerian partner Sonatrach to fast-track its development for the third quarter of this year. Italy business reporter Colleen Barry. ___ Julian Lennon has explained why he decided to sing his fathers song Imagine for the first time publicly. Hes posted on social media that he always said he would only sing the song if it was the End of the World. He says its the right song to sing now because the War on Ukraine is an unimaginable tragedy, and he felt compelled to respond in the most significant way he could. The son of John Lennon says murderous violence in Ukraine is forcing millions of innocent families to leave the comfort of their homes. He says the lyrics reflect our collective desire for peace worldwide, and within this song, were transported to a space, where love and togetherness become our reality, if but for a moment in time. Lennon joined celebrities around the world calling on world leaders to do more to support refugees in the Stand Up For Ukraine campaign. ___ BOSTON -- The International Monetary Fund has created an account to give donor countries a secure way to funnel financial assistance directly to war-ravaged Ukraine. The multilateral lender said in a statement Friday that its launching the account at the request of several member countries. The goal is to help Ukraine meet its payment obligations and help stabilize its economy using loans or grants from pooled resources. The IMF says Canada has proposed routing up to 1 billion Canadian dollars ($795 million) to Ukraine through the new account. Two weeks after Russias Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, the IMF approved a $1.4 billion emergency loan to Ukraine. ___ BOSTON -- S&P Global Ratings has downgraded its assessment of Russias ability to repay foreign debt, signaling increased prospects that Moscow will soon default on such loans for the first time in more than a century. The credit ratings agency issued the downgrade to selective default Friday night after Russia arranged to make foreign bond payments in rubles last week when they were due in dollars. It said it didnt expect Russia to be able to convert the rubles into dollars within a 30-day grace period. S&P said it believes sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine are likely to increase, impeding its willingness and ability to honor its obligations to foreign debtholders. The Kremlin has signaled its willing to pay its debts but warned it would do so in rubles if its overseas accounts in foreign currencies remain frozen. ___ WARSAW, Poland The head of the European Unions executive branch says 10.1 billion euros ($11 billion) have been raised globally in a fundraising event for Ukraine and people who have fled the country invaded by Russia. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was joined at the event in Warsaw by Polish President Andrzej Duda and -- remotely -- by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. At the end of the 90-minute event, a smiling von der Leyen said the donations will go to help refugees, both outside and inside Ukraine. We will continue providing support. And once the bombs have stopped falling, we will help the people of Ukraine rebuild their country, von der Leyen said. Saturdays pledging event was held in Warsaw because more than 2.5 million of the 4.4 million people who have fled Ukraine since Russias invasion began Feb. 24 have entered Poland. Many have stayed, though some have moved on to other countries. The event aimed to prompt political leaders and global celebrities to provide funding and other donations for the people of Ukraine. It ended with Julian Lennon singing his father John Lennons peace song Imagine. ___ MOSCOW -- YouTube has banned the channel of Russias lower house of parliament, the State Duma, prompting government officials to renew longtime threats against the platform. The Duma TV channel reported the ban on the messaging app Telegram, noting that it had 145,000 subscribers and over 100,000 million total views. In comments to the Russian news agency Interfax, Google didnt give an exact reason for the move, but said the company follows all applicable sanction and trade compliance laws. Russias state communications watchdog Roskomnadzor demanded that YouTube unblock the channel. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Saturday that the service has handed itself a sentence and urged its users to download content, transfer it onto Russian platforms. And fast. State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin called the move against the parliaments YouTube channel another proof of violations of the rights and freedoms of citizens by Washington. Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Watch may have a "Pro" version with better specifications. Sammobile's sources recently reported that Samsung might be developing a Pro version of its Galaxy Watch 5, which would allegedly have a better battery life than its predecessors and the regular Galaxy Watch 5. However, the publication's sources warned that Samsung's upcoming smart watch's specification could change from now and its expected launch will be later this year. Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 'Pro' Details According to Sammobile's sources, the upcoming Galaxy Watch 5 Pro version will have a 572mAh battery that could bring a nearly 60% increase in battery capacity compared to the Galaxy Watch 4. This increase means that the smartwatch's battery life could last longer than its regular version. For comparison, Samsung's Galaxy Watch 4 comes with a 361 mAh battery on its larger-sized variants, which can barely hit two days with regular use during Android Central's testing. Meanwhile, a TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS has a slightly larger 577mAh battery that lasts an average of three days on a single charge. With the suspected Galaxy Watch 5 Pro's battery being only five mAh lower than a TichWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS', the smartwatch could indeed see higher battery life. Read More: New Twitter 'Unmention' Feature Will Protect Your Peace Online A Korean certification Sammobile cited shows that the battery's model name is EB-BR925ABY, which Samsung certified with Safety Korea on March 30, per Notebook Check. According to Sammobile, the battery's capacity can be confirmed in the certification. However, GSMArena warns interested customers in their report about the price of the Galaxy Watch 5' Pro version, saying that the smartwatch is likely to launch at an even higher price than the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic 46mm did. Meanwhile, the other Galaxy Watch 5 models are also rumored to receive slight battery life gains over the Galaxy Watch 4 lineup. Unfortunately, Sammobile's sources mentioned that the Pro version is not 100% confirmed for release along with other confirmed Galaxy Watch 5 models. They added that the plan could end up getting scrapped between now and the Galaxy Watch 5 series' launch, which is expected to happen in August. Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Details The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is rumored to be the best Samsung smartwatch yet. A report from Tom's Guide suggests that its price could be the same as the Galaxy Watch 4's if it comes in two configurations. Meanwhile, Specs Tech's article stated that the smartwatch (the regular one) could have an Exynos W920 with 5 nm manufacturing accuracy powering it and a Mali-G68 GPU. The smartwatch could also have a 50-meter water resistance depth and a 276mAh battery, which is 10% larger than the Galaxy Watch 4's 247 mAh battery, per Android Authority. LetsGoDigital's article implies that the Samsung Galaxy 5 could have a display that the user can unroll to make it bigger, gaining an extra 40% of display in the process. Related Article: Samsung Intentionally Slowing Down Android Apps Without Warning Users This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MIDDLEBURY Middlebury portrait artist ShawnaLee W. Kwashnak, is offering a special program, Pandemic Portraiture: Reflections of Healing to Connecticut art students ages 12-18. The special program weaves fine arts practices with our shared witness to pandemic experiences for CT youth who are interested in learning fine art portraiture skills and capturing reflections of healing theyve observed and experienced through our pandemic, according to a statement. Selected art students are being offered a ten-week online art course in portraiture and will be included in a published book that will be donated to a Connecticut historical society. Classes begin April 21, 7-8 p.m. on Thursdays through June 30. A virtual art show reception is planned in September. There is no cost to participate and each student will also receive a complimentary copy of the published book. Certificates of participation may be used towards college and scholarship applications. This program is offered with the support of the Department of Economic and Community Development, Office of the Arts, which also receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency, according to the statement. For more information, visit www.shawnalee.com FY22 page and email artist@shawnalee.com for an application. Seats are limited. Learn more about ShawnaLee W. Kwashnak at www.shawnalee.com NEW YORK (AP) A suspect was charged Saturday in the fatal shooting of a teen girl who was walking home from school when she was hit by a stray bullet during a street dispute in New York City. New York Police Department officials announced the arrest of Jeremiah Ryan on charges of murder, attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon in connection with Friday's shooting. Police identified the girl killed in the shooting as 16-year-old Angellyh Yambo. Another 16-year-old girl was hit in the leg, and a 17-year-old boy was wounded in the buttocks. Both are expected to survive. Prosecutors said Ryan, 17, would have a court appearance either later Saturday or on Sunday. They declined further comment. It was not immediately clear if Ryan had an attorney who could speak on his behalf. The shooting in the Bronx was the latest episode of headline-grabbing violence in the city amid a surge in crime during the COVID-19 pandemic. Police had said the gunfire appeared to start after Ryan and another person were gesturing at each other across an intersection. The teens who were struck were walking by on the sidewalk headed home from school, police said. Police were investigating whether the shooting suspect, who had no criminal record, was using a so-called ghost gun" homemade firearms that can be built with parts bought online and lack serial numbers normally used to trace them. They said a total of six rounds were fired. At a news briefing on Saturday, Deputy Police Chief Timothy McCormack expressed dismay over the circumstances of the case. We have two families that are completely destroyed right now our victim's family and our shooter's family, McCormack said. He described the suspect's mother as a hard-working woman" whose child had zero police contact before his arrest. The shooting happened outside of the South Bronx Educational Campus, which is home to two schools, Mott Haven Village Prep and University Heights Secondary School. The Department of Education said two of the teens went to Mott Haven. The third teen went to University Prep Charter High School, a short distance away. Mayor Eric Adams has made fighting crime a priority since taking office Jan. 1. Homicides are down slightly from this time last year, but gun violence overall remains at levels not seen in a decade. New York City saw shootings drop to modern-era lows from 2012 to 2019, but that progress was partly erased during the pandemic and social unrest of the past two years. Violence still remains at levels far below the citys nadir in the 1990s or even in the decade after the Sept. 11 terror attacks. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 New London Police Department / Contributed Photo Show More Show Less 2 of 3 New London Police / Contributed Show More Show Less 3 of 3 NEW LONDON Officers charged a New London man with operating a drug factory Thursday afternoon after they found about 35 grams of cocaine, other drugs and packaging materials in his apartment, according to the New London Police Department. Law enforcement with the police departments Vice and Narcotic Unit and Emergency Response Team, as well as the Statewide Narcotics Task Force, served a search and seizure warrant at an apartment on Truman Street around 2 p.m., police said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ATLANTA (AP) Police are searching for at least one armed suspect in connection with the killing of the owner of a gun range in Georgia and his wife and grandson, authorities said Saturday. The Grantville Police Department said via Facebook that the robbery occurred Friday evening. When officers arrived at the scene around 8 p.m., they discovered the bodies of the owner of Lock Stock & Barrel Shooting Range, along with his wife and grandson. According to WSB-TV, Grantville Police identified the victims as the gun range owner, Thomas Hawk, 75; his wife, Evelyn, 75; and their grandson, Luke, 17. Police Chief Steve Whitlock said the Hawk family was well-known and well-respected in their small, tight-knit community. The Hawks had operated Lock Stock & Barrel for nearly 30 years. Their grandson was on spring break, helping his grandparents at the shop. This is just a shock to everybody in the community, Whitlock told The Associated Press. Were trying to do the best that we can to figure this out. Whitlock said investigators believe the robbery and shooting happened around 5:30 p.m. Friday, which is when the range normally closes. He said Hawks son, Richard, came by the business and was the person who found the victims. There are no suspects as of early Saturday, and no arrests have been made, he said. Investigators said that as many as 40 guns and the ranges surveillance camera were also stolen. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating, but when contacted Saturday referred all inquiries to Grantville Police. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was also called in due to the amount of weapons taken. Whitlock said hes grateful for the help from other law enforcement agencies in the investigation. Were just a small town, 12 officers. Ive been here eight years and have never had to investigate anything like this. Its been kind of hard on us. The crime rate is really, really low, he said. A reward of $15,000 has been posted for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer or killers in the case, according to the ATF Atlanta office's Twitter feed. ATF and our law enforcement partners will work tirelessly to bring the killer(s) to justice, ATF Atlanta Field Division Special Agent in Charge Benjamin P. Gibbons said in a statement. The brutality of these senseless murders along with the fact that these killer(s) have acquired additional firearms makes solving this case our top priority. A message left with the ATF office in Atlanta was not immediately returned. Police are asking any witnesses to come forward. Whitlock said they dont have any video evidence to work with right now. Anyone having driven by the shooting range during the time frame of 530pm to 630 pm that may have seen vehicles other than a white Ford dually truck and a black Ford expedition are asked to contact the police department, Grantville police said in their Facebook statement. The shooting range is in rural Coweta County, about 50 miles (about 80 kilometers) southwest of Atlanta. Coweta County Sheriff Lenn Wood said in a statement on Facebook that the entire community was forever broken by the senseless and tragic killings of the Hawk family members. I am also fervently praying that God will use our law enforcement community and the Coweta Community, he said, "to bring justice swiftly." ___ Associated Press writer Chevel Johnson reported from New Orleans. The American Dream has become something of an American trap. Get good grades, save money, go to college ... And then what? The Dream is supposed to be realized with a career and financial security, a bridge to a thriving next generation. But that bridge is no longer secure, as too many graduates swim in debt for years after collecting diplomas. Connecticuts grads carry more debt than most of their peers. The average college debt in our state is $35,853, making Connecticut one of just six states that lap the $35,000 mark. Its not really much better across the rest of the nation, where Utahs average student debt is the lowest at $18,350. Still, thats almost half of Connecticuts counterpart. Thursdays surprising announcement from state Treasurer Shawn Wooden that he will not seek reelection included a provocative reference to the challenges of paying for education. With one of my sons going to college soon and the other right behind him, Ive decided not to seek re-election as Treasurer, Wooden wrote in a statement. Like other working families, mine too faces the day-to-day pressures of family life. Things like juggling financial resources to pay for college This percolating national conversation should gain steam as President Joe Biden has announced the sixth extension of the payment pause for federal student loan borrowers through August. With the mid-term elections only two months after that extension lapses, the clock is ticking on the possibility of Biden taking bolder steps toward loan forgiveness. Meanwhile, Connecticut lawmakers have pitched a half-dozen proposals to relieve debt. Senate Bill 250 strives to deliver as much as $20,000 in relief to Connecticut residents who graduate from a state college. Other initiatives include funding ombudsmen to guide students and to establish tax deductions on student loan interest. They wont all survive this brief session. One that should is An Act Concerning Student Loan Forgiveness for Nonprofit Employees. The proposal is to offer $5,000 a year capped at three years for nonprofit employees. At most, that could put a $15,000 dent in a loan. The pandemic was a stark reminder of the importance of nonprofits. Many of them endured despite their own financial setbacks during the past two years. The fallout of COVID-19 means there is a greater need than ever for agencies that provide the likes of mental health services and counseling for survivors of abuse. Too often, nonprofit workers are forced to leave for the private sector to chase money, because money is chasing them. Its not cheap to live in Connecticut, but were a better state when we have the best people serving neighbors in need. And doesnt that get to the heart of education in the first place? We want more people to have educational opportunities to strive toward a more empathetic society. Giving a boost to workers at nonprofits can not only retain homegrown talent, but lure some from other states. Bills like this one are a reminder that the American Dream should be a promise, not a threat. BRIDGEPORT Police are investigating after a 33-year-old Bridgeport man was found shot dead on Connecticut Avenue early Saturday. The Bridgeport Emergency Communications Center received multiple calls about a shooting at the Bridgeport Innovation Center around 4 a.m. Saturday. There, officers found 33-year-old Michael Yon with a gunshot wound. Medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene, according to Bridgeport Police Detective Keith Hanson and Capt. Kevin Gilleran. The Bridgeport Police Department would like to offer their sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Michael Yon, Hanson and Gilleran said in a statement Saturday. Police received additional calls about two gunshot victims going for treatment at Bridgeport Hospital. The two victims, who were not identified, had injuries that were not life-threatening, Hanson and Gilleran said. The Detective Bureaus Homicide and Identification units are investigating and processing the crime scene. Anyone with information about this crime is urged to contact Hanson at 203-581-5243. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling the Bridgeport Police Tips Line at 203-576-TIPS (8477). This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HONG KONG (AP) Hong Kongs former No. 2 official John Lee on Saturday formally declared his candidacy for the upcoming leadership election, entering the race for chief executive viewed by many as Beijing's preferred candidate. Lee said at an online news conference that he would stand for the election on May 8 after the Chinese government approved his resignation, which he submitted last week, as the city's chief secretary for administration. He said a new government under his leadership would safeguard the rule of law and the one country, two systems framework in the city that allows Hong Kong to govern semi-autonomously and enjoy certain freedoms not found in mainland China. This decision is made out of my loyalty to my country, my love for Hong Kong, and my sense of duty to the Hong Kong people, Lee said. Lees candidacy comes after current leader Carrie Lam announced she would not run for a second term, following a rocky five years in power that spanned the COVID-19 pandemic, a crackdown on political freedoms and Beijings rapid and growing influence over the territory. Lee, 64, is a staunch advocate of the citys national security law, which has been used since 2020 to target pro-democracy activists, supporters and media, diminishing freedoms promised to Hong Kong during Britains handover to China in 1997. Experts in the city see a potential administration under Lee as a signal that Beijing could further tighten its grip on the semi-autonomous Chinese city. The chief executive will be voted in by an election committee of about 1,500 people, a majority of whom are pro-Beijing. The new leader will take office on July 1. Lee spent the early years of his civil service career as a police officer and steadily climbed the ranks. He became Hong Kongs security minister in July 2017 under Lams administration, and last June was promoted to chief secretary for administration. Lee was a key figure in proposing contentious legislation in 2019 that would have allowed suspects in Hong Kong to be extradited to mainland China. He later oversaw a police crackdown on demonstrators after the proposed bill sparked months of massive anti-government protests in 2019. After the protests were snuffed out, Lee was an outspoken supporter of the national security law imposed on the city, which outlaws subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces in the citys affairs and has been used to suppress dissent. Over 150 people have been arrested since the law was implemented. In 2020, the U.S sanctioned Lee, together with Lam and other Hong Kong and mainland Chinese government officials, for undermining Hong Kongs autonomy and restricting the freedom of expression or assembly. Next month's election will be the first since Hong Kongs electoral laws were amended last year to ensure that only patriots loyal to Beijing can hold office. The changes make it difficult for pro-democracy supporters to run for chief executive. Hong Kongs leader is chosen every five years, although the selection process is carefully orchestrated behind the scenes by Beijing. The four chief executives selected since Hong Kongs handover have all been candidates seen as favored by Beijing. Lee said he would focus policymaking on ensuring that Hong Kong remains competitive globally and bolster its role as a gateway and bridge between our country and the world. Elon Musk hints that he is getting serious again about getting into lithium mining for Tesla. The electric vehicle CEO hinted at this consideration himself through Twitter. Elon Musk on Lithium Mining for Tesla Tesla CEO Elon Musk said recently that the company may get into the lithium mining and refining business on its own and on a large scale because the price of the metal, which is used to make batteries, has gone up. As reported by CNBC, Musk replied in a tweet by the World of Statistics (@stats_feed), showing the price of lithium increasing throughout the decade. As seen in the statistics, the price of lithium in 2012 was $4,450. It doubled its price after five years in 2016, becoming $8,840. However, the average price of lithium this year is reported to be at $78,032, a previous jump from the 2021 price of $17,000 and the 2020 price of $6,800. Musk responded to the tweet above, replying: "Price of lithium has gone to insane levels! Tesla might actually have to get into the mining & refining directly at scale, unless costs improve. There is no shortage of the element itself, as lithium is almost everywhere on Earth, but pace of extraction/refinement is slow." Price of lithium has gone to insane levels! Tesla might actually have to get into the mining & refining directly at scale, unless costs improve. There is no shortage of the element itself, as lithium is almost everywhere on Earth, but pace of extraction/refinement is slow. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 8, 2022 The chart showed the average price of lithium per tonne over the previous years, with an extremely noticeable price increase from 2021. According to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, the increase is approximately 480% and has been added to the price of the metal in the last year alone. According to the United States Geological Survey, a division of the United States Department of Interior, the element is not scarce since there are lithium deposits all over the United States of America. In electric vehicle batteries, lithium is particularly advantageous because it is both the lightest metal and the least dense solid element, making it particularly useful. That is to say, lithium-ion batteries have a high power-to-weight ratio, which is important when dealing with transportation applications. Read Also: New Twitter 'Unmention' Feature Will Protect Your Peace Online Elon Musk on Tesla Lithium Clay Musk has previously expressed interest in the possibility of Tesla mining its own lithium. According to Fortune, Tesla was able to get its own rights to mine lithium in Nevada even though it had planned to buy a company there in 2020. It was reported that Tesla had discussions with Cypress Development Corp., which is looking to extract lithium from clay deposits in southwest Nevada. However, both parties were unable to come to an agreement. Tesla plans to extract lithium from clay. As stated by Cypress CEO Bill Willoughby, "This move by Tesla supports the importance of clay as a future source of lithium in the United States." The supposedly deal with Cypress Development Corp. a few years back was due to Tesla's plan to cut the cost of their battery by 50%. It looks like the increasing price of lithium has been taken into consideration by Musk even before he replied to the tweet above. Due to the sheer growing demand for electric vehicles, the automaker has decided to manufacture its own battery cells as well as battery cathodes and associated raw materials. This decision will allow the company to supplement its existing capacity by partnering with external suppliers. Related Article: Tesla, Elon Musk Open Gigafactory Texas This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BRIDGEPORT It took New York-based M&T Bank over a year to acquire Bridgeport-headquartered Peoples United Bank. With that process having formally concluded at the start of the month, it remains to be seen what that means in terms of services for Peoples customers and whether there will be a net gain or loss of jobs at the banks headquarters within the city and in its branches across Connecticut. But state and local officials who met Friday with M&T representatives at Peoples tower in downtown Bridgeport spoke optimistically about the future. It was a follow-up to a similar gathering Gov. Ned Lamonts administration organized last August in the wake of the news of 747 possible resultant layoffs. I think people are going to be pleasantly surprised at how much of a community and state partner they want to be, Paul Mounds, Lamonts chief of staff, said in a subsequent interview Friday. Once they get past this whole issue in terms of how to deal with the jobs and such and get themselves placed here, theyre going to make sure they want to be well-known in the state. I walked away from the conversation in a good place. I felt heard, said City Council President Aidee Nieves, who participated in the gathering with Lamonts aides, Bridgeport state representatives and staff from Mayor Joe Ganims office. Buffalo-based M&T announced April 2 that, after 14 months, its $8.3 billion purchase of Peoples, founded in Bridgeport and one of Connecticuts largest home-grown financial institutions, was finalized. M&T this week, in response to several questions posed by Hearst Connecticut Media about what comes next, indicated changes will not happen overnight. While Peoples United is now part of M&T Bank, its former branches and most services offered will operate as Peoples United, a division of M&T Bank until we complete the integration of our systems in the third quarter of 2022, the company said. M&T also advised that, Peoples United customers should continue to bank as they normally would. That includes using their current Peoples United checks, debit cards and credit cards. All accounts will move to M&T branded material after systems conversion. M&T will notify customers well in advance of changes to their accounts or other services via mail adorned with the M&T logo. The bank has also recently hired a well-connected public relations firm Intersect, co-founded by Lamont predecessor Gov. Dan Malloys former chief of staff, Brian Durand to assist with communications as it seeks to establish its Connecticut presence. As for the takeovers impact on jobs, the situation is murky, with M&T at this point giving few details. The bank said it was thrilled to welcome nearly 4,500 new colleagues a figure that represents a former Peoples workforce spread out between over 400 branches in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New York, New Hampshire and Maine. M&T did not provide Hearst Connecticut with current Peoples personnel figures specific to Connecticut or to Bridgeport, where the bank pledged to maintain its New England regional headquarters and employ at least 1,000 people ... within 12 months after system conversion. Pre-pandemic around 1,350 Peoples staffers went to work within the Bridgeport tower, and the news last year of the takeover and potential layoffs shocked downtown businesses who rely on their staffs patronage. It was revealed last summer that the purchase would result in 747 layoffs. But M&T this week also told Hearst Connecticut that Peoples United employees will be given priority when applying to the over 1,000 job openings across all M&T communities. Meanwhile the state banking department on Friday said, M&T has given written assurances that these employees will be given priority consideration for the roughly 1,500 open positions at M&T, which include approximately 1,000 positions that are remote work opportunities. M&T did not respond to a question about when the layoffs and hiring will begin. The company is pledging to keep 100 percent of the customer-facing employees currently working at Peoples United branches and also to honor Peoples previously announced commitment to retain 27 in-store Stop & Shop supermarket branches and all of those staffers. Asked whether Bridgeport and Connecticut would see a net job gain, losses or break even, Mounds Friday responded, The (Lamont) administrations focus has always been to retain as many jobs as possible throughout this process. We have received commitments from M&T ... that while there are displacements, there will be jobs posted and available that can be within Connecticut that will lessen the amount of job losses. We will continuously work with M&T, the city and state legislators to focus on that mission, Mounds said. Mounds said M&T has made it clear to state and city officials that it is committed to community investments and partnerships, particularly in Bridgeport. That was important for me to hear and everyone to hear, he said. According to the state banking department, some of those efforts as of Friday will include: Making annual contributions of $25 million in their market area; investing over $42 billion across all its markets for home lending, small business lending, investments in the environment, community development, affordable housing and philanthropic contributions; providing banking services and products to low- and moderate-income areas and supporting small businesses; offering a first-time home buyers program; and increasing the use of local small business services and products, with emphasis on women and minority-owned establishments. Nieves said it is important for M&T to reinstitute that kind of community banking that Peoples meant to people in the past and start to create that trusted relationship. Theyre listening, developing plans around what thats going to look like and reaffirming theyre going to be an established partner, she said. STORM LAKE, Iowa (AP) While attending Buena Vista University, Andrew Offenburger couldnt have told you much about Storm Lake other than it was where the college he attended was located. He was oblivious to the changes the city was undergoing as immigrants relocated there to work in the meatpacking plants. I was clueless to that as a student, the 1998 Buena Vista graduate said. I was unaware of the global dynamics going on in my backyard. After undertaking graduate studies at Yale and learning how issues such as industrial agriculture, race and immigration were affecting rural areas of Africa, Offenburger realized Midwestern cities and towns like Storm Lake faced many of those same issues. He also realized Storm Lakes response to those challenges had gone on right under his nose as an undergraduate and he never knew it. Hes making up for the lost opportunity, taking a renewed interest in a city in which the majority of residents are non-white and hail from dozens of countries. I really think its one of the most fascinating places to study in the United States, said Offenburger, a Johnston, Iowa, native whos now an associate history professor at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. The Sioux City Journal reports that Small Town, Big World, a collaborative project involving students at Miami and Buena Vista, aims to introduce Storm Lake residents -- some immigrants, some who have lived here for generations -- to the world, showing whats helped the city become an effective melting pot of diverse cultures. While searching for ideas for a final project for students in his Midwest history class, Offenburger called Storm Lake Community Schools superintendent Stacey Cole. She suggested the features on local residents, thinking the stories could improve social relations. Offenburger loved the idea, but one problem: with his students hundreds of miles from Storm Lake, how do you meet people and interview them? He sought the help of Buena Vista digital media professor Andrea Frantz, who he knew as a student, about teaming up. It fit Frantz goal of getting students off campus and interacting with community residents. I thought it was a great opportunity, Frantz said. Anytime you can tell the stories of the humans who share a community, it stands to broaden the community and advances us. After Storm Lake residents submitted profile suggestions, students from the two schools paired up, the Miami students doing the interviews via Zoom while Buena Vista students sat with the local residents, recording the interviews and taking photos. The profiles explored topics such as race, integration and immigration -- all subjects that can be a little touchy, but are something Storm Lakers must address as they continue to welcome new faces to town. Thats the everyday reality that Storm Lakers are living with, Offenburger said. A reality that current Buena Vista students, just like Offenburger back in the 90s, arent always aware of. I thought it was very impressive to try to do something like that, Blake McMillan, a senior digital media major from Philadelphia, Mississippi, remembered thinking when project was proposed to his class. A transfer to Buena Vista, McMillan said he hadnt gotten out in the community much, but knew a little more about it than he realized when describing it to Miami students. It was interesting because they were trying to tell a bunch of stories about a town theyd never been to, McMillan said. McMillan teamed on a profile of Katie Lindgren, who grew up in Storm Lake and now lives nearby in Newell, about the changes shes witnessed in Storm Lake. McMillan also interviewed an immigrant from South Sudan and her daughter about the challenges they faced moving here. Working on their stories helped McMillan realize what immigrants go through to get to Storm Lake and how longtime residents adjust to the changes. McMillan said he realized Storm Lake is a special place that has worked hard to integrate newcomers, a discovery he could share with the Miami students. It became a lot more fun to show people who arent from here what its like here, McMillan said. Twenty profiles were finished last spring and began posting on the Small Town, Big World website at smalltownbigworld.org on March 8. Written profiles were done by the Miami students, and Buena Vista students used the interview recordings to create audio stories to accompany them. Students are collaborating on 20 more profiles this spring. The project has taught Offenburger things about Storm Lake he wished hed learned as a Buena Vista student. But through his students, hes come to know the city and how its citizens from dozens of backgrounds have built a community, despite the challenges to do so. Theres some beautiful things going on in Storm Lake, and I think thats how the U.S. can move forward. It wasnt always like that, said Offenburger, whos working on a book about Storm Lake and the region. He may not have known it when living here, but hes making sure as many people as possible now become aware of what makes Storm Lake special. PLEASANT VIEW, Colo. (AP) With his hands stuffed deep into his pockets, Landan Wilson looks down at the ground and scuffs his boot back and forth against the loose blades of alfalfa hay scattered on the dirt. Its early March, and Wilson is standing inside a massive storage shed on his familys farm a few miles west of Pleasant View, in an often-forgotten corner of southwestern Colorado. Normally this time of year, this shed, and another just like it, are both full of hay bales the Wilsons will sell to dairy operations in New Mexico and Texas. This year, the sheds are empty. In 2021, the persistent drought that scientists believe is the driest 22-year stretch in the past 1,200 years hit this part of the state harder than just about anywhere else. Farmers and ranchers with junior water rights along the Dolores River, the regions main source of water, got around 10% or less of what theyre used to receiving. Whats more, last years difficult conditions piled onto an equally dry 2020 and the outlook heading further into spring and summer has many in the local agricultural community deeply concerned. Everyone from family farmers to people living in town to the farm and ranch operation run by the Ute Mountain Ute tribe rely on the Dolores River. The waterway originates high in the San Juan Mountains near Lizard Head Pass and cuts 240 miles northwest across Colorado before hitting the Colorado River in eastern Utah. In a normal year, water users in southwest Colorado utilize about 250,000 acre-feet of Dolores River water. Last year, there was only about 110,000 acre-feet of runoff available, 60% of which went to senior water users. (An acre-foot is the amount of water it takes to cover an acre in a foot of water, or about 326,000 gallons.) Wilson, a fourth-generation farmer, grew up in this part of Colorado. Describing the business, he explains that his fathers side of the family was originally from Iowa, but resettled in Montezuma County, down by the Four Corners, in the early 1900s. I dont know why they did that, Wilson, 27, says in a tone that sounds only half-joking. Things are more green and lush in Iowa, and more productive. The Wilsons use their allotment of Dolores water to irrigate about two-thirds of their 1,800 acres, growing mostly alfalfa. Normally, the farm produces enough hay that theyre still shipping out a crop to buyers in March. But their last shipment went out about six months ago; there wasnt enough water to grow any more than that. Its a pretty serious situation, Wilson says. With less hay to sell, the Wilsons had to think about how they could cut costs. They decided not to use any fertilizer this past growing season because fertilizer is expensive. Other farmers have had to take on more debt or get rid of excess equipment to try to generate some additional cash flow, whatevers needed to get by. We tried to kind of plan for worst-case scenario, Wilson says. Then, who knows, you might come smelling like a rose or you might be screwed over. The result on his farm was the two empty sheds. All of this has Wilson worried. Its been serious enough that these days hes started to wonder whether he chose the wrong profession. He started in this business by helping his dad on the farm as a kid. He doesnt recall his father talking too much about water shortages back then. In 2017, Wilson decided he enjoyed the work so much that he went all in and started farming with his family full time. Now, he feels like he only just barely got started, and that as this part of Colorado has been getting drier its making the work more challenging. He tries to stay optimistic, but thats hard to do when things are rough financially. You know, Im still living with my parents, Wilson says. Thats not something I want to admit. I wanted to do this as a career, but it kind of has me second guessing things. A dry project In 1968, Congress authorized the Dolores River Project, a federal Bureau of Reclamation project that stores and delivers water to irrigators and municipalities in the San Juan and Dolores River basins. More than 30 years later, in 2000, the project was considered fully completed, right about the time the most recent long-term drought began to set in. They looked at the records when they designed these projects, and the last 20 years are unlike anything in the record, said Ken Curtis, general manager of the Dolores Water Conservancy District, which operates the Dolores Project. The project, which stores water in McPhee Reservoir, the third largest reservoir in the state, serves about 75,000 irrigated acres and around 20,000 people rely on it for drinking water. There have been some good years during this most recent two-decade stretch, but the yo-yoing from decent to bad or worse and then back again makes things particularly trying. Some of the studies indicate we may be a little bit more on the leading edge with some of these problems, Curtis said. But its hard to predict. What is tangible is the fallout from last year. The spring was hot and dry and the monsoon season never came. Normally, the water district operates on about $2.6 million in annual fees from customers who pay $40 an acre-foot. Curtis had to make do with almost $1 million less last year. Its a self-sustaining system when theres water. The district delivers it to farmers and ranchers who pay fees that then go back to support the operation of the district. But without enough water that cycle is disrupted. Not only are farmers paying less in fees because theyre receiving less water, Curtis said, some have struggled to pay the bill for what water they did get. Curtis was forced to cut costs and pull money out of reserves. The district recently let an open position go unfilled and theyre waiting to replace some equipment for another few years, hoping things turn around. At the moment, this years outlook could go either way. A few March storms dropped some much-needed snow; snowpack in the region is at 93% of average, according to NRCS SNOTEL data. But snowpack isnt everything. The things that got us, Curtis said, were the hot dry springs with the dry soil. The soil conditions in southwestern Colorado are the driest in the state, and the dry soil sponges off valuable spring runoff. Although statewide snowpack was either at or slightly below 100% of average the past two years, runoff was significantly lower than expected. McPhee reservoir contained about 100,000 acre-feet to start 2019; in 2020 it was only about 10,000 acre-feet. Dealing with another year like last year would be tough for Eric White, whos been farming pretty much his whole life. Like Wilson, he started with his father and has been doing it on his own for the past 18 years. In 2021, out of 770 irrigated acres, he got one cutting of alfalfa from roughly 215 acres and the yield was about half of what it usually is on a first cut. White worries about the long-term financial impact if the region doesnt get a better water year soon. Is our land going to be worth what we paid for it? he asked. Hes worried about what he has invested in infrastructure costs, too; a center-pivot sprinkler, for instance, can run up to $140,000. Curtis, the general manager of the water district, hopes the community can adapt to whatever the conditions are this year and beyond. He thinks back to 2015, which was looking like it might be a dry year until it rained so much in May that the system recovered 50% of its supply in one month. They call it Miracle May. Theyre looking at long-term trends being negative, but its hard to say how that plays out year to year, Curtis said. It could be more extremes ups and downs. Is that death by 1,000 cuts? Or can we adapt? Senior and junior Don Schwindt started growing alfalfa in southwest Colorado in the 1970s. Hes made a living that way ever since. Thats my business, he said. I dont know how to do anything else. The elevation and climate conditions in this part of the state allow farmers to grow high-quality hay, making it particularly desirable. Schwindt has put his hay on trucks bound for California, Florida and everywhere in between. Hes even heard of his crop showing up at a market in Peru because someone wanted it to feed to their prize horses. Schwindt has had to deal with bad water years in the past 1977 was one of the worst. Last year, however, didnt impact him the way it did some others. Schwindt holds rights that are senior to the rights held by other users, which puts him closer to the front of the line to draw water. Schwindts water comes from the Montezuma Valley Irrigation Company, a private mutual ditch company that has those senior rights. That setup has him leaning toward optimism. It was good, Schwindt said of his 2021. I expect a good year this year. Schwindt knows his good fortune has likely made others envious. At the same time, he said, he knows he doesnt operate in a vacuum, and that if you pull out one too many agricultural blocks the entire communitys Jenga tower will topple. Weve got to be careful, he said. He warned of the potential consequences of not being able to grow enough food locally, sending too much of that production overseas. You look at whats happening in Ukraine today, Schwindt said, and you think what will happen to us if weve got all our food coming from somewhere else on an ocean because we were too shortsighted to save the beauty of what weve learned to produce in this nation. Just beyond Schwindts property, obscured by a hill, lies the Ute Mountain Ute reservation. The water story there is a different one. Simon Martinez is in charge of running a large farm and ranch operation thats been going for more than 20 years. In 2020, because of the carry-over water from the previous year stashed in McPhee reservoir, the 7,700-acre irrigated operation enjoyed a mostly full supply. Last year, the farm, which has junior water rights, received only about 10% of a full allotment. We can discuss all day if its climate change, Martinez said. Its definitely weather related. The Ute farm has 110 center-pivot sprinklers, all of which were put to use in 2020. Last year, they only ran about 15. That impacted how much alfalfa they could plant. They had to turn away multiple, long-standing customers and lay off employees because there wasnt enough work. Hay production was one problem. Corn was another. The tribe couldnt grow enough corn to satisfy the needs of its Bow & Arrow cornmeal operation, which it sells both locally and online. They had to purchase corn from elsewhere in the U.S. to keep up with production everything is still milled, stored and processed on the reservation. The Bow & Arrow brand corn products include blue, yellow and white cornmeal, as well as corn flour and polenta, all of which is certified non-GMO. This spring has Martinez worried again. Hes trying to plan for how to handle another 10% year just in case. Hes running out of time to decide on what fields he can count on putting into production. If the corn volume falls short again, he said the farm has a good enough reputation with its partners that whatever seed they dont use they can send back and recoup that cost. All of this translates to jobs. How do you keep 30 people employed? Martinez said. It was never an issue to pay a bill that was due. Now, we have to be very observant of what we do. Martinez currently sits on the Dolores Water Conservancy District board and is working closely with Curtis on trying to understand and plan for how much water to expect this year. Curtis doesnt have the answer yet, but hes hopeful it will be better than last year. Looking at the most recent predictions in late March, he said hes hoping 2020 could end up with closer to 50% supply. But hes still waiting on another storm or two. Surviving in this business, Curtis said, requires a certain amount of optimism, and the team running the Ute farm doggedly clings to hope. Theyve done a good job of building a successful operation, Curtis said. I just need to find them some water. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate PHILADELPHIA (AP) Danielle Russell was in the emergency department at an Arizona hospital last fall, sick with COVID-19, when she made the mistake of answering completely when she was asked what medications she was on. I said yes, I was taking methadone, said Russell, a doctoral student who also was in recovery from heroin use. The smart thing to do, if I wanted to be treated like a human, would be to say no. Even though her primary doctor had sent her to the ER, she said she was discharged swiftly without being treated and given a stack of papers about the hospitals policies for prescribing pain medications drugs she was not asking for. It becomes so absurd and the stigma against methadone especially is so strong, she said, noting that other people in recovery have had it worse. Youre getting blocked out from housing resources, employment. It's a problem people in the addiction recovery community have dealt with for decades: On top of the stigma surrounding addiction, people who are in medical treatment for substance abuse can face additional discrimination including in medical and legal settings that are supposed to help. This week, the U.S. Department of Justice published new guidelines aimed at dealing with the problem: They assert that it's illegal under the Americans with Disabilities Act to discriminate against people because they are using prescribed methadone or other medications to treat opioid use disorder. The guidelines don't change federal government policy, but they do offer clarification and signal that authorities are watching for discrimination in a wide range of settings. The Justice Department's actions this year also show it's taken an interest in the issue, reaching multiple legal settlements, filing a lawsuit and sending a warning letter alleging other violations. One of the government's recent settlements was with a Colorado program that helps house and employ people who are homeless. A potential client filed a complaint claiming she was denied admission because she uses buprenorphine to treat her addiction. As part of the settlement, Ready to Work is paying the woman $7,500. Stan Garnett, a lawyer for the organization, said Thursday that the organization's staff is being trained to comply with the law. Its terrifying to be told by some authority whether its a judge, or a child welfare official, or a skilled nursing facility someone who has something you need is telling you you have to get off the medication that is saving your life, said Sally Friedman, senior vice president of legal advocacy at the Legal Action Center, which uses legal challenges to try to end punitive measures for people with health conditions, including addiction. Friedman said advocates and lawyers will cite the new guidelines when they're making discrimination claims. Dan Haight, president of The LCADA Way, which runs addiction treatment programs in the Cleveland area, said a suburb where they wanted to put a clinic at one point nixed the idea because of a moratorium in place on new drug counseling centers. Were not looked at as another medical facility or counseling office, Haight said. Were looked at because we do addiction. The new guidelines suggest that such broad denials could be violations of the ADA. Overdoses from all opioids, including prescription drugs containing oxycodone, heroin and illicit laboratory-made varieties including fentanyl, have killed more than 500,000 Americans in the last two decades, and the problem has been growing only worse. That has frustrated advocates, treatment providers and public health experts who see the deaths as preventable with treatment. Even as the crisis has deepened, there have been glimmers of hope. Drugmakers, distribution companies and pharmacy chains have announced settlements since last year to pay government entities about $35 billion over time plus provide drugs to treat addictions and reverse overdoses. Most of the money is required to be used to fight the epidemic. It's still to be determined how the money will be deployed, but one priority for many public health experts is expanding access to medication-based treatments, which are seen as essential to helping people recover. But there's still a stigma associated with the treatment programs, which use the medication naltrexone or drugs that themselves are opioids, such as methadone and buprenorphine. Marcus Buchanan used methadone from 2016 through 2018 to help end a decadelong heroin habit. During that time, he was looking for work near his home in Chouteau, Oklahoma mostly at factories and could never land one. I can nail an interview. It would be the drug-screen process when he'd explain why the results showed he was using methadone, said Buchanan, who is now an outreach coordinator for an opioid prevention program. Every job, more than 20 probably, during those two years, was a door shut in the face. Dr. Susan Bissett, president of the nonprofit West Virginia Drug Intervention Institute, said people who are in treatment programs often hide it out of fear that they could lose their jobs. She said she wants to reach out to business leaders and encourage them to hire and retain people who are using the medications. The next step is helping employers understand this is a disease instead of a moral failing, Bissett said. We dont think about substance abuse disorder the way we think about diabetes, for example. One of the places where medication-assisted treatment is sometimes restricted or banned is in state drug diversion court programs, which are intended to get people help for addiction rather than incarcerate them. Fewer than half the states have specific language that prohibits judges from excluding people who are taking the medications from participating in diversion programs or requires that they allow its use as part of the programs. That finding is based on an Associated Press review of legislation, administrative court orders and drug court handbooks that guide state drug diversion court programs. Some states allow individual courts to make their own rules, while others only include language saying people can't be excluded. Judges in some states still require defendants to taper off the medications and allow the diversion programs to decide whether the medications are appropriate for each person enrolled. The Center for Court Innovation is trying to steer the drug courts into creating policies and programs that support people taking those medications instead of incentivizing them to stop. It can be frustrating, because nobody needs to tell a judge they need to allow someone to take blood pressure medication, said Sheila McCarthy, a senior program manager for the Center for Court Innovation. But for some, there is just a disconnect about the real effect these medications have on a persons daily life. Veronica Pacheco has been off methadone for nearly a year after being on it for more than six years to treat an addiction to pain pills. She said some people in the medical field a physician, a dentist, a pharmacist seemed to treat her differently after they learned she was on methadone treatment. They sometimes assume she was going to ask for new prescriptions for pain medications. I felt like I had a sign on my forehead saying, I am a methadone person. The minute someone has your medical record, everything changes, said Pacheco, who lives in the Minneapolis suburb of Dayton. Now that Ive been off it, I can see the night-and-day difference. ___ Mulvihill reported from Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Microsoft announced on Thursday, April 7, that it had intercepted yet another wave of Russian hacking attempts which targeted a wide range of media organizations and government institutions across Ukraine, the U.S., and the EU. Microsoft said that it has informed Ukraine's government of the activity it had discovered and the steps it had taken against the cyberattack attempts. Microsoft Has Disrupted Russian Cyberattacks on Ukraine On Thursday, Tom Burt, Corporate Vice President, Customer Security & Trust at Microsoft, shared in a blog post that Microsoft has disrupted some cyberattacks from Strontium, a Russian GRU-connected actor targeting Ukraine. He explained that on Wednesday, the tech giant received a court order permitting it to take control of seven internet domains that Strontium, also known as Fancy Bear, used to carry out these attacks. According to the blog, Microsoft has recently redirected these domains to a sinkhole under their control, allowing them to limit Strontium's ongoing use of these domains while still enabling victim notifications. Gizmodo mentioned that Strontium is a Russian government affiliate that has been detected manipulating various companies in the past. According to Microsoft, the group was using seven different internet domains to launch assaults intended at spying on institutions in the U.S. and the EU. Cyberattacks have long been a part of Russia's foreign policy maneuvering, allowing it to supplement its physical invasion of Ukraine by letting it infiltrate both Ukrainian and international websites owned by countries sending aid to the besieged country. Microsoft said it had informed Ukraine's government of the activity it had discovered and the steps it had taken. Read Also: Russia Has Two Months Left Before It Runs Out of Data Storage The Strontium attacks are only a minor part of the activities in Ukraine that Microsoft has observed. Prior to the Russian invasion, Microsoft teams began working around the clock to assist enterprises in Ukraine, including government agencies, in defending against an onslaught of cyberwarfare that has grown since the invasion began. The Biden White House Counters Cyberattacks by Russia's Hackers According to Wired, President Joe Biden's executive branch has taken more efforts to prevent and even temporarily disarm Russia's most dangerous hackers in the last two months than probably any prior administration has done in such a short period of time. The countermeasures the U.S. has set included unsealing two indictments against members of notorious Russian state hacker groups, publicly blaming Russia's GRU military intelligence agency for distributed denial of service attacks against Ukrainian banks, and a rare FBI operation to remove malware from network devices that GRU hackers had used to control a global botnet of hacked machines. Meanwhile, Gizmodo mentioned that Ukraine's government institutions, media organizations, and countless civilians have been subjected to a barrage of hacking efforts, both before and after Russia's siege of the country in February. This inspired the Ukrainian government to form a volunteer army of programmer recruits to essentially hack back at those Russian targets. Hundreds of thousands of professional and amateur hackers from both inside and outside Ukraine quickly came on board. Related Article: More VPNs Blocked as Russia Strengthens Digital Iron Curtain Korean Augmentation to the United States Army (KATUSA) soldiers take selfies with President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol during his visit to U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday. Courtesy of the office of the president-elect's spokesperson By Nam Hyun-woo A Korean Augmentation to the United States Army (KATUSA) soldiers' selfie with President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol has stirred up a fresh controversy, as a civic group has complained that KATUSA soldiers' use of mobile phones while on duty is unfair. Yukdaejeon, a civic group that has been reporting incidents and problems in the Korean Army, posted a photo of Yoon and a group of KATUSA soldiers taking selfies with him using their mobile phones on its Facebook page and blog on Friday, saying that the practice is unfair because ordinary Army soldiers' mobile phone use is heavily controlled. "Are KATUSA soldiers allowed to use their mobile phones during on-duty hours? And are they required to install on their phones security apps that prohibit taking photos? If so, why is the military banning other soldiers of the Army from using their mobile phones?" the post read. President-elect Yoon visited U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday, to meet U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Paul LaCamera. During Yoon's visit, a number of KATUSA soldiers stationed there used their mobile phones to take selfies with Yoon. Currently, soldiers doing their compulsory military service are allowed to use their smartphones only from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. While using their devices, they are required to install a mobile security application that prohibits them from taking photos and doing video calls. The conditions of KATUSA soldiers have long been compared to those of others who are serving their mandatory military service at Korean military bases because KATUSA soldiers are allowed to serve in conditions similar to those of U.S. Forces Korea troops. "If KATUSA soldiers' use of mobile phones is not a problem, it proves that there is no problem with other soldiers using their smartphones during on-duty hours either," the post read. "Since the president-elect is endorsing soldiers' use of mobile phones, we hope that there will be better policies to come." On April 1, Yoon's presidential transition committee had a discussion with the Ministry of National Defense over extending the hours during which servicemen are permitted to use their smartphones. A crewman who went missing in a Coast Guard helicopter crash in waters off Korea's southernmost island of Mara was found dead in the submerged chopper, the Korea Coast Guard said Saturday. The 42-year-old mechanic Cha Joo-il was one of the four members aboard the Sikorsky S-92 helicopter, which went down in waters 370 kilometers southwest of Mara Island on Friday, shortly after a takeoff to return to the southern port city of Busan. The chopper was there to drop off Coast Guard rescuers on the patrol boat on a mission to help with rescue operations for six crew members missing from the 322-ton Kyoto 1 in waters near Taiwan. In the crash, the chopper's co-pilot, named Chung Doo-hwan, 50, and the 27-year-old vessel radar operator, Hwang Hyeon-jun, were killed, and Cha had gone missing. Its pilot, surnamed Choi, 47, was rescued by a nearby Coast Guard patrol boat and is in a non-life threatening condition, according to Coast Guard officials. Their memorial altars were set up at a Busan funeral home, and the three-day funeral will be held starting Sunday, according to the officials. Meanwhile, two bodies retrieved Friday in waters near Taiwan were confirmed to have been of South Korean crew members aboard Kyoto 1, according to a foreign ministry official. Earlier in the day, one more body was recovered, and South Korean and Taiwanese police authorities are working on its identification, he added. On Thursday, the Taiwanese maritime authorities received a distress call from Kyoto 1 and informed the Seoul government of the incident. All six crew members of the vessel are South Korean nationals. The Kyoto 1 was on its way to the Batam port of Indonesia from Busan, taking the Kyoto 2 tender ship in tow, which has been found in the waters. (Yonhap) At the age of 90, Laurence Mizzi still has a cheerful demeanour and a spring in his step after a distinguished career as a teacher and, later, a broadcaster. However, the grey-haired great-grandfather also has painful boyhood memories of when his homeland, the Mediterranean island of Malta, became the most bombed place on Earth. Eighty years on, he recalls clearly how, day after day, hundreds of enemy bombs fell close to his family home. Yet the traumatic events of the Second World War caused even greater hardships, because the besieged island was so short of food and other key supplies. Mizzi, who was aged ten at the height of the bombings, told me: As a boy, I suffered more from hunger than from bombs. I remember feeling hungry a lot of the time because there was so little to eat. Sometimes I used to cry from hunger and I didnt want to go to school because my stomach ached so much. Eighty years on, he recalls clearly how, day after day, hundreds of enemy bombs fell close to his family home. Yet the traumatic events of the Second World War caused even greater hardships, because the besieged island was so short of food and other key supplies. Scottish soldiers are pictured above in May 1942 He compared the plight of the Maltese in 1942 to todays crisis in eastern Europe. What is happening in Ukraine reminds me of what happened to us, he said. We suffered, but fortunately we survived. I cannot imagine what life would have been like if we had been occupied by the Germans. Today, Mizzi, who has lived on the island all his life, is long retired after finishing his career as chairman of Malta Broadcasting. He is married with two children, two grandchildren and a great-grandchild. During the war, Mizzi, the second eldest of six children, lived with his parents and siblings close to the docks in Maltas Grand Harbour, which became the main target for the enemy bombing campaign. It was for the bravery of people such as the Mizzi family that Malta would receive the first collective George Cross (GC) Britain and the Commonwealths most prestigious medal awarded for gallantry not in the presence of the enemy. It is usually given to individuals, both civilians and those in the Armed Forces, particularly bomb disposal experts. In the case of Malta, however, there was a very noticeable enemy in the form of Italian and German military aggressors from 1940 to 1942. Next week marks the 80th anniversary of the award of the GC to Malta on April 15, 1942, and the island nation will commemorate the occasion by remembering those who gave their lives so that Malta would not fall under the yoke of fascists and Nazis. THE war was almost a year old when Maltas struggle for survival began in the late spring of 1940. On June 10, Italy entered the war on Germanys side. The following day, eight Italian aircraft took part in raids on Malta. The bombings would soon intensify. In the case of Malta, however, there was a very noticeable enemy in the form of Italian and German military aggressors from 1940 to 1942. Next week marks the 80th anniversary of the award of the GC to Malta on April 15, 1942. Children are pictured outside in the damaged streets At the time, the island, which is smaller than the Isle of Wight, had a civilian population of just over 250,000 and a garrison of some 18,000 troops. But why was Malta considered so important to both Allied and Axis powers? Although small, the then British fortress island had huge strategic importance as a route to North Africa and the Middle East. Its splendid natural bay, Grand Harbour, provided a safe haven for ships to anchor and make repairs. Malta also provided a valuable springboard for Allied forces, notably by sea and air, seeking to attack the Germans and Italians. However, Britain, which was fighting the war on other fronts, struggled to release the resources needed to protect the island. By the New Year of 1941, the attacks on Malta involved the German Luftwaffe, too. On January 16, 1941, more than 70 enemy aircraft bombed the island, destroying 200 homes and damaging 500 more. Soon, raids would involve more than 100 aircraft. Laurence Mizzi can still recall the January 16 bombing and the impact it had on the island. The explosions were strong and lengthy, he says. We had never experienced such an intense attack. It was, in fact, the first attack by the Luftwaffe which had set up a base in Sicily. He remembers: When the air raid was sounded, some passers-by sought refuge in the church of St Lawrence, since there werent shelters everywhere. When the explosions increased, my grandfather left and went to shelters which served as temporary houses for families who did not want to be far from their homes. Why was Malta considered so important to both Allied and Axis powers? Although small, the then British fortress island had huge strategic importance as a route to North Africa and the Middle East My grandfathers decision saved his life. After he had walked for a while, the crypt of St Lawrence was hit by bombs and totally demolished. No one survived. I remember that I burst into tears while listening to the story of destruction and death. More than 30 men, women and children died under the rubble of the church. After the fall of Crete in June 1941, Malta found itself more than 1,000 miles from its nearest help. Early in 1942, Hitler decided it was time to put an end to Maltas resistance once and for all, using the Luftwaffe even more extensively to try to bomb the island into submission. By this point, attempts by the British to reinforce Malta with significant supplies had failed, leaving the inhabitants and the garrison close to starvation and with ammunition and fuel supplies badly depleted. With the island heavily dependent on imported food, ration cards were issued for basic supplies such as lard, margarine, oil, tea, coffee, corned beef and tinned sardines. There was a thriving black market for everyday supplies, especially kerosene. The health of the Maltese population deteriorated. Scabies was endemic, as were diseases such as typhoid and tuberculosis. Yet Maltas determination not to surrender never flinched. As the crisis worsened, and more people were forced to live underground or in makeshift shelters for safety, King George VI bestowed the GC on the island, a collective award of the medal that had been instituted only two years earlier. Addressed to the islands governor, Sir William Dobbie, the letter from the King read: To honour her brave people, I award the George Cross to the Island Fortress of Malta to bear witness to a heroism and devotion that will long be famous in history. The governors reply to the King was full of loyalty to the crown and defiance towards the enemy: The people and garrison of Malta are deeply touched by your Majestys kind thoughts for them in conferring on the fortress this signal honour. It has greatly encouraged everyone, and all are determined that, by Gods help, Malta will not weaken but will endure until victory is won. All in Malta desire to express once again their devotion to your Majesty and their resolve to prove worthy of the high honour conferred. Aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal sinking after being torpedoed while on Malta operations in November 1941 There was no doubt that Sir Williams respect for the Maltese people was immense. Joseph Attard, an island historian who served in the RAF during the war, summed this up perfectly when he wrote in his book The Battle Of Malta that the fate of the islands population was daily in his [Dobbies] thoughts and prayers. Attard added: There was a time in the beginning when he was haunted by the possible reaction to the severe bombing, but the Maltese had risen higher than his expectations and stuck to it admirably. There had also been the fear of invasion and the first shortages in food which had also been somehow surmounted. He had nothing but admiration for them. Their simple gestures whenever he talked to them after some raid, like kissing or wetting his hands with their tears or even patting him on the back, left him moved beyond description. By the summer of 1942, nearly three years into the war, the outcome of the greatest conflict the world had ever seen hung in the balance. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill ordered Operation Pedestal, a convoy of 13 British merchant ships supported by warships, including aircraft carriers and two battleships, to save Malta at all costs. The result was one of the bloodiest sea battles of the entire war. Only five of the British merchant ships would reach the Maltese capital, Valletta. Ohio, a US tanker on loan to Britain, was severely damaged by enemy bombs but also limped into Grand Harbour as islanders lined the quayside to welcome the survivors of the convoy. The American ship was able to unload its much needed oil and kerosene before it broke in two. Malta was resupplied and the island survived to fight on. The GC, which had been awarded five months earlier, was officially presented to Malta on September 13, 1942, and it toured the island soon afterwards for the local population to admire. By November, the siege of Malta was over, after more than 3,000 bombing raids during which some 17,000 tons of bombs had been dropped on the island. To put the bombing into perspective, Malta received roughly three times more bombs per square mile than London during the Blitz. The Grand Harbour area suffered worst, with vast areas reduced to rubble. About 7,000 military personnel and civilians gave their lives during the siege of Malta and related fighting, and it was an event that changed the course of the war. It is unsurprising that many islanders are comparing their suffering 80 years ago to that of the Ukrainians today. Both nations sustained relentless attacks from a far superior military power, their only means of prevailing being not to surrender. Whereas Ukraine has the might of Russia to contend with, Malta faced the combined strength of Germany and Italy, at that time two of the strongest military powers in Europe. But in 1942, midway through the war, the tide was turning and in December, air and sea forces operating from Malta switched on to the offensive. By May 1943, they had sunk 230 Axis ships in 164 days, the highest Allied sinking rate of the war. On May 7, 1945, Germany surrendered and the war in Europe was over. During my recent visit to Malta, I met Charles Debono, curator of the National War Museum and author of Malta During World War II. He allowed me to become one of the privileged few who has handled the islands much treasured GC and to study a precise replica of the famous letter from King George VI awarding the medal to the island. While the rest of Malta has been rebuilt, the Royal Opera House at the entrance to Valletta has been left ruined, as it was in 1945. It acts as a reminder of the islands suffering, and the sheer scale of the bombing. Malta, a strong, proud, vibrant nation which gained its independence from the UK in 1964, is one of only three recipients of a collective George Cross. The second such award was to the Royal Ulster Constabulary in 1999 after more than 300 officers were killed in the line of duty during the Troubles. According to the citation, the decoration was to recognise the collective courage and dedication to duty of those who had served in the constabulary. The third collective award was to the National Health Service and its staff last year in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic a move I actively campaigned for. The citation stated: Over more than seven decades, and especially in recent times, you have supported the people of our country with courage, compassion and dedication, demonstrating the highest standards of public service. I have long had a soft spot for Malta. My respect for the courage of the islanders 80 years ago is immense, and Maltas rich history is one of the main reasons I am such a frequent visitor to the island. The gritty resistance of the Maltese, when they were war-weary, near starvation and, in many cases, sick, was incredible. Fortunately, partly due to their rare collective award of the GC, this courage will never be forgotten. Before I left Malta, I wanted to visit one more location: the War Memorial in Valletta the equivalent of the UKs Cenotaph which commemorates the islands dead from two world wars. I stood, head bowed, in front of the obelisk in the shape of a Latin cross made from limestone and then studied the four plaques on each side of the monument, one of which reproduces the letter sent by King George VI to the island in April 1942. It was a fitting way for me to pay my silent respects to the bravery of those who contributed to making Malta the worlds first and only George Cross island. Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC is a businessman, philanthropist, author and pollster. For information on his work, visit www.lordashcroft.com. Follow him on Twitter and/or Facebook @LordAshcroft. He is the author of George Cross Heroes: visit www.georgecrossheroes.com. Some years ago, when I had been working in London for more than a decade and earning a large salary although nothing compared with the stratospheric income of Mrs Rishi Sunak my accountant suggested a tax beneficial proposal. Because I still held an Australian passport, I could claim non-dom status and reduce my tax bill. The complexities of the scheme were as bewildering as they were distasteful to me. Why wouldnt I want to pay UK taxes on all my income some of which still came from Australia? Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of The Exchequer looking rather glum seen leaving Downing Street yesterday morning Rishi Sunak and wife, Akshata Murthy, who are both caught up in a tax row over Mrs Murthy tax status in the UK Westminister wars How ridiculous an indignant Keir Starmer was, launching Labours local election campaign saying Boris must be ousted over Partygate. Has he not noticed the real Tory scandals are tax rises, fuel poverty and the despised NI increase? Not wise of Ed Miliband to wade into the trans sporting debate, suggesting male and female athletes such as darts players could happily co-exist as they already do. Poor Ed hasn't mangled anything so badly since he ate that bacon sandwich. President Zelensky salutes us for providing arms in Ukraines hour of need while much of the EU, including Germany and France, reneged on promises. Boris has got his mojo back and, as Churchill once said, attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. Advertisement After all, Britain had welcomed me as a foreigner and it was now my home. I reasoned I should pay my due towards everything from the NHS and schools to roads and social care. Thats surely what anyone should do if they live here, even if grudgingly. Like anyone entitled to non-dom status I had a choice. I chose Britain. Unlike the Chancellors wife Akshata Murty, who pays UK taxes on income from this country yet, until her sudden conversion yesterday, chose to tick the non-dom status box for the hundreds of millions she gets from her billionaire fathers business in India. Despite her initial statement implying otherwise, non-dom status is not automatic and the hard truth is she actively chose the route that, according to some tax experts, could ultimately have been worth as much as 300million to the Sunak family. What message did Miss Murtys position give out? That theres one rule for the very rich and another for the rest of us. And in the current cost of living crisis, it gave off the stench of hypocrisy. Remember this is a woman whose husband has given British households their biggest tax burden since the 1940s. A Chancellor who, despite the pleas of businesses, economists and this paper, has insisted on pushing ahead with his national insurance tax hike. Prime Minister Boris Johnson grins beside Chancellor Rishi Sunak The age of beauty The surgically enhanced Kim Kardashian may be absurd but you have to admire her for recruiting older models, including Heidi Klum, 48, to promote her new Skims undies collection. Maybe shes taken a leaf out of Versaces book who chose mums Carla Bruni and Claudia Schiffer, now both in their early 50s, for their catwalk. A celebration of post-menopausal women who are still hot for all the right reasons, now thats liberating. Advertisement You have to admire Rishi for rallying to his wifes defence, but I cannot accept his special pleading that she should not be subject to scrutiny. When the news of her non-dom status came through, I was appearing on GB News, ironically debating if Rishi was too rich to become PM. As a former Tory spin doctor, my instinct was to blurt out: Rishis finished. I believe he is and all because his wife ticked the wrong box. The creepy world of Maxwell House Of Maxwell series is disturbing, and not just because it exposes the greed, corruption and evil theft that funded Robert Maxwells fantasy lifestyle. A former secretary reveals that when Ghislaine called him, they spent the first ten minutes purring and mewing to each like cats. Creepy or what! And reinforcing the theory that Maxwell and his cherished daughter were altogether too close which may explain why she ended up with Sugar Daddy paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Pictured: Claudia Schiffer arrives at the Bambi Awards in 2017 in Berlin, Germany Bride rejects Poshs purple pain Much anticipation for the wedding of Brooklyn Beckham and his American sweetheart Nicola Peltz in Palm Beach today. But sadness for Victoria after the bride chose Valentino over her VB range for her wedding dress. Rumour has it Nicola wasnt sure about Vics offer to design their post-nuptial party outfits either shed probably Googled the in-laws and seen them in matching purple monstrosities after their own wedding 23 years ago. Victoria and David Beckam's wedding in 1999 Advertisement Sheer we go again After winning his High Court plagiarism case over his hit Shape Of You, a distraught Ed Sheeran said it had been so painful to hear someone aggressively challenge your integrity. The multi-millionaire who makes 5million a year from that track alone implored: I am not an entity, I am not a corporation, I am a human being, a father, a husband, a son. Sounds to me like the self-pitying celebritys got a new song, Shape Of Boo-hoo Cambridge scientists hail a discovery that reverses the ageing of human cells by 30 years. Perhaps Prince Harry could be one of their early recipients and the treatment could take him back to when he was the happy-go-lucky guy we all used to love. Netflix is planning a prequel series to The Crown, revisiting the reign of Queen Victoria. Given their daft choice of saucy Dominic West to play Prince Charles, theyve probably got their eye on Helen Mirren for the portly, bloated monarch unless Cate Blanchett, who played Elizabeth I, is free. Anyone questioning the wisdom of Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation buying a 4.6million seven-bedroom California mansion as a safehouse for black activists and thought leaders is met with accusations of racism. I suspect the good folk in the poorer areas of Minneapolis, where George Floyd died, might not think it racist to wonder if some of that cash could have bought them new homes. Stirling University drops Jane Austen from their English Literature course to focus on racial difference, gender and sexuality, ignoring the fact her novels were early feminist tracts depicting feisty females fighting to be seen and heard in a world when women were considered mens chattels. New advice from health experts says forget about BMIs and instead use a tape measure to find out if were more at risk of heart disease. If your waist is less than half your height, youre OK. Just one question is that with or without my Spanx on? Dominic West playing Prince Charles in Netflix's The Crown Meghan is trying to copyright the word archetype for her podcast, even though its been in use for nearly 500 years. While shes at it, I see the words talentless, shameless and self-seeking opportunist are still up for grabs. Good news for smokers that muchloved June Brown, EastEnders Dot Cotton, worked into her 80s and was still happily puffing away and drinking until her death at 95 after a rich life fully lived. Despite the tell-tale smokers lines, she refused to have a facelift, saying: Whats the point of looking good in your coffin. Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, pictured, has launched a new podcast Pink Floyd have released a new song to raise funds for the millions suffering in Ukraine. They could also re-release an old hit, aimed directly at the Home Office, in support of the refugees shamefully kept waiting for UK visas: Wish You Were Here. Since last Wednesday, when no-fault divorce became law south of the border (Scotland did this in 2006), civil marriage in England has become little more than a middle-class foible. Families are temporary arrangements, easily scattered. Why should most people bother with a commitment so readily torn up that it isnt worth the paper its scribbled on? I say civil marriage because I believe there are still couples from all layers of society who make serious pledges of lifelong marriage in religious weddings. But civil marriage is now less binding than a car lease. It offers no guarantee of stability to those who marry, let alone to their children, the real victims of this trend in the law. In fact, these are the two fascinating things about modern marriage law in the West. It virtually ignores the dreadful damage divorce does to children. It correctly claims to liberate adults but at what price to their offspring, who are in so many cases made miserable, not liberated? The clever, slick BBC TV drama The Split, starring Nicola Walker, portrays the smooth, moneyed industry that now feeds off marital break-up. But now it is terminal. Why is that? And it turns normal law upside down. It sides with the contract-breaker rather than with the person who wants to keep his or her word. Try telling your mortgage lender that you dont actually owe them any money any more, even though you solemnly promised to pay it back, because your relationship with them has irretrievably broken down. This has been getting worse for many years. The clever, slick BBC TV drama The Split, starring Nicola Walker, portrays the smooth, moneyed industry that now feeds off marital break-up. But now it is terminal. Why is that? I have long thought that both the state and business do not much like families. Families have private lives and pass on opinions and stories that contradict all the official dogmas. Try telling your mortgage lender that you dont actually owe them any money any more, even though you solemnly promised to pay it back, because your relationship with them has irretrievably broken down. This has been getting worse for many years Families like to have weekends and evenings off rather than working the whole time. Families spread and sustain old-fashioned ideas such as inheritance, continuity, thrift and providence. Families can stand against the hypnotic power of advertising and political propaganda. Families have ferociously strong bonds of loyalty. People who are in families are harder to push around and brainwash than isolated individuals. The old Soviet state specifically made war on proper families. Marriage was a scrap of paper easily dissolved. Children were, literally, taught to put the state above their parents. They were trained to worship the obscene child traitor Pavlik Morozov, idolised for betraying his mother and father to the secret police. There was still a statue to this horror in Moscow until 1991. The young used to be paraded in front of it and told to revere him, even though he probably never existed. But here its been more subtle. If you make what was once a binding oath easy to get out of, you will in the end undermine its power. The strong possibility of break-up has been inserted, by the State, into every marriage ceremony. So when difficulties come, people swiftly think of divorce as the remedy. The first thing that happens is that there are more divorces. The next is that it becomes increasingly difficult to be critical of divorce because divorcees take it personally. Then this settles down, and there are fewer marriages in the first place. And so we get a stronger state, greedier commerce and more and more lonely, unhappy children who tragically think it is all their fault. I have long thought that both the state and business do not much like families. Families have private lives and pass on opinions and stories that contradict all the official dogmas, writes Peter Hitchens (pictured) Some cold, hard facts they dont tell you about Ukraine Here are some facts about the Ukraine crisis you may not be aware of. I have listed them to try to cool down the hot temper of so much of the debate about this issue, which threatens to widen and deepen an appalling war. Q. How long have Western countries been giving military aid to Ukraine? A. The US has been giving Ukraine generous foreign and military aid since 1991, when Ukraine became a country. In the decade after 1991, Ukraine received almost $2.6 billion. In the years leading up to Russias annexation of Crimea in 2014, it was getting roughly $105 million per year, including military financing, most given long before any threat of Russian invasion. The US began supplying weapons in 2018. Britain began giving military aid to Ukraine in 2014, in the form of advisers and training. Q. Did anyone ever try to solve the problem that some of Ukraines Russian-speaking citizens did not want to be in Ukraine a main reason for hostility between Moscow and Kiev after 1991? A. Yes, right from the start. On August 26, 1991, two days after Kiev declared independence from Moscow, the then Russian president Boris Yeltsin said that the old Soviet borders between Russia and Ukraine would have to be redrawn to deal with this problem. He retracted this within a day, almost certainly thanks to pressure from the United States. By May 1992, 250,000 of Crimeas roughly two million mostly Russian people had signed a petition asking for a referendum on independence enough to trigger a vote under Ukrainian law. On May 5 that year, Crimeas parliament voted 118 to 28 to secede from Ukraine. But the Kiev government prevented a referendum from taking place. Q. Would it have been possible to change the borders of Ukraine peacefully to avoid this obvious problem? A. Yes, as European borders are not sacrosanct. The US and the UK, along with dozens of other countries (though not Ukraine), have recognised Kosovos breakaway from Serbia in 2008. The whole of the former Yugoslavia has been scissored into many new states, mostly recognised by the majority of nations. Ukraine, for instance, was among the earliest countries to recognise Croatias 1991 breakaway from Yugoslavia, then a highly controversial step. Q. What is the biggest political snub in modern history? A. In March 2007, Vladimir Putin warned very specifically against further expansion of Nato. Just a year later, President George W. Bush announced that he wanted Ukraine to join Nato, wholly aware that his action would infuriate Moscow. It did. Q. Is Russia alone in committing alleged atrocities in Ukraine? A. No. More than one allegation has been made, supported by apparent video evidence, of Ukrainian soldiers killing or maiming captured and helpless Russian prisoners of war. It must be stressed that these claims have not been proven. However, it is incontestable that both Russian and Ukrainian forces were guilty of military actions leading to the deaths of civilians, including children, during the war which has raged since 2014 in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions. Q. Could the current war have been avoided? A. Very much so. President Volodymyr Zelensky was elected largely on a promise to seek peace, which he courageously did in 2019. But political rivals and hard-Right militias both opposed him. On a visit to soldiers on the front line, he told one Rightist who lectured him: You cant issue me ultimatums. Im the president of this country. I am 42 years old. Im no sucker. I came here to tell you to move your weapons away from the front line. But in the end, Mr Zelensky gave in to the pressure, and the peace deal withered away. Q. Whatever happened to the United Nations, which is supposed to prevent or end wars such as this? A. I have no idea. It seems to have evaporated. To comment on Peter Hitchens, click here Russias Vladimir Putin and Chinas Xi Jinping proudly stood together in Beijing in February and told the world that their countries friendship has no limits. Neither, it seems, does the shameless and disgraceful hypocrisy of Big Business trumpeting its principled stand against Russian aggression while continuing to support the equally brutal Chinese regime, which has become Putins lifeline in its war against Ukraine. Within days of the Kremlins invasion, a parade of virtue-signalling global brands announced their oh-so-noble intentions to abandon their business interests and exit the Russian market. Disney, Starbucks, Coca-Cola, BP, Shell hundreds of companies joined the self-righteous corporate cavalcade. Profits be damned! Were putting our values first! Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping proudly declaring their countries friendship has no limits at the Beijing Winter Olympics in February Xi Jinping (pictured) has presided over more than a million people being detained in Xinjiang; women made to endure forced sterilisation; accusations of torture and sexual abuse But how do those values fit with tolerating genocide carried out by a country which has more than a billion potential consumers and is set to become the worlds largest economy by 2030? Chinas crimes against the Uighurs and other mainly Muslim ethnic groups have been well documented. More than a million people detained; women made to endure forced sterilisation; accusations of torture and sexual abuse. Where is the stampede of Western companies falling over themselves to dissociate their brands from these crimes against humanity? In fact, far from condemnation, the titans of the business world have become apologists for Beijing. This is not a one-off moral lapse. The examples of corporate leaders prostrating themselves in a humiliating kowtow to China over the years are far too numerous to list. But in the light of the sanctimonious grandstanding over Ukraine, some deserve special mention. Oil giant BP was one of the first companies to leave Russia after the invasion, announcing the move with a statement from its chief executive, which read: My heart goes out to everyone affected. Isnt it curious, though, that his heart has seemingly been unmoved by the situation unfolding in China, where far more people have been victimised, for far longer? Indeed, BPs website still states that it is one of the leading foreign investors one of the first foreign companies to begin operating in China playing an active role in Chinas economic development, with extensive interests. Above: UK-based Uighurs demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament. Disney, which pulled out of Russia in protest at the war in Ukraine, is still fully committed to China and even filmed the live action version of Mulan in Xinjiang Above: What is officially known as a vocational skills education centre in Dabancheng in Xinjiang. Nike and Apple (along with Coca-Cola) lobbied against legislation in the US Congress designed to outlaw the use of slave labour from Xinjiang, home of the Uighurs Disney announced that it was pulling out of Russia because of the escalating humanitarian crisis caused by Russias unrelenting assault on Ukraine. This might have been taken more seriously if we didnt already know that Disneys response to another escalating humanitarian crisis, caused by the Chinese regimes unrelenting assault on the Uighurs, was to film its movie Mulan there. More cynical are the companies which not only turn a blind eye to Chinas human rights abuses, but may have gained commercial benefit from them. Nike and Apple are among the 83 businesses accused in 2020 of using slave labour from Chinese concentration camps in their supply chains. These same brands now proclaim their commitment to human rights by leaving Russia. Worse, Nike and Apple (along with Coca-Cola) lobbied against legislation in the US Congress designed to outlaw the use of slave labour from Xinjiang, home of the Uighurs. While the firms strongly condemned forced labour, and denied using it, they argued that the legislation could wreak havoc on their supply chains. For years, Apples boss, Tim Cook, has sucked up to the brutal authoritarian dictatorship in Beijing, legitimising the regime by headlining foreign investment conferences and collaborating in state censorship, invasions of privacy and assaults on civil liberties. More recently it was reported that Cook (a self-styled champion of human rights, privacy and civil liberties) secretly signed a $275 billion deal with the Chinese government to boost Chinas economy. In announcing the decision to close down its operations and services in Russia, Apple claimed to be deeply concerned about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and stand with all of the people who are suffering. Above: Apple CEO TIm Cook shakes hands with the Chinese premier. For years, Apples boss, Tim Cook, has sucked up to the brutal authoritarian dictatorship in Beijing Above: The Apple store in Hong Kong. Apple legitimises the regime by headlining foreign investment conferences and collaborating in state censorship, invasions of privacy and assaults on civil liberties Workers assemble Apple iPhones at Foxconn plant in Shenzhen, China. It was reported recently that Cook (a self-styled champion of human rights, privacy and civil liberties) secretly signed a $275 billion deal with the Chinese government to boost Chinas economy The appalling reality is that Big Business hypocrisy over Ukraine goes deeper than just tolerating the atrocities and human rights abuses committed by China over the past few years. In a direct and practical sense, the war crimes being committed by Putin in Ukraine are the responsibility of Xi, too. It may have been Putin who launched the invasion, in his demented and futile bid to restore a twisted idea of Russian glory, but consider what enabled the invasion to take place. The comprehensive friendship without limits agreement included a major energy deal which, unusually, guaranteed Chinese ownership of Russian oil and gas while still in Russia, before being transported to China. Experts viewed this as an example of China helping Putin to sanctions proof the Russian economy in advance of a planned invasion and its economic repercussions. Intelligence reports also suggested that Xi asked Putin to delay his invasion until after the Beijing Winter Olympics which he dutifully did. Xi didnt urge Putin not to invade; he gave Putin his tacit consent no doubt hoping it would set a helpful precedent for his own long-sought invasion of Taiwan. Since the invasion, China has played nothing but a supportive role. It has helped Russia evade sanctions on financial transactions, offered its alternative to Western credit card companies and bought Russian wheat. Whats more, it has provided military assistance, for example supplying details of the Chinese technology inside the Turkish-made drones that have done such damage to Putins forces on the battlefield. Diplomatically, China has disgracefully voted with Russia at the United Nations and preposterously suggested that America and Nato are to blame for the invasion. On every conceivable level, China is enabling Putins war on Ukraine. Above: A giant 'Z' symbol supporting Russian military invasion on Ukraine is set on the building of Oleg Tabakov Theatre, Moscow. Intelligence reports also suggested that Xi asked Putin to delay his invasion until after the Beijing Winter Olympics which he dutifully did Above: A Russian T-72B3 main battle tank, the backbone of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Diplomatically, China has disgracefully voted with Russia at the United Nations and preposterously suggested that America and Nato are to blame for the invasion Above: Wrecks of a Russian Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and military vehicles are seen on the front line near Kyiv. It may have been Putin who launched the invasion, in his demented and futile bid to restore a twisted idea of Russian glory, but it was Chinese support that enabled it A Mariupol apartment building utterly destroyed by Russian shelling. Where does all this leave the big global brands smugly patting themselves on the back for doing the right thing by pulling out of Russia? Quite simply, they are complicit in the atrocities and war crimes being carried out in Ukraine and China Indeed, one of Americas foremost China experts told me on my Fox News show that Xi Jinping could stop the conflict with a phone call to Putin but chooses not to. For all practical purposes, there is little difference between the two mens regimes. In fact, Beijing is a more brutally effective and far more threatening version of Moscows somewhat ramshackle genocidal kleptocracy. Where does all this leave the big global brands smugly patting themselves on the back for doing the right thing by pulling out of Russia? Quite simply, they are complicit in the atrocities and war crimes being carried out in Ukraine and China. These companies boasted about how they acted faster than governments; that their rapid exit from Russia would prove more effective than official sanctions. Events have shown that to be false and hubristic bluster, typical Big Business self-regard and vanity. In fact, their departure from Russia had no impact on Putins calculations and made almost no difference to his barbaric war. If anything, the Western business exodus has further entrenched Putins domestic position, enabling him to conjure the spectre of a Western plot against the Russian people. His popularity has increased as the war has gone on. The main reason these Western business boycotts have achieved so little is that China has stepped in to fill the void. So if our smug corporate elite really want to help end the war, save lives and stop the horror in Ukraine, they would take the one step that might make a difference and pull out of China. But, of course, that would involve putting principle before profit. And here we come to the deepest truth of the matter. Anyone who supports capitalism and the free enterprise system does not object to business leaders making decisions for business reasons. What is unacceptable, though, is the hypocrisy and selective moral preening of those who claim to save the world yet carry on with business as usual. A couple of weeks ago, after Rishi Sunak had just delivered his Spring Statement, I was talking with a Minister. The Chancellor's colleague was trotting out the requisite praise. Then he asked what my take was. 'It will unravel,' I said. He looked at me as if I had grown two extra heads. 'What makes you say that?' he asked incredulously. 'Because Rishi's a bad politician, he's a bad Chancellor and he's heading for a fall,' I replied. 'And the fact you guys can't see that is a problem.' This weekend, Westminster is reeling at the Chancellor's Icarus-like descent. Why? His headlong plunge into the Downing Street tarmac has been as certain as night following day. Just look at the way Sunak touted by his supporters as the Government's premier communicator has managed in the space of 72 hours to torch himself, his Government, and his wife Akshata. When it first emerged last Wednesday that she was a non-dom, the revelation was embarrassing, but wholly defensible. She was an Indian national. She paid the full, legal amount of UK tax. Non-dom status was not some mysterious loophole, but an established principle of British tax policy. Just look at the way Sunak touted by his supporters as the Government's premier communicator has managed in the space of 72 hours to torch himself, his Government, and his wife Akshata But instead of relying on these simple facts, Team Sunak adopted a different approach. They lied. They claimed India does not allow its citizens to hold joint nationality, and so Mrs Sunak had no option but to claim non-dom status. The statement was demonstrably false, and was quickly exposed. So Sunak decided on a different approach. Self-righteous petulance. 'To smear my wife to get at me is awful. She loves her country like I love mine,' he raged. 'She has investments and a career independent of me.' This proud defence of his wife's independence lasted about 12 hours. Then a third statement was hurriedly issued. 'I understand and appreciate the British sense of fairness and I do not wish my tax status to be a distraction for my husband or to affect my family,' Mrs Sunak announced, 'for this reason, I will no longer be claiming the remittance basis for tax.' Let's just reflect on this for a moment. In the same week the Chancellor introduced the biggest tax hike since the 1940s, perpetuating the worst squeeze on living standards since the 1950s, he cobbled together a plan that involved his wife spending millions of pounds digging him out of a political hole of his own making. As people struggle to turn on the heating and put food on the table, Rishi Sunak opted to publicly use her fortune to attempt to buy himself a political reprieve, and ultimately, the keys to Downing Street. And this is the man the Conservative Party believes has the political and economic acumen to guide them to victory at the next Election. But it's not just about what people inside politics are calling 'the optics' the impression of wrongdoing. The Sunak Scandal is much worse. Let's just reflect on this for a moment. In the same week the Chancellor introduced the biggest tax hike since the 1940s, perpetuating the worst squeeze on living standards since the 1950s, he cobbled together a plan that involved his wife spending millions of pounds digging him out of a political hole of his own making Just as Sunak was passionately declaring his love for his country, a new revelation broke. After another day of stonewalling, a Treasury spokesperson finally admitted Sunak had been a US Green Card holder, and had been so for a full 19 months after being appointed Chancellor. To understand the full import of all this, it's important to appreciate the following facts. The Green Card which grants the bearer a right to live and work in the US is technically known as a Permanent Resident Card. Which means that for 19 months, the Chancellor of the United Kingdom was secretly a permanent resident of a foreign state. And getting a Green Card isn't like simply getting a visa stamp. It is one the world's most prized possessions. To billions of people, it represents nothing less than the opportunity of a new life. Every week people die trying to secure one. It is a privilege, granted by the US Government. And Rishi Sunak was beholden to the US authorities for granting him that privilege. And that privilege comes with obligations. The holder is required to obey all the laws of the US and her localities. They are required to file tax returns, report all income and pay tax to the US Internal Revenue Service. As people struggle to turn on the heating and put food on the table, Rishi Sunak opted to publicly use her fortune to attempt to buy himself a political reprieve, and ultimately, the keys to Downing Street From the moment he became Chancellor, Sunak was responsible for negotiating with the US on behalf of the British people. For example, over a post-Brexit trade deal, which we are told is the most important in British history. Over global tax rates. Over everything from agriculture and food tariffs, through healthcare and drug pricing, to digital trade and services. So while Sunak was supposedly trying to drive the best deal for the British people, he was secretly holding discretionary permanent residency of the foreign state he was negotiating with. He was secretly obliged to file tax returns to the foreign state he was negotiating with. And he was secretly under obligation to pay taxes to the foreign state he was negotiating with. It's difficult to think of a more direct and egregious conflict of interest for a senior UK Government Minister. Staggeringly, his allies still can't see how wrong this is. Yesterday, I was told by a spokesperson for the Chancellor that he had observed all aspects of the Ministerial Code. When I asked how it could be the case that holding permanent residency of a foreign state was allowable, I was told that Sunak had declared it in 2018 to the Cabinet Office, as per the rules. Another defence is that he had allowed his Green Card to 'lapse' once he had stopped living and working in the US. But that doesn't align with the fact he kept it for 19 months as Chancellor, and was required to submit regular tax returns in order to retain it. In view of the fact that while in office, George Osborne and David Cameron published their personal tax returns, I asked the Chancellor's spokesperson if Sunak had ever done the same or was planning to It also doesn't align with Sunak's long-term ambitions. A number of his colleagues tell me that they believed his plan was to ultimately move to the US with his family. In her statement, his wife said: 'My daughters are British. They are growing up in the UK.' But she pointedly omitted the fact they are in fact dual British/US nationals. A final defence from Sunak's allies is that he has always been transparent when declaring his financial affairs. 'It's well-known within the Cabinet Office that Rishi 'over-declares' on his interests,' a friend told me. But that's not the case. No one publicly knew of his Green Card status until it was leaked. And that's before considering the issue of his private tax details. In view of the fact that while in office, George Osborne and David Cameron published their personal tax returns, I asked the Chancellor's spokesperson if Sunak had ever done the same or was planning to. No,' they responded, 'because he is not required to. Neither is the Prime Minister or any other member of the Cabinet.' Above all, by focusing too much on his own personal ambition, he has lost sight of the big picture, lost control of the economy, and placed the Government of which he is a member in serious jeopardy. It's taken ages for Conservative MPs to see this. But they can now. And so can everyone else So Rishi Sunak's constituents can't have sight of his tax returns. Nor can the British people. But a foreign state with whom he is involved in vital and sensitive negotiations can. And let's remember precisely whose administration Rishi Sunak was negotiating with. Donald Trump's. Imagine if Trump had learnt the British Chancellor was secretly a US permanent resident, and information about his private tax affairs were sitting in his American tax system files. Information that is still sitting there, and will be the day after the next US election. Rishi Sunak's position has become completely untenable. But then it has been for some while. For too long, people have been taken in by the huge branding operation that surrounded 'Dishy Rishi'. In truth it wasn't an advertising hoarding, it was a shield. Strategically placed to hide the truth. Rishi Sunak is a perfectly decent man. But he's also over-promoted, politically naive, and seduced by his own publicity. Above all, by focusing too much on his own personal ambition, he has lost sight of the big picture, lost control of the economy, and placed the Government of which he is a member in serious jeopardy. It's taken ages for Conservative MPs to see this. But they can now. And so can everyone else. With his 335 trainers and white T-shirt and suit combos, Rishi Sunak has always exuded an unusually Californian air for a Tory MP more West Coast than Red Wall With his 335 trainers and white T-shirt and suit combos, Rishi Sunak has always exuded an unusually Californian air for a Tory MP more West Coast than Red Wall. And according to his Government colleagues, the Chancellor's mindset is as American as his clothing. He frequently alludes to his Santa Monica home in Treasury meetings, his children have joint US citizenship and, according to one source, he 'mentions dollars almost as often as he references pounds'. More contentiously, some fellow Ministers claim the 41-year-old is too close 'spiritually' to the global internet giants which have sprung up in Silicon Valley over the past few decades, leading to a radical reshaping of the global economy. 'He is always talking about turning post-Brexit Britain into 'San Francisco on Thames',' says a colleague, 'while everyone else talks about a 'Singapore on Thames'.' The Ministers argue that this has had an impact on the Government's approach to regulating the tech giants. When proposed new laws were being drawn up to tackle the anti-competitive behaviour of companies such as Google and Facebook, including the scrutiny of algorithms that discriminate against popular news websites and a requirement to pay media publishers for their content, the Treasury gained a reputation in Whitehall for acting as a block on the proposed reforms. Akshata, who met Mr Sunak while studying at Stanford University, bought the 5.5 million penthouse in June 2014 when the couple were talking about settling down in California, only for their plans to change the following year when he entered Parliament for the first time. The Chancellor tries to fly out to the flat, which boasts sweeping views of Santa Monica pier and the Pacific, as often as possible. He had intended to spend last Christmas there, but returned to London just a few hours after arriving in the US when he was informed that, in his absence, Boris Johnson was being pressurised by the Government's scientific advisers to put the country back into lockdown for the rest of December. After averting the threat, he spent the festive period in Britain while his family celebrated on the beach. The Chancellor tries to fly out to the flat, which boasts sweeping views of Santa Monica pier and the Pacific, as often as possible Mr Sunak knows that working-class voters in critical Red Wall seats, which will determine the next election, are unlikely to sympathise with disruptions to his transatlantic jet-setting but it undoubtedly contributes to the pressures building within the Sunak family. Although Downing Street sources are adamant that the tax revelations have not been briefed out by them the hands of Labour-supporting officials in the Civil Service are again detected there is little doubt about the tensions between No 10 and No 11. The situation was particularly volatile last September, when the Chancellor was, according to senior sources, 'hours away' from resigning over the Prime Minister's plans to reform social care. Mr Sunak was bitterly opposed to Mr Johnson's demand for him to produce 12 billion to shake up the care system, arguing against both the timing he had already spent more than 400 billion on the Covid crisis and the details of the policy, which included a cap on costs. When the Prime Minister insisted on going ahead, Mr Sunak used the applied threat of his resignation to force Mr Johnson to introduce the Health and Social Care Levy to cover the cost through a 1.25 percentage point increase in National Insurance. The issue triggered a further flashpoint between the pair earlier this year when sources claimed that Mr Johnson tried to persuade Mr Sunak to drop the rise. But if Mr Sunak does leave the Government to spend more time staring at Santa Monica's sunsets, one man will be rubbing his hands with glee: Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, whose friends believe to be the most likely replacement as Chancellor Instead, the Chancellor used last month's Spring Statement to cut fuel duty, tweak tax-free thresholds and signal a cut in income tax in 2024. The backlash from voters led to a collapse in Mr Sunak's ratings which, even before the tax revelations, had seriously dented his chances of becoming Prime Minister. The tax revelations emerged on the day the National Insurance rise came into effect, compounding the political damage. Mr Sunak's travails have aroused complex emotions in Downing Street. While life for the Prime Minister is easier with a subdued Chancellor, that advantage is offset by the wider damage caused to the Government by the narrative of double standards. A source said: 'There will undoubtedly be some schadenfreude in parts of the building as Rishi has been a tricky customer recently. His support during the rows over lockdown parties was conspicuously muted. But it is also a gift for Labour ahead of the local elections, so it is not exactly unalloyed pleasure.' But if Mr Sunak does leave the Government to spend more time staring at Santa Monica's sunsets, one man will be rubbing his hands with glee: Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, whose friends believe to be the most likely replacement as Chancellor. It would be another compelling twist in the decades-long Johnson-Gove psychodrama. A single dad who didn't have enough time to cook homemade meals has become the unlikely founder of a multi-million dollar food subscription service empire. Billy Green, from Melbourne, tried a selection of meal delivery kits during the city's first gruelling Covid lockdown in 2020 - but was left unimpressed by the quality. The 30-year-old believed he could do better and devised a plan work with restaurants to give customers the chance to cook high-quality meals at home. He launched Make-Out Meals in September 2020 while working full-time from home as a marketing manager. Today the company is worth an estimated $5million. Scroll down for video Time-limited single dad Billy Green, from Melbourne, (pictured) launched the meal subscription service Make-Out Meals in September 2020 while working full-time from home as a marketing manager Unlike competitors, the business allow customers to become top chefs in their own kitchens offering one-of-a-kind dishes complete with secret ingredients used by restaurant owners that aren't available in supermarkets In a competitive market, with the likes of foreign-owned Hello Fresh and Marley Spoon being customer favourites, Mr Green knew he needed a way to stand out amongst the crowd. Unlike competitors, Make-Out Meals allow customers to become top chefs in their own kitchens - offering dishes complete with secret ingredients used by restaurant owners that aren't available in supermarkets. 'The past two years have been awful for all those in hospitality - Make-Out Meals helps with an additional source of income to my chef-friends,' Mr Green told Daily Mail Australia. 'The past two years have been awful for all those in hospitality - Make-Out Meals helps with an additional source of income to my chef-friends,' Mr Green said (left). 'Each box has been carefully prepared by leading chefs who are all extremely passionate about their craft.' What is Make-Out Meals and how is it different to others? Make-Out Meals is an Australian-owned home food delivery subscription service that offer recipes straight from restaurants Unlike competitors, Make-Out Meals allow customers to become top chefs in their own kitchens The brand offers one-of-a-kind dishes complete with secret ingredients used by restaurant owners that aren't available in supermarkets Not only is this super convenient for customers, it also provides support and exposure for restaurants involved Every week customers can choose from nine new delicious recipes Advertisement 'Each box has been carefully prepared by leading chefs who are all extremely passionate about their craft.' The recipes are crafted in the kitchens of restaurants, then are carefully packed by the Make-Out Meals team and delivered to the doorsteps of customers. Not only is this super convenient for customers, it also provides support and exposure for restaurants involved. Inside each cardboard box customers can expect to find the meal ingredients packed in individual bags ready to be cooked Every week customers can choose from nine new delicious recipes Inside each cardboard box customers will find the meal ingredients packed in individual bags ready to be cooked. Mr Green said the company is striving towards becoming 100 per cent sustainable with compostable packaging. Since 2020 the company's year-on-year revenues have tripled and are expected to grow substantially this financial year. March 2022 alone was the busiest for the company on record with one week alone serving over 1,000 plates of food. Also in March the brand extended to offer their service in New South Wales and the ACT. March 2022 alone was the busiest for the company on record with one week alone serving over 1,000 plates of food. Also in March the brand extended to offer their service in New South Wales and the ACT For a standard box of three recipes containing six meals to feed two people, prices are competitive at $89 per box - which is only $10 more than others. 'It's a few extra dollars per meal compared to our competitors but you're receiving the best quality food and ingredients,' Mr Green said. Customers can order their first box or continue their subscription by visiting the Make-Out Meals website here. The brand is also running a crowd-funding campaign and those interested in investing can click here. Suranne Jones would sometimes wear a fitness tracker under her period costume while filming series two of hit BBC1 drama Gentleman Jack and when she did, the device had its work cut out. Because as powerhouse landowner and pioneering lesbian Anne Lister, Suranne is endlessly on the move, striding hither and thither at dizzying speed, her manly tailcoat flapping behind. Anne's activity is matched only by her volume of ideas, from new business projects to thoughts on how to scupper her rivals. So it's little wonder that playing her took its toll on Suranne, 43. Suranne Jones as Anne Lister and Sophie Rundle as Ann Walker. Suranne Jones plays Anne Lister who has been described as the 'first modern lesbian' 'She's five steps ahead of everyone else,' she says. 'It's tiring, and if you don't pace yourself you can easily get exhausted.' Yet no one was more delighted than Suranne to be back on set filming Gentleman Jack, three years after the first series was greeted with acclaim. The 1830s-set drama is written by Last Tango In Halifax creator Sally Wainwright, who gives it a modern treatment by allowing her lead character some knowing glances to camera as well as the opportunity to address it directly. It's based on the diaries of the real-life 19th-century landowner and intellectual, nicknamed Gentleman Jack by locals, who Wainwright describes as 'one of the most exuberant, thrilling and brilliant women in British history'. Anne not only detailed her ambitions in her diaries but also her lesbian relationships, and with over four million words in all, there was plenty of material for Sally to draw on. 'The problem is not what to put in but what to leave out,' she says. The pressure was on too. The first series attracted an average five million viewers a week, eager to follow the adventures of the heartbroken Anne as she returned to her native Halifax in 1832 following rejection by her lesbian lover Vere Hobart. While Anne's relations accept her for who she is, the orphaned Ann's (pictured) family are violently opposed to Lister's presence in her life Taking on the management of her ancestral estate, Shibden Hall, she set out to rejuvenate its prospects, but it wasn't long before she encountered wealthy local heiress Ann Walker (played by Peaky Blinders' Sophie Rundle). Over time, to the dismay of Ann's family, the women's friendship evolved into an intimate relationship, and the drama traced the unfolding of their turbulent affair as the younger Ann battled to come to terms with her sexuality. The first series, which took us up to 1834, culminated with the pair exchanging vows and agreeing to live together as a married couple at Shibden Hall but as we all know, real life tends not to deal in happy-ever-afters. 'They had their romantic happy ending, but it's a question of what next, and is it going to work?' says Suranne of the new series. 'There's no child to bond them, no marriage certificate, so Sally looks at what it means for a same-sex couple who are trying to navigate what society puts on them, and that's where the fragility is.' Sally adds, 'I think the great thing about Anne's relationship with Ann Walker is it was the only one that was tested, because Ann had the courage to move in with her, which none of her other lovers did.' This portrait of a partnership is rooted in the history of the period. 'It isn't just about the relationship; it's about a businesswoman, an entrepreneur, a polymath,' says Suranne. 'It's canals, steam trains, coal.' Anne's on the cusp of losing control Nonetheless, Anne's relationship, and her own conduct, kicks against the strait-laced norms of the era. She's often viewed as 'the first modern lesbian', and while Anne does not announce herself as such, she purposefully eschews the feminine traditions of the time, sitting with her legs spreadeagled and gesticulating with all the vigour of the menfolk to the dismay of Halifax's more puritanical residents. 'Even though everyone dresses in period costumes, you sometimes have to remind yourself it's amazing for it to be set in 1834,' says Suranne of her character's manly attire and seize-the-day swagger. That swagger is ever more present in this series, with Suranne describing her character as a 'supercharged' version of the woman we met in 2019. 'She's got her wife and she's setting up her life, fighting for what she wants, and that helps give us an Anne who's different to the one in the first series,' she explains. 'She's dangerous because there's so much going on with her that she's on the cusp of losing control, because she's so excited with her life.' It's a different story for her lover, whose passion for Anne has put her at odds with her family. While Anne's relations accept her for who she is, the orphaned Ann's family are violently opposed to Lister's presence in her life. The series has a committed fan base, not least in Halifax, where Suranne unveiled a statue of Anne Lister last year But Sally Wainwright believes this was not necessarily rooted in homophobia. 'Ann's family would have been protective of her whoever she married because she was loaded,' she says. 'They would have seen protecting her from who they regarded as fortune hunters as just doing their job.' Meanwhile the fragile Ann is struggling to come to terms with her sexuality. 'She takes ten steps forward and ten steps back, and she's constantly trying to be comfortable with who she is, and in this relationship,' says Sophie Rundle. 'Then she trips herself up, and that's frustrating for Anne Lister, who's already got there. But it's enormous for her, and it puts a huge pressure on their relationship.' Yet this emotional struggle is also matched by a burgeoning independence. 'I think Ann's been purposefully infantilised by her family because it allows them to keep control over her, and it's not so much her they're interested in, it's her money,' says Sophie. 'She's been stuck in this little cage, and it's only Anne Lister that opens her world up for her.' Despite these fraught themes, at heart the drama is not only warm but funny too, from Anne's asides to camera to the vignettes of fractious family dynamics. 'These are huge issues that we're seeing here, and they're beautifully drawn, but it's funny because life is funny and these characters are too,' says Suranne, who points out that we tend to project a formality onto characters in period costume that doesn't reflect the reality of their day-to-day lives. 'They would relax in private, they weren't always leaning against a mantlepiece,' she says. The series has a committed fan base, not least in Halifax, where Suranne unveiled a statue of Anne Lister last year. And she believes Anne has much to say to a modern audience even though she lived 200 years ago. 'During lockdown I wore a facemask with the words 'What would Anne Lister do?' Suranne reveals. 'It's a useful guide.' Jemulpo Harbor in the early 20th century. Robert Neff Collection By Robert Neff On April 2, 1892, at around two in the afternoon, the Japanese steamship, the Izumo Maru, sailed out of Jemulpo (modern Incheon) harbor bound for Kobe, Japan. Captain Minamide Oshi was likely quite pleased with himself and his crew. It was the ship's maiden voyage on the Japan-Korea route and it looked as if this first trip would be profitable. It had a full cargo of beans, rice, mail and other sundries and was filled perhaps over-filled with passengers. Among the Japanese passengers were Mr. T. Hayashi (the secretary of the Japanese legation in Seoul) and a young naval surgeon from a Japanese warship. There were about 20 Chinese and a handful of Korean passengers; one of the Korean passengers was "a high official." The voyage, at first, was uneventful, but, early in the morning on the fourth day, the steamship encountered rough seas "causing the ship to roll heavily." Throughout the day, the vessel continued on its course but in the late evening, the wind died down, and, "The sea soon became enveloped in a thick mist, blotting everything out of sight." It was just after midnight, near Wando Island (South Jeolla Province), that Captain Minamide "suddenly noticed some broken white waves immediately in front of his vessel. He at once ordered the man at the wheel to put it hard-a-port, and the engineers to reverse engines at full speed." It was too late. With a sickening crunch, the ship struck the submerged rocks. Immediately, the captain had the engines stopped and a depth sounding was made. At the bow, the water's depth was about 2 and a half meters deep, but at the stern, the lead did not touch bottom! The ship was badly leaking at the bow but, because it was wedged between the rocks, Captain Minamide was convinced his ship would not go down immediately. He issued orders for life belts to be distributed and preparations made to abandon the ship, but because of the waves pounding upon the vessel, the crew struggled getting the life boats into the water. On the port side, one boat was lowered but it struck the side of the ship and was partially damaged, causing it to quickly fill with water. Understandably, the passengers were reluctant to board it. Their reluctance proved fatal. The pounding waves suddenly shifted the ship's position, causing the bow to rise up and the Idzumo Maru slipped backwards into deep water. It quickly sank. According to one account: "The life boat was lowered but there was no time for the passengers to get aboard, the ship sinking in about twelve minutes after striking the rock. Amid the weeping and screaming of the passengers it went down to the bottom of the sea." Korean ships in Jemulpo Harbor in the early 20th century. Robert Neff Collection The Queen has shown 'grace and strength' in the year since her beloved Prince Philip died, a royal expert has claimed. Today marks the first anniversary of the death of the Duke of Edinburgh, who died aged 99 on 9 April 2021 at Windsor Castle. The monarch, 95, last week joined 1,800 mourners at Westminster Abbey for a memorial service for her husband, whom she called her 'strength and stay'. And today, the royal family has marked the first anniversary of Philip's death by sharing poignant social media posts. Speaking to FEMAIL, royal expert Phil Dampier revealed how the Duke 'would have told the Queen to enjoy the time that is left to her', rather than mourning for the rest of her life. He explained: 'To cope with her grief while also having to deal with the fallout from the Prince Andrew sex scandal, Harry and Meghans shenanigans and Prince Charless cash for donors problems show what an extraordinary woman she is.' The Queen, 95, has shown 'grace and strength' in the year since her beloved Prince Philip died, a royal expert has claimed Phil explained: 'Its incredible to think its already a year since we lost Prince Philip. 'The Queen has shown an amazing inner strength, poise and courage in the way she has dealt with his loss. 'We were already used to seeing him on royal jobs without him as he had retired three years earlier. 'But behind the scenes he was still supporting her and she would have felt his loss immensely.' Today marks the first anniversary of the death of the Duke of Edinburgh, who died aged 99 on 9 April 2021 at Windsor Castle The royal expert continued: 'Ironically they spent a lot more time together than they might have done as they were locked down at Windsor Castle during the pandemic. 'The Queen was happy for him to stay at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate so that he could enjoy his retirement, but events brought them back together.' The Queen has faced a challenging year since her husband Prince Philip's death, with the country still battling through the Covid-19 pandemic. Amid the crisis, his funeral, which was held at St George's Chapel at Windsor, was attended by just 30 mourners. During the service, the Queen wiped away tears and bowed her head in reverence as she accompanied her husband's coffin on its final journey while their eldest son Prince Charles cried as he walked behind the casket into church followed by other devastated royals. Royal expert Phil Dampier said the way the Queen has handed 'Prince Harry and Meghans shenanigans' showed how 'extraordinary' she is Phil highlighted how the monarch was initially forced to mourn alone due to the Covid-19 pandemic, saying: 'No-one will forget the Queen having to sit alone wearing a mask at his scaled down funeral. 'She then tried to throw herself back into work but her mobility problems have meant that at nearly 96, she must now pace herself.' He added: 'The only time she has looked upset was at his memorial service when she seemed tearful. 'Personally I thought the service was magnificent but it could have done with a brief eulogy, maybe from a family member, to capture his humour and personality. 'That would have lifted the mood.' The Queen has also faced other challenges this year - including Prince Andrew's sex abuse scandal (pictured) However despite the clear loss the Duke's death has left in the Queen's life, the expert said the monarch has been determined to look, and move, forward. He said: 'There is no way that the Duke would want the Queen to slip into some Queen Victoria style mourning and wear black for the rest of her life. 'He would have told her to enjoy what time is left to her. 'She will take comfort from her deeply held religious views and the fact that she will rest through the ages with him and her parents in St Georges Chapel at the Castle.' In a series of difficult personal challenges, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have continued to give explosive interviews revealing bombshells about the royal family. Despite the clear loss the Duke's death has left in the Queen's life, the expert said the monarch has been determined to look, and move, forward (pictured, the Queen receiving a Duke of Edinburgh rose in June last year) Meanwhile the monarch has suffered a string of debilitating health issues since last autumn - including a bout of Covid - and is increasingly using a walking stick. Phil explained: 'She has the ability to compartmentalise difficulties and deal calmly with them, and that is what makes her such a great leader. 'Politicians could all learn from her example and she is going to be irreplaceable.' Last week, in a now rare public engagement, the monarch was joined by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, visiting royals, and some 1,800 guests as she paid a final tribute to her beloved husband of 73 years. There were fears the Queen would be unable to attend due to mobility issues, however she made the journey from Windsor Castle to London. Meanwhile the monarch has suffered a string of debilitating health issues since last autumn - including a bout of Covid - and is increasingly using a walking stick (pictured in March) Controversially, she was escorted by her disgraced son Prince Andrew. To the shock of many in the congregation, the shamed royal, 62, escorted his mother all the way down to her front-row position in full view of the live broadcast cameras - after travelling with her from Windsor. It had been expected that the Dean of Westminster would take the Queen to her seat, with Andrew behind. The Queen's decision to have Andrew accompany her comes despite him paying up to 12million earlier this month to settle a US civil sexual assault case and it will be seen as a major signal of support to her second - and some say 'favourite' - son. The Daily Mail revealed today that senior royals had 'reluctantly' accepted Andrew would travel with the Queen to London because they live so close to each other. But they had hoped 'common sense' would prevail and that Andrew would not seek to play a prominent role in his first public appearance since he struck the out-of-court settlement with Epstein victim Mrs Giuffre, 38. Public farewell: The Queen with Prince Andrew at the Duke of Edinburgh's service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey last Tuesday A family source said that senior royals including Prince Charles and the Duke of Cambridge were 'dismayed' by events and that Andrew's decision to put himself 'front and centre' of the service had caused 'consternation'. Following the public memorial, it was reported that the Queen would mark the anniversary of her husband's death privately at Windsor. The monarch has commemorated today's date with a post and caption shared on the Royal Family Instagram account. Still images of Prince Philip were edited into a video for the platform, which was accompanied by the poem 'The Patriarchs An Elegy', which was written by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage for the Duke's funeral. Meanwhile, a post shared by Clarence House, featuring images of the Duke with his family, was simply captioned: 'Remembering The Duke of Edinburgh today, one year since his passing.' Both posts received messages of condolences from commentators, Clarence House shared this image on Instagram to commemorate the first anniversary of Prince Philip's death, simply captioning it: 'Remembering The Duke of Edinburgh today, one year since his passing' Many commentators took to the platform to share their condolences with the royal family, as they marked a year since the death of the Duke On April 21 the Queen will celebrate her 96th birthday. This summer the Queen will commemorate 70 years on the throne with a Platinum Jubilee celebration. Questions remain as to what involvement Andrew, who paid millions out of court to settle a civil sexual assault case, will have in the Jubilee, amid suggestions he could appear at the service of thanksgiving and even the Epsom Derby despite stepping down from public duties. Kaleb Cooper, from hit Amazon Prime series Clarkson's Farm says he will never leave the countryside, despite having amassed a huge fan base including 1 million Instagram followers. The 23-year-old, who has become the unlikely star of Jeremy Clarkson's fly on the wall documentary about his farm in the Cotswolds, has become immensely popular thanks to down-to-Earth manner. As he has helped the former Top Gear presenter and amateur farmer get to grips with his 1,000 acre Diddly Squat farm in Oxfordshire, the pair have become a popular TV double act. Despite being the less senior of the two, Kaleb is regularly seen giving his boss Jeremy a dressing down, and has even claimed he is in charge of the operation. Now, born and bred in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, a small town with a population of just 6,337, Kaleb says he never wants to leave, despite his immense success. Kaleb Cooper (pictured), the unlikely star of Clarkson's Farm, says that despite his immense success, he has no plans to leave the countryside Viewers have enjoyed watching the working relationship develop between Jeremy Clarkson, 61, (pictured, left) and his 23-year-old farm hand Kaleb Cooper (pictured, right) Speaking to The Times magazine this weekend, he revealed the furthest he has ever travelled from his village is London, which he has visited three times, and hated, describing it as 'f****** awful'. Speaking to the magazine about going to Stow-on-the-Wold, which is 18 miles away from Chipping Norton, he said: 'I got a nosebleed when we went to Stow.' The prospect of travelling abroad is even less likely, as the farming expert does not currently own a passport. The farm hand, who last year had a baby son Oscar with his partner Taya, Ieft school at 16 and did four years as an apprentice on a cow farm before moving to Clarkson's Diddly Squat Farm to drive tractors. Kaleb was brought onto the programme as they needed a tractor driver. Despite his initial nerves, the 23-year-old quickly seemed to grow in confidence, regularly branding former Top Gear host Jeremy a 'f***ing idiot' - and being called a 'rural halfwit' in return. Speaking about his co-star, Kaleb has said: 'He never listens to me. I tell him to do one thing and he does the complete opposite. I get very annoyed when he messes up. That is genuine.' He says he was never intimidated by the TV because 'I knew what I was doing and he didn't'. But underneath the jokes there is a genuine friendship between the pair, with Kaleb adding: 'We just laugh all the time, our banter and sense of humour are very much the same. He's a great chap.' Kaleb says when he gets annoyed with Jeremy Clarkson onscreen, it is genuine, as he gets 'annoyed' when his older co-star messes up However according to Kaleb, he has a genuine friendship with Jeremy Clarkson (pictured) who he has called 'a great chap' Following the success of Clarkson's Farm, which debuted in 2021, he has built an army of 1 million Instagram fans, and has been tipped for his own TV career. And despite his aversion to foreign travel, he admits he would even consider going on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. Speaking about a potential television career to ITV's This Morning last year, he said: That's a very big question and I'm not really too sure how to answer that. In terms of TV, I've loved it. 'I picked it up so quickly and the crew we had here I got on with them so well. The camera man is here now laughing going 'yea, yea, yea'. 'Personally I would love to [do more TV] but as long as it's included in the farming side of stuff. I wouldn't want to do anything that isn't farming.' When asked about a reality show, he said: 'No not Love Island. Maybe I'm A Celebrity. I'd be good on that. But I'm not sure to be honest. We'll see what the future holds.' But high-profile GP is concerned firms are selling tests to the 'worried well' Covid testing chain Randox is poised to convert its high street walk-in centres into blood-testing clinics offering a universal screening that can spot the early warning signs of diabetes, strokes, arthritis and even prostate cancer. Customers won't need any symptoms to undergo the 295 test, which checks levels of 150 chemicals and compounds in the blood linked to ill health. Randox plans to repurpose its 40 Covid testing locations across the UK, where staff will take blood via the standard needle in the arm, while several of its locations in London are already piloting the service. Results arrive within a week, and customers will have them explained during a consultation with a 'Randox scientist' not a doctor and receive lifestyle advice. If the test flags up anything worrying, customers are encouraged to see their GP who can organise further investigations on the NHS. It isn't difficult to understand the appeal after all, who wouldn't want to know if they were developing a serious illness? And surely catching conditions early means they would be easier to treat. LISTEN TO THE DEBATE NOW ON MEDICAL MINEFIELD The GP that insists private blood tests are the future Not so, according to a high-profile GP who is concerned about firms selling blood tests to the 'worried well', branding them a 'major ethical issue'. Glasgow-based Dr Margaret McCartney said: 'These companies are creating a market out of health anxiety and trying to turn healthy people into patients. 'If you test for enough things, you'll inevitably spot something slightly wrong. This could ultimately cause more harm than good, because patients could end up undergoing needless invasive procedures to look for something that, in the end, doesn't turn out to be a problem and they never have need known existed.' Covid testing chain Randox is poised to convert its high street walk-in centres into blood-testing clinics offering a universal screening that can spot the early warning signs of several diseases. Pictured: Mail on Sunday reporter Ethan Ennals was invited to a central London Randox clinic to try out its new blood test Customers won't need any symptoms to undergo the 295 test, which checks levels of 150 chemicals and compounds in the blood linked to ill health During the pandemic, Randox became the subject of controversy. The Northern Ireland business received nearly 800 million in Government Covid testing contracts, and last month the National Audit Office criticised the government's 'inadequate' paper trail detailing how it awarded these deals. The report also stated that it found 'no evidence of impropriety' in the awarding of the contracts. The firm, which sponsored yesterday's Grand National, also featured in the events that led to the resignation of Tory MP Owen Paterson, who was found to have broken lobbying rules after texting Health Ministers recommending Randox's services. Paterson, who maintains he did nothing wrong, was paid 100,000 by the firm. There is no evidence that screening people in this way improves health. In fact it could make things worse Dr Peter FitzGerald, its chief executive and founder, says the move into wider healthcare aims to help ease pressures on public services. He adds: 'NHS doctors have a short time with patients and need more data to make quicker diagnoses. We can help by providing additional information about the patient's health, so serious conditions aren't missed.' One crucial distinction between Randox and other private tests is that it offers a follow-up blood test six months later at no extra charge. Dr FitzGerald explains: 'If a patient's PSA levels [an indicator of prostate cancer] are raised, it's possible this could be nothing serious. But if in six months' time the levels have gone up again, then that's alarm bells.' The pandemic has made people more comfortable with testing, he adds. 'People are much more aware of their health now and want to look after it.' Glasgow-based Dr Margaret McCartney, a high-profile GP, is concerned about firms selling blood tests to the 'worried well', branding them a 'major ethical issue' Dr McCartney was spurred to comment on blood tests after discovering that men's health firm Numan was offering a finger-prick blood test that screens for 21 different indicators of disease. Numan, which also sells erectile dysfunction tablets and hair loss drugs, claims its 'Fear Nothing' test is free 'if we don't find anything' but could cost up to 128 if problems are discovered. Dr McCartney told The Mail on Sunday: 'There's no good evidence which suggests that screening asymptomatic people in this random way helps improves health outcomes. It could worsen them. 'There are specific diseases we do screen for, such as cervical cancer and breast cancer. And there's the NHS Health Check, which is open to people aged 40 to 74 that looks for conditions like kidney disease and diabetes. 'These programmes are decided on by the UK National Screening Committee, and that judgment is based on years of trial data and rigorous investigation. The same can't be said for private tests.' Dr McCartney questions whether patients are adequately counselled before private tests. IT'S A FACT About 130 million blood tests are carried out every year in the UK, according to NHS data. Advertisement She explains: 'If someone undergoes a CA-125 test [for ovarian cancer], I will tell them that the vast majority of these tests return a false positive result, so they shouldn't worry too much if it's positive. But with these online tests, there's often no one to explain what to expect from the results, and often no one to provide follow-up once the results come in.' She also doubts the claims by firms that patients can take worrying results to their GPs for them to act on. She says: 'There are so many different markers of disease these companies use, many of which aren't recognised by the NHS. You could be told you have a really high level of something you've never heard of before, take it to your GP and they won't know what to do with that information.' However, some NHS doctors feel that private blood testing may have a role. Dr Dean Eggitt, a Doncaster GP, believes these services, if well regulated, could relieve some pressure on overstretched NHS services. He says: 'It's becoming increasingly difficult for patients to access timely care on the NHS, and more and more people are saying they can't get a blood test when they think they need one. Obviously people are going to start to look elsewhere for solutions. The firm, which sponsored yesterday's Grand National, also featured in the events that led to the resignation of Tory MP Owen Paterson, who was found to have broken lobbying rules after texting Health Ministers recommending Randox's services. Paterson (right), who maintains he did nothing wrong, was paid 100,000 by the firm 'In other countries, such as Poland, it's normal practice for people to pay for a blood test on the high street and then take the results to their doctor. Why shouldn't we have the same option here?' IT'S A FACT Government data shows in some areas, a blood test costs the NHS 24p, while in others, it costs 13 Advertisement Such tests are undeniably popular, too. Scores of customers responded to Dr McCartney's recent Twitter comments, saying they disagreed. Some claimed private testing had saved their life. One of them, Matthew Herd, 53, from Berkshire, paid for a private blood test with an online firm similar to the one offered by Randox and Numan in 2016 after his GP refused to refer him to hospital. The engineer had recently returned from America and was feeling extremely fatigued. He says: 'It was two weeks after I'd got back and I still had a lack of energy, so I went to my GP. She said it was likely the flu and nothing more serious.' Still worried, Matthew decided to get a second opinion. He took his results to a private GP. 'My blood results showed that I could be suffering from a blood clot, and the doctor told me I needed a CT scan immediately because it could be life-threatening. I had a pulmonary embolism in my lungs.' A long spell of inactivity such as on a long-haul flight can lead to a blood clot known as a deep-vein thrombosis, or DVT, forming in the legs. Part of this clot can then break away and travel to the lungs, with catastrophic consequences. More than a third of people who suffer a pulmonary embolism die within seven days. Matthew's doctor prescribed clot-busting drugs and he has made a full recovery. Am I really overweight and heading for a heart attack like the test said? Last Monday I was invited to a central London Randox clinic to try out its new blood test. In a booth, a friendly nurse called Maria quizzed me about my height, weight and lifestyle habits and then took several small vials of my blood. Two days later I received the results via email. While I was in good health, all six markers for heart disease were in the red. My cholesterol levels were higher than expected another risk factor for heart disease and strokes. It was a bit worrying. During my follow-up consultation, a nutritionist, Joanna, said little to reassure me. Their software had calculated my risk of heart disease in the next ten years was less than five per cent, but my cholesterol levels were 'noticeably higher' than most healthy 25-year-olds and I could face heart problems later in life. 'Have you considered eating less red meat?' she asked. As a long-time vegetarian, I assured her that I had. She also told me that with a BMI of 26, I needed to lose weight, which seemed crazy as at 5ft 9in with a 32in waist, I'm a fairly trim average. After the call, I got a second opinion from The Mail on Sunday's resident GP, Dr Ellie Cannon. She agreed with Randox that my total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels were 'higher than I'd expect at your age'. However, she added that cholesterol levels can be naturally raised due to genetics often this isn't necessarily a sign of heart problems. What's more, the 'heart disease markers' they check for would also appear raised should a person have recently had a viral infection, like a cold I'd had one the week before. I called my dad, who's in great shape at 65. He explained that slightly high cholesterol ran in the family but heart disease apparently does not. Since my results, I've found myself googling 'ways to reduce your cholesterol' a lot. Advertisement 'I'm certain that without that test I wouldn't be alive today,' he says. Cases like this are thankfully rare. Pulmonary embolisms affect less than one in 1,000 Britons a year, and the symptoms are usually more obvious than his. Dr Nisa Aslam, a Watford GP, says that while private blood tests are unlikely to save someone from a near-death experience, they can help people make proactive decisions about their health. And this could also prevent long-term conditions that crop up ten to 20 years later. 'Tests like these can tell you if there are any issues with your kidney or your liver, or if your cholesterol levels are worrying. 'Based on the results, you could make lifestyle changes like drinking less alcohol or exercising more. That's what this is for it's not to tell you if you have cancer or not.' A case in point is Anu Verma, 41, from Coventry, who is convinced of the worth of private blood tests. Last summer, the author and podcaster began experiencing dry skin, low moods and heightened sensitivity to cold weather. Her GP carried out a blood test, which returned normal results. Anu says: 'The GP said my results were clear, so there wasn't anything to worry about. But I was still having the symptoms. 'Obviously I understand that NHS resources are limited, and they have to focus on people with severe chronic illnesses, but I didn't feel like I was being listened to.' Anu then ordered an 'Advanced Female Hormone' private blood test from online firm Medichecks, which cost 109. 'It was a finger-prick test and I got my results in two days.' The mother-of-one's results showed that she had an underactive thyroid, and she was referred to an endocrinologist who prescribed the hormone-replacement drug thyroxine. Anu says the difference has been amazing, adding: 'I have more energy and my hair is more healthy.' She also says she will definitely use such services again. 'I love the NHS, but they don't explain things properly. That's why everyone I know is turning to private tests.' Dr McCartney feels that companies are simply cashing in and leaving the NHS to pick up the pieces. She says: 'They say they employ clinicians to speak to patients, but in reality people often end up worried and phoning their GP anyway. 'In the vast majority of cases, abnormal results are false positives and repeat tests by a bona fide NHS lab show nothing is wrong. 'I strongly believe that if a test is necessary, it should be available to all. Instead, people are being sold unnecessary tests, and it ends up costing the NHS too. 'It's completely immoral.' Vitamin D is a vital supplement taken by millions across the UK to ward off diabetes, cancer and even Covid or is it simply a useless waste of money? Last week, in a special report, The Mail on Sunday interviewed top researchers who insisted that despite the NHS spending a whopping 8 million a month on the pills, there was next to no evidence they did anything at all for our health. Epidemiologist Professor Tim Spector, co-creator of the Zoe Covid Study tracker app, went as far as to brand them 'pointless'. Vitamin D is made naturally by the skin in response to sunlight, and is essential for bone health. It is also found in fish and red meat. NHS guidelines suggest we all take a Vitamin D supplement throughout winter, when there's less sunshine, but Prof Spector and others were adamant this wasn't necessary. They also pointed out that although many clinical trials have been carried out using Vitamin D to treat and prevent illnesses, not a single one had shown any benefit. An open and shut case? We asked readers to tell us what they thought after their own experiences with taking Vitamin D, and we were deluged with responses. Vitamin D is a vital supplement taken by millions across the UK to ward off diabetes, cancer and even Covid or is it simply a useless waste of money? The vast majority couldn't have disagreed more with Prof Spector. Many claimed that daily Vitamin D had helped combat everything from debilitating joint pain to bone problems and even mental illness. One was reader Janet Byrne, who has polymyalgia rheumatica an inflammatory disorder that causes muscle pain and stiffness. 'Three weeks after taking the supplement I felt very much better physically and my depression lifted, so I have been taking it ever since,' she wrote. One benefit appeared to be the most common a reduction in pain related to the weak bone condition, osteoporosis. Vitamin D helps bone tissue absorb calcium from food, which is crucial for strength and growing new bone. One size does not fit all it is a necessity that I take Vitamin D Wendy Jeffries, 75, from Lincolnshire, said: 'I have osteoporosis, and on the advice of my specialist I've been taking calcium and Vitamin D supplements for three years. I also take prescription medication for osteoporosis. 'Since I've been taking the vitamins, tests have shown that my bone density has begun to increase again. One size does not fit all it is a necessity that I take Vitamin D.' Meanwhile, 54-year-old Katie Woodiss-Field, a credit manager from Oxfordshire, says that thanks to a sizeable daily dose of Vitamin D, in just three months she went from being too stiff to get out of bed to enjoying five-mile hikes. She says: 'During lockdown I developed horribly aching legs. They felt as if they'd lost all strength. My GP suspected a side effect of the menopause, but blood tests showed I had extremely low levels of Vitamin D. 'I was prescribed the highest dose you can get over the counter, and I saw an improvement within a few days. It was suddenly much easier to walk up the road to the shops. 'And then one day, about three months later, the ache just disappeared. It was like when you have a headache for a week and then you wake up and it's gone.' Epidemiologist Professor Tim Spector, co-creator of the Zoe Covid Study tracker app, went as far as to brand Vitamin D supplements 'pointless' Katie has been taking the same daily dose ever since, adding: 'My husband often gets sore knees from exercising a lot, and when he saw the change in me, he started taking the same dose. He's seen a big change in his mobility, too.' We reported that studies looking at the benefits of taking a supplement for bone and joint health had shown mixed results. In 2018, an analysis of the results of 81 previous trials concluded that Vitamin D supplements did nothing to prevent fractures or strengthen bones in those with osteoporosis. A 2011 US study where menopausal women took Vitamin D found it had no significant effect on menopause-related joint pain, although the authors noted that some patients with severely low Vitamin D did see a mild benefit. Other studies have shown that for people who are deficient in Vitamin D, a supplement increases the turnover of bone cells and boosts the stiffness and thickness of bones. Many Mail on Sunday readers are also convinced of the benefits of Vitamin D on their immune system in helping to fight off infections including Covid. Jean Stables, from Buckinghamshire, has taken a daily dose for several years after blood tests showed she was deficient. She said: 'Before vaccination, what was it that saved me from getting Covid? Probably Vitamin D.' Meanwhile, David Bentley, from Leicester, said: 'In the winter of 2017, I had six colds in six months. 'I had my Vitamin D levels checked and I was deficient. Since then I have been taking 25 micrograms daily [more than twice the Government recommended dose] between October and April, and I have not had a cold in three years. 'I believe that Vitamin D is an important hormone for optimising immune system function.' One medical academic who agrees is former nurse and prominent YouTube personality Dr John Campbell. In one video the self-proclaimed health campaigner accused the Government of inaction for failing to provide Vitamin D to every Briton in the first wave of the pandemic. We still don't have enough high quality data to prove the benefits And in November he advised Britons to take at least 100 micrograms every day ten times the Government-recommended amount. 'The amount the NHS recommends is probably based on research that is outdated,' he told The Mail on Sunday. 'More recent evidence suggests that Vitamin D levels in the blood need to be double the Government's target to see benefits for the immune system.' Dr Campbell explained that the immune system's fighter cells have receptors for Vitamin D proteins that produce a reaction when they come into contact with the nutrient. He said: 'Studies show this reaction helps to stimulate the immune response. But if Vitamin D is low, the cells won't function well and immunity will be compromised.' He claimed research suggested low Vitamin D can cause the immune system to malfunction and attack healthy tissue, adding: 'This is what we saw with severe Covid. 'Most people who died from it did so because of an over-reaction of the immune system in response to the virus. And studies have found patients this happened to had low Vitamin D.' However, some other large-scale studies have found the opposite. Last October, a study of more than 500,000 hospitalised Covid patients in China found no link between Vitamin D deficiency and severe illness or death, and that taking supplements did not improve outcomes. 'The benefits span beyond Covid,' added Dr Campbell. 'There are correlations between lower Vitamin D and multiple sclerosis (MS), colorectal cancer and breast cancer.' Speaking to The Mail on Sunday's Medical Minefield podcast, Prof Spector admitted the one illness where there might be some benefit from Vitamin D supplementation is multiple sclerosis, a condition affecting the brain and spinal cord that can cause serious disability. Dr Campbell added, though, that there is little evidence that Vitamin D supplements offer the equivalent boost of basking in the sunshine. 'There are plenty of anecdotal reports from patients about feeling better after taking Vitamin D, or seeing their symptoms improve,' he said. 'But unfortunately we still don't have enough high-quality data to prove the benefits of supplements. 'I think that's because there's no incentive for pharmaceutical companies to do research, because there's little money to be made in Vitamin D. A positive discovery is hardly going to make drug firms millions when anyone can get it from the supermarket for a few quid.' The Split BBC1, Monday (spoiler warning) Rating: House Of Maxwell BBC2, Monday Rating: The Split is a series I have tried to love, and keep trying to love, but I always fail, and now I think well have to break up for good. I just hope its not too acrimonious. This drama about a family of female divorce lawyers has it all on paper. Its written by Abi Morgan (The Iron Lady, River, The Hour) and stars Nicola Walker, whom I would follow to the ends of the Earth. It has the glossy escapism, with its silky blouses and designer handbags and double-fronted London houses with kitchens so mahoosive that one even comes with a ladder. (Really.) But mostly I feel I should love it because its four main characters are older women who are modern and independent. But if theyre so modern and independent, I am always asking myself, why do they spend 98.4 per cent of their time (on average) fretting about, and talking about, men? The Split is written by Abi Morgan (The Iron Lady, River, The Hour) and stars Nicola Walker (above, with the cast), whom I would follow to the ends of the Earth It makes me want to gather them in that mahoosive kitchen (with the ladder) and bang all their heads together. This is the third and final series, and one thing Ive never been able to quite get over is how can these women, who are made out to be smart, actually be so careless and stupid? Their personal lives are all a mess. They make one bad decision after another. Forget complicated legal matters, I dont think Id even trust any of them to look after my goldfish, Bubbles, while Im on holiday. And the script is beset with deep-sounding yet bogus insights. Ruth (Deborah Findlay), the matriarch, now has a podcast and says to her listeners: If marriage is the conquest and divorce is the inquest, can there ever be a good divorce? Maybe Im the stupid one here. Its highly possible. But I dont understand what that means. Elsewhere, Ruths oldest daughter, Hannah (Walker), is trying for a good divorce from Nathan (Stephen Mangan) after having that affair last season with an old flame. It was hard to buy, that affair. Just another bad decision, I suppose. She is now ambivalent about the divorce, as shown by the way she takes off her wedding ring, looks upset, puts it back on. The series is quite heavy-handed in this way. And it bears no relation to how people actually talk and behave. Im not saying dramas have to be true to life but youd hope they would be true to an approximation of it. Nathan now has a girlfriend, whom Hannah doesnt know about until he brings her to a dinner with friends. Ouch. The girlfriend, Kate, immediately launches into an attack on divorced women being selfish and messing up their children. Who would say that, in front of their new boyfriends soon to be ex-wife? Who? And why didnt anyone around the table flinch? Meanwhile, Nina (Annabel Scholey), the middle sister, is having an affair with the husband of a gay partner at the firm, which is very professional, while last series she had an affair with a clients husband, which is also very professional. (Does Noble Hale Defoe even have an HR department?) As for the youngest, Rose (Fiona Button), she is still fixated on having a baby with James who, at the end of this episode, is squashed by a bus. A lucky escape, I couldnt help thinking. The documentary about Robert Maxwell, House Of Maxwell, mostly covered well-trodden ground, particularly if you have read John Prestons excellent book Fall: The Mystery Of Robert Maxwell. The documentary about Robert Maxwell (above with Ghislaine Mazwell), House Of Maxwell , mostly covered well-trodden ground However, there is the miaow business, as overheard by a secretary. Ghislaine would call. Miaow, shed say to her father over the phone. Miaow, miaow, hed say back. And this could go on for ages, with the number of miaows escalating. Totally weird. And creepy. Plus, he bugged all his executives phones, and these recordings have never been publicly played before. Voiced by actors here, we heard them panicking about his whereabouts as the business stood on the brink of collapse. (After his death at sea in 1991 it was, of course, revealed that hed stolen 460 million from the Mirror Groups pension assets.) These conversations, however, werent especially revealing. Where is he? I dont know! Were f***ed! But its such a compelling story that it didnt much matter that little was new, or even that it jumped around in time somewhat haphazardly. Maxwell was so egotistical that he even had his own film crew, so theres plenty of footage. Here he is in conversation with the (very) authorised writer of his biography offering the following advice: Why dont you quote Goldman Sachs saying, If only more businessmen could be like Robert Maxwell? There were plenty of riveting moments his 65th birthday party! and one moving moment when, during the making of a documentary, he wept at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem. (His parents and siblings had been wiped out by the Holocaust.) But were the tears real? Didnt the director have to send him back because the first time he talked about his family he was too emotionless? Like so much to do with Maxwell did he jump, was he pushed, an accident? I guess well never know. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore Cert: 12A, 2hrs 22mins Rating: All The Old Knives Cert: 15, 1hr 41mins Rating: The Outfit Cert: 15, 1hr 45mins Rating: Compartment Number 6 Cert: 15, 1hr 47mins Rating: Poor J. K. Rowling creator of Harry Potter, of course may have brought pleasure to millions and accumulated a huge fortune in the creative process, but she has not been having the easiest of times of late. First Johnny Depp was forced to resign from the key role of Gellert Grindelwald with her new Fantastic Beasts film franchise not even half complete, and then shes been viciously set upon online by trans-rights activists who dont like her views on being a woman. So what does she do? She takes all the flak, gets on with her work and, in the case of her new film, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore, which she co-produces and co-writes, delivers the sort of Easter treat that gets the franchise firmly back on track. We discover that Albus Dumbledore once again played by Jude Law (above, with Dan Fogler and Eddie Redmayne) really is gay, or at least bisexual Yes, after the nasty wobble of the second film, Crimes Of Grindelwald, Fantastic Beasts is back to its magical best. Well, very nearly anyway. Along the inevitably convoluted way we discover that Albus Dumbledore once again played by Jude Law really is gay, or at least bisexual. We also discover that Mads Mikkelsen brings a whole new layer of menace as he takes over from Depp as Grindelwald and instantly makes the part his own, and that Jessica Williams who plays American magical academic Professor Eulalie Hicks Lally for short is a terrific addition to the core cast. As ever with a Rowling film, there are lots of characters and lots of plot, but the central direction of travel is clear With or without you, I will burn down your world, Grindelwald warns Dumbledore in an early scene and keeping up is both easier and more rewarding than last time. While the tone is darker and the parallels with Nazification even clearer, there are still fantastical beasts to enjoy (Alison Sudol and Fogler, pictured) And while the tone is darker and the approach of the Second World War and the parallels with Nazification even clearer, there are still fantastical beasts to enjoy. Yes, along with coin-grabbing nifflers and loyal bowtruckles, look out for the magical qilin (pronounced chillin) that can look into a persons very soul. Which, with the evil likes of Grindelwald around, places them in great danger. Parents be warned: there are a couple of pretty nasty scenes along the otherwise highly enjoyable way. All The Old Knives is a John le Carre-like spy thriller that sees American intelligence revisiting an eight-year-old cold case a hijacking in Vienna that went disastrously wrong. With new information suggesting the terrorists may have had a mole in the CIAs Austrian bureau, star agent Henry Pelham (Chris Pine) is dispatched to interview former colleagues and now suspects, including his beautiful ex-girlfriend, Celia (Thandiwe Newton). With Laurence Fishburne and Jonathan Pryce in supporting roles, its a starry and stylish affair, albeit one occasionally lacking in a convincing sense of place. But with a timeline that jumps about and inevitable twists and turns, its one that requires concentration and will benefit from being seen in the cinema rather than streamed on Amazon at home. The Outfit is a genuine cinematic oddity, effectively a single-set thriller that spends most of its running time resembling a stage play rather than a feature film. But its directed and co-written by Graham Moore, who co-wrote The Imitation Game, and has Mark Rylance playing an English tailor (he prefers the term cutter) who, in the Chicago of 1956, makes a living making suits for local gangsters. The Outfit is a genuine cinematic oddity, effectively a single-set thriller that spends most of its running time resembling a stage play (Zoey Flynn and Johnny Flynn, pictured) Its a brave experiment and Rylance is quietly compelling, but with too many British actors playing American, and plot twists that struggle to convince, its one that doesnt altogether work. They say its better to travel than arrive, which in the case of Compartment Number 6 is certainly true. A young Finnish woman leaves her charismatic lesbian lover behind in Moscow to begin a long train journey to see some ancient stone carvings near Murmansk and finds herself sharing a sleeping compartment with a surly, ill-mannered miner. Im not sure that either the stone carvings or the film are quite worth it in the end. Simple Minds OVO Arena, Wembley Touring until April 16 and August 9-13 Rating: Roxy Music Roxy Music Out now Rating: Roxy Music For Your Pleasure Out now Rating: Joan As Police Woman Union Chapel, London Touring June 22-28 Rating: There may be more bands from the 1980s touring now than there were at the time. And some of them are even living in the present as well as the past. If Simple Minds came along today, they would fit right in, with their yearning synths, churning rhythms and earnest intelligence. After going from the clubs to the stadiums and back again, they have returned to the arenas, their natural habitat. Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill, the two ever-presents, have adapted to survive. Their touring line-up, led by Burchills scudding guitar, includes three women, not just on backing vocals (Sarah Brown) but on keyboards (Berenice Scott) and drums (the dynamic Cherisse Osei). Jim Kerr (above) and Charlie Burchill, the two ever-presents, have adapted to survive. Their touring line-up, led by Burchills scudding guitar, includes three women Kerrs patter, once po-faced, now runs to wry humour. Wembley Arena! he exclaims. What a great warm-up for Bournemouth tomorrow night. The wheel of taste has turned and the arrow is pointing at Simple Minds early days. The album this show draws on most is New Gold Dream (1982), which theyll perform from start to finish in Edinburgh in August. Promised You A Miracle, with its gleaming hook, goes down almost as well as Dont You (Forget About Me), the classic they rather resented because they didnt write it themselves. Kerr may not look like a rock star these days, but he still sings like one, making everything feel urgent. And he moves like a man who never misses the over-60s yoga class. Meanwhile Roxy Music, who inspired Simple Minds and so many other interesting bands, are making a comeback to mark their golden jubilee. Bryan Ferry, Andy Mackay, Phil Manzanera and Paul Thompson will tour in the autumn. Ferrys collected lyrics are about to appear as a book, McCartney-style, while Roxys eight studio albums are being reissued, in pairs, on heavyweight vinyl. The first two are already in the shops. Roxys self-titled debut is angular but enduringly audacious, with Mackay on oboe, Brian Eno on tape-recorders and Ferry on a mission to introduce pop to post-modernism. For Your Pleasure, the effortless second album, has more punch and panache, from Do The Strand to In Every Dream Home A Heartache. Roxys early sound was a bunch of oxymorons both serious and playful, retro and futuristic, arty and popular. They can still make you smile, or swoon, or dance, or think. Joan As Police Woman at the Union Chapel felt like a match made in heaven: a divine backdrop for a goddess of art-soul. The show was a slow burner as Joan Wasser and her expert band began by concentrating on her jazzy new album, The Solution Is Restless. Then a sublime version of Michael McDonalds I Keep Forgettin lit the touchpaper, and Wassers blazing tenderness carried her all the way to a standing ovation. Young Mungo Douglas Stuart Picador 16.99 Stuart has done it again. After scooping the Booker Prize with Shuggie Bain, he returns to 1990s Glasgow with another bleakly brilliant tale about life at the margins. The eponymous hero is a shy teenager sexually attracted to a boy from the other side of the sectarian divide. Cue fierce bigotry, sickening violence and the camping trip from hell at Loch Lomond. The subject matter could hardly be grimmer, but Stuart is a masterly storyteller and shafts of real tenderness peep through the gloom. Max Davidson Shadow Girls Carol Birch Apollo 16.99 In 1960s Manchester, 15-year-old Sally is cramming for her O-levels. Or at least she should be, but whenever her best friend Pamela is around, theres mischief to be had playing truant, taunting their posh, talented classmate Sylvia Rose, hosting a seance. Things take a turn for the seriously spooky in the wake of a tragedy, though its never quite clear how much of what Sally experiences is psychological and how much supernatural. A convincingly creepy, pleasingly complex exploration of girlhood and guilt. Hephzibah Anderson Theatre Of Marvels Lianne Dillsworth Hutchinson 14.99 This is the story of Zillah, a young mixed-race actress who, as the Great Amazonia, is the exotic headline act in Crillicks Variety Show in mid-19th Century London, not long after the abolition of slavery. A chance encounter with an African shopkeeper leads her to question her identity as a free black woman in Victorian society and examine her own exploitation. Dillsworths debut novel offers an interesting take on our seemingly endless fascination with vintage freak shows but is marred by lacklustre prose and one-dimensional characters. Simon Humphreys Desperate Undertaking Lindsey Davis H&S 20 Lindsey Daviss series of detective novels set in ancient Rome offers a wonderfully believable picture of a world strangely similar to our own. This time the setting is the remarkably gruesome Roman theatreland, where public executions could be incorporated into the action of a play. A killer is using this contrivance to wreak vengeance on their enemies. Redoubtable sleuth Flavia Alba needs all her reserves of charm and guile to solve this fiendishly twisted mystery. John Williams The Mail on Sunday today raises serious concerns about the way funeral company Safe Hands dealt with customers' money before it collapsed. Our investigation into the Yorkshire-based firm which had 47,000 customers when it went under six weeks ago found bosses were skimming off cash from the trust fund that was meant to pay for funerals. We can reveal that the trust fund had plunged 3.7million into the red even though the money was supposed to be ring-fenced and protected. Company accounts scrutinised by the MoS show money from this vital trust fund was routinely being paid into Safe Hands' general company coffers. The company was then paying large sums of money to its shareholders. Victim: Kim Sharp says the company should be renamed Unsafe Hands In one year, 2million of 'surplus' cash was paid from the trust fund to the company. That same year, 2million was also paid in dividends from the company coffers to its shareholders. Records at Companies House confirm that the majority shareholder prior to the company's acquisition by SHP Capital Holdings in early 2020 was Malcolm Milson. An independent actuarial report, prepared by Zenith Actuarial and obtained by the MoS, also raises concerns over the investment management of the 60 million trust fund. It queries a shortfall in the payments made into the fund (from cash given to Safe Hands by planholders) and the amount actuaries 'would have expected'. Having insufficient money set aside to pay for funerals that Safe Hands had promised to customers ultimately pushed the company to the point of collapse. Tens of thousands of people had given Safe Hands more than 3,000 each, after being told it would save their families the hassle of paying for a funeral when they died. But customers have now been sent letters warning they are unlikely to get the funerals they paid for. Hundreds of victims have contacted this newspaper following our reporting of the emerging scandal over the past six weeks. As we report opposite, many are elderly the average age of plan-holders is 70 and feel betrayed. A big selling point of the plans was that customers' money was protected in a secure ring-fenced trust fund, overseen by independent trustees and managed by a reputable investment manager. Fears: MP Lucy Allan will raise it in Parliament Lucy Allan, Conservative MP for Telford in Shropshire, has a business background. She contacted The Mail on Sunday last week, following our reports. Like the MoS, she has examined the accounts of Safe Hands, based in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, and does not like what she has seen. She said: 'If Safe Hands' planholders' entitlements are not honoured it would undermine the trust and confidence in the whole funeral plans industry.' Allan added that pressure needs to be brought to bear on industry leaders to find a solution 'that protects plan-holders and the integrity of the sector'. Major players include the Co-op, Dignity and Prosperous. So far, the Government has refused to intervene. It points to imminent regulation of the industry by the Financial Conduct Authority as evidence of its determination to create a sector fit for purpose. John Glen, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, has said that bringing the industry into regulation will expose 'unsustainable business models' and prevent any problems 'from getting worse and impacting more consumers'. Allan said she would be raising the Safe Hands scandal in Parliament as soon as the Easter recess ends in nine days' time. WHAT OUR PROBE HAS UNCOVERED Like a majority of funeral plan providers, Safe Hands put most customers' payments into a trust fund the Safe Hands Plans Trust. Deductions were made for commissions paid to third-party sellers. As customers confirm above, the trust fund was a big selling point as it gave them reassurance that their money would be safeguarded. Plan literature promoted this point. It informed customers the trust would be ring-fenced (separate from the main Safe Hands business), controlled by independent trustees, and the money invested by professional fund managers. It said: 'As one of the UK's premier funeral plan providers, it is of paramount importance to us... that our customers' investments are safe and secure.' But accounts for Safe Hands Plans, filed at Companies House, suggest the trust was used to provide dividends to company directors, depleting the assets available to pay for planholders' funerals. The accounts do state the firm had the 'right' to these surpluses while having an obligation to make good any fund deficit if it arose. So, for the year to the end of May 2018, the accounts confirm that 2million of trust fund surplus the difference between assets and liabilities was used to boost the firm's income. The same amount was then paid in dividends to shareholders. In the previous year, the firm's income benefited from the transfer of just short of 1.17million from the trust fund with company dividends paid of 1.13million. The accounts also show that director Malcolm Milson, appointed at the end of July 2017, received consultancy fees of 110,400 as well as having an interest-free loan from the company of just short of 3.5million. Also, a debt for 114,444 due from businesses controlled by 'the director' (Milson was one of two for most of the year) was written off because the amounts 'were not recoverable'. Although the accounts for the next two years do not disclose equivalent information, they do confirm that trust surpluses were skimmed off in 2019 (200,000) and 2020 (just under 2.4million). Milson left the company in February 2020 when it was taken over by SHP Capital Holdings. ACTUARIES DISCOVER A 3.7M SHORTFALL At the end of January this year, actuary Zenith Actuarial produced an independent report on the Safe Hands Plans Trust. The report does not pull punches. It raises numerous concerns, notably a fund shortfall or deficit of 3.7million. In other words, the assets of 60.7million are insufficient to cover the future cost of funerals promised (64.4million). It also points out a shortfall in the expected contributions into the fund and is alarmed about how the fund's assets are invested by the fund manager. These are investments initially made by an adviser before being taken over by the fund manager. It says: 'We remain very concerned about the investment funds and the potential lack of liquidity, specialist focus, high charges and potential issues relating to divesting.' The fact that the investment funds are mostly based in the Cayman Islands is noted by Zenith. 'It's a disgrace. Like many Safe Hands victims we can't afford to lose our cash' Victim: Piano teacher Janet Denham says she now feels she was cheated This scandal has to be resolved.' That was the blunt message last week from Janet Denham one of 47,000 victims of the Safe Hands Plans funeral company collapse. Many have contacted The Mail on Sunday to vent their anger over the potential loss of the money they entrusted to the firm to ensure their funeral would be paid for when they died. It is a view echoed by everyone we have spoken to caught up in this mounting scandal, from those like Janet in their 60s to customers in their 80s. They all want to know why the trust fund they put their money into overseen by independent trustees does not have enough assets to pay for the funerals they were promised. Janet, a piano teacher, took out a Safe Hands funeral plan three years ago. 'Both my parents had dementia and at the end it was a nightmare sorting out their finances,' says the 62-year-old from Bordon, Hampshire, who is divorced and has a 31-year-old daughter. 'I vowed then that I wouldn't put my daughter through what I experienced. So I turned to a will writer, updated my will and through them bought a Safe Hands funeral plan for 3,880.' The letter last month from the administrators of Safe Hands, informing her (and all other customers) that the funeral she had paid for would not be honoured, has left her devastated. 'I can't believe what has happened,' says Janet. 'With hindsight, I wish I had put the 3,880 in a cash Isa or kept it in my bank account. Never in a million years did I expect Safe Hands to renege on its promise. I feel cheated and can't bear thinking about the fact I might have lost all my money. I will never buy such a plan again.' Like Janet, Kim Sharp, from Orpington in South-East London, bought a plan to ensure her children wouldn't have to worry about her funeral arrangements if anything happened to her. Kim, also 62 and divorced, reminded her three children where her plan details were kept when she contracted Covid and ended up in hospital. Having made a full recovery, she has now been rocked by the news that her Safe Hands plan could be worthless. 'Unsafe Hands is more to the point,' she says. Kim, a former store manager, bought her plan six years ago after seeing a couple of close friends die. She paid in instalments, reaching a total of 3,395. 'I was pleased with myself,' Kim says. 'The policy covered the cost of all funeral arrangements apart from flowers, so my kids wouldn't have to worry about the expense.' She was reassured by the fact her payments would be held in trust. The Safe Hands literature she received said her money would be held in a 'ring-fenced trust fund' overseen by independent trustees and managed by a 'multinational investment management firm'. She says: 'I never thought the plan was anything but rock solid safe.' Having taken early retirement during the pandemic, she now gets by on an annual pension of 12,000. She says there is no way she could afford another plan. 'What has happened at Safe Hands is a scandal and it needs resolving,' says Kim. She has contacted her local MP, Gareth Bacon, who has promised to look into the matter. Jayne Moore, a 56-year-old credit controller from near Nottingham, took out a plan three years ago at the same time as her parents, both in their early 80s, purchased plans.Like Kim, Jayne has written to her MP, but has yet to get a response. 'Something has to be done to get our money back,' she says. 'My dad has cancer and it is so distressing for him. He's an astute individual and when he bought the plans he did his homework and read all the small print. He was convinced by what he read. 'Old and vulnerable people like my parents have been taken for a ride. When you're told your money is safe in a trust fund, you expect that to be the case. I'm appalled people have been let down in spectacular fashion by Safe Hands.' Sylvia Sutherland, from Caithness, has a Safe Hands plan with partner David Seaman, 71. It was meant to cover the funeral costs of whoever died first. They bought it six years ago for nearly 4,000. 'We scrimped and saved to pay the monthly premium,' says Sylvia, 59, who can no longer work because of back problems. David is retired after working part-time for a fishing company. Sylvia says: 'I was livid when I got the letter from the administrators saying the trust fund did not have enough money to meet the cost of all the funerals promised. 'You try to do the best things in life and protect your children from worrying about sorting out your funeral and then you find out your hard earned cash was not as safe as you were told.' Sylvia adds: 'It's a disgrace. Like a lot of other people caught up in this Safe Hands scandal, we cannot afford to lose our money.' ACTION SINCE THE DEFICIT WAS REVEALED The fact that Safe Hands' trust fund was in deficit would have been enough for the Financial Conduct Authority to tell the company it would refuse its application to be authorised from the end of July thereby giving Safe Hands the opportunity to withdraw from the process. This is what happened in mid-February with the FCA confirming the company had withdrawn its application. It then issued a stark warning: 'Do not buy a new funeral plan from this firm.' Late last month, Safe Hands collapsed, leading to the appointment of administrators FRP Advisory. In a note to planholders, FRP alarmed customers by saying the legal structure of some of the trust fund's assets was 'complicated' and it was unsure which could be realised for the benefit of planholders. WHAT THOSE IN CHARGE HAVE TOLD US Last week, The Mail on Sunday tried to contact Richard Philip Wells, a director of SHP Capital Holdings, by email and phone for an explanation of the poor health of the trust fund. He did not respond. The administrator FRP declined to comment, although it is carrying out a detailed investigation into the failure of Safe Hands Plans. Senior people at Safe Hands have been asked by FRP to attend interviews regarding the company's collapse. Failure to attend will lead to them being required to go to court and be questioned under oath. Sterling Trust Corporation, which looked after the trust fund, said it was 'working closely' with the administrators to find a solution that helps funeral planholders. The FCA said: 'People who bought a pre-paid funeral plan with Safe Hands will be understandably concerned. The Government changed the law to bring pre-paid funeral plans under our regulation from the end of July. Until then, these firms are unregulated and we have limited powers.' Telecoms regulator Ofcom has praised The Mail on Sunday for raising the alarm about serious flaws in the planned rollout of digital home phones. The digital revolution could now be shelved after the MoS warned how vulnerable people faced having their landlines cut off. BT has been forced into a humiliating U-turn following our report in November about inherent problems in its rollout of broadband internet lines that households would use to make home phone calls. The new digital technology requires users to plug their phone into an electricity supply and internet socket rather than relying on the traditional phone socket alone. So if there is a power cut the phone stops working and you are not able to ring anyone in an emergency. The future?: The digital revolution could now be shelved after we warned how vulnerable people faced having their landlines cut off BT's plan to get ten million customers on to its 'digital voice' service by 2025 have been 'paused' with many believing it may now get axed altogether. This newspaper was the first to highlight the potential crisis, despite BT claiming it had 'put precautions in place'. Telecoms regulator Ofcom believes BT has not done enough to help the vulnerable. It says: 'As was highlighted by The Mail on Sunday, many customers were unaware of the digital change. Communications have to be made clear about how landlines might not work during a power cut. 'We expect support to be in place for vulnerable customers to ensure they have a back-up.' Sadly, our warnings were realised when thousands of people had their phones lines cut off during power blackouts caused by storms earlier this year as the digital line phones must be hooked up to an electricity supply to work. In addition, 1.5million homes do not have internet access so cannot yet use the technology. Moreover, a BT suggestion to use a mobile phone in case of a power cut offers cold comfort to the six million people who do not own one. Geva Blackett is an independent councillor in Aberdeenshire, an area badly affected by the February storms. She says: 'This rollout is fundamentally flawed. BT does not seem to realise how many people live in rural areas without any mobile phone reception. 'This means that if there is a power cut, they can be totally isolated. Unless BT can fix this problem, the rollout should not continue.' Telecoms companies want to move all 29million home phones off copper lines on to fibre ones by 2025 because traditional landlines are expensive to maintain. BT has offered customers a battery back-up in the event of internet access being lost, But it only lasts an hour. Blackett says this is as much use as 'a chocolate fireguard' for storm-hit homes in a power cut. BT is working on rolling out longer-lasting phone battery backups that can last for up to six hours but some homes were cut off for several days by Storm Eunice. It says it also hopes to introduce a hybrid phone that switches to a mobile network signal if the internet connection dies. So far, two million BT customers have switched to digital. Meanwhile, other phone companies, such as Virgin Media, are continuing to roll out digital landlines. Virgin has about five million customers and is believed to be a quarter of the way through its digital programme. It says: 'Phone access is vital and we have phones with SIM cards that, if necessary, can be used in a power cut as they can use mobile signals. We can also provide battery back-up lasting for eight hours. We do not expect the average power cut to last longer than this.' Chris Howe, BT customer care director, admits: 'We underestimated the impact this technology upgrade would have on certain customer groups. 'This is a temporary pause we have not turned the programme off. We hope to resume the rollout once we have the right products and solutions in place to support the vulnerable.' Most users have not noticed any loss of sound quality from the switch to digital technology, but it requires a handset that plugs into an internet router socket. Many old phones must be plugged into a router with an adapter supplied for free from a provider to continue working. Otherwise a new phone is required. Even homes that still use copper wires, rather than fibre, for phone and internet connections could be adapted on to digital lines. Thankfully, phone numbers should not change if moved to a digital system and the cost of phone bills should also remain about the same. U.S. not "guardian" of human rights, but hypocrite 13:37, April 09, 2022 By Zhong Sheng ( People's Daily Europe is going through a hard time given the spillover effects of the Ukraine crisis and the massive influx of refugees. To strive for an early ceasefire and avoid further escalation of the humanitarian crisis is a common aspiration of the most of the countries. However, as an initiator of the Ukraine crisis, the U.S. is on one hand claiming that all democratic countries should help Ukrainian refugees, and on the other hand passing the buck, making European countries shoulder the consequences. While claiming to be a "human rights beacon" and a "guardian of human rights," the U.S. only once again exposed its true colors by prioritizing hegemony over human rights. As a matter of fact, it's not a "guardian," but a hypocrite. The U.S. is inevitably responsible for the current refugee crisis in Europe. The White House stated previously that it would welcome Ukrainians displaced "with open arms," but it's ironic that according to U.S. Department of State, the U.S. received only seven refugees between March 1 and 16, while European countries accepted millions. American news magazine Newsweek confirmed that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained at least five Ukrainians, and transferred one to an ICE detention center in Louisiana. Recently, the U.S. made a promise to accept another 100,000 Ukrainian refugees. Even if the promise is fulfilled, let alone if it's not, it is only nickel-and-dime for solving the Ukrainian refugee issue. Over 80 years ago, British international relations theorist Edward Carr warned the world that the U.S. is a "master in the art of concealing its selfish national interests." Today, the outbreak and escalation of the Ukraine crisis once again revealed that the U.S. never cares about human rights, but is simply good at utilizing them to defend its hegemony. The racist remarks frequently made by some U.S. politicians and media organizations when they talked about the Ukraine crisis and Ukrainian refugees have sparked widespread resentment among relevant countries and peoples. An international expert pointed out that fabricating rhetoric in favor of its own geopolitics and economic agenda under the disguise of human rights, the U.S. has exposed its deep-rooted hypocrisy and self-centeredness, as well as its true intention to protect American hegemony. American journalist Alan MacLeod recently posted on social media 15 human rights crimes committed by the U.S., saying "But please let's not pretend the U.S. has the moral high ground." Professing to be a "guardian of human rights," the U.S. is chiefly responsible for the world's humanitarian crises. U.S. politicians constantly express compassion for refugees, but remain silent when it comes to U.S.-led humanitarian crises. In 1999, the U.S.-led NATO, claiming to avoid "humanitarian disasters," launched a 78-day bombing against Yugoslavia without the approval from the U.N. Security Council. The bombing killed over 2,000 civilians, injured 6,000 and displaced nearly a million. The bombing also eliminated the source of income for more than two million people. From Afghanistan to Iraq, and from Libya to Syria, the U.S.-launched wars after the 9/11 attacks are a direct reason for global refugee crises. According to a report issued by Brown University, the wars the U.S. government has fought since the 9/11 attacks, have forced at least 37 million people and perhaps as many as 59 million to flee their homes. To protect its hegemony, the U.S. is arbitrarily wielding the big stick of sanctions, further exacerbating humanitarian crises. When asked whether the U.S.-led sanctions against Iraq were worth the deaths of 500,000 Iraqi children in 1996, then U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. said "that is a very hard choice, but the price, we think, is worth it. Such logic that puts hegemony over sovereignty and human rights has always dominated U.S. diplomacy. The U.S. sanctions against Iranian petroleum department crippled Iran in importing sufficient medical products, which threatened the rights to life and health of the Iranian people. The U.S. sanctions against Syria also seriously undermined the rights of the Syrian people in societal, economic and cultural spheres. The country's embargo on Cuba has been in place for 60 years, and it was not relaxed even after the latter was ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said that economic embargo is a massive, flagrant and unacceptable violation of the human rights of the Cuban people and "like the virus, the blockade asphyxiates and kills, it must stop." Human rights protection necessitates action, not empty talks. To solve the Ukraine humanitarian crisis, it's necessary to promote peace and talks, and strive for an early ceasefire. Humanitarian issues shall never be politicized, or taken as an excuse to protect hegemony. If the U.S. really cares about the humanitarian situations in Ukraine, it should take concrete actions to alleviate tensions and play a constructive role. (Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People's Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.) (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji) Courtesy of Memi Beltrame By David A. Tizzard Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below. D.S. writes: I am chairman of a small bowls social club. We have 18 members, of whom the youngest is 73. We have had an account with HSBC for more than 20 years, and in July last year our treasurer was asked to go through the bank's 'safeguarding' review. She made several attempts that failed for myriad reasons and HSBC threatened to close the account. This was delayed, and I completed three account mandate forms. Finally in December we were told the review was completed successfully. But we then found we had a different type of account, and just ten days after telling us the review was over, HSBC closed our account. No laughing matter: Comedian Richard Ayoade fronts HSBC's TV adverts Tony Hetherington replies: Two weeks ago I reported on how a small anglers' association was driven to distraction for months by HSBC's so-called Safeguard review, which made impossible demands for documents which never existed, such as gas or electricity bills in the name of the association. The bank has always insisted that its aim is to combat the use of accounts for fraud and money laundering, but a simple glance at the amounts going through the accounts of small clubs and societies would show they are not likely to be run by the mafia. Local organisations increasingly tell the same story. They are driven into a corner by questions about their business premises, Companies House records and their utility bills, when in fact they have none of these. And even if they did have them, this would not of course prove that the account holders were honest and trustworthy. Some groups have quit HSBC or been thrown out, like yours. Those that have been allowed to stay have found their previously free banking has disappeared, and they have been switched into what the bank refers to as a 'charitable' account. These accounts charge a flat 5 per month even if you don't make any transactions. If you do pay money in or take money out, the charges increase. Your own situation became bizarre. First, you were told you could have an account, and then you were told the opposite. And HSBC sent you a cheque for the balance, but since HSBC itself had closed your account, you had no way to turn the cheque into cash. When you protested, the bank said it would issue a new cheque made out to you personally, if all your club's account signatories agreed. They did, and you sent their signed agreement to HSBC. However, weeks later, you had received no payment, so you contacted me. HSBC has denied that you passed the Safeguard review. It says it granted a 30-day extension and then needed to ask more questions but was unable to get an answer when it telephoned you. The bank says it then sent you an online form with its questions but heard nothing back. As for your request for a cheque made out to you, HSBC told me that it allowed itself 20 working days to 'process' this. However, by the time the bank told me this, more than 20 days had already passed. When I pointed this out, HSBC told me it had sent the cheque within the 20 days, even if you had not received it. In other words: 'The cheque's in the post.' You have confirmed that you have now received the cheque, but you told me that this marks the end of a bruising eight-months saga which threatened to put your club out of existence. It is hard not to think that HSBC wants to get rid of small accounts like yours, or, if it has to keep them, then to charge for what previously were free services to the community. Is this really what comic actor Richard Ayoade of The IT Crowd thought he was promoting when he did those HSBC television commercials pronouncing: 'We are part of something far, far bigger'? Probably not, but the current message is that this big bank is far, far less interested in small accounts. A sign of the times: HMRC's statements show no calculations, just demands Demands are doubly taxing J.F. writes: A few months ago I received a tax demand for 1,258 from Revenue & Customs. I wrote to it, and it signed a slip to say my letter was received, but all that followed was a further demand, this time for 1,734. I have now sent it four letters, all signed for by the Revenue, without getting a single reply. I questioned the amounts demanded and asked how the figures were reached. Its statements show no calculations, just demands. Tony Hetherington replies: Although you have income from the UK, you live in Guernsey, which has its own tax system. This goes some way to explaining your problems, though in no way does it excuse the Revenue's failure to reply to four letters while still expecting you to fork out for unexplained tax demands. The explanation is that you are expected to be familiar with the Double Taxation Agreement between the UK and Guernsey. Your tax return asks you to tick a box if you believe the agreement lets you claim the income tax personal allowance as a nonresident. You did not tick the box, which resulted in the tax demands. Officials at the Revenue's headquarters told me: 'We have contacted Mr F to apologise for not responding sooner, and explained how this happened.' By the time you read this, you will have received the corrected calculations, and any tax overpaid is being refunded. Fine: A.P. was charged 350, despite buying a ticket to park at Leeds railway station I was charged 350 for a day's parking A.P. writes: I drove to the car park at Leeds railway station and went to the pay and display machine. It was covered in snow and I could barely see the prices. I paid 35 and hurriedly put the ticket on the dashboard before catching the 5.05am train to London. When I returned the next day, a friend pointed out that my ticket showed I had been charged 350. I called the car park company Apcoa and was told to email it for a refund, which I did, but I have had no reply. Tony Hetherington replies: I contacted Apcoa and was told it had a record of your online chat with one of its staff, but it had heard nothing from you since then. However, you insisted that you had emailed, and you gave me copies of your email and a printout of the chat session. This revealed the problem. You had made a mistake in the email address, so wherever your email ended up, it was not at the address Apcoa gave you in the chat session. I wish all readers' problems turned out to be this simple. After I pointed out the correct address, you emailed Apcoa again and you have just received a full refund. If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TS or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned. The Government wants UK power generation to be greener and safer than it is today. According to the new energy strategy, published last week, Boris Johnson hopes that 95 per cent of our electricity will be low-carbon by 2030. Wind and solar farms are central to his plan. But wind and sun are unpredictable. Sometimes, they do what they are supposed to do. Sometimes, they don't. Last year, for instance, wind power generation fell by 14 per cent because wind speeds were lower than in 2020 for every month except February. Overcoming this unpredictability is a huge challenge in the Government's bid not just to reduce our carbon footprint but also to make us less reliant on imported energy which rose more than a third last year to record levels. That is where battery storage comes into play. Power in reserve: Gore Street runs giant batteries that balance the unpredictable supply of wind and solar power These huge units, each the size of a shipping container, can take energy from the grid when there is plenty of it and demand is low, such as at night. They can then store that energy and release it when needed. The UK is a pioneer in the field and Gore Street Energy Storage Fund is one of the industry's leading players. The group's shares are 1.13, but chief executive Alex O'Cinneide is hoping to raise 75million on the stock market, offering investors new shares at 1.10 apiece. The issue closes on Tuesday and looks attractive. Gore Street was listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange in 2018, when the company had one site in Boulby, North Yorkshire, storing 6MW of energy. Today, there are 25 assets, with storage capacity of more than 700MW. Most of these are in the UK and Ireland, but Gore Street has recently moved into Germany and the US as well. Battery storage is a key component of a secure and renewable energy mix but it is good business too. Contracts are long term and Gore Street's customers such as the National Grid here and EirGrid in Ireland are robust and reliable. That allows the firm to target a juicy 7 per cent annual dividend yield, paid quarterly. Gore Street's financial year runs to March 31 and subscribers to the new fundraising will be entitled to the latest payout, which covers the three months to the end of March and is expected to be about 1p. Gore Street has grown fast but there is plenty of opportunity for more. In the UK alone, National Grid has said we need 13,000MW of electricity storage by 2030, while international requirements are even greater. That is music to O'Cinneide's ears. He and his team have amassed a pipeline of assets with a combined capacity of 1,300MW here and overseas. Not all of them will come to fruition but O'Cinneide wants cash at the ready to make acquisitions quickly. The company has raised money several times over the past four years and has always put it to work relatively fast. Having been one of the first firms to tackle battery storage, Gore Street has access to more opportunities than most and the technical know-how to put new sites to work. These tend to be far smaller and less conspicuous than wind or solar farms, but they need to be near grid connections and operators need access to reliable manufacturers to deliver the storage units. Gore Street works with the likes of Tesla, Siemens and Korea-based LG Chem, one of the largest chemical groups in the world. O'Cinneide also employs skilled technicians to manage Gore Street's power to maximum effect offering it to the grid at times of greatest need and helping to balance supply and demand hour by hour. The UK was one of the first countries to allow battery storage operators to use their assets in multiple way but the approach is now being copied across the world, including in Germany and in Texas, where Gore Street has recently acquired new sites. Midas verdict: Renewable power is growing fast and battery storage makes it that much more reliable. Gore Street Energy Storage Fund offers investors access to this fast-expanding field and generous dividends to boot. At 1.10 a share, the latest fundraising is a buy. Traded on: Main market Ticker: GSF Contact: gsenergystoragefund.com or 020 3826 0290 Raising a glass: Investors in champagne can raise a glass to some fizzing returns Investors in champagne can raise a glass to some fizzing returns as the price of the most sought-after bottles has almost doubled over the past year. With the end of the pandemic seemingly in sight, revellers have been turning to high-end champagne to celebrate freedom. Prices of some bottles have already jumped as a result and there may be further exciting investment opportunities to come. Louis Roederer Cristal a favourite tipple of celebrities such as Mick Jagger and Madonna has seen prices rise by more than 75 per cent over 12 months. Other champagne houses that have seen high double-digit annual returns including Dom Perignon, Bollinger, Taittinger and Krug. Matthew O'Connell, chief executive of wine trader LiveTrade, says: 'The hospitality industry has been throwing open its doors after the lockdowns and this has had a huge impact on champagne values as people celebrate with a glass of bubbly. 'The subsequent squeeze on limited supplies has caused prices to rise.' Quality champagne has proved a good investment for some years. The value of the 50 most collectible champagnes has risen by 93 per cent over five years, according to the fine wine trading platform Liv-ex. This compares favourably with the main wine index, the Livex Bordeaux 500, which has risen 12 and 22 per cent over the past one and five years respectively. Even that is better than the FTSE All-Share Index of companies listed on the UK stock exchange, which is up 7 per cent over the past 12 months and 8 per cent over five years. However, not all champagnes have risen in value. If you're buying as an investment, it is important to choose carefully. Vintage is key The quality and value of a bottle of champagne is hugely influenced by its vintage, which is simply the year in which the grapes were picked. Some years the weather and conditions are perfect, producing an excellent vintage. In other years the taste produced is of a lesser quality. Robbie Stevens, of Liv-ex, says champagne houses tend to share the same great vintages. This is because all champagne is made in the same region of north-eastern France and so conditions are fairly consistent. He says: 'A great year for grapes, such as 2008, is likely to be reflected in a top quality champagne for most suppliers.' A 2008 vintage Krug brut was released in October last year at a cost of 265 a bottle. But within hours, it was changing hands for about 350. Now investors might pay 500 for it. Louis Roederer Cristal has seen its 2008 vintage rise in value over a year by 62 per cent to 264. Its 2012 vintage has risen in the past 12 months from 163 to 284. Other great vintages that appeal to investors include 1971, 1978, 1988, 1996 and 2002. Stevens says of more recent vintages: 'Looking forward, it is still too early to say, but there is a chance the years of 2012, 2013 and 2014 could produce some top vintage champagne.' Size can add to rarity Champagne is usually sold in standard-sized 750-millilitre bottles. However, unlike most other wines, it also comes in a wide range of other sizes. These include the double-sized 1.5 litre magnum as enjoyed on the podium after the end of a Formula 1 race. Even bigger are the three-litre Jeroboam, six-litre Methuselah, 12-litre Balthazar and 15-litre Nebuchadnezzar bottles. There is even a 30-litre Melchizedek that can fill 240 champagne glasses. A Boerl & Kroff 1995 Melchizedek sold for 173,000 last year. Stevens adds: 'We recently sold a six-litre Methuselah for a 1990 vintage Louis Roederer Cristal for 6,090. Size rarity certainly added to its value but it was also a top quality champagne from a prestigious house.' Find a good specialist Working out which bottles are likely to increase in value is tricky. It pays to enlist expert advice. Unfortunately, champagne purchased in the supermarket is rarely going to grow in value no matter how fancy the label or fizzy the tingle on the tongue. Typically, this champagne does not have a particular vintage because it contains grapes from different sources. Seek out the help of a specialist wine merchant, such as Berry Bros & Rudd, Farr Vintners and Justerini & Brooks. Details of local merchants can be found on wine expert websites such as that of Tim Atkin, which also offer tasting tips. Such merchants will not only offer investment advice, but should make the experience fun. Most investors never see their champagne as it is kept 'in bond' with the merchant. This means that the champagne is stored in a cool and dark environment to preserve it. And because it is kept in bond it is insured against loss or theft, and there is no duty or VAT to pay. However, some investors like to buy an extra bottle to enjoy at home and get a taste of what they own. Kept well in storage, champagne can last for decades. O'Connell says: 'Some people have a misconception that champagnes must be drunk young, but they can age really well keeping for 40 years or so before being enjoyed.' Wine merchants and dealers such as LiveTrade may charge between 13 and 25 a year to store a case of 12 bottles. Investors typically trade in 12-bottle cases. The merchant will also usually buy the champagne back when you sell as they are in a better position to find a buyer willing to purchase a bottle. As a rule of thumb, expect to see 10 per cent of your investment go on buying and selling costs. Don't forget rose Champagne is mainly made from three grape varieties chardonnay, pinot meunier and pinot noir. The latter two can also be used to make rose by keeping their skins on. Stevens says: 'Rose champagne is made in fairly small amounts so can be a great investment as supply is limited but demand is high.' For example, Dom Perignon and Louis Roederer Cristal have seen their most sought after vintage rose grow by 61 and 59 per cent respectively in price over 12 months, with bottles of their finest bubbly now selling for 519 and 844 each. And if it doesn't work out Champagne has an added appeal in that it is a drink for celebration. It means that should your investment not go as well as you had hoped you still own a tangible asset. And what better way to drown your sorrows than by popping open a bottle of quality bubbly with family and friends? One of Britain's biggest auditors has ditched a London-listed gold producer over its deep ties to Russia. Ditched: Accounting giant Deloitte resigned from auditing work for Polymetal Accounting giant Deloitte resigned from auditing work for Polymetal given that the majority of its assets and operations are in Russia. The news came after Deloitte last month said it would sever ties with its Russian and Belarusian clients over the invasion of Ukraine. Polymetal yesterday said it has begun looking for a new auditor. Anglo American's new chief executive faces calls to 'turbocharge' the development of its potentially lucrative potash mine in North Yorkshire after the war in Ukraine caused a hike in global fertiliser prices. The FTSE100 company bought the Woodsmith Mine in 2020 from Sirius Minerals, which collapsed after failing to drum up enough funding from lenders. Located near Whitby, Woodsmith was being developed to unearth the mineral which is a key nutrient for plants. Since the acquisition, Anglo American has poured money in to salvage the project and it plans to invest another 440million this year. Potential: Anglo American bought the Woodsmith Mine in 2020 from Sirius Minerals Now, Anglo's Duncan Wanblad the company's head of strategy who is taking over as chief executive from Mark Cutifani later this month has been urged by City figures to accelerate plans. Anglo should be 'turbocharging this project right now,' said John Meyer, head of research at broker SP Angel. 'The world desperately needs potash for fertiliser production. It needs it yesterday,' Meyer said, adding that the situation was likely to persist as long as sanctions on Russian goods were maintained. '[The Woodsmith mine] is now looking like a great acquisition for Anglo American', Meyer added. Prices of fertiliser have soared following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. The conflict and subsequent sanctions have disrupted supplies from Russia, one of the world's largest producers. The supply crunch caused potash prices to rocket to nearly $1,100 (843) a ton in late March compared to $300 (230) in early 2021. It has also sparked fears of a global food crisis. In addition to its fertiliser exports, Russia is also a major producer of wheat alongside Ukraine. Together, the two nations account for nearly a third of the global market. The situation has left many governments scrambling to secure supplies from different sources in a bid to protect their economies and help consumers. Aside from a possible opportunity from the global fertiliser crisis, Wanblad will also be thinking about the long-term future of Anglo. The 54-year-old will become the first South African to run the business after he replaces the Australian-born Cutifani, who has led the group for nearly a decade. While he has yet to publicly lay out any concrete plans for the group, there are indications Wanblad is preparing to cash in on booming demand for metals used in batteries and the renewable energy sector. The incoming chief executive said the world 'is going to need a whole lot more metal' to meet decarbonisation targets. In comments to the FT Mining Summit last October, he noted that the accelerating shift towards electric transport meant the global supply of metals such as copper and nickel looked 'more constrained than it has for some time.' Wanblad also said that construction of wind farms, solar panels and hydrogen power plants will be 'steel-intensive', and as a result will elevate demand for key ingredients such as iron ore and the metallurgical coal used in blast furnaces. The UK's energy production fell to its lowest level in more than 50 years last year providing the strongest sign yet that British self-sufficiency is many years away. Government data revealed that domestic production fell 14 per cent during the year as wind farms struggled with unfavourable weather, nuclear plants faced maintenance delays and coal production fell to a record low. Sluggish output across all fuel types led to the UK's dependence on energy imports rising to 37.9 per cent last year, its highest level of energy imports in seven years. Feeling the heat: Sluggish output across all fuel types led to the UK's dependence on energy imports rising to 37.9 per cent last year The poor performance creates an uphill battle for Boris Johnson, who has called for greater energy independence for the UK. The Prime Minister said the Government's new energy security strategy, released on Thursday, would ensure Britons are no longer subject to 'blackmail' from those like Vladimir Putin on oil and gas. But the latest energy report paints a bleak picture of fuel production in the UK. It reveals nuclear output fell to its lowest level since 1982. The strategy unveiled plans to increase wind, solar and nuclear electricity generation against the backdrop of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has rocked energy markets and sent household bills soaring. A cornerstone is a 120million fund for new nuclear products, with plans to deliver one reactor a year rather than one a decade. Critics say this will not help consumers in the short term. Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng admitted the strategy was a 'medium three, four, five-year answer'. Johnson said he was 'bringing nuclear home' as part of the strategy, which would help correct past 'mistakes'. But Richard Black, founder of the independent Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, said nuclear power remained unattractive to private investors, even with Government price guarantees. He said: 'No serious private investor is looking at nuclear, while in oil and gas investors can put money anywhere in the world, and the North Sea isn't that attractive any more as the good stuff is all gone.' 'The only way to boost energy production within the UK is renewables. This will happen. Offshore wind, and to a lesser extent onshore wind and solar, are expanding. But whatever the form of energy production, there will inevitably be bumps in the long-term trends.' Chief executive of energy giant SSE Alistair Phillips-Davies said the current crisis was 'driven by our reliance on imported gas'. He said the only way to tackle the problem was to boost investment in 'home-grown, clean energy infrastructure'. The Mail on Sunday previously revealed that energy giants had doubled the amount of gas sourced from the North and Irish Sea being sold to foreign buyers. French bank BNP Paribas reported regulatory failings to the UK's National Crime Agency, according to details revealed in a whistleblowing court case. The move has come to light in a dispute between BNP Paribas and a former banker who claims he was 'victimised' after disclosing 'serious criminal activity' at the bank. Fabio Filippi, who was head of structured equity sales in Italy, is suing in London for unfair dismissal after claims he was forced out in 2018, in what he has described as a 'sham' sacking. In the dock: Legal documents reveal allegations that the BNP Paribas branch in Milan was involved in 'non compliant practices' Legal documents reveal allegations that the BNP Paribas branch in Milan was involved in 'non compliant practices', concerning the sale of investment products, between 2009 and 2010. BNP said the report to the NCA was about suspicious activity of third parties rather than BNP. It said BNP did not find any evidence of suspicious activity within its own organization. Papers show BNP Paribas's compliance team filed two 'suspicious activity reports' to the NCA in London in late 2018, which also led to the Financial Conduct Authority being informed. Emails seen by The Mail on Sunday in court correspondence reveal the FCA carried out a 'specialistled financial crime visit' at BNP's London offices. The bank told the MoS it is not aware of 'any investigations into Mr Filippi's allegations by any external agency'. A spokesman said: 'The issues raised by Mr Filippi are historical and related to alleged practices in Milan in 2010. The bank undertook extensive investigations, including a full independent audit review, into the issues raised and kept our regulators up to date throughout.' The spokesman added: 'This matter is currently before the Employment Tribunal and we await their decision in due course. We are fully confident of the bank's ability to defend this matter.' Nuclear weapons and compulsory national service were once deemed 'unthinkable' in Australia, but now defence experts say all options are on the table in the face of an increasingly unpredictable China. Dr Marcus Hellyer, a former intelligence agent and high-level advisor to the Department of Defence, told Daily Mail Australia that while Canberra remains a signatory of several nuclear non-proliferation treaties, the rise of hostile authoritarian powers like China and Russia has 'fundamentally changed' the equation. Moscow's bloody invasion of Ukraine at a time when Beijing is busy paving the way for a permanent military base in the South Pacific, has left defence strategists scrambling for better ways to protect Australia's east coast. 'Things that not long ago seemed unthinkable are now entirely thinkable,' Dr Hellyer said. In 1956 and 1957, the British government conducted more than a half-dozen nuclear tests in Maralinga, a remote area in South Australia If you are a small power wanting to deter a big power, nuclear weapons are a path that countries have gone down - Dr Marcus Hellyer. 'If China could establish a military presence in the Solomon Islands then pretty much all of the east coast of Australia would be in range of Chinese ballistic missiles. 'In the past that distance has protected us, but now it is being eroded.' Dr Hellyer, who is now a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said while it's important to state that China's new security agreement with Honiara does not mean Beijing will be looking to station guided missiles on Australia's doorstep, it is a prospect 'we need to think about'. 'So how do we defend Australia against long-range conventional missiles? Well one way is by getting a nuclear deterrent capability,' he said. 'If you are a small power wanting to deter a big power, nuclear weapons are a path that countries have gone down.' Nuclear weapons and compulsory national service were once deemed 'unthinkable' in Australia, but now defence experts say all options are on the table in the face of an increasingly unpredictable China China's growing presence in the region has them attempting to base themselves on Australia's doorstep WHICH NATIONS HAVE NUCLEAR WEAPONS? 1. Russia: 6,257 nuclear warheads 2. United States: 5,550 nuclear warheads 3. China: 350 nuclear warheads 4. France: 290 nuclear warheads 5. United Kingdom: 225 nuclear warheads 6. Pakistan: 165 nuclear warheads 7. India: 160 nuclear warheads 8. Israel: 90 nuclear warheads 9. North Korea: 45 nuclear warheads Advertisement The nuclear non-proliferation cause is likely to have been set back 'several decades' amid the horrifying war in Ukraine, with minor powers now 'seriously considering' acquiring weapons of mass destruction to prevent the possibility of an invasion or air assault. Dr Hellyer does not advocate for the government to follow this path given Australia already falls under the nuclear deterrence umbrella of the US. The policy means if allies like Australia are attacked or threatened with nuclear weapons, the US would 'in theory' regard it as a nuclear strike on the American homeland. 'For anybody to really consider pursuing nuclear weapons, Australians would have to be convinced that the nuclear deterrent umbrella provided by the US is no longer there,' Dr Hellyer said. 'It would need to be a very different threat environment than we are now.' But Australian Nobel Peace Laureate Professor Tilman Ruff says establishing a nuclear arms program would be an 'extremely dangerous, counterproductive and retrograde step'. The anti-nuclear weapons campaigner at Melbourne University's School of Population and Global Health, argues 'it wouldn't make us safer and is only likely to exacerbate already escalating global tensions.' 'I think part of the problem is that we see nuclear weapons as instruments of security, as if they were just another gadget in the tool kit of military options,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'People just don't understand that the destructive power of nuclear weapons is essentially limitless with many of the isotopes having half-lives of tens of thousands of years and putting future generations at risk.' Pictured: Personal from Force Protection Element-2 board a Royal Australian Air Force C130 Under international law, civilians and military targets should be distinguished during a time of war. The contravention also states that attacks should not be indiscriminate, cause persistent injury, damage to cultural items or the environment. 'Nuclear weapons do all of those things,' Prof Ruff said. 'They are essentially global suicide bombs and the climate impacts would rebound on the user just as much as the intended target because the radiation does not distinguish between international borders.' Instead, Australia is investing heavily to upgrade conventional military assets as well as focusing on bolstering it's numbers. Peter Dutton this week announced Australian fighter jets and navy vessels will be armed with new long-range strike missiles years ahead of schedule under a new $3.5billion military cash splash to deter the rising threat of China. The Defence Minister said the time table for the country's Super Hornet fighter jets to be fitted out with US-made Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles needs to be sped up, so Australia doesn't 'get bullied'. Peter Dutton this week announced Australian fighter jets and navy vessels will be armed with new long-range strike missiles years ahead of schedule under a new $3.5billion military cash splash to deter the rising threat of China. Pictured: Chinese soldiers carry out anti-terrorism drill We are certainly hearing more about military conscription but my sense is that the Australian public isn't at the point where it is willing to consider that - Dr Marcus Hellyer The emergency package will also see Australia's Hobart-class Destroyers and Anzac Frigates decked out with Norwegian-made Naval Strike Missiles as Beijing's growing presence in the Indo-Pacific sparks concerns in Canberra. It comes on the heels of last year's AUKUS deal which will see Australia's Navy take possession of a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines provided by the US and UK under an ongoing security pact. But despite the upgrades in hardware, Australia's standing military of about 80,000 including reserve forces, still pales in comparison to nation's like China with more than 3.3million. Outspoken MP Bob Katter recently called for high school students to be given guns, slamming Australia's preparedness for war, amid growing global hostilities. 'In the event of an invasion or war, Australia is not equipped to fight in guerrilla warfare as the Ukrainian people are doing currently,' he told Sky News. Pictured: An Australian Army CH-47 Chinook Helicopter is pictured taking off in Brisbane 'How are you going to defend this country? You've got no fuel, you've got no petrol, you've got no missiles, you've got no army. Give them a rifle'. While he stopped short of calling for compulsory national service, as enforced in places like Israel, Scandinavia, Switzerland and South Korea, the topic is increasingly being raised among policymakers. 'We are certainly hearing more about military conscription but my sense is that the Australian public isn't at the point where it is willing to consider that,' Dr Hellyer said. 'However, I think they are perhaps willing to consider a domestic kind of national service that focuses on disaster relief with agencies like the fire service and the State Emergency Service.' Australia's supply chain chaos is set to get even worse as China locks down the entire city of Shanghai, home to the nation's largest sea port. More than 25 million residents are stuck in their homes and are being shipped off to quarantine centres as the city faces a surge in Omicron BA.2 cases and the communist superpower continues to enforce its draconian Covid-zero policy. But while the authoritarian crackdown is grim news for Chinese residents, the shutdown is also set to wreak havoc on Australian businesses and consumers. Australia's supply chain chaos is set to get far worse as China locks down the entire city of Shanghai, home to the nation's largest sea port Communist Party officials have called an indefinite lockdown in Shanghai (pictured) A wave of Omicron BA.2 cases has swept through China causing a lockdown in Shanghai 'There had been a marginal improvement over the past few months getting products shipped, as things eased from the worst of the Covid disruptions,' Australian Industry Group CEO Innes Willox told Daily Mail Australia. 'What the Shanghai lockdown will do is make it even harder for businesses to get parts and import components.' The manufacturing, construction and service group's chief executive boss said the lockdown in China's second largest city will affect 'everything from nuts and bolts to computer chips'. 'Australia is still very reliant on China for a lot of goods and we are still seeing problems relating to ports, pallets, containers and trucks,' Mr Willox said. 'Further disruption will mean everything from high tech defence equipment right down to even the most basic items you might buy at your local grocery store could be impacted.' Above: Workers in personal protective equipment work to load up a truck with food supplies and necessities for local residents during the Covid-19 lockdown. The biggest source of grumbling for most residents is the lack of essentials that they have to put up with Residents were told to stay indoors during the lockdowns, and all business employees and government personnel not involved in the supply of essential services were advised to work from home. People pictured queuing to be tested at the Shanghai Jing'an Central Hospital China has launched its biggest city-wide lockdown since Covid first hit over two years ago After an initial 10-day shut down Covid cases continued to soar in Shanghai reaching more than 13,000 daily infections, according to official Chinese government data. The real figure is likely to be far higher. Facing a nationwide surge in cases after lambasting the western world for adopting a 'live with Covid' strategy, Communist Party officials this week ordered the gruelling lockdown to continue in a futile attempt to bring the infection rate down. As part of the draconian policy personally championed by Xi Jinping, infected children have been separated from their parents and drones have been deployed to keep cooped-up residents inside as authorities struggle to deliver enough food and supplies to those in quarantine. In bizarre footage captured by a senior correspondent for the Economist, Alice Su, angry residents sing 'why are you starving us?' from their balconies in protest at the lack of food and water are told to 'control the soul's desire for freedom' by a hovering drone. It comes as Shanghai health officials have defended their policy of separating babies and young children from their parents if they test positive for Covid. Families who have attempted to voice their frustration over the issue on Chinese social media have their complaints censored. Video of babies and young children piled onto beds together in state-run wards have been widely shared before being taken down. Australian Industry Group CEO Innes Willox said 'further disruption will mean everything from high tech defence equipment right down to even the most basic items you might buy at your local grocery store could be impacted.' Pictured: Cargo ship at Sydney's Port Botany 'What the Shanghai lockdown will do is make it even harder for businesses,' Mr Willox said. Pictured: A waitress in Sydney Wu Qianyu, an official from the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, said brutal policy was integral to virus 'prevention and control work'. 'If the child is younger than seven years old, those children will receive treatment in a public health centre.' 'For older children or teenagers... we are mainly isolating them in centralised (quarantine) places.' Shanghai resident Esther Zhao said her daughter, two, was taken away to the quarantine centre after they both tested positive. She initially refused but was threatened if she did not comply. Zhao only received one brief piece of information from doctors about her daughter despite pleas from her and her husband. In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, people with mild and symptomatic cases of COVID-19 quarantine at the Shanghai New International Expo Center in Shanghai, Friday, April 1, 2022 Several children piled into a metal-barred cot are wheeled through the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Centre as they are separated from their families after having contracted Covid Under China's unbending virus controls, anyone found positive - even if they are asymptomatic or have a mild infection - must be isolated from non-infected people. That includes children who test positive but whose family members do not, health officials confirmed on Monday, defending a policy which has spread anxiety and outrage across the city Zhao told Reuters over the weekend: 'There have been no photos at all... I'm so anxious, I have no idea what situation my daughter is in. 'The doctor said Shanghai rules is that children must be sent to designated points, adults to quarantine centres and you're not allowed to accompany the children.' Former chief economist of Austrade, Tim Harcourt, said although the looming supply chain crunch is going to cause issues for global supply chains, Australia will be able to weather the storm. 'There will be some impact but I don't think it will be as bad for us as it will be catastrophic for the Chinese domestic economy,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'Because of the lockdowns, they are not going to eat out as much and not travel as much, so their shutdown is going to affect their domestic economy a lot more than it is going to affect us.' The Donald Trump-endorsed candidate in the North Carolina Senate race told an interviewer that Joe Biden was the 'legitimate president' beating his opponent fair and square by seven million votes in a little noticed video that is getting fresh attention. Trump heads to the state on Saturday to boost the campaign of Ted Budd, a three-term congressman. But his comments could raise fresh doubts about the endorsement a matter of weeks after Trump dumped Mo Brooks in Alabama for apparently ending his opposition to the 2020 result. In a little noticed interview with the Associated Press, Budd, who voted against certifying Biden's victory last year, is asked whether the Democrat won fair and square. 'He did. He's the legitimate president,' he said in September. He is then asked whether he accepts that Trump got seven million fewer votes than the Democratic candidate. 'I do,' he said. Trump has been using his endorsements to punish Republicans who say he lost the 2020 election, backing their primary challengers, and will almost certainly use his rally in Selma, North Carolina, on Saturday to publicly berate them. Donald Trump comes to North Carolina on Saturday to campaign for Ted Budd, who is running for Senate. At the same time video has emerged of Budd saying he believed Biden was the 'legitimate president' - the sort of comment that has cost candidates Trump's endorsement Trump announced he was endorsing Budd in June last year. The decision - backing a a rank-and-file member of Congress with little statewide name recognition - surprised many analysts The Budd campaign said it was not worried about the comments and claimed it was being shopped around by allies of former U.S. Rep Mark Walker, currently polling third in the race, but who is chasing Trump's affections. 'President Donald Trump knows Ted Budd, Mark Walker, and Pat McCrory and he knows their records,' said Jonathan Felts, senior adviser, Ted Budd for US Senate, listing the three frontrunners. 'Their records are why President Trump didn't hire Pat, didn't endorse Walker, but did endorse Ted Budd. 'Ted Budd has never wavered from the America First Agenda and President Donald Trump knows that. 'Mark Walker is a delusional little man if he thinks President Donald Trump doesn't know who the real America First Conservative Fighter is in this election.' But the example of Brooks in Alabama may serve as a warning. He had been a favorite of Trump's after speaking at the rally on January 6 last year to oppose the election results, telling supporters 'the fight begins today' before they marched on the U.S. Capitol. But he fell foul of the most powerful voice in the party after saying that it was time admit the 2020 election was lost and move on to the next campaign. 'Mo Brooks was a leader on the 2020 Election Fraud and then, all of sudden, during the big rally in Alabama, he went woke and decided to drop everything he stood for when he did, the people of Alabama dropped him, and now I have done so also. The people get it, but unfortunately, Mo doesn't,' said Trump in a statement. Trump listens to Budd announce he's running for the Senate at the NCGOP state convention on June 5, 2021 in Greenville, North Carolina. The event was one of former U.S. President Donald Trumps first high-profile public appearances since leaving the White House in January Rep. Mo Brooks spoke at the January 6 'Save America' rally on the ellipse, which happened in advance of the MAGA crowd storming the U.S. Capitol In North Carolina, the primary has been marked by bitter feuding. Trump will bring his star power to town on Saturday evening, for a program that will feature Madison Cawthorn, the controversial congressman who is under fire for wild claims that Washington political life is full of cocaine-fuelled orgies. In the Senate race, Budd won the surprise endorsement of Trump last year. The contest is seen as crucial to Republican hopes of securing the Senate. He has pitched himself as a Trump loyalist - and was among the Republicans who voted not to certify Biden's election last year - but struggled to gain traction in the polls, leading to questions about whether the former president regretted his decision. Trump himself brought up the race at a Republican National Committee donor dinner in New Orleans last month. 'How are we doing? Hows Ted Budd doing? OK?' Trump asked North Carolina GOP Chair Michael Whatley from the stage, according to audio obtained by Politico, before adding that he had to get one of the other candidates out of the race. Since then Budd launched his first television ad which promotes his Trump endorsement and shows him walking the U.S.-Mexico border with a pistol on his belt. A source familiar with Trump's thinking said Budd had long been an ally of the former president - unlike Brooks who had once been known as a 'never Trumper.' 'It's not a valid comparison,' he said, adding that the video had been circulating in Republican circles for some time but not prompted a change of heart by Trump. And after his shaky start a poll this week showed him stretching out to a double-digit lead over his closest rival former Gov. McCrory. The result was warm words from Trump this week in a video trailer for his weekend trip. Ted Budd began running his first primary election commercial statewide Wednesday, March 23, 2022, highlighting the congressman's endorsement from former President Donald Trump and portraying himself as tough on illegal immigration 'We're supporting, as you know, Ted Budd. He's running for the Senate. 'He's going to be a tremendous senator. 'He's taking the lead now very substantially in the polls and we're gonna get him an even bigger lead. But Ted Budd is a great conservative. He's a great gentleman, a wonderful man and we look forward to seeing you Selma, Saturday night. 'Don't miss it.' His poll numbers might just save him. Some 36% of Republicans said they would vote for Budd in the May 17 primary election, according to poll published this week by Emerson College and The Hill. The gives him a commanding lead over McCrory on 22 percent and former U.S. Rep Mark Walker on nine percent. They are running for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Richard Burr. With such positive numbers, talk show host John Fredericks said there was no way Trump would go back on his endorsement. 'Done deal,' he said. 'Budd is surging.' A diagram showing system of "orphan-making" / Courtesy of Lee Kyung-eun The following text is the second piece of the Amicus Brief submitted to the Korean Court to assist the judges in understanding the historic meaning of this case . Special mention and appreciation must go to Raymond Ha (M.A. '21, Stanford Univ.), Hyejin Jang (B.A. '21 Princeton Univ.), Do Yon Lena Kwon (J.D. Candidate '22, Penn Law), Hailey M. Lee (J.D. Candidate '24, Penn Law), and Lydia Lim (J.D. '21, Penn Law) for fully translating this 70-page brief into English as an act of solidarity for the rights of adoptees. ED. By Lee Kyung-eun Question: In the plaintiff's case, his inter-country adoption was processed through the creation of an "abandoned child" family register, even though the agency knew and had information about his biological mother. What is the process of adopting through the "Family Registration for Orphans," and why has it become a customary practice of adoption between the Republic of Korea and the United States? Answer: The U.S.' orphan regulations and the Korean government's orphan certification process are key elements of inter-country adoption between the two countries. This legislation begins with defining an orphan and granting it a particular status in U.S. immigration law and Korean adoption law, as discussed in the previous article . Korea's 1961 Immigration and Nationality Act sets out several requirements regarding the acquisition of "orphan" status. These requirements include the death or disappearance of the parents, abandonment by the parents and cases in which a single parent is incapable of raising a child and offers the child up to be sent to a foreign country. While the earliest refugee orphans in 1948 were strictly limited to cases in which both parents were dead or disappeared, the 1961 INA expanded and eased the scope of the definition of an "orphan." It is reasonable to view the clause as having been revised in accordance with Holt's international adoption practices since the 1950s, rather than the law having first affected adoption practices. Among these conditions, the Korean government prepared the immigrant visa documents for the adoptees to meet the criteria of being "abandoned orphans." To understand the reason behind it, we must consider the procedures on the U.S. side. To undergo the process of immigration according to the U.S. federal government and state courts, the required documents by law must be issued through an official process by credible institutions. Among the requirements for orphans laid out by U.S. law, documents that can be issued through the Korean government include the "Family Registration for Orphans," an official document issued to children who were found abandoned. Three documents, the "Family Registration for Orphans," the "Certificate of Legal Guardianship Designated by Adoption Agency Director," and the "Certificate of Orphanhood," were issued by either the mayor of Seoul or the head of the district where the adoption agency was located, in accordance with the city of Seoul's guidelines on family registration. Among the adoptees' documents, we can see that these documents were issued as if they were being mass-produced. The ultimate purpose of the documents issued in the Republic of Korea was to obtain the final decision of the adoption proceedings in the U.S. state court and qualification for entry. The three documents listed above have no room for discussion about their legal effects and are of no use inside Korea. They are designed only to be filed in the U.S. State Department and state courts. There is a high possibility that the existence of such documents in Korea was not recognized, except by a few ward offices where large adoption institutions in Seoul were located. The fact that those documents were provided by the public authorities of Korea does not mean that the process was legitimate. The lawfulness of such a practice has not been tried in the Korean judicial court. Considering the purpose of the act and system of national birth registration, such practices should be ruled illegal and as abuses of the power endowed by laws. Question: What kind of statistics are available on children who were sent to the U.S. for adoption with the Family Registration for Orphans? The number of Family Registrations for Orphans issued, according to the Judicial Almanac, and the number of inter-country adoptees presented by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare, have been almost identical for decades. The following table compares the number of child-only family registrations issued after reports of abandoned children by the Family Registration Act, with the number of inter-country adoptions for each year since the court administration began to publish the Judicial Almanac in Korea. These two numbers are completely different in terms of their applicable acts, collection methods and subjects, and the correlations between them have never been reviewed before. But once we compare these two numbers side by side, it is evident that they are incredibly related. Table: Comparison between the numbers of family registrations issued after abandoned child reports and international adoptions Rep Madison Cawthorn was greeted like a conquering hero at a Trump rally in North Carolina on Saturday night where he called for President Joe Biden to be impeached. Chants of 'USA, USA, USA' erupted as he took the stage in Selma. Cawthorn opened by chastising his party leadership for being too moderate and failing to stand up for ordinary Americans. 'We have so many in the national party... who believe that the key to saving our nation is cheapening our platform and going after these non-existent middle ground voters,' he said. 'My friend, there is no middle ground with Marxists.' 'The key to save your nation is not going after these voters that don't exist, but it's going after the disenfranchised men and women in our country, the people that don't even bother to vote because it's been proven to them time and time again that the government will never work on their behalf. His criticism comes after he came under fire from his Republican leader in the House of Representatives for wild claims about orgies and cocaine in Washington. Rep Madison Cawthorn was greeted like a conquering hero at a Trump rally in North Carolina on Saturday night where he called for President Joe Biden to be impeached Cawthorn opened by chastising his party leadership for being too moderate and failing to stand up for ordinary Americans Last month, House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy said the 26-year-old had lost his trust after admitting his claims about Washington were exaggerated. And he said he may take further action over the comments, which caused an angry outcry among Hill Republicans. Yet Cawthorn was received as a conquering hero in his home state. He told the story of how he was told he would never stand again after a car crash seven years - and then rose out of his wheelchair to deliver the rest of his speech on his feet. 'We will restore the Second Amendment by repealing the National Firearms Act,' he said. 'We will secure our borders and finally my friends. We will impeach Joe Biden for his dereliction of duty.' The cheers showed he was among friends and being dressed down in Washington. The row erupted when Cawthorn, at 26 one of the youngest and most controversial House members, claimed he had seen evidence of 'sexual perversion' in Washington during an interview with John Lovell for the 'Warrior Poet Society.' He was asked whether D.C. resembled Netflix show House of Cards, and its elements of 'corruption, power, money and perversion.' Chants of 'USA, USA, USA' erupted as he took the stage in Selma '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,' he 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.' In North Carolina, few in the crowd doubted his story. 'Personally I believe everything he says,' said Ginny Simmons, 61, a hairdresser who had driven two hours to attend the rally. She described how her granddaughter went to college in Cawthorn's district and turned her on to the young congressman. 'What I like about him is how he relates to a lot of young people. 'And like the other speakers we know he stands for guns and freedom - all the things they are trying to take away.' Mark Bertoldi, 65, a retired businessman, was less sure. 'I think he was telling the truth. Now we know what's going on behind the curtain,' he said about his Washington comments. 'But originally I thought he was a pretty upstanding candidate but now I'm not so sure about his character.' He added that he suspected Cawthorn might say anything to get a headline. In Washington the result was anger among Republicans and a telling off from his boss McCarthy. 'I just told him he's lost my trust, he's gonna have to earn it back, and I laid out everything I find is unbecoming,' McCarthy told Axios and other outlets. 'And, you can't just say "You can't do this again." 'I mean, he's, he's got a lot of members very upset.' And McCarthy said Cawthorn admitted he had exaggerated his claims. 'In the interview, he claims he watched people do cocaine. Then when he comes in he tells me, he says he thinks he saw maybe a staffer in a parking garage from 100 yards away,' McCarthy said. 'It's just frustrating. There's no evidence behind his statements. 'And when I sit down with him ... I told him you can't make statements like that, as a member of Congress, that affects everybody else and the country as a whole.' House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (pictured) plans to sit down with 26-year-old GOP Rep. Madison Cawthorn to talk about claims he made including that he was invited to orgies and cocaine use was rampant in Washington, D.C. Cawthorn, 26, was asked during an interview with the Warrior Poet Society how closely his experience on Capitol Hill aligns with House of Cards, specifically its elements of 'corruption, power, money and perversion' Cawthorn said that he once heard a former president say the only thing that was unrealistic about the Netflix show was that Congress would ever be able to pass a piece of legislation that quickly, and he agreed with the sentiment Politico reported Tuesday that Cawthorn's Republican colleagues stood up and aired their grievances during a closed-door House GOP conference meeting earlier in the day, complaining that the North Carolina Republican made party members out to be sexual deviants and drug users. CNN reported that colleagues wanted Cawthorn to name names because his comments could otherwise unfairly malign the whole party. The 65-year-old Arkansas Rep. Steve Womack told the group that he rarely speaks up during the weekly meetings, but did so Tuesday because he's getting questions from constituents about Cawthorn's claims of orgies and drug use, Politico said. Womack remarked that many lawmakers go to bed at 9 p.m. and use flip phones and fax machines, calling it inappropriate that Cawthorn would paint his Congressional peers with a broad brush. Sen. Richard Burr, the senior Republican senator from North Carolina, was asked by CNN about Cawthorn's job performance. 'Thats for his constituents to figure out but clearly he's been an embarrassment at times,' Burr replied. Cawthorn in December announced the he and his wife of eight months were filing for divorce. Cawthorn, a staunch conservative not known for his friends across the aisle, is seemingly accusing his fellow Republicans of the illicit behavior. He has recently sparked controversy for calling House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and 'alcoholic' and Ukrainian President Zelensky a 'thug' Cawthorn in December announced the he and his wife of eight months were filing for divorce The young congressman, a staunch conservative not known for his friends across the aisle, is seemingly accusing his fellow Republicans of the illicit behavior. The 'former president' Cawthorn seemingly referred to was Democratic President Bill Clinton. In 2015, actor Kevin Spacey, the lead on House of Cards, said that he and Clinton were close friends and play poker together. Spacey told Gotham Magazine at the time that Clinton had told him the show was accurate. 'Kevin, 99 percent of what you do on that show is real. The 1 percent you get wrong is you could never get an education bill passed that fast,' Clinton told Spacey, according to the actor's comments to the magazine. Earlier this month Cawthorn suggested that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is an alcoholic. Cawthorn said of the California Democrat at a campaign event: 'I'll tell you I have to work with her every single day so please do pray for me. The theories of alcoholism are very true and it's very sad,' he said, according to video posted by Patriot Takes. His line got chuckles during the event. Pelosi, 81, doesn't drink, and hasn't for years. Her daughter Christine attacked prior slurs about her mom's alleged alcoholism in 2019, tweeting: 'Republicans and their conservative allies have been pumping this despicable fake meme for years! Now they are caught. '#FactCheck: Madam Speaker doesn't even drink alcohol!' Also last month a video surfaced showing Cawthorn calling Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky a 'thug'. He said his government was 'corrupt, incredibly evil' and 'pushing woke ideologies'. He appeared to be discussing the US sending military aid to Ukraine before lashing out at leaders in Kyiv -- who refused to flee the country despite reports that many are on a Russian 'kill list' including Zelensky and his family. In December 2021, Cawthorn announced that he and his CrossFit athlete wife Cristina Bayardelle were getting a divorce after just eight months together. 'When Cristina and I were engaged, I was not a member of Congress. I felt called to serve and we both agreed that I should run. Our victory was unprecedented, but overnight our lives changed,' he said in a statement posted by his spokesman. 'That change has been both hectic and difficult, it's neither the pace nor the lifestyle we had planned for.' Four men left a senior citizen with broken bones during a violent mugging in Maryland last month. Shocking video, captured on a nearby doorbell camera, shows four suspects approach the victim, who police describe as a woman in her 60s, as she returned home from running errands on March 29. The attackers can then be seen pushing the woman to the ground before rifling through her pockets and stealing her car keys. Meanwhile, another suspect rips the woman's purse from her hands as she repeatedly screams for help. Two of the suspects attack the woman, described by police as in her 60s, as they beat her and look through her pockets Two other suspects can be seen approaching the assault as the victim can be heard screaming for help One of the suspects rips the victim's purse from her during the brutal attack, while the other suspect made off with her car keys The victim eventually manages to get to her feet before before attempting to run to a neighbor's home for help, but is tackled by another one of the suspects, leaving her with two broken bones. The suspects fled the scene. They did not manage to steal the woman's car, according to Fox 5 Washington DC. No arrests have been made as of Friday, and police are now asking the public's assistance in identifying the four suspects. 'We need our communitys help in arresting these suspects so that they may be brought to justice and held accountable for their senseless act of violence,' Prince George's County Police Chief Malik Aziz in a statement. The suspects managed to flee the scene before police arrived, and have not been arrested or identified as of Friday The victim eventually manages to get to her feet before before attempting to run to a neighbor's home for help The victim can be seen attempting to run to a neighbors home for help, but is tackled by another one of the suspects, pictured center, leaving her with two broken bones 'We are asking the community to look at this video and the pictures of the suspects and call us with information.' 'We are going to find these suspects but we're developing those leads as we speak, Aziz added. The incident occurred in the Capitol Heights neighborhood in Prince George's County. 'The shameless act of violence is very sick and disturbing to me and everyone who has watched the video,' said Aziz in a statement. 'Our seniors deserve to be treated with dignity and respect and not be violently accosted in our neighborhoods where we live peacefully.' As of April, there have been 132 carjackings reported in Prince George's County this year alone, with only 54 arrests. Of those 54 arrested, 37 were juveniles and 17 were adults, according to WUSA9. Anyone with information is urged to call the Carjacking Interdiction Unit at 301-516-3788 or Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS. A cash reward of up to $2,500 is being offered for any tips that lead to an arrest. Hillsong co-founder Brian Houston has lashed out at the megachurch after his wife was made redundant via text. Mr Houston took to Instagram on Friday to share a screenshot of the message a staff member of the organisation sent to his wife and co-founder Bobbie. 'I wanted to let you know I will be sending an email shortly regarding your employment,' the text read. 'Please let me know if you would like to talk about it or if you have other questions.' Ms Houston responded: 'I don't even have the words to express how cold and callous this has become' The dismissal marks the latest attempt by the organisation to cut ties with the couple after Mr Houston resigned in March over allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards two women. The pair founded the megachurch in 1983 and the organisation has rapidly grown to include more than 300 churches in 25 countries and 150,000 weekly attendees. Mr Houston condemned Hillsong for making his wife redundant and said it was a sign the couple's 'beautiful church' was 'losing its soul'. Hillsong co-founder Brian Houston (pictured, with Bobbie) has lashed out at the megachurch after his wife was made redundant via text Mr Houston took to Instagram on Friday to share a screenshot of the message a staff member of the organisation sent to his wife and co-founder Bobbie 'After 39 years of exemplary service and extraordinary faithfulness and fruitfulness, this is the communication Bobbie received from the Hillsong Church board as she is made redundant (effective immediately) through no choice of her own,' he wrote. 'This just 3 weeks after she hosted her 26th year of Colour Conferences. (A total of 118 conferences around the world.) 'She has relentlessly served God and served people as she stood side by side with me for four decades leading Hillsong Church, faithful in the good times and the tough times alike. And we are supposed to act like this is all ok. Its not!' Daily Mail Australia contacted Hillsong for comment. An internal investigation found Mr Houston breached the church's moral code of conduct for pastors. 'We would like to advise you that Pastor Brian Houston has resigned as Global Senior Pastor of Hillsong and the board has accepted his resignation,' the church said on March 23. 'Irrespective of the circumstances around this, we can all agree that Brian and Bobbie have served God faithfully over many decades.' A previous statement from the Hillsong board said the two complaints made against Mr Houston were treated 'extremely seriously'. The dismissal marks the latest attempt by the organisation to distance itself from the couple after Mr Houston resigned in March over allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards two women Mr Houston condemned Hillsong for making his wife redundant and said it was a sign the couple's 'beautiful church' was 'losing its soul' 'The first issue was approximately a decade ago and involved inappropriate text messages from Pastor Brian to a member of staff, which subsequently resulted in the staff member resigning,' the board said. Mr Houston was 'under the influence of sleeping tablets, upon which he had developed a dependence' when he sent the texts, the board said. The second incident was when Mr Houston knocked on the Sydney hotel door of a female guest following the 2019 Hillsong Conference and spent 40 minutes in her room. 'An in-depth investigation found that Pastor Brian became disoriented... following the consumption of anti-anxiety medication beyond the prescribed dose, mixed with alcohol,' it said. The exact nature of the woman's complaint has not been publicly revealed and Mr Houston has denied any sexual activity took place. The organisation, which started as a modest Sydney church, grew rapidly over two decades to become a global powerhouse Hillsong added it had also committed to a review of its governance and structure as a result of the investigation. Mr Houston in a grovelling apology described his wife Bobbie as 'Christ-like' and told church members he was 'deeply sorry' in a leaked email. The organisation, which started as a modest Sydney church, grew rapidly over two decades to become a global powerhouse. Nine congregations have cut ties with Hillsong since the complaints against Mr Houston became public. A pensioner who argued with Scott Morrison in a pub has revealed he is a Labor supporter, but won't be backing Anthony Albanese. Ray Drury, 73, said for the first time in his life, he won't be voting for the party he has always voted for at the imminent federal election. 'I will vote for independents,' he told The Australian. 'Scott Morrison, I wouldn't vote for him, because I didn't respect him, because if you want to respect someone, they've got to respect you back.' Former miner (pictured, left with Scott Morrison) said his anger had been 'stewing' for years Mr Drury said he wouldn't vote for Labor as he has tried to contact at least three ministers in the party who have 'ignored' him. And that both parties are only seen at election time, and are not in touch with the community. Instead, he wanted to vote for an independent candidate to 'keep the bastards honest'. 'I'm voting for an independent, I don't care who it is,' he said. There are no independents in his electorate of Newcastle, but he said he still wouldn't vote for either two of the big parties, as they were both liars. The revelations come after the former miner aggressively squared up to Morrison in front of the media in a Newcastle pub last Wednesday. The local accused Morrison of breaking promises as he yelled and pointed at the prime minister. Footage of the toe to toe lit up social media with hundreds of commenters praising the man for his actions, and offering to buy him a beer. Others, however, said it was disrespectful of him to swear at and abuse someone in high office. The forthright life-long Labor voter also told The Australian he 'would have done the same' thing to the Labor opposition leader. 'When you're stewing up over 12 years, and are being rejected - not even listened to - well then of course I am going to take the opportunity,' he told NBN news. As the punter (pictured with his back to the camera) bristled, Mr Morrison said he had 'raised very important issues' and offered to sit down with him to 'get to the bottom' of his concerns Ray Drury said he had lost $70,000 and had been ignored by ministers from both major parties The retired miner said he receives weekly compensation for health issues picked up from working for 30 years in the mines, yet his disability pension has been compromised by that payment. He claims he has lost up to $70,000 and has reached out to dozens of MPs on the matter only to be 'ignored', which brought him to boiling point at the pub. 'Look mate, you ring up your office and you do nothing, they don't even return a call,' he fumed at Morrison last Wednesday. Mr Drury said he has prostrate cancer and has had issues with asbestos poisoning, leading to tumours that forced him to retire early. The irate pensioner said Labor ministers have also ignored him and he won't be voting for Anthony Albanese (pictured at the National Farmers Federation Conference last week) Chaotic delays at Australia's biggest airports are continuing for a third straight day as the school holidays begin and Covid-hit airline staff struggle to cope. NSW and Victorian school holidays started on Saturday and families had a frustrating start to their breaks with more delays of up to two hours at major airports in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Passengers who arrived at 5.30am for 7am domestic flights at Sydney on Saturday were greeted with the terminal crammed with people rapidly growing frustrated by long, slow-moving lines. Chaotic delays at Australia's biggest airports are continuing for a third straight day as the school holidays begin and Covid-hit airline staff struggle to cope First day of our first holiday in 2+ years going well Who at @sydneyairport woke up one morning and said we wont need to look at surge capacity for Easter school holidays travel then went back to sleep?? Do Better!!#DoBetterSydneyAirport pic.twitter.com/2rgHPwmSlD PennyB (@pineapplepennyb) April 8, 2022 On Thursday and Friday check-in queues stretched out for up to 1km long in scenes not seen at Sydney airport for years. The airport chaos was being repeated on Saturday as the public rediscovered the travel bug at the same time as airlines were struggling with Covid-affected staff numbers. 'First day of our first holiday in 2-plus years going well,' tweeted Sydneysider Penny from a packed domestic terminal. 'Who at Sydney Airport woke up one morning and said we wont need to look at surge capacity for Easter school holidays travel then went back to sleep? Do Better!' Another traveler, Luke, noted he saw only two staff helping to direct the sea of people waiting that had already formed by 6am. Daniel Capurro, Javiera Martinez and their children at a Hotel after domestic flight delays left them stranded in Sydney. The family say they have been mistreated by Qantas One Melbourne family say they have been mistreated by Qantas, after domestic flight delays left them stranded in Sydney. Javiera Martinez, her partner Daniel Capurro and their three children aged 14, seven and eight were supposed to be flying to Chile on Friday to visit relatives they had not seen in three years. But after their 8am Qantas flight from Melbourne was delayed by half an hour, baggage handling and airport transfer delays in Sydney meant they couldn't make their 11.30am flight to Santiago. 'We think Qantas didn't behave appropriately, I got berated by the person at the counter, they never apologised, they never assumed any responsibility at all,' Ms Martinez told AAP. 'It was a rude conversation, we have been mistreated badly I would say.' Qantas has been contacted for comment. While the airline paid for a hotel Friday night, the family doesn't know when they can make it to Chile for what was to be a two-week trip. Its all well and good to blame travelers but when there is only two people directing all of cattle of course there are going to be issues. #Sydneyairport pic.twitter.com/MMjsIVnJv9 Luke (@lukemahoney) April 8, 2022 The airport chaos was being repeated on Saturday as the public rediscovered the travel bug at the same time as airlines were struggling with Covid-affected staff numbers (pictured, passengers queuing at Sydney airport) On Thursday and Friday check-in queues stretched out for up to 1km long in scenes not seen at Sydney airport for years. Absolute chaos at Sydney Airport, the queue to check in at terminal two stretches the length of the building. @7NewsSydney pic.twitter.com/HJ6Psd8xf6 Amelia Brace (@AmeliaBrace) April 8, 2022 They are among many affected by travel hold-ups amid the busiest travel period in two years, with Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane airports warning passengers to arrive two hours before domestic flights. 'Its not good at Tullamarine either. Had to wait 75 minutes for luggage, the excuse given man power issues. Not good enough Qantas,' one traveller tweeted. Brisbane's domestic airport was frantic, experiencing its heaviest day of passenger traffic for two years on Friday, with 51,000 people using the terminal. There were concerns the chaotic scenes will only continue into next week with Easter starting next weekend. Melbourne airport used social media to warn travelers they needed to arrive three hours early for international flights and two hours ahead of departure for domestic flights. That is an hour earlier than usual recommended arrival times - but even that didn't seem to alleviate delays with jam-packed terminals leading to fraying tempers. The delays are being caused by a combination of an increased desire to travel, reduced staff numbers, partly due to Covid-affected workforces, and what Qantas chief Alan Joyce called passengers not being 'match fit'. On Friday he claimed many were not properly prepared for security scans, for instance forgetting to remove aerosol cans and leaving laptops in cases, which slowed up queues. Some passengers who saw the Qantas CEO in transit noted that he appeared to jump the queues, only worsening their moods. There were concerns the chaotic airport scenes will only continue into next week with Easter starting next weekend (pictured, Sydney airport) Joyce later backtracked saying he didn't intend to blame passengers. Qantas also faced renewed criticism on social media over job cuts it made during the pandemic. The airline sacked 2,000 ground crew - baggage handling and cleaning workers - in 2020 and were taken to the Federal Court by the Transport Workers Union. On social media some observers said they would rather cop a 10 hour drive or eight-hour train trip than the chaos in airport terminals this week. Putin's 'barbaric' troops are planting bombs in children's teddy bears in a sick strategy to torment ordinary Ukrainians, a surgeon treating the war-wounded in Kyiv has claimed. Oleksandr Yatsyna, a trained urologist who studied in Britain and travels to the Polish border to pick up supplies, has claimed that Russians are determined to kill Ukrainian children. It is thought to be part of a strategy of psychological warfare, to 'twist their minds' by making their lives unbearable and weaken them into abandoning resistance. 'First we had the catastrophic injuries from the bombs, then the shooting, next the mines scattered along the roads but worst of all are the stuffed toys filled with explosives,' he told the Times. 'They are targeting families. Be in no doubt, the Russians are determined to kill our civilians and children too.' Kyiv Surgeon Dr Olexandr Yatsyna, 39, above, claims Russian trooops are boobytrapping teddy bears for children to find. He travels from Kyiv to the Polish border regularly to pick up supplies for the hospital A Ukrainian grandmother cries at the funeral of her 12-year-old granddaughter, amid claims that Russia is deliberately targeting children as part of psychological warfare Above: An elder woman walks amid destruction on a street in the town of Bucha, where Russian troops committed alleged war crimes during a month-long occupation The doctor sleeps and eats in the hospital to be near his patients, tending not just to their wounds but listening to their horror stories on his round each night and sharing some of their trauma. 'They want to terrify us with their barbarity but they don't understand the more they try to frighten the people the braver they become. 'The stories I hear will haunt me for ever.' Yatsyna has had to learn how to perform life-saving surgery fast from his origins as a specialist in urology. He cannot divulge his hospital in Kyiv in case it is targeted. 'When they hit the maternity facility in Mariupol I couldn't believe it, that was my turning point. Now I know they will attack any of us. Doctors and vulnerable patients, unable to flee, are prime targets.' On Friday a Russian missile hit a train packed with civilians fleeing the town of Kramatorsk in the east of the country, killing at least 50 and wounding many more. Graphic images on Friday from the eastern Ukrainian city showed bodies strewn across the floor, lying amongst luggage and children's prams outside the city's busy station. The wreckage of the large Tochka-U missile was left lying on the grass outside the station showed white Russian text written down the side of its casing reading: 'For (our) Children' - a revenge message from the suspected pro-Moscow soldiers that launched it. France branded the missile strike on Ukrainian refugees at a railway station a 'crime against humanity'. Russian soldiers wrote a chilling message of revenge on the Tockha-U missile (pictured Friday being inspected by Ukrainian investigators) that killed at least 39 people - including four children - and wounded 87 when two strikes hit a railway station in east Ukraine today, as thousands of desperate evacuees tried reach safer parts of the country The strike was on Kramatorsk's train station, with graphic pictures on Friday showing bodies strewn across floor outside, lying amongst abandoned luggage France's Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian described the attack on refugees and civilians as a 'crime against humanity' Earlier, Brussels chief Ursula von der Leyen vowed to accelerate the wartorn country's ascension to the European Union in the wake of Russia's invasion. The European Commission President symbolically handed Volodymyr Zelensky an official membership questionnaire at an historic joint press conference in Kyiv, in a move likely to infuriate Vladimir Putin and his inner circle. Becoming an EU member state normally takes years, and the process involves several rounds of applications, criteria checks and negotiations. Von der Leyen's public appearance was the EU's latest attempt to offer Kyiv both moral and financial support after Zelensky declared Russia's invasion was a direct attack not only on Ukraine's existence, but the security of Europe as a whole. Earlier on Friday, the Brussels chief visited Bucha, where Russian forces have allegedly committed mass murder and rape. Since Russian troops pulled back from the town, Ukrainian officials say hundreds of dead civilians have been found there. Visiting the town on Friday, Von der Leyen said she had witnessed the 'unthinkable'. Referring to a deadly attack at Kramatorsk railway station earlier in the day, in which dozens of refugees including children were killed, she told the Kyiv news conference: 'The cynical behaviour has almost no benchmark anymore... It is unbelievable.' EU chief Ursula von der Leyen symbolically handed President Volodymyr Zelensky an official membership questionnaire, raising speculation that Ukraine could finally join the EU27 after Kyiv has openly admitted such aspirations since 2014 European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen today visited Ukraine to see the victims of the Bucha massacre herself as member states came under renewed pressure to wean the bloc off Putin's gas European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was joined in Bucha by the EU's foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell who this week admitted the bloc is paying a billion euros a day for energy provisions Soldiers stand guard as Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President, visits a mass grave in Bucha, in the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine The mass killing of civilians in Bucha, near Kyiv, have been widely condemned by the West as war crimes with piles of bodies showing signs of torture and execution pictured after it had been recaptured by Ukrainian forces. But officials have now revealed that even greater damage was done by Putin's thugs in Borodyanka, northwest of Kyiv and about 15 miles from Bucha. The are 'significantly more dreadful' than the scenes in Bucha, with residents left to die in the rubble of their bombed homes for a week, President Zelensky said last night. It is thought that the worst horrors of Russia's war in Ukraine are yet to be revealed. A Louisiana pastor and religious school headmaster who once competed on Survivor is now facing multiple charges for disturbing alleged behavior toward his students. John Raymond, 60, was jailed Thursday in Slidell, Louisiana after he turned himself in, as authorities say he would put tape over his young students' mouths for talking too much. Police in the town said they received a complaint from the state's department of family services of potential abusive behavior at Lakeside Christian School. Raymond, the school's headmaster, is accused of taping three 13-year-old students' mouths shut to teach them a lesson. 'On March 18, several students were removed from a class due to excessive talking,' the statement reads. 'John Raymond became angry and brought the students to his office. At some point, Raymond took a roll of packing tape and taped the students' mouths shut by wrapping the tape around their heads.' John Raymond, 60, was jailed Thursday in Slidell, Louisiana after he turned himself in, as authorities say he would put tape over his young students' mouths for talking too much Raymond, the school's headmaster seen here on his appearance on the fifth season of Survivor in 2002, is accused of taping three 13-year-old students' mouths shut to teach them a lesson Police in the town said they received a complaint from the state's department of family services of potential abusive behavior at Lakeside Christian School (pictured) They then allege he made the students sit in the back of the class for about 45 minutes, when another school official became uneasy and took the tape off. 'During the encounter, the students claim they had trouble breathing and that the removal process was painful,' the statement continues. In text messages to People Magazine, Raymond said that he will not make any public statement on the charges until next week. Raymond was a contestant on the fifth season of Survivor, set in Thailand back in 2002. He was the first contestant voted off the island. Lakeside Christian Elementary has yet to issue a statement on the status of Raymond. Raymond was a contestant on the fifth season of Survivor, set in Thailand back in 2002 Raymond was the first contestant voted off the island during his Survivor season Raymond also ran for a state representative position in Louisiana, proudly declaring himself on behalf of former President Donald Trump He also ran for a state representative position in Louisiana, proudly declaring himself on behalf of former President Donald Trump. He also lists himself as the founding pastor of New Horizon Calvary Chapel and general manager of The Bridge Radio 88.7 FM on his LinkedIn page. Raymond's profession was listed as 'pastor' when he competed on Survivor. A glamorous licensee has been banned from running bars for three years after she offered to help an undercover cop score cocaine. Rebecca Wakelin, 30, has also been barred from holding a liquor licence following a decision made by the NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority on Monday. The disgraced licensee has been forced to find employment elsewhere and is currently working in childcare at Manly, on Sydney's northern beaches. Ms Wakelin was approached by a plainclothes officer at the Frisco Hotel in Woolloomooloo, in Sydney, on May 10, 2019. A glamorous licensee has been banned from running bars for three years after she offered to help an undercover cop score cocaine Ms Wakelin was approached by a plainclothes officer at the Frisco Hotel in Woolloomooloo, in Sydney, on May 10, 2019 The officer was secretly wearing a recording device and had visited the venue over reports of escalating violence and drug use in the area. A transcript of the conversation revealed the officer told Ms Wakelin he was looking for methamphetamine. 'Oh (inaudible) we don't have any of that,' Ms Wakelin responded. The licensee then said she could 'only get bags' of 'rack' - the street name for cocaine - before she revealed it would cost $300. 'Yeah OK is it good?' the officer asked. 'Haven't had any for ages so dunno but um (inaudible) semi, not the best, you know what I mean, especially for the price,' Ms Wakelin said. Ms Wakelin then revealed the dealer lived down the street from the venue. 'But I don't normally go through him, cause I'm from out like Manly but yeah,' she said. 'So if you rung he'd bring it out here or (inaudible),' the officer said. 'No the guy lives down the street, this one (inaudible),' Ms Wakelin responded. Police notified NSW Liquor and Gaming of the incident in October 2020. Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority concluded Ms Wakelin 'directed the covert police officer away from staff who would not have permitted the sale of drugs at the premises'. A transcript of the conversation revealed the officer told Ms Wakelin he was looking for methamphetamine - called 'cold stuff' ILGA said Ms Wakelin denied arranging the sale, but later admitted to the 'truth' after she was shown CCTV and audio of the conversation. 'Licensees are responsible for the safe service of alcohol and cannot be permissive to the sale or use of drugs on the premises,' ILGA chair Philip Crawford said. 'It is incumbent upon a licensee to be well versed in the legislation and obligations expected of them, and this means having a clear understanding of what conversations and behaviour crosses the line.' Ms Wakelin's lawyer Chris Thompson told ILGA his client 'acknowledged having poor judgment at the time she was the licensee' and that she 'is no longer in the industry and is seeking a career in another field'. Ms Wakelin has not been charged and no drugs were exchanged during the incident. Advertisement Photos of a strange, worm-like cloud taken over Alaska's Lazy Mountain prompted an investigation by Alaska State Troopers amid fears it could be a plane crash, a UFO or top secret Russian weapon. Pictures posted to Facebook of the incident show a massive cloud plume on Thursday. The photos sparked debate online as people questioned whether it could be a meteor, a crashed UFO or satellite, an eruption, and even a Russian weapon connected to the conflict in Ukraine. The cloud garnered so much attention that Alaska State Troopers and the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center began investigating for a possible plane crash. 'There have been no reports of overdue aircraft or ELT activations indicating an aircraft crash,' Alaska State Troopers reported in a release. A rescue team on a helicopter flew a mission around the Lazy Mountain area this morning and located nothing suspicious and there were no signs of crashed aircraft.' A strange, worm-like cloud, pictured, was photographed over Alaska's Lazy Mountain, triggering talks of conspiracy theories ranging from the likes of a UFO crash and weapons tests The unidentified cloud and Alaska's Lazy Mountains in the foreground Online, theories ran wild. 'We saw this on the way to school this morning as well. Very eerie!' Christy Hronkin Swift wrote on the Palmer Alaska Buzz Facebook page. 'Looks like a meteor. I wonder where it landed,' Cassi Joi posted. 'Could it be a satellite? Its so strange,' Shannon Del Vecchio Watson said. 'No wings,' Susie Kuke Martin noted. Some explanations given for it include a meteor, a crashed UFO, an eruption, or even a Russian weapon connected to the conflict in Ukraine On Thursday at around 7 am, photos of the incident show a massive cloud plume were posted to social media Officials eventually offered a far more tame explanation for the bizarre cloud, claiming it was a contrail from a commercial jet However, officials eventually offered a far more tame explanation for the bizarre cloud, claiming it was a contrail from a commercial jet. 'Further investigation revealed that a large commercial jet was flying in that area around the time that the photos and video were taken,' officials said. 'The aircraft was contacted and reported normal flight operations on its way to JFK airport in New York.' 'Troopers believe that the photos and videos showed a contrail from the commercial jet combined with the rising sun which together caused the unique atmospheric sight.' US intelligence officials have evidence that UFO sightings can lead to adverse health effects including radiation burns, according to a study released this week. Above, a photo of a UFO taken by navy pilots in 2020 In May, a video was released that appeared to show a UFO buzz a US stealth ship near San Diego before diving under the water back in July 2019 The photos emerged a day after news energed hundreds of military officers reporting injuries, including brain damage and burns, after encounters with UFOs, a top brain expert and former CIA officer revealed. Detroit Professor Christopher Green was commissioned around 2010 by a secret $22 million defense program monitoring UFOs, to write a paper on injuries from close encounters with 'anomalous' craft. In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com the forensic neuroimaging expert, who has worked with the CIA since the 1960s, said he dealt with 'hundreds of patients' including special forces officers and other military personnel hurt after interacting with unidentified craft, some of whom later died. Some of the injuries resembled the mysterious 'Havana Syndrome', which intelligence agencies believe could be a series of clandestine attacks on US diplomats by a foreign power using targeted microwaves. Students are being given 'trigger warnings' advising them they may be upset by a Stephen King horror novel. Stirling University counsels students studying the 'art of fiction' about the 'graphic violence' in 'Salem's Lot, the 1975 vampire story inspired by Dracula. It is the latest in a long line of bizarre warnings given to students across the country in case they find the material in their coursework disturbing. The warnings originated in the US and supporters say they help prepare young people for content that could trigger painful memories. But last night, the latest 'ludicrous' example of the growing trend was criticised for treating students like 'babies in nappies'. Tory MSP Russell Findlay said: 'Someone needs to tell the overly sensitive souls at Stirling University that, as vampires are not real, none of their students will have suffered a vampire attack and therefore do not need this ludicrous trigger warning. Stirling University counsels students studying the 'art of fiction' about the 'graphic violence' in 'Salem's Lot, the 1975 vampire story inspired by Dracula. Pictured: David Soul in the television version of Salem's Lot 'Such snowflake logic may result in trigger warnings being applied to other depictions of vampires in popular culture including Count Duckula, Count von Count from Sesame Street and Hotel Transylvania.' The university admitted in a freedom of information response that students taking the art of fiction module are warned about 'graphic violence in Stephen King's 'Salem's Lot', his second published novel. They are also warned about 'instances of homophobic and racially insensitive language' in the novel, later turned into a television mini-series starring David Soul and James Mason. It tells the story of a novelist and a young horror fan attempting to save a small New England town called Jerusalem's Lot, shortened to 'Salem's Lot, which has been invaded by vampires. King has described the novel as his favourite, saying he has a 'special cold spot in his heart for it'. Film and media studies courses at Stirling, including a module on 'screening science fiction', also have trigger warnings. They tell students that some of the films and programmes deal with 'difficult issues' including 'emotional trauma'. Chris McGovern of the Campaign for Real Education said: 'It is demeaning and insulting to students to be 'protected' in this way. 'The university needs to show them more respect and stop treating them as babies in nappies. The only trigger warning needed is one that warns young people about the dangers of attending a glorified nursery named Stirling University.' Stephen King (pictured) has described the novel as his favourite, saying he has a 'special cold spot in his heart for it' A Stirling University spokesman said: 'The university promotes free speech and academic freedom, and encourages students to engage critically with course materials and content. However, we recognise that some content can evoke reactions in individuals and by sharing information about the nature of content, we create an inclusive learning environment.' In 2019, the Mail revealed that students at Glasgow University had been given trigger warnings about potentially upsetting scenes in classic fairytales. Lecturers admitted students were cautioned about 'violent material' contained in the famous children's stories by the Brothers Grimm. Their tales include Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Little Red Riding Hood. The lecturer in charge said: 'When I teach my Grimms' Fairytales class, I always say some of the material includes child abuse, incest and other violent material. 'As we do psychological readings of the tales, this can be important to acknowledge.' A delivery worker receives items at E-mart's convenience store E-mart 24 in Seoul, on April 7. Courtesy of E-mart 24 By Kim Jae-heun The country's largest retailer E-mart has launched a quick commerce service called SSG Go starting Thursday. It is a late start considering that other e-commerce firms like Woowa Brothers and Coupang are leading the market after introducing the service last year. The competition has intensified as various players such as convenience stores, supermarkets and food franchise businesses also offer the service, which means E-mart has a bigger chance of losing money, but the food retailer seems to have no other choice. Quick commerce refers to delivery services that take less than an hour from order to the completion of the delivery. The market has huge growth potential, with its size expected to reach 5 trillion won ($4.07 billion) in the next three years. However, it requires huge investments in order to establish fulfillment centers while its profitability is relatively low due to too many competitors already in the market. Nevertheless, E-mart has to start the service as the transition to online shopping is a global trend that can't be avoided. After the emergence of e-commerce firms like Coupang and Kurly, E-mart's operating profit margin declined to 1.5 percent in 2021 from 5 percent in 2017. As E-mart's retail stores are losing steam with regards to growth, the company made a necessary choice in order to survive. Hanwha Investment & Securities predicted that as E-mart expands its retail business online, its operating profit will plunge by 30 percent year-on-year, due to the increase in the deficit of its e-commerce affiliate SSG.com. E-commerce firms are competing against each another by offering cheaper prices to consumers, making it hard for any operator to increase the prices of its products. In Korea, e-commerce firms have to build more distribution centers to deliver online orders faster. This year, E-mart plans to spend 750 billion won to bolster its logistics and delivery system, which is up 64.8 percent compared to what it invested in 2021. E-mart has decided to test its quick commerce service in limited districts of Seoul first and then expand the business throughout the capital. However, it did not confirm when and where its SSG GO service will be available after the trial period. "In line with growing customer demand for faster delivery, we have launched a test version of quick commerce in limited areas of Gangnam. For the time being, the service will be available as a test version," an E-mart official said. Lee Rigby's fiancee has tied the knot nine years after her world came crashing down when her lover was brutally hacked to death in broad daylight. Aimee West was 3,500 miles away at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan when she learned her fiance had been killed in front of horrified onlookers near Woolwich Barracks. British-born Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale mowed down Fusilier Rigby in a car as he was walking towards the barracks in a Help For Heroes hoodie, before hacking him to death with knives. But almost a decade on and personal trainer Aimee, 31, rekindled her romantic spark and married sound engineer Simon Jackson-Lyall, 32, in a ceremony last week. Sharing a picture to his Instagram with a glass of champagne, Simon wrote of his new wife: 'Married the love of my life yesterday. What an amazing whirlwind of a day!' Aimee West (right), 31, tied the knot nine years after her world came crashing down after Lee Rigby was brutally hacked to death in broad daylight. She is pictured above outside the Old Bailey in 2013 Aimee West was 3,500 miles away at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan when she learned her fiance had been killed in front of horrified onlookers near Woolwich Barracks. Aimee West is pictured with her fiance Lee Rigby in 2012 Members of Lee's family were said to be delighted at the news, reports The Sun. One friend reportedly said: 'Aimees a beautiful, kind and loving young woman which is why Lee loved her so much. 'He wouldnt want her to be sad forever. If anyone deserves to be happy again, its Aimee.' Ms West met Fusilier Rigby, a machine gunner in the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, at an Army Cadets training camp in Wales in August 2012 and a year later they were engaged. Adebolajo and Adebowale claimed the heinous act on May 22, 2013 was revenge for the killing of Muslims by British armed forces. They were both jailed for life and lost appeals to reduce their sentence. Ms West met Fusilier Rigby, a machine gunner in the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, at an Army Cadets training camp in Wales in August 2012 and a year later they were engaged British-born Michael Adebolajo (left) and Michael Adebowale mowed down Fusilier Rigby in a car as he was walking towards the barracks in a Help For Heroes hoodie, before hacking him to death with knives She was serving in Afghanistan at the time, but was immediately flown back to Britain on compassionate grounds and was photographed tearfully placing a bouquet of flowers outside Woolwich Barracks and being comforted by colleagues. After the sentencing, Miss West said: 'I hope that this is the last we will hear from them both, so that I can focus on rebuilding my life and keeping Lee's memory alive.' Remembering him after his death, she said: 'As soon as he turned up, everyone knew he was there because he was energetic and fast-paced, and like nobody else I ever met.' Following Fusilier Rigby's death, Miss West quit the Army and returned to university where she studied to be a lawyer. She later set up the Lee Rigby Fund as part of the Soldiers' Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association. Boris Johnson has refused to rule out triggering Article 16 of Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol, and hinted at disagreement with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the issue. The Prime Minister described an 'almost seamless harmony' between the UK and Germany on most issues during a briefing which focused mainly on support for Ukraine, but indicated the protocol was an area where there was friction. Under the Brexit deal, goods entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK are subject to checks to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland. But the UK argues the measures have created new economic barriers, hinting that Article 16 could be triggered, which would suspend aspects of the protocol. Appearing alongside the German leader Olaf Scholz at a Downing Street press conference, Mr Johnson said he had raised the issue. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived at Downing Street today for talks with Prime Minister Boris Johnson Johnson, pictured above, said that he and Chancellor Scholz were in agreement on almost everything, but he said he did raise the issue of Article 16 of Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol 'Would we take Article 16 off the table?' Johnson was asked. 'No, no clearly not, there is a proble,' he replied Asked about Article 16, the PM told reporters: 'We had discussion about this, as you can expect. It came up. I think I raised it.' He went on to say the result of the discussion was 'entirely predictable'. He added: 'The almost seamless harmony that you have observed between Britain and Germany today I would not wish in any way to interrupt by going into that any further. 'But what I will say is that, to answer your question 'would we take that off the table?' the use of Article 16, no clearly not, there is a problem.' Above: A poster reading 'No Irish Sea Border' is pictured atttached to a lmap post outside of Larne port, north of Belfast. Under the Brexit deal, goods entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK are subject to checks to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland Pictured: A heavy goods vehicle (left) waiting to be checked at the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs checking site at Belfast Docks. The UK argues the measures have created new economic barriers, hinting that Article 16 could be triggered, which would suspend aspects of the protocol Above: Lorries queue for The Port of Dover along the A20 in Kent. Agreed by the UK and EU to ensure no hardening of the Irish land border post-Brexit, the Northern Ireland protocal has instead moved regulatory and customs checks to the Irish Sea, with Northern Ireland remaining in the EU single market for goods But he said the pair, who smiled and nodded along in agreement with each other at points throughout the briefing, are united on 'virtually every other issue' of policy. The protocol has created new economic barriers on trade between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. Agreed by the UK and EU to ensure no hardening of the Irish land border post-Brexit, it has instead moved regulatory and customs checks to the Irish Sea, with Northern Ireland remaining in the EU single market for goods. The region also applies the EU customs code at its ports. Unionists and loyalists claim the arrangements have undermined the sovereignty of the UK and have demanded the UK triggers the protocol's Article 16 mechanism to suspend its trading provisions. Princess Anne has arrived to greet exhibitors at Sydney's Royal Easter Show just hours after touching down in Australia for a three-day visit exactly a year after the passing of her father, Prince Philip. The Princess Royal, who is visiting Australia on behalf of her mother Queen Elizabeth II, and her entourage arrived on Saturday and were whisked through the terminal and away by an official police escort. By the early afternoon she was at Homebush in Sydney's west to view some of the exhibits ahead of officially opening the 200th anniversary of the popular agricultural show. Anne is attending the show in her role as Patron of the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth. Princess Anne is the first member of the Royal family to visit Australia since Harry and Meghan Markle's rock-star trip in 2018 Princess Anne views stands at the Bicentennial Sydney Royal Easter Show after arriving in Sydney on Saturday morning The Queen's only daughter will officially open the 200th anniversary of the popular agricultural show on Saturday afternoon The Princess Royal greeted stall-holders after arriving at Sydney's famous agricultural show The Royal Easter Show capacity has been capped at 80,000, despite there being no Covid restrictions in place. Anne's visit also coincides with the first anniversary of the death of her father, Prince Philip, who died at Windsor Castle one year ago today aged 99. Hers is the first visit to Australia by a member of the British royal family since Harry and Meghan Markle's rock-star trip in 2018. The Princess Royal is joined on the trip by her husband, Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Laurence. She opened the 1988 show during Australia's bicentenary celebrations. Princess Anne will be escorted by the NSW Mounted Police as she makes her way into the stadium in a horse-drawn caleche originally built more than 150 years ago to open the show shortly after 5pm this evening. The first time it was used it carried Her Majesty the Queen, Prince Phillip, Prince Charles and Princess Anne to the Main Arena where they officially opened the 1970 Show. The opening of the show by a Royal is a Vice-Regal tradition dating back well over a hundred years. The opening will be followed by an overhead performance by the Air Force Roulettes at 5.30pm. Princess Anne will be escorted by the NSW Mounted Police as she makes her way into the stadium in a horse-drawn caleche originally built more than 150 years ago to open the show shortly after 5pm on Saturday The 71-year-old royal is know for her love of agricultural issues and horses, competing in a three-day equestrian contest at the 1976 Olympics Princess Anne previously opened the Royal Easter Show in 1988 during Australia's bicentenary celebrations Anne's visit also coincides with the first anniversary of the death of her father, Prince Philip, who died at Windsor Castle one year ago today aged 99 Anne has several engagements on her whistle-stop three-day visit to Australia, including with the Rural Fire Service and Sea Heritage Foundation The 71-year-old royal is know for her love of agricultural issues and horses, competing in a three-day equestrian contest at the 1976 Olympics and becoming the first-ever British Royal to become an Olympian. She is also President of the British Olympic Association. Anne has several engagements on her whistle-stop three-day visit, including with the Rural Fire Service and Sea Heritage Foundation. She is expected to visit the Rural Fire Service at Telopea Park and meet with fire-fighters and families who have battled both bushfires and floods in the area over the past two years. Her first engagement is to meet with Margaret Beazley, the Governor of New South Wales, and General David John Hurley, the Governor-General of Australia. After leaving Australia Princess Anne had engagements in Papua New Guinea. She is expected to be greeted by PNG Governor General, Sir Bob Dadae and meet Prime Minister James Marape before opening the National Cardiac Diagnostic Centre at the Port Moresby General Hospital and the National Ambulance Control Centre of the St. John Ambulance. The Princess will also lay a wreath at the Bomana War Cemetery, where 3,284 Commonwealth soldiers are buried, on behalf of the Queen. Princess Anne and her husband Timothy Laurence make their way through Sydney airport on Saturday as she begins a three-day royal visit Anne's visit comes exactly one year after the death of her father, Prince Philip, who died on April 9, 2021 aged 99 The show will feature nearly 8,500 animals participating across 12 days, with tens of thousands of other entries in competitions judging everything from rats to roosters and reptiles. As part of the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW's 200-year celebrations, there is also a competition for best period-themed young horse riders and pooch owners, featuring costumes from the 1800s. The show's General Manager of Agriculture, Murray Wilton, said the event remains true to its roots. 'We're doing today what we did 200 years ago but we're doing it on a much grander scale,' he said. 'It all started with a group of farmers who thought that their livestock were better than their neighbours', and it grew from there.' A woman has been placed into a coma and is fighting for her life after being infected with a serious 'flesh-eating' bug days after receiving a tummy tuck. Brenna McIntosh recently lost a colossal 40kg by natural means and then underwent the abdominoplasty procedure late last month to clear up left-over belly skin. The routine surgery initially seemed to go well, but after eight days the Woolworths worker started to fall very ill. It is understood that Ms McIntosh is one of two people in the world who have been taken down with the rare infection after this type of surgery Doctors first thought the 29-year-old had an infection in the lower abdomen, but her condition worsened further even after a round of antibiotics. After she was diagnosed as septic, it was discovered she had a rare bacterial infection called necrotising fasciitis, or 'flesh-eating bug'. She was put into an induced coma at Melbourne's Alfred Hospital and received Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. The infection thrives around oxygen so the aim is to use the therapy to slow down the spread, with similar methods used by deep-sea divers when they have the bends. Loved ones have been taking to social media to post 'get well' messages and updates on the young woman, who has undergone further surgery to address the infection. Lauren Vanderven, a friend of the stricken Melbourne local, said that Ms McIntosh appeared to be showing some 'responsive' signs. 'She has been moving her hands, and her family have been able to interact with her', Ms Vanderven said in a Facebook post last Wednesday. 'Brenna will have a long recovery ahead of her, resulting in multiple months off work and loss of income.' She said doctors were hoping to wake her up 'sooner rather than later', but will take it day by day. 'She's stable at the moment, she's doing well, she's strong, we just need to keep rallying behind her.' Ms Vanderven started a Gofundme page for Ms McIntosh to cover medical expenses and support the young woman's Tasmanian family to stay near the hospital. As of Saturday afternoon the page had garnered almost $8,000. It is understood that Ms McIntosh is one of two people in the world who have been taken down with the rare infection after this type of surgery. Ms McIntosh has been showing 'responsive' signs of recovery giving friends and family hope A friend said doctors hope to 'wake her up' from the induced coma, but will take it day by day The governor of Texas has said there is already a high demand for buses to take migrants from his state to Washington DC, in a move he said was designed to show Joe Biden the scale of the problem, and 'take the border to him'. Greg Abbott, a Republican facing re-election in November and being challenged by Beto O'Rourke, announced on Wednesday that migrants who opted into the scheme would be bused from his state to DC, and left on the steps of the Capitol. On Friday, Abbott said that his team had received multiple calls from communities in the Rio Grande Valley requesting buses to transport the migrants. 'Overnight there were multiple communities in the Rio Grande Valley asking us to provide buses for them, maybe even planes,' said Abbott. Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas, on Friday told Fox News that there had been a flurry of requests for buses to take migrants to Washington DC Asylum-seeking migrants cross the Rio Bravo river from Ciudad Juarez in Mexico to El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday He told Fox News hosts Dana Perino and Bill Hemmer: 'When they come across the border, it's not like they want to stay in the Rio Grande Valley. 'They are moving across the entire country. 'What better place to go to than the steps of the United States Capitol - they get to see the beautiful Capitol, and get closer to the people making the decisions.' The scheme has been condemned by Democrats, with Sheila Jackson Lee, whose constituency encompasses parts of Houston, calling it an 'act of hysteria and grandstanding'. She added: 'Those are not problem solving. They are adding to the grand march of hysteria.' But Abbott insisted that it was legitimate. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Texas Democrat, said that Abbott's scheme was 'hysteria' and did not solve the problem Abbott defended the scheme, noting that the migrants did not want to remain in the Rio Grande Valley 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 next month 'Joe Biden has refused to come to the border to see the chaos that he has created by his open border policies,' he said. 'So we are going to take the border to him by transporting the people that he is dropping off in these local communities in the state of Texas, and sending them to Washington by plane or by bus. 'What is happening is there is an increased number of people coming across the border. They, the federal government, are processing them and letting them loose. 'What has been happening so far is that these people are getting on buses and going to San Antonio, or Houston, or other places like that. 'So I think they just need longer bus rides.' Migrants are pictured on Wednesday crossing into El Paso, Texas, from Ciudad Juarez Migrants from Central and South America board a U.S. Customs and Border Protection bus after they crossed the Rio Grande river on Thursday Abbott said the scheme had 'been happening for weeks if not months now.' He added: 'We know the process works. 'It's just a matter of relocating the drop off point.' The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) confirmed to Fox Digital that they have dispatched an unspecified number of buses to small Texas communities. 'In the last 24 hours, TDEM has dispatched buses to areas where communities have expressed concerns about the federal government dropping off migrants and has the capability to send as many as is necessary to fulfill the requests from mayors and county judges,' said Seth Christensen, chief of media and communications for TDEM. 'From the [Rio Grande Valley] to Terrell County, a large majority of the communities that originally reached out for support through this operation have now said that the federal government has stopped dropping migrants in their towns since the governor's announcement on Wednesday.' Christensen said each bus 'has the capacity and supplies necessary to carry up to 40 migrants.' None of the buses have yet set out for Washington DC. The announcement comes as the Biden administration said it would drop Title 42, the pandemic-era border restriction that immediately expels migrants back to Texas, which was enacted by Donald Trump. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, pictured Wednesday, has announced a plan to bus illegal immigrants who cross into the Lone Star State straight to Washington DC Ukrainian migrants seeking asylum are pictured in Mexico on April 6. Abbott says anyone crossing into Texas illegally will now be deposited on the steps of the US Capitol building Nim Kidd, the chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management (pictured in white shirt to right of Abbott) said as many buses as necessary would be filled, and cited prior disasters where 900 of the vehicles have been called into action Title 42 was enacted by Trump to try and protect US from COVID Title 42 was enacted by then-President Donald Trump in March 2020, as COVID began to surge across the United States. The policy allows border patrol agents to deny entry to migrants without considering their asylum claims if they have been in a country where a communicable disease such as COVID is rife. It has been used more than one million times during Donald Trump's and Joe Biden's presidencies, with its continuation under the Biden administration infuriating left-wing Democrats. Already deeply controversial, the policy was lambasted by top Democrats when it emerged Ukrainian refugees fleeing their war-torn country to Mexico were being turned away at the US southern border under Title 42, despite Biden's promise to welcome them 'with open arms'. But immigration experts told DailyMail.com that although Title 42 has left thousands of refugees in danger in Mexico, there is no plan for an effective and fair replacement system meaning a pileup of tens of thousands of desperate asylum seekers at ports of entry is likely in border cities like Tijuana, south of California and Reynosa, across the border from Hidalgo, Texas. Advertisement In a statement on April 1, Abbott called ending Title 42 'reckless' and said Biden's 'open-border policies' have caused the state to take drastic measures like sending out Department of Public Safety troopers and more than 10,000 Texas National Guard members to arrest migrants at the border. And on Wednesday, Abbott warned that dumping Title 42 would lead to 18,000 illegal migrants crossing the border every day - equivalent to 500,000 a month. He cited Obama-era Homeland Security Chief Jeh Johnson's 2019 claim that 100,000 migrants crossing the border in a month could be considered a crisis in any circumstances. And Abbott warned that the flow expected after Title 42 is axed would effectively add the number of people living in LA - four million - to the United States' population by Christmas. He explained: 'We have more people potentially crossing our border by the end of this year than live in Los Angeles, America's second-largest city.' On Wednesday, Abbott also announced enhanced checks on all cars crossing the southern border into Texas, to try and cut down on cartel smuggling. He warned of advanced wait times for people coming into the US. Abbott went on to say that state troopers would be given riot gear to push back any orchestrated plans to overwhelm border crossings by caravans, and that they'd be conducting rehearsals in the coming days. Explaining the measures he is enacting, Abbott said: 'We're deploying boat blockades at appropriate regions in the Rio Grande, deploying razor wire in low water areas and creating container blockades to drive people away from low water areas 'There will be mass-migration rehearsals from tomorrow troopers will be equipped with riot gear in case of violence. 'The border region is going to be lit at night in prominent smuggling areas to make it easier to detect any illegal activity that is taking place. 'If you're a caravan organizer, and you think you can overwhelm a site of entry, we'll be waiting for you.' Abbott noted that Texas had become 'the first state to ever build a wall to secure our border.' Abbott also said he is implementing a 'zero-tolerance policy' for smuggling in migrants in vehicles at the border. He said that agents would conduct 'safety inspections' on every vehicle trying to cross the border. Abbott said the vehicle checks and migrant bussing would be in addition to blockades the state is implementing along the border. He said that boats blockades, shipping container blockades and razor wire would be erected at high-traffic areas and low water crossings. A country pub crowned the 'Freedom Hotel' has been ordered to take down a controversial flag associated with the anti-vaccine movement. The Caledonian Hotel in Singleton, in regional NSW, was notified by mail in March that it had 28 days to remove the Australian Federation flag. Singleton Council sent a letter explaining it had received a complaint the flag had been added to the heritage building without development approval. It is the second time the regional hotel has made headlines after it flouted Covid restrictions and continued to serve unvaccinated patrons in 2021. A country pub crowned the 'Freedom Hotel' has been ordered to take down a controversial flag associated with the anti-vaccine movement Licensee Brad Hill took to Facebook to slam the decision and defend the display of the flag A photograph of the hotel shows a flag of the Union Jack unfurled on the roof that is painted red along with six white stars. The flag has become a symbol of anti-government and anti-vaccine sentiment with protestors frequently spotted waving it at rallies during the Covid pandemic. Licensee Brad Hill took to Facebook to slam the decision and defend the display of the flag. 'This flag on our roof represents what we at the Cali stand for,' the post read. 'The law of the land where nobody sits above the law. 'Basic human rights that no one is entitled to take. Freedom of choice that should never be questioned. No discrimination or segregation that is imposed upon us by a disgusting mainstream media barrage.' The post claimed 'evil forces' were threatening 'our very own existence' and core values of the community. 'Freedom to live our lives and treat others with the same dignity and respect that any individual deserves,' the post read. 'Do no harm to others. Maintain the right to peacefully protest. Basically everything that is being methodically stripped away from all of humanity including the display of this federation flag is what we stand for.' The letter from council has sparked outrage in the local community with one resident kickstarting a change.org petition that has attracted more than 1,700 signatures. The regional hotel made headlines in 2021 after it flouted Covid restrictions and continued to serve unvaccinated patrons A banner was unfurled at the front of the pub welcoming both vaccinated and unvaccinated patrons last year 'As a born and bred local I don't see the problem with the Caledonian Hotel displaying the flag on their roof it not only adds character to the building but also shows their knowledge of Australian history,' the campaign reads. 'Singleton Council should be ashamed of themselves, please show your support for the Caledonian Hotel, the right to display/fly the flag and most importantly Freedom by signing.' Singleton Council Director Infrastructure and Planning Services Justin Fitzpatrick-Barr said the pub needed to submit a development application and wait for approval before it displayed the flag. 'The Caledonian Hotel is listed in the Singleton Local Environmental Plan as an item of local heritage significance,' he told Gold Coast Bulletin. 'It was brought to council's attention that a flag structure had been mounted on the roof of the hotel. 'To place a structure on a heritage building requires development consent.' A notorious vegan protester has vowed to continue her attention-grabbing antics despite being handed thousands of dollars in fines for two confronting semi-naked public stunts. Tash Peterson, 28, was fined a total of $3,500 by a Perth magistrate for charges relating to a 'bad taste' stunt where she stormed a Louis Vuitton store in nothing but a G-string and a sign reading 'rather naked than wear someone's skin'. During the August 2021 incident she screamed at shoppers and was smeared in what she said was her own blood. Vegan activist Tash Peterson arrived at the luxury store in August last year to protest animal products in fashion while covered in blood. She was signed $3,500 over two stunts Ms Peterson raised over $2,800 to fight court costs related to her two confronting protests (pictured is an image from her GoFundMe campaign including how she appeared in the Louis Vuitton protest) She also faced trial for a December 2020 protest at the Boatshed Markets in Cottesloe where she also appeared shirtless, with her chest painted in a cow pattern, and yelled at shoppers that cows were being raped for meat. The self-proclaimed 'disruptive animal rights activist' was found guilty on two counts on Wednesday of behaving in a disorderly manner. Ms Peterson, who claims to earn $40,000 a month from selling provocative selfies online, also raised $2,900 with a GoFundMe campaign to pay for her legal costs. She appeared defiant when she walked free from court and immediately took her jumper off in front of reporters, revealing the words 'wear ur (sic) own skin' had been etched across her chest. Ms Peterson took her jumper off revealing the message 'wear ur (sic) own skin' which was written across her chest in marker (pictured) Outside court the activist was flanked by protestors holding signs imploring passersby to watch the documentary 'Dominion' (pictured) Magistrate Michelle Harris had found that the activist's actions at the luxury store were 'in sufficient bad taste' to amount to disorderly conduct, according to Perth Now. Ms Peterson's lawyers had argued that her behaviour wasn't sexualised. Ms Peterson's associates, boyfriend Jack Higgs and animal rights activist Arkadiusz Swiebodzinski. however were found not guilty of the charges against them, after filming and accompanying the activist. The court found they had no role in procuring Ms Peterson to commit the act. Mr Higgs and Mr Swiebodzinski were each awarded $3000 to cover their court costs. Outside court the bare-breasted battler told reporters the verdict 'doesn't bother (her) at all.' Ms Peterson told reporters that the verdict didn't bother her at all and she wouldn't stop her campaign (pictured) 'I'm here to speak up for the non-human animals who are suffering in the meat, dairy, leather, wool and fur industries, so I'm not going to stop. 'There's no stopping until the animal holocaust ends,' Ms Peterson said. The uncovered campaigner was flanked by sign-holders spruiking the animal-rights documentary 'Dominion'. Tash Peterson (pictured with partner Jack Higgs) says it's time to stop viewing non human animals as less superior to us and more as equals to humans The last time Ms Peterson left court in similar tape nipple covers, she ripped them off in the face of Perth police when they confronted her for taking her shirt off. Ms Peterson said she had nothing against the people in the Louis Vuitton store that day and was not trying to offend. 'I actually find it very ironic that people would find my conduct to be that way (intimidating and threatening) when they are the ones who are paying people to stab animals in the throat. 'I have nothing against them I'm just here to bring light to these atrocities people have the right to know the truth,' Ms Peterson said. The three activists had staged the protest at the Raine Square Louis Vuitton store in Perth on August 21 last year. Prosecutors argued in court that the words and tone Ms Peterson used during the protest, as well as her decision to enter the store in nothing but her underwear, would 'seriously offend the beliefs and practices of most people' and amounted to disorderly conduct. The defence argued that the prosecution's definition of 'offensive' was outdated, Perth Now reported. Tash Peterson (pictured) staged the protest at the Raine Square Louis Vuitton store in Perth on August 21 last year The outspoken and controversial activist smeared her torso in fake blood which she claimed was menstrual blood in a Facebook post before entering the store Not a stranger to nudity in previous topless protests and her OnlyFans account, Ms Peterson agreed with a reporter that the issue of gender equality definitely 'tied into' the trial. Ms Peterson's lawyer argued that had a man pulled the same shirtless stunt it would not be treated the same. The trio faced fines of up to $6,000 each if they were all found guilty of disorderly conduct. The last time Ms Peterson went bare-chested outside court she ripped off her nipple coverings after a police officer confronted her about taking her top off with 'dairy is rape' scrawled across her torso. That court appearance had been for arriving at the Boatshed Markets in Perth in 2020 while naked from the waist up with her body painted in a black and white cow hide pattern holding a sign reading: 'They raped me and stole my babies so you can have my meat'. Amazon is demanding an overturn of the historic union victory at one of its New York City warehouses, arguing that the organizers and the National Labor Relations Board tainted the results - while founder and chairman Jeff Bezos tweeted six days after the vote to celebrate being named LinkedIn's top company. The e-commerce giant listed 25 objections in the filing obtained by The Associated Press, accusing organizers with the Amazon Labor Union (ALU) of intimidating workers to vote for the union, a claim an attorney representing the union has called 'patently absurd.' 'Based on the evidence we've seen so far, as set out in our objections, we believe that the actions of the NLRB and the ALU improperly suppressed and influenced the vote, and we think the election should be conducted again so that a fair and broadly representative vote can be had,' Kelly Nantel, an Amazon spokesperson, said in a statement on Friday. Amazon claimed the independent federal agency's regional office, which oversaw the votes at the Staten Island warehouse, known as JFK8, 'unfairly and inappropriately facilitated the ALU's victory.' The company claims that the Congress-backed National Labor Relations Board used an 'artificial reduced number' of employees to calculate the ALU's vote, after the agency failed to properly staff the polls, causing hours-long lines and 'produced chaos,' which Amazon argued discouraged some employees from voting, according to CNN Business. Despite the calls for unionization and the dire working conditions during the pandemic, Amazon was voted LinkedIn's top company in 2022 - a feat that Bezos, 58, celebrated on Twitter. It's Bezos' first appearance on the social platform since the vote took place. The billionaire, who does not have an acting role at the company anymore, wrote on Twitter on Wednesday: 'We must be better every day, and we know there is even more to do, but super proud of Amazon being ranked the #1 place where people want to work by LinkedIn. 'Their methodology uses LinkedIns unique data set from its 810million members and evaluates many factors including the ability to advance, skills growth, company stability, external opportunity, company affinity, and gender diversity. Thank you to each and every one of Amazons employees for all your hard work and dedication. It is Day 1.' Amazon is calling for a redo after Staten Island warehouse (pictured) workers historically voted to unionize Warehouse workers in Staten Island cast 4,785 votes - or about 50 percent of staff - in the union vote, giving the fledgling group enough support to pull off a victory last Friday. A total of 8,325 employees who were eligible to vote and roughly 2,600 voted in favor of the union, while another 2,100 voted against it. Another 67 were challenged and 17 were voided, CNN reported. Amazon also claimed that the ALU unlawfully intimidated employees by 'threatening violence against its detractors.' The retail giant said organizers 'intentionally created hostile confrontations in front of eligible voters' by interrupting the mandatory meetings the company held to persuade its employees to reject the union drive. In a filing released earlier this month, the company disclosed that it spent about $4.2 million last year on labor consultants. The company has also said on multiple occasions that 'employees have always had the choice of whether or not to join a union,' despite calling the vote 'disappointing.' Newly unionized workers celebrate after the vote was announced on April 1 ALU President Chris Smalls (pictured in a red sweatshirt) celebrated with other employees after the vote was announced In another objection, Amazon targeted organizers' distribution of cannabis to workers, saying the labor board 'cannot condone such a practice as a legitimate method of obtaining support for a labor organization.' New York legalized the recreational use of marijuana last year for those over 21. Eric Milner, the attorney representing the union, said Amazon is grasping at straws. Distributing cannabis 'is no different than distributing free t-shirts and it certainly did not act to interfere with the election,' he said. However, the union stands its ground. 'The employees have spoken,' Milner said in a statement on Thursday after Amazon's initial planned objections were made public in another legal filing. 'Amazon is choosing to ignore that, and instead engage in stalling tactics to avoid the inevitable - coming to the bargaining table and negotiating for a contract,' he said. The retailer had initially signaled it planned to challenge the election results because of a lawsuit the NLRB filed in March, in which the board sought to force Amazon to reinstate a fired employee who was involved in the union drive. Amazon pointed to the lawsuit in one of its objections filed on Friday, saying the regional NLRB office that brought the suit 'failed to protect the integrity and neutrality of its procedures,' and had created an impression of support for the union by seeking reinstatement for the former employee, Gerald Bryson. Bryson was fired in the early days of the pandemic after leading a protest calling for the company to do more to protect workers against COVID-19. While off the job during the protest, Bryson got into a dispute with another worker and was later fired for violating Amazon's vulgar-language policy, according to his attorney Frank Kearl. Amazon founder, who has stepped away from an acting role in the company, celebrated Amazon being ranked LinkedIn's top company of 2022 on Wednesday The tweet is the first appearance of Bezos on the app since the vote Meanwhile, both Amazon and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, a union that spearheaded a separate union drive in Bessemer, Alabama, have filed objections to that election. The final outcome of the union vote in Alabama is still up in the air with 416 outstanding challenged ballots in the balance. Initial results show the union down by 118 votes, with the majority of Amazon warehouse workers rejecting a bid to form unionize. RWDSU, which filed more than 20 objections, said in its filing on Thursday that its objections are 'grounds to set the election aside.' A hearing to review the challenged ballots is expected to begin in the coming weeks. A prominent car servicing millionaire and racehorse owner who believed his bikini model girlfriend was cheating on him allegedly used cameras and recording devices to spy on her. Sean Buckley, who owns Ultra Tune and Ultra Thoroughbred Racing, is facing 12 charges over allegations of a seven-month stalking spree against Jennifer Cruz Cole, from April to December 2020. Melbourne Magistrates Court was told that Buckley, 61, rented an apartment next to the Exhibition Street home of Ms Cole, 34 and had a camera installed in the door to keep an eye on her. He put the adjacent apartment in the name of his veterinarian, Adam Matthews, it was alleged. Sean Buckley, who owns Ultra Tune and Ultra Thoroughbred Racing, is facing 12 charges over allegations of a seven-month stalking spree against Jennifer Cruz Cole, from April to December 2020 Buckley and the Canadian-born model dated from mid-2017, had a daughter together but their relationship ended acrimoniously amid claims of cheating and violence 'The prosecution allege this apartment was being utilised by Mr Buckley, in order to stalk and keep the victim under surveillance,' prosecutor JJ Jassar told the court, the Herald Sun reported. The court heard Buckley earlier hired two men, including Wade DAndrea, 40, to follow Ms Cole and report on her movements from April to July 2020. On June 22, D'Andrea bought a WiFi camera, USB recorders and a micro SD memory card, installing them inside her apartment and her car on June 30, the court was told. Three days later DAndrea was apprehended by a concierge and tradies working in her building after she confronted him while he was retrieving the devices in her home. It is alleged he tried to take Ms Cole's phone at the time. Buckley's former manager, Anthony Swords, pleaded guilty to installing the door camera, saying he feared for his job if it didn't follow Buckley's instruction. Swords, a known associate of Melbourne underworld figure Mick Gatto, claimed Buckley gave him $1,500 to buy a wireless camera from Bunnings. He put it in the apartment door facing Ms Cole's door on December 2, it is alleged. 'He wanted this camera to find out who was going in and out of her apartment,' Swords told the court, adding Buckley believed she was 'screwing' someone. Melbourne Magistrates Court heard allegations Sean Buckley instructed an employee to install a camera in the door of an apartment he rented opposite Ms Cole's apartment in order to keep an eye on her Sean Buckley, 61, was in a relationship with Jennifer Cruz Cole which ended acrimoniously in 2021. Ms Cole, 34, who has a daughter with him, has been locked in a series of bitter court proceedings against Buckley over the last year The court heard Ms Coles saw it the next day and used a hammer to get rid of it. Swords later apologized to Ms Coles - who wrote the court a letter in support of him - but he was fined $1,000. He told the court he knew he 'did the wrong thing'. Magistrate Therese McCarthy said Swords' role had to be condemned and that stalking can have 'lifelong consequences' for victims. 'Stalking is a terrible, terrible crime and to be any part of any kind of stalking of any person in the community, is something that the court must convey, in the strongest possible terms, complete abhorrence of.' The court heard Buckley earlier hired two men, including Wade DAndrea, 40, to follow Ms Cole and report on her movements from April to July 2020 Buckley and the Canadian-born model dated from mid-2017, had a daughter together but their relationship ended acrimoniously amid claims of cheating and violence. The couple first met on the set of an UltraTune commercial featuring Baywatch star Pamela Anderson and AFL great Warwick Capper. In 2017, after meeting at Crown Casino in Melbourne they formally started dating. For most of their relationship the two lived at Crown Casino where Ms Cole had a weekly 'allowance' of about $1,750. Ms Cole has said she was forced to take a lie-detector test to prove her fidelity after Buckley bought her an engagement ring. He was banned from Melbourne's Crown Casino last February after claims he attacked her in one of their suites. The pair have been locked in a series of ugly legal battles for over a year now. The criminal cases against Buckley and D'Andrea are back in court later this month. Eleven people have been injured - two of them critically - after a car crashed into a food truck in Austin, Texas on Friday night. The incident took place shortly after 8:15pm at 1800 Barton Springs Rd, Austin's EMS said. They confirmed that nine people, all adults, were taken to hospital - two with potentially life-threatening injuries, and seven with less severe injuries. The driver of one vehicle was among the nine taken to hospital; the other was lightly hurt and did not require hospital treatment. The crash, near Butler Metro Park, happened after two vehicles collided, the emergency services agency said. Captain Christa Steadman said the accident was 'a t-bone type collision, and one of the vehicles was pushed into the pedestrians near the food truck.' Eyewitnesses told KVUE that a a white Ford F-250 pick-up truck was speeding and hit a turning Scion tC sedan, with the sedan spinning off the road and hitting the Holla Mode food truck. The white pick-up then careened onto the sidewalk, into a nearby bicycle rack. The silver Scion tC sedan is pictured on Friday night, after it smashed into the Thai-style ice cream truck in the Barton Springs district of Austin A crowd of people standing by the food truck were hit by the car. One reporter with KVUE said that deaf people were among them, who were unaware of the initial collision and failed to move away A silver sedan collided with a pick-up truck on Friday night and spun into a food truck The silver sedan can be seen crashed into the front of Holla Mode food truck The white pick-up truck can be seen to the left, and the sedan, which slammed into the food truck, on the right of the picture The Ford pick-up truck crashed into bicycles parked at the docking stand on the sidewalk BREAKING: Officials say the number of people hurt is 8. No fatalities reported at this scene along Barton Springs. pic.twitter.com/6O2p3XCQQP Tony Plohetski (@tplohetski) April 9, 2022 BREAKING: Multiple patients after a car crashed into food truck near Chuys on Barton Springs. Stick with us for live updates. @KXAN_News. Were told @ATCEMS PIO will be here shortly. pic.twitter.com/QoznEh3QEf Brianna Hollis (@BriHollisNEWS) April 9, 2022 Different angle same scene looking from west side of crash to east. You can see a lot more damage done here. According to officials, as many as 9 patients. @kvue pic.twitter.com/rfFt7JLFBv Mike Marut (@MikeMarutKVUE) April 9, 2022 Captain Christa Steadman (left) said the accident was 'a t-bone type collision, and one of the vehicles was pushed into the pedestrians near the food truck.' Sgt Moore (right) said it was too early to determine whether charges would be filed against the drivers Mike Marut, a reporter with KVUE, tweeted: 'Talking to a Chuy's employee and manager who ran outside right after it happened, they tell me they saw people trapped under the silver car. 'Deaf and hard of hearing people were outside, didn't hear the crash, and were hit. Manager described one with a severe leg injury.' A spokesman for Austin police told DailyMail.com they were unable to confirm that some of the injured were deaf. A witness told KVUE that he saw a white pick-up truck speeding westbound, traveling about 85 miles per hour - well above the speed limit. He said the collision with the sedan sounded 'like an explosion, like a bomb.' Photos shared on social media showed dazed customers sitting on benches outside the food truck. The white pick-up appeared to have crashed into some bicycles - a Metro Bike docking station was next to the Holla Mode food truck. Sgt Moore with the Austin Police Department said that the drivers of the vehicles were cooperating, but it was too soon to say whether there would be any charges filed. First responders are pictured on the scene immediately after the crash Birds fly above the Lujiazui financial district, amid the lockdown in Pudong to contain the spread of COVID-19 in Shanghai, March 28. Reuters-Yonhap Each night under the cover of darkness, Shanghai resident Zhang Hongyan and her neighbors conduct barter transactions to get essentials which are in short supply due to the city's COVID-19 lockdown. Each night under the cover of darkness, Shanghai resident Zhang Hongyan and her neighbors conduct barter transactions to get essentials which are in short supply due to the city's COVID-19 lockdown. The residents conduct their bartering at night to avoid being caught outside their homes by the authorities who enforce strict penalties for anyone caught breaking lockdown. On Thursday night, Zhang, who lives in the Baoshan District of the city, offered 10 eggs for barter in a WeChat group chat in the hope of receiving some fruit in return. On this occasion she was lucky, one of her neighbors agreed to give her a few apples in exchange. "It's not convenient during the day. I'll leave the eggs at your building gate now and you go get them quickly," she told the neighbor, named Anan, at 10 minutes to midnight. "OK I'll fetch it and leave the apples there. Non-face-to-face transaction to reduce the risk of infection," Anan replied. Shanghai residents have gone back to a cashless barter economy; trading for food and essentials as the megacity of 25 million people has remained under lockdown for nearly two weeks. Things being swapped range from garlic to sanitary towels after residents were ordered to stay at home to curb the city's worst COVID-19 outbreak to date driven by the highly transmissible Omicron variant of the virus. While most households have received some supplies from the government after most of the city went into lockdown from Monday last week, the ancient way of trading has regained popularity within resident compounds as people find supplies running low and delivery services unable to keep up with demand. On Thursday, Shanghai recorded over 21,000 new infections, of which 824 were symptomatic, pushing the total number of cases since March 1 to a new high of 131,000. There is no word from the municipal government yet when it will lift the citywide lockdown. Shanghai started a de facto citywide lockdown April 5 when the municipal government reversed its earlier plan of ending a two-phase shutdown of Pudong and Puxi, the eastern and western sides of the Huangpu River. Over the past week, nearly all of the city's 25 million residents were confined to their homes, while supply chain issues have caused severe delays to the delivery of food and basic essentials for many in the city. A general view of a residential building during a COVID-19 lockdown in the Jing'an District of Shanghai, April 8. AFP-Yonhap Jones has suffered several recent legal setbacks as the Sandy Hook lawsuits head to trial later this month The Sandy Hook families believe this was all a rouse to protect InfoWar assets in an 'alphabet soup of shell entities' PQPR claimed that Free Speech Systems owed it $54 million, or all of InfoWars assets, around the same time Jones lost his last appeal to block the case PQPR claimed that Free Speech Systems owed it $54 million, or all of InfoWars assets, around the same time Jones lost his last appeal to block the case suspicious transfers involve a mysterious company called PQPR, which Sandy Hook families claim is controlled by Jones and his family members suspicious transfers involve a mysterious company called PQPR, which Sandy Hook families claim is controlled by Jones and his family members In a court motion filed Wednesday, families of those killed in the 2012 mass shooting claim he concealed his companies assets to make it appear bankrupt Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones is being accused by Sandy Hook families of hiding millions of dollars in shell companies, all in an effort to avoid paying them Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones is being accused by Sandy Hook families of hiding millions of dollars in shell companies to avoid paying them after they won a defamation lawsuit against him. In a court motion filed against the InfoWars host in Texas on Wednesday, families of those killed in the 2012 mass shooting of a Connecticut elementary school claim he has concealed his company assets to make it appear as though he's nearly bankrupt. The families were joined in the motion by another man suing Jones for falsely accusing him of carrying out the 2018 Parkland shooting. The filing was first posted online by Courthouse News. Jones, who is being sued by 13 of the families of Sandy Hook victims, has criticized them and has said they are being used as pawns by Democrats in the past. Late last month, he most offered to pay each family $120,000 to settle out of court, an offer the families ultimately rejected. Free Speech Systems, InfoWars parent company, has consistently lost money each year, despite the fact that Jones has continued to transfer large amounts of money to the company. Alex Jones criticizes the families of Sandy Hook victims and says they are being used as pawns by Democrats trying to show down his show in an interview on April 6, 2022 as he leaves a law office in Bridgeport, Connecticut Free Speech Systems, LLC, a Broadcast Media Production and Distribution company based in Austin, Texas. The company handles Alex Jones' Infowars Families of the victims of the Newtown shooting and attorneys listen during a news conference in Trumbull, Connectic, February 15, 2022 Undated photos from various memorial websites show the victims of the Dec. 14 Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Newton, Connecticut The initial lawsuit, which was launched after the families sued him in 2018, prompted Jones to withdraw a total of $18 million every three years from the Free Speech Systems bank account. Jones was also netting an annual salary of $600,000. The case motion also revealed that most of the suspicious transfers involve a mysterious company, also owned by Jones, called PQPR, which the Sandy Hook families claim is controlled by Jones and his family members. For instance, PQPR claimed that Free Speech Systems owed it $54 million, or nearly all of InfoWars assets, around the same time Jones lost his last appeal to block the case. The motion then alleges that Free Speech Systems began transferring money to PQPR, which in turn moved the funds into a series of shell corporations controlled by Jones' family members, Thus far, PQPR has yet to attempt to enforce on the debt, which is now seven years old and tens of millions in dollars The Sandy Hook families believe this was all a rouse to protect InfoWar assets in an 'alphabet soup of shell entities.' Jones, the founder of right-wing media group Infowars, addresses a crowd of pro-Trump protesters after they storm the grounds of the Capitol Building on January 6, 2021 Neil Heslin, father of six-year-old Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victim Jesse Lewis, wipes tears as he testifies during a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2013 Veronique De La Rosa, mother of Noah Pozner, who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, wipes away tears during a news conference in Trumbull, Conn. Feb. 15, 2022 'They're transfers designed to siphon off [Jones'] assets to make them judgment-proof,' the lawyers claim. The payments accelerated following a Texas judge's ruling before trial after he lost his case, with the plaintiffs alleging Free Speech Systems has paid PQPR between $11,000 each day and $11,000 each week, along with upwards of 80 percent of InfoWars' sales revenue. The lawyers defending the Sandy Hook families had described the payments as 'jaw-dropping' in the court motion. Jones has suffered several recent legal setbacks as the Sandy Hook lawsuits head to trial later this month. So far, he has lost cases in Texas and Connecticut by default judgment, meaning upcoming trials will only be used to determine how much he has to pay the families. Meanwhile, a Connecticut judge ordered him to pay $25,000 a day in late March until he complied with a deposition after claiming he had a surprise illness. The man who was heroically helped by bystanders at one of Australia's busiest train stations has been arrested by police after he was released from hospital in a major twist. The 57-year-old man narrowly avoided being killed by a train at Redfern on Friday April 1 after he fell onto the tracks as a train approached before being taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital with head and wrist injuries. But on his release from RPAH he was arrested by NSW Police and taken to Mascot Police Station. There he was charged with breaching an Apprehended Violence Order. The man who was heroically helped by bystanders at one of Australia's busiest train stations has been arrested by police in a major twist A number of Sydney train employees left the driver know of the situation, with the injured man still on the platform as the train pulled in at Redfern The man was heroically helped by several fellow passengers who jumped onto the tracks where he had fallen, and was laying unconscious. They tried to lift the large man up, but as they struggled the realization a train was coming forced most of them back onto the platform. One bystander's camera footage captured the dramatic scenes, in which screaming and shouting is heard as panic sets in. A man cheated death recently after falling head first onto the tracks of a busy station - with a train just a couple of minutes away (pictured, the scenes from Redfern in Sydney on April 1) Emergency services personnel are seen at Redfern Station shortly after the man was retrieved from the tracks His camera repeatedly swung from the man on the tracks, to the overhead monitors announcing the imminent arrival of the next train, to the tunnel where the train appears. Station staff desperately signaled to the driver, waving red flags to stop as soon as possible. The train managed to pull up just short of a woman, beside the fallen man, who calmly stood with her back to the engine. Transport Minister David Elliott congratulated all staff involved in halting the train and said they would be given 'appropriate accolades'. 'Im extremely proud of the Sydney Trains staff who immediately responded without thought to their own safety,' he said. 'They knew what protocols they had to introduce, they knew what they had to do to stop that train on time, and they averted a tragedy.' The man was charged with breaching an AVO at Mascot Police Station after his release from Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Mr Elliott said the incident was a reminder to commuters 'to be aware of the dangers around you'. The man at the centre of the incident appeared at Parramatta Local Court and was bailed to appear again on May 3, at Sutherland Local Court. A University of Chicago student who called out CNN analyst Brian Stelter on disinformation in viral back-and-forth during a forum is speaking out about the now-viral back-and-forth. Christopher Phillips told Fox News' Tucker Carlson about how he had asked the left-wing pundit about his ongoing criticisms of Fox News. The freshman added that he called out CNN for spreading disinformation about the Trump-Russia probe, Nicholas Sandmann, and 'Empire' actor Jussie Smollett. At one point, Stelter brushed off the college student's question while referencing a 'right-wing narrative.' Scroll down for video Christopher Phillips, pictured, the University of Chicago who called out CNN analyst Brian Stelter on disinformation during a recent forum on the topic Meanwhile, Stelter, pictured, dismissed the college student's question while citing a 'right-wing narrative' at one point Phillips told Fox News' Tucker Carlson, left, that CNN has spread disinformation itself about the Trump-Russia probe, Nicholas Sandmann, and 'Empire' actor Jussie Smollett 'The way I've always been is to search for truth and ask questions to sift through the lies and find out what's really going on,' said Phillips, a writer for one of the school's student publications. Phillip's noted how he had encountered several 'legacy media employees' at the disinformation-themed forum, who had said they spent their careers accusing other news outlets and politicians of spreading the same disinformation they too are often guilty of. 'Brian Stelter talks for 30 minutes about how Fox News is this huge purveyor of disinformation. They're the enemy of the people,' Phillip's told Tucker Carlson. Pictured: Stelter at the disinformation forum, where he was confronted by University of Chicago student Christopher Phillips Phillips, center, told Carlson, left, that Stelter was a 'huge purveyor of disinformation' 'And then I come up and I say, Wait a second. Run that back.' 'Because actually CNN from what I've seen, at least -- is probably 10 times the purveyor of disinformation that you claim Fox News to be,' he added. 'And you know, he didn't really have a great answer for it.' Phillips told Fox News that he didn't believe Stelter would admit CNN is 'corrupt,' however he did expect some form of compromise from the pundit, like an acknowledgement of retractions the network has made for some stories that had proven be false. 'But there was no apology,' Phillips said. 'There was no remorse whatsoever. It's just, you know, I don't know what news network you're talking about. That's not mine when in reality, he said these things on CNN. It's all documented.' After being tortured, starved and dragged through the blood of fellow prisoners, a French war photographer kidnapped by ISIS in Syria back in 2013 said he and other hostages attempted to kill themselves. 'We found plastic bags and ropes,' Edouard Elias testified Friday during a federal trial against one of his captors, El Shafee Elsheikh, a former British national who was sitting just a few feet away in an Alexandria, Virginia courtroom. 'We tried to find a way of suicide.' Elsheikh is accused of leading a kidnapping plot that resulted in the killings of US aid workers Kayla Mueller and Peter Kassig and journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff. Elias, 30, who was imprisoned with the American victims, removed his eyeglasses a couple times and took deep breaths to calm himself as he described the horror of his 10-months in captivity nearly a decade ago, and the particularly violent treatment he received at the hands of Elsheikh and two partners dubbed the ISIS 'Beatles' because of their British accents. French war photographer Edouard Elias kidnapped by ISIS in Syria back in 2013 said he and other hostages attempted to kill themselves Elias (second from left, in 2014, after release) testified Friday during a federal trial against one of his captors, El Shafee Elsheikh, a former British national who was sitting just a few feet away in an Alexandria, Virginia courtroom. 'We tried to find a way of suicide' He described the Beatles as 'the professionals,' describing how they wore green military uniforms and boots as opposed to flip flops like other guards, wore black masks and carried Glock handguns. They worked as a team as they meted out pain, goading each other on by snapping their fingers, while laughing at the suffering. Elias said he was among those forced to sing a sadistic version of Hotel California, with special emphasis on the lyric 'you can never leave.' 'They repeated it again and again, laughing,' he said. 'I cannot listen to that song anymore.' The photographer was kidnapped in June 2013 along with colleague journalist Didier Francois, within an hour of crossing the border from Turkey. Five IS terrorists with masks and AK-47 assault rifles blindfolded them and forced them into a truck where they were driven to a makeshift prison in the city of Aleppo. Accused of being a CIA spy, Elias said, one fighter pointed a rifle at his neck, clicking the trigger just to terrorize him. He was placed in a cell, chained to a radiator and deprived of food and water for three days, causing him to hallucinate. When he'd close his eyes, a masked man would storm into the cell and beat him, he testified. Elias (L), a French photographer who was kidnapped in Syria, arrives to testify at the Albert V. Bryan Federal Courthouse during the trial of IS member El Shafee Elsheikh, the 'Beatle', in Alexandria, Virginia, April 8, 2022 Elsheikh is accused of leading a kidnapping plot that resulted in the killings of US aid workers Kayla Mueller and Peter Kassig and journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff Elias, 30, who was imprisoned with the American victims, removed his eyeglasses a couple times and took deep breaths to calm himself as he described the horror of his 10-months in captivity nearly a decade ago, and the particularly violent treatment he received at the hands of Elsheikh and two partners dubbed the ISIS 'Beatles' because of their British accents The screams of other Westerners being tortured also kept him awake. The worst part was when it stopped. 'I was very scared because I thought I would be next,' he said. He was taken to another facility called the Eye Hospital, where he could see prisoners being brutalized through the slot windows of his cell. 'You could see their blood everywhere,' Elias testified. 'When they took me out of the room for interrogation, they dragged me through the blood of the other victims.' New prisoners kept arriving. He recalled meeting Danish photographer Dan Rye, who was held hostage for 398 days. 'He was not like a human being, just a corpse, like a body barely breathing,' Elias said. As he testified, families of the American victims could be heard weeping in the gallery. Elsheikh sat silently, occasionally taking notes. Elias said he met his sadistic crew at the next prison, where they asked him about the conditions. Elias told them he was starving and needed food, and had lice in his pants. 'When he heard that, he punched me and said this is a sexual disease,' he recalled. Other guards would mostly beat prisoners in outside corridors, but the Beatles would routinely enter their cell, force them to face the wall and kneel, then punch and kick them. Elsheikh is accused of leading a kidnapping plot that resulted in the killings of US aid workers Kayla Mueller (right) and Peter Kassig (left) Elias's experience echoed that of several other former hostages who've taken the stand over the past two weeks. Like others, he spoke about being forced to make a 'proof of life' video pleading for ransom, wearing an orange jump suit and sitting in front of the IS black flag. He described the sweltering summer and frigid cold of winter, the decrepit conditions and torture. He spoke of joining a caravan of hundreds of ISIS fighters while being transported to his next prison, describing it as a scene out of the apocalyptic movie Mad Max. In February 2014, he was moved to the 'Oil Facility' outside Raqqa, where several of the Americans were moved. He was packed into a cell with 18 prisoners, where they had to defecate in buckets because they were only allowed out twice a day to use a toilet. The guards would slam on the door to hurry them along. He recalled a day the Beatles removed one hostage from the cell, then returned three days later to show the other prisoners a picture on his iPad of the man's bloodied head with a bullet hole. When prisoners were released, the Beatles would send a parting message by brutally beating cellmates in front of them, threatening to kill remaining hostages if ransom demands weren't met, or if they spoke to the government or media. Wanting to avoid inflaming the terrorists, Elias chose not to speak to the press upon his release in April 2014. Qantas has apologised to a Melbourne family left stranded in Sydney, after domestic flight delays saw them miss an international trip. Javiera Martinez, partner Daniel Capurro and their three children, aged 14, 8 and 7, were supposed to fly to Chile on Friday to visit relatives for the first time in three years. But after their 8am Qantas flight from Melbourne was delayed by half an hour, baggage handling and airport transfer delays in Sydney meant they couldn't make their 11.30am LATAM Airlines flight to Santiago. Javiera Martinez (pictured second left), Daniel Capurro (pictured left) and their children (pictured) were travelling to see relatives in Chile but missed their LATAM Airlines plane following flight, baggage and airport transfer delays Javiera Martinez said Qantas didn't behave appropriately when she was 'berated' after delays meant her family missed the international flight. Ms Martinez said the airline's procedures at the airport were chaotic. 'We think Qantas didn't behave appropriately, I got berated by the person at the counter, they never apologised, they never assumed any responsibility at all,' she said. 'It was a rude conversation, we have been mistreated badly I would say.' The PCR tests they need to travel have now expired and they will have to re-take them as they wait for seats on the next flight to Santiago departing on Sunday. The airline has apologised and paid for a night's accommodation in Sydney. 'We sincerely apologise that the family missed their connecting flight on another airline due to delays moving through Sydney Airport on Friday,' a Qantas spokesperson said. The family is among many affected by travel hold-ups amid the busiest travel period in two years, with Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane airports warning passengers to arrive two hours before domestic flights. Qantas publicly apologised to Ms Martinez and her family following Qantas CEO Alan Joyce's previous comment that Australian travellers were not 'match fit' On Friday, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce clarified earlier comments that passengers were 'not match fit', saying the delays were not their fault. The airline shed thousands of staff during the pandemic, and outsourced ground crews in a decision that was challenged in court. On Friday, about 78,000 domestic passengers went through Melbourne Airport, with construction work at the terminals adding to congestion and queues. Qantas apologised to the family for the incident but are still struggling with increased passenger numbers and a lack of staff In Sydney, domestic passenger numbers have nearly doubled in the past six months. Sydney Airport General Manager of Operations Greg Hay warned travellers to be ready to go through security when they arrive at the terminal. 'We've also noticed people are a little out of practice with security protocols, for example not taking laptops and aerosols out of their bag at screening points, which is contributing to the queues,' he said in a statement. Amid the surge in passenger numbers, the company providing security services at the airport, Certis Security Australia, is also attempting to rebuild its workforce, Mr Hay said. More than 51,800 travellers went through Brisbane Airport on Friday, making it the busiest day in more than two years. The check-in chaos at Sydney airport has led to airport workers suddenly being exempted from Covid close contact rules. Any air transport services workers - including airline check-in staff - exposed to Covid-19 can now go to work if they have no symptoms, after three days of outrage over long customer delays in airports. It is believed Qantas boss Alan Joyce, who copped a huge backlash after he blamed passengers for being unprepared when checking in, reached out to NSW health minister Brad Hazzard, who relaxed the rules. The number of airport staff in home isolation after being exposed to someone in their household with Covid was understood to be a cause of staff shortages at Sydney airport. Most airport staff previously had to stay home for seven days, but now they can go to work, so long as they undergo a rapid antigen test each day for seven days after being exposed. They must also wear masks at work. Combined with a surge in passenger numbers, staff shortages have created long check-in queues stretching up to 1km long and wait times in excess of two hours for three straight days. Chaotic delays at Australia's biggest airports are continuing for a third straight day as the school holidays begin and Covid-hit airline staff struggle to cope Daniel Capurro, Javiera Martinez and their children at a hotel after domestic flight delays left them stranded in Sydney. The family say they have been mistreated by Qantas The delays have been occurring in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, but only Sydney has relaxed rules for airline staff so far. Previously the only air transport workers exempt as 'critical workers' were 'air and sea freight and logistics' workers. Chaotic delays at Australia's biggest airports continued for a third straight day as the school holidays began and Covid-hit airline staff struggled to cope. NSW and Victorian school holidays started on Saturday and families had a frustrating start to their breaks with more delays of up to two hours at major airports in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Passengers who arrived at 5.30am for 7am domestic flights at Sydney on Saturday were greeted with the terminal crammed with people rapidly growing frustrated by long, slow-moving lines. Air transport services workers can now go to work even if they have been exposed to Covid, provided they do not have symptoms and do a daily RAT test (pictured, a Qantas check-in staff member speaks to passengers in 2020) Combined with a surge in passenger numbers, staff shortages have created long check-in queues stretching up to 1km long and wait times in excess of two hours for three days (pictured, a Qantas staff member checks passenger documentation in November 2021) First day of our first holiday in 2+ years going well Who at @sydneyairport woke up one morning and said we wont need to look at surge capacity for Easter school holidays travel then went back to sleep?? Do Better!!#DoBetterSydneyAirport pic.twitter.com/2rgHPwmSlD PennyB (@pineapplepennyb) April 8, 2022 Its all well and good to blame travelers but when there is only two people directing all of cattle of course there are going to be issues. #Sydneyairport pic.twitter.com/MMjsIVnJv9 Luke (@lukemahoney) April 8, 2022 On Thursday and Friday check-in queues stretched out for up to 1km long in scenes not seen at Sydney airport for years. The airport chaos was being repeated on Saturday as the public rediscovered the travel bug at the same time as airlines were struggling with Covid-affected staff numbers. 'First day of our first holiday in 2-plus years going well,' tweeted Sydneysider Penny from a packed domestic terminal. 'Who at Sydney Airport woke up one morning and said we wont need to look at surge capacity for Easter school holidays travel then went back to sleep? Do Better!' Another traveler, Luke, noted he saw only two staff helping to direct the sea of people waiting that had already formed by 6am. The airport chaos was being repeated on Saturday as the public rediscovered the travel bug at the same time as airlines were struggling with Covid-affected staff numbers (pictured, passengers queuing at Sydney airport) On Thursday and Friday check-in queues stretched out for up to 1km long in scenes not seen at Sydney airport for years One Melbourne family say they have been mistreated by Qantas, after domestic flight delays left them stranded in Sydney. Javiera Martinez, her partner Daniel Capurro and their three children aged 14, seven and eight were supposed to be flying to Chile on Friday to visit relatives they had not seen in three years. But after their 8am Qantas flight from Melbourne was delayed by half an hour, baggage handling and airport transfer delays in Sydney meant they couldn't make their 11.30am flight to Santiago. 'We think Qantas didn't behave appropriately, I got berated by the person at the counter, they never apologised, they never assumed any responsibility at all,' Ms Martinez told AAP. 'It was a rude conversation, we have been mistreated badly I would say.' There were concerns the chaotic airport scenes will only continue into next week with Easter starting next weekend (pictured, Sydney airport) Absolute chaos at Sydney Airport, the queue to check in at terminal two stretches the length of the building. @7NewsSydney pic.twitter.com/HJ6Psd8xf6 Amelia Brace (@AmeliaBrace) April 8, 2022 Qantas has since apologised to the family. While the airline paid for a hotel Friday night, the family doesn't know when they can make it to Chile for what was to be a two-week trip. They are among many affected by travel hold-ups amid the busiest travel period in two years, with Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane airports warning passengers to arrive two hours before domestic flights. 'Its not good at Tullamarine either. Had to wait 75 minutes for luggage, the excuse given man power issues. Not good enough Qantas,' one traveller tweeted. Brisbane's domestic airport was frantic, experiencing its heaviest day of passenger traffic for two years on Friday, with 51,000 people using the terminal. There were concerns the chaotic scenes will only continue into next week with Easter starting next weekend. Melbourne airport used social media to warn travelers they needed to arrive three hours early for international flights and two hours ahead of departure for domestic flights. That is an hour earlier than usual recommended arrival times - but even that didn't seem to alleviate delays with jam-packed terminals leading to fraying tempers. The delays are being caused by a combination of an increased desire to travel, reduced staff numbers, partly due to Covid-affected workforces, and what Qantas chief Alan Joyce called passengers not being 'match fit'. On Friday he claimed many were not properly prepared for security scans, for instance forgetting to remove aerosol cans and leaving laptops in cases, which slowed up queues. Some passengers who saw the Qantas CEO in transit noted that he appeared to jump the queues, only worsening their moods. Joyce later backtracked saying he didn't intend to blame passengers. Qantas also faced renewed criticism on social media over job cuts it made during the pandemic. The airline sacked 2,000 ground crew - baggage handling and cleaning workers - in 2020 and were taken to the Federal Court by the Transport Workers Union. On social media some observers said they would rather cop a 10 hour drive or eight-hour train trip than the chaos in airport terminals this week. A 14-year-old Dutch boy who disappeared during a dive off Malaysia on Wednesday after 'being abandoned' by his meth-taking captain drowned before rescuers could reach him, his heartbroken British father has revealed. Nathen Renze Chesters was washed out to sea along with his shell engineer father Adrian Peter Chesters, 46, French woman Alexia Alexandra Molina, 18, and their Norwegian instructor Kristine Grodem, 35. The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency revealed today that Mr Chesters told them his son became too weak to stay afloat and drowned. The agency has asked authorities in Indonesia to continue searching for the body while the rescue mission in Malaysia has been called off. The group of four had been in waters about 50 feet deep at an island off Mersing town in southern Johor state. Mr Chesters and Ms Molina were found by rescuers and fisherman early Saturday morning in waters near Indonesia's border and have been taken to a hospital, where they are reported to be in a stable condition. They were found 16 nautical miles (30 kilometers) north of Indonesia's Bintan Island, which is about 70 nautical miles (100 kilometers) from the location they were reported missing on Wednesday, according to Mersing police chief Cyril Edward Nuing. Ms Grodem was first rescued by a tugboat on Thursday. It comes after the captain of the boat carrying the group was detained for further investigation Thursday over fears he may have abandoned them at sea after testing positive for methamphetamine. Police said they would assess the dive equipment and location, adding that the captain is being investigated under Section 15(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. He is also being probed for negligence. Tragic: 14-year-old Dutch boy Nathen Renze Chesters, who disappeared during a dive off Malaysia on Wednesday after 'being abandoned' by his meth-taking captain, drowned before rescuers could reach him, his father has said Adrian Peter Chesters (pictured left), 46, and 18-year-old Alexia Alexandra Molina (pictured right) were found early on Saturday in waters near Indonesia 's border and have been taken to a hospital, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency said The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency revealed today that Mr Chesters (pictured) told them his son became too weak to stay afloat and drowned Mersing district police chief Cyril Edward shows pictures of two divers found alive, French national Alexia Alexandra Molina (right) and British national Adrian Peter Chesters (left) Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) officers during their search and rescue operation for foreign divers off the coast of Johor's Mersing, Malaysia Instructor Ms Grodem, 35, was rescued on Thursday by a tugboat. She said the four of them surfaced safely on Wednesday afternoon but later drifted away from the boat and were separated by a strong current. The search has moved south to where the two divers were found, Mersing maritime chief Khairul Nizam Misran said. Two aircraft, nine boats and some 85 personnel as well as fishermen are involved in the expanded search, he said. The boat skipper was detained for further investigation, and diving activities off Mersing have been suspended. Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) officers are seen at the search and rescue operation command centre of the missing divers at Mersing, Johor, Malaysia on Saturday morning The island where they disappeared, Pulau Tokong Sanggol, is about nine miles (15km), off the Malaysian coast Officials say the four, who were in the water for 40 minutes, 'failed to return after undergoing a diving exercise'. Pictured: The tug boat which found Norwegian diver Kristine Grodem Ms Grodem was providing training for the other three, who were seeking to obtain advanced diving licences, maritime officials said. Local officials had suggested they were confident the three missing persons would be found because they were 'experienced divers'. Chesters, who is from Sheffield, had only recently moved his family to the tourist hotspot after working as the senior engineer behind Shell's highly successful Appomattox rig in the Gulf of Mexico. District police chief Cyril Edward Nuing said on Thursday: 'Based on her [Grodem's] account, the three others managed to surface. 'With their equipment, their full gear and their experience, we believe there is a strong chance of finding them alive.' It comes after the boat's captain was detained for further investigation after being arrested for testing positive for drugs. Johor police chief Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said officers arrested the man at 11.30pm on Thursday after he gave a statement to Mersing district police. Mr Mamat said: 'He tested positive for methamphetamine use when we conducted a urine test. 'The forensics team will arrive to conduct the investigation. We will also investigate if there is any issue of negligence.' The area where the group initially went missing from is popular among divers and tourists, with dozens of resorts dotted around the coastal area. Diving instructor Kristine Grodem, 35, (pictured) was found 30 nautical miles from where she was last reported seen. She and the group were diving off the tiny island of Pulau Tokong Sanggol, nine miles from the coast, before they vanished on Wednesday Diving accidents, while rare, do occasionally take place in Malaysia. In 2013, a British tourist died when she was struck by a passing boat's propeller while diving off resort islands in the South China Sea. The tropical Southeast Asian nation's white-sand beaches and lush rainforests have long made it a major draw, but the tourism industry was hit hard by travel curbs during Covid. Malaysia's borders reopened to foreigners on April 1 after being closed for more than two years during the pandemic. Michelle Hunt & Brian Byatt found out younger kids are also carriers of Battens Abby also has hypomyelinating leukodystrophy, where brain eventually fails A family of six face an uncertain future after two of their girls were diagnosed with a rare terminal illness branded 'childhood dementia' by medical experts. Michelle Hunt and Brian Byatt, from Perth, also discovered this week that two of their other young children are carriers of the disease. Abby Byatt, 5, was the first youngster in the family to develop Battens CLN7, a neurodegenerative condition that causes seizures and loss of coordination. She had previously been diagnosed with hypomyelinating leukodystrophy, which causes the brain and nervous system to eventually lose function. 'They classify it (Battens CLN7) as childhood dementia. She's (already) forgetting people and things,' Ms Hunt said. 'Hallucinations, loss of eyesight...(there will be) violent outbursts as it goes on.' A family of six from Perth face an uncertain future after two of their girls were diagnosed with a rare terminal illness labelled by medical experts as 'childhood dementia' (pictured, Michelle Hunt and Brian Byatt with their four kids) Both Abby, 5, and Leah, 3, (pictured) have been diagnosed with Battens CLN7, a neurodegenerative condition that causes seizures and loss of coordination Abby Byatt is already wheelchair bound and also suffers from hypomyelinating leukodystrophy, which causes the brain and nervous system to eventually lose function A few days ago Abby's younger sister Leah, aged just three, was also diagnosed with Battens. An MRI will confirm if she has the same condition as her older sibling. The devastated couple were hit by a further blow when doctors revealed Brayden, 7, and Page, 1, may pass on Battens CLN7 to their own children as they are carriers. Tragically, young Abby is already in palliative care and Leah may follow the same path. 'It's been a s*** show of a year,' Mr Byatt told the West Australian. 'It's turned our lives upside down...you never know what the day is going to bring.' While they can't thank the Perth Children's Hospital enough for their continual care, the National Disability Insurance Scheme has frustrated the family. The couple, who live at Forrestfield in Perth's south-east, are still waiting for Abby's wheelchair from NDIS after six months and 'mountains' of paperwork. They have been forced to borrow one from the Perth Children's Hospital, Mr Byatt said was 'p*** poor.' To help the family with their numerous struggles, a friend recently created a Facebook blog to generate awareness of what the girls are enduring. There is also a GoFundMe page to help with everyday costs, with a target of $50,000 for the family. The couple were also told told by doctors in March Brayden, 7, and Page, 1, will eventually pass on Battens CLN7 to their own children in the future as they are carriers Advertisement Holidaymakers hoping for a relaxing Easter getaway faced fresh headaches today as lost luggage piled up at Manchester Airport and motorists faced travel hell on Britain's busiest weekend for travel since the pandemic. Video footage from the regional airport showed dozens of passengers' belongings and even a pram stacked up after Covid continued crippling staff numbers and flights were cancelled last minute on Saturday. Caught up in travel chaos today? Email: jonathan.rose@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement After laying off thousands of staff during the peak of Covid, Manchester Airport urged passengers to arrive three hours before departure to avoid missing their flights, as British Airways and easyJet announced more than 128 cancellations between them today. Some passengers were even seen vomiting after being stuck waiting in stuffy confined areas, while children were reportedly forced to urinate in small plastic bags normally used to carry liquid items onto aircraft. Steve Blears, 52 from Warrington, who flew out of Manchester Airport this week said: The current situation at Manchester Airport is unsafe. The overcrowding is a crush disaster waiting to happen.' Millions of families were stuck in tailbacks after the M20 was gridlocked with a 23-mile, 2,000 strong lorry queue forming across the day to further compound the misery facing Brits over the Easter weekend. Train services were also affected by planned engineering works across the country, with replacement bus services ushered in. Meanwhile, travellers heading to France were told to brace for huge queues and urged to pack extra supplies of food and water as they faced with 90-minute delays at the ferry port of Dover. Officials warned a 'perfect storm' of factors coalesced to create traffic chaos on Saturday - with 21million cars hitting the road and P&O Ferries suspending its Dover-Calais services after firing 800 seafarers without notice. Video footage from Manchester Airport showed dozens of passengers' belongings stacked up after Covid continued crippling staff numbers and flights were cancelled last minute on Saturday An aerial view shows the enormous queue of lorries forming on the M20 near Ashford, Kent as they wait as part of Operation Brock for their slot at the Port of Dover Manchester Airport has also urged passengers to arrive three hours before departure to avoid missing their flights as staff shortages have led to the build up of lengthy queues (pictured: Manchester Airport departures) Cars and freight lorries face a severe backlog of traffic as they attempt to check in at the Port of Dover in Kent Drivers have also been been urged to avoid the M20, the A20 and the A2 as a result of a 23-mile lorry queue, including more than 2,000 lorries, caused by Operation Brock After cutting thousands of jobs during the coronavirus pandemic, the aviation industry in general is suffering from difficulties recruiting staff and waiting for security checks to be passed on new employees (pictured: lines begin to grow at Manchester Airport in the morning) Queues continue at Manchester Airport departure check in today despite pleas from bosses to arrive three hours before departure time One passenger tweeted: 'Absolute carnage @Gatwick_Airport !! WIZZ Air flights delayed by 5hrs without any update from the airline!! Finally flying @midnight to Milan' Approximately 15,000 passengers are expected to be affected as they head to Manchester, Heathrow and Gatwick Airport over the weekend. Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh urged ministers to prioritise staff at Manchester and other major airports for Home Office security checks so they can start work as soon as possible. Ms Haigh MP said: 'Brits are facing a week of travel disruption, and this Conservative Government are missing in action. 'Tory ministers need to step-up and act to ease the disruption. The Government need to begin clearing the huge backlogs in security checks so airport staff can safely begin work.' Drivers have also been urged to avoid the M20, the A20 and the A2 as a result of a 23-mile lorry queue, including more than 2,000 lorries, caused by Operation Brock. Non-freight traffic is being advised to use the A20 instead of the M20, while freight traffic coming off J8 of the M20 has been sent into holding areas to await clearance before heading to the Channel Crossings. P&O said no Dover to Calais services would run until next week at the earliest as it continues to try to get the route running again after sacking nearly 800 seafarers without notice. The firm's Larne to Cairnryan route also remains suspended, although Hull to Rotterdam is back on a reduced schedule. Liverpool to Dublin is operating fully again. With up to 70 sailings a day still reportedly affected, roads in Kent have seen long tailbacks as lorries queue to get into the port of Dover. A statement from Kent Highways read: 'The M20 Coast bound from J8-J11 remains closed following the implementation of Brock Zero due to continuing high volumes freight heading to the Port of Dover and Euro Tunnel arriving in Kent. 'All vehicles and Freight which is not crossing the channel will be diverted onto the A20 and should follow the hollow circle diversion symbol and other signs and re-join the M20 at J11. 'Hard closures are being put in place by Kent Police and National Highways on all Coastbound slips which join the M20 between J8 and J11.' Ms Haigh also called on ministers to open emergency talks with ferry operators and Eurotunnel to increase capacity following the suspension of services by P&O Ferries after it controversially sacked 800 seafarers. 'They (ministers) need to look urgently at what powers they can use to force P&O Ferries to re-employ trained and experienced staff on their original terms to get the routes up and running,' Ms Haigh said. A view of lorries that queued during Operation Brock on the M20 near Ashford in Kent today A lorry driver stands on the carriageway as lorries are queued in Operation Brock on the M20 near Ashford Delays to Channel crossings are being driven by the suspension of P&O Ferries sailings after the operator sacked nearly 800 seafarers without notice last month A very busy terminal 2 at Londons Heathrow Airport as people head off for Easter holidays There has also been a recent rise in coronavirus-related staff sickness (pictured: Manchester Airport) P&O said no Dover to Calais services would run until next week at the earliest as it continues to try to get the route running again after sacking nearly 800 seafarers without notice The firm's Larne to Cairnryan route also remains suspended, although Hull to Rotterdam is back on a reduced schedule. Liverpool to Dublin is operating fully again It comes on the UK's busiest weekend of travel since the pandemic began in March 2020, with families leaving and returning at the same time as they make the most of being able to travel abroad without Covid-19 restrictions (pictured: Gate B at Terminal 2, Heathrow Airport) Passengers check-in in terminal 2 at Heathrow Airport, west London as the getaway starts in earnest as schools close for Easter Queues begin to develop at the north terminal at Gatwick Airport as people head off for their Easter holidays In a statement provided to the PA news agency, Kent Resilience Forum said Operation Brock was ensuring that the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel received a 'constant supply' of HGVs on Saturday. However, it added that tourist traffic to the same tunnels remained delayed due to diversions caused by the operation. People travelling to France via the Channel Tunnel have also been advised to bring food and drink as lengthy queues continue at the Port of Dover. Toby Howe, tactical lead at the Kent Resilience Forum, advised travellers to France to 'allow a lot of extra time'. He told BBC Breakfast the delays had been caused by 'the perfect storm'. 'In Kent we have had the perfect storm,' Mr Howe said. 'Yes, we had the P&O issue. We then had a storm at sea which meant that a lot of the ferries couldn't cross overnight. 'We had a few problems with the customs process, etc. We then had some snow. We then had a train in the tunnels, so all of these things had added up to culminate in the problems that we have got for poor Kent at the moment.' He said there had also been an IT issue with processing documents. Mr Howe said: 'Luckily things have been put in place now so that isn't a delay but that was something that contributed to those initial delays. So last weekend Dover really suffered because of all of that congestion. 'But we have put traffic management plans in place now so that things can flow through Dover and Dover can still function as a town, and Eurotunnel and the Port of Dover are able to operate as they need to.' He added: 'Make sure you have got some food and drink because there will be delays. A lot of the minor roads therefore are chock-a-block.' Mr Howe advised travellers to look into the traffic on different routes before making their journeys. He said that summer, when traffic is likely to get busier, was a 'worry'. Mr Howe added: 'What we need are plans in place moving forward because every getaway, Kent could suffer. So we need plans in place so that we can actually restrict that traffic coming in. 'Hopefully, when the ferries are back from P&O that will assist as well. But there will always be some problems as we continue with this sort of thing.' He added that it should not be Kent that 'suffers' every time there are travel issues. Dave Bail, who travels daily using the M2 and A2 roads, told MailOnline: 'Leaving my house near Dover takes me 45 minutes in the morning to reach Rochester but, returning home due to the travel problems and lorries being stopped on the M2 at Brenley Corner, the return journey last night (Friday) took me 2.5hrs, Thursday 1hr40, Wednesday 2hrs and this after doing a days work. 'It's really about time that the situation is sorted out as the residents of the south east are the ones suffering.' It comes on the UK's busiest weekend of travel since the pandemic began in March 2020, with families leaving and returning at the same time as they make the most of being able to travel abroad without Covid-19 restrictions. With up to 70 sailings a day still reportedly affected, roads in Kent have seen long tailbacks as lorries queue to get into the port of Dover People travelling to France via the Channel Tunnel have also been advised to bring food and drink as lengthy queues continue at the Port of Dover Toby Howe, tactical lead at the Kent Resilience Forum, advised travellers to France to 'allow a lot of extra time' He told BBC Breakfast the delays had been caused by 'the perfect storm'. 'In Kent we have had the perfect storm,' Mr Howe said Mr Howe advised travellers to look into the traffic on different routes before making their journeys. He said that summer, when traffic is likely to get busier, was a 'worry' Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh urged ministers to prioritise staff at Manchester (pictured) and other major airports for Home Office security checks so they can start work as soon as possible Ms Haigh MP said: 'Brits are facing a week of travel disruption, and this Conservative Government are missing in action' (pictured: queues at Heathrow Airport) 'Tory ministers need to step-up and act to ease the disruption. The Government need to begin clearing the huge backlogs in security checks so airport staff can safely begin work' (pictured: air passengers queue at London Heathrow Airport) Non-freight traffic is being advised to use the A20 instead of the M20, while freight traffic coming off J8 of the M20 has been sent into holding areas to await clearance before heading to the Channel Crossings More travel chaos as passengers frantically dash near Gate D in Terminal 2 at London Heathrow Airport ahead of the Easter holidays A DFDS ferry (top right) arrives at the Port of Dover in Kent passing moored P&O Ferries the Pride of Kent (front), Spirit of Britian (left) and the Pride of Canterbury (top) Delays to Channel crossings are being driven by the suspension of P&O Ferries sailings after the operator sacked nearly 800 seafarers without notice last month A statement from Kent Highways read: 'The M20 Coast bound from J8-J11 remains closed following the implementation of Brock Zero due to continuing high volumes freight heading to the Port of Dover and Euro Tunnel arriving in Kent' Last week, more than 1,100 flights to and from the UK were cancelled, mostly by British Airways and easyJet partly due to staff shortages. Queues were so large at Manchester that some travellers missed flights. Passengers reported that it was taking several hours to check in, get through security and collect luggage. There have also been bottlenecks at Heathrow and Birmingham airports in recent days. Yesterday, the boss of Manchester Airport's owner admitted the airport does not have enough staff. Charlie Cornish, chief executive of Manchester Airports Group, wrote: 'The simple fact is that we don't currently have the number of staff we need to provide the level of service that our passengers deserve. 'Despite our efforts since last autumn, the tight labour market around the airport has meant we have just not been able to hire people quickly enough to establish a full-strength team. 'Practically, staff shortages mean that we cannot open all the security lanes we need and, at times, this results in longer queues than we want to see. 'While we still expect most passengers to get through in less than 30 to 40 minutes, there will be times over the next few months when waiting times will rise to between 60 and 90 minutes.' *Caught up in travel chaos today? Tell us about your experiences by emailing: jonathan.rose@mailonline.co.uk* Getting away from it all (but not at Manchester airport): Boss who quit over flight chaos in the North is spotted near her 1.2m home 190 miles away in BERKSHIRE after queue chaos left children urinating in bags and passengers abandoning luggage Manchester Airport's outgoing boss Karen Smart has been seen for the first time since she quit over chaotic scenes that caused thousands of holidaymakers to miss their flights. Mrs Smart, 55, was pictured behind the wheel of her 25,000 Mercedes convertible sports car driving near her five-bedroom Berkshire home. She quit her role last week after staff shortages at Britain's third busiest airport sparked queues at security and check-in desks lasting as long as seven hours. Passengers stuck in line in stuffy confined areas caused some to vomit while children were reportedly forced to urinate in small plastic bags normally used to carry liquid items onto aircraft. Mrs Smart, 55, was pictured behind the wheel of her 25,000 Mercedes convertible sports car Mrs Smart owns a five-bedroom property in Berkshire worth 1.2 million There have also been serious delays at baggage reclaim where piles of suitcases were left in terminals by fed up travellers who abandoned their belongings and instead headed home. Mrs Smart stepped down on Tuesday after being in the post for the last two years. She had come under fierce criticism from airport staff and passengers alike and had been due to meet Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester and members of the Unite union to explain the fiasco. In a statement, Manchester Airports Group (MAG) said: 'Having taken on the position at the start of the pandemic, she has decided now is the time to return to the south of England, where her family is based, to pursue fresh career opportunities.' MailOnline approached Mrs Smart for comment at her 1.1million house near Wokingham, Berkshire, on Friday but she declined to say anything. She later left in her silver 2019 Mercedes Benz C200 AMG. The staff shortages at Manchester Airport have been caused by a struggle to recruit staff made redundant after the pandemic shutdown of airports and travel. Yet, the annual report of MAG, which also owns London Stansted and East Midlands airports, showed that pay for the groups managers rose by 2.8millin to 12.2million in the year ending 31 March 2021 the first 12 months of Covid when air travel slumped. Karen Smart resigned as managing director of Manchester Airports Group (MAG), which owns Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports, after just two years in the post Images from Manchester Airport showed passengers in long queues amid staff shortages Queues continue at Manchester Airport departure check in today (April 9) despite pleas to arrive only 3 hours before departure time Passengers queue inside the departures area of Terminal 1 at Manchester Airport, as the getaway starts in earnest as schools close for Easter Mother-of-three Mrs Smart's Facebook profile shows that last summer during the Covid pandemic she enjoyed a cruise in the Mediterranean aboard a private yacht. She posted a series of photographs showing her with family and friends basking in the sunshine off Spain's Balearic coastline. The businesswoman also boasted of staying in a stunning villa overlooking the sea on the Greek island of Santorini last October. A keen Manchester United fan, she posed for a photo with former captain Bryan Robson at Old Trafford last May. She is also a rugby supporter and regularly watches two of her elder sons play. Ken O'Toole, the deputy chief executive of Manchester Airports Group, said the next four to six weeks would be a 'difficult period' for the airport, with some passengers facing queues of 60 to 90 minutes. However, he said that passengers missing their flights as a result of huge queues last weekend were an 'isolated incident', adding 220 new staff had been recruited and were currently being trained to start work over the coming weeks. In the meantime, he urged travellers to arrive three hours in advance to ensure they do not miss their flights around the Easter holidays. Passengers travelling from Manchester Airport over the weekend reported a much more efficient experience now that Ms Smart had gone. There have also been serious delays at baggage reclaim where piles of suitcases were left in terminals by fed up travellers who abandoned their belongings Adam Powell, 24, from Burnage, Manchester, who was travelling to Amsterdam, said: 'She should have resigned weeks earlier because whoever has replaced her seems to have got things under control. 'I arrived around three hours before my flight but had no problems checking in. I was dreading it today but its been fine. 'It is annoying that shes been pulling a massive wage and clears off at the first sign of trouble.' Paul and Helen Wright, from Macclesfield, Cheshire, were at terminal 2 to catch at flight to Doha, Qatar. Roofer Paul, 52, said: 'We arrived more than four hours before our flight because we were determined not to miss it. We are travelling to Australia to see family. 'It has been relatively stress-free at the airport but I do feel for other passengers who missed flights earlier in the week. 'The airport were blaming staff shortages but it couldnt have come as a surprise that as soon as all restrictions were lifted, the airports would become busier.' Teaching assistant Helen, 49, said: 'Theyve had plenty of time to prepare for the return of passengers. 'Weve been lucky but it should have been handled better from the start.' Queues are continuing to plague Manchester Airport this weekend Passengers queue inside the departures area of Terminal 1 at Manchester Airport Meanwhile, Marcus Redman, 46, an IT consultant from Preston, Lancashire, was flying to his holiday home near Alicante, Spain. He said: 'I was expecting it to be chaos but staff seem to have it sorted. 'It was the stress of not knowing what we would be met with when we arrived that was the worst bit. 'It must be nice to be able to clear off down south and leave someone else to sort the mess out.' A man who bludgeoned his elderly neighbour to death three days before his victim was due to bury his wife has been sentenced to life imprisonment. Sable Thomas, 43, of Tufnell Park, London admitted the manslaughter of Anthony Rooks, 80, at his home in Dalmeny Road, Tufnell Park by reason of diminished responsibility. Wood Green Crown Court heard Thomas attacked his friend and neighbour on May 4, 2020, three days before Mr Rooks was due to attend the funeral of his wife of 46 years. Mr Rooks was battered to death with a brandy bottle. His wife passed away on April 14, 2020 and her funeral was due to take place on May 7, three days after he himself was brutally killed. Thomas was told he must serve a minimum of eight years before he is able to apply for parole. Anthony Rooks, pictured, was brutally killed by his friend and neighbour Sable Thomas in Tufnell Park, north London on May 4, 2020 Mr Rooks, 80, had visited the flat of his 42-year-old friend and neighbour Sable Thomas on Dalmeny Road, Tufnell Park on the afternoon he was killed The post-mortem revealed Mr Rooks suffered multiple blunt force trauma to the head and part of his ear was destroyed The post-mortem revealed Mr Rooks suffered multiple blunt force trauma to the head and part of his ear was destroyed. In a victim impact statement from Mr Rooks' granddaughter, his family said: 'Little did we know that three days before our nans funeral, this horrific tragedy would rock our world and change our lives forever. Our biggest question is why anyone would want to hurt such a loving funny giving and caring old man, especially to that extent? 'As a result of grandads death, we are living in a constant nightmare thinking about the house in which we shared so much happy memories. Grandads home was our safe place to go to. There is a feeling that our entire childhood memories and lives have been ruined. 'We see things like this in the movies and have never envisage it could happen to us. We have experienced the harsh reality of evil that exists and that anybody, even a friend, is capable of absolutely anything. 'He had so much more to give in his life. His plans to go back to his native homeland of Trinidad was not realised. We did not get to say goodbye, it feels like we are already serving a life sentence as there is nothing that will bring him back or ease the pain of his loss. To say our hearts have been broken would be an understatement. There will always be a hole in our hearts, but we are hoping for some closure so we can try to live somewhat of a normal life.' On the night of the killing, Mr Rooks' daughter was sleeping in the living room of their first floor flat while her father and Thomas were in his flat below. After hearing banging and shouting, Mr Rook's daughter went downstairs to find her father mortally wounded outside the front door. Wood Green Crown Court heard Mr Rooks' daughter found her father lying at the front door of his Tufnell Park flat following the brutal assault Thomas refused to answer what happened to Mr Rooks and was arrested by police on suspicion of murder. The court heard Thomas was laughing manically when officers arrived, where they discovered he had attempted to clean up the crime scene with a bucket and mop. While in custody, Thomas asked police 'is this how you normally treat murderers?' and 'can I ask who I murdered'. Thomas admitted he had mental health issues but had stopped taking his medication as it 'did not agree' with him. Detective Sergeant Brian Jones, from the Mets Specialist Crime Command, said: 'This is an absolutely heart-breaking case where a much-loved grandad was killed in the most brutal way by his friend and neighbour who was suffering from a mental health issue. 'Anthony being killed in such a traumatic way was absolutely devastating for his family, who were already grieving for Anthonys wife their mother and grandmother. They suddenly found themselves having to plan for not one, but two funerals, during the midst of a pandemic. Thomas also robbed Anthony of his chance to say a proper goodbye to his much-loved wife of 46 years. 'I would like to commend Anthony's family for the bravery and dignity they have shown throughout the investigation and court process. I do hope that Thomas sentencing gives them the closure that they want and deserve.' An employee working at a makeshift hospital that will be used for COVID-19 coronavirus patients in Shanghai in this April 7 photo. AFP-Yonhap A series of deaths at a hospital for elderly patients in Shanghai is underscoring the dangerous consequences of China's stubborn pursuit of a zero-COVID approach amid an escalating outbreak in the city of 26 million people. Multiple patients have died at the Shanghai Donghai Elderly Care Hospital, relatives of patients told The Associated Press. They say their loved ones weren't properly cared for after caretakers who came into contact with the virus were taken away to be quarantined, in adherence to the strict pandemic regulations, depleting the hospital of staff. Family members have taken to social media to plea for help and answers and are demanding to see surveillance video from inside the facility after getting little to no information from the hospital. The conditions and deaths at the hospital are a sharp rebuke against China's strategy of sticking to a zero-COVID policy as it deals with the outbreak in Shanghai in which most of the infected people don't have symptoms. With a focus on forcing positive cases and close contacts into designated collective quarantine facilities, the costs of zero-COVID may be outweighing the risk of getting sick. Shen Peiming, 71, was one such casualty. She died Sunday morning at the hospital, without any relatives by her side. A family member said they have been calling the hospital non-stop to find out the circumstances of Shen's death, but have not gotten a clear answer. ''How many times have there been lockdowns since 2020? They still don't have experience managing this.'' the family member said. All they know is her doctor and nurses had not been there to care for Shen, who was partially paralyzed after a stroke. Her last nursing assistant had been quarantined for being a close contact of a positive case, the relative said, speaking on condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution. An unfamiliar worker called to inform them of her death. Later, the hospital said it was due to a chest infection. The hospital had a COVID-19 outbreak, the family heard from orderlies, but Shen had tested negative as of last week. Shanghai authorities have reported no deaths from this outbreak, but questions have been raised about the reliability of the data. A city health official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic, said that the criteria for confirming cases and deaths are very strict and susceptible to political meddling. It is unclear how many patients have died at the hospital, and whether any died of COVID-19. Families say they are talking with other families whose relatives have also died. An article from Chinese news outlet Caixin describing the deaths and infections was taken down shortly after it was published, apparently targeted by censors. Calls to the main office of Donghai Elderly Care went unanswered. The Shanghai government did not respond to a faxed request for comment. Most experts agree that China's zero-COVID approach was highly successful in keeping deaths to a minimum when there were limited drugs or vaccines. But now that shots are widely available in China, and with the advent of the Omicron variant, many say the government should abandon the policy and focus medical resources on the elderly and vulnerable instead. Instead, Shanghai has locked down its 26 million people and carried out repeated mass testing to tackle an outbreak driven by the highly contagious omicron BA.2 variant. On Saturday, the city reported more than 23,000 new local cases, of which only 1,015 had symptoms. ''If you're asymptomatic, what's going to hurt you?'' said Ray Yip, the founding director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control office in China, who maintains close ties with Chinese health officials. ''The only people who get sick are those with diabetes, obesity, chronic disease, old people. Protect those people. You can protect them.'' Health workers, wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), stand at a check point next to a neighborhood during a COVID-19 lockdown in the Jing'an District in Shanghai, April 8. AFP-Yonhap A low vaccination rate among the elderly, though, remains a concern. Only 62% of Shanghai residents over 60 have been vaccinated, according to the latest data available. Some experts support the strict approach, saying China needs to raise that rate before it can safely live with the virus. The U.S. guidelines for asymptomatic cases, as in the U.K., are that individuals isolate at home for five days. In Shanghai, workers are rushing to set up massive temporary facilities in exhibition halls and elsewhere to try to house everyone who tests positive. The citywide lockdown has disrupted daily life and the economy. Many residents, trapped in their apartment buildings, are scrambling to buy food through apps and place bulk orders with neighbors. Some in quarantine have posted videos showing chaotic scenes of people rushing to get food and a lack of clean toilets. Others have posted pleas for relatives who need medicine urgently. The U.S. said Friday that it is allowing the voluntary departure of non-essential personnel and family members from its consulate in Shanghai because of the situation. The government has trumpeted its success in curbing COVID-19, touting it as evidence of the superiority of China's governing system especially compared to Western democracies, where deaths have far exceeded China's. That narrative, experts said, is making it difficult for Beijing to switch tactics. A 13-year-old girl who was found hanged at her home was judged to be safe by an 'overburdened' mental health nurse the day before her death. Faith Hindle died the day after telling Salford nurse Tayaba Nicholson she had suicidal thoughts every day and was 'unable to keep herself safe'. The coroner ruled she died by 'misadventure' and 'did not intend to bring about her death', an inquest at Bolton Coroner's Court heard yesterday, the Manchester Evening News reported. Faith Hindle, 13, 'did not intend to end her own life' and was crying for help, her coroner said Faith was pronounced dead after her mum came home to find her hanged on December 8, 2018. Beautician Charlene Riley, 34, was out with friends just a few hours after daughter Faith kissed her goodbye. When Faith's friends left her home at 8pm that evening, they judged her to be in a 'good mood'. At 10.20pm, she was found hanged. Nurse Nicholson had called Faith on December 7, where the child told her she was 'unable to keep herself safe'. Faith's mental state was judged to be 'as before', with risks managed and no immediate threat to her life. In fact, professionals at the Salford Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) reduced Faith's risk from 'high' despite her saying her mood was 'two out of ten'. The girl was targeted by vile bullies on social media who told her to 'Kill yourself', her grandmother said. Theresa Riley, 53, told the Mail: 'She had been subject to online abuse on Instagram and Snapchat. I know in the past she messaged people saying things like, "I just don't feel like being here." And people messaged back: "Just kill yourself!"' After Faith overdosed on paracetamol at school, Theresa held her in her arms as Faith said: 'I don't want to die.' The teen was targeted by social media bullies and told to 'Kill yourself', her grandmother said Faith was referred to the Junction 17 wing at Prestwich Hospital in September 2018 after she punched a wall and bruised her hand. A ligature mark was also found on her neck. Two months later while attending the hospital's school Cloughside College, Faith made several web searches including references to 'suicide', 'hanging' and 'easy ways to kill yourself'. Headteacher Karen Ingham told the inquest these all took place within six minutes. Faith was also well aware her searches were monitored and was likely asking for help. Her parents were informed and phone conversations with 'overburdened' Nurse Nicholson were scheduled for November 27 and December 7. Bolton Coroner's Court, Greater Manchester heard that Faith just wanted to be 'looked after' During the December 7 call, Faith said she was having suicidal thoughts daily. But her parents were not informed. Ms Nicholson told the inquest she had a 'very heavy caseload' at the time. Coroner John Pollard said Faith never meant to die and her suicide attempts were a 'cry for attention'. He said: 'I know from the evidence I have heard that Faith had, on several occasions, tried to end her life. All of her actions amounted to a series of cries for help or attention.' Mr Pollard added he believes what Faith wanted was to be 'found and looked after'. But support was 'patchy in its effectiveness' and failings were due to a 'well-intentioned but overburdened individual'. He said: 'This was not a systemic failure but simply a question of volume of work'. If you have been affected by anything in this article and need support call the Samaritans on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org. Top secret documents left at a bus stop by a hapless civil servant contained the locations of British special forces in Kabul and endangered the lives of elite US soldiers, it has emerged. The highly classified Ministry of Defence papers, marked 'Secret UK eyes only', were picked up by a member of the public in Kent in June last year before being handed to the BBC. The pile of almost 50 files had been dropped by Oxford-educated Angus Lapsley, 52, a 'diplomat' at the Foreign Office who was tipped to become the UK ambassador to Nato. A Whitehall source has now revealed the documents contained the locations of elite US soldiers in the Afghanistan capital, which left Americans 'furious' and sparked a transatlantic spat. They told the Times there were fears the breach could endanger the lives of US servicemen and women, many of whom were in the same locations as their British counterparts. The source said the papers listed the exact number of soldiers in the areas dotted around Kabul, which fell to the Taliban last August following the US-UK withdrawal. A UK Government spokesperson told MailOnline today that Mr Lapsley continues to have his security clearance suspended ahead of a full review. They said the MoD and Foreign Office collaborated closely on the case and 'continue to do so'. The pile of almost 50 files had been dropped by Oxford-educated Angus Lapsley (pictured), 52, a 'diplomat' at the Foreign Office who was tipped to become the UK ambassador to Nato It was previously revealed that the papers also included details of a Royal Navy warship's passage through Crimea's disputed territorial waters. Such sensitive intelligence is not allowed to be taken from government buildings unless properly logged out and securely stored. According to the source, Lapsley picked up the pages from the in-tray on his desk and took them home with him. It was the next morning when they fell out of his bag as he was rushing to work, before they were found wet and piled up at the bus stop, before being dried out and handed over. Lapsley tried to claim the papers were not of a highly sensitive nature, the source alleged, before the BBC discovered they contained top secret memos. Mr Lapsley avoided being charged for breaching the Official Secrets Act and was redeployed within the Foreign Office - missing out on his Nato promotion. He was also taken off sensitive work and had has clearance suspended. MailOnline has contacted Mr Lapsley for comment. Former military attache at the British embassy in Kabul, Colonel Simon Diggins, told the Times that information on the whereabouts of special forces was 'normally very sensitive and deeply close held'. He added: 'Special forces operations are regarded as very discreet so for that information to be revealed I would regard it to be a serious breach of security. 'Having the information in the public in such a careless way would be regarded as a serious security failure.' It comes after another senior civil servant, Richard Jackson, was charged for breaching the Official Secrets Act in 2008 when he left top secret documents on a train, including highly sensitive files on al-Qaeda and Iraq. Mr Lapsley avoided being charged for breaching the Official Secrets Act and was redeployed within the Foreign Office - missing out on his Nato promotion. Pictured: Mr Lapsley Chilean actress Cecilia Bolocco and former UK Ambassador to Chile Jon Benjamin at the launch of the GREAT campaign in Chile in 2012 He was fined 2,500 after leaving the memos on a train from London, before they were, again, handed to the BBC by a member of the public. Mr Lapsley has been a 'diplomat' at the Foreign Office since August, according to his Linkedin profile, and was previously an ambassador to Brussels. It was previously reported that most papers he dropped were marked 'official sensitive', a low level of classification. But one addressed to the Defence Secretary's private secretary was marked 'Secret UK Eyes Only' and addressed whether special forces would stay in Afghanistan after Joe Biden's decision to withdraw US troops. A Whitehall source said at the time: 'The document should not have been taken out of the building in this way and in this case.' Tory MP James Sunderland said in June last year that there must have had to be a 'deliberate act' in removing a pink document from an MoD secure area. A UK Government spokesperson said today: 'The UK Government takes the protection of its information extremely seriously. 'The investigation has independently confirmed the circumstances of the loss and the manner in which it occurred. 'The investigation has confidence that all Secret papers were recovered, there was no evidence of espionage and there has been no compromise of the documents by adversaries. 'The individual concerned has been removed from sensitive work and has already had their security clearance suspended pending a full review. A Hull City Council worker forwarded the address of a sex offender to an anti-paedophile group, who sent a 30-strong mob to the property, threatening to kill him and burn down his home. Customer Services Assistant Chloe Carr sent the highly sensitive information to paedophile hunters, telling them that the sex offender 'deserves all her gets' and was 'disgusting', Hull Crown Court Heard. The 23-year-old asked the hunters not to reveal that she had passed on the confidential information. The sex offender was moved to a new address, as the court heard that Carr's actions helped to 'whip up a frenzy' and were 'not a public service at all' as they 'destabilised' convicted criminals and risked making them 'unpredictable.' Customer Services Assistant Chloe Carr sent the sensitive information to paedophile hunters Carr, of Taylor Avenue, Cottingham, admitted unlawfully disclosing private data to an online website without consent. She denied misconduct in a public office as a customer service advisor for Hull City Council by abusing the public's trust and disclosing confidential and personal data between June 4 and July 2, 2020, and the charge was dropped. Charlotte Baines, prosecuting, told the court that Carr was employed by an agency to work for the council to help direct people to assistance they may be able to access. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Carr was working from home in Anlaby, but was in a work chat group so that she could be in contact with her colleagues. A colleague sent a message to the group stating that a call had been received from a convicted sex offender, who had reached out to the council's customer services team to request a food parcel having being placed in emergency accommodation after his details were shared online. The address was shared to the group chat and Carr sent the details onto a Hull-based anti-paedophile group. She told the paedophile hunters she had details on the sex offender, but asked to be kept anonymous. She said in messages that it was 'disgusting' that the sex offender was still in Hull and would be living near a school. When asked by the anti-paedophile group if she had proof of the sex offender's address she said: 'Yes, everything is 100 per cent', and confirmed she had his street address. She added that she worked for Hull City Council and sent a screenshot of the address, adding: 'This can't come back to me due to my work.' The 23-year-old asked the hunters not to reveal that she had passed on the information When asked for the number of the house, she said it was 'so wrong' to put the man there and wrote: 'I don't believe in it. I will look now.' She added: 'Please don't mention it's come from the council' because records were kept and it might 'come back to me' when told the details would be posted online. Miss Bains told the court: 'The defendant made it abundantly clear that she worked for Hull City Council and the information needed to be kept anonymous.' At 18:40, the sex offender contacted police to say he had received a food parcel as requested from Hull City Council but that there were people at his door trying to break in. He said he had been warned by around 30 people in a mob outside the house to 'get out now or they would kill him and burn down the property.' At 19:19, the anti-paedophile group contacted Carr on Facebook Messenger to tell her the sex offender had been moved from the property. She replied: 'I am so happy. He is bloody awful. Happy to have helped everyone.' Police later identified Carr as being involved in the chats after realising they was a problem, and went to her home and seized two laptops. She told police she was angered when a colleague shared details of the sex offender because she was pregnant, and that someone in the group chat had said something needed to be done, prompting her to contact the anti-paedophile group. 'She said that she knew it was wrong,' Miss Baines told the court. 'She was kicked out of the works chat. She wasn't allowed to return to work, one assumes.' Helen Chapman, mitigating, said the sex offenders Carr had been referring to were people who had been before the courts, had been found guilty or sentenced and had 'done their time and come out' of prison. 'These groups exist on Facebook in order to whip up a frenzy,' she told the court. Carr was heavily pregnant at the time and the messages were exchanged just two weeks before she gave birth to her son in July 2020. The offence was 'short-lived but persistent', and Carr was in 'something of a vulnerable position' at the time because the father of her child had left her, Miss Chapman added. The case was heard at Hull Crown Court (pictured) 'It didn't help that she was working from home,' she said. Carr, who had no previous convictions, is now 'just beginning to look for work,' Miss Chapman added. Judge Mark Bury said the offence may not have happened if Carr had been under a 'little bit more supervision' and if she had not been working from home. The decision not to proceed with a prosecution under a more serious misconduct in public office offence had been taken after a 'thorough review by a number of different people' for the prosecution, meaning that Carr now faced the maximum penalty of a fine, and not a prison sentence. Judge Bury told her she was 'very lucky' and said: 'The offence that you have committed is, in my view, a very serious one that would have carried a sentence of imprisonment.' He told the court: 'I would have locked her up.' He added that it was not for Carr or anyone else to comment and say the sex offender 'deserves all he gets'. 'They had done their punishment. It wasn't for you to give their details out,' he added. 'The problem that this causes is that it destabilises offenders. It makes them unpredictable and more likely to commit offences that everyone else is trying their hardest to prevent them from doing. It's not doing a public service at all. It's a huge disservice. 'I am quite satisfied that you knew what you were doing because you said you didn't want your name to be mentioned because you would be sacked, which, of course, you were. I hope this has been a lesson. 'If you work in the public sector again, you just have to remember that you have a grave responsibility with public details. You thought you were helping. You were not.' Carr was fined 500 to be paid at 50 a month. A funeral was held for Colonel Alexander Bespalov (pictured) on Friday in the closed Russian city of Ozersk. He is the latest Russian senior officer to be killed in Ukraine Russian President Vladimir Putin has lost his ninth colonel in battle since launching his brutal invasion of Ukraine in February, as Moscow's losses continue to mount up. A funeral was held for Colonel Alexander Bespalov on Friday in the closed Russian city of Ozersk, according to a local announcement, which said he was killed 'during a special military operation in Ukraine' - a term used by Moscow to avoid saying 'war'. The statement said Bespalov was the commander of the 59th Guards Tank Regiment, and become the latest senior Russian military officer to be killed in the war that has seen Kyiv's forces surprise exerts with their fierce resistance. Targeted strikes against slow-moving Russian tank units have allowed Ukraine's forces to compensate for their inferior numbers, with latest estimates from Kyiv defence officials suggesting the Kremlin has lost more than 4,000 military vehicles. In addition, Ukraine's Ministry of Defence estimates that Russia has sent more than 19,000 troops to their deaths. Meanwhile, thousands of Moscow's soldiers have retreated from the Kyiv region to refocus Russia's military efforts on eastern Ukraine. However, a senior U.S. defence official said Friday the Pentagon has determined that some of the Russian combat units that retreated from the Kyiv area in recent days are so heavily damaged and depleted that their combat utility is in question. Some analysts have suggested that the focus on the Donbas and the pledge to de-escalate may merely be an effort to put a positive spin on reality: Moscow's ground forces have been thwarted - and have taken heavy losses - in their bid to seize the capital and other major cities. The Kremlin has a policy of playing down military casualties with a 2015 decree declaring all deaths in conflict a state secret, and last year any statement discrediting the military were criminalised. Pictured: A car drives past a burnt Russian tank on a road west of Kyiv, on April 7, 2022, during Russia's military invasion launched on Ukraine Pictured: A Ukrainian serviceman stands atop on destryed Russian tank in Chernihiv region, Ukraine, Friday April 8, 2022 A picture of Bespalov showed he was a highly decorated officer, with two rows of medals emblazoned on his chest. Tributes to the commander were shared with the announcement that was posted on local message board called 'Overheard Novogorny' - a small town near Ozersk. The announcement of his funeral has since been deleted. Ozersk is a closed Russian city, meaning travel in and out is heavily restricted. Code-named City 40, Ozersk was the birthplace of the Soviet nuclear weapons programme after World War Two. One tribute, from the colonel's sister, said: 'It is impossible to put into words what pain you feel when you lose a close and dear person,' Tatyana Karsakova, wrote. 'Dear brother, you will always be alive in our hearts!' A fellow officer said: 'I did not know and did not meet a more worthy person who had the right to call himself an officer than my first commander Alexander Bespalov, who became my friend, whose family I was closely acquainted with.' The colonel is the latest in a long line of slain Russian military leaders, which experts say betray the Kremlin's blundering tactics in the brutal invasion. Is is believed there are now a total of nine colonels and seven generals who have been killed by defiant Ukrainian forces in the month-long war. While Moscow has made efforts to conceal its true losses in Ukraine, Kyiv has boasted each time its forces have slain a high-ranking Russian officer. On March 30, officials said it had 'eliminated' Colonel Denis Kurilo, commander of the 200th separate motorised rifle brigade, who led Russia's bloody assault in Kharkiv where he was killed in battle. Kyiv said it had 'eliminated' Colonel Denis Kurilo (pictured), commander of the 200th separate motorised rifle brigade, in fighting near Kharkiv The brigade had suffered massive losses in the fierce battle near Ukraine's second biggest city The brigade had suffered massive losses in the fierce fighting, the Ukrainian army's press office said. A picture of Kurilo was shared with a red X through it to announce his death. Two battalion groups in the 200th brigade were destroyed, with a staggering loss of 1,500 servicemen, Ukraine has claimed. It was revealed on the same day that Lieutenant Colonel Dmitry Dormidontov was killed on March 20 as his funeral was held in Russia ten days later. A source in the Tatarstan region of Russia said: 'Commander of the rocket artillery division, Lt-Col Dmitry Pavlovich Dormidontov, died while on duty,' said an account. 'An enemy mine hit exactly in his dugout, where there were three officers: a division commander, a battalion commander and an aircraft controller.' Another loss was Lt-Col Igor Zharov who was buried in Kirzhach town, Vladimir region. 'He died during a military operation to demilitarise and deNazify Ukraine,' said an obituary which revealed he had been honoured by Putin. Local MP Igor Igoshin said: 'Igor Zharov was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage. 'Since childhood, he had wanted to become a military man. He studied at the famous Kirzhach School of the Army.' A picture of Kurilo was shared with a red cross through it to announce his death Lieutenant Colonel Dmitry Dormidontov was killed on March 20 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 in March. 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. Russian brigade commander Colonel Yuri Medvedev was even run down with a tank by his own mutinous troops. Colonel Sergei Sukharev (pictured), of the 331st Guards Parachute Assault Regiment from Kostroma, was 'liquidated' according to Ukraine in fighting earlier this month 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 in March 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 A Western official claimed the commander had been killed by his own troops, 'as a consequence of the scale of losses that had been taken by his brigade'. 'We believe he was killed by his own troops deliberately,' the official said, noting he was 'run over'. He added it was a further sign of 'morale challenges that Russian forces are having'. 'They really have found themselves in a hornet's nest and they're suffering really badly,' the official said. Colonel Sergei Porokhyna is another high-profile casualty among Putin's forces. On top of the colonels, at least seven Russian generals have been killed in fighting, more than during the entire 10-year brutal Soviet campaign in Afghanistan in the 1980s where five generals died. Damaged Russian tanks are seen in the town of Trostsyanets, with much of the equipment captured by Ukraine And in late Mach, Russian Army Commander General Vlaislav Yershov, of the 6th Combined Arms Army, was sacked by Putin due to the heavy losses and strategic failures. The latest to die, Lieutenant General Yakov Rezanstev, was a commander of Russia's 49th Combined Arms Army in its southern military district, the official disclosed. Among the others said to have been killed is General Magomed Tushaev, of the Chechen Special Forces deployed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in Ukraine. Another is believed to have been Lieutenant General Yakov Rezantsev, 48, commander of the army's 49th combined arms division, who became the fifth general to be killed after being taken out in a strike by the Ukrainian armed forces. Rezantsev, who bragged on just the fourth day of the war that it would be over in a matter of hours, was apparently killed after the Ukrainian army destroyed the commanding post of the 49th Russian Army in southern Ukraine. Major-General Oleg Mityaev, 47, commander of the army's 150th motorised rifle division, died fighting in the besieged city of Mariupol while Major General Vitaly Gerasimov, 45, was killed on March 7 outside the eastern city of Kharkiv. The number of both rank-and-file Russian troops and senior officers allegedly killed in the month-long war has shocked Western military and security officials Meanwhile Major-General Andrey Kolesnikov, Commander of the Guards Tank Kantemirovskaya Division, was also killed in fighting on March 11. Major-General Andrei Sukhovetsky, 47, was killed during a special operation by a sniper on March 3. The number of both rank-and-file Russian troops and senior officers allegedly killed in the month-long war has shocked Western military and security officials. It has been blamed in part on communications and logistics issues, leading senior officers to use unencrypted channels which has exposed them to Ukrainian forces. Putin is thought to have planned for a short and sharp invasion lasting only a few days, aimed at decapitating the government and installing a puppet regime. Instead he has found himself sucked into a hugely demanding war of attrition. On Friday, Ukraine boasted it has the corpses of 7,000 unclaimed Russian soldiers in morgues and refrigerated cars, while the total Kremlin death toll is as high as 19,000. Oleksiy Arestovych, adviser to the head of Ukraine's presidential administration, said they tried to return the bodies of 3,000 troops early on in the war but Russia refused, saying it did not believe their casualties were so high. He told the Washington Post: 'They said, 'We don't believe in such quantities. We don't have this number. We're not ready to accept them.'' Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs has since set up a website and Telegram channel for Russians to search photos of the dead and prisoners of war. The Kremlin has been playing down its huge death toll in the faltering war, only admitting the loss of 1,351 soldiers. But on Thursday, Putin's mouthpiece Dmitry Peskov finally acknowledged the heavy casualties: 'We have significant losses of troops. And it's a huge tragedy for us.' French President Emmanuel Macron has appealed to younger, progressive-leaning voters in his last scheduled interview before Sunday's first-round presidential vote while his forecast lead over far-right candidate Marine Le Pen further evaporated. Less than 48 hours before the first-round vote, the race for the top job in the euro zone's second-largest economy appeared to be coming down - once again - to the two finalists of the 2017 election. But while Macron was still slightly ahead in opinion polls, his re-election no longer appeared to be a foregone conclusion on Friday with Le Pen climbing in surveys, some of them putting her within the margin of error. 'When it comes to correcting social inequalities at their root, we have begun the work, but we are very far from having succeeded,' he told online news outlet Brut in a long interview, pledging also to do more to fight climate change. It came as a poll on Friday showed the tightest gap ever, with Le Pen seen winning 49 per cent of votes in a likely runoff against the president, her best polling score on record. The poll, published on BFM TV's website , showed that Macron had lost a further two points at 26 per cent support and Le Pen had gained two points to 25 per cent. While Emmanuel Macron was still slightly ahead in opinion polls, his re-election no longer appeared to be a foregone conclusion on Friday with Marine Le Pen climbing in surveys. (Pictured: Macron poses for a picture as he meets people at an open market in Neuilly-sur-Seine, near Paris, on April 8, 2022) Le Pen has centered her bid on purchasing power, softening her image and tapping into promising to cut taxes and hike some social benefits, worrying financial markets as she gains momentum in the polls. (Pictured: Le Pen on campaign trail this week) Hours before candidates and their aides are required by French election law to refrain from making any political statements until election offices close on Sunday evening, there was a growing sense of discomfort among Macron supporters. 'I think we'll be OK, but it's going to be a hard one,' one minister, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told Reuters. Campaign insiders say Macron urgently needs to appeal to the broadest possible voter base before the first round, because coming second behind Le Pen on Sunday would give her strong momentum ahead of the runoff. Le Pen has centered her bid on purchasing power, softening her image and tapping into promising to cut taxes and hike some social benefits, worrying financial markets as she gains momentum in the polls. Rival far-right candidate Eric Zemmour's radical, outspoken views have helped her look more mainstream and many left-leaning voters have told pollsters that, unlike in 2017, they would not vote in the second round to keep Le Pen out of power. 'They won't necessarily vote for Marine Le Pen, but they don't want to vote for Emmanuel Macron,' said Jean-David Levy, the deputy director of polling institute Harris Interactive. 'Marine Le Pen has never been so capable of winning a presidential election.' Macron visited a market in Neuilly-sur-Seine, near Paris this morning after a radio appearance on the last day of campaigning ahead of the vote on Sunday Marine Le Pen today denied claims by Emmanuel Macron that she is racist as her chances of becoming the first female President of France continued to grow Le Pen vows to ban headscarves on streets Despite a push to rebrand herself, Marine Le Pen returned to familiar themes on the election trail last night by pledging to fine Muslims who wear headscarves in public. She held a campaign rally in the southern stronghold of Perpignan where her National Rally party runs the local council. Speaking to RTL radio beforehand, Miss Le Pen explained her pledge to ban the headscarf in all public spaces would be enforced by police in the same way as seatbelt-wearing in cars. Miss Le Pen said she will use referendums to avoid challenges to proposed laws on the basis they are discriminatory and an infringement on personal freedoms. Advertisement As some in the president's camp complained about a lack of preparation, his team having spent the bulk of the last months dealing with the war in Ukraine, Macron on Friday voiced regrets about having joined the race much later than his competitors. 'So it is a fact that I entered (the campaign) even later than I wished,' Macron said, adding that he retained a 'spirit of conquest rather than of defeat.' 'Who could have understood six weeks ago that all of a sudden I would start political rallies, that I would focus on domestic issues when the war started in Ukraine,' Macron told RTL radio earlier on Friday. Macron, who has spent the past five years wooing the centre-right, suddenly changed course, telling voters he would further shield them from rising living costs and the dangers of Le Pen, whom he labelled a racist. 'Her fundamentals have not changed: It's a racist programme that aims to divide society and is very brutal', said Macron. Le Pen told broadcaster Franceinfo that she was 'shocked' at the accusation, which she rejected, branding the president 'febrile' and 'aggressive'. She said her programme, which includes adding a 'national priority' principle to the French constitution, would not discriminate against people on grounds of their origin - as long as they held a French passport. In his last scheduled interview before Sunday's vote, Macron reiterated his warning against the rising far-right. 'They play with the fear,' Macron told online news outlet Brut on Friday in a last-minute appeal to progressive-leaning, younger voters. 'They make short-term minded proposals, the financing of which sometimes is completely unclear.' According to opinion polls, around a third of voters have yet to make up their minds, which analysts say often favours candidates with realistic chances to enter the second round as undecided voters tend to go for what the French call a 'useful vote', meaning voting strategically. Other than Macron and Le Pen, this trend is set to favour far-left veteran Jean-Luc Melenchon who - also on an upward trend - ranks third with around 17% of forecast votes. Left-wing figure Christiane Taubira, a former minister who dropped out of the race after she failed in her attempt to rally the left behind her, on Friday endorsed Melenchon, saying he was now the left's best hope. I know many want to see Macron get a bloody nose. But Marine Le Pen could bring even more chaos than Trump, says ANDREW NEIL - as France goes to the polls tomorrow with a Right-wing populist breathing down the posturing President's neck By Andrew Neil for the Daily Mail Almost two months ago Marine Le Pen, the only serious threat to President Emmanuel Macrons bid to be re-elected in this months French presidential contest, produced an eight-page pamphlet extolling her virtues. It included a photograph of the seriously Right-wing populist shaking hands with President Putin in 2017. Over 1.2 million copies were printed for distribution. Then Russia launched its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Liberation, a Left-wing Paris newspaper, gleefully reported that local party officials had been urgently instructed to destroy every copy of the pamphlet. How all of chic Metropolitan France chortled. She was already trailing badly in the polls. This embarrassment would hole her below the waterline. Their man would now cruise to victory. Another five years in the Elysee Palace for the centrist incumbent beckoned. Well, theyre not laughing now. France votes in the first round of its presidential election tomorrow. There are 12 candidates, most of them no-hopers. Macron is still ahead in the polls but in the past month Le Pen has relentlessly whittled down his lead. Only the two who top tomorrows vote almost certainly Macron and Le Pen will go forward to a second election on April 24. Some of the polls for this run-off now give Macron just a three-point lead, well within pollsters margin of error. Only a few weeks ago the polls had him up to 18 points ahead. In the same run off in the 2017 presidential race Macron won by some 30 points. One poll on Thursday even had Le Pen ahead by one point, which was enough to give the French establishment a fit of the vapours. Incidentally, it doesnt look as if that pamphlet was trashed after all. Its still available on her partys website, Putin picture included. One poll on Thursday even had Le Pen ahead by one point, which was enough to give the French establishment a fit of the vapours Just why her continued association with Putin and previous admiration for him hasnt damaged her, given mounting Russian atrocities in Ukraine, is a mystery to some. After all, it has done for her hard-Right rival, Eric Zemmour, an even bigger fan of Putin than Le Pen who once opined that the country needed a French Putin. Only a few months ago Zemmour looked like replacing Le Pen on the nationalist Right, which was one reason her campaign was floundering. But he staked out even more hardline positions on immigration and Islam than her, which repelled all but his hardcore support. His demise in the polls to 10 per cent or less has been her gain and a major reason she is now a credible challenger to Macron. Macron has also been her unwitting ally. Le Pen has condemned the Ukraine invasion but shes still reluctant to criticise Putin, refuses to blame Russia for its obvious barbarities and her party has yet to repay a 9 million loan from a Putin-friendly Russian bank taken out in 2014. But its hard for Macron to accuse Le Pen of being too cosy with the Kremlin despot when he himself has been making repeated lengthy calls to Putin in his self-appointed role as global peacemaker, especially since he has nothing to show for it. It sometimes seems that Macron has spent more time on the phone to Putin than he has on the campaign trail. Macron decided early on that he would stay above the electoral fray and strut instead on the world stage in the grand manner beloved by French presidents. Some of the polls for this run-off now give Macron just a three-point lead, well within pollsters margin of error. Only a few weeks ago the polls had him up to 18 points ahead It was a huge strategic mistake. It reinforced his aloof and arrogant image, which led critics to dub him Jupiter, the imperious and icy supreme god of Roman mythology, when he ascended to the presidency. This has also played into Le Pens hands. While Macron has Putin on speed dial, she has been campaigning tirelessly in the small towns and villages of what is called peripheral France the places far away from the pro-Macron metropolitan centres that are populated by people who feel ignored by the political elite and left behind. It was from these areas that the famous gilets jaunes or yellow vest protesters (named after their high-viz jackets) emerged in 2018 after Macrons enthusiasm for all manner of green initiatives resulted in an increase in duty on petrol and diesel. I remember speaking to one at a rural roundabout who summed up the metropolitan/small town divide perfectly: This increase in duty has been imposed on us by a Parisian political establishment that can commute to work on the worlds finest public transport system. We have to use our cars. There is no public transport here. Now that small-town France is in the grip of a much worse cost-of-living crisis, very similar to but not quite as bad as Britains, Le Pen is exploiting it for all its worth. Her campaigning has been barely noticed by French mainstream commentators because its largely unreported in national media. But local media are lapping it up. Immigration and Islam are taking a back seat as Le Pen rails against the decline in le pouvoir dachat peoples purchasing power. She promises to slash VAT on fuel and energy, lower motorway tolls and bring back the wealth tax that Macron scrapped. She would exempt under-30s from income tax and cut the retirement age from 62 to 60 (Macron wants to increase it to 65). How France would pay for all of this when its already taxed to the hilt and drowning in debt is left unsaid. Yet when it comes to economic populism, for the left-behind it ticks a lot of boxes. I mean, who wouldnt want to be taxed for only 30 years of a lifetimes work? If Boris Johnson is in trouble come the next general election I wouldnt be surprised to see him raid the Le Pen policy box. It means Le Pen will pick up not just Zemmour votes in the second round but Left-wing votes, too. The leading candidate of the Left, Jean-Luc Melenchon, is an ageing, unreconstructed Marxist (and yet another Putin fan boy what is it with these French politicians?) He is likely to come third tomorrow. Polls suggest many of his voters simply wont vote in round two and those who do are more likely to vote Le Pen (whose economic policies are not that different from Melenchons) than Macron. This is significant. In the past, when mainstream politicians have faced a Le Pen in round two (Jacques Chirac in 2002, Macron in 2017) theyve always been able to count on all the other parties to rally round to see off the hard-Right. Not in 2022. Its difficult to think of a worse issue for the remote, unworldly Macron than plain folks cost of living (just as its a bad one for Johnson, too). His one big rally to date was at a rugby club in Paris, a city he will win by a landslide. It was attended by thousands of cheering, affluent millennials, for whom living costs are not a huge issue. It has finally dawned on him that this is not how to win an election. Immigration and Islam are taking a back seat as Le Pen rails against the decline in le pouvoir dachat peoples purchasing power. She promises to slash VAT on fuel and energy, lower motorway tolls and bring back the wealth tax that Macron scrapped I dined at a restaurant in Nice this week with one of the Presidents close friends and mentors. He was proudly telling me that Macron had awarded him the Legion of Honour, Frances highest order of merit. As we talked a text landed on his mobile. He showed it to me. It was from the President, apologising that he couldnt make the ceremony. Why? Because he now had to campaign non-stop. So Jupiter will now come down among us mere mortals for a hectic two weeks between the first and second rounds of voting. His campaign slogans are Avec vous (With you) and Nous tous (All of us). Few are convinced by them. They are so not Macron. It is not too late for him to pull things round. However, perhaps his biggest enemy is not Le Pen but apathy, provoked by widespread antipathy to him. Polls suggest up to 30 per cent might not vote, which is a high abstention rate by French standards. That would help Le Pen, who has more of a loyalcore vote. His non-campaign so far means his presidential achievements have gone unremarked. Hes handled the pandemic as well as any leader. The French economy returned to its pre-pandemic level faster than any other major economy bar America. His liberalising economic reforms have helped cut unemployment to a 14-year low so much so that it isnt even an issue in the election (though at 7.4 per cent le chomage is still twice the UK level). Nursery education from the age of three is national and compulsory. In the poorest areas, primary school class sizes have been cut and free school breakfasts provided. Hes made it easier to launch a business and the number of start-ups is now at a record level. Paris is becoming an important hub for technology and France is once again the most popular destination for foreign investment in the EU. All this has come at some cost. The state, which already accounted for an incredible 55 per cent of French GDP (versus around 40 per cent in the UK), is now closer to an unsustainable 60 per cent. National debt has soared to 115 per cent of GDP, making France the third most heavily indebted country in the world after America and Japan (yes, its overtaken Italy, which is now in fourth place). Over half of that debt is held by foreigners, which raises the risk they could dump it. Some of this will be debated in the TV confrontation broadcast between the two voting rounds. It is a gladiatorial epic and in 2017 was a disaster for Le Pen. She was badly prepared and out of her depth. Her cringeworthy performance sealed her fate the following Sunday. But five years later she seems far more across her briefs. In a close-run contest it will be a crucial broadcast for both candidates. Zemmours nihilism has helped Le Pen rebrand and reposition both herself and her party to project a more moderate face. She changed the partys name to National Rally from National Front, which was redolent with neo-fascist overtones and too associated with its previous leader, her neo-Nazi father Jean-Marie Le Pen. She expelled a few of its more obvious racists and thugs. She softened her rhetoric when it came to immigration and Islam, while still maintaining some pretty hardline positions (including banning the Muslim headscarf in public). She ditched her support for Frexit withdrawal from the European Union and has even come to terms with the euro. Her plan to return to the franc frightened older voters, some her natural supporters, who wanted their pensions in the stable, reliable euro. But the rest of Europe still has reason to fear a Le Pen presidency. It could be even more destabilising than Donald Trumps tenure in the White House. Le Pens particular brand of economic nationalism means she thinks French citizens should have priority for access to welfare, jobs, housing and healthcare, which is against EU rules and is designed to be anti-immigrant. She wants French law to be superior to EU law and to cut French contributions to Brussels. All that spells chaos and crisis for the EU if she was ever in a position to deliver. Britain has cause to fear, too. She is broadly pro-Russian and anti-American, so much so that she wants to pull France out of Nato. Just as the Atlantic Alliance is getting its act together in the wake of the Ukraine invasion, that would be a calamity for the UK and its allies. After Macrons petty, petulant and sometimes even pathetic attitude to Britain these past five years, I can understand why some Brits would relish him getting a bloody nose. But a Le Pen presidency would bring huge instability to Europe at a time when it has to be united and focused on the many threats it faces. So the stakes are high for all of us in this presidential election. Six years ago, when he was limbering up for his first run at the presidency, Macron wrote: If we dont pull ourselves together in five or ten years the National Front will be in power. The next two weeks will tell us if Jupiter has done enough to heed his own warnings. Shocking CCTV footage shows a brutal prison bashing that landed a feared underworld triple-killer back in court after the jailhouse fight with an inmate. Gangland assassin Siar Munshizada, 33, was caught kneeing and punching a prisoner in the head on CCTV security footage of the prison yard fight at Parklea jail. In the video, Munshizada can be seen in a reversed green cap walking and talking with inmate Stephen Stanley before the bust-up erupted. Another inmate grabbed Stanley attempting to interrupt the fight before Munshizada continued punching his head, reportedly ultimately knocking Stanley to the ground Munshizada is serving three life sentences for his involvement in the deaths of multiple Sydney underworld figures The pair suddenly squared up to each other before exchanging savage blows which Munshizada safely ducks. Munshizada tries to grab the other man by the head and knee him, before landing a relentless series of brutal uppercuts to his face. The 24-second attack only comes to an end when another prisoner attempts to break up the fight. The court heard Stanley ended up on the ground out of shot and his head was then stamped on, but it was not known who did that. Sydney District Court was told the 'dog eat dog' nature of prison was behind the fight, according to the Daily Telegraph. Munshizada insisted he was acting in self defence, and the court heard he told a psychologist: 'You look like a weak target if you don't defend yourself. 'There was no time for negotiation, no walking away from the situation. I didn't know what he was going to do and I wasn't going to take the risk.' The brawl occurred as a group of inmates made their way to the prison chapel and earned Munshizada an additional 11 month sentence after he was convicted of affray over the September 2019 incident. The brawl in 2019 occurred in Sydney's Parklea prison between the assassin and another inmate as they walked to the chapel Stanley escaped with just a six month sentence for the fight, but Judge Alister Abadee told Munshizada he got a longer jail term because he hit his rival while he was being held down. Munshizada is already serving three life sentences for killing flashy gangster Pasquale Barbaro, and thugs Michael Davey and Mehmet Yilmaz. The jailyard blow up erupted just four days before he was sentenced last December for the triple killings. Supreme Court Justice Des Fagan branded Munshizada and his ex-bikie sidekick Abuzar Sultani 'serial killers' and said they had a 'depraved gratification for killing'. Davey, a Rebels enforcer, was shot dead in the driveway of his home in Kingswood. Yilmaz was shot multiple times when he returned to his car after visiting the home of a Comanchero bikie. He then staggered behind his car to curl up in the gutter, before the gunman stood over Yilmaz, firing a shot into his head from close range. The court heard both men 'shared the arrogant and immoral belief they had the entitlement to 'extinguish the life of another person'. An NHS nurse has said she is 'begging on hands and knees' for UK officials to fix delays and allow a 'distressed' Ukrainian family-of-three enter her home, as the British Red Cross calls for the country's visa rules to be scrapped. Lauren Corbishley, 43, a nurse from Dawlish in Devon, applied to the Homes For Ukraine scheme on March 18 to bring three members of a Ukrainian family to the UK - but aside from the council making inquiries about a DBS check, she has heard nothing back. Ms Corbishley said she has 'two beautiful spare rooms waiting' for Yuliia, husband Glib, their 17-year-old daughter Maryna and their two huskies, who have been in Warsaw since March 10 after fleeing across Ukraine's western border. 'I'm basically on my hands and knees, begging,' she said, in a plea to the Home Office, which she said appeared to have 'shut up shop'. 'As a nurse in this NHS that has worked through this pandemic, I'm on my knees, and I'm begging [the Government], please find my family's applications and give them the [visas]. 'Help me. I've given this country two years of my time with this pandemic, I am not rich, and I just want something back - and that is to get this family here.' The 43-year-old said she was getting 'distressed' messages from the family asking what they should do. 'I don't know any more than them,' she said. 'I'm as in the dark as them.' She added: 'Yuliia yesterday was saying that she's ashamed that we don't want her here, but it seems like the Government doesn't want them here. 'And what do you keep saying to the people that keep saying that to you? It's hard.' Meanwhile, the head of the British Red Cross criticised the 'long, complex' application process for Ukrainian refugees seeking sanctuary in the UK, and called for the removal of visa requirements. NHS nurse Lauren Corbishley, 43, from Dawlish, in Devon, pictured, has said she is 'begging on hands and knees' for UK officials to fix delays and allow a Ukrainian family into her home Mike Adamson, the charity's chief executive, said only a 'small trickle' of refugees are reaching the UK and that it should be made 'much easier to come here'. 'It will remain a slow process with the current visa arrangements in place and it's only if we remove those that we'll actually start to see a steady flow,' he told BBC Breakfast. 'The whole of Europe and many other countries have waived their visa requirements. 'Most Ukrainians have biometric passports so we can do checks on them when they get here, we can find out who they are. 'And if we set up really good welcome centres and hubs, as the Government has actually promised, then we can look after them there, go through the matching processes, check out all the safety and security requirements. 'But the key thing is we get far more people here and then Britain would be playing its part at scale alongside our partners across Europe and of course showing solidarity and practical support to the people of Ukraine in this terrible situation.' So far, around 12,000 people had arrived in the UK under Ukraine visa schemes as of Tuesday, according to Home Office figures. Some 10,800 people had arrived under the Ukraine family scheme but only 1,200 had made it to the UK as part of the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme, provisional data published on the department's website shows. The UN says more than 4.3 million people have fled Ukraine into bordering countries, with that figure expected to rise as people living in the east of the country flee west amid warnings that Russia is re-focusing its military operation on the region. Ms Corbishley said she has 'two beautiful spare rooms waiting' for Yuliia, husband Glib, pictured, their 17-year-old daughter Maryna and their two huskies, who have been in Warsaw since March 10 after fleeing across Ukraine's western border Just yesterday, two Russian missiles struck a railway station in the eastern city of Kramatorsk, killing at least 52 people who were attempting to flee west. NHS nurse Lauren pointed out that many of those fleeing Ukraine have suffered 'trauma' and are going through 'mental torture'. 'The urgency on this is paramount to get people settled and safe,' she said. 'The longer that goes on, where they're just left in limbo, the trauma that they've already got from fleeing the war is just gonna get worse.' Ms Corbishley and her husband Ian have spent more than 1,000 of their own money on accommodation for Yuliia and her family as they have waited for the application to be approved. The family have lost their home in Kharkiv as well as Glib's business, which relied on Russian clients. They were put in touch with Ms Corbishley via the Shelter For Ukraine website around a month ago, and have been in touch ever since. 'We're emotionally invested in it, both of us now,' she said. 'That's the heartbreaking thing because I could possibly say to her, 'Look - go somewhere else, go where you are wanted, go where you haven't got to wait in this pain and get your life on track and try and rebuild'. 'But there's a selfish part of me now that is desperate to get here here because we're friends and I've invested into it. She's invested into it. That's really the hardest thing.' She called on the Government to provide clarity for those who are waiting to hear back about their Homes For Ukraine applications. She said: 'Please just tell us, what do you want us to do? You want us to reapply? 'Because waiting is not a good enough response. We can't just be told to wait any more. It's awful.' A village in Oxfordshire that has prepared homes for 45 refugees fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine has only seen one Ukrainian family arrive so far. Polly Vacher, 78, who is co-ordinating the project, said would-be hosts in the village of North Moreton have been ready to welcome refugees for more than three weeks. 'The houses have been ready and support network is there,' she told BBC Breakfast. Homes for Ukraine aims to match refugees with individuals, charities and other organisations who can provide accommodation for at least six months, enabling those without family ties in Britain to enter the country 'Our village who are waiting already with lots of support can't get the refugees because the visas don't come through and if you think about it, these people, they've been through the most terrible situation.' Ms Vacher also criticised the 'very lengthy process' of filling in visa application forms, saying it took lawyers two hours to complete for one family. 'These lawyers have put in 150 applications, and only 10% have actually received their visas,' she added. 'And after they put in the applications they got a message from the Home Office to say they'd lost some of the attachments, which are things like passports and that sort of thing, and therefore they had to resubmit the application, which meant they went to the bottom of the list.' The Home Secretary on Friday apologised 'with frustration' after coming under fire over 'delays' in the time it is taking for Ukrainian refugees to arrive in the UK. But Priti Patel denied visa requirements and checks are slowing the process and causing delays, insisting the UK will 'absolutely see changes in numbers' as work continues. Around 12,000 people had arrived in the UK under Ukraine visa schemes as of Tuesday, according to Home Office figures. Some 10,800 people had arrived under the Ukraine family scheme but only 1,200 had made it to the UK as part of the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme, provisional data published on the department's website shows. A Government spokesperson said: 'We are moving as quickly as possible to ensure that those fleeing Ukraine can find safety in the UK through the Ukraine Family Scheme and Homes for Ukraine. 'We have streamlined the process so valid passport holders do not have to attend in-person appointments before arriving in the UK, simplified our forms and boosted caseworker numbers, while ensuring vital security checks are carried out. 'We continue to speed up visa processing across both schemes, with almost 30,000 visas issued in the last three weeks alone and thousands more expected to come through these uncapped routes.' Vladimir Putin has chosen the man to mastermind his re-focused offensive in eastern Ukraine, after the first disastrous six weeks of Moscow's invasion saw thousands of Russian troops sent to their deaths and scores of tanks destroyed. Captain General Aleksandr Dvornikov, dubbed by some as the 'Butcher of Syria', has been ordered by the Kremlin to seize the whole of Ukraine's eastern Donbas. From 2016, Dvornikov oversaw Russia's brutal intervention in the middle east that helped Syrian president Bashar al-Assad crush his enemies in the civil war. During that time, chemical weapons and indiscriminate air strikes were used - resulting in thousands of civilian casualties. The 60-year-old general is also believed to be the man behind Friday's missile strike on Kramatorsk railway station, killing at least 52 civilians attempting to flee west. Captain General Aleksandr Dvornikov, dubbed by some as the 'Butcher of Syria', has been ordered by the Kremlin to seize the whole of Ukraine's eastern Donbas His battlefield intelligence is apparently highly regarded among western generals, and he is believed to be familiar with the Donbas theatre of war - where pro-Russian separatists have been fighting Ukrainian government forces since 2014. Dvornikov has also been given the responsibility of overseeing the Black Sea and the Crimean peninsula, which was seized by Russia in 2014. Analysts believe Putin wants to create a land corridor between Russia and Crimea - something that heavy Ukrainian resistance is preventing, according to Britain's Ministry of Defence today. NATO chiefs have compiled a database of his achievements and tactical preferences in a bid to predict his decision making in the weeks ahead, and he has developed a reputation for ruthlessness over the years. But officials say that he may struggle to please Vladimir Putin. 'Unless the Russian army becomes a lot more effective it is difficult to see how it succeeds,' one said. Reports have suggested Putin wants his forces to have seized enough of Ukraine by May 9 for him to declare victory on the Russian anniversary of Nazi Germany surrendering in 1945, and thus ending the Second World War in Europe. However, against all odds, Kyiv's forces have successfully repelled the Kremlin's armies from several regions of the country, dealing heavy losses while doing so. With Russian forces weakened, there are doubts that Moscow can hold large regions of Ukraine for long against local insurgencies and military counter-attacks. Ukraine's Ministry of Defence estimates that 19,000 troops have been killed since the invasion began on February 24. Meanwhile, at least six Russian generals and nine senior commanders have been killed. In recent days, thousands of Moscow's soldiers have retreated from the Kyiv region to be deployed elsewhere. Pictured: The units of the 150th motorised rifle division of the combined arms formation of the Southern Military District - which Captain General Aleksandr Dvornikov commands But a senior U.S. defence official said Friday the Pentagon has determined that some of the Russian combat units that retreated from the Kyiv area in recent days are so heavily damaged and depleted that their combat utility is in question. Some analysts have suggested that the focus on the Donbas and the pledge to de-escalate may merely be an effort to put a positive spin on reality: Moscow's ground forces have been thwarted - and have taken heavy losses - in their bid to seize the capital and other major cities. Born in 1961, Dvornikov began his career in Soviet Military School, before going on to join the Soviet Army in 1978. Was was educated further at the Moscow High Command Training School, where he graduated in 1982. Since then, he risen the ranks in the Soviet and then Russian army - serving in senior positions in various divisions and graduating from the Military Academy of the General Staff in 2005. In 2008, he took command of the the 5th Red Banner Army, before serving as deputy commander of the Eastern Military District, and then as the the Central Military District's chief of staff. In September 2015, he became the first commander of the Russian Armed Forces in Syria at the start of Moscow's intervention in the country, and took charge of its military operation there in 2016. Damascus: Smoke rises from the rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta following fresh air strikes and rocket fire on February 27, 2018 (file photo) Residents walk through the destruction of the once rebel-held Salaheddine neighborhood in the eastern Aleppo, Syria, Friday, January 20, 2017 In this file picture taken from the balcony of the Abdul-Hamid Khatib home, people walk through mounds of rubble which used to be high rise apartment buildings in the once rebel-held Ansari neighborhood in the eastern Aleppo, Syria, Friday, January 20, 2017 Russia intervened when the Syrian government, led by Assad, requested help from its ally to crush rebel groups in the country - employing a brutal regime of air strikes that helped the government regain significant territory. According to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), by the end of September 2017, Russian airstrikes had killed around 5,703 civilians - around a quarter of them children - along with thousands of fighters. Russia's actions drew heavy criticism from the West, with the United States and its allies accusing Russia of being complicit in war crimes carried out by Assad. As in Ukraine, Russia dismissed such accusations. Dvornikov is now the commander of Russia's Southern Military District, and will turn his attention to capturing Ukraine's Donbas region. News of his appointment came as mini-vans headed to a church in Kramatorsk in east Ukraine on Saturday morning to collect evacuees after a deadly rocket attack on a train station in the city. Overnight, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for a 'firm global response' Friday after a missile strike killed 52 people at a train station in eastern Ukraine where civilians had gathered to flee a feared Russian offensive. 'This is another Russian war crime for which everyone involved will be held accountable,' Zelensky said in a video message, referring to Friday's missile strike, whose victims included five children. 'World powers have already condemned Russia's attack on Kramatorsk. We expect a firm global response to this war crime,' he said. After the attack in the Donetsk capital, US President Joe Biden accused Russia of being behind a 'horrific atrocity'. France condemned it as a 'crime against humanity'. At least 52 people were killed, the regional government said. Zelensky reported 300 wounded, saying the strike showed 'evil with no limits'. This general view shows personal belongings of victims and burnt-out vehicles after a rocket attack on the railway station in the eastern city of Kramatorsk, in the Donbass region on April 8 Ukrainian servicemen stand next to damaged cars after Russian shelling at the railway station in Kramatorsk, Friday, April 8 Ukrainian servicemen stand next to damaged cars after Russian shelling at the railway station in Kramatorsk, Friday The Ukrainian president said the bombing had been reported in Russia before the missiles had even landed and called for more weaponry to counter Moscow's aggression. 'I am sure that the victory of Ukraine is just a matter of time, and I will do everything to reduce this time,' he added. AFP journalists saw the bodies of at least 30 people under plastic sheets next to the station. Body parts, packed bags and stuffed animals were flung across the floor. On the station forecourt, the remains of a missile were still visible. It was tagged in white paint with the words 'for our children' in Russian, an expression frequently used by pro-Russian separatists in reference to their losses since the start of the first Donbas war in 2014. 'I was in the station. I heard, like, a double explosion. I rushed to the wall for protection,' said Natalia, searching for her passport among the abandoned belongings. Another woman in a state of shock told AFP: 'I saw people covered in blood entering the station and bodies everywhere on the ground.' The governor of Donetsk claimed a missile with cluster munitions was used in the strike, according to quotes published by the Interfax news agency. Russia denied being behind the missile strike, which came with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Kyiv for talks with Zelensky and to visit the scene of civilian killings in the town of Bucha. Russia faces 'decay' because of ever tougher sanctions and Ukraine had a 'European future', Von der Leyen said at a news conference with Zelensky. 'My instinct says: If this is not a war crime, what is a war crime?' she said of the Bucha killings, calling for a thorough investigation. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer on Friday headed for Ukraine and is expected to travel to Bucha on Saturday, according to his office. A man hugs a woman after Russian shelling at the railway station in Kramatorsk, Friday A view from inside the station where 52 people were killed in a Russian attack, April 8, 2022 A fragment of a Tochka-U missile lies on the ground following an attack at the railway station in Kramatorsk, Friday, April 8 Six weeks into President Vladimir Putin's invasion, Moscow has shifted its focus to eastern and southern Ukraine after stiff resistance ended plans to swiftly capture Kyiv. Russian troops appear set on creating a long-sought land link between occupied Crimea and the Moscow-backed separatist statelets of Donetsk and Lugansk in the Donbas region. Civilians have been urged to flee the heavy shelling there that has laid waste to towns and complicated evacuation efforts. The defence ministry in Moscow said Saturday that Russian forces had destroyed an ammunition depot in the Dnipro region, and struck 85 Ukrainian military targets in the previous 24 hours. 'There is no secret - the battle for Donbas will be decisive. What we have already experienced - all this horror - it can multiply,' warned Lugansk regional governor Sergiy Gaiday. In the city of Lozova west of Kramatorsk, more than 15,000 people have fled, Oleg Sinegubov, head of the Kharkiv regional military administration, said on Telegram. 'There are still about 50,000 [people]. A large number of people will leave. Departures are organized both by rail and own vehicles,' he said, adding that fighting was taking place nearby. In the south, the Black Sea port city of Odessa girded for rocket attacks, imposing a weekend curfew. Residents and Ukrainian officials returning after a Russian withdrawal from an area near Kyiv, meanwhile, were taking stock of the scale of the devastation. Bucha - where authorities say hundreds were killed, some with their hands bound - has become a byword for the brutality allegedly inflicted under Russian occupation. But Zelensky warned worse was being uncovered. 'They have started sorting through the ruins in Borodianka,' northwest of Kyiv, he said in his nightly address. 'It is much more horrific there. There are even more victims of Russian occupiers.' Conflict in the area has wrought massive destruction and bodies are only now being retrieved, with 27 recovered from two destroyed buildings, according to Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova. Fresh allegations also emerged from Obukhovychi, northwest of Kyiv, where villagers told AFP they were used as human shields. Pictured: A car drives past a burnt Russian tank on a road west of Kyiv, on April 7, 2022, during Russia's military invasion launched on Ukraine Pictured: A Ukrainian serviceman stands atop on destryed Russian tank in Chernihiv region, Ukraine, Friday April 8, 2022 Moscow has denied targeting civilians, but growing evidence of atrocities has galvanised Ukraine's allies in the EU, which has approved an embargo on Russian coal and the closure of its ports to Russian vessels. The bloc has frozen 30 billion euros in assets from blacklisted Russian and Belarusian individuals and companies, it said Friday. It also blacklisted Putin's two adult daughters and more than 200 others as part of its latest sanctions package, according to an official list published late Friday. The United States and Britain had already sanctioned the Russian leader's daughters. En route to Kyiv, Borrell told journalists the EU would supply 7.5 million euros to train Ukrainian prosecutors to investigate war crimes, which Russia is accused of committing. Ukraine has welcomed new pressure on Moscow, but it continues to push for harsher sanctions and more heavy weaponry. 'Either you help us now - and I'm speaking about days, not weeks - or your help will come too late and many people will die, many civilians will lose their homes, many villages will be destroyed,' foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said after meeting NATO foreign ministers in Brussels. Britain said Friday it was sending Ukraine more 'high-grade military equipment' including Starstreak anti-aircraft missiles and 800 anti-tank missiles, while Slovakia said it had given Ukraine an S-300 air defence system. A 14-year-old Dutch boy who disappeared during a dive off Malaysia on Wednesday after 'being abandoned' by his 'meth-taking captain' drowned before rescuers could reach him, his heartbroken British father has revealed. Nathen Renze Chesters was washed out to sea along with his shell engineer father Adrian Peter Chesters, 46, French woman Alexia Alexandra Molina, 18, and their Norwegian instructor Kristine Grodem, 35. The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency revealed today that Mr Chesters told them how he watched on in horror as his son became too weak to stay afloat and drowned. The agency has asked authorities in Indonesia to continue searching for the body while the rescue mission in Malaysia has been called off. The group of four had been in waters about 50 feet deep at an island off Mersing town in southern Johor state. Mr Chesters and Ms Molina were found by rescuers and fisherman early Saturday morning in waters near Indonesia's border and have been taken to a hospital, where they are reported to be in a stable condition. Pictures shared by rescuers appear to show Mr Chesters and Ms Molina in the moments after they are brought to shore, sitting in the back of separate vehicles. Both are visibly suffering from sun burn, but while the teenage girl is smiling and seems relieved, Mr Chesters appears in shock and grief-stricken, having watched his son slip away just hours earlier. Shock and relief: Adrian Peter Chesters (pictured left), 46, appears devastated following rescue after seeing son slip away, while 18-year-old Alexia Alexandra Molina (pictured right) is the image of relieved as she smiles in the back of a vehicle. The pair were found early on Saturday in waters near Indonesia 's border and have been taken to a hospital, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency said. Tragic: 14-year-old Dutch boy Nathen Renze Chesters, who disappeared during a dive off Malaysia on Wednesday after 'being abandoned' by his meth-taking captain, drowned before rescuers could reach him, his father has said The pair were found 16 nautical miles (30 kilometers) north of Indonesia's Bintan Island, which is about 70 nautical miles (100 kilometers) from the location they were reported missing on Wednesday, according to Mersing police chief Cyril Edward Nuing. Ms Grodem, meanwhile, was first rescued by a tugboat on Thursday. It comes after the captain of the boat carrying the group was detained for further investigation Thursday over fears he may have abandoned them at sea after testing positive for methamphetamine. Police said they would assess the dive equipment and location, adding that the captain is being investigated under Section 15(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. He is also being probed for negligence. The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency revealed today that Mr Chesters (pictured) told them his son became too weak to stay afloat and drowned Mersing district police chief Cyril Edward shows pictures of two divers found alive, French national Alexia Alexandra Molina (right) and British national Adrian Peter Chesters (left) Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) officers during their search and rescue operation for foreign divers off the coast of Johor's Mersing, Malaysia Instructor Ms Grodem, 35, was rescued on Thursday by a tugboat. She said the four of them surfaced safely on Wednesday afternoon but later drifted away from the boat and were separated by a strong current. The search has moved south to where the two divers were found, Mersing maritime chief Khairul Nizam Misran said. Two aircraft, nine boats and some 85 personnel as well as fishermen are involved in the expanded search, he said. The boat skipper was detained for further investigation, and diving activities off Mersing have been suspended. Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) officers are seen at the search and rescue operation command centre of the missing divers at Mersing, Johor, Malaysia on Saturday morning The island where they disappeared, Pulau Tokong Sanggol, is about nine miles (15km), off the Malaysian coast Officials say the four, who were in the water for 40 minutes, 'failed to return after undergoing a diving exercise'. Pictured: The tug boat which found Norwegian diver Kristine Grodem Ms Grodem was providing training for the other three, who were seeking to obtain advanced diving licences, maritime officials said. Local officials had suggested they were confident the three missing persons would be found because they were 'experienced divers'. Chesters, who is from Sheffield, had only recently moved his family to the tourist hotspot after working as the senior engineer behind Shell's highly successful Appomattox rig in the Gulf of Mexico. District police chief Cyril Edward Nuing said on Thursday: 'Based on her [Grodem's] account, the three others managed to surface. 'With their equipment, their full gear and their experience, we believe there is a strong chance of finding them alive.' It comes after the boat's captain was detained for further investigation after being arrested for testing positive for drugs. Johor police chief Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said officers arrested the man at 11.30pm on Thursday after he gave a statement to Mersing district police. Mr Mamat said: 'He tested positive for methamphetamine use when we conducted a urine test. 'The forensics team will arrive to conduct the investigation. We will also investigate if there is any issue of negligence.' The area where the group initially went missing from is popular among divers and tourists, with dozens of resorts dotted around the coastal area. Diving instructor Kristine Grodem, 35, (pictured) was found 30 nautical miles from where she was last reported seen. She and the group were diving off the tiny island of Pulau Tokong Sanggol, nine miles from the coast, before they vanished on Wednesday Diving accidents, while rare, do occasionally take place in Malaysia. In 2013, a British tourist died when she was struck by a passing boat's propeller while diving off resort islands in the South China Sea. The tropical Southeast Asian nation's white-sand beaches and lush rainforests have long made it a major draw, but the tourism industry was hit hard by travel curbs during Covid. Malaysia's borders reopened to foreigners on April 1 after being closed for more than two years during the pandemic. Some states will experience heavy thunderstorms, while other brace for blizzard-like conditions Unfortunately, travel experts allege disruption will likely continue into next weekend as an enormous, multi-faceted storm moves across US ahead of Easter Many travelers are reporting last-minute changes and multi-day delays More than 2,400 flights were canceled and another 9,100 delayed on Saturday Thousands of travelers have found themselves stranded across the nation as airline staffing shortages and widespread storms have caused more than 2,400 flight cancellations and another 9,100 delays ahead of Easter weekend. The disruptions come amid a sudden surge in passenger numbers due to dropping COVID-19 infection rates and loosening travel restrictions around the globe. As of Saturday afternoon, 2,419 flights had been cancelled and another 9,103 delayed worldwide, according to flight tracking data from FlightAware, continuing a mid-week trend of major travel disruptions. Many who had planned spring getaways have reported last-minute changes, with one traveller even alleging their flight was cancelled after they had boarded the plane. Others have complained of cancellations lasting multiple days, cutting their trips so short that they were forced to forgo their vacations altogether. Unfortunately, travel experts allege disruption will likely continue into next weekend - which marks the oft-traveled-on Easter holiday - as an enormous, multi-faceted storm moves across the United States. AccuWeather meteorologists predict the system could result in a five-day stretch of severe weather, producing blizzard conditions from the Rockies to the Great Plains and thunderstorms stretching from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes. Industry analysts also predict that travel chaos will continue throughout the summer due to pandemic-fueled staffing shortages across every major air carrier, CNN Travel reported. Thousands of travelers have found themselves stranded as more than 2,400 flights were canceled and another 9,100 delayed on Saturday. Travelers are pictured amid the chaos at JFK airport in New York City on Saturday As of Saturday morning, 1,884 flights had been cancelled and another 4,191 delayed, according to flight tracking data from FlightAware An enormous, multi-faceted storm traveling across the U.S. could result in a five-day stretch of severe weather, producing blizzard conditions from the Rockies to the Great Plains and thunderstorms stretching from the Gulf Coast to Great Lakes The U.S. is bracing for more storms as cold air out West collides with 'surging warmth and humid air' in the Eastern states. Northern California and a large portion of the Pacific Northwest are expected to be hit with mild impacts from the storm once it makes landfall Sunday night. Areas of low-elevation will be hit with rain and showers, while the mountains could see several inches of snow. Snow showers may occur in the mountains of Southern California from Monday to Tuesday, while San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego are expected to see rain showers. Meteorologists predict that in some communities, the rainfall may turn gusty with thunder, lightning and even hail. Rain and mountain snow in the Southwest is highly unlikely due to the long-term drought, but forecasters allege that gusty winds might increase the chances of dust storms and wildfires. Travelers are pictured near the JetBlue ticketing counter at JFK airport on Saturday Northern California and a large portion of the Pacific Northwest are expected to be hit with mild impacts from the storm once it makes landfall Sunday night. Area of low-elevation will be hit with rain and showers, while the mountains could see several inches of snow The Rockies and norther Plains regions are expected to take the brunt of the storm system as it rolls through early this week. If the storm develops to its full potential, some areas will see wind gusts up to 50mph and near-zero visibility for hours The Rockies and Northern Plains regions are expected to take the brunt of the storm system as it rolls through early this week. Areas of higher elevation, including the Wasatch Range in Utah, are expecting heavy snowfall on Monday and Tuesday, while rain is likely to soak valleys in Nevada and Western Colorado. As the system travels out of the Rockies and northeast toward the Great Plains, residents from Central Colorado and Wyoming and Southeastern Montana to portions of Western Nebraska, the Dakotas and parts of Minnesota are expected to see 1 to 3 feet of snow from Tuesday to Friday. If the storm develops to its full potential, some areas will see wind gusts up to 50 mph and near-zero visibility for hours. 'Blizzard conditions are likely to unfold as the storm gains strength, snow piles up and winds increase,' AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said. Blizzard conditions, which include high-velocity winds and massive snow drifts, will likely cause road closures and other travel delays. Meteorologists note that Denver and Fargo are currently outside of the area of heaviest snowfall, but that a slight shift in the storm's track could put either or both cities under a blizzard threat. Thunderstorms extending from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes are expected from Tuesday to Thursday However, forecasters note the clash of air masses across the midwest mid-week may cause highly-changeable weather conditions over relatively short distances Meteorologists predict 'numerous disruptions to travel and shipping efforts' as well as 'the potential for power outages as a result of rain, thunderstorms, wind and snow from the unfolding and strengthening storm'. Travelers are seen checking the flight status board at JFK airport on Saturday A severe weather outbreak spanning from Monday to Friday is expected in the Central states, causing high winds, hail, flash-flooding and tornadoes. Thunderstorms extending from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes are expected from Tuesday to Thursday. However, forecasters note the clash of air masses across the Midwest mid-week may cause highly-changeable weather conditions over relatively short distances. This means communities roughly 50 to 100 miles apart could experience differing conditions. For example, one might be placed under watches or warnings for severe thunderstorm and tornadoes, while the other might brace for winter storm and blizzard conditions. Meteorologists say the powerful system might cause damage, such as downed trees, destruction to homes and power outages, as well as travel disruptions. 'Numerous disruptions to travel and shipping efforts are likely with the potential for power outages as a result of rain, thunderstorms, wind and snow from the unfolding and strengthening storm next week over the middle of the nation,' Buckingham said. Ticket counters and kiosks saw full lines Saturday as passengers tried to navigate the chaotic JFK airport A JetBlue airplane is pictured at JFK airport on Saturday. The airline reported 352 delays and 168 cancellations worldwide on Saturday afternoon A traveler is seen sitting on the ground at JFK airport with his luggage on Saturday while talking on his cell phone Meanwhile, travelers across the nation are already experiencing the impacts of flight disruptions and have taken to social media to air their frustrations. 'Once, again, @AmericanAir...you have complicated travel with your delayed and canceled flights, forcing an expensive change with a different carrier to get where we're going,' wrote Houston-based journalist Tom Zizka. 'You've done this 4 times in a row!' Rose Velez-Smith, the VP of Integrated Talent Management at Pitney Bowes, said Delta ruined her family vacation by canceling their flights without any notification at all. '@Delta just ruined a family vacation!!! On our way to the airport and flight is canceled. No notification at all. Just found out by checking my APP. Disconnected twice and now NOT taking accountability for the cancelation fees we will incur from hotel!!,' she wrote. Travelers across the nation are already experiencing the impacts of flight disruptions and have taken to social media to air their frustrations Los Angeles-based real estate agent Jasmine Goode also claimed that Delta cancelled her flight without any notice. Another traveler, Twitter user @jarekushner, claims their flight was cancelled after passengers had already boarded the plane. '@SpiritAirlines is garbage canceled my flight while I was sitting on the plane. No replacement flight for 3 days laters,' @jarekushner wrote. 'No travel vouchers or food. Sad sad case and horrible airline. They couldnt locate a pilot for 2 hours and then just canceled no notice.' The airlines did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment. Parents have been warned to be on their guard for a dangerous cocktail of chickenpox and scarlet fever as cases of rashes among children across the country rise. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued the warning to parents after nearly 3,500 cases of scarlet fever were reported between September 2021 and March 2022 in England. With cases of chickenpox also on the rise, the mixture of two bacterial infections could make treatment more difficult to administer. Despite the number of cases of scarlet fever being 8,605 on average for the same period in the previous five years, experts are concerned the bacteria that causes the condition (Group A Streptococcus) could complicate other skin infections such as chickenpox. With cases of chickenpox also on the rise, the mixture of two bacterial infections could make treatment more difficult to administer Common infections declined during lockdown over the course of the pandemic, but they are now circulating at higher levels, affecting pre-school and nurseries in particular. Scarlet fever is usually mild, but highly infectious, prompting UKHSA to warn parents to be vigilant. Symptoms of scarlet fever include a sore throat, headache and fever with a pink or red rash on the skin. Early treatment is important as it helps to reduce the risk of complications such as pneumonia and the transmission of infection. Those diagnosed with scarlet fever should stay at home until at least 24 hours after the start of antibiotic treatment, and practice good hygiene including hand washing and not sharing utensils. Those with chickenpox, which presents as a rash, should also remain at home until they are better and the rash has gone. Dominic Mellon, Deputy Director of Health Protection at UKHSA South West said 'It's not uncommon to see a rise in cases of scarlet fever at this time of year and we are continuing to monitor rates of infection. 'We are reminding parents and carers to be aware of the symptoms of scarlet fever and to call their GP or NHS 111 for further advice or assessment if they think their child might have it. Symptoms to look out for include a fever, sore throat and a pinkish-red rash with sandpapery feel.' As a result of enhanced hygiene measures during the pandemic, cases were kept below average. Rare symptoms of scarlet fever can arise when it circulates at the same time as other skin infections, including chickenpox. One rare complication can include septicaemia, an infection in the blood, which can potentially be fatal. Parents who suspect their child has scarlet fever should seek medical advise via their GP or by calling 111. A former US Special Forces commander who was born in Hong Kong but grew up in the UK is training Ukrainian forces to battle Russians. Andrew Milburn, who joined the US Marine Corps as a private but retired 31 years later as a Colonel established the military training centre in Ukraine, dubbed the Mozart Group, to pass on special forces skills to Kyiv. According to Forces.net, several British Army veterans have joined the Mozart Group to counter Russian aggression in Ukraine. Former US Marine Colonel Andrew Milburn, centre, is in Ukraine training local special forces with a group of former British Army personnel Colonel Milburn, who was born in Hong Kong, but grew up in London spent 31 years in the Marine Corps. He is now teaching Ukrainians how to spot IEDs and tactical awareness which will improve their chances on the front line Colonel Milburn, pictured, said Ukrainian authorities should screen potential foreign recruits to determine if they have enough experience to allow onto the front line Colonel Milburn commanded the first Marines to take the fight directly against ISIS An estimated 5,000 people have volunteered to fight for Ukraine, though a surprising number of them have lacked basic military training. Colonel Milburn said some of the non-military volunteers, including Britons and Americans have been shooting themselves to get sent back from the front lines. He said better streaming of volunteers was necessary to determine if they have the required skills and temperament to fight on the front line. Commenting on his programme, Colonel Milburn said: We work through contacts in Ukraines special operations command and came up with a programme where guys are rotating out of the front line and we give them badly needed training, to make sure they at least zero their weapons right, they get medical training, EOD training and situational awareness training about spotting IEDs. The Russians have laid in plenty as they withdraw. The UK trainers, according to Colonel Milburn, will not get their gun on and go on the front line and kill Russians. He said: There are times, inadvertently or by design that we have to go on the front line to talk to units. Its a mitigated risk. We are not a reckless group of Angola-style mercenaries. We are building capability. We have had a series of incidents of guys wounding themselves purposefully to get out of combat. Westerners, Brits and Americans. There is not one nationality that are especially heinous. There needs to be an assessment part, a screening point on the border before they get in country. Within a few minutes someone like myself or my guys, or veterans can tell if someone has been in the military. Colonel Milburn said he has been watching some commentary on Twitter with armchair critics claiming the Russians are being pushed back or are being defeated. Colonel Milburn said some volunteers who headed to the warzone - even from Britain and the United States - have lied about their military experience. Some, having got scared by the intense fighting have shot themselves to get away from the front lines He said: The Russians are best in the defence and they have been inept in the offence, but they have reams of mines and they have got no shortage of artillery for shells. The barrages they bring down very quickly have to be seen to be believed.' Colonel Milburn said he had planned to become a barrister in London having completed a law degree. Instead he deferred his entrance into Lincoln Inns for five years having enlisted into the US Marine Corps. However, after his first enlistment he decided to continue with the US Marines, rising to the rank of Colonel. A top FSB intelligence official has been moved to a high security jail in Moscow as Vladimir Putin purges his secret services over the botched Ukraine invasion, say reports. Col-General Sergei Beseda, 68, head of the 5th Service of the Federal Security Service (FSB), was previously under house arrest. He has now been placed in pre-trial detention in notorious Lefortovo Prison, suggesting he will face major charges for intelligence failings, it is claimed. Col-General Sergei Beseda (pictured), 68, head of the 5th Service of the Federal Security Service (FSB), was previously under house arrest The move will be seen as a warning to other senior Putin aides who are expected to take the blame for the huge Russian death toll in Ukraine. Besedas case is being investigated by the Military Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee, said Russian intelligence expert Andrei Soldatov, who revealed the Lefortovo move. Beseda, in charge of FSB intelligence and political subversion in the ex-USSR, had been on a trip to Ukraine shortly before he was detained. Putin is said to fear that moles leaked invasion plans to the West, and Beseda was detained along with his deputy Anatoly Bolyukh, but had been held under house arrest until now. The current status of Bolyukh is unclear. He has now been placed in pre-trial detention in notorious Lefortovo Prison, suggesting he will face major charges for intelligence failings, it is claimed Putin is said to fear that moles leaked invasion plans to the West, and Beseda was detained along with his deputy Anatoly Bolyukh (above), but had been held under house arrest until now The Russian leader had been convinced by secret services briefings that his troops would be welcomed by many Ukrainians, and achieve a speedy victory. In reality they have faced implacable opposition. Lefortovo jail notoriously held political prisoners in the Soviet era and is routinely used to incarcerate suspected traitors. Last month Putin also fired the deputy head of the Russian national guard. Beseda had been a longtime trusted Putin secret services official, and was in his role as head of the 5th service of the FSB since 2009. Russia has not confirmed his arrest or detention in Lefortovo. Notorious bikie boss Toby Mitchell thought he was the victim of an April Fool's prank when he was booted from his own infamous Mongols gang - until he was ordered to remove his club tattoos. In a move which has stunned Victoria's criminal underworld, Mitchell - who is Victoria's highest-profile bikie - was summoned to a meeting on April 1 at the Port Melbourne clubhouse. But he wasn't laughing when he realised his gang had been taken over in a spectacular coup - and he'd been kicked out. The next morning - in line with strict bikie tradition - he had his gang tattoos removed at the the City of Ink parlour in South Melbourne. Notorious bikie boss Toby Mitchell, 47, thought he was the victim of an April Fool's prank when booted from the infamous Mongols gang - until he was ordered to remove his club tattoos Nick 'The Knife' Forbes (pictured) is the new Mongols national president, with Phillip Main his sergeant-at-arms following the coup against Toby Mitchell earlier this month Bikie gang rules in Australia see ex-members forced to permanently erase their club tattoos - or face potentially fatal consequences. Why Mitchell was kicked out of the Mongols remains unknown, with some pointing to his links with one particular Melbourne crime identity as well as his perceived high profile. Mitchell has more than 300,000 followers on Instagram, and he regularly updates his social media account with photos of gym workouts, luxury cars and encounters with celebrities, including retired boxer Anthony Mundine and AFL legend Sam Newman. Earlier this month, Mitchell complained to a court judge his outlaw life is so difficult at times that police push to prosecute him if he 'jaywalks'. Mitchell was jailed last December for two months following his involvement in a fight in Echuca, in northern Victoria, which he blamed on PTSD. It was also recently was suggested the 47-year-old has 'grown tired' of the bikie lifestyle after years of public brawls, arrests and stints behind bars. Also a former member of the Bandidos, Mitchell's next move will interest many. Mitchell (pictured with model Tammy Hembrow) has more than 300,000 followers on Instagram, and regularly updates his social media account with photos of gym workouts, luxury cars and encounters with celebrities According to the Herald Sun, Nick 'The Knife' Forbes is the new Mongols national president, with Phillip Main his sergeant-at-arms following the coup. The new leadership comes as a number of Victorian based Mongols have been brutally murdered the past few years. In 2019, Rocco Curra was fortunate to survive a shooting, and a few months later fruiterer Paul Virgona was gunned down. Mongols Josh Rider and Aaron Ong were later charged with Virgona's murder and in 2020, another Mongols member, Shane Bowden, was executed on the Gold Coast. The feared gang have also recruited a number of members who once were linked to the Bandidos, notably one time national president Jason Addison. A 17-year-old was arrested and charged in the Friday slaying of a 16-year-old girl, who was described as a 'beautiful soul' by her family. Jeremiah Ryan, 17, was charged with murder, attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon on Saturday by the NYPD in the killing of Angellyh Yambo, 16, near her Bronx school. He is expected to appear in court either later Saturday or on Sunday. 'Last night, we were able to bring in Jeremiah Ryan and place him in custody,' NYPD Chief Timothy McCormack said at a press conference on Saturday, adding that the boy is working with police. 'We have two families that are completely destroyed right now - our victim's family and our shooter's family,' McCormack said. Police were investigating whether the shooting suspect, who has no criminal record, was using a so-called 'ghost gun' - a homemade firearm that can be built with parts bought online and lacks a serial number normally used to trace it. They said a total of six rounds were fired Yambo was walking home with two friends at around 2 p.m. on Friday when she was struck in the chest with a bullet, having been caught in the crossfire of two reported criminals on opposite sides of the street when an argument broke out between them. She was rushed to Lincoln Medical Center after emergency personnel were seen performing chest compressions on her in the street as blood pooled around her. Yambo could not be saved and was pronounced dead at the hospital. Angellyh Yambo, 16, (pictured in 2020) was walking home with two others around 2pm on Friday when she was struck in the chest with a bullet Her 'devastated' family said Yambo was never one to be found on the streets and was a straight-A student (pictured in 2020) Her devastated family told the New York Post that Yambo was never one to be found on the streets and was a straight-A student who enjoyed her school work. 'She was a girl who went to school and came straight home. She was never in the street. She was one of the sweetest girls youd ever meet,' her aunt Margarita Yambo told the Post. 'She was a beautiful soul. She was a straight-A student. She had her whole life in front of her.' Another female, 16, and her male, 17, who have not been identified, were struck in the shin and buttocks, respectively, police said. They are reportedly in stable condition and are expected to live. Police believe the children were not the intended targets and said surveillance footage showed 'two brazen criminals' arguing before the shots were fired near University Prep High School. Her other aunt, Elvia Henriquez, 36, said the 'loving and caring' girl's mother was 'still in shock' and 'has not said much.' 'She's in very big disbelief at the moment,' Henriquez told the New York Post. Yambo's childhood best friend, Hazel Cheeseboro, said: 'Her mom was heartbroken. She is trying to hang in there, but shes not feeling that great. I mean, she just lost her daughter, but shes trying. 'She didnt deserve to be put down the way she was... I am heartbroken. She always looked at the bright side, never the bad side of anything. That was her,' she told the newspaper. The girl's mother reportedly arrived on the scene after first responders were unable to resuscitate her daughter. 'The mother was screaming hysterically. The police were holding her back,' a superintendent of a nearby building told the New York Post. 'I felt her pain in her scream. There is nothing stronger than a mothers scream.' Her aunt said the young 'loving and caring' girl was fond of making and was getting good at it (pictured in 2020) Besides being a straight-A student, Yambo (pictured in 2019) reportedly was a shoulder to lean on, her friend said. And she enjoyed playing Call of Duty and Fortnite and listening to Beyonce and Rihanna Yambo (pictured with family in 2018) was a big sister to three brothers and her mother is reportedly in 'disbelief' over her daughter's tragic passing. Her mother reportedly arrived on the scene after first responders were unable to resuscitate her and was seen screaming and being held back by police Yambo's three younger brothers are also reportedly 'having a really hard time' dealing with their sister's death. Margarita described the girl as 'a great big sister' and added that her niece 'loved makeup' and was getting good at it. Besides being a straight-A student, Yambo reportedly was a shoulder to lean on, her friend said. And she enjoyed playing Call of Duty and Fortnite, and listening to Beyonce and Rihanna. She had just started at University Prep High School as a ninth-grader and had told Cheeseboro only a week ago how she was excited about making new friends and getting a summer job, the New York Post reported. The shooting occurred outside University Heights High School's South Bronx Campus on East 156th Street and St. Ann's Avenue. Police told the New York Daily News that the gunman had been arguing with someone across the street, when he pulled out the weapon and opened fire. None of the teens were the intended target. Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell described the fatality victim as 'a young woman with a bright future.' Yambo (pictured on Friday) was shot and killed and two others were injured outside of the South Bronx High School as they walked home from school Police are seen investigating the scene on Friday afternoon around 1.45pm Police roped of the area where a 16-year-old girl was shot and killed outside of the South Bronx High School on Friday. Police were seen performing chest compressions on the girl as blood pooled around her A man at the scene reacts as he sees the body of the 16-year-old girl Authorities set up little cones on the scene. Two others - a male, 17, and female, 16 - were also injured in the buttock and shin, respectively and all three teens were rushed to the hospital New York City Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell (middle) held a press conference outside the scene on Friday Six shots were reportedly fired in a westbound direction from the suspect who was standing on the east side of the street. Law enforcement sources told the New York Post that two males across the street from each other got in an argument prior to the shots being fired. 'At this point in our early investigation, that the brazen criminals opened fire after a dispute,' Sewell said at a brief press conference on Friday. No arrests have been made and police are now searching for a Hispanic man in his 20s, who was last seen wearing a gray tracksuit and a black vest and was seen driving westbound, officials confirmed. 'At this time, we have no identity on the shooter,' McCormack of Bronx Detectives said at the press conference on Friday. New York City Mayor Eric Adams, 61, was notified and left the Yankees home opener game early after hearing about it, his press secretary said on Twitter. Attorney General Letitia James, 63, to the horror on Twitter, writing: 'This is devastating. Yet another shooting in our city, yet another young life taken too soon. 'I'm sending my deepest condolences to the family of this young girl and I'm praying for the full recovery of the other two teenagers who were shot.' The family is now calling for police in the streets, as they fear gun violence, which hs risen significantly in the city. 'Im scared every single day to go outside because of this gun violence,' Margarita told the New York Post. 'Put more cops in the street, every corner. I dont know. I dont know. This isnt something that should have happened 'I hope they find these animals. Turn themselves in or I hope the cops get them and they serve a lifetime in jail.' Henriquez agreed, stating: 'Be mindful of what youre doing during a dispute. Think before you do anything. People, innocent people are losing their lives over situations that are not worth it.' The scene was rope off with caution tape as police investigate Police are now looking for a man who drove away westbound and was last seen wearing a gray tracksuit and black vest Police have said the teens were not the intended target of the shooting and that six shots were fired A Bronx local Freddy Brown said it was 'unbelievable,' but he was wasn't 'surprised.' 'No, it's not a surprise, because you hear shots all the time in this area,' the unidentified local said. 'But it's surprising to hear it's three young kids in the area. You don't hear about young teenagers getting shot in the area, but it happens all over now.' Bronx worker Eddie Rosado also agreed with Brown's statements saying: 'It's getting to the point now where it's an every day thing. When I was a teenager, this stuff wasn't going on this much, it's crazy.' Rosado said he was 'definitely not' surprised, but he felt safe 'for the most part, because I grew up in the Bronx.' 'It's my environment, but when stuff happens like this so close, it's a little rough, it's hard,' he said. NYC crime is up almost 50 percent compared to last year and shooting victims have risen 14.5 percent. 'We need more patrol in the area,' Brown said. 'I'm scared for my grandkids.' The shooting happened on East 156th Street outside of the South Bronx High School (pictured) The teens were taken to Lincoln Medical Center, where one girl, 16, succumbed to her injuries. The other girl was shot in the shin and the male was shot in the buttocks. They were reportedly not the intended targets of the drive-by shooting Advertisement First-graders in New Jersey will be learning about gender identity with new sex education curriculum which includes a lesson that teaches children they can have 'boy parts' but 'feel like' a girl. The new lessons, which are part of a broader, K-12 health and sex education curriculum adopted by the New Jersey Board of Education, are alarming some parents, Asbury Park Press first reported. One of the 30-minute lesson plans, called 'Pink, Blue and Purple,' teaches the students to define 'gender, gender identity and gender role stereotypes.' Another lesson plan, this one for second-graders called 'Understanding Our Bodies,' tells teachers to instruct students that 'being a boy or a girl doesn't have to mean you have those parts, there are some body parts that mostly just girls have and some parts that mostly just boys have.' 'Most people have a vulva and a vagina or a penis and testicles, but some people's bodies can be different,' the plan states. 'Your body is exactly what is right for you.' The new state sex education guidelines, which go into effect in September, were handed out to parents at the Westfield Board of Education meeting in February, and included instructions for teachers to tell students that their gender identity is up to them. 'You might feel like you're a boy even if you have body parts that some people might tell you are ''girl'' parts,' the lesson plan states. 'You might feel like you're a girl even if you have body parts that some people might tell you are ''boy'' parts. And you might not feel like you're a boy or a girl, but you're a little bit of both. No matter how you feel, you're perfectly normal!' Many New Jersey parents are outraged over the new lesson plans, with some weighing the decision to remove their child from the public school system. Dailymail.com has reached out to the Board of Education for comment. One of the 30-minute lesson plans, called ' Pink, Blue and Purple ' teaches the students to define 'gender, gender identity and gender role stereotypes,' Fox News reported The new lesson plan includes this sheet, which instructs students to select which gender they think can do each profession. Students can select male, female or anyone The plan begins with advising teachers to start the discussion about gender identity with asking students which card should be sent to someone who just had a baby New lesson plans in NJ instruct teachers to tell students their gender identity is up to them and that 'being a boy or a girl doesn't have to mean you have those parts' Pink, Blue and Purple By the end of this lesson, students will be able to: 1. Define gender, gender identity and gender role stereotypes. 2. Name at least two things they've been taught about gender role stereotypes, and how those things may limit people of all genders. Sample lesson: Tell students they are to decide whether what's in the picture is something that only boys should play with, only girls should play with or that anyone can play with. Discussion Sometimes, when a boy does something that's not on the 'boy' list, or when a girl does something that's not on the 'girl' list, they'll get teased or even bullied. For example, a boy who cries in front of his friends or likes to play dress up, or a girl who likes to climb or play with rockets. Explain that it is never okay to tease or bully someone else and it's never okay for someone to tease or bully you. Understanding Our Bodies By the end of this lesson, students will be able to: 1. Correctly identify at least four body parts of the female genitals. 2. Correctly identify at least four body parts of the male genitals. 3. Describe why it is important for them to know the correct names for the genitals. This lesson refers to 'girls' and 'boys' when identifying body parts. The use of a binary construct of gender as well as using gender (boys and girls) rather than the more accurate biological sex (male and female) is purposeful given the developmental stage of students. This lesson does, however, acknowledge that there are some body parts that mostly just girls have and some parts that mostly just boys have. Being a boy or a girl doesn't have to mean you have those parts, but for most people this is how their bodies are. And, 'Most people have a vulva and a vagina or a penis and testicles but some people's bodies can be different. Your body is exactly what is right for you.' Tell students: 'There are some body parts that mostly just girls have and some parts that mostly just boys have.' 'These body parts, which are usually covered by clothing or a bathing suit, are sometimes called private parts or genitals and today we want to make sure everyone knows the correct names for these parts and who has what body part.' Display male body and female body on PowerPoint slides to go over which body parts are different and which ones are the same. Have the class label body parts on male and on female. By asking the class which body parts only girls have, only boys have and both have, the teacher can assess the knowledge of the class. An alternative assessment strategy is for the teacher to ask, 'Who has a vulva? Girls, boys or both? Who has a penis?' etc. and have the class respond. By asking students why it might be important to know the correct names for these body parts, the teacher can gauge student understanding by their responses. Source: Lesson plans from Rights, Respect, Responsibility: A K-12 Curriculum Advertisement 'I am honestly appalled at this curriculum,' Maria DeMaio-Esposito, a mother of two told the Asbury Park Press. 'I am debating whether to place my child in a private school if I can afford it. Is this curriculum really necessary? Children need to stay children. Their innocence is beautiful and I do not want their little minds filled with this very adult topic.' Parents are able to opt out of the curriculum, but some say the move would be too much for their child, possibly putting a target on their back. Paula McCarthy-Mammana told the Asbury Press she believes her granddaughter would be seen in a different manner by her peers if she were to opt out. 'She may be bullied or harassed and I don't agree with a child being targeted because of family moral issues.' The new materials emerged amid controversy over the 'Don't Say Gay' law that was signed last month by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis - which bans the discussion of gender identity in kindergarten through third grade. Politicians have weighed in on the new sex education guidelines in New Jersey, with former Gov. Chris Christie slamming Gov. Phil Murphy for embracing 'crazy liberal policies.' 'I think this is just a further indication of the crazy liberal policies of my successor, Phil Murphy, who is in the progressive movement,' Christie said on the 'Brian Kilmeade Show' on Friday. 'He's on the left of the progressive movement, and this kind of stuff just should not be going on,' he added. State Sen. Holly Schepisi (R-Westwood) told Fox News that as 'a mom and a legislator, I can appreciate the need for students to receive age-appropriate instruction, but this is beyond the pale.' 'We knew that when Gov. Murphy used the cover of the pandemic to push these new standards through that something was terribly wrong, and now we can clearly see why they needed to do this in secret,' she said. 'The agenda has swung so far left in an attempt to sexualize our precious children that parents are fighting back.' Politicians slammed Gov. Murphy for embracing the new guidelines Politicians weighed in on the new sex education guidelines with former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie slamming Gov. Phil Murphy for embracing 'crazy liberal policies' The new materials emerged amid controversy over the 'Don't Say Gay' law that was signed last month by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis - which bans the discussion of gender identity in kindergarten through third grade State Sen. Michael Testa (R-Cape May) called the new guidelines 'abuse.' 'We fought for kids to return to school in person. Then we had to fight to take off our kids' masks. Now, we have to watch our elementary school children, who have already fallen behind thanks to the Murphy lockdowns, learn about genitalia and gender identity?' Testa said. 'It's abuse, plain and simple.' Westfield Schools Superintendent Raymond Gonzalez told Fox News that the lesson plans handed out at the meeting were 'a sample list of resources aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards to be considered as school districts work on revisions to the health and [physical education] curriculum.' 'We made it clear at the meeting and subsequent meetings that these are resources only they are not state-mandated and that the district is in the process of developing its revised curriculum to meet state standards,' Gonzalez said. New Jersey's Board of Education broadened its sex ed standards in June 2020 to include lessons on both abortion and gender identity. The new guidelines go into effect in September. Real Time host Bill Maher supported Tesla CEO Elon Musk's latest move of joining Twitter's board of directors, saying the richest man in the world could put an end to the social media platform's 'control' on free speech. Taking questions from viewers on Friday, Maher addressed one submission that asked him and his guests, New York Times writer David Leonhardt and author Nancy MacLean, what their thoughts were on Musk becoming Twitter's largest-single shareholder when he purchased 9.2 percent of the company on Monday. 'I'm for it,' Maher said. When his guests voiced their reservations, Maher explained that he believed Twitter has gotten so ingrained into our lives and daily discourse, that it could no longer ban users as it would amount to suppression of free speech. 'We live in a different age where Twitter is the public square now,' Maher said. 'If you deny someone's right to speak on Twitter, you're basically saying you don't have free speech rights.' 'I think that's what Elon Musk wants to fix at Twitter.' Scroll down for video Real Time host Bill Maher he supports Elon Musk's rise to Twitter's board of directors, saying the Tesla CEO is what's needed to fix social media's 'control' on free speech Musk, the richest man in the world and prominent Twitter critic, sent shockwaves when he purchased 9.2 percent of the company's stock on Monday, making him the largest shareholder Maher (left) explained that Twitter is the new 'public square' and that denying someone a chance to speak on the platform was like denying them their right to freedom of speech Musk has repeatedly voiced his opposition to the way Twitter bans accounts, saying the company fails to 'adhere to free speech principles' and 'undermines democracy.' Many conservatives have voiced hope that Musk would reactivate Donald Trump's Twitter account after the former president was permanently kicked off the platform in January 2021 after he was accused of stoking the Capitol riot. Leonhardt admitted that the possible return of Trump's account was the first thing on his mind when he heard about Musk joining Twitter's board of directors. 'Are we gonna have to read Donald Trump's tweets again, soon?' Leonhardt asked. 'Which is a tough one, because once they took Trump off Twitter, things did get better,' Maher joked. 'But it's bad for free speech. 'We're not living in 1980 anymore. This is a different world we live in where social media controls [free speech],' Maher added. 'So social media is sort of a it's living in a space that's not exactly a publication, but it's not exactly a private company either That's why it's so tricky.' Maher also voiced his concerns that when Twitter bans people from its platform, they go on to other social media sites where they congregate with thoughts that 'Big Tech and Big Government' are 'ganging up' against them. Leonhardt argued that while freedom of speech is important, it needs to be balanced with the dangers caused by lies, specifically noting Trump's false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. He said Maher's description of what Twitter has become was what was given to media outlets decades ago. 'But they didn't air lies about election fraud,' Leonhardt said. 'You couldn't turn on Walter Cronkite and hear like, ''Actually, Barry Goldwater won the election,'' right? That's now what you get on Twitter from Donald Trump.' Maher, however, said Twitter can ban people for a whole slew of reasons, saying users have been banned or suspended for discussing the possibility that the coronavirus came from a lab in Wuhan, China, when the social media company began cracking down on pandemic misinformation. 'We don't know where coronavirus came from, but there's no reason to think it couldn't have emerged from a lab,' Maher said. 'They have a lab in Wuhan that was studying coronavirus, And you couldn't even discuss this. 'I mean, that's outrageous.' Musk's criticisms over Twitter bans has reignited conservatives hopes that former president Donald Trump's account could be reactivated. Trump was banned a day after the January 6 Capitol riot after making false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen Maher's guests, New York Times writer David Leonhardt (right) and author Nancy MacLean, voiced their concerns of Musk's rise at Twitter, saying the freedom of speech needed to be balanced with the dangers caused by spreading misinformation MacLean also voiced her concerns about Musk joining Twitter and noted that the move has riled up employees at the Silicon Valley company to the point where Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal has insisted that Musk poses no threat to the firm's culture, saying he wouldn't be put in charge of major decisions. Musk has agreed to sit down for a question-and-answer session with staff at the San Francisco-based firm after snapping up 9.2 percent of the company on April 4 for $3.7 billion, making him its largest shareholder. Many have spent the week moaning about Musk and accused him of being a 'transphobe' over a 2020 tweet mocking pronouns, as well as a bully. Announcing the 'ask me anything' session, or AMA, in an email sent Thursday, Agrawal wrote: 'We say that Twitter is whats happening and what people are talking about right now. Often, we [at] Twitter are whats happening and what people are talking about. That has certainly been the case this week. 'Following our board announcement, many of you have had different types of questions about Elon Musk, and I want to welcome you to ask those questions to him.' It is unclear when the session will take place, and whether it will be in-person at Twitter's San Francisco headquarters or held virtually. Such town halls are common in Silicon Valley - but only for CEOs and other executives. It is exceptionally rare for a shareholder to be put under the spotlight, The Washington Post reported. Musk joked about his purchase of nine per cent of Twitter stock in this tweet sent Thursday Earlier this week, he asked tweeters if they'd like to see an edit button, with the firm subsequently confirming that one was already in the works Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal tweeted afterwards that 'the consequences of this poll will be important,' apparently trolling Musk for saying the same thing in a March 25 tweet about whether the company 'adheres to the principle' of free speech Earlier this week, Musk tweeted a poll saying 'Do you want an edit button?' for Twitter. Agrawal later responded to the tweet: 'The consequences of this poll will be important. Please vote carefully,' apparently trolling Musk for saying the same thing in a March 25 tweet when he questioned whether Twitter 'adheres to the principle' of free speech. A majority of voters said yes, with bosses there confirming one is already in the works when it was announced April 1 and denied that Musk had any role in its inception. News of Musk's purchase also sent shares soaring by 27 per cent, sparking excitement among investors who hope he'll help Twitter catch-up with its far more profitable rivals Facebook and Instagram. But staffers there have been angered over his stance on issues including pronouns and free speech. Workers at the firm - which has been blamed for exacerbating ongoing culture wars across the world - are said to have spent all week in a frenzy over Musk's purchase. Writing on an internal message board, according the Post, one employee raged: 'We know that he has caused harm to workers, the trans community, women, and others with less power in the world. 'How are we going to reconcile this decision with our values? Does innovation trump humanity.' Another wrote: 'Quick question: If an employee tweeted some of the things Elon tweets, theyd likely be the subject.' And a third ex-Tesla worker said they were fearful of a repeat of what they claimed was a toxic work culture fostered by Musk at the electric car firm. That worker said: 'Im extremely unnerved right now, because Ive seen what he can do firsthand.' Agrawal insisted that Musk poses no threat to the firm's culture, saying he wouldn't be put in charge of major decisions. Musk has 80.9 million Twitter users and regularly uses the site to communicate with his fans. He has even found himself the subject of an ongoing Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) probe over his use of the site. In August 2018, he tweeted that he had secured funding to take Tesla public at $420 a share - a joke referring to cannabis, which is also known as 4:20. But Musk was accused of meddling with the markets, and was told by the SEC that he must have his tweets checked by lawyers before posting them. Hostage staff at the Chernobyl nuclear plant were forced to steal fuel from Russian invaders to prevent 'catastrophe' as Ukrainian officials claim the Kremlin's soldiers looted the plant for personal belongings and took off with 169 prisoners. Photos from inside the site of the nuclear 1986 disaster show ransacked rooms meant to house plant staff, which are said to have been cleared of 'money, valuables' and 'laptops' by Russian soldiers who searched for goods 'like dogs'. Russian forces are also said to have dug trenches in the highly contaminated Red Forest, which sits in the exclusion zone, and brought radioactive particles back with them. Authorities claimed that the plant was handed back to Ukrainian forces last week, after being occupied by Vladimir Putin's troops since the beginning of the invasion on February 24. For a time they prevented staff maintaining facilities there from leaving or being spelled off by other workers. According to Ukrainian Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskyy, 169 Ukraine National Guard Soldiers who guarded the site were locked in an underground nuclear bunker for a month with no access to natural light, fresh air or information. It is not known where they are now, but he suspects they may have been taken to Russia via Belarus. He told CNN: 'They were kept here for 30 days without sufficient lighting and food. They were not allowed outside. On the last day they were taken away from here to an unknown direction. Today we know nothing about their fate unfortunately. 'The Russian military went through all Ukrainian clothes, personal belongings, like dogs, in search of, probably, money, valuables, laptops. There was looting here. The Russian military stole computers and equipment.' A view of the rooms in the administrative building of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant where national guardsmen were said to be held as hostages An engineer at the facility also told of tireless negotiations which staff had to undergo with Russian forces to ensure safe running of the plant. Valeriy Semonov told the BBC: 'We had to constantly negotiate with them, and try hard not to offend them, so that they allowed our personnel to manage the facility.' Mr Semonov said in one instance he ended up having to steal fuel from the Russians when power to the station was cut off for three days because results could have been 'catastrophic'. He added: 'Radioactive material could have been released. The scale of it, you can well imagine. 'I wasn't scared for my life. I was scared about what would happen if I wasn't there monitoring the plant. I was scared it would be a tragedy for humanity.' It comes as drone footage taken from the exclusion zone around the Chernobyl nuclear power plant appears to have confirmed reports that Russian troops dug trenches and fortifications in some of the most irradiated parts of the region. Reports from the infamous plant - which was the site of the 1986 disaster - show ransacked rooms in which plant staff slept, said to have been cleared of 'money, valuables' and 'laptops' The footage, which has been geolocated and widely shared on social media, shows mounds of disturbed earth and fortifications dug on the outskirts of the Red Forest, just a few miles west of the Chernobyl plant. After the drone camera zooms out from the abandoned Russian positions and pans out, the ominous steel confinement dome that encapsulates the destroyed reactor can be seen in the distance. The Red Forest sits firmly inside the inner exclusion zone around Chernobyl, and was the area most heavily affected when the No. 4 reactor exploded in 1986, causing the world's worst nuclear accident. It is considered so highly contaminated that even the nuclear plant workers are not typically allowed to go there. There have also been reports of Russian soldiers bringing in radioactive material from the forest back with them. Ukrainian solider Ihor Ugolkov told CNN that radiation has increased since they came, and officials also claim it's a result of small particles and dust brought back in. Mr Ugolkov said: 'They went to the Red Forest and brought radioactive material back with them on their shoes. 'Other places are fine, but radiation increased here, because they were living here. 'They went everywhere, and they also took some radioactive dust on them (when they left).' Denys Monastyrskyy told CNN : 'They were kept here for 30 days without sufficient lighting and food. They were not allowed outside' Authorities said the site was handed back to Ukrainian forces last week, after being occupied by Vladimir Putin's troops since the beginning of the invasion Chernobyl staff were forced to steal fuel off Russian forces to prevent 'catastrophic' consequences as Ukrainian officials claim the Kremlin's soldiers looted the nuclear plant for personal belongings and took off with 169 prisoners Last week, Ukraine's state nuclear energy company Energoatom reported that several Russian troops had been evacuated from the forest to Belarus for acute radiation syndrome (ARS) treatment - though this is yet to be verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The last contingent of Russian troops retreated from their positions around Chernobyl on Friday last week, handing control of the territory around the power plant back to Ukraine for the first time since the start of the invasion on February 24. Rafael Grossi, the head of the IAEA, said last week he would be leading a mission to the Chernobyl as soon as possible to ascertain the damage caused by Russian troops and to ensure the plant safety protocols for storing nuclear waste have not been disrupted. 'I will head an assistance and support mission to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant as soon as possible. It will be the first in a series of such nuclear safety and security missions to Ukraine,' Grossi said. The Kremlin is yet to recognise the reports of its soldiers suffering ARS and has not commented on the withdrawal of its troops from Chernobyl. Hillsong Church has returned fire at Brian Houston's social media spray after the megachurch founder lashed out at a text telling his wife she was being made redundant. Mr Houston shared a screenshot of the message a Hillsong staffer sent his wife and co-founder Bobbie, calling the redundancy warning 'cold' and 'callous'. But in a follow-up email to members, Hillsong said the text had been sent to discuss separating the founding couple's 'key roles and responsibilities' from Hillsong. Hillsong Church met with the Houstons (pictured) to discuss the 'separation of their key roles and responsibilities' on March 28 The megachurch emailed out a statement to its members addressing claims by Brian Houston implying his wife was made redundant via text from the organisation which she cofounded in the 1980s The email added Hillsong is in a 'season of transition', and the situation is 'difficult' and 'strenuous for all'. 'Our desire has been to treat them with grace, love and honour,' the megachurch wrote before addressing Mr Houston's Instagram rant. 'Brian responded by making his feelings public on social media. This has been interpreted and reported that the Hillsong board 'made her role redundant by text', which is not correct' '...We are saddened by Brian's public response and hope that he and Bobbie will understand the heart behind the decisions that are being made. Mr Houston condemned Hillsong for making his wife redundant and said it was a sign the couple's 'beautiful church' was 'losing its soul' 'The goal was to work together with them and keep the church safe in the process, not to hurt anyone,' the megachurch, founded by the couple, wrote. The church wrote that the initial text message sent to Bobbie was to show 'genuine care' and 'open the opportunity for further discussion' writing Bobbie 'is and always will be loved.' Hillsong then asked churchgoers to pray for the pair, following their exit from the organisation after an internal Hillsong investigation revealed Brian Houston had behaved inappropriately toward two women. 'Please continue to pray for Brian and Bobbie and also for our church,' the evangelical church wrote The text which triggered Mr Houston's social media outburst informed Mrs Houston she would be receiving the email and, according to the church, to offer a phone call after the email was sent. It was said to relate to follow up on previous discussions the church had with both the Houstons in March about their future role at the church. Mr Houston took to Instagram on Friday to share a screenshot of the message a staff member of the organisation sent to his wife and co-founder Bobbie 'I wanted to let you know I will be sending an email shortly regarding your employment,' the text read. 'Please let me know if you would like to talk about it or if you have other questions.' Ms Houston responded: 'I don't even have the words to express how cold and callous this has become' The dismissal marks the latest attempt by the organisation to cut ties with the couple after Mr Houston resigned in March over allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards two women. The pair founded the megachurch in 1983 and the organisation has rapidly grown to include more than 300 churches in 25 countries and 150,000 weekly attendees. Mr Houston condemned Hillsong for making his wife redundant and said it was a sign the couple's 'beautiful church' was 'losing its soul'. The church wrote that the initial text message sent to Bobbie was to show 'genuine care' and 'open the opportunity for further discussion' writing Bobbie 'is and always will be loved' 'After 39 years of exemplary service and extraordinary faithfulness and fruitfulness, this is the communication Bobbie received from the Hillsong Church board as she is made redundant (effective immediately) through no choice of her own,' he wrote. 'This just 3 weeks after she hosted her 26th year of Colour Conferences. (A total of 118 conferences around the world.) 'She has relentlessly served God and served people as she stood side by side with me for four decades leading Hillsong Church, faithful in the good times and the tough times alike. And we are supposed to act like this is all ok. It's not!' An internal investigation found Mr Houston breached the church's moral code of conduct for pastors. 'We would like to advise you that Pastor Brian Houston has resigned as Global Senior Pastor of Hillsong and the board has accepted his resignation,' the church said on March 23. 'Irrespective of the circumstances around this, we can all agree that Brian and Bobbie have served God faithfully over many decades.' A previous statement from the Hillsong board said the two complaints made against Mr Houston were treated 'extremely seriously'. The dismissal marks the latest attempt by the organisation to distance itself from Bobbie (pictured) and Brian Houston after Mr Houston resigned in March over allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards two women 'The first issue was approximately a decade ago and involved inappropriate text messages from Pastor Brian to a member of staff, which subsequently resulted in the staff member resigning,' the board said. Mr Houston was 'under the influence of sleeping tablets, upon which he had developed a dependence' when he sent the texts, the board said. The second incident was when Mr Houston knocked on the Sydney hotel door of a female guest following the 2019 Hillsong Conference and spent 40 minutes in her room. 'An in-depth investigation found that Pastor Brian became disoriented... following the consumption of anti-anxiety medication beyond the prescribed dose, mixed with alcohol,' it said. The exact nature of the woman's complaint has not been publicly revealed and Mr Houston has denied any sexual activity took place. The organisation, which started as a modest Sydney church, grew rapidly over two decades to become a global powerhouse which makes up to $100million a year in revenue Hillsong added it had also committed to a review of its governance and structure as a result of the investigation. Mr Houston in a grovelling apology described his wife Bobbie as 'Christ-like' and told church members he was 'deeply sorry' in a leaked email. The organisation, which started as a modest Sydney church in the 1980s, grew rapidly over two decades to become a global powerhouse. Nine congregations have cut ties with Hillsong since the complaints against Mr Houston became public. Motorists are being warned against panic buying at petrol stations this weekend following a wave of closures due to supply chain issues - after various eco-mobs blocked oil terminals across the south this week. Many petrol stations across England are closed after running out of fuel following days of disruption from Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil, who glued themselves to roads at major depots, chained themselves to pipes and trucks and even crawled through a depot's tunnel network. The eco-warriors have vowed further disruption this weekend as a huge protest got underway in central London on Saturday afternoon that they warned would be 'impossible to ignore.' Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire and parts of the capital have been particularly impacted today, with the many filling stations closed or suffering with long queues as people tried to fill up. Tesco petrol station at Bar Hill in Cambridge and the petrol station at Cambridge Services on the A14 both ran out of fuel on Friday after motorists flocked to both sites to refuel. The BP station in Soham was also closed and the Tesco petrol station in Newmarket, Suffolk, had long queues before they finally ran out on Saturday morning. It comes after multiple garages also ran dry in Peterborough and Birmingham on Friday. Londoners have also complained of struggling to fill up today, as one tweeted: 'Why is no one talking about the fact theres no petrol again? Ive been all over the place and ended up having to come home on empty.' Another said late last night: 'No petrol in London petrol stations. Tried four petrol stations all closed.' Meanwhile Balan Nadarajah, manager at Abingdon BP garage in Oxfordshire, told the Oxford Mail that the petrol station had completely run out of diesel, adding that he suspects the blockades are to blame. He said: 'We haven't got any diesel at all; we only have 4,000 litres of unleaded which we will probably run out of today. Many petrol stations across the south of the UK are closed after running out of petrol and diesel following days of disruption from Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil, who glued themselves to roads at major depots, chained themselves to pipes and trucks and even crawled through a depot's tunnel network in Essex. (Pictured: Fuel runs dry at petrol station in Birmingham on Friday) The AA today pleaded with drivers to fill up their cars as normal and to avoid rushing to petrol stations - even if they see that their local garages are closed on social media. (Pictured: Fuel runs dry in Peterborough on Saturday) Social media users complained of petrol shortages in London and Oxford on Saturday and overnight 'Hopefully we will have a delivery, but we haven't had any news from BP yet.' A store manager from a BP on Launton Road told the paper: 'We don't know when we're getting our next lot of fuel. We'll be out of everything in the next 20 minutes.' It comes as the AA today pleaded with drivers to fill up their cars as normal and to avoid rushing to petrol stations - even if they see that their local garages are closed on social media. A spokesperson told MailOnline: 'If you have half a tank, just wait until tomorrow or Monday to fill it up, there's no need to rush to the station. 'If your station is closed, you will probably find another one near you that isn't.' He added: 'While the blockades have undoubtedly had an impact, the closures appear to be localised and not nationwide. 'The only impact they've had so far is the equivalent of a bad storm, the fuel industry is more than capable of dealing with such disruptions. 'The great thing about oil tankers is that they're mobile and can simply unload at other ports which aren't being targeted.' The spokesman said the closures have been partly caused by the fact that it is the weekend, particularly as families are looking to get away for Easter. He urged people not to panic if they see a picture of a closed petrol station on social media. Cambridgeshire has been particularly impacted today, with the majority of filling stations being closed or suffering with long queues as people tried to fill up. (Pictured: Fuel runs out in station in London on Friday) 'The blockaders want to make the whole system fall down,' he said, 'they want to see petrol stations run out of fuel by making people rush to fill up their cars. 'While they have had some impact, the fuel deliveries eventually get through.' Climate protestors Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion teamed up to blockade key terminals this week, meaning some tanker drivers were not able to deliver fuel to station depots. They say they want to disrupt fuel supplies to London and the South East of England and will continue until the Government agrees to stop all new fossil fuel investments. The protests are exacerbating existing supply issues due to increased demand after Covid lockdowns and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It comes as working Britons face a hike in National Insurance and soaring food and energy prices as Boris Johnson admitted families face 'tough times' and will have to 'choose' where to cut back spending. And from today, the group are planning new 'rebellions' which will start at London's Hyde Park and then spread throughout the capital - saying that they will be 'impossible to ignore'. 'We are getting a lot of reports to us and on social media of fuel shortages across the country,' they told MailOnline on Friday. A source at one major petrol station operator told MailOnline: '[The protests] are affecting every retailer in the country. We have no issue at all with supply, but we're having to get fuel deliveries from terminals elsewhere in the UK that haven't been affected by this huge disruption' It comes as eco-fanatic groups Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion teamed up to blockade key terminals leaving tanker drivers unable to deliver fuel to station depots. Pictured: Police stand beside a tanker with Just Stop Oil protestors standing on top Brent crude oil hit a multi-year high of $128 in early March up from lows of $19 seen at the peak of the pandemic When asked about the chaos caused by the group's protests, the spokesperson said they felt 'no choice but to act' to pressure the government into cutting off Britain's reliance on fuel. 'The Government can end the misery of empty filling stations immediately by making a statement to end new oil and gas,' they said. Several of the ports most affected are in Essex where people have been attaching themselves to fuel tankers with glue and bike locks. XR activists shut down Tower Bridge Extinction Rebellion protesters have shut down Tower Bridge by abseiling off the sides of the London landmark. Two activists are hanging from the bridge by suspension cords and have unfurled a huge banner that reads: 'End fossil fuels now.' The bridge, a main traffic artery across the Thames, is closed to vehicles, causing long queues. The pair hung the banner at 7am on Friday and also released red flares. The Metropolitan Police said officers were called to the bridge at 7.30am and no arrests have been made. Extinction Rebellion said: 'The action has taken place at the gateway to the City of London - the root source of fossil fuel funding in the UK - and on the eve of the April Rebellion which begins tomorrow at 10am in Hyde Park.' Amy Rugg-Easey, who is taking part in the demonstration, said: 'I ask myself why I do these things all the time, and the main thing that drives me is that I have tremendous hope and optimism in humanity's ability to fight the climate crisis - but there are certain people who continue to prevent that for their own profit. Advertisement Chafford Hundred, West Thurrock and the Purfleet Fuels Terminals are among the 10 'critical' sites that have been blocked across the country. The operation has cost more than 1 million since last Friday, according to Essex's Deputy Chief Constable Andy Prophet, and more protestors have continued to arrive. By Friday, some 268 people have now been arrested by Essex Police alone. Seven of the ten protests were carried out by Just Stop Oil at Navigator Terminals Thames, Inter Terminals UK and Purfleet Fuels Terminal all in Grays; Buncefield Oil Depot in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire; Esso Petroleum in Tyburn, Birmingham; and Kingsbury Oil Terminal and BP Oil Depot, both in Tamworth, Staffordshire. The further three were organised by Extinction Rebellion demonstrators at the Esso West Terminal near London Heathrow Airport, Hamble Terminals in Southampton and Hythe Terminal in Fawley, Hampshire. In a tweet by Extinction Rebellion's Cambridge branch the group shared photos of fuel 'running dry across Cambridge'. '@JustStop_Oil and @XRebellionUK are blockading oil terminals across the UK. 'Shown here are petrol stations in Sainsbury's Coldhams Lane, Tesco Fulbourn, and BP Elizabeth Way and Cherry Hinton.' The Petrol Retailers Association said: 'We are aware of protests at a number of fuel supply sites; however the majority of terminals are currently unaffected. 'PRA has not had any members contacting regarding supply issues. Some fuel suppliers are having to reschedule deliveries and our members are working closely with them and following their advice.' Fuel prices have risen to record highs in recent weeks, with some garages and forecourts charging more than 2/litre for diesel at one point. Chancellor Rishi Sunak tried to mitigate the effects of price rises as he last month begged petrol stations to pass on a 5p fuel duty cut at the pumps that he delivered in his Spring Statement. Asda, Sainsburys and Tesco were among the major supermarkets to confirm they would pass on the cut in prices, with a 6p decrease in petrol and diesel. This however represents only a fraction in the price rises seen since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in late February. The 5p cut in fuel duty was blasted by UK motoring groups as a 'drop in the ocean' for hard-pressed drivers as pump prices continue to hit record levels. From this weekend it is believed the groups' focus will shift towards 'mass daily protests' in London to be led by Extinction Rebellion activists. The campaign group, also known as XR, will hold its latest 'rebellions' from April 9 starting at Hyde Park and then spreading throughout the capital. Protests are also planned in Birmingham and Southampton and 'non-violent direct action training' will be given. XR spokesman Andrew Smith said: 'From Saturday April 9 we will meet at 10am in Hyde Park every day. We will be easy to find, we will be easy to join, we will be more disruptive than ever, and we will be impossible to ignore. Just Stop Oil activists take part in a protest outside the Esso Birmingham fuel terminal on the first day of protests at 10 oil terminals across the country 'We're expecting huge numbers from the 9th. In London we won't have pink boats, we won't have pink tables, we will just have people power. 'In the tradition of non-violent civil disobedience, we will disrupt business as usual until the Government and big business make change. We need everyone to join us.' He continued: 'We're looking at more mass participation-style events, rather than small kind of scattergun actions which rebellions have previously consisted of. We're looking at mass participation, which are easy to join. 'We're asking the public to step up and join us. We know at the moment that across the country, people are feeling kind of disenfranchised with how they've been treated by the Government. 'The energy crisis is really starting to hit home on people, and people really want us to step up into a space where their voice is heard. 'We're offering them the space where they can come and participate and join with us. 'Every morning we'll be offering non-violent direct action training, where we will encourage people to step up and be empowered to take action with us and speak out against Government inaction. As a response to that, the actions will feel and look very different to previous rebellions. Advertisement The first-ever all-civilian crew to launch to the International Space Station (ISS) arrived safely at the orbiting research platform on Saturday to begin a week-long science mission hailed as a milestone in commercial spaceflight. The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, carrying a retired NASA astronaut and three businessmen who each paid $55 million to participate in the voyage, docked with the ISS at about 8:30 a.m. ET after a 45-minute delay caused by a technical glitch at the station. 'I hope you enjoyed the extra half-orbit in Dragon,' SpaceX flight controllers said after docking. 'We're happy to be here, even though we're a bit late, and looking forward to the next chapter,' commander Michael Lopez-Alegria, a former NASA astronaut and station commander, said. The Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1), which was organized by the Houston-based company Axiom Space, is just the first of many anticipated private crewed missions into space, as the organization has already booked several other flights to the ISS with SpaceX, according to Space.com. Axiom also aims to start launching modules to the orbiting lab in late 2024 that will become a free-flying commercial space station in low Earth orbit. The Crew Dragon docked about 21 hours after the four-man multinational Axiom team - which includes Canadian investor and philanthropist Mark Pathy, U.S. entrepreneur Larry Connor and ex-Israeli Air Force pilot Eytan Stibbe - lifted off from Florida's Kennedy Space Center on Friday, riding atop a SpaceX-launched Falcon 9 rocket. The Crew Dragon capsule lofted to orbit by the rocket and docked with the ISS on Saturday as the two space vehicles were flying roughly 250 miles above the Central Atlantic Ocean, a live NASA webcast of the coupling showed. The final approach was delayed by a technical glitch that disrupted a video feed used to monitor the capsule's rendezvous with ISS. The Axiom crew is pictured docking at the ISS on Saturday morning Axiom crew are welcomed by the ISS crews as they leave the Dragon and enter into their home in space for the next eight days The first ever all-civilian crew to launch to the International Space Station (ISS) arrived safely at the orbiting research platform on Saturday to begin a week-long science mission hailed as a milestone in commercial spaceflight PREVIOUS SPACE TOURISM FLIGHTS Canadian investor Mark Pathy, US entrepreneur Larry Connor, and ex-Israeli Air Force pilot Eytan Stibbe are the first would-be spaceflight crew comprised entirely of private citizens in a mission to the International Space Station. So far, Russia has sent seven self-funded tourists to space in partnership with the US-based company Space Adventures. Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa along with his assistant Yozo Hirano became the latest to do so when they had a 12-day stay on the International Space Station at the end of last year. Their trip came at the end of a groundbreaking year for space tourism which saw Elon Musk's SpaceX take the first ever all-civilian crew in a three-day journey orbiting the earth, while competitor Blue Origin owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos also completed two missions beyond the Earth's atmosphere. Advertisement The snafu forced the Crew Dragon to pause and hold its position 20 meters away from the station for about 45 minutes while mission control trouble-shooted the issue. With docking achieved, it took about two hours more for the sealed passageway between the space station and crew capsule to be pressurized and checked for leaks before hatches could be opened, allowing the newly arrived astronauts to come aboard ISS. They were welcomed by ISS crew members including NASA astronauts and members of the European Space Agency. With the addition of the Axiom crew members, there are now 11 people working and living on the orbiting laboratory. After docking, the crew received a call from the ground from Kathy Lueders, of NASA, and Michael Suffredini, Axiom Space president and CEO, congratulating them on their groundbreaking achievement of becoming the first all-private crew to dock at the ISS. Shortly after, Lopez-Alegria, 63, in his role as commander, pinned Connor, Stibbe and Pathy with an Association of Space Explorers badge, memorializing their status as astronauts. 'There's a tradition when you pass a certain boundary you become an astronaut. That happened to these three gentlemen for the first time yesterday. Now I'd like to note it officially,' Lopez-Alegria said ahead of the pinning. 'When I pin these on - I think the numbers are 582, 583, and 584 for Larry, Eytan and Mark - I hope they will wear these with the pride they deserve.' The Axiom crew will live and work aboard the ISS for the next eight days, conducting more than 25 scientific experiments. The AX-1 mission is the first of several proposed Axiom Space missions to the ISS, and a 'critical first step' toward developing the world's first commercial space station. The Crew Dragon lifted off on Friday from Florida 's Kennedy Space Center, riding atop a SpaceX-launched Falcon 9 rocket The Crew Dragon docked at the ISS around 8.30am Saturday With docking achieved, it was expected to take about two hours more for the sealed passageway between the space station and crew capsule to be pressurized and checked for leaks before hatches can be opened, allowing the newly arrived astronauts to come aboard ISS The multinational Axiom team was led by retired Spanish-born NASA astronaut Lopez-Alegria, 63, the company's vice president for business development. His second-in-command was Larry Connor, 72, a real estate and technology entrepreneur and aerobatics aviator from Ohio designated as the mission pilot. Rounding out the Ax-1 crew were investor-philanthropist and former Israeli fighter pilot Eytan Stibbe, 64, and Canadian businessman and philanthropist Mark Pathy, 52, both serving as mission specialists. Stibbe became the second Israeli to fly to space, after Ilan Ramon, who perished with six NASA crewmates in the 2003 space shuttle Columbia disaster. While many have characterized Connor, Pathy and Stibbe as 'space tourists,' Lopez-Alegria has disputed that description, alleging the trio trained hard for their mission and will carry out a variety of scientific research while at the ISS. He claims the trio is very excited about the work they will be doing and hasn't stopped smiling since liftoff. 'I think there are smiles that are still being worn by the crew this morning,' Lopez-Alegria said earlier Saturday after the group had spent the last day adapting to space's weightless environment. 'I tried to eat a muffin this morning,' Connor said. 'That did not turn out as expected.' The Axiom crew and 11 members currently at ISS are pictured together after the Crew Dragon docked on Saturday morning Canadian investor Mark Pathy (middle, left), US entrepreneur Larry Connor (left), and ex-Israeli Air Force pilot Eytan Stibbe (right) have reportedly paid $55 million each to be the first fully commercial crew of astronauts to fly to the International Space Station. They have been joined by former NASA astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria (middle, right) Blast off: SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule is pictured shooting towards the cosmos after launching from Florida on Friday EXAMPLES OF AX-1 MISSION RESEARCH Larry Connor, Ax-1 mission pilot, entrepreneur, and non-profit activist investor, has a number of projects in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic. Connor's experiments on behalf of Mayo Clinic would provide data on space travel's impact on senescent cells and heart health. Connor is expected to be in charge of maintaining senescent cells cells that have stopped dividing at the ISS. These cells are linked to multiple age-related diseases, and understanding them can help protect astronauts on long-haul trips to Mars. Mark Pathy, Ax-1 mission specialist, is working on behalf of The Montreal Children's Hospital, Canadian Research Universities and The Royal Canadian Geographical Society. He is working with six Canadian universities, as well as two startups on 'proof of concept' ideas. This includes the world's first in-space demonstration of two-way holoportation a mixed reality app for special lenses that receives two-way 3D projections as a hologram to communicate between users remotely. In addition to human research, Pathy plans to lead Earth observation activities which will contribute to further analysis of the impact of climate change, urbanization, and other factors on the ecology and human habitation of North America. Eytan Stibbe, Ax-1 mission specialist, social impact investor, and Israeli philanthropist, is working on behalf of the Ramon Foundation. His mission is named 'Rakia', after the dome (atmosphere) created by God on the second day after the firmament, which protects life on Earth. During his mission, he will facilitate scientific experiments and will conduct educational and artistic activities to connect the younger generation in Israel and around the globe on the values of peace, innovation, and social responsibility. For the first time, an astronaut will represent Israelis on the International Space Station in Hebrew. Advertisement The Axiom team will be joining the existing ISS occupants of seven regular, government-paid space station crew members - three American astronauts, a German astronaut from the European Space Agency and three Russian cosmonauts. The new arrivals brought with them two dozen science and biomedical experiments to conduct aboard ISS, including research on brain health, cardiac stem cells, cancer and aging, as well as a technology demonstration to produce optics using the surface tension of fluids in microgravity. Axiom has also revealed that the astronauts will be taking technology built by Israeli company, Aleph Farms, to the station. This will include bovine cells taken from a cow which will be turned into raw meat by growing them into muscle, fat and other components as part of a process to make lab-grown steak. Aleph Farms' head of space research Dr. Zvika Tamari spoke to MailOnline about the experiment earlier this week. He said the company's aim was two-fold: to provide steaks to space travelers on the moon or Mars, and to develop a market for low-cost beef here on Earth. This technology involves turning cells taken from a cow into raw meat by growing the cells into muscle, fat and other components. 'Aleph's general goal is to be able to provide nutritious, tasty, sustainable food anywhere, anytime,' said Tamari, adding that 'stretching that to its limit is the ability to also provide nutrition in space.' The mission, a collaboration among Axiom, Elon Musk's rocket company SpaceX and NASA, has been touted by all three as a major step in the expansion of space-based commercial activities collectively referred to by insiders as the low-Earth orbit economy, or 'LEO economy' for short. NASA officials say the trend will help the U.S. space agency focus more of its resources on big-science exploration, including its Artemis program to send humans back to the moon and ultimately to Mars. While the space station has hosted civilian visitors from time to time, the Ax-1 mission marks the first all-commercial team of astronauts sent to ISS for its intended purpose as an orbiting research laboratory. Pathy, Connor and Stibbe took part in hundreds of hours of training ahead of their upcoming launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, including test driving the Dragon spacecraft. The Ax-1 crew participated in training at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, and other NASA facilities, since August 2021. This training allowed them to become familiar with the ISS systems, scientific facilities on board and emergency procedures. The crew is pictured boarding the ISS after Crew Dragon docked on Saturday morning A group of three businessmen and a former NASA astronaut shouldn't be considered 'tourists' when they become they travel to the ISS, according to the firm taking them, as they have been training as astronauts, and will carry out experiments and tasks while on the station NASA started working with the Axiom mission operations team on simulations in December to get a feel for how the first all civilian crew on the ISS would operate. This work allowed ground control for NASA and Axiom to familiarize themselves 'with the dynamic phases of the private astronauts' flight to and from the space station.' As well as training with NASA, the four crew members worked with the European Space Agency (ESA) and SpaceX at its Hawthorne, California facility. Axiom Space will manage the entire process of the crew's stay on the ISS, in coordination with NASA ground control. 'For us, it [Ax-1] really is the first of a series of flights precursor missions before our station comes to orbit,' Michael Suffredini, Axiom's president and CEO and NASA's former International Space Station program manager from 2005 to 2015, said last month, ahead of the launch. 'The first module will come into orbit in the latter part of 2024, and so this really is paving a way for a new era where there are more and more opportunities for individuals and nations around the world to live and work in the microgravity environment.' Mo Islam, the head of research at Republic Capital, a major investor in Axiom, said the need for a successor to the ISS for the West has never been more clear. 'The fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine has created existential issues that the US government and NASA can no longer ignore. 'Demand for a platform in low Earth orbit (LEO) is expanding as governmental space budgets around the world increase significantly and commercial use cases take shape. 'Tiangong, China's first long-term space station is on track to be completed by the end of this year. As NASA's relationship with its Russian counterpart deteriorates, a new LEO outpost could shift the balance of power in orbit and without orbiting infrastructure, the research impact alone for NASA is significant.' He added: 'The Ax-1 mission isn't so much about space tourism as it is more a representation of a paradigm shift in how astronauts are now trained. 'This mission showcases that the commercial space industry can train and prepare astronauts just as well as governmental agencies. The mission lays the groundwork for a new era of commercial low Earth orbit activity.' The Axiom crew exits the Crew Dragon and steps foot on the ISS on Saturday Axiom Space, the private space company developing its own module for the ISS, operated the trip, sending the four to the station on a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule ASTRONAUTS WILL GROW ARTIFICIAL STEAK FROM BEEF CELLS IN A BID TO PRODUCE 'JUICY' MEAT FOR HUMANS TO ENJOY ON TRIPS TO THE MOON & MARS If humans are to live on the moon and one day make it to Mars then scientists must come up a way for them to grow their own food. To that end, astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) could soon be tucking into a tasty meal of fresh steak but only if they can perfect the technology of cultivating it from beef cells in microgravity first. That is just one of the scientific experiments being carried out by three amateur astronauts who are launching to the orbital observatory later today for what will be NASA's first ever space tourism mission. Canadian investor and philanthropist Mark Pathy, U.S. entrepreneur Larry Connor, and ex-Israeli Air Force pilot Eytan Stibbe have reportedly paid a whopping $55 million (41 million) each for the ride. Three amateur astronauts are launching to the International Space Station later for what will be NASA's first ever space tourism mission. One of their scientific experiments will be to turn cells taken from a cow into raw meat by growing the cells and turning them into muscle, fat and other components. Pictured is the artificial steak created on Earth by the firm Aleph Farms One of the astronauts, Eytan Stibbe (pictured left), is seen tasting the lab-grown steak prior to launch During their eight-day stay on the ISS, the trio will attempt to produce meat that is 'just as tender and juicy as one you would buy from a butcher'. That's because part of the payload will include bovine cells, which are being sent up to the space station to be grown in microgravity and turned into muscle tissue found in steaks. The Israeli food technology company behind the idea, Aleph Farms, is a trailblazer in cultivating lab-grown beef steaks and counts Hollywood A-lister Leonardo DiCaprio as one of its key investors. In 2019, the firm produced the world's first 3D-bioprinted ribeye steak, and in September of that year was also involved in successfully growing artificial meat in space for the first time. On this occasion, scientists with the help of Stibbe onboard the International Space Station (ISS) will look to produce steak without the help of bioprinting, instead just multiplying and differentiating the beef cells as part of a natural process. Speaking in an interview with MailOnline, Dr Zvika Tamari, head of space research at Aleph Farms, said the company's aim was two-fold: to provide steaks to space travellers on the moon or Mars, and to develop a market for low-cost beef here on Earth. Pictured is a vision for its base on Mars Speaking in an interview with MailOnline, Dr Zvika Tamari, head of space research at Aleph Farms, said the company's aim was two-fold: to provide steaks to space travellers on the moon or Mars, and to develop a market for low-cost beef here on Earth. 'To produce [natural] steak you have to grow cows for 2-3 years, feed them a lot, you need a lot of land, lots of freshwater and natural resources,' he said. 'But we can produce good, nutritious, tasty steak wherever, even in the most remote places, in about three weeks. 'And where is more remote than space? A harsh environment with no natural resources.' Explaining how the process works, Dr Tamari said: 'We start with bovine cells, grow them in bio reactors and then multiply and diversify the cellular mass. 'This then turns them into various cell types that exist in steak, which is muscle cells primarily, adipose or fat cells and collagen cells, which are very elastic. 'So we take the cells that we grow and make them into tissue that resembles the steak you eat regularly. 'And that is what we're going to do on the ISS.' Advertisement The Axiom mission stands as SpaceX's sixth human space flight in nearly two years, following four NASA astronaut missions to the space station and the 'Inspiration 4' launch in September that sent an all-civilian crew to orbit for the first time. That flight did not dock with ISS. Axiom executives say their astronaut ventures and plans to build a private space station in Earth orbit go far beyond the astro-tourism services offered to wealthy thrill-seekers by such companies as Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic, owned respectively by billionaire entrepreneurs Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson. So far, Russia has sent seven self-funded tourists to space in partnership with the U.S.-based company Space Adventures. Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa along with his assistant Yozo Hirano became the latest to do so when they had a 12-day stay on the ISS at the end of last year. NASA recently announced the ISS had just nine years of operational life left, with plans to sink it in the South Pacific Ocean in January 2031. On the run up to that happening, the space agency plans to support commercial operators in launching privately funded and run space stations, starting with an Axiom Space module attached to the ISS. The April 8, 2022 launch is a precursor to that module, which is expected to dock with the station by the middle of this decade, part of NASA's efforts to built a robust low-Earth orbit economy driven by the private sector, rather than national players. Axiom recently completed the preliminary design review of two modules that will be attached to the ISS this decade, then separate into its own free-flying station. For more than 21 years, NASA has supported a continuous U.S. human presence in low-Earth orbit aboard the space station. 'The agency's goal is to enable a strong, commercial marketplace in low-Earth orbit with private industry where NASA is one of many customers,' a spokesperson said previously. 'This strategy will provide services the government needs at a lower cost, enabling the agency to focus on its Artemis missions to the moon in preparation for Mars while continuing to use low-Earth orbit as a training and proving ground for those deep space missions.' NASA has hailed the three-way partnership with Axiom and SpaceX as a key step towards commercializing the region of space known as 'Low Earth Orbit,' leaving the agency to focus on more ambitious voyages deeper into the cosmos. To its many detractors, space tourism amounts to nothing more than joy-rides for the global super rich that will worsen the planet's climate crisis. But the nascent sector also has supporters, who, while not rejecting the criticism outright, argue the industry can bring humanity benefits too. The first argument is that private spaceflights, in addition to their customers, can send to space scientific experiments that require microgravity environments. In the past, national agencies 'it used to take quite a long time to work within government grant channels, get approval, get the funding, get picked to be among the very select few that could go,' Ariel Ekblaw, of the MIT Space Exploration Initiative told AFP. By contrast, it took Ekblaw just six months from signing a contract to sending her research project to the International Space Station on board the private Ax-1 mission, which blasted off Friday thanks to the private entrepreneurs paying for the trip. Her experiment, called TESSERAE, involves smart tiles that form a floating robotic swarm that can self-assemble into space architecture - which might be how future space stations are built. An earlier prototype was flown to space for a few minutes aboard a Blue Origin suborbital spaceflight, paving the way for the new test. 'The proliferation of these commercial launch providers does allow us to do riskier, faster and more innovative projects,' said Ekblaw. Space tourism, and the private space sector overall, also acts as an innovation driver for getting better at doing all things related to space. Government agencies, which operate with taxpayers' money, move cautiously and are deeply-averse to failure - while companies like SpaceX don't mind blowing up prototype rockets until they get them right, speeding up development cycles. Where NASA focuses on grand exploration goals, private companies seek to improve the rate, profitability and sustainability of launches, with reusable vessels - and in the case of Blue Origin, rockets that emit only water vapor. 'The more we go to space, the better we become at space, the more an industry base arises to support space technology,' said Mason Peck, an aeronautics professor at Cornell University who previously served as NASA's chief technologist. The last argument, paradoxically, has to do with the climate. Many of those who have observed Earth from outer space have reported feeling deeply moved by how fragile the planet appears, and overwhelmed by a desire to protect it. The phenomenon was dubbed the 'overview effect' by space philosopher Frank White. 'It gives you a sense of urgency about needing to be part of the solution,' stressed Jane Poynter, co-founder of Space Perspective. Her company plans to start flying tourists on a giant high-altitude balloon to observe the Earth's curvature from a capsule with panoramic views. The vessel was developed precisely for its minimal environmental impact, unlike some highly-polluting rockets. The overall contribution to climate change from rockets is currently minimal, but could become problematic if the number of launches increases. Increased activity in space can also help the planet in more concrete, less philosophical ways, industry advocates allege. 'Because of the advances in space technology, terrestrial solar cells have become more efficient over the years,' said Peck. Almost 60 per cent of hit songs include references to harmful substances with squeaky-clean Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift among the worst offenders, a study reveals. Researchers analysed chart hits between 2014 and 2020 to establish how many featured alcohol, drugs or cigarettes in their lyrics or videos. Canadian rapper Drake had the most videos showing images of smoking, drinking or drugs, with a total of 23, followed by American band Maroon 5, which had ten. Almost 60 per cent of hit songs include references to harmful substances with squeaky-clean Ed Sheeran (above in 2017) and Taylor Swift among the worst offenders, a study reveals Taylor Swift is seen on stage in Los Angeles in 2019. Lead researcher Stephanie Albert, assistant professor of population health at the New York University School of Medicine, told The Mail on Sunday: 'Celebrities know that younger people look up to and emulate them' Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and rapper Nicki Minaj tied in third place with seven videos each showing harmful substances. Lead researcher Stephanie Albert, assistant professor of population health at the New York University School of Medicine, told The Mail on Sunday: 'Celebrities know that younger people look up to and emulate them. 'We want to see far less of these substances depicted in music lyrics and videos. There are no health benefits for young people who use them, but there are certainly many risks and negative consequences.' Her study concluded: 'The depiction of alcohol, cigarettes, hookah (shisha) and marijuana in the lyrics and music videos of popular songs is a public health concern.' Canadian rapper Drake (above in 2021) had the most videos showing images of smoking, drinking or drugs, with a total of 23, followed by American band Maroon 5, which had ten It said featuring drugs, smoking and alcohol in music 'may serve as a cue to consume those products and signal that smoking is a social norm'. Drake's videos showed five harmful substances (alcohol, marijuana, cigarettes, e-cigarettes and shisha), while songs by Swift and Sheeran featured drinking and smoking. Justin Bieber, Beyonce, Calvin Harris, One Direction and Ariana Grande were also named in the study. Professor Albert said: 'Celebrities hold a very powerful position in society and have the unique opportunity to impact lives in positive ways by not promoting or glamorising the use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs.' Advertisement A Connecticut mechanic who found dozens of abandoned art pieces by Francis Hines - an artist famously known as 'New York's wrapper' - in a barn five years ago and is now set to make millions off the pieces. In September 2017, Jared Whipple, 40, of Waterbury, received a phone call from his contractor friend George Martin, 47, of Naugatuck, about large canvases with painted car parts found inside Hines' abandoned barn, as he thought the mechanic might like the pieces. The following day, Whipple went to the dumpster where the hundreds of artworks were being stored, covered in dirt and wrapped in plastic, to inspect the pieces. 'I immediately started researching,' Whipple told the CT Insider. 'I pulled it out of this dumpster and I fell in love with it. I made a connection with it.' 'Being a collector of vintage items, especially anything Harley Davidson or automobile related, I was very intrigued as to what I might find,' he wrote on his website. The Waterbury man would go on to spend four years researching the artist, Hines, who died in 2016 and was famous for wrapping a few of New York City's iconic structures - including the Washington Square Arch in Greenwich Village in 1980 - in 8,000 yards of white polyester fabric. He was also known for his wrapped paintings, sculptures and public art projects. An art curator determined the pieces were collectively worth 'millions.' Curator Peter Hastings Falk estimated the 'wrapped' pieces - canvas covered in the same stretched fabric as the Arch - could be sold for around $22,000, while Hines' drawings could go for around $4,500, making the entire collection worth millions. It is unclear how many pieces Whipple currently owns. Hines' artwork is going to be displayed at Hollis Taggart's Southport art gallery from May 5 to June 11. Some of the pieces will also be shown at the Chelsea location in New York City. Whipple said he doesn't plan on selling every piece he owns, and the two exhibits will show 35 to 40 pieces that will be for sale. Fifteen wrapped pieces and five large-scale pieces will displayed at the Southport location, including others pieces of art. A smaller display will be available in Chelsea. Jared Whipple, 40, of Waterbury, Connecticut, (pictured) owns hundreds of Francis Hines' pieces. He received a phone call from his contractor friend George Martin, 47, of Naugatuck, about large canvases with painted car parts found inside an abandoned barn, as he thought the mechanic might like the pieces, in 2017 Whipple (left, with a friend) stands next to a Hines' piece. The mechanic is now selling 35 to 40 pieces between May 5 and June 11 Many of the paintings featured painted car parks, which Martin thought Whipple would like as a mechanic Hines (pictured in 2008) at the SLAG Gallery opening for Dumitru Gorzo in New York City Hines was born in Washington, D.C., in 1920 and spent time in NYC and Connecticut throughout his life. He kept his artwork in the barn Whipple and Martin found it in and became vastly known across New York City. However, in his later years in life and in his career, his slipped into obscurity - which Whipple now wants to reverse. Hines was known for his expression and fascination with cars. When the mechanic first saw the pieces, he felt drawn to give them a closer look. Whipple wrote: '[Martin and I] decided to unwrap the artwork to get a better look. Once we opened them in better light, we not only noticed the good shape they were in but more important the quality of the work. I started seeing some that really grabbed my attention and made me step back to take a better look. It was something that fine art had never done to me before.' The mechanic began contacting the artist's family and friends after the discovery, who allowed him to keep and sell the pieces. It is unknown why family did not want to keep Hines' work. He got in contact with Hines' son Jonathan, 67, of New York, who got to see his father's art displayed at the Mattatuck Museum on February 18. Hines, who died in 2016, was most famous for wrapping the Washington Square Arch in 1980 (pictured) and became known as New York's wrapper. He wrapped the arch in collaboration with local civics groups and NYU representatives to raise awareness of the terrible condition of the monument and to help raise money to clean and maintain the arch '[The art show] would have blown his mind, it would have f**king blown his mind,' Jonathan said in an interview posted to Whipple's Instagram page. 'And in this industrial space! 'You know, I think he's here in spirit,' he said. Jonathan also called his father's work 'f**king beautiful' and told Whipple he thought the pieces fit 'perfectly in this space' as they both admired the artwork against the background of red and white brick. The show - titled Discovering New York's Wrapper: The Art of Francis Hines - ran from September 26 to November 21, 2021, but none of the pieces were for sale. A few months ago, Whipple decided he did want to sell the artwork with the intention that Hines' name and work would become recognized in the art world. He told the CT Insider that art work is only taken seriously after it's sold for large sums of money and is hoping that one day, Hines' work will appear in well-known New York galleries. 'My purpose is to get Hines into the history books,' he told CT Insider. The mechanic and skateboarder admitted it was hard to get people to take him seriously in the art world. 'I've always been a mechanic and I'm known in the skateboarding world but not in the art world. So trying to get people to even open your emails and take you seriously was a huge challenge,' he told CT Insider. He had originally planned on hanging the pieces in his skateboard park, called The Warehouse, in Waterbury, for Halloween, but ultimately decided against it after finding out Hines' identity. Martin called Whipple in September 2017 after finding hundreds of the paintings in Hines' abandoned barn (pictured) He went on to unwrap all of them and began searching for an F. Hines and spent four years contacting family and friends of the artist, including his son Jonathan, who got to view his father's art in a gallery on February 18 The first person in the art world to take Whipple seriously was retired art dealer Muldoon Elger, who opened the Vorpal Gallery in San Francisco. Elger had displayed some of Hines' work in the 1980s and eventually connected Whipple with Falk, who said he was 'so intrigued' by the artwork. 'I went there to his garage to look at the paintings. I was just really surprised at what I saw,' he told CT Insider. He compared the artwork to that of Christo and Jeanne Claude, who also did wrapping art and was most famous for doing it to the Arc De Triomphe in Paris. Hines had famously wrapped 10 buildings in New York, including JFK Airport and the Port Authority Bus Terminal. He was most famous for wrapping the Washington Square Arch, which was a collaboration between him, local civics groups and NYU representatives. Whipple displayed many pieces of Hines' work at the Mattatuck Museum in Connecticut, but none of the pieces were for sale at that time He is now displaying up to 40 pieces at the Hollis Taggart galleries in Southport and NYC and all the pieces displayed will be for sale. An art curator estimated he could make 'millions' off the whole collection, with the wrapped pieces estimated to go for $22,000 and the drawings for $4,500 'This public installation was meant to raise awareness of the terrible condition of the monument, and to help raise money to clean and maintain the arch. The sculpture stood as planned for ten days,' Whipple wrote on Instagram. 'Hines is really New York's wrapper,' Falk said. The Washington Square Arch was also the first clue as to who Hines was for Whipple, who had been looking for an F. Hines - the signature on all the paintings except for one, which was signed with his full name, Francis Mattson Hines. '[The Arch] was the same type of fabric that most of the paintings had stretched around them, and in which every sculpture was wrapped. There were also tons of fabric rolls still in the barn,' he wrote on his website. Vladimir Putin's 'goddaughter' is reported to have obtained Israeli citizenship and sold her Moscow apartment since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ksenia Sobchak is well know in Russia as a prominent TV presenter and the country's leading woman opposition politician who stood against Putin in the 2018 presidential election. According to reports, the 40-year-old has secured Israeli citizenship for herself and her young son, and said to have sold an elite apartment in Moscow for more than $10 million. She has known Putin since she was a child, and he attended her baptism. According to reports, the 40-year-old has secured Israeli citizenship for herself and her son Ksenia Sobchak is well know in Russia as a prominent TV presenter and the country's leading woman opposition politician Putin has longstanding ties to her family. Her father, Anatoli Sobchak, was Putin's law professor and mentor who handed him his first foothold in politics as Deputy Mayor of St Petersburg. Putin smuggled Mr Sobchak out of Russia to get medical treatment in the west when his patron was wanted for alleged corruption. He was later photographed at Mr Sobchak's funeral alongside Ksenia and her mother Lyudmila Narusova, a Russian senator in 2000. Reports in Israel and Russia say Ksenia, who had Jewish links through the maternal branch of her family has obtained citizenship in Israel, where she has been 'on holiday' since early March. After confirming her holiday, she said last month: 'I am Russian, I am a citizen of Russia. I do not emigrate anywhere, I have no other citizenships.' Today, she posted on social media that she is currently in Russia and claimed the reports of Israeli citizenship are coming from Putin's 'propaganda' media, but did not deny them. She shared a video of herself next to the Moscow River with ice lumps in the water mocking the claims that she is close to the River Jordan. She did not comment on the reported sale of her flat in Moscow. One source has claimed she 'feared repression' in Putin's Russia and had arranged an escape route out of the country. Her presidential bid in 2018 saw her place fourth in a pool which was widely seen as heavily rigged in Putin's favour. Prior to standing against him, it is understood she went to see him to discuss her candidacy. Putin was photographed at Anatoli Sobchak's funeral alongside Ksenia and her mother Lyudmila Narusova She once posed for Playboy, appearing on the front cover in Russia After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ksenia expressed concern for the welfare of her mother, who was the first major Russian figure to publicly condemn the war. Mrs Narusova also hit out at the latest Moscow media crackdown which has blocked key independent news outlets. Ksenia posted from Israel: 'Mama! I am proud of you, and I am very worried for you. Very.' Ksenia has accused state TV channels in Russia of 'shameless lies' over its coverage of the ongoing war, and revealed that 96 out of 100 conscripts were killed in one attack. She has also accused Putin of failing to arrange the return of soldier's bodies to Russia and claims they are being gnawed by stray dogs. If she obtained an Israeli citizenship, Ksenia would be barred from standing in any future Russian presidential election. Reports have suggested Putin wants his forces to have seized enough of Ukraine by May 9 for him to declare victory on the Russian anniversary of Nazi Germany surrendering in 1945, and thus ending the Second World War in Europe. However, against all odds, Kyiv's forces have successfully repelled the Kremlin's armies from several regions of the country, dealing heavy losses while doing so. With Russian forces weakened, there are doubts that Moscow can hold large regions of Ukraine for long against local insurgencies and military counter-attacks. Ukraine's Ministry of Defence estimates that 19,000 troops have been killed since the invasion began on February 24. Meanwhile, at least six Russian generals and nine senior commanders have been killed. In recent days, thousands of Moscow's soldiers have retreated from the Kyiv region to be deployed elsewhere. A Labor candidate has taunted Scott Morrison on social media with a post from a local bar just days after the Prime Minister was abused by a pensioner there. Taking to Instagram on Saturday afternoon, Dan Repacholi cheekily posted a photo from the same Edgeworth Tavern in Newcastle, NSW, where 73-year-old Ray Drury had confronted the PM on Wednesday night. Mr Morrison was also tricked into posing for a selfie at the pub with Labor-voting local mum of four Chantelle Howlett who videoed herself with the PM as she told him: 'Congratulations on being the worst Prime Minister we've ever had.' The Labor election hope for the Hunter posted the pic of him drinking with locals with the caption: 'Hey@scottmorrisonMP, this is how you have a beer at the Edgeworthtavern! It comes as a fired up Mr Drury revealed he is a Labor supporter - but won't vote for Anthony Albanese next month in the federal election. 'I will vote for the Independents,' he told The Australian. 'Scott Morrison, I wouldn't vote for him, because I don't respect him, because if you want to respect someone, they've got to respect you back.' Dan Repacholi, the candidate for Labor in the NSW Hunter region has taunted Scott Morrison on social media - just days after the Prime Minister was abused by a 73-year-old pensioner in a local pub (pictured, front) Taking to Instagram on Saturday afternoon, Dan Repacholi cheekily posted a photo from the same Edgeworth Tavern featuring Ray Drury - the 73-year-old who squared up to Morrison Mr Drury said he wouldn't vote for Labor as he has tried to contact at least three ministers in the party who have 'ignored' him. He added both major parties are only seen at election time, and are not in touch with the community. Instead, he wanted to vote for an independent candidate to 'keep the bastards honest'. 'I'm voting for an independent, I don't care who it is,' he said. There are no independents in his electorate of Newcastle, but he said he still wouldn't vote for either Labor or the Liberals, as they were 'both liars.' The revelations come after the former miner aggressively squared up to Morrison in front of the media in a Newcastle pub on Wednesday. Former miner Ray Druary (pictured, left with Scott Morrison) said his anger had been 'stewing' for years The local accused Morrison of breaking promises as he yelled and pointed at the nation's leader. Footage of the toe to toe lit up social media with hundreds of commenters praising the man for his actions, and offering to buy him a beer. Others, however, said it was disrespectful of him to swear at and abuse someone in high office. The forthright life-long Labor voter also told The Australian he 'would have done the same thing' to Labor opposition leader Albanese. 'When you're stewing up over 12 years, and are being rejected - not even listened to - well then of course I am going to take the opportunity,' he told NBN news. As the punter (pictured with his back to the camera) bristled, Mr Morrison said he had 'raised very important issues' and offered to sit down with him to 'get to the bottom' of his concerns Retired miner Ray Drury said he has lost $70,000 and had been ignored by ministers from both major parties The retired miner said he receives weekly compensation for health issues picked up from working for 30 years in the mines, yet his disability pension has been compromised by that payment. He claims he has lost up to $70,000 and has reached out to dozens of MPs on the matter only to be 'ignored', which brought him to boiling point at the pub. 'Look mate, you ring up your office and you do nothing, they don't even return a call,' he fumed at Morrison. Mr Drury said he has prostrate cancer and has had issues with asbestos poisoning, leading to tumours that forced him to retire early. The irate pensioner said Labor ministers have also ignored him and he won't be voting for Anthony Albanese (pictured, at the National Farmers Federation Conference last week) Advertisement Boris Johnson today told Ukraine's President Zelensky 'the Ukrainian people are a lion, and you are its roar' as he vowed to send Ukraine 120 armoured vehicles and new anti-ship missile systems to expel Vladimir Putin's occupiers during a surprise visit to Kyiv. Footage showed the pair meeting and sitting across a table from each other, their respective flags on the far side. Johnson was wearing a dark suit and Zelensky a khaki overall, his signature attire in public appearances since February 24. The Mail on Sunday understands that the visit was intended to be kept secret until the Prime Minister had flown out of the war zone. His arrival was, however, mistakenly announced in a mid-afternoon tweet by Ukraines embassy to the UK, which posted a picture of him chatting with Zelensky, with the caption: Surprise. Downing Street aides scrambled to confirm that the Prime Minister who has been pushing for weeks to fly to Ukraine was in Kyiv to discuss the UKs long-term support to Ukraine. Security officials gave the green light to the visit after the exhausted and battered Russian forces which have tried to encircle Kyiv were withdrawn by Putin. Johnson praised the Ukrainian troops' staunch resistance that has 'defied odds' in rebuffing Russia's advance towards the capital of Kyiv. 'I think that the Ukrainians have shown the courage of a lion, and you Volodymyr have given the roar of that lion,' he said. 'The Russians believed Ukraine could be engulfed in a matter of days and that Kyiv would falls in hours to their armies. How wrong they were'. Ukraine last night heaped praise on Johnson, with its Parliament declaring: We are strengthening our union of democracies. Be brave, like Boris. Be brave, like Ukraine. A No10 spokesman said the Prime Minister was using the visit to set out a new package of financial and military aid, and comes the day after he announced a further 100million worth of UK military assistance for Kyiv's forces, including anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons and so-called 'suicide drones'. Appearing alongside Zelensky in a recorded broadcast clip, Johnson said the West would continue to 'ratchet up' sanctions on Moscow as he praised the courage of the Ukrainian resistance. 'The Prime Minister has travelled to Ukraine to meet President Zelensky in person, in a show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people,' a Downing Street spokesman said. 'They will discuss the UK's long term support to Ukraine and the PM will set out a new package of financial and military aid.' Discussing the discovery of civilian bodies in Ukrainian towns, Johnson said the atrocities committed by Moscow's forces had 'permanently polluted' Putin's reputation. 'What Putin has done in places like Bucha and Irpin is war crimes that have permanently polluted his reputation and the reputation of his government,' the Prime Minister added. PM Boris Johnson praised the Ukrainian troops' staunch resistance that has 'defied odds' in rebuffing Russia's advance towards the capital of Kyiv A No 10 spokesman said the Prime Minister was using the visit to set out a new package of financial and military aid, and comes the day after he announced a further 100million worth of UK military assistance for Kyiv's forces, including anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons and so-called 'suicide drones' President Volodymyr Zelensky smiles as Prime Minister Boris Johnson is handed a souvenir cockerel by a woman in Kyiv Mr Johnson's visit makes him the first G7 leader to visit Kyiv since Putin launched his invasion. The leaders are pictured above at a memorial for the Heavenly Hundred, near Independence Square in the Ukrainian capital Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, and Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson walk during their meeting in downtown Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, April 9 The pair held a press conference together. Boris Johnson told Ukraine's President Zelensky 'the Ukrainian people are a lion, and you are its roar' British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has travelled to Kyiv to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky in an unannounced visit. A picture shared by the Embassy of Ukraine to the UK on Twitter showed the pair sitting across a table in the country's capital, with their respective flags in the room Pictured: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson follows Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky into a building in Kyiv today Official photos released later showed Zelensky welcoming the British leader in a courtyard in Kyiv, before the pair entered a building for their meeting. Johnson later posted his own picture of the meeting on Twitter, saying he was there 'as a show of our unwavering support for the people of Ukraine'. After their meeting, Zelensky wrote: 'The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson is one of the most principled opponents of the Russian invasion, a leader in sanctions pressure on Russia and defence support of Ukraine. Welcome to Kyiv, my friend.' Following his meeting with the Ukrainian leader, Mr Johnson said in a statement: 'Ukraine has defied the odds and pushed back Russian forces from the gates of Kyiv, achieving the greatest feat of arms of the 21st century. 'It is because of President Zelensky's resolute leadership and the invincible heroism and courage of the Ukrainian people that Putin's monstrous aims are being thwarted. 'I made clear today that the United Kingdom stands unwaveringly with them in this ongoing fight, and we are in it for the long run. 'We are stepping up our own military and economic support and convening a global alliance to bring this tragedy to an end, and ensure Ukraine survives and thrives as a free and sovereign nation.' As well as the additional equipment Mr Johnson also confirmed further economic support, guaranteeing an additional 385million in World Bank lending to Ukraine, taking total UK loan guarantees to 770million. Johnson's visit makes him the first G7 leader to visit Kyiv since Putin launched his invasion, and follows trips to Kyiv by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Friday and the visit of the Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer earlier on Saturday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (right) welcomes British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (left) for a meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, April 9 2022 Pictured: Mr Zelensky and Mr Johnson shake hands as they meet in Kyiv on Saturday during an unannounced visit, in a photograph shared by the British Prime Minister on Twitter Johnson was wearing a dark suit and Zelensky a khaki overall, his signature attire in public appearances since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, as the pair met in Kyiv on Saturday (pictured) British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gives a thumbs up during a meeting with Ukraine's President, as Russia;s attack on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, Ukraine April 9, 2022 Mr Zelensky is seen in a meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson this evening in Kyiv After their meeting, Mr Zelensky (pictured sitting across from Boris Johnson, left) wrote: 'The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson is one of the most principled opponents of the Russian invasion, a leader in sanctions pressure on Russia and defense support of Ukraine. Welcome to Kyiv my friend' Details of the meeting had not been made public prior to the image's release. The Embassy of Ukraine to the UK was one of the first to share the picture, writing: 'Surprise' with a winking face emoji (pictured) A view of destroyed Yuri Gagarin Stadium as Russian attacks continue on Ukraine in Chernihiv, Ukraine on April 09, 2022 A view of destroyed building as Russian attacks continue on Ukraine in Chernihiv, Ukraine on April 9, 2022 Last month, it was reported that the Prime Minister had asked officials to examine the practicality and value of the trip to the Ukrainian capital for talks with his Ukrainian counterpart. Since then, Moscow has pulled its forces back from Kyiv and the surrounding area in a bid to refocus its military campaign in the eastern Donbas region. At the time, security officials were said to be 'having kittens' at the prospect of Mr Johnson travelling to a war zone. But a Whitehall source said the Prime Minister 'wants to go' if it can be made to work. The source added: 'If you set aside the security concerns, which are considerable, the question is whether there is anything additional you could achieve by visiting in person, or whether it would just be a show of solidarity, and whether that is a sufficient goal in itself.' Tobias Ellwood MP, chair of the Commons defence select committee, described the prime minister's visit to Kyiv today as a 'powerful message directly to Putin that we won't be intimidated'. He also told Sky News that countries such as the UK, Poland and Slovakia are 'breaking away from NATO's self-imposed limits' by offering greater military support to Ukraine. Continuing to criticise NATO, Mr Ellwood stressed that 'what happens in Ukraine is the security of Europe'. 'I called for a division of NATO to go in prior to the invasion, but NATO didn't want to know. And I think they're now regretting that decision,' he said. 'So seeing the prime minister step forward, take some leadership, because much of NATO is consolidated within the NATO architecture that they've left Ukraine outside of that support.' Speaking earlier today, Zelensky said Ukraine was 'still ready' to continue negotiations with Moscow, which have stalled since the discovery of atrocities in Bucha and other areas near Kyiv. 'Ukraine has always said it is ready for negotiations and looking for any way to stop this war,' Zelensky said in an earlier press conference with the Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, who visited Bucha. 'Sadly, in parallel we see the preparations for important battles, some people say decisive ones, in the east,' he said, referring to an anticipated Russian offensive. 'We are ready to fight and to look in parallel to end this war through diplomacy,' he added. The last face-to-face talks between the two sides took place on March 29, during which Ukrainian negotiators are said to have signalled their readiness to accept neutrality in return for security guarantees from third parties. 'In the east and in the south, we have seen a concentration of arms, equipment and troops who are getting ready to occupy another part of our territory,' Zelensky said. The outcome of any new Russian offensive would depend 'on several factors', he said, including Ukraine's 'strength, how quickly our partners supply us with arms, and the Russian leader's (Vladimir Putin) desire to go further.' Mr Zelensky also called on the international community to hold to account Russian forces who carried out a missile strike on a crowded railway station, killing at least 52 people. The station at Kramatorsk was packed with women and children trying to flee west before the Russian advance arrives, when the missile hit on Friday. 'All world efforts will be directed to establish every minute of who did what, who gave what orders, where the missile came from, who transported it, who gave the command and how this strike was agreed,' Mr Zelensky said in his nightly video address. The Kremlin has denied responsibility for the attack, but western officials believe it was probably a Russian Tochka-U missile, which Nato refers to as a SS-21, which was fired indiscriminately towards the town centre. Speaking during a press conference on Friday night, Mr Johnson announced a further 100million worth of weapons would be sent to Ukraine Appearing alongside Mr Johnson in Downing Street today Mr Scholz said his country was 'starting to wean itself off its dependence' on Russian energy Following the bombing, Mr Johnson last night announced that Britain is to send Ukraine more weapons worth 100million and will work to get more tanks to Kyiv in the face of Russian war crimes. He pledged high-tech supplies including more Starstreak anti-aircraft missiles, anti-tank rockets and drones as he hosted a joint press conference with German chancellor Olaf Scholz. The mass killing of civilians in Bucha have been widely condemned by the West as war crimes with piles of bodies showing signs of torture and execution pictured after it had been recaptured by Ukrainian forces. But officials have now revealed that even greater damage was done by Putin's thugs in Borodyanka, northwest of Kyiv and about 15 miles from Bucha. The are 'significantly more dreadful' than the scenes in Bucha, with residents left to die in the rubble of their bombed homes for a week, president Volodymyr Zelensky said last night. Boris Johnson did not rule out considering arming Ukraine's resistance against Russian troops with tanks from former Warsaw Pact nations. The Czech Republic has already sent some T-74 tanks east. Mr Johnson said: 'I'm in principle willing to consider anything by way of defensive weaponry to help the Ukrainians protect themselves and their people. I think it's important that we should be giving equipment that is genuinely useful and is operable by Ukrainians, that's our consideration.' The talks came amid anger at the EU and Germany in particular for being slow to end their energy dependence on Russia. Mr Johnson was said to have previously criticised the EU's 'embarrassing' dependence on Putin's oil and gas that has seen it continue to pay billions since the invasion. Mr Scholz told the event in Downing Street: 'We are doing all we can and we are doing a lot. He said this will be achieved through offshore and onshore wind, solar and investment into its grid, but he acknowledged it would take 'approximately 20 years'. EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell has said that the 27-nation bloc is paying a billion euros a day for energy provisions, accounting for over 35 billion euros since the war started. He said that banning oil imports from Russia would be discussed when EU foreign ministers meet on Monday. But today the bloc rowed back, with a diplomat saying an embargo would not be discussed at the conference in Luxembourg. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (left) and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arriving to attend a joint press conference in Kyiv on April 8, 2022 European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell are seen near destroyed Russian army vehicles during their visit to a mass grave in the town of Bucha, northwest of Kyiv, Ukraine on April 8, 2022 European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell walk on a train station during their visit to a mass grave in the town of Bucha, northwest of Kyiv, Ukraine on April 8, 2022 Ukraine's Ministry of Defence estimates that Russia has sent more than 19,000 troops to their deaths. Meanwhile, thousands of Moscow's soldiers have retreated from the Kyiv region to refocus on eastern Ukraine. However, a senior U.S. defence official said Friday the Pentagon has determined that some of the Russian combat units that retreated from the Kyiv area in recent days are so heavily damaged and depleted that their combat utility is in question. Some analysts have suggested that the focus on the Donbas and the pledge to de-escalate may merely be an effort to put a positive spin on reality: Moscow's ground forces have been thwarted - and have taken heavy losses - in their bid to seize the capital and other major cities. Johnson's visit to Ukraine came after the bodies of 132 civilians were found shot dead at a new potential Russian war crime site in Ukraine, as Kyiv's forces continue to thwart Moscow's ambition of joining Crimea and the Donbas with a land bridge. The slain civilians were found in Makariv, a town in Kyiv Oblast and about 30 miles west of the capital. All died from bullet wounds, the town's mayor said. Roughly 40 percent of the town has been destroyed, according to reports, which came after Ukrainian troops recaptured it from Russian occupation on March 22. Officials have been counting the dead ever since. An aerial view taken on April 8, 2022 shows diggers working in the rubble of collapsed buildings in the town of Borodianka, northwest of Kyiv A view shows the bodies of civilians who Ukrainian officials say were killed during Russia's invasion and then exhumed from a mass grave in the town of Bucha, outside Kyiv, Ukraine April 8, 2022 Ukrainian servicemen stand next to damaged cars after Russian shelling at the railway station in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, Friday Ukrainian police inspect the remains of a large rocket with the words 'for our children' in Russian next to the main building of a train station in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine, that was being used for civilian evacuations, that was hit by a rocket attack killing at least 35 people, on April 8, 2022 Putin calls in the Butcher of Syria: General who helped Assad as he used chemical weapons is tasked with rescuing disastrous Ukraine invasion Vladimir Putin has chosen the man to mastermind his re-focused offensive in eastern Ukraine, after the first disastrous six weeks of Moscow's invasion saw thousands of Russian troops sent to their deaths and scores of tanks destroyed. Captain General Aleksandr Dvornikov, dubbed by some as the 'Butcher of Syria', has been ordered by the Kremlin to seize the whole of Ukraine's eastern Donbas. From 2016, Dvornikov oversaw Russia's brutal intervention in the middle east that helped Syrian president Bashar al-Assad crush his enemies in the civil war. During that time, chemical weapons and indiscriminate air strikes were used - resulting in thousands of civilian casualties. The 60-year-old general is also believed to be the man behind Friday's missile strike on Kramatorsk railway station, killing at least 52 civilians attempting to flee west. His battlefield intelligence is apparently highly regarded among western generals, and he is believed to be familiar with the Donbas theatre of war - where pro-Russian separatists have been fighting Ukrainian government forces since 2014. Dvornikov has also been given the responsibility of overseeing the Black Sea and the Crimean peninsula, which was seized by Russia in 2014. Analysts believe Putin wants to create a land corridor between Russia and Crimea - something that heavy Ukrainian resistance is preventing, according to Britain's Ministry of Defence today. NATO chiefs have compiled a database of his achievements and tactical preferences in a bid to predict his decision making in the weeks ahead, and he has developed a reputation for ruthlessness over the years. But officials say that he may struggle to please Vladimir Putin. 'Unless the Russian army becomes a lot more effective it is difficult to see how it succeeds,' one said. Reports have suggested Putin wants his forces to have seized enough of Ukraine by May 9 for him to declare victory on the Russian anniversary of Nazi Germany surrendering in 1945, and thus ending the Second World War in Europe. However, against all odds, Kyiv's forces have successfully repelled the Kremlin's armies from several regions of the country, dealing heavy losses while doing so. With Russian forces weakened, there are doubts that Moscow can hold large regions of Ukraine for long against local insurgencies and military counter-attacks. Ukraine's Ministry of Defence estimates that 19,000 troops have been killed since the invasion began on February 24. Meanwhile, at least six Russian generals and nine senior commanders have been killed. Advertisement Similar scenes have been found in the nearby town of Bucha, where more than 400 dead civilians were discovered. The majority had also been gunned down. Workers unearthed bodies from a mass grave in the commuter town, as graphic evidence of dozens of killings emerged following the withdrawal of Russian forces. It also comes after two Russian missiles struck a railway station in the eastern city of Kramatorsk, killing at least 52 people who were attempting to flee west. Evacuations resumed on Saturday from Kramatorsk. Six weeks into Russia's invasion, Moscow has shifted its focus to eastern and southern Ukraine after stiff resistance ended plans to swiftly capture Kyiv. Civilians trapped in the region have faced brutal conditions, and EU leaders met with President Volodymyr Zelensky in a show of support as news emerged of the devastating attack on Kramatorsk's station. The 52 victims included five children. With thousands killed in fighting and more than 11 million fleeing their homes or the country, Zelensky said the strike marked a fresh atrocity and called called for a 'firm global response' to the bloody incident. 'This is another Russian war crime for which everyone involved will be held accountable,' he said in a video message. 'World powers have already condemned Russia's attack on Kramatorsk. We expect a firm global response to this war crime.' Zelensky later said he remained open to talks with Russia to resolve the conflict. US President Joe Biden accused Russia of being behind a 'horrific atrocity' in the de facto capital of the Ukrainian-controlled Donetsk region, and France condemned the strike as a 'crime against humanity'. Moscow denied responsibility for the rocket attack on Friday morning, which killed 52 and injured a further 109 people, according to the latest official count. The Ukrainian president said the bombing had been reported in Russia before the missiles had even landed and called for more weaponry to counter Moscow's aggression. 'I am sure that the victory of Ukraine is just a matter of time, and I will do everything to reduce this time,' he added. Minibuses assembled at a church in Kramatorsk to collect shaken evacuees on Saturday. Almost 80 people, most of them elderly, took shelter overnight in the building, not far from the targeted station. 'There were around 300 to 400 people who rushed here after the strike,' Yevgeny, a member of the Protestant church, told AFP. 'They were traumatised. Half of them ran to shelter in the cellar, others wanted to leave as soon as possible. Some were evacuated by bus in the afternoon (on Friday).' The station in Kramatorsk was being used as the main evacuation hub for refugees from the parts of the eastern Donbas region still under Ukrainian control. AFP reporters at the station saw the remains of the missile tagged in white paint with the words 'for our children' in Russian. The expression is frequently used by pro-Russian separatists in reference to their losses since the start of the first Donbas war in 2014. The governor of Donetsk claimed a missile with cluster munitions was used in the attack, according to remarks published by the Interfax news agency. A convicted killer and transgender woman has been given a dummy by prison guards after claiming she now identifies as a baby. Sophie Eastwood, 36, who received a life sentence for strangling her cellmate with shoelaces, has also asked for nappies and baby food. She is locked up at Polmont prison, Falkirk after killing 22-year-old Paul Algie in 2004. Eastwood takes hormone blockers and has lived in women's jails since 2018. She says she regrets killing Paul Algie every day and just wanted to stay in prison so she'd be 'looked after' A young offender known as Daniel at the time, Eastwood was jailed in a young offenders' institute at 18 for dangerous driving. She was a month away from the end of her sentence when she strangled Mr Algie. Guards then dubbed her 'Hannibal Lecter Jr' for her wicked mind games. After realising she wasn't a gay man in 2016, Eastwood transitioned four years ago. She finished her 15-year minimum jail term in 2019 but has not been considered for release. Then known as Daniel, Eastwood was serving in a youth institute when she killed her cellmate Essex-born Eastwood claims this is because she is trans, the Daily Record reported. She has also demanded guards hold her hand when she leaves her cell. And prison wardens are taking her demands seriously. A source from the Scottish Prison Service told the paper: 'This prisoner has been difficult and manipulative over the years, which is why she is still behind bars after 17 years. 'She decided that she would "trans" from a man to woman, which is becoming more common in jails these days. 'But this is obviously something else entirely. Eastwood has been at Polmont prison (pictured) since she was convicted of murder in 2004 'The Scottish Prison Service has no protocol in place for dealing with prisoners who decide they are babies.' The source claimed Eastwood's continued imprisonment has nothing to do with her gender, but is because she refuses to 'play by the rules' or prepare for rehabilitation. Eastwood claims a prison manager said she'd now be free if she was still a man. She told the Record in 2020: 'The prison service wanted me to have a psychological assessment as I hadnt had one since starting to live as female. 'I felt this was sexist and transphobic. The SPS was implying that as a man I didnt represent a risk to the public but as a woman I did. I dont think theres any evidence to support that.' The SPS source replied: 'Eastwood is a complex person and intelligent but she is pretty demanding on the resources of the prison and enjoys being the centre of attention.' She might just be 'attention seeking', they added. Even so, the idea is being given 'proper consideration' for 'human rights reasons', they said. Eastwood takes testosterone blockers and has been in women's prisons since 2018. She said she is 'sorry' for killing Mr Algie and regrets it every day. Eastwood said: 'I was naive, immature, and thought that killing my cell mate would get me sectioned and Id spend the rest of my life in hospital being looked after. 'Im sorry and regret it every day.' Advertisement Thousands of Extinction Rebellion protestors including an Olympic gold medallist have staged a sit-down protest in Oxford Street and Regent Street, blocking traffic in the heart of London's shopping district to call for no new investment in fossil fuels. The climate change activists gathered at Speakers' Corner at Hyde Park on Saturday morning before marching into the centre of the city's West End. Canoeist Etienne Stott, who won the slalom event with Tim Baillie at the London 2012 Olympic Games, also took part in the road-blocking protest and said he was participating out of fear for the future of the planet. He said: 'I am here to demand the Government end the fossil economy. We need no further fossil fuel investment. I am really scared for the future.' Stott, who held a banner that read 'I will need a bystander', believes the political action currently being taken is 'sending us on a path to destruction' and added: 'Our voice is the voice of ordinary people saying 'no, not in my name'.' The 42-year-old, from Nottingham, earlier urged his Twitter followers to 'come and join me' at Saturday's protest, sharing a quote from the UN Secretary General which says that, instead of climate activists, 'the truly dangerous radicals are the countries that are increasing production of fossil fuels'. The eco-protestors sat down across Oxford Circus and the famous high streets it connects, chanting 'save our planet' and 'whose streets, our streets'. They carried banners that read 'I am here for nature and children', 'navel gazing into disaster' and 'life on earth is dying'. Some were seen eating their lunch while they sat in sunny weather. Extinction Rebellion climate activists are staging a sit-down protest which has brought Regent Street and Oxford Street to a standstill Climate activists from Extinction Rebellion carry placards and a banner reading 'We will not be bystanders' as they take part in a demonstration in London earlier today Canoeist Etienne Stott (pictured outside the city of London Magistrates' Court in January 2020), who won the slalom event with Tim Baillie at the London 2012 Olympic Games, was convicted of a public order offence after Extinction Rebellion protests in 2019, when he was arrested on Waterloo Bridge with other demonstrators after they refused to comply with conditions imposed by police Extinction Rebellion climate protesters sit in the road at Oxford Circus during a sit-down demonstration. They have recently staged several protests at oil terminals and refineries across Britain, holding a large demonstration at one facility near Heathrow Airport They have pledged that 'our disruption will not stop until the fossil fuel economy comes to an end,' according to the Extinction Rebellion website Thousands of activists gathered at Speakers' Corner at Hyde Park on Saturday morning before marching into the centre of the city Thousands supporters of the protest group Extinction Rebellion are rallying for the start of the group's latest campaign in central London which they promise will 'grind the capital to a halt' over the coming week Climate activists from Extinction Rebellion carry flags and placards as they march through London, bringing the city to a standstill Extinction Rebellion members stage a protest against fossil fuel usage blocking Oxford Circus Square traffic in London today The eco-protestors sat down across Oxford Circus and the famous high streets it connects, chanting 'save our planet' and 'whose streets, our streets' Why are Extinction Rebellion doing a road-blocking protest? Extinction Rebellion billed today's protest as part of 'the final push in the plan to end fossil fuels'. On their website, the group said: 'Come to London from April 9 to April 17 and be ready to continue in civil resistance on at least the following three weekends. 'This is a crucial moment. Our reliance on fossil fuels is funding wars, driving the cost of living scandal and leading to climate breakdown. This is why we are demanding an immediate end to all new fossil fuel investments.' The group have said similar action to block 'areas of the city for as long as possible' is planned every day for a week or more. They have pledged that 'our disruption will not stop until the fossil fuel economy comes to an end, ' according to the Extinction Rebellion website. On Friday, two protesters from the climate movement shut down Tower Bridge by abseiling off the sides of the London landmark and unfurling a huge banner that read: 'End fossil fuels now.' The bridge, a main traffic artery across the Thames, was closed to vehicles, causing long queues Advertisement Stott is an outspoken supporter of Extinction Rebellion and is no stranger to its demonstrations. He chained himself to a boat with fellow British Olympian Laura Baldwin to blockade the entrance to ExxonMobil's Fawley oil terminal in Hampshire last October. He was convicted of a public order offence after Extinction Rebellion protests in 2019, when he was arrested on Waterloo Bridge with other demonstrators after they refused to comply with conditions imposed by police. Stott, who retired from canoeing in 2016, was awarded an MBE for services to the sport in 2013. At Trafalgar Square, the Extinction Rebellion protesters again sat on the road, this time on the edge of Whitehall, and stopped traffic. A band of drummers played in the background near the base of Nelson's Column as tourists and passers-by looked on. Cars were seen turning around and moving away as motorists realised this route on their journey would mean delays. Mechanical engineer Verel Rodrigues, 27, of Bristol, told the PA news agency: 'We are currently in a dire situation and we are appealing to the government to stop investing in fossil fuels. 'We have no choice. We are sorry to be causing this inconvenience but we don't have any other choice. 'If an alarm is ringing because your house is on fire, you don't get p***ed off at the fire alarm. It is trying to save you and we are trying to raise the alarm of what is about to come.' The Metropolitan Police said protesters were disrupting traffic on Oxford Street and Regent Street. The force tweeted: 'A number of protesters in Oxford St. & Regent St. are sitting in the road, blocking traffic in both directions. Traffic diversions are being put in place.' A member of the public who wanted only to be named as Steve C, 50, of Ealing, west London, said Extinction Rebellion's tactics have been 'obsessive'. 'The tactics have given the Conservative party an excuse to reduce and remove all of our rights to protest. 'They have daily, repeatedly, blocked roads, whether it is small or large numbers. They have stopped people from taking their kids to school, they have stopped people from getting to work and to hospital appointments. It is just unacceptable'. Mr C said the protesters, whom he called the 'most un-diverse crowd you have ever seen in London', consisted of 'white middle-class, do-gooding liberals (who) do not represent London town'. At Trafalgar Square, the Extinction Rebellion protesters again sat on the road, this time on the edge of Whitehall, and stopped traffic Cars were seen turning around and moving away as motorists realised this route on their journey would mean delays Protestors held their hands up in a fist and waved different coloured flags with the Extinction Rebellion logo The climate change protestors are calling for no new investment in fossil fuels in the heart of London's shopping district The force tweeted: 'A number of protesters in Oxford St. & Regent St. are sitting in the road, blocking traffic in both directions. Traffic diversions are being put in place' The crowd sat down across Oxford Circus and the famous high streets it connects, chanting 'save our planet' and 'whose streets, our streets' They carried banners that read 'I am here for nature and children', 'navel gazing into disaster' and 'life on earth is dying'. Some were seen eating their lunch while they sat in sunny weather Protester Sunita Ramani, 23, of Bristol, who works in environmental communications, said the action was justified 'It's absolutely not our intention to annoy people and disrupt their lives but looking throughout history civil disobedience has proven to be the most successful way that people are able to make movements like this successful,' she said 'We are doing this on behalf of everyone who deserves to have a liveable, justice-filled future' Mechanical engineer Verel Rodrigues, 27, of Bristol, told the PA news agency: 'We are currently in a dire situation and we are appealing to the government to stop investing in fossil fuels' 'We have no choice. We are sorry to be causing this inconvenience but we don't have any other choice' 'If an alarm is ringing because your house is on fire, you don't get p***ed off at the fire alarm. It is trying to save you and we are trying to raise the alarm of what is about to come' A member of the public who wanted only to be named as Steve C, 50, of Ealing, west London, said Extinction Rebellion's tactics have been 'obsessive' 'The tactics have given the Conservative party an excuse to reduce and remove all of our rights to protest' 'They have daily, repeatedly, blocked roads, whether it is small or large numbers. They have stopped people from taking their kids to school, they have stopped people from getting to work and to hospital appointments. It is just unacceptable' An activist sits surrounded by police officers outside the offices of BP near Oxford Circus, during a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion Extinction Rebellion climate protesters have recently staged several protests at oil terminals and refineries across Britain, holding a large demonstration at one facility near Heathrow Airport Protester Sunita Ramani, 23, of Bristol, who works in environmental communications, said the action was justified. 'It's absolutely not our intention to annoy people and disrupt their lives but looking throughout history civil disobedience has proven to be the most successful way that people are able to make movements like this successful,' she said. 'We are doing this on behalf of everyone who deserves to have a liveable, justice-filled future.' After starting the sit-in just after 2pm, the demonstrators were on the move again around 45 minutes later, heading into the city centre. Extinction Rebellion billed the protest as part of 'the final push in the plan to end fossil fuels'. Extinction Rebellion members stage a protest against fossil fuel usage blocking Oxford Circus Square traffic Piers Corbyn talks and argues his science as he tries to engage in debate with Extinction Rebellion supporters as they attend their Spring Rebellion in Hyde Park Mr C said the protesters, whom he called the 'most un-diverse crowd you have ever seen in London', consisted of 'white middle-class, do-gooding liberals (who) do not represent London town' The group have said similar action to block 'areas of the city for as long as possible' is planned every day for a week or more After starting the sit-in just after 2pm, the demonstrators were on the move again around 45 minutes later, heading into the city centre The group have said similar action to block 'areas of the city for as long as possible' is planned every day for a week or more. They have pledged that 'our disruption will not stop until the fossil fuel economy comes to an end,' according to the Extinction Rebellion website. On Friday, two protesters from the climate movement shut down Tower Bridge by abseiling off the sides of the London landmark and unfurling a huge banner that read: 'End fossil fuels now.' The bridge, a main traffic artery across the Thames, was closed to vehicles, causing long queues. London mayor Sadiq Khan said the protest was 'counterproductive' adding that demonstrators needed to win over public opinion at the same time as putting pressure on the government. Extinction Rebellion shut down Tower Bridge and hang a banner from its side in yet another damaging protest Fuel shortages hit again across UK as petrol stations close and drivers start queuing due to Extinction Rebellion oil terminal blockade Motorists are being warned against panic buying at petrol stations this weekend following a wave of closures due to supply chain issues - after various eco-mobs blocked oil terminals across the south this week. Many petrol stations across England are closed after running out of fuel following days of disruption from Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil, who glued themselves to roads at major depots, chained themselves to pipes and trucks and even crawled through a depot's tunnel network. The eco-warriors have vowed further disruption this weekend as a huge protest got underway in central London on Saturday afternoon that they warned would be 'impossible to ignore.' Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire and parts of the capital have been particularly impacted today, with the majority of filling stations closed or suffering with long queues as people tried to fill up. Tesco petrol station at Bar Hill in Cambridge and the petrol station at Cambridge Services on the A14 both ran out of fuel on Friday after motorists flocked to both sites to refuel. The BP station in Soham was also closed and the Tesco petrol station in Newmarket, Suffolk, had long queues before they finally ran out on Saturday morning. It comes after multiple garages also ran dry in Peterborough and Birmingham on Friday. Londoners have also complained of struggling to fill up today, as one tweeted: 'Why is no one talking about the fact there's no petrol again? I've been all over the place and ended up having to come home on empty.' Another said last night: 'No petrol in London petrol stations. Tried four petrol stations all closed.' Meanwhile Balan Nadarajah, manager at Abingdon BP garage in Oxfordshire, told the Oxford Mail that the petrol station had completely run out of diesel, adding that he suspects the blockades are to blame. He said: 'We haven't got any diesel at all; we only have 4,000 litres of unleaded which we will probably run out of today. Many petrol stations across the south of the UK are closed after running out of petrol and diesel following days of disruption from Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil, who glued themselves to roads at major depots, chained themselves to pipes and trucks and even crawled through a depot's tunnel network in Essex. (Pictured: Fuel runs dry at petrol station in Birmingham on Friday) The AA today pleaded with drivers to fill up their cars as normal and to avoid rushing to petrol stations - even if they see that their local garages are closed on social media. (Pictured: Fuel runs dry in Peterborough on Saturday) Social media users complained of petrol shortages in London and Oxford on Saturday and overnight 'Hopefully we will have a delivery, but we haven't had any news from BP yet.' A store manager, from the BP on Launton Road told the paper: 'We don't know when we're getting our next lot of fuel. We'll be out of everything in the next 20 minutes.' It comes as the AA today pleaded with drivers to fill up their cars as normal and to avoid rushing to petrol stations - even if they see that their local garages are closed on social media. A spokesperson told MailOnline: 'If you have half a tank, just wait until tomorrow or Monday to fill it up, there's no need to rush to the station. 'If your station is closed, you will probably find another one near you that isn't.' He added: 'While the blockades have undoubtedly had an impact, the closures appear to be localised and not nationwide. 'The only impact they've had so far is the equivalent of a bad storm, the fuel industry is more than capable of dealing with such disruptions. 'The great thing about oil tankers is that they're mobile and can simply unload at other ports which aren't being targeted.' The spokesman said the closures have been partly caused by the fact that it is the weekend, particularly as families are looking to get away for Easter. He urged people not to panic if they see a picture of a closed petrol station on social media. Cambridgeshire has been particularly impacted today, with the majority of filling stations being closed or suffering with long queues as people tried to fill up. (Pictured: Fuel runs out in station in London on Friday) 'The blockaders want to make the whole system fall down,' he said, 'they want to see petrol stations run out of fuel by making people rush to fill up their cars. 'While they have had some impact, the fuel deliveries eventually get through.' Climate protestors Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion teamed up to blockade key terminals this week, meaning some tanker drivers are not able to deliver fuel to station depots. They say they want to disrupt fuel supplies to London and the South East of England and will continue until the Government agrees to stop all new fossil fuel investments. The protests are exacerbating existing supply issues due to increased demand after Covid lockdowns and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It comes as working Britons face a hike in National Insurance, and soaring food and energy prices as Boris Johnson admitted families face 'tough times' and will have to 'choose' where to cut back spending. And from today, the group are planning new 'rebellions' which will start at London's Hyde Park and then spread throughout the capital - saying that they will be 'impossible to ignore'. 'We are getting a lot of reports to us and on social media of fuel shortages across the country,' they told MailOnline. A source at one major petrol station operator told MailOnline: '[The protests] are affecting every retailer in the country. We have no issue at all with supply, but we're having to get fuel deliveries from terminals elsewhere in the UK that haven't been affected by this huge disruption' It comes as eco-fanatic groups Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion teamed up to blockade key terminals leaving tanker drivers unable to deliver fuel to station depots. Pictured: Police stand beside a tanker with Just Stop Oil protestors standing on top Brent crude oil hit a multi-year high of $128 in early March up from lows of $19 seen at the peak of the pandemic When asked about the chaos caused by the group's protests, the spokesperson said they felt 'no choice but to act' to pressure the government into cutting off Britain's reliance on fuel. 'The Government can end the misery of empty filling stations immediately by making a statement to end new oil and gas,' they said. Several of the ports most affected are in Essex where people have been attaching themselves to fuel tankers with glue and bike locks. XR activists shut down Tower Bridge Extinction Rebellion protesters have shut down Tower Bridge by abseiling off the sides of the London landmark. Two activists are hanging from the bridge by suspension cords and have unfurled a huge banner that reads: 'End fossil fuels now.' The bridge, a main traffic artery across the Thames, is closed to vehicles, causing long queues. The pair hung the banner at 7am on Friday and also released red flares. The Metropolitan Police said officers were called to the bridge at 7.30am and no arrests have been made. Extinction Rebellion said: 'The action has taken place at the gateway to the City of London - the root source of fossil fuel funding in the UK - and on the eve of the April Rebellion which begins tomorrow at 10am in Hyde Park.' Amy Rugg-Easey, who is taking part in the demonstration, said: 'I ask myself why I do these things all the time, and the main thing that drives me is that I have tremendous hope and optimism in humanity's ability to fight the climate crisis - but there are certain people who continue to prevent that for their own profit. Advertisement Chafford Hundred, West Thurrock and the Purfleet Fuels Terminals are among the 10 'critical' sites that have been blocked across the country. The operation has cost more than 1 million since last Friday, according to Essex's Deputy Chief Constable Andy Prophet, and more protestors have continued to arrive. By Friday, some 268 people have now been arrested by Essex Police alone. Seven of the ten protests were carried out by Just Stop Oil at Navigator Terminals Thames, Inter Terminals UK and Purfleet Fuels Terminal all in Grays; Buncefield Oil Depot in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire; Esso Petroleum in Tyburn, Birmingham; and Kingsbury Oil Terminal and BP Oil Depot, both in Tamworth, Staffordshire. The further three were organised by Extinction Rebellion demonstrators at the Esso West Terminal near London Heathrow Airport, Hamble Terminals in Southampton and Hythe Terminal in Fawley, Hampshire. In a tweet by Extinction Rebellion's Cambridge branch the group shared photos of fuel 'running dry across Cambridge'. '@JustStop_Oil and @XRebellionUK are blockading oil terminals across the UK. 'Shown here are petrol stations in Sainsbury's Coldhams Lane, Tesco Fulbourn, and BP Elizabeth Way and Cherry Hinton.' The Petrol Retailers Association said: 'We are aware of protests at a number of fuel supply sites; however the majority of terminals are currently unaffected. 'PRA has not had any members contacting regarding supply issues. Some fuel suppliers are having to reschedule deliveries and our members are working closely with them and following their advice.' Fuel prices have risen to record highs in recent weeks, with some garages and forecourts charging more than 2/litre for diesel at one point. Chancellor Rishi Sunak tried to mitigate the effects of price rises as he last month begged petrol stations to pass on a 5p fuel duty cut at the pumps that he delivered in his Spring Statement. Asda, Sainsburys and Tesco were among the major supermarkets to confirm they would pass on the cut in prices, with a 6p decrease in petrol and diesel. This however represents only a fraction in the price rises seen since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in late February. The 5p cut in fuel duty was blasted by UK motoring groups as a 'drop in the ocean' for hard-pressed drivers as pump prices continue to hit record levels. From this weekend it is believed the groups' focus will shift towards 'mass daily protests' in London to be led by Extinction Rebellion activists. The campaign group, also known as XR, will hold its latest 'rebellions' from April 9 starting at Hyde Park and then spreading throughout the capital. Protests are also planned in Birmingham and Southampton and 'non-violent direct action training' will be given. XR spokesman Andrew Smith said: 'From Saturday April 9 we will meet at 10am in Hyde Park every day. We will be easy to find, we will be easy to join, we will be more disruptive than ever, and we will be impossible to ignore. Just Stop Oil activists take part in a protest outside the Esso Birmingham fuel terminal on the first day of protests at 10 oil terminals across the country 'We're expecting huge numbers from the 9th. In London we won't have pink boats, we won't have pink tables, we will just have people power. 'In the tradition of non-violent civil disobedience, we will disrupt business as usual until the Government and big business make change. We need everyone to join us.' He continued: 'We're looking at more mass participation-style events, rather than small kind of scattergun actions which rebellions have previously consisted of. We're looking at mass participation, which are easy to join. 'We're asking the public to step up and join us. We know at the moment that across the country, people are feeling kind of disenfranchised with how they've been treated by the Government. 'The energy crisis is really starting to hit home on people, and people really want us to step up into a space where their voice is heard. 'We're offering them the space where they can come and participate and join with us. 'Every morning we'll be offering non-violent direct action training, where we will encourage people to step up and be empowered to take action with us and speak out against Government inaction. As a response to that, the actions will feel and look very different to previous rebellions. The BBC has agreed to hand over footage to police of an IRA suspect confessing to his role in the Hyde Park and Brighton bomb attacks. Patrick Ryan, a retired Catholic priest, said he helped to smuggle weapons and explosives from Libya as well as timing devices for bombs - and helped to deliver them to Republican terrorists. The 91-year-old, who escaped extradition in 1988 to spark then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's fury, brazenly boasted of his role in the IRA's bombing campaign on a BBC Spotlight documentary. Asked if he was involved in the attacks on Hyde Park in 1982, which left four soldiers dead, and the bombing of the Grand Hotel in Brighton during the 1984 Tory Party Conference which killed five, he replied: 'Absolutely, 100 per cent. I regret I wasn't even more effective. 'Absolutely. I would like to have been much more effective but we didn't do too badly.' Now, more than two years after the 2019 programme, the police have been granted a court order to be handed the footage, including any material which was not broadcast. Patrick Ryan, 91, as he appeared on the BBC programme where he claimed to have played a role in aiding the smuggling of weapons and explosives for the IRA The Hyde Park bombing in 1982 was responsible for the deaths of five British soldiers and seven horses (Pictured: Aftermath shows dead horses strewn across the road) Sussex Police and the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism command jointly launched a probe after Mr Ryan's confession. On Thursday Judge Neil Rafferty at Belfast Crown Court granted an order for the BBC to hand over the material within 21 days after an agreement between the corporation and police. An unsuccessful effort in 1988 to extradite Mr Ryan to Britain from Belgium, where he was arrested with cash and bomb-making materials, prompted a furious reaction from Mrs Thatcher. She stormed out of a meeting with Belgian Prime Minister Wilfried Marten and Mr Ryan was flown back to Ireland. The Police Service of Northern Ireland, which sought the court order, is also probing the confessions of convicted killer Laurence Maguire over his involvement with the Ulster Volunteer Force. The 91-year-old (pictured), who escaped extradition in 1988 to spark then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's fury, brazenly boasted of his role in the IRA's bombing campaign on a BBC Spotlight documentary Mark Tipper, whose brother Trooper Simon Tipper, 19, died in the Hyde Park attack, said: 'This news - three years after our shock that Father Ryan could gloat on national TV that he'd not killed enough people, and still not warrant investigation - is a huge step forward. 'Victims need a voice. And Father Ryan needs to face justice.' Matt Jury, of McCue Jury & Partners who are lawyers for the Hyde Park families, said: 'By his own admission, this man is complicit in mass murder - the families and general public deserve and need to see justice done. 'It's incredible that almost three years have passed since we asked the authorities to take action, and he still hasn't even been arrested and questioned.' Two children are are fighting for their lives in hospital after being trapped in a house fire in Lancashire on Friday (April 8). Emergency services were called to the scene in Preston at around 8pm following reports of a blaze at a property with several people trapped inside. A spokesman for Lancashire Police said a woman in her 20s, a five-year-old boy and a three-year-old girl were rescued from the burning building on Coronation Crescent. The two children are in a critical condition, and the woman is in hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening, according to the force. A spokesman for Lancashire Police said a woman in her 20s, a five-year-old boy and a three-year-old girl were rescued from the burning building on Coronation Crescent An investigation into the cause of the fire is being carried out by emergency services An investigation into the cause of the fire is being carried out by police and Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, and is being treated as unexplained. Detective Chief Inspector Graham Hill said: 'Two children are in hospital with life-threatening injuries and first and foremost our thoughts are with them and their parents at this awful time. 'We have specially-trained officers with them at hospital. 'At this time the fire is being treated as unexplained and an investigation has been launched with Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service to establish the cause. 'We now need you to contact us if you have any information at all that can help with this investigation. 'Maybe you were in the Coronation Crescent area last night between 7.30pm and 8.30pm and saw something suspicious, perhaps you have dashcam or CCTV which has captured the address during those times, or maybe you have other information you think could be important. 'Whatever you know we would urge you to contact us straight away. 'We are also aware of rumours circulating online about an explosion having occurred and we would like to clarify that this is not the case.' Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting log 1305 of April 8. A total stranger who killed a beloved great-grandmother by an arson attack that forced her into a fatal jump from an upstairs window then told police he 'got the wrong door.' Peggy Wright, 83, known affectionately as the 'Peggy Mitchell of her street' in reference to the former Eastenders character, was fatally injured in the fall. The fire was started by schizophrenic Mark O'Brien, who claimed he had been shouted at and called a paedophile. However, when he was arrested in Birmingham city centre, he told police: 'F*** sake think I got the wrong door.' Ms Wright's son Andrew France, 53, had jumped from the burning home in Lapworth Grove, Balsall Health, with his mother in his arms on April 18 last year, Birmingham Crown Court heard. Mr France and Ms Wright had never come across O'Brien before, the court yesterday heard. Ms Wright died on the night of April 18 from her injuries after the fall. Peggy Wright, 83, (pictured) known affectionately as the 'Peggy Mitchell of her street' in reference to the former Eastenders matriarch, died in the fall. The fire was started by schizophrenic Mark O'Brien, who claimed he had been shouted at and called a paedophile O'Brien was arrested a few hours later outside a Wagamama restaurant in Birmingham city centre and told police his head had 'flipped.' It was alleged he had in fact been shouting to himself the night before the fire. Police initially charged O'Brien with murder, attempted murder and arson intending to endanger life. However he later pleaded guilty to manslaughter due to diminished responsibility, arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered and grievous bodily harm. O'Brien's pleas were accepted after medical evidence from a number of professionals. Yesterday's hearing was told by expert psychiatrist Dr Nicholas Kennedy that O'Brien suffered from paranoid schizophrenia. Addressing Ms Wright's friends and family in the public gallery of the court, O'Brien stood and said: 'Sorry for what happened. I didn't mean it.' Prosecuting, Edmund Vickers said that the defendant lived in a multiple occupancy house on Lapworth Grove for around three weeks before the fire. On April 18 at 8.25am, Mr Vickers said that O'Brien told a neighbour he was 'f***** off' claiming someone had been 'shouting and screaming at me all night, calling me a paedophile and a nonce.' But Mr Vickers said that the neighbour heard 'no such shouting' apart from shouting coming from Mr O'Brien.' Speaking on the fire, Mr Vickers said: 'Andrew France lived at the address with his 83-year-old mother, Peggy Wright. 'They had both gone to bed. Mr France awoke the next morning and immediately saw flames coming up the stairs. He could smell petrol. He awoke his mother realising he couldn't exit the house going down the stairs. 'He opened her bedroom window. The flames were coming into the bedroom and both were caught by the flames which led them to the window. 'Ms Wright weighed only six stone. He (Mr France) cuddled her in his arms and, holding onto her, jumped with her to the ground below. Unfortunately they landed heavily and he immediately realised both suffered serious injuries in the fall.' Ms Wright was admitted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital at 10.50am but her injuries were 'unsurvivable' and she died at 11pm. Mr Vickers added that Mr France also suffered serious injuries and would be mentally 'scarred' by the ordeal. Ms Wright's son Andrew France, 53, had jumped from the burning home in Lapworth Grove, Balsall Health, with his mother in his arms on April 18 last year, Birmingham Crown Court heard. Pictured: Tributes outside Ms Wright's home Officers arrested O'Brien on the steps outside Wagamama in Birmingham City Centre at around 2pm on April 18 last year. He was captured on body-worn cameras saying: 'He should have known something was going to happen. What he did to me was vulgar he deserved f****** everything. None of this would have happened if you had sorted it out. He fried my brain. 'I talked to the man on the phone and told the geezer I burnt his house. He shouldn't have pushed me. I told him to stop, he wouldn't stop. Simple as. My head f****** flipped I don't even remember doing it.' Mr Vickers then said that when O'Brien was re-arrested on suspicion of murder, he remarked: 'F*** sake think I have got the wrong door.' Birmingham Crown Court heard that O'Brien's mental health issues were 'exacerbated by alcohol and drug dependency.' Judge Paul Farrer QC said the defendant 'denies an intent to kill or cause serious harm and asserts he believed the house to be empty'. Dr Kennedy told the court that O'Brien's paranoid schizophrenia was 'treatment-resistant' meaning that he was on anti-psychotic medication called Clozapine. When asked if the defendant could be successfully treated in prison, he said: 'It would allow for it but it would be far less than ideal.' Judge Farrer confirmed that he would pass sentence on Wednesday April 13. O'Brien was remanded to Birmingham's Tamarind Centre, a medium secure facility Birmingham Crown Court heard that people who came off the medication could deteriorate and become 'unwell very quickly' which 'could go undetected' in prison.' Defending, Andrew Smith said that at the time of the offence, O'Brien suffered from an 'overwhelming psychotic episode.' He added: 'His mental illness directly drove the commission of criminal offences.' And Mr Smith also argued that O'Brien 'did not disengage' with his medical treatment and that alcohol only played a 'minimal role' in his actions. Judge Farrer confirmed that he would pass sentence on Wednesday April 13. He told O'Brien: 'I don't lose sight of the fact you want to know what the sentence is in this case but I have heard very detailed submissions and I need to think about them because everyone, including you, wants me to get this right. I'm going to take the weekend to reflect on everything I have heard.' O'Brien was remanded to Birmingham's Tamarind Centre, a medium secure facility. Spain has announced that it is scrapping Covid masks this month in a boon for British holidaymakers this summer. At a press conference held at the Palacio de Fuensalida in Toledo, Spanish Health Minister Carolina Darias said that face coverings would no longer be compulsory when accessing indoor places from Wednesday, April 20. The relaxation means all people in Spain including travellers will be able to enter bars, cafes, restaurants, theatres, museums and shopping centres without being required to wear a face mask. Facemasks in indoor public places will be scrapped from Wednesday, April 20, announced Spain's health minister But the restriction will remain in place on public transport and in hospitals and care homes. The easing has prompted a mixed response, with regions including Catalonia and Madrid frustrated that it has come after Easter while others like Andalusia say the change is coming too soon. It comes a week after the nation's tourist board incorrectly stated that unvaccinated British holidaymakers could visit Spain if they tested negative for Covid-19 within 72 hours of arrival. This only applies to ages 12 to 17, and was later clarified. The erroneous announcement was labelled a 'miscommunication' which arose from a 'misinterpretation of the rules' laid out in a Spanish health department bulletin. Spain ended mandatory outdoor mask use in early February, but many have been choosing to wear them in crowds This week, deputy director of the Spanish tourist board in the UK Pedro Medina said in a statement: 'We apologise unreservedly for the miscommunication ... which was due to a misunderstanding of the new entry requirements.' The tourist office also said: 'If more than 270 days have passed since the final dose, certification of a booster vaccination is also required, except for teenagers aged 12 to 17 inclusive.' But the mishap left many Brits out of pocket, as they booked flights to Spain after hearing the false announcement. Some spent more than 900 on flights, The Sun reported. It is one of the few countries in Europe to place an expiration date on vaccinations, and means that holidaymakers can only visit if they were fully vaccinated within the last 270 days. Spain ended mandatory outdoor mask use in early February, but many have been choosing to wear them in crowds. UK travellers aged 12 and above are still required to show proof of being fully vaccinated - or a certificate of recovery obtained than 180 days from the date of travel - to get into the country. Travellers looking to gain entry to Spain via a certificate of recovery must have a document obtained from 'the official authorities' in connection with a test 'carried out by qualified personnel'. This means that a self-testing kit is not valid, and travellers aiming to show proof of recovery must have a certificate from a test administered by an EU-approved list of providers. The only exception to this rule applies to those aged 12-17, who are able to get into the country unvaccinated provided they have proof of a negative, approved PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival. France's presidential election race has narrowed even further as a shock poll found that most young people are planning to back far-Right candidate Marine Le Pen over Emmanuel Macron. A new YouGov survey this week shows that more than half (56 per cent) of voters aged 18 to 24 would back Le Pen, whose National Rally party has vowed to clampdown on immigration, reassert France's national identity and fine Muslims who wear headscarves in public. Other polls project Le Pen taking 47 per cent of the vote to Macron's 53 among the general population a much closer gap than when the President beat her in the election five years ago. Just last month, Macron appeared all but certain to become the first French leader to win re-election since Jacques Chirac in 2002. But the polls have narrowed sharply in the past two weeks a development which he has tried to blame on the war in Ukraine. Le Pen's campaign has been mired by allegations of racism spread by Macron, and this week hit out at the President's 'extremely outrageous' and 'very aggressive' claims. Experts claim a victory for Le Pen would be a victory for the forces of nativism and Right-wing populism in France, and send a political shockwave across Europe and the global financial markets. A new YouGov survey generated this week shows that 56 per cent of voters aged 18 to 24 would back Marine Le Pen (Pictured: Le Pen during a campaign rally this week) The latest prediction suggests that Mr Macron will win 27 per cent of the vote in the first-round election tomorrow (Pictured: Macron speaking on French TV station TF1 during his campaign this week) Le Pen has centered her bid on purchasing power, softening her image and tapping into promising to cut taxes and hike some social benefits, worrying financial markets as she gains momentum in the polls. (Pictured: Le Pen on campaign trail this week) I'm not a racist, says Marine Le Pen as she keeps closing the gap on Emmanuel Macron ahead of French election vote on Sunday - with one poll suggesting she could WIN second round Marine Le Pen denied claims by Emmanuel Macron that she is racist as her chances of becoming the first female President of France continued to grow. The far-Right National Rally party candidate was angered by accusations by Macron, 44, that her bid to take over from him as head of state was grounded in hatred and bigotry of ethnic and religious minorities. 'I challenge him to find a single proposal in my program that discriminates against the French because of their origin, their religion or the colour of their skin', Le Pen said on Friday two days before the 2022 French presidential election starts. Speaking on FranceInfo radio, she said: 'I find the remarks of the President of France extremely outrageous,' adding that he had become 'very aggressive since he entered the campaign.' Macron had earlier spoken about Le Pen's 'racist programme,' which includes proposals for a mass clamp down on immigration. Despite such attacks, polls suggested there was very little between the two candidates, who are favourites to go through to the second round of voting for a head-to-head. A shock poll by Brazilian firm Atlas Politico placed Le Pen ahead of the incumbent head of state, giving her 50.5 per cent of the vote ahead of Macron on 49.5 per cent. Such as result would hand Le Pen the presidency. Advertisement If re-elected, Macron would have a five-year mandate to impose his vision of reform which would include a crack at reducing the pension age in defiance of union anger. He would also seek to consolidate his position as the undisputed number one in Europe after the departure of German chancellor Angela Merkel. Analysts question whether Macron would enjoy the same support from a broad anti-far right 'Republican front' coalition that helped him win in 2017 and allowed Jacques Chirac to demolish Marine Le Pen's father Jean-Marie in 2002. The latest prediction suggests that Macron will win 27 per cent of the vote in the first-round election tomorrow, with Le Pen taking 22 per cent. They would then battle for votes in the lead up to April 24. Other highly favoured candidates include far-Right politician Eric Zemmour and Left-wing Jean-Luc Melenchon particularly for younger voters. Greens candidate Yannick Jadot, the Republicans' Valerie Pecresse and the flagging Socialist nominee Anne Hidalgo appear certain to be ejected in the first round. Far-right former TV pundit Eric Zemmour made a re-entry into the campaign last year but lost ground, and analysts say he has aided Le Pen by making her appear more moderate. Macron has called for a 'mobilisation' of his supporters, and said that Brexit proves that Le Pen could win with her far-Right views. He also appealed to younger, progressive-leaning voters in his last scheduled interview before Sunday's first-round presidential vote. 'When it comes to correcting social inequalities at their root, we have begun the work, but we are very far from having succeeded,' he told online news outlet Brut in a long interview, pledging also to do more to fight climate change. One 25-year-old who has been circulating Le Pen leaflets said that her nationalist ideologies appealed to alienated young people. 'Our generation has known all kinds of problems. We've always seen war on the TV,' David Quentin told the Telegraph. 'We've always known economic crisis and terrorism, environmental problems. It's always felt like the end of the world to us. We've lost our point of reference, as a country.' But this support for Le Pen may not lead to a victory, as a record-breaking 31 per cent of voters may abstain this year. Young voters are the most likely to steer clear of the ballot box, feeling a disconnect between themselves and the candidates. Melenchon, the Left's favourite among the youth vote, has been described as the country's answer to Jeremy Corbyn. His views have prompted a mixed response among younger people. Some younger people feel that both Mr Macron and Ms Le Pen are unappealing, as a record-breaking 31 per cent of voters may abstain this year One 25-year-old intern told the paper 'the far-Right and the awful candidate just next to it' were both unappealing. 'Going to vote would mean putting my faith in a system that I know can't satisfy my choices, so I'm not very interested in it, Etienne Sellier said. The biggest voter population expected to take part on Sunday are older and wealthier people. And they are more likely to support Mr Macron. 'There is an uncertainty ahead of the first round,' said French political scientist Pascal Perrineau, pointing to unprecedently high numbers of voters who were still undecided or who changed their minds during the campaign as well as absentee voters. Analysts fear that the 2002 record of the numbers of French voters boycotting a first round of 28.4 percent risks being beaten, with the 2017 absentee rate of 22.2 percent almost sure to be exceeded. Some 48.7 million voters are registered across France to vote in this election. 'We have experienced a strange campaign that was at odds with what we experienced in the past presidential elections,' Frederic Dabi, director of the Ifop polling institute, said. Macron visited a market in Neuilly-sur-Seine, near Paris yesterday after a radio appearance on the last day of campaigning ahead of the vote tomorrow Voting closes at 8pm tomorrow, with the final results expected in the early hours of Monday. Partial counts on Sunday evening will provide an indication of the results to come. All further political activity by candidates was banned on the final day before polls open in mainland France at 6am tomorrow. French overseas territories began voting earlier to take account of the time difference, starting with the tiny island of Saint Pierre and Miquelon off the coast of Canada whose voters cast ballots from 10am today. Territories in the Caribbean followed a few hours later, with Pacific island voters casting their ballots from 6pm and then finally the Indian Ocean territories before polling stations open in mainland France. Macron has argued that he is the best person to lead the country during the Ukrainian war, but has been less active on the campaign trail than Le Pen. This has boosted the far-Right candidate, whose poll ratings have been mostly impacted by the Russian loan her party is repaying and her previous support of Putin's annexation of Crimea. A father was arrested and charged with murder after his 8-year-old son shot and killed his little brother, 6, with a gun found on a bedroom floor inside their Stone Mountain, Georgia, home on Friday. D'onte Patterson, 29, was charged with murder, cruelty to children, possession of marijuana and possession of methamphetamine after rushing the younger son, V'Onte, to the hospital after his older brother shot him. A neighbor, not wanting to be named, told DailyMail.com that it was an AR-15 that was used in the shooting, which police believe to be an accident. The neighbor said that seven children were in the home and that the father and the children's uncle were downstairs at the time of the incident. They said that V'Onte was shot in the mouth, and that the father and uncle took the boy to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. D'onte Patterson, 29, was charged with murder after his 8-year-old son shot and killed his little brother, V'Onte, 6, inside their home in Stone Mountain, Georgia, (pictured) on Friday A neighbor claimed the older son used an AR-15 rifle to shoot his brother Another neighbor, Annette Barber, 62, said she was heartbroken when she learned of the child's death The neighbor added that the gun used in the shooting was allegedly loaded and on the floor next to the bed in an upstairs bedroom when the 8-year-old found it and shot his sibling. Patterson confirmed that the weapon was his and that the children found it on the floor of the bedroom, police said. The DeKalb County Police Department said the investigation is ongoing as they are questioning the occupants in the house. Authorities confirmed that seven children and four adults occupy the home. Another neighbor, Annette Barber, 62, who has lived in the neighborhood for more than 20 years, told DailyMail.com that she came home to the sight of police cars, news helicopters and the FBI, and was told by a police detective that a boy had been shot in her neighbor's home. 'All of them were playing with her grandchild in her backyard the day before yesterday,' she said. Barber added that the family had not been living in the home longer than a year and also heard that the oldest child found the gun and shot his younger brother V'Onte in the mouth. 'It is heartbreaking and my heart goes out to the family,' Barber said. 'It is such a tragic loss. It deeply hurts my heart.' Patterson rushed his son to the hospital after the two kids found his gun on the floor of a bedroom. Police believe the shooting was an accident The DeKalb County Police Department said the investigation is ongoing as they question the occupants in the home, which housed seven children and four adults Another neighbor, Hiram McDonald, also lamented the tragedy that struck the family. 'I wish it would have never happened,' McDonald told Fox 5. 'I loved the boy. Like I said, he was like a son to me. I just hate that it happened.' Parrish Hurst, who lives across the street from the Pattersons, echoed the heartbreak. 'My heart really goes out to the family for their loss,' Hurst told 11 Alive, 'cause we really have to keep an eye on our kids, these days. 'They get into so much, so quick. So we can't take chances with our kids. So my heart goes out, and condolences, to the family for their loss.' Putin's deranged regime branded Latvia a 'neo-Nazi' state in a chilling echo of Moscow's threats to Ukraine after the Baltic state made May 9 a day of remembrance for victims of Russian aggression. In an extraordinary rant, Moscow called Riga's decision to commemorate Ukrainian war victims next month - on the same day as Russia's Victory Day to mark the surrender of Nazi Germany - 'blasphemous'. Latvian MPs passed the legislation to draw attention to ' Russia's military aggression'. Latvian national flags will be raised alongside Ukrainian flags at every residence and government building. According to Kremlin-backed media, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the decision 'an attempt to humiliate the Russian-speaking community living in Latvia, which cherishes the memory of the exploits of anti-fascist heroes'. Maria Zakharova (pictured), the Director of the Information and Press Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, called it 'an attempt to humiliate the Russian-speaking community living in Latvia' The Latvian Seimas passed the legislation to draw attention to 'Russia's military aggression' and will adorn national flags with black ribbon, which will be raised at every residence and government building. Latvian national flags will also be raised alongside Ukrainian flags at the Riga Castle, Saeima building and the Cabinet of Ministers building The Russian Foreign Ministry has heavily criticised Latvia's decision to commemorate Ukrainian war victims on May 9 and branded it 'blasphemous' - as it is the same day Moscow holds its annual Victory Day parade to mark the Nazis surrender in WWII. Pictured: Victory Day parade in Moscow, 2021 Pictured: Russian President Vladimir Putin greets veterans before a military parade on Victory Day in 2021 She added: 'The blasphemous decision of the Latvian parliamentarians is subject to strong condemnation by all sensible forces not only in Russia, but throughout the world. 'At the same time, this legislative act is not surprising, since the ruling regime in Latvia has long been well known for its neo-Nazi preferences and attempts to whitewash the atrocities of Nazi Germany 's henchmen. 'Just as Riga in every possible way covers the crimes of the Kiev regime against civilians in Ukraine and Donbas. We are convinced that that history will put everything in its place.' The bill will also not allow the organisation of any public celebrations and says there will be no issue of permits for public events. It comes as a former senior officer in the Russian army laid out a battle plan on state TV which includes the Russian army invading the NATO Baltic states and parts of Sweden, a politically neutral country. Speaking live on TV channel Rossiya 1, retired Russian military Colonel gestured to the map showing Gotland, Sweden's largest island with a population of around 58,595, circled in red. Colonel Igor Korotchenko, formerly of the Russian General Staff and air force and currently a reserve officer, outlined on TV channel Rossiya 1 how a Russain invasion of the Baltic states might look The map shows a plan where Russian forces would push up from Kaliningrad and close the Suwalki corridor separating Poland and Lithuania, blocking NATO reinforcements Pointing a the map, Colonel Igor Korotchenko, formerly of the Russian General Staff and air force and currently a reserve officer, said at the start of the invasion 'a massive Russian radio-electronic strike is inflicted' as 'all Nato radars go blind and see nothing', according to the Sun. This was how the scenario for capturing the countries might look, he added. Sweden has been politically neutral throughout its recent history, but Russia's invasion of Ukraine brought the prospect of the Nordic country joining NATO to the fore of political discussion. Russia has threatened Sweden and Finland over NATO membership repeatedly since the invasion began. 'At this time, on the Swedish island Gotland, Russian military planes land, delivering S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems, and Bastion coastal anti-ship systems,' said Colonel Korotchenko. In the video, a border area labelled the 'Suwalki gap' is shown - the gap between Belarus and Russia's Kaliningrad exclave, a leftover territory annexed from Germany after the Second World War. Colonel Korotchenko explained how Russia would push up from Kaliningrad towards the Suwalki corridor separating Poland and Lithuania, blocking NATO reinforcements from the West. NATO forces take part in the Cold Response drills in Norway, which happen every two years Armoured vehicles of NATO's rapid reaction force brigade in Norway for the military exercise Cold Response 22 arrive at Borg Havn in Fredrikstad, Norway 'The astonished West and NATO will know that Russia declares a no-fly zone of 400km,' added the enthused Colonel. The entire Baltic Sea would then by open to Russian forces, he said on live TV. The scenario ends with the new Baltic states governments pledging allegiance to Moscow while Sweden agrees to perpetual neutrality and a 99-year lease on Gotland. The program went out on Russian television as the end of last year but was posted by Ukrainian government advisor Anton Gerashchenko. Meanwhile, President Vladimir Putin hopes to have a battlefield win in eastern Ukraine within the next month so he can celebrate it on Russia's annual Victory Day parade in Moscow. US officials said the alleged war criminal wants to coincide a victory with the parade in Red Square on May 9. The Yars mobile intercontinental ballistic missile launcher moves to Red Square during the military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War on June 24, 2020 in Moscow, Russia TOS-1A Solntsepyok (Blazing Sun) multiple thermobaric rocket launchers during the Victory Day military parade in Red Square marking the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II, on June 24, 2020 in Moscow, Russia Russian service members march during a military parade on Victory Day, which marks the 76th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia May 9, 2021 They said it could explain why the Russian despot's forces have pulled back from the Kyiv region to concentrate on the east of Ukraine after weeks of fighting, The Times reported. It is likely Putin thinks a battlefield win in the Donbas region in the east of Ukraine is more realistic because more of the existing Ukrainian population there is pro-Russian. Officials also think the relocation of Russian troops could be in anticipation of warmer weather that will make it harder to move tanks and armoured vehicles through the Ukrainian countryside. They believe if Russia focuses on the east of Ukraine, Putin's forces could remain there for a number of months. Ukrainian officials also think the Victory Day parade will be central to Putin's Plan B for the invasion, after the Russian tyrant's original strategy failed. A Texas woman was arrested and charged with murder after she allegedly terminated her own pregnancy. Lizelle Herrera, 26, was arrested Thursday after she 'intentionally and knowingly caused the death of an individual by self-induced abortion,' police said. It is unclear how far along Herrera was in her pregnancy, but Texas has banned all abortions after the first detection of an embryonic 'heartbeat,' which can be detected as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. Herrera was being held at the Starr County Jail on a $500,000 bond while authorities investigate, KVEO reported. She has since reportedly been released on bail. The Starr County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment. The Texas Heartbeat Act bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, with no exceptions for rape or incest. The law's unusual enforcement measures were meant to insulate it from legal challenges - anyone can bring forth a case against anyone who aids a woman in getting an abortion, other than the woman herself. Such a plaintiff could be entitled to up to $10,000. Lizelle Herrera, 26, was arrested Thursday after she 'intentionally and knowingly caused the death of an individual by self-induced abortion' Herrera was being held at the Starr County Jail on a $500,000 bond while authorities investigate the details surrounding her abortion La Frontera Fund, a Texas-based abortion assistance fund, held a protest outside of the Starr County Jail on Saturday morning demanding Herrera's release. 'This arrest is inhumane. We are demanding the immediate release of Lizelle Herrera,' Rockie Gonzalez, founder and board chair of Frontera Fund, told KSTX. 'What is alleged is that she was in the hospital and had a miscarriage and divulged some information to hospital staff, who then reported her to the police.' The organization, which acknowledged that details surrounding Herrera's arrest are still only preliminary, also criticized the recently passed Texas Heartbeat Act. Protestors are chanting for abortion rights and the release of Lizelle Herrera. @TPRNews pic.twitter.com/qxzhhnqhng Carolina Cuellar Colmenares (@Wzrd_of_Lnlynss) April 9, 2022 'This is a developing story and we don't yet know all the details surrounding this tragic event, what we do know is that criminalizing pregnant people's choices or pregnancy outcomes, which the state of Texas has done, takes away people's autonomy over their own bodies, and leaves them with no safe options when they choose not to become a parent,' Gonzalez explained. The activist also argued that the bill, which took effect on September 1, 2021, is the most restrictive abortion ban in the country, prohibiting the procedure before many women even know they are pregnant. It also deputizes private citizens to sue anyone who performs or 'aids and abets' an abortion. 'We want people to know that this type of legislation impacts low-income people of color communities the most when state legislators put restrictions on our reproductive rights,' Gonzalez told the radio station. The Texas Heartbeat Act was met with criticisms from pro-choice groups following its enactment in September. Protesters are pictured outside of the U.S. Supreme Court last October Despite the criticisms, none of the legal challenges to overturn the law have been successful The bill was met with criticisms from pro-choice groups following its enactment in September. However, none of the legal challenges to overturn the law have been successful, including a case brought to the U.S. Supreme Court in December 2021 and the Texas Supreme Court last month. The Texas law conflicts with landmark U.S. Supreme Court rulings that prevent a state from banning abortion early in pregnancy, but it was written in a way that has essentially outmaneuvered those precedents. With few options left, Texas abortion providers have acknowledged the law is likely to stay on the books for the foreseeable future. Abortions in Texas dropped by about 60 per cent in September 2021, following the nation's most restrictive ban on the procedure Data published by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission in February revealed that abortion across the state fell by 60 percent during the first month under the new law. The nearly 2,200 abortions reported by Texas providers in September came after a new law took effect that bans the procedure once cardiac activity is detected, usually around six weeks of pregnancy, and without exceptions in cases of rape or incest. In August, there had been more than 5,400 abortions statewide, and abortion numbers were consistently above 4,250 in the first seven months of 2021. Texas state health officials said more data will be released on a monthly basis. Planned Parenthood said at the time that the numbers were 'the very beginning of the devastating impact' of the law as they saw 'a 1,082 per cent increase in patients with Texas zip codes seeking abortion compared to September 2019 and 2020.' 'It is unconscionable that thousands of Texans continue to be forced to travel hundreds of miles out of state to Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, and other farther states to access their fundamental right to safe, legal abortion,' the organization said. The law has also inspired several copycat bills in other states. The Oklahoma House voted 70-14 to pass a bill that would make performing an abortion in the state a felony punishable buy up to 10 years in jail and a $100,000 fine. Protestors gathered at the capitol on Tuesday to speak out against the bill How Texas's heartbeat abortion law has spurned a host of similar state statutes The Texas Heartbeat Act, which was enacted in September 2021, bans abortions after the detection of embryonic or fetal cardiac activity, which typically occurs after around six weeks of pregnancy. The law had a fairly swift and easy process of getting passed in the deeply conservative state. It was introduced to the state's Senate and House of Representatives on March 11, 2021, and was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott several months later on May 19. The law itself took effect shortly thereafter on September 1, with the Supreme Court ultimately denying a request for emergency relief from Texas abortion providers beforehand. It has since suffered several legal challenges and criticism. President Joe Biden called it 'extreme' and saying it 'blatantly violates the constitutional right established under Roe v. Wade.' Senator Elizabeth Warren argued that it is time to 'step up and codify Roe into federal law,' in response to the state's 'heartbeat' abortion ban. The law has also inspired several other states to follow suit with similar legislation. Advertisement Idaho last month had become the first state to enact legislation modeled after the Texas statute banning abortions after about six weeks. However, the Idaho Supreme Court on Friday temporarily blocked the law, meaning it won't go into effect on April 22 as planned. The Idaho bill also allowed the would-be father, grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles of a 'preborn child' to each sue an abortion provider for a minimum of $20,000 in damages within four years after the abortion. Rapists can't file a lawsuit under the law, but a rapist's relatives could. Besides Idaho, eleven other states have proposed heartbeat bills since 2018; such bills have passed including bills in Ohio, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Alabama, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Texas, most of which lie either partly or entirely in the so-called Bible Belt whose population leans heavily against abortion. Similarly, the Oklahoma House gave final legislative approval on Tuesday to a bill that would make performing an abortion a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine. With little discussion and no debate, the Republican-controlled House voted 70-14 to send the bill to Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, who has previously said he'd sign any anti-abortion bill that comes to his desk. If Stitt signs the legislation and if does not get blocked by courts, the bill would take effect when the state Legislature adjourns in the summer. The bill, which passed the Senate last year, makes an exception only for an abortion performed to save the life of the mother, said GOP state Rep. Jim Olsen, of Roland, who sponsored the bill. There is no exception for rape or incest victims. Under the bill, a doctor or person convicted of performing an abortion would face up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine. 'The penalties are for the doctor, not for the woman,' Olsen said. The future of the Oklahoma bill will most likely depend on the U.S. Supreme Court decision expected this summer regarding Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban that could roll back the Roe v. Wade decision. Female suspects can be strip-searched by police officers who were born male but identify as women and could be accused of a hate crime if they object, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. New guidelines issued to forces around the country state: 'Chief Officers are advised to recognise the status of transgender colleagues from the moment they transition, considered to be, the point at which they present in the gender with which they identify. 'Thus, once a Transgender colleague has transitioned, they will search persons of the same gender as their own lived gender.' The controversial advice, issued by the National Police Chief's Council (NPCC) the body representing British police chiefs says it may be 'advisable' to replace the person carrying out the search if the detainee objects, but adds: 'If the refusal is based on discriminatory views, consideration should be given for the incident [to] be recorded as a non-crime hate incident unless the circumstances amount to a recordable crime.' The existence of the guidance, which was quietly issued in December, has only come to light following the intrepid work of Cathy Larkman (pictured), a police officer for over 30 years who rose to the rank of superintendent before retiring last year The existence of the guidance, which was quietly issued in December, has only come to light following the intrepid work of Cathy Larkman, a police officer for over 30 years who rose to the rank of superintendent before retiring last year. Mrs Larkman, 54, grew increasingly concerned with the declining trust women had in the police following a spate of scandals including the abduction and murder of Sarah Everard by a serving police officer. Last October, responding to fears among some women that they had no option over the sex of the officer searching them, she wrote letters to the College of Policing, the Police Federation and the NPCC seeking clarification that this was not the case. The mother-of-three, who is being supported by the Women's Rights Network campaign group, knew that under existing law strip-searches had to be carried out by an officer of the same sex. But she was left 'absolutely gobsmacked' when the NPCC finally released its new guidance to her last week. 'The more I read it, the more shocked I was,' she told The Mail on Sunday. 'This is a devastating blow to women's trust in the police. Women are not even an afterthought in this guidance they are completely non-existent. Everything is geared towards the sensitivities of the officer doing the searching. 'They claim they are trying to be inclusive. But this isn't inclusive of women and it doesn't respect their sex.' The vexed issue of trans' rights has dominated the news agenda over recent days. On Monday, the Equality and Human Rights Commission watchdog insisted that gyms, hospitals and shops were legally allowed to offer single-sex services. Two days later, Boris Johnson said it was vital that women had single-sex spaces, and 'biological males' should not compete in female sports. But Mrs Larkman fears the new guidance threatens women's right to single-sex spaces. Mrs Larkman, 54, (pictured) grew increasingly concerned with the declining trust women had in the police following a spate of scandals including the abduction and murder of Sarah Everard by a serving police officer 'It tells you everything you need to know about what chief officers are thinking at the moment and where their priorities lie. Sadly, it's not with women, she said. 'The NPCC like to talk about reducing violence among women and girls but this just makes you think they are hollow words. There is no concern for women here whatsoever.' A slew of horrifying revelations about misogyny within the police have emerged since Sarah Everard was abducted, raped and murdered by serving firearms officer Wayne Couzens in March last year. The police now stands accused of 'institutional misogyny', in arguably its worst crisis since the Macpherson inquiry in 1999, which labelled the police 'institutionally racist' following the bungled inquiry into the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence. Two police officers were jailed in December after taking photos of murdered sisters Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman and sharing them on Whatsapp, while an independent report published in February found that some officers joked about rape. Dozens more have been accused of sex crimes. The mother-of-three (pictured), who is being supported by the Women's Rights Network campaign group, knew that under existing law strip-searches had to be carried out by an officer of the same sex. But she was left 'absolutely gobsmacked' when the NPCC finally released its new guidance to her last week Mrs Larkman, who commanded over 500 officers at South Wales police, said: 'My primary concern is women and girls out there. They need to feel like they can trust the officers who stop them, especially in light of the horrific circumstances of Sarah Everard's murder. 'But this policy is going to cause more problems by upsetting women and eroding trust in the police force.' Mrs Larkman, who joined South Wales Police straight after she graduated in 1989, is particularly concerned that the guidance will undermine the progress on women's rights within the police. 'It was a very different world in policing back then very male and macho,' she said. 'But it has made massive improvements over my career.' An online exhibition celebrating 'inspirational women' in the police describes Mrs Larkman as one of the 'standard bearers for gender equality' and notes that she was back behind the wheel of a response car three months after giving birth to her first child. 'Across her remarkable career, she challenged gender stereotypes to become a leading figure in South Wales Police,' it notes. 'A role model to so many, Cath is living proof that there is no role a woman cannot play in policing.' A slew of horrifying revelations about misogyny within the police have emerged since Sarah Everard was abducted, raped and murdered by serving firearms officer Wayne Couzens in March last year That is partly why she has taken the brave decision to go public with her concerns. While it is unclear how many trans officers there are in the country, Mrs Larkman fears the new guidance will put female officers in a difficult position. 'If they are searching biological males who self-identify as women they will be under a lot of pressure to just go along with it and keep quiet because they could be disciplined for refusing,' she said. She also questioned why the document places the entire emphasis for any objection on the individual being searched. 'If an individual is nervous before authority or they are overawed by the circumstances or if there is any issue with vulnerability whatsoever, to put the emphasis on them to object is quite astonishing,' she said. 'To top it off, if I as a woman was being strip-searched and I said 'no, I'm not being searched by that officer, that's a man' I could be written up for committing a non-crime hate incident. The document then says that, if that does happen, they should consider giving support to the officer affected, not the member of the public. It is absolutely beyond belief.' Two police officers were jailed in December after taking photos of murdered sisters Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman and sharing them on Whatsapp, while an independent report published in February found that some officers joked about rape. Dozens more have been accused of sex crimes It comes at a time when the controversial police tactic of stop and search is under severe scrutiny. Last month, it emerged that in 2020 a black 15-year-old girl was strip-searched at a school in Hackney, East London, after officers wrongly suspected her of being in possession of cannabis. The girl, referred to as 'Child Q', was menstruating at the time. A safeguarding review found that the strip search was unjustified and racism 'was likely to have been an influencing factor'. In light of this, Mrs Larkman said that the new searching policy is 'tone deaf' and 'crass'. 'The use of stop and search is a very difficult tactic anyway, especially in the current environment,' she said. 'But it's really important in keeping communities safe if you've got a lot of knife crime or county lines and drugs issues. Yet it's very difficult for officers to carry it out in the full glare of publicity so to make it even harder for them defies belief.' While it is unclear how many trans officers there are in the country, Mrs Larkman fears the new guidance will put female officers in a difficult position. 'If they are searching biological males who self-identify as women they will be under a lot of pressure to just go along with it and keep quiet because they could be disciplined for refusing,' she said (stock image) Mrs Larkman reserved her ire for the police chief's imposing these decisions on lower ranking officers. 'The chief officers deciding these provisions are often far removed from the operational staff who are actually going to be carrying them out on the ground. 'And I feel a big responsibility for the officers who are often forced to make difficult decisions on a rainy street corner late at night which can be very easy to criticise in the light of day. The senior officers owe them some moral courage and a level of protection but instead are letting them down enormously. This guidance threatens the integrity of the police service.' She added: 'We are meant to police without fear or favour and, fundamentally, consent. That's a cornerstone of British society policing is done with the consent of the public. And this guidance, as far as I'm concerned, completely flies in the face of that.' Pictured: A woman holds a placard as demonstrators gather outside the BBC Broadcasting House ahead of a march to oppose racism, Islamophobia, antisemitism and fascism, and to express support for refugees as part of United Nations Anti-Racism Day on March 19 Heather Binning, founder of the Women's Rights Network and spokeswoman for the campaign Respect My Sex If You Want My X, said: 'Cathy has done a remarkable job leading on the work that the WRN has been doing over recent months, looking at the policy and procedures of police and crime organisations. 'Once again, we are speechless that sex and gender have been conflated, resulting in a confusing and legally discriminatory policy. Female police officers should never be put in the position where they have to search men. Similarly, a woman should never be searched by a male officer, whatever 'identity' he claims.' The 'Respect My Sex' campaign, also backed by activists Maya Forstater and Caroline Ffiske, urges voters to grill politicians about their definition of a woman. Last night, a spokesman for the NPCC said: 'All searches are dealt with on a case-by-case basis after consideration by a custody sergeant based on the response of the detainee. All searches are carried out in line with the officer or staff members training and legal authority, taking into account our responsibilities under both the Equalities Act 2010 and Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.' Britain's leatherworkers are being mobilised in preparation for the passing of the Queen to make more muffles for church bells. On the days of Her Majesty's death and funeral, an hour's muted chimes will ring out as part of Operation London Bridge the code name for protocols following the Monarch's demise. Most of Britain's 16,000 churches have not rung bells fully muffled which turns the familiar peal into a dull-sounding hum since the death of the Queen's father, King George VI, in February 1952. On the days of Her Majesty's death and funeral, an hour's muted chimes will ring out as part of Operation London Bridge. Pictured, the Queen with Prince Philip in 2007 Britain's leatherworkers are being mobilised in preparation for the passing of the Queen to make more muffles for church bells Many muffles have rotted after being kept in church towers for decades and now, following a request for churches to mute bells to mourn the Queen's death, Britain's small leatherworking industry has been flooded with orders. Central Council of Church Bell Ringers spokeswoman Vicki Chapman said: 'We have spent a lot of time talking to the Royal Household and Lambeth Palace about the day the Monarch passes, which we hope will not be any time soon. 'Adding muffles makes bells sound mournful, more like a hum so they will sound like thud, thud, thud rather than dong, dong, dong. 'It is about paying due reverence to the service of the Monarch and commemorating her life.' Philip Pratt of Big Wilf's Bell Muffles near Bristol, which has supplied more than 1,000 churches, said: 'A lot of enquiries are coming in and we are taking on more and more orders. 'Muffles are a specialist product and only a very few leather manufacturers in the UK make them.' Simon Adams of muffle retailer John Taylor Bell Foundry in Loughborough said: 'Sales in the past month are double the previous month.' Full muffles, which dampen the sound of both strokes of a bell's clapper the metal part inside the bell that creates the noise are reserved for the Monarch's death. Bells are sometimes rung half-muffled with one stroke muted for Remembrance Sunday and funerals. A church with six bells would need 12 muffles, at a cost of about 45 each. Chris Woodcock, Lincoln's civic ringing master, said: 'The majority of churches are rushing around trying to get enough of them.' From a single tooth wobbling precariously in its socket to a cascade of incisors from our gums in bedrooms across Britain, millions of us regularly dream about losing our teeth. But the same is not true around the world. What we dream about is shaped by our culture, geography and climate of our surroundings and even the politics The most common dreams vary enormously across countries and cultures, according to a fascinating analysis of Google searches. Namibians dream of squirrels, for example. Ethiopians dwell on shoes. In Argentina, its spiders which appear in the dead of night. Over my four decades as a psychologist analysing dreams around the world, I have seen first-hand how where you live affects the themes which dominate your sleep. Our fears, anxieties, hopes and ambitions are influenced by the culture, geography and climate of our surroundings and even the politics. Thats why, at its simplest, Icelanders are more likely to dream about snow, or Cambodians about crocodiles. And while being chased is a common theme in many countries, those living in urban areas are more likely to report dreams of being chased by a gang, with those in rural areas pursued by wild animals. Above: A pair of joke wind up chattering teeth. Losing teeth is the most common dream across not just the UK, but much of the Western world from the US and Canada to Australasia. Above: Purple high-heels. Can you guess which country habitually dreams of shoes? Intriguingly, the analysis by sleep website Mornings shows losing teeth is the most common dream across not just the UK, but much of the Western world from the US and Canada to Australasia. Why? Well, in technologically advanced countries like ours, image is everything and success is often related to confidence. Dreaming of your own teeth falling out suggests a dip in confidence, or a loosening grip on power or control. Many of my US clients also report dreams of being pursued. The prevailing culture in the States is of chasing goals, and having individual autonomy and freedoms. So being chased is about these freedoms being threatened, or feeling under pressure to achieve. Other cultures dreams are more concerned with collective identity and family. In Guyana and Bolivia, dreams are filled with babies. These are developing nations with abundant natural resources, and babies are a symbol of bringing new ideas to life, using your entrepreneurial instincts. While dreams involving dead relatives or friends as commonly reported in Mali, Niger, Sri Lanka and Costa Rica may reflect feelings of grief and loss, they are also about seeking to revive something which has lain dormant. In Mali, in particular, cultural traditions are strongly influenced by the stories and songs of ancestors, so its hardly surprising the dead feature in peoples dreams. But more widely, our relationships with others reveal something about ourselves. No one else sees us quite like our grandparents or parents, for instance, so dreaming about them can suggest you want to reconnect with a part of yourself that you thought was lost. Meanwhile, dreaming about marriage is often about compromise and joining together two opposing forces. Its no surprise that Algerians seem to experience it in their dreams the most a nation where the colonial French influence is in a constant battle against Arabic cultures. Interestingly, conflict in general has crept into many dreams around the world recently sparked by the Ukraine crisis but it can often be a symbol of far more personal frictions in our own lives. People in Peru dream of rats; in Chile they dream of mice! Be careful if you're French, Mexican orJapanese - your ex might come to you in your dreams. And Nigerians.... happy dreaming Creatures and objects can be powerful symbols too. When Namibians dream of squirrels, its not about squirrels but what they represent: adaptability, agility and opportunity. In Ethiopia, where living barefoot is still the norm in rural areas, shoes represent identity and status. Spiders feature in many cross-cultural myths, and in our dreams are symbolic of feeling trapped in a web from which there is no easy escape. They have scuttled into the national psyche in Argentina, where they are the most common dream hardly surprising given the political system under President Alberto Fernandez, which has been dogged by corruption. Our dreams might feel like deeply personal experiences, and its true that no two are exactly alike. But they are also a huge cultural mirror reflecting how we see the world. Who we really are is most purely expressed in our dreams. And that is more deeply rooted in where we come from than we realise. The taxman has been urged to investigate whether the Chancellor's wife broke the terms of her non-dom status by giving her UK company 4.3 million in interest-free loans. Tax experts said the personal loans to Akshata Murty's venture capital firm, Catamaran Ventures UK, fall into a 'grey area' of the rules and last night called for HM Revenue & Customs to investigate. The loans could 'circumvent' the basis of her non-dom status if they were found to give her 'monetary or non-monetary returns' whether through profits or by exerting influence it was claimed. Tax experts said the personal loans to Akshata Murty's venture capital firm, Catamaran Ventures UK, fall into a 'grey area' of the rules Individuals can give loans to British companies tax-free even if the money comes from earnings abroad that have not been required to pay UK taxes. Accountants said they can be a way for non-doms to bring money into Britain without having to pay tax on it. Last night Ms Murty declined to answer questions about the loans, the bulk of which were given in 2019 and 2020. A spokesman for Rishi Sunak's wife said she had 'followed the letter of the law and complied with all rules in her arrangements'. On Friday, Ms Murty agreed to pay UK tax on her global fortune in a bid to save her husband's political career. In a dramatic U-turn, the Indian heiress she would no longer apply to pay tax on a 'remittance basis', which allows non-doms to avoid UK tax on foreign earnings in return for a 30,000 annual fee. A spokesman for Rishi Sunak's wife said she had 'followed the letter of the law and complied with all rules in her arrangements' She said: 'I understand and appreciate the British sense of fairness and I do not wish my tax status to be a distraction for my husband or to affect my family'. She is still set to save money on inheritance tax by retaining India as her formal 'place of domicile'. Being a non-dom on a remittance basis means that foreign earnings, investment income and capital gains are not liable for UK taxes as long as those funds are not spent in the UK. This means if she kept the money in India for tax purposes, Ms Murty would be exempt from paying anything in Britain. However, using the money to give a loan to her own company was a 'grey area' of the rules that raised questions, a tax expert said. The loan could provide her with 'monetary or non-monetary returns', or show a commitment to the UK. Ms Murty is the sole director and shareholder of Catamaran Ventures UK, which invests in start-up companies. She co-founded the firm with Mr Sunak in 2013 but he resigned his directorship and gave up his stake when he became an MP in 2015. The company's unaudited accounts describe her loans as 'long term' and interest-free but do not give any details about the terms or repayment schedule. Since 2018, Ms Murty's loans to the firm increased from 732,499 to 4.3 million in the latest accounts to December 2020. Ms Murty's father, N R Narayana Murthy, is one of the world's richest men, with a net worth of more than 3 billion after co-founding tech giant Infosys in 1981. Much of Ms Murty's income is likely to derive from her 0.91 per cent Infosys stake which would have paid her a dividend of about 11.6 million last year. Last night The Mail on Sunday put ten key questions to Mr Sunak and Ms Murty. They were mostly not answered Without her non-dom status, she would have had to pay 4.4 million tax on this in the UK. Asked to clarify what happens to a non-dom's remittance basis arrangement if they give a loan to a UK company, a spokesman for HMRC declined to comment. Lord Sikka, professor of accounting at the University of Sheffield and a Labour peer, said the rules around non-doms were 'not fit for purpose'. 'They are archaic and belong to a bygone era,' he added. 'Non-dom status must be abolished.' The Mail on Sunday can also reveal that Ms Murty's fashion business, while inspired by Indian culture, had its design team and factories based in New York. In comments made when launching the since-collapsed Akshata Designs, Ms Murty revealed she had a US focus from the start, described it as an 'international company' and planned to have her label sold 'in stores all over America' as well as one shop in New Delhi. The brand's website at the time of its launch said: 'Akshata is based on a collaborative process that begins in India [] These materials are brought to New York, where a design team creates patterns and samples that highlight the beauty and uniqueness of the raw materials. The clothing and accessories are then produced at several factories in New York and New Delhi.' In interviews uncovered by this newspaper, Ms Murty also revealed her husband encouraged her to start Akshata Designs, and that his 'vintage ties' were one of the things that inspired her designs. Her fashion website biography in 2011 described her as a 'Londoner' who was 'excited about exploring the rich history and culture that London has to offer for her young daughters.' She said the 'concept' of the brand was to 'use indigenous crafts as the basis for a fashion label, beginning with India and ultimately expanding to other traditions around the globe.' Ms Murty developed the business plan for Akshata Designs while at California's Stanford University, where she met Mr Sunak. She unveiled her first and only collection in 2011. Last night The Mail on Sunday put ten key questions to Mr Sunak and Ms Murty. They were mostly not answered. A spokesman for the Chancellor said: 'As required under United States law and as advised, he continued to use his green card for travel purposes. Upon his first trip to the US in a government capacity as Chancellor, he discussed the appropriate course of action with the US authorities. 'At that point it was considered best to return his green card, which he did immediately. 'All laws and rules have been followed and full taxes have been paid where required in the duration he held his green card.' The end for Rishi? Chancellor moves family out of Downing Street following backlash over his wife's non-dom status - as friends suggest he could quit the Cabinet to spare them By Jacob Thorburn for MailOnline Under-fire Rishi Sunak has moved his family out of his official Downing Street residence as he faces a renewed backlash over his family's financial affairs. Removal vans packed with the couple's furniture and personal items were pictured outside No 11 on Saturday as the couple make the move to their luxury West London home for family reasons. A velvet armchair, shelving unit and several other personal belongings were loaded onto two lorries, in a move that has been long-planned because Mr Sunak's eldest daughter is heading back to boarding school, reports the Mirror. The Chancellor was battling to save his political career last night following new revelations about his familys tax arrangements, including an astonishing claim that he broke US immigration rules. On Friday, his wife Akshata Murty sensationally volunteered to pay UK tax on her global fortune in a bid to save her husband's ailing political future. In a dramatic U-turn, the Indian heiress she would no longer apply to pay tax on a 'remittance basis', which allows non-doms to avoid UK tax on foreign earnings in return for a 30,000 annual fee. Mr Sunak's allies have suggested he would consider quitting the Cabinet all together to spare his family fresh scrutiny and protect their privacy. It marks a stunning twist of events for the man whose popularity soared to such heights he was widely tipped as a Prime Minister in waiting just 18 months ago. Under-fire Rishi Sunak has moved his family out of his official Downing Street residence as he faces a renewed backlash over his family's financial affairs Rishi Sunaks political opponents yesterday called on the White House to investigate why the Chancellor possessed a US green card until last October What is 'non-dom' status and how does it help millionaires? A non-dom tax status typically applies to someone who was born overseas, spends much of their time in the UK but still considers another country to be their permanent residence or 'domicile'. In Akshata Murty's case, she would need to be claiming that the UK is not her permanent residence. Citizenship of an individual living in the UK is irrelevant when it comes to non-dom status as it is possible for a UK citizen, or someone born in the UK, to claim they are a non-dom. According to Home Office guidance: 'A person can change nationality without it affecting their domicile, or could acquire a change of domicile whilst retaining their original nationality. 'The fact that a person has acquired a new nationality can be a relevant factor in showing a change of domicile, but is not conclusive, depending upon the reasons for the change. If a person gives up their former nationality it may suggest a change of domicile.' Status is not given automatically because an individual must apply for the exemption in their tax status when filling out their UK tax return. According to the Government, a person's domicile is usually the country where their father considered his permanent home when the individual was born. In Ms Murty's case, she was born in India, so she ticks the first box for claiming she is not domiciled in the UK. Others can also inherit their domicile from their parents, meaning they can still be born in the UK but have non-dom status. When evaluating someone's domicile, the taxman will consider a number of factors, including permanent country of residence and how long an individual intends to stay in the UK. When it comes to tax, the rules state that you do not pay UK tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than 2,000 a year and you do not bring them into the UK. If you earn more than 2,000 from overseas or bring any money into the UK you must pay UK tax on it - although this may be claimed back. Or you can pay an annual charge, depending on how long you have been in the UK. The charges are 30,000 if you have been in the UK for at least seven of the last nine tax years, or 60,000 for at least 12 of the previous 14 tax years. Therefore, if you are resident in the UK but a citizen of another country, you must still pay a fee. For high net-worth individuals, many will opt for the yearly charge because the income received from foreign businesses and investments is likely to lead to a far higher tax bill. Advertisement Mr Sunaks political opponents yesterday called on the White House to investigate why the Chancellor possessed a US green card until last October. The card puts the holder on the path to US citizenship if they declare their intention to make America their permanent home and pay tax there. Mr Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty own a 5 million flat in Santa Monica, California, which they visit regularly. Last night, the Treasury said that until surrendering the card, Mr Sunak had filed annual tax returns to America. His spokesman said he was being doubly taxed in full on his 151,000 Cabinet salary in both countries. However, last night tax experts said that more sophisticated off-setting arrangements were likely to be in place. Tory backbenchers who had been relaxed about Ms Murty's tax status suggested his Green Card raised issues about Mr Sunak's long-term plans. One told MailOnline it was 'a problem' that fed into growing backbench unease about the Chancellor - a rapidly ascending star within the party whose light appears now to be dimming amid a string of unnerving questions. 'He has moved from being ''Dishy Rishi'' to ''Fishy Rishi'',' a source said. They cited four ongoing issues: a lack of support for the PM over Partygate - including not appearing with him in the Commons: an absence of subtlety in his desire to be the next prime minister; suspicions that an incriminating photo of Boris Johnson drinking in the No10 garden came from the Treasury, and the Green Card. 'Colleagues are generally going off him, they just don't like him,' the MP said. 'He's been trying a bit too hard to be on manoeuvres, his absence when Boris needed support was noticeable.' Labour and the Liberal Democrats highlighted the rules set out by US Citizenship and Immigration Services, which say green card holders should not be employed by a foreign Government, vote in foreign elections or have immediate family members residing outside of the United States. Meanwhile, the taxman has been urged to investigate whether the Chancellor's wife broke the terms of her non-dom status by giving her UK company 4.3 million in interest-free loans. Tax experts said the personal loans to Akshata Murty's venture capital firm, Catamaran Ventures UK, fall into a 'grey area' of the rules and last night called for HM Revenue & Customs to investigate. The loans could 'circumvent' the basis of her non-dom status if they were found to give her 'monetary or non-monetary returns' whether through profits or by exerting influence it was claimed. It comes after a furore over Ms Murtys non-dom tax status, which enabled her to potentially avoid paying tens of millions of pounds in tax. On Friday, she announced she would start paying UK taxes because her arrangements were not compatible with her husbands job as Chancellor. After Labour accused Mr Sunak of failing to be transparent about his familys financial arrangements while raising taxes for millions during a deepening cost of living crisis, Boris Johnson admitted he had not been told about Ms Murtys non-dom status. Friends of Mr Sunak say he considered resigning over the row last week. But Cabinet colleague Jacob Rees-Mogg sprang to his defence, saying: British politics would be the loser if this row put off people of Rishis calibre from getting involved in our public life. One friend said: He feels very bad for the way that Akshata has been impacted because of his career. 'In the end they decided to do the U-turn, but it was a close-run thing, and if this carries on he might still decide that is it not worth the stress. The Chancellor has found himself at the centre of a major row over his family finances this week Tax experts said the personal loans to Akshata Murty's venture capital firm, Catamaran Ventures UK, fall into a 'grey area' of the rules Akshata Murthy, whose father is one of India 's richest men, faced scrutiny after it emerged she has kept non-dom status despite living in 11 Downing Street with Rishi Sunak and their children. They are pictured together last month Green cards allows foreign nationals to 'live and work permanently' in the US The Green Card system is a way the United States allows foreign nationals to live and word permanently in the country without becoming a full citizen. It is formally known as 'permanent resident status' but gained its common name because of the coloured card it was once printed on. People can gain one through several different routes. As well as relatives of full US citizens, foreign nationals wishing to live and work in the United States can also apply. The system is open to those who can demonstrate 'extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics, or ... are a multinational manager or executive who meets certain criteria'. Mr Sunak met his wife at University in California and they lived abroad before Mr Sunak was elected MP for Richmond in North Yorkshire in 2015. He worked in California, India and Britain for various investment firms including Goldman Sachs. He later set up his own business in the US, Theleme Partners, in 2010 with an initial fund of 536million. Once you get a card you are expected to make the US 'your permanent home'. Those with green card status are expected to pay full US taxes on their global earnings, irrespective of taxes he would pay in the UK or elsewhere. It means he would not have saved money, rather he would have had to pay tax twice on some of his income, in the US and the UK. Advertisement Layla Moran, the Lib Dems foreign affairs spokeswoman, has written to US officials, asking them to investigate why Mr Sunak held the card despite holding elected office in the UK and serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer since February 2020. She added: This would appear to be in contravention of US State Department rules. In a further development, The Mail on Sunday can reveal that HMRC has been urged to investigate whether Ms Murty broke the terms of her non-dom status by giving her UK company 4.3 million in interest-free loans. Experts suggested the personal loans to her venture capital firm Catamaran Ventures UK fell into a grey area of existing rules. The loans could circumvent the remittance basis of her non-dom status if they were found to give her monetary or non-monetary returns, such as influence, it was claimed. Individuals can give loans to British companies tax-free even if the money comes from earnings abroad that have not incurred UK taxes. Accountants said this can be a way for non-doms to bring money into Britain without paying tax on it. A Treasury spokesman said Mr Sunak had declared his green card arrangement to the Cabinet Office in 2018, when he became a Minister. He gave it up in October last year after seeking guidance ahead of his first US trip in a Government capacity. It means he was paying tax to the US Government at the same time as he was holding negotiations with Washington over minimum international tax rates for American-based internet giants including Google and Facebook. Mr Sunak is also facing claims that he has been listed as a beneficiary of tax haven trusts in the British Virgin Isles and the Cayman Islands while setting taxes in the UK as Chancellor. A Treasury source said Mr Sunak, his wife and her wealthy family were not aware of any trusts naming him as a beneficiary. Ms Murty declined to answer questions about the loans. Her spokesman said she has followed the letter of the law. This is the extraordinary web of homes and businesses with links to Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata, a heiress to a billion dollar fortune Ms Murty is the daughter of billionaire NR Narayana Murthy. She are Rishi Sunak are pictured with her father and mother Sudha Murthy in Bangalore at their wedding reception in 2009 GLEN OWEN: The West Coast Chancellor who wants to turn Britain into 'San Fran on Thames' With his 335 trainers and white T-shirt and suit combos, Rishi Sunak has always exuded an unusually Californian air for a Tory MP more West Coast than Red Wall. And according to his Government colleagues, the Chancellor's mindset is as American as his clothing. He frequently alludes to his Santa Monica home in Treasury meetings, his children have joint US citizenship and, according to one source, he 'mentions dollars almost as often as he references pounds'. With his 335 trainers and white T-shirt and suit combos, Rishi Sunak has always exuded an unusually Californian air for a Tory MP more West Coast than Red Wall More contentiously, some fellow Ministers claim the 41-year-old is too close 'spiritually' to the global internet giants which have sprung up in Silicon Valley over the past few decades, leading to a radical reshaping of the global economy. 'He is always talking about turning post-Brexit Britain into 'San Francisco on Thames',' says a colleague, 'while everyone else talks about a 'Singapore on Thames'.' The Ministers argue that this has had an impact on the Government's approach to regulating the tech giants. When proposed new laws were being drawn up to tackle the anti-competitive behaviour of companies such as Google and Facebook, including the scrutiny of algorithms that discriminate against popular news websites and a requirement to pay media publishers for their content, the Treasury gained a reputation in Whitehall for acting as a block on the proposed reforms. Akshata, who met Mr Sunak while studying at Stanford University, bought the 5.5 million penthouse in June 2014 when the couple were talking about settling down in California, only for their plans to change the following year when he entered Parliament for the first time. The Chancellor tries to fly out to the flat, which boasts sweeping views of Santa Monica pier and the Pacific, as often as possible. He had intended to spend last Christmas there, but returned to London just a few hours after arriving in the US when he was informed that, in his absence, Boris Johnson was being pressurised by the Government's scientific advisers to put the country back into lockdown for the rest of December. After averting the threat, he spent the festive period in Britain while his family celebrated on the beach. Mr Sunak knows that working-class voters in critical Red Wall seats, which will determine the next election, are unlikely to sympathise with disruptions to his transatlantic jet-setting but it undoubtedly contributes to the pressures building within the Sunak family. The Chancellor tries to fly out to the flat, which boasts sweeping views of Santa Monica pier and the Pacific, as often as possible Although Downing Street sources are adamant that the tax revelations have not been briefed out by them the hands of Labour-supporting officials in the Civil Service are again detected there is little doubt about the tensions between No 10 and No 11. The situation was particularly volatile last September, when the Chancellor was, according to senior sources, 'hours away' from resigning over the Prime Minister's plans to reform social care. Mr Sunak was bitterly opposed to Mr Johnson's demand for him to produce 12 billion to shake up the care system, arguing against both the timing he had already spent more than 400 billion on the Covid crisis and the details of the policy, which included a cap on costs. When the Prime Minister insisted on going ahead, Mr Sunak used the applied threat of his resignation to force Mr Johnson to introduce the Health and Social Care Levy to cover the cost through a 1.25 percentage point increase in National Insurance. The issue triggered a further flashpoint between the pair earlier this year when sources claimed that Mr Johnson tried to persuade Mr Sunak to drop the rise. But if Mr Sunak does leave the Government to spend more time staring at Santa Monica's sunsets, one man will be rubbing his hands with glee: Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, whose friends believe to be the most likely replacement as Chancellor Instead, the Chancellor used last month's Spring Statement to cut fuel duty, tweak tax-free thresholds and signal a cut in income tax in 2024. The backlash from voters led to a collapse in Mr Sunak's ratings which, even before the tax revelations, had seriously dented his chances of becoming Prime Minister. The tax revelations emerged on the day the National Insurance rise came into effect, compounding the political damage. Mr Sunak's travails have aroused complex emotions in Downing Street. While life for the Prime Minister is easier with a subdued Chancellor, that advantage is offset by the wider damage caused to the Government by the narrative of double standards. A source said: 'There will undoubtedly be some schadenfreude in parts of the building as Rishi has been a tricky customer recently. His support during the rows over lockdown parties was conspicuously muted. But it is also a gift for Labour ahead of the local elections, so it is not exactly unalloyed pleasure.' But if Mr Sunak does leave the Government to spend more time staring at Santa Monica's sunsets, one man will be rubbing his hands with glee: Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, whose friends believe to be the most likely replacement as Chancellor. It would be another compelling twist in the decades-long Johnson-Gove psychodrama. Rishi Sunak was battling to save his political career last night following new revelations about his familys financial affairs, including an astonishing claim that he broke US immigration rules. It came as friends of the Chancellor said Mr Sunak considered quitting the Cabinet last week to spare his family from more scrutiny and might still do so if the pressure continues. Mr Sunaks political opponents yesterday called on the White House to investigate why the Chancellor possessed a US green card until last October. Rishi Sunaks political opponents yesterday called on the White House to investigate why the Chancellor possessed a US green card until last October The card puts the holder on the path to US citizenship if they declare their intention to make America their permanent home and pay tax there. Mr Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty own a 5 million flat in Santa Monica, California, which they visit regularly. Last night, the Treasury said that until surrendering the card, Mr Sunak had filed annual tax returns to America. His spokesman said he was being doubly taxed in full on his 151,000 Cabinet salary in both countries. However, last night tax experts said that more sophisticated off-setting arrangements were likely to be in place. The Chancellor has found himself at the centre of a major row over his family finances this week Labour and the Liberal Democrats highlighted the rules set out by US Citizenship and Immigration Services, which say green card holders should not be employed by a foreign Government, vote in foreign elections or have immediate family members residing outside of the United States. It comes after a furore over Ms Murtys non-dom tax status, which enabled her to potentially avoid paying tens of millions of pounds in tax. On Friday, she announced she would start paying UK taxes because her arrangements were not compatible with her husbands job as Chancellor. After Labour accused Mr Sunak of failing to be transparent about his familys financial arrangements while raising taxes for millions during a deepening cost of living crisis, Boris Johnson admitted he had not been told about Ms Murtys non-dom status. Friends of Mr Sunak say he considered resigning over the row last week. But Cabinet colleague Jacob Rees-Mogg sprang to his defence, saying: British politics would be the loser if this row put off people of Rishis calibre from getting involved in our public life. One friend said: He feels very bad for the way that Akshata has been impacted because of his career. Akshata Murthy, whose father is one of India 's richest men, faced scrutiny after it emerged she has kept non-dom status despite living in 11 Downing Street with Rishi Sunak and their children. They are pictured together last month In the end they decided to do the U-turn, but it was a close-run thing, and if this carries on he might still decide that is it not worth the stress. Layla Moran, the Lib Dems foreign affairs spokeswoman, has written to US officials, asking them to investigate why Mr Sunak held the card despite holding elected office in the UK and serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer since February 2020. She added: This would appear to be in contravention of US State Department rules. In a further development, The Mail on Sunday can reveal that HMRC has been urged to investigate whether Ms Murty broke the terms of her non-dom status by giving her UK company 4.3 million in interest-free loans. Experts said the personal loans to her venture capital firm Catamaran Ventures UK fell into a grey area of the rules. The loans could circumvent the remittance basis of her non-dom status if they were found to give her monetary or non-monetary returns, such as influence, it was claimed. Individuals can give loans to British companies tax-free even if the money comes from earnings abroad that have not incurred UK taxes. This is the extraordinary web of homes and businesses with links to Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata, a heiress to a billion dollar fortune Accountants said this can be a way for non-doms to bring money into Britain without paying tax on it. A Treasury spokesman said Mr Sunak had declared his green card arrangement to the Cabinet Office in 2018, when he became a Minister. He gave it up in October last year after seeking guidance ahead of his first US trip in a Government capacity. It means he was paying tax to the US Government at the same time as he was holding negotiations with Washington over minimum international tax rates for American-based internet giants including Google and Facebook. Mr Sunak is also facing claims that he has been listed as a beneficiary of tax haven trusts in the British Virgin Isles and the Cayman Islands while setting taxes in the UK as Chancellor. A Treasury source said Mr Sunak, his wife and her wealthy family were not aware of any trusts naming him as a beneficiary. Ms Murty declined to answer questions about the loans. Her spokesman said she has followed the letter of the law. It came as a removal van was seen outside the Chancellors Downing Street address as the Sunaks temporarily relocate to their West London home for family reasons. A racism row has erupted at Sky News after a reporter claimed its coverage of the Ukraine war was 'too white'. Inzamam Rashid complained to Sky News boss John Ryley that 'not a single person of colour on or off air has been to cover the crisis'. But the channel's award-winning special correspondent Alex Crawford has hit back at Rashid who was taken off air for three months after breaching Covid-19 rules to attend anchorwoman Kay Burley's 60th birthday in December 2020. Inzamam Rashid complained to Sky News boss John Ryley that 'not a single person of colour on or off air has been to cover the crisis' In an email to colleagues, Crawford wrote: 'It is not quite correct to say there has been 'no single person of colour either on or off screen' in our coverage of Ukraine. My Chinese mother and grandmother would be appalled at their daughter/granddaughter's heritage being dismissed. 'And I'm pretty sure Neville Lazarus, who is currently in Odessa; Zein Ja'far, who is heading back for his second stint in Ukraine; plus Dominique Van Heerden, just recently back from her trip, would all take exception to your assertion.' Other staff at Sky News are also infuriated by Mr Rashid's claim. One told The Mail on Sunday: 'I don't think we should be taking much guidance from someone who brought the company into disrepute.' Former President Donald Trump used a campaign-style rally on Saturday to accuse President Joe Biden of 'opening the floodgates' to immigrants by lifting Title 42 restrictions on border entry. He appeared before several thousand supporters in Selma, North Carolina as part of his effort to boost favored candidates in November's midterms. His speech was a greatest hits collection of themes - the witch hunt against him, President Joe Biden's failing as president, and his unsubstantiated claims he won the 2020 election. And with the number of migrants arriving at the southern border surging, he attacked Biden's handling of immigration and in particular the decision to end a public health restriction that has been used to quickly expel people entering illegally. 'With last weeks announcement that the Biden administration will rescind the crucial Title 42 protections I put into place to quickly remove illegal aliens ... Biden is willfully opening the floodgates to a tidal wave of illegal immigration the likes of which the world has never seen before,' he said. The Title 42 order was imposed in March 2020 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as part of the pandemic response. It allowed border officials to quickly expel migrants without giving them a chance to apply for asylum as part of an effort to control the spread of COVID-19. The CDC is due to lift the order on May 23, triggering a political fight amid fears that it could trigger a wave of new arrivals. Former President Donald Trump appeared before supporters in Selma, North Carolina, on Saturday evening to lift the campaigns of Republicans in the state Former President Donald Trump will use a campaign-style rally on Saturday to accuse President Joe Biden of 'opening the floodgates' to immigrants by lifting Title 42 restrictions on border entry. He will also call on Republicans to fire Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas (right) if they retake Congress in the November midterms About 5000 people turned out to hear Trump endorse candidates in North Carolina With the issue one of the keys to midterm battlegrounds, majored on the issue during his one-hour speech. 'To every would-be illegal alien currently thinking of rushing Americas borders because of Joe Bidens actions, hear these words: if you enter America illegally, you can rest assured that when Republicans retake power, we will hire thousands of new ICE agents to reverse this injustice, we will find you, we will detain you, we will deport you, and you will never be allowed to enter our country ever again,' he said. And he demanded that a Republican-controlled Congress to remove Biden's Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for failing to 'seal' the southern border. At the same time, Trump unveiled his long-awaited endorsement in the Pennsylvania Senate race, opting for TV surgeon Dr. Oz. 'Great guy, good man, he told the crowd. 'Harvard educated, tremendous, tremendous career.' His 18 years in TV, he said, were a sign of popularity - like winning an opinion poll. The Trump endorsement could break a deadlock in the Pennsylvania race. Oz has been neck and neck with David McCormick, a former hedge fund chief executive, and both had visited Trump in Mar-a-Lago as they vied for the backing of the most powerful voice in the Republican Party. Trump offered warm words for Ted Budd, a three-term congressman running for U.S. Senate He reeled off a list of political priorities, from protecting the Second amendment to 'leading humanity back to the moon' and 'we will not by the way, have men participating in women's sports.' He accused Biden of cramming billions of dollars into his latest budget for 'transgenderism,' before joking about transexuals in sport. 'They think it's politically incorrect to talk about it,' he said. 'There's nothing politically incorrect about it. It's going to destroy women's sports. 'I mean, if I'm a basketball coach, I guarantee I'm gonna have a great team.' He also used the rally to boost the campaigns of several North Carolina runners including Ted Budd, a three-term congressman. Trump introduced him as the candidate who would help end Democrats grip on the Senate. 'The man who is going to help end Chuck Schumer's brief and failed tenure as Senate majority leader,' he said. His warm words came despite a recently resurfaced video in which Budd said Biden was the legitimate winner of the 2020 election, the sort of words that can quickly reverse a Trump endorsement. Budd voted against certifying Biden's victory last year but in a little noticed interview with the Associated Press he was asked whether the Democrat won fair and square. 'He did. He's the legitimate president,' he said in September. He is then asked whether he accepts that Trump got seven million fewer votes than the Democratic candidate. 'I do,' he said. Trump has been using his endorsements to punish Republicans who say he lost the 2020 election, backing their primary challengers, and will almost certainly use his rally in Selma, North Carolina, on Saturday to publicly berate them. 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 next month Asylum-seeking migrants cross the Rio Bravo river from Ciudad Juarez in Mexico to El Paso, Texas, on Wednesday Trump supporters shop at a merchandise stand with multiple hats and flags before his speech in Selma, North Carolina, on Saturday night Two stall workers attach a 'Let's Go Brandon' flag to their merchandise table as crowds arrive The Budd campaign said it was not worried about the comments and claimed it was being shopped around by allies of former U.S. Rep Mark Walker, currently polling third in the race, but who is chasing Trump's affections. 'President Donald Trump knows Ted Budd, Mark Walker, and Pat McCrory and he knows their records,' said Jonathan Felts, senior adviser, Ted Budd for US Senate, listing the three frontrunners. 'Their records are why President Trump didn't hire Pat, didn't endorse Walker, but did endorse Ted Budd. 'Ted Budd has never wavered from the America First Agenda and President Donald Trump knows that. 'Mark Walker is a delusional little man if he thinks President Donald Trump doesn't know who the real America First Conservative Fighter is in this election.' But the example of Brooks in Alabama may serve as a warning. He had been a favorite of Trump's after speaking at the rally on January 6 last year to oppose the election results, telling supporters 'the fight begins today' before they marched on the U.S. Capitol. But he fell foul of the most powerful voice in the party after saying that it was time admit the 2020 election was lost and move on to the next campaign. 'Mo Brooks was a leader on the 2020 Election Fraud and then, all of sudden, during the big rally in Alabama, he went woke and decided to drop everything he stood for when he did, the people of Alabama dropped him, and now I have done so also. The people get it, but unfortunately, Mo doesn't,' said Trump in a statement. Donald Trump comes to North Carolina on Saturday to campaign for Ted Budd, who is running for Senate. At the same time video has emerged of Budd saying he believed Biden was the 'legitimate president' - the sort of comment that has cost candidates Trump's endorsement Trump announced he was endorsing Budd in June last year. The decision - backing a a rank-and-file member of Congress with little statewide name recognition - surprised many analysts Rep. Mo Brooks spoke at the January 6 'Save America' rally on the ellipse, which happened in advance of the MAGA crowd storming the U.S. Capitol In North Carolina, the primary has been marked by bitter feuding. Trump will bring his star power to town on Saturday evening, for a program that will feature Madison Cawthorn, the controversial congressman who is under fire for wild claims that Washington political life is full of cocaine-fuelled orgies. In the Senate race, Budd won the surprise endorsement of Trump last year. The contest is seen as crucial to Republican hopes of securing the Senate. He has pitched himself as a Trump loyalist - and was among the Republicans who voted not to certify Biden's election last year - but struggled to gain traction in the polls, leading to questions about whether the former president regretted his decision. Trump himself brought up the race at a Republican National Committee donor dinner in New Orleans last month. 'How are we doing? Hows Ted Budd doing? OK?' Trump asked North Carolina GOP Chair Michael Whatley from the stage, according to audio obtained by Politico, before adding that he had to get one of the other candidates out of the race. Since then Budd launched his first television ad which promotes his Trump endorsement and shows him walking the U.S.-Mexico border with a pistol on his belt. A source familiar with Trump's thinking said Budd had long been an ally of the former president - unlike Brooks who had once been known as a 'never Trumper.' 'It's not a valid comparison,' he said, adding that the video had been circulating in Republican circles for some time but not prompted a change of heart by Trump. And after his shaky start a poll this week showed him stretching out to a double-digit lead over his closest rival former Gov. McCrory. The result was warm words from Trump this week in a video trailer for his weekend trip. Ted Budd began running his first primary election commercial statewide Wednesday, March 23, 2022, highlighting the congressman's endorsement from former President Donald Trump and portraying himself as tough on illegal immigration 'We're supporting, as you know, Ted Budd. He's running for the Senate. 'He's going to be a tremendous senator. 'He's taking the lead now very substantially in the polls and we're gonna get him an even bigger lead. But Ted Budd is a great conservative. He's a great gentleman, a wonderful man and we look forward to seeing you Selma, Saturday night. 'Don't miss it.' His poll numbers might just save him. Some 36% of Republicans said they would vote for Budd in the May 17 primary election, according to poll published this week by Emerson College and The Hill. The gives him a commanding lead over McCrory on 22 percent and former U.S. Rep Mark Walker on nine percent. They are running for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Richard Burr. With such positive numbers, talk show host John Fredericks said there was no way Trump would go back on his endorsement. 'Done deal,' he said. 'Budd is surging.' With a century of military experience between them, their antennae are finely tuned for trouble. But the battle-hardened group of British veterans was stunned at how quickly they happened upon it at the Ukrainian border. The Mail on Sunday last week accompanied the team of ten security specialists, who all served in Afghanistan and are now protecting women from sex-trafficking gangs operating around a busy Polish crossing. It took just 30 seconds before their suspicions were aroused. One of the ex-soldiers, Billy Wright, pointed to a pair of burly men sitting outside a cafe across from the border. Both were keenly switching their attention from the new arrivals to their mobile phone screens. 'Take these two they don't even have a cup of tea to try and blend in,' said Billy. 'It's blatant. I would be 100 per cent certain they are looking for someone specific.' One of the volunteers managed to take a surreptitious look at a man's phone and counted more than a dozen photographs of what appeared to be different Ukrainian families. An ex-army soldier talks to a Ukrainian refugee mother and child at the Polish/Ukraine boarder. (His face has been pixellated to protect his privacy) Billy, who travelled to Poland from Australia just two days after the Russian invasion, explained that the gangs operate by having look-outs known as 'dickers' who scout for potential victims on the Ukrainian side. The 38-year-old explained: 'They'll spot a victim, usually an older mother with a daughter in her 20s or a younger mother with teenage daughters. It's better the younger they are. The going rate now for a girl in her 20s is 145,000. 'They will then take a picture of them as they get on the train at Lviv or are waiting at the Ukrainian border and end that through to the men waiting on this side.' In the space of just 15 minutes at the crossing, eight men were identified as suspected traffickers by the British volunteers. 'We have to be careful,' said Billy. 'It's about surveillance. We take pictures covertly and put them into a database that we can share with the anti-trafficking charities at the border and the police. 'Sometimes we even hand out food in high-vis jackets to blend in. Only when we see the men approach the women, trying to lure them into a car, do we act.' The MoS was with Billy when he saw two men in tracksuits asking a young woman if she wanted a lift. Using Google Translate on his phone, Billy quickly typed: Be careful, human traffickers are in this area. Please do not accept anything from strangers, and showed the warning to the woman. 'We can't speak Ukrainian so this is the best way to communicate,' he said. Pictured: Suspected sex traffickers at the border with Ukraine, who could be looking for women. (Their faces have been pixellated for legal reasons) The men work six-hour shifts every other day gathering intelligence. Billy's patrol partner, Jake Smith, 35, who has worked in special operations, said: 'Last week this guy had a picture of a family, clearly taken without their knowledge as they boarded a bus in Lviv. It was two older women and two girls between about nine and 13. 'The man was telling them, 'Your friend has sent me this picture and has told me to pick you up.' He was starting to get aggressive and push them towards a set of parked cars.' The volunteers also use specialist technology to send text messages to families crossing the border warning them of the dangers ahead. Unbound Now, a network of anti-human trafficking agencies, say they had seen lone men try to lure women into vehicles. 'It's a challenging situation at the moment,' concedes a spokesman for the charity. The volunteers have vowed to remain on the border for as long as women are at risk. 'We knew this would be an opportunity for horrible entities to make some money,' said Dean Taylor, 37. 'We understood there would be, and there is a big problem.' Billy, once a bodyguard to actor Sylvester Stallone, added: 'There's a massive void. A lot of people would want to be on the frontline, but this side gets neglected. 'If I can just save one woman or child, it would be all worth it.' The team of veterans are part of Mitmark, a risk advisory company utilising their intelligence and security skills in a humanitarian capacity. A Democrat-turned Republican politician and staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump has come under fire for saying that civil rights protections shouldn't extend to the LGBTQ+ community. Vernon Jones, 61, served in the Georgia State House of Representatives as a Democrat from 1993 to 2001 and 2017 to 2021, said that gay people 'can actually change' in a podcast interview with ex-Trump advisor Steve Bannon. 'Let me tell you, civil rights for blacks and gay rights for gays are two different things,' Jones, who once called himself the 'black Donald Trump,' said on an episode of Bannon's 'War Room' podcast. 'I don't know what you are unless you tell me what you are if you're gay, but when I walk into that room, you can tell that I'm Black,' he added. 'I'm Black from cradle to grave. Let's not get that confused, but they can actually change.' Jones, who switched parties in 2020 and endorsed Trump's re-election campaign, also said that people can 'go from being straight to being gay to being transgender and all these other genders. But when you're Black, I don't have a choice. When did gays come over here on ships?' Trump-endorsed congressional candidate Vernon Jones says, civil rights for blacks and gay rights for gays are two different things, because gays can choose to be straight if they want to. When did gays come over here in ships? pic.twitter.com/B0fye9gG1m Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 8, 2022 Vernon Jones talks with Steve Bannon on "War Room Pandemic with Stephen K Bannon," April 7 'Let me tell you, civil rights for blacks and gay rights for gays are two different things,' Jones said on an episode of Bannon's 'War Room' podcast Jones, who once called himself the ' black Donald Trump ,' switch parties in 2020 to endorse the former president's re-election campaign Jones later reiterated his argument on Twitter, calling out the 'Rainbow Mafia' and saying the comparison between being black and being gay 'a damn lie.' '[Martin Luther King] didn't fight for the right to read to children dressed up as a woman; he fought for REAL equality! Don't confuse it!' Jones has always had an independent streak as a Democrat, endorsing George W. Bush for re-election in 2004. As the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported, Jones exonerated himself after facing rape accusations in 2005 when he was De Kalb County Executive in Georgia. The woman stood by her story and the state AG said the charges were dropped because the alleged victim didn't want to go through a trial. The woman who accused him told investigators that Jones raped her, following an encounter at his home involving her and another woman. The then-29 year old acknowledged telling Jones at the time the encounter was consensual, but did so in order to leave his home. Jones and his lawyer denied the charges and issued statements saying the contact was consensual. In response, Jones said: 'I am not guilty, nor have I been found guilty, of any improper conduct with anyone, at any time. But, of course, the AJC knows this. It's unfortunate the AJC is choosing to dig up old, unfounded, one-sided allegations from my past (dating back as far as 30+ years) to unfairly impugn my reputation. After any and all false allegations, I have been completely exonerated.' In August 2020, Jones, a Democrat, delivered scathing remarks at his own party at the Republican National Convention, which he accused of exploiting black voters. 'The Democratic Party does not want Black people to leave the mental Plantation they've had us on for decades,' he said. 'But I have news for them: We are free people with free minds,' said Jones, at a time when Biden is holding large leads among black voters, but hopes to build a critical advantage over Hillary Clinton's performance, where black turnout dropped off from 2012. Jones most recently spoke on behalf of Trump at a March 26 rally for the ex-president in Commerce Donald Trump Jr., executive vice president of development and acquisitions for Trump Organization Inc., left, shakes hands with Jones at a rally in March Jones has accused Biden of being 'all talk and no action,' and has said: 'When President Trump sought to earn the Black vote, the Democratic Party leaders went crazy!' He talked up Trump's support for historically black colleges. 'Thats right. Donald Trump did that.,' he said. Jones has accused Democrats of having 'turned their backs on our brave police officers' in 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. Trump pushed Jones to run for Congress in 2022 to clear a pathway to the Republican nomination for ex-Senator David Perdue to run against Georgia's conservative Governor Brian Kemp. The Duchess of York praised a Turkish businessman accused of fraud as a wonderful man during a meeting at an exclusive London restaurant just weeks after he had transferred almost 250,000 into her bank account. Remarkable footage from two events in September 2019 and the following February when Sarah Ferguson met with Selman Turk also show her giving support for Heyman AI, one of his companies. The digital bank won an award in November 2019 from Pitch@Palace, the Dragons Den-style project created by her ex-husband Prince Andrew. Nine days after that victory, Mr Turk transferred a total of 750,000 to Andrew. While there is no evidence of any wrongdoing by the Duke or Duchess of York, her praise for Mr Turk and his business will intensify pressure on the couple to provide precise details of their relationship with the colourful businessman as well as any financial dealings. Mr Turk clearly delighted by the Duchesss backing shared the footage with friends. It was subsequently circulated widely and The Mail on Sunday obtained the videos from sources based in Turkey. The Duchess of York with Selman Turk in an exclusive London restaurant in 2019. The Duchess praised Turk, who has been accused of fraud, as 'this wonderful man' Mr Turk (pictured) had paid 250,000 into the bank account of the Duchess just weeks before. The Duchess claimed the payment was for brand abmassador work The Duke and Duchess of York (pictured) have been urged to clarify the nature of their relationships with Mr Turk In the first nine-second snippet taken during dinner at a Belgravia restaurant, the 62-year-old Duchess appears to have her arm behind Mr Turks back as she says: Good luck, Heyman team. Come on, lets do this. Lets do it, we can do it. In the second, lasting 21 seconds and filmed at the same upmarket restaurant five months later, she leans in towards the businessman and says: So, good luck, good luck in what you are doing, because I completely believe in the customer care of this wonderful man, Selman, and what you are doing in every single aspect of what you are doing. I am here to support and help, and whatever I can do, to take this to the next level. So good luck and well done. A grinning Mr Turk then turns admiringly towards her and says: Thank you. Details of the transfer of funds by Mr Turk to the Duke and Duchess emerged last month in documents relating to a complex fraud case in which the businessman is accused of stealing at least 40 million from Nebahat Isbilen, 77, the UK-based wife of a jailed Turkish MP. The Duke of York shaking hands with Mr Turk after his eyebrow raising win at the Pitch@Palace Dragons' Den-type mentoring network. Nine days later Mr Turk paid the Duke 750,000 Turkish businessman Selman Turk, 35, is alleged to have made payments of more than 1 million to Prince Andrew Fearful that her assets might be frozen by the Turkish authorities, Mrs Isbilen claims she sought the assistance of Mr Turk to move her fortune out of the country, but alleges that he stole vast sums from her personal account and equity fund. Mr Turk denies her claims and any wrongdoing. Documents submitted to the High Court claim that around 1.1 million of the allegedly misappropriated 40 million was transferred to Andrew, including the 750,000 payment to the Dukes account with Coutts in November 2019. That sum described as a wedding gift for Princess Beatrice has since been repaid by Andrew, but three further payments to him by Mr Turk between October and December 2019 totalling 269,000 do not appear to have been returned. Mrs Isbilen has told the court she regards claims that the money was a wedding gift or a thank you for the Prince helping with her passport to be false. Sarah, Duchess of York, Princess Beatrice and Prince Andrew, Duke of York pictured together at Royal Ascot in 2018 Prince Andrew has allegedly received payments of more than 1million from Turkish businessman Mr Turk A selfie taken by Selman Turk alongside Tarek Kaituni during a visit to what appears to be Frogmore House, the royal residence in Windsor Great Park, in February 2020 The Duchess has previously said that a sum of 225,000 transferred to her by Mr Turk was for her work as a brand ambassador for a US solar energy company and that one of his companies was merely a conduit for the payment. The Duchess's other film flops The Duchess of York has an unfortunate habit of attracting controversy after being caught on camera. She was famously trapped in a newspaper sting in 2010 where she allegedly offered to sell access to Prince Andrew in exchange for 500,000. Eighteen years earlier and having split from Andrew she was photographed with Texan millionaire John Bryan. The images included shots of him kissing her toes as they lazed by the pool of a villa in St Tropez. In 2009, she was criticised over The Duchess On The Estate, an ITV documentary in which she offered advice to families on a Manchester council estate that she described as poverty-stricken and blighted. It followed another TV documentary, The Duchess In Hull, in which she was accused of being patronising for trying to persuade an obese family living on benefits to embrace a healthier lifestyle. The Duchess even faced the prospect of jail in 2012 after being charged with secretly filming in an orphanage in Turkey where the authorities accused her of involvement in a politically motivated campaign designed to derail the countrys bid to join the EU. Advertisement Court papers lodged last week claim a further 20,000 was sent to her bank account by the businessman. Court documents also claim Mr Turk made two separate payments totalling about 25,000 to Princess Eugenie. There is no suggestion that the Duke, the Duchess or their daughters have been involved in, or had knowledge of, fraudulent activity.The case will not help with Andrews dreams of rehabilitation after he was forced to step down as a working Royal following a protracted multi-million-pound legal battle with Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17. The Duke, who has always denied her claims, met Ms Giuffre through paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein and his girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of sex trafficking in December. A source close to the Duchess last night denied that there was anything untoward about the two dinners with Mr Turk, or her comments in the footage. The first meal, which involved about eight guests, was held after a mutual friend introduced her to the businessman in September 2019, the source said. Mr Turk did not eat with the Duchess on the second occasion and only joined her briefly as she had been unable to be at a business meeting that day, the source added. A spokesman for the Duchess said: The Duchess has been completely open about the fact she knew Mr Turk. Her dealings with him were always on a primary business level and she was happy to be supportive, as she would of any new venture. She last met Mr Turk in February 2020. She was completely unaware of the allegations that have since emerged against him. She is naturally concerned by what has been alleged against him. Heyman AI, which once employed more than 100 staff, ceased operations last year. Mr Turk did not respond to requests to comment. Aquaman star Amber Heard hit out at her ex as she addressed the $100 million defamation trial waged by former husband Johnny Depp, which kicks off next week in Virginia. In an Instagram post, she complained that she 'continue[s] to pay [the] price... women pay for speaking out against men in power,' after her Washington Post op-ed. She said she hoped she and Depp could both move on after the sensational trial was behind them. 'As you may know, I'll be in Virginia, where I face my ex-husband Johnny Depp in court,' she told her four million followers Saturday afternoon. Amber Heard, 35, spoke out on Instagram Saturday, two days ahead of her $100,000 million defamation trial with ex-husband Johnny Depp, 58 'Johnny is suing me for an op-ed I wrote in the Washington Post, in which I recounted my experience of violence and domestic abuse. I never named him, rather I wrote about the price women pay for speaking out against men in power. I continue to pay that price, but hopefully when this case concludes, I can move on and so can Johnny.' 'I have always maintained a love for Johnny and it brings me great pain to have to live out the details of our past life together in front of the world.' Although Heard, 35, never mentioned Depp by name in the article, the timing of their highly publicized split makes it clear that she 'falsely implied to be physically and sexually abused by Depp during their marriage,' Depp's lawyer argued. The 58-year-old actor sued for $50 million, claiming he was axed from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise amid speculation he was the abuser. He was allowed to sue in Virginia because the Post's online editions are published through servers located in Fairfax County. Heard responded by countersuing for $100 million, claiming Depp smeared her and branded her a liar, setting the stage for next week's final chapter in their tumultuous story. 'I have always maintained a love for Johnny and it brings me great pain to have to live out the details of our past life together in front of the world, the Aquaman starlet wrote in her post The whirlwind romance between Depp and Heard culminated in 2017 a series of very public feuds that featured accusations of abuse and infidelity from both parts Depp sued for Heard $50 million after she published an op-ed detailing her alleged experience with domestic abuse, claiming he was axed from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise amid speculation he was the abuser. Heard responded by countersuing for $100 million, claiming Depp smeared her and branded her a liar Depp had sought to bar Heard's lawyers from claiming immunity at their upcoming trial, which is set to begin on April 11 after many delays since Depp filed the suit in 2019. However, Virginia 19th Judicial Circuit Judge Penney Azcarate ruled against Depp last month, saying Heard's editorial deals were a matter of public interest. Azcarate's ruling does not mean Heard has immunity for what she wrote, but simply that she can make that argument to a jury as part of her defense. The whirlwind romance between Depp and Heard, who last year became a mother to Oonaugh Paige Heard, 1, via surrogate, culminated in 2017 with a series of very public feuds that featured accusations of abuse and infidelity from both parts. Several A-listers including James Franco, Heard's ex-boyfriend Elon Musk, Wanda Vision actor Paul Bettany and Ellen Barkin are expected to take the witness stand. But DailyMail.com understands that Elon Musk will likely be a high profile no-show when the explosive case kicks off because neither side can compel the world's richest man to appear. Musk's name features prominently in court filings and was included in Heard's list of 80 possible witnesses she plans to call upon to back her story that she was savagely beaten and abused by her Fantastic Beasts ex. But under Virginia law there is no way Musk, a non-resident of the state, can be forced to attend proceedings at the Fairfax County Circuit Court, either in person or via video-link. If a witness decides not to participate lawyers can instead draw upon their deposition as evidence but the mercurial Tesla boss, 50, never sat down for one with either side. Amber Heard has listed actor James Franco (left) and Tesla founder Elon Musk (right) as witnesses for her defamation, in connection with Depp's accusations she cheated on him with both men during the time they were married Emails from Amber Heard's Aquaman co-star Jason Momoa are listed on a 71-page exhibit list from Heard's legal team DailyMail.com can reveal that Depp's lawyers tried to subpoena Musk on six different occasions to grill him over allegations he had an affair with Heard during her ill-fated 18-month marriage. But despite hiring private investigators and staking out the mogul's various homes and businesses in California and Texas over the course of two years, they were never able to pin him down to serve the papers. The Aquaman actress has always stood by her account of the infamous May 21, 2016 dust up that brought the couple's doomed union to an end, claiming Depp hurled a phone in her face and tore out clumps of her hair. But his lawyers will argue the account was a 'hoax' cobbled together by Heard and her closest pals, complete with photos of faked injuries, to extort a $7 million divorce settlement. Depp has submitted a 38-subject witness list and will call on Bettany, 50, to testify in connection with text messages he had previously exchanged with Depp which featured in his libel trial against The Sun. Actor Paul Bettany (left) is expected to give evidence during the trial while emails from Jack White (right) will also feature Email exchanges between Johnny Depp and Fantastic Beasts author JK Rowling (pictured) are expected to feature in the trial Depp has also listed members of his security team who previously testified to seeing Heard attack the actor as well as a worker at his apartment building in Los Angeles who gave evidence in his favor, according to the Times. Heard has submitted a 71-page exhibit list which includes references to Depp's alleged drug use as well as email, texts, audio transcripts and journal entries. According to the Times, the trial will also feature evidence from an argument in May 2016 at Depp's LA penthouse in which he is alleged to have hit Heard, as well as texts between the actress and Musk, whom she dated for a year. Other links to Hollywood submitted as evidence in the case include messages Heard exchanged with Aquaman co-star Jason Momoa and director James Wan; director Zack Snyder and CAA head Bryan Lourd; and emails between Depp and Fantastic Beasts author J.K. Rowling, as well as musician Jack White. Scott Morrison has met with the Governor-General to call the federal election, expected to be May 21. The prime minister landed in Canberra on Sunday morning to ask David Hurley to dissolve parliament after leaving Sydney on a VIP aircraft just after 9am. Mr Morrison was spotted being driven in a motorcade to Government House just after 10am. After discussing with Mr Hurley, he is expected to hold a press conference at Parliament House to announce the date to Australians, ending months of speculation. Mr Morrison earlier admitted his government was not 'perfect' but it has been 'upfront' with Aussies in a presidential-style pitch to the nation as he trails behind in the polls. Scott Morrison is expected to announce a May 21 federal election today after meeting with the Governor-General Mr Morrison was seen boarding a VIP aircraft in Sydney around 9am as he leaves for Canberra Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has vowed to create a 'better future where jobs are plentiful' while promising to get economic spending 'under control' to keep taxes low. Mr Morrison is aiming to become the first incumbent prime minister to win two elections in a row since John Howard in 2004. But Labor has been ahead in the polls consistently since June 2021, currently sitting on a two-party preferred vote of 55 per cent. Mr Morrison on Saturday released a video in which he points to the natural disasters that have hit the country, the unstable global security environment and the risks facing Australia's economy. 'You always have setbacks. You always have imperfect information. I mean, things are tough,' he says. Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese says Labor has a 'fully costed plan for a better future' Mr Morrison claims 40,000 Australians are alive because of how his government handled the Covid-19 pandemic, with 700,000 still in jobs because of the response to the economic fallout. 'This is why as we go into this next election, what's firing me up - we're actually in a really strong position,' Mr Morrison says. Mr Morrison set an apologetic but committed tone in an opinion piece written for News Corp papers on Sunday. 'Our government is not perfect. But we have been upfront. You know what we stand for, you can see our record of delivery, and you can see our plan for the future,' he wrote. Nine newspapers reported on Sunday Liberal Party federal vice-president Teena McQueen had concerns about the prospects of holding the seats of Higgins in Victoria, and North Sydney. Mr Morrison was spotted alighting from the aircraft in Canberra just after 10am Mr Morrison was driven to Government House in a motorcade to visit the Governor General Prime Minister Scott Morrison pictured arriving at Government House on April 10 But she told the newspapers 'with a couple of lefties gone we can get back to our core philosophy', referring to the moderates Katie Allen and Trent Zimmerman who hold the two seats. Mr Albanese also released a video on Saturday spruiking his 'fully costed plan for a better future'. He introduces himself to voters and talks about his economics degree from Sydney University and six years as infrastructure minister. 'Growing up with a single mum, I know the value of a dollar, and I know how hard it is to get ahead, ' Mr Albanese says. Labor also released an attack video, lampooning the prime minister's video message and declaring: 'No more mistakes. No more excuses. No more Morrison'. Mr Albanese wrote an opinion piece in which he pledged to unite the nation. 'That's the approach behind Labor's election campaign - building a better future where no one is left behind and no one is held back.' Scott Morrison says he is fired up and ready to lead Australia out of the worst instability the world has experienced since WWII in a new election campaign video Opposition leader Anthony Albanese also took the opportunity to drop a short campaign video attacking rising national debt, promising to keep taxes low and introducing fee-free courses at TAFE The coalition starts the race with 76 seats out of the 151-seat lower house, with Labor on 69 if the new seat of Hawke in Victoria is considered a win. Forty seats in the upper house are in contention in a half-Senate election. Both leaders are tipped to start their campaigns in regional parts of the nation where marginal seats are up for grabs or need defending. There are concerns the campaigns could be derailed by Covid-19, but steps have been taken to minimise the chances of outbreaks. Mr Morrison enjoyed a curry dinner with his family in Sydney on Saturday night, while Labor leader Anthony Albanese watched his beloved Rabbitohs beat the Dragons in the NRL. A number of anti-government and Indigenous protesters have started to gather outside Government House ahead of the prime minister's arrival. The trip to the nation's capital comes amid weeks of guesswork over when the PM would call the federal election as he contends with his drop in popularity. Scott Morrison arrives for a visit to Central Coast Motor Group in Gosford on Tuesday amid his pre-election campaign trail May 21 is the latest day an election can be held to allow for senate votes to be counted prior to senators being sworn in at the start of July. Mr Morrison must also allow at least 33 days between calling the election and the polling date itself, making April 18 his latest option to visit the Governor-General. The election must be held on a Saturday - giving Mr Morrison the option of May 14 or May 21, however, the PM is tipped to choose the latter to allow himself more time to climb back up in the polls. As voting day looms, the prime minister has been rocked by controversies over the past few weeks after facing a number of in-house character assassinations. Liberal Minister Concetta Fierravanti-Wells accused Mr Morrison under parliamentary privilege of being a 'bully' and 'autocrat' and claimed he made racist remarks about his former political rival Lebanese-Australian Michael Towke. Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese (left) poses for a selfie with members of the public during a tour of the Orange Grove Markets at Leichhardt The personal attacks continued with Catherine Cusack, a member of the Upper House who lives in the flood-devastated Northern Rivers region, days later accusing Mr Morrison of only providing disaster relief to Coalition-backed regions. Fanning the fire, Mr Towke subsequently spoke out in a bombshell interview to double-down on claims Mr Morrison sabotaged his 2007 pre-selection bid as they vyed for the seat of Cook by circulating rumours playing into racial stereotypes. He was also accused of lying by media commentators after an interview with ABC's Leigh Sales, in which he claimed former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian denied responsibility for leaked texts calling him a 'horrible person'. Topping off a disastrous week, Mr Morrison's pre-election campaign trail hit a major bump after the PM was heckled by furious Australians at a Newcastle pub. In a series of now-viral videos, a pensioner was filmed blasting the PM over his measly government payments, while a woman tricked Mr Morrison into posing for a selfie to capture herself telling him he was the 'worst' Australian prime minister. While Mr Morrison has sought to quell controversies in his corner, the ALP has faced its own after last month being rattled by allegations late Senator Kimberley Kitching was bullied by Labor colleagues prior to her death. Scott Morrison won the 2019 election in a slim victory, with the Coalition pulling just 1.17 per cent ahead across Australia Mr Albanese was criticised for dismissing calls to launch an inquiry into Ms Kitching's claims she was ostracised by senators Kristina Keneally, Penny Wong and Katy Gallagher - who have all vehemently denied the allegations. Amid the scandals, Labor managed to maintain its lead - although recent a YouGov Newspoll found the party's primary vote had fallen by three points to 38 per cent- shrinking ALP's margin to two from its six-point edge last month. However, when preferences were allocated, Labor has maintained an election-winning two-party preferred result of 54:46. Mr Morrison is no stranger to pulling in to a tight win, after claiming the 2019 election with just a 1.17 per cent swing to the Coalition. While he is hoping to nab another surprise victory, this battle will be a harder fight, as he grapples with a larger gap in the polls and recent scandals questioning his character. Since his last win, there have also been contentions with his leadership, including his notorious Hawaii trip during the Black Summer bushfires, and the beleaguered Covid-vaccine rollout. Security chiefs are stepping up probes into MPs all-party groups amid growing fears that they could be trojan horses for Russian, Chinese and other hostile state actors to influence the UK Government. Sources confirmed last night that MI5 had raised fresh alarm over spies infiltrating the huge network of All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) at Westminster. The move emerged in the wake of fears that Tory MP David Warburton, suspended from the party last week over sex and drugs allegations, could have been targeted by a sting operation by hostile foreign powers. Mr Warburton faced reports that he had asked for Roman Joukovski, a Russian-born businessman who had lent him 150,000, to be added to the mailing list of the APPG on digital currency trading. The Conservative Party suspended David Warburton after a picture of him sitting alongside what is claimed to be lines of cocaine emerged The MP also allegedly failed to declare a large loan in 2017 from a Russian businessman, Roman Joukovski, left, to help buy a property. It is claimed that a business Mr Joukovski set up helped Kazakh Nurali Aliyev with a visa Last night, the Sunday Times also reported that Mr Warburton, chairman of the APPG on music, used official parliamentary notepaper last year to lobby the Financial Conduct Authority to reconsider its assessment of Mr Joukovskis business credentials. An inquiry into the regulation of the more than 700 APPGs, which cover everything from individual countries to subjects such as the Armed Forces and the internet, has already been launched by the Commons standards committee. Alison Giles Parliaments director of security told the inquiry that the relatively unregulated groups were very attractive for hostile governments. She also warned how parliamentarians tend to underestimate the extent to which they are of interest to foreign actors. The move emerged in the wake of fears that Mr Warburton could have been targeted by a sting operation by hostile foreign powers But last night, a well-placed Westminster source told this newspaper that MI5 chiefs were now turning up the spotlight on the all-party groups. A Cabinet Minister said last night that the groups could be a trojan horse for foreign powers to gain access to Parliament and government. Labour MP and standards committee chairman Chris Bryant said: There is real danger that an APPG could be used by foreign state actors who wish harm to the UK. A friend of Mr Joukovski has insisted there was no expectation of favours when he issued the loan to Mr Warburton. The MP for Somerton and Frome is now to be investigated by the parliamentary harassment watchdog after a detailed series of images, recordings and messages emerged implicating him in unwanted advances to women and the use of Class A drugs. One picture showed the father of two next to what appeared to be lines of cocaine. The allegations emerged after security services warned MPs to be on heightened alert for efforts at entrapment. It was understood that a possible link between a foreign Communist party and the release of some of the material implicating Mr Warburton was being investigated. One senior Tory source said: Some aspects of this look like a right old stitch-up. Mr Warburton, who has been admitted to a psychiatric hospital suffering from stress, has defended his conduct, saying: I have enormous amounts of defence. The former Liberal Democrat MP who was embroiled in a Russian spy scandal still has a full access pass to Parliament, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Mike Hancock had a four-year affair with his researcher Katia Zatuliveter, who MI5 claimed in 2010 was a spy planted by Kremlin intelligence services. Four years later Mr Hancock was suspended by the Lib Dems after he admitted sexually harassing a vulnerable constituent. Mike Hancock has not been an MP for Portsmouth South since 2015 but has access to Parliament's restaurants, bars and MP-only areas via the Category X pass Mr Hancock has not been an MP for Portsmouth South since 2015 but holds a controversial Category X pass, which allows former MPs unfettered access long after they leave Parliament, including to its restaurants, bars and MP-only areas. All ex-MPs qualify for one and they are not required to declare their financial interests. He sat on the Commons Defence Committee and chaired an All-Party Parliamentary Group on Russia. Mike Hancock had a four-year affair with his researcher Katia Zatuliveter, who MI5 claimed in 2010 was a spy. She was cleared of the accusations by a special national security court In 2010 MI5 demanded the deportation of Ms Zatuliveter, the researcher 30 years Mr Hancocks junior, and questioned her about alleged links with Russian intelligence. She was later cleared of the accusations by a special national security court. Last night Mr Hancock confirmed that he held the pass, which he used as recently as 2021, and told the MoS he has no intention of giving it up. The House of Commons refused to say how often Mr Hancock uses his pass. Tens of thousands of people were told to flee for their lives in eastern Ukraine last night as Russian forces rained down artillery fire ahead of a major new offensive. Air-raid sirens rang out in the embattled city of Luhansk as the governor, Serhiy Gaidai, gave desperate families the order to abandon their homes. Mr Gaidai said about 30 per cent of the area's 400,000 residents had stayed in the area's cities and villages despite being asked to leave. 'They [Russia] are amassing forces for an offensive and we see the number of shellings has increased,' he warned. TRAUMATISED: A woman escaping the new Russian offensive in Ukraine UK intelligence said Russian operations were focused on the south-eastern parts of the country, targeting Donbas, Mariupol and Mykolaiv. The attacks were 'supported by continued cruise missile launches into Ukraine by Russian naval forces', according to the UK Ministry of Defence. The scramble to leave Ukraine where 10 million people have been displaced since Putin's invasion comes as British families ready to open their homes to Ukrainians refugees told of their frustration at visa requirements slowing down their guests' arrival in the UK. Louise Summers, 53, and her family from Tandridge, Surrey, have been paired under a refugee sanctuary scheme with a mother and two children from Kyiv who are currently in Poland waiting for their visas to be approved. 'There seems to be a real lack of urgency,' she said. Tom and Jane Oakley and their four children from East London are still waiting to be matched with a refugee. Mr Oakley said: 'It seems like the UK need to step up a bit and do more, especially as countries such as Poland and Germany seem to be doing so much more.' Just 1,200 refugees have arrived in the UK under the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme, a tenth of the visas granted. Home Secretary Priti Patel has apologised for delays Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, said: 'While the rest of Europe, including Ireland, has stepped up to take significant numbers of refugees from Ukraine, our response in the UK has been painfully slow.' Just 1,200 refugees have arrived in the UK under the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme, a tenth of the visas granted. Home Secretary Priti Patel has apologised for delays. EU countries have waived the visa requirements. Some 20,525 Ukrainians have arrived in Ireland while the German government last week said it had accepted 300,000. Poland has welcomed 2.5 million refugees in the last six weeks. Advertisement If Arsenal ultimately fail in their bid to return to the Champions League they might end up looking back on this week as the one when they blew it. All of a sudden the initiative in the race for the top four has seemingly swung from the red half of north London to the white. The worst destination of all for Arsenal. Six days to forget have seen to all that. Two bad and ill-timed defeats along with two major injuries have seen to that. From a position of such promise where the coveted prize seemed theirs to lose, Arsenal have hit the self-destruct button, a flaw they cannot seem to eradicate. Brighton & Hove Albion secured a shock 2-0 victory over top-four chasing Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday Leandro Trossard opened the scoring for Brighton with a right-footed shot in the 29th minute of the clash at the Emirates Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli saw his equaliser disallowed for offside by a VAR decision in added time in the first-half 'What happens now is that we criticise ourselves a lot and get slaps again and we deserve that because we were really poor again in the first half and lift ourselves up,' said boss Mikel Arteta. 'We know that this road is taking us nowhere. Especially where we want to be. We still have everything to play for in the last eight games. 'We have to have a level of energy and visualise the beautiful challenge ahead and don't sit back and let's see what happens.' Enock Mwepu doubled Brighton's lead with a half-volley from the edge of the box in the 67th minute at the Emirates Stadium Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard reduced the deficit to 2-1 with just one minute left in the Premier League match MATCH FACTS Arsenal (4 3-3): Ramsdale 6; Cedric 6, White 7, Gabriel 6, Xhaka 6.5; Odegaard 6.5, Sambi Lokonga 6, Smith Rowe 6 (Nketiah ; Saka 6.5, Lacazette 5, Martinelli 6 (Pepe 74, 6). Subs not used: Leno, Holding, Pepe, Tavares, Elneny, Ogungbo, Swanson, Hutchinson. Scorer: Odegaard 89 Booked: Odegaard, Saka, Lokonga Manager: Mikel Arteta 5 Brighton (3-5-2): Sanchez 8; Veltman 7, Dunk 8, Cucurella 7; Mwepu 8.5 (Lamptey 77), Gross 6, Caicedo 8, Bissouma 7.5 (Lallana 74, 6), Mac Allister 7; Trossard 8 (Webster 85), Welbeck 6.5. Subs not used: Steele, Maupay, Lallana, Alzate, March, Offiah, Sarmiento Scorer: Trossard 29, Mwepu 67 Booked: Bissouma, Gross, Caicedo, Sanchez Manager: Graham Potter 8.5 Referee: David Coote 5 Advertisement For the second successive game, after Monday's humiliation at Crystal Palace, the decisive moments befitting top-level teams came from their opponents. In particular the winner from Enock Mwepu, the standout performer among a raft of them from Brighton. Leandro Trossard's opener was not bad either. Those strikes rendered Arsenal's late rally and Martin Odegaard's consolation irrelevant. Arsenal have improved under Arteta though not to the extent that you can be 100 per cent certain how they will respond to a setback. Against Brighton it appeared they had not recovered from the three they suffered ahead of the Seagulls' visit. On top of their 3-0 going over at Palace, the destabilising loss of two key players to injury, Kieran Tierney and Thomas Partey, rubbed further salt in their wounds. Arteta dealt with the enforced reshuffle by changing shape to a 4-3-3, moving midfielder Granit Xhaka to left back. That was another kick in the teeth for Nuno Tavares, who was Tierney's replacement at Palace but was hooked at half-time. Albert Sambi Lokonga came in for Partey, who has a thigh injury. Brighton's work-rate to disrupt their hosts was clear. But Arsenal were not helping themselves. They were careless in possession and too often went sideways and backwards. Just when Arsenal started to show signs of life, they fell behind. Lewis Dunk played a ball down the right and Mwepu was all alone with Xhaka on the halfway line. It was not the first time the position was left vacant, with Xhaka seemingly under orders to move forward and give Arsenal an extra body in midfield, though they were continually overpowered. While Arsenal's remaining defenders retreated towards their goal, Trossard made a clever run and was found by Mwepu's cut-back which he dispatched past Aaron Ramsdale. Arsenal thought they had scored just before half-time only for Martinelli's header to be ruled out for offside after a four-minute VAR check. And midway through the second half the visitors doubled their lead when Mwepu rounded off a slick Brighton move that began on the left by firing a first-time half volley into the bottom corner. That sapped the life of Arsenal until they roused themselves for a finale in which Odegaard and Eddie Nketiah hit the bar, before the Norwegian found a way past Robert Sanchez with the help of a deflection off Danny Welbeck. Advertisement Lewis Hamilton will start the Australian Grand Prix from fifth on the grid with pole going to Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, nearly a second ahead of the Briton. In an eventful qualifying session, which was twice red-flagged, drivers had to change to darker visors as the lowering sun made visibility nearly impossible in Melbourne's Albert Park. With the light fading, Red Bull's world champion Max Verstappen was second quickest and his team-mate Sergio Perez third. Charles Leclerc has taken pole ahead of the Australian Grand Prix in a big boost in his battle with Max Verstappen The Ferrari man clocked in two tenths quicker than the reigning world champion to start on pole at Albert Park A frustrated Verstappen said that Red Bull have been 'all over the place' throughout their weekend Down Under Hamilton was ahead of his Mercedes team-mate George Russell, who qualified sixth for the 58-lap race on the relaid and reshaped circuit. Hamilton's performance was at least an improvement on his 16th place a fortnight before in Jeddah, though his quest for an eighth world title has yet to launch itself ahead of the third race of the 23-round season and his car bounced along the track. Lando Norris was an unexpected fourth best for McLaren. Nicholas Latifi and Lance Stroll knocked themselves out in a clumsy collision in Q1 that brought the first temporary halt to proceedings. Neither was aware of what the other was doing and they met in the middle of the road. Latifi's Williams was sent into the wall before the debris was cleared. Elsewhere, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton had to settle for fifth, ending his six-year run of poles in Melbourne Qualifying was hit with two red flags after crashes involving Nicholas Latifi (above), Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll STARTING GRID FOR SUNDAY'S RACE IN MELBOURNE 1. Leclerc 2. Verstappen 3. Perez 4. Norris 5. Hamilton 6. Russell 7. Ricciardo 8. Ocon 9. Sainz 10. Alonso Advertisement Aston Martin's Stroll screamed: 'F***ing Latifi. He just f***ing hit me, man.' Latifi said: 'I don't understand what he was doing. He wasn't looking in his mirrors. The fucking car is destroyed.' The session resumed after a 15-minute hiatus. Fernando Alonso later pranged at Turn 11, bringing the second stop with seven minutes of Q3 remaining. The Spaniard, who had just set the fastest middle sector time, blamed a hydraulic failure that robbed him of the use of his gears. The final action of the late afternoon played out after a 13-minute pause. Fernando Alonso later pranged at Turn 11, bringing the second stop with seven minutes of Q3 in Melbourne remaining Re-live Sportsmail's live coverage of qualifying in Melbourne, brought to you by OLLIE LEWIS. What a way to go out. Sam Waley-Cohen announced on Thursday that the Randox Grand National would be his last ever ride and he went out with an emotionally charged Aintree victory on 50-1 shot Noble Yeats, six days before his 40th birthday. It is the sort of final sporting hurrah any professional sportsman would dream of but Waley-Cohen pulled it off as an amateur rider, the first to win the 1million race since Marcus Armytage on Mr Frisk in 1990. On Monday morning he will be on Zoom calls dealing with the daily business of running his company Portman Dental Care, which has 200 practices in five countries and employs 4,000 people. But in the years to come he will be able to reflect on a career packed with the sort of success to make most in the paid ranks envious. Noble Yeats (right), a 50-1 shot, won the Grand National at Aintree on Saturday afternoon Jockey Sam Waley-Cohen hoists the trophy aloft after his magnificent victory in the National Waley-Cohen's father, Robert, is Noble Yeats' owner and was overcome by emotion at the win That includes two wins in the King George VI Chase as well as the 2011 Cheltenham Gold Cup on Long Run, who like Noble Yeats is owned by Waley-Cohens father Robert. Sams two-and-a-quarter-length win from 15-2 favourite Any Second Now was a first for a seven-year-old since Bogskar won in 1940 and was also another massive feather in the cap of the geldings young Irish trainer Emmet Mullins, who was having his first runner in the race and only third at Aintree. But the drama played out in front of a capacity 70,000 crowd in the 174th running of the race was all about the jockey, who was having his 10th ride in the race and who finished second on Oscar Time in 2011. Inspiring Sam throughout his career has been the memory of his late brother Thomas, who died of cancer aged 20 in 2004. His initials are stitched into Sams saddle. Sam said: When you love someone and lose them when you are young, you try to make the most of life, appreciate it and try to approach things with an open heart, and try to put a lot of energy into every day because you dont know if it will be your last. It has definitely made me want to make the most of my opportunities and thanks to dad I have had incredible opportunities. Waley-Cohen definitely did that on Saturday working his way into contention gradually after Noble Yeats did not get the start he wanted and found the early tempo too hot. He gradually started picking off rivals, plotting a brave route down the inside. As they crossed the Melling Road with half a mile to go, Noble Yeats was on the tail of three fellow Irish pacesetters Longhouse Poet (eventually sixth), Freewheelin Dylan (seventh) and Coko Beach (eighth) going ominously well. Amateur jockey Waley-Cohen was competing in his final race before retiring Waley-Cohen will not receive any prizemoney from his win due to his amateur status By the last fence, eventual third Delta Work had stayed on to challenge only to run out of fuel, leaving a dash to the finish between Noble Yeats and last years third Any Second Now. It was in the balance until the elbow 150 yards from the line when Noble Yeats forged clear. Saturday was only the third time that Waley-Cohen had sat on Noble Yeats. The second was when the gelding was unplaced at last months Cheltenham Festival. He said that learning experience had been vital and he had recommended cheek-pieces to sharpen Noble Yeatss concentration. Waley-Cohen said: I pulled him out and asked him, he gave me way more than I expected. I know hes got plenty of toe, so as soon as he picked up, I thought, hes gone hes got this. Waley-Cohens Aintree memories stretch back to having ice creams at the track as youngster. His father also bought him a silk riding cap red with white polka dots in the colours of regular National runner Auntie Dot which he wore at Pony Club. His own children Max, 9, Scarlett, 7, and Zander, 2 were with him on the winners podium along with wife Bella. It was an emotional ocean with father Robert welling up. Noble Yeats is owned by Waley-Cohen's father, Robert (left), who was overcome by emotion Waley-Cohen soaks up the adulation in the immediate aftermath of his stunning triumph But the one thing Waley-Cohen was adamant about was that winning the worlds most famous steeplechase was not going to change his mind about retiring. That would be fools gold, he said. I have made up my mind. I have had the dream ride. I have always wanted to ride for the love of it. One of the reasons I wanted to stop now was when you dont want to go every day and enjoy every race you should stop. When you a ride like that and it goes as well as it did it is wise to stick to what you said. Perhaps best-placed to appreciate how Sam and his father felt was the man who they had beaten Ted Walsh, trainer of Any Second Now. He won the race in 2000 with Papillon ridden by son Ruby. Walsh said: Its wonderful for them and hard luck for us it was 20 lengths back to the third. It was an Irish 1-2-3 with Santini the first British horse home in fourth. The chances of last years hero Rachael Blackmore ended at the ninth fence when her mount Minella Times was hampered and brought down. There was a sting in the tale for Waley-Cohen. He received a nine-day ban and was fined 400 for using his whip too much after the final fence. But that will be a quickly forgotten footnote to day that will live long in his and his familys memory. A judge has ordered actress Jaime King to pay her estranged husband Kyle Newman more child and spousal support amid their contentious divorce proceedings. As a result, the Sin City star has to pay Newman $429 per month in child support, plus 16 percent of any income above $175,344 per year, according to court documents obtained by People. King also has to pay Newman $1000 per month in spousal support, plus 10 percent of any income above $175,344 per year. Both support payments, which will be dolled out quarterly, will continue until either party dies or King gets remarried. Divorce ruling: A judge ordered Jaime King to pay her estranged husband Kyle Newman child support and spousal support, as part of their divorce proceedings The former couple have two children together: sons James, eight, and Leo, six. They were married nearly 13 years when King filed for divorce in May 2020, which included the filing of a temporary restraining order, a domestic violence prevention petition, and an emergency motion related to child custody and visitation. The Black Summer actress maintained her ex-partner subjected to alleged verbal and emotional abuse, allegations for which Newman would deny. Since their separation, Newman, 46, became a father again to a now one-year-old son, Etienne, whom he shares with girlfriend Cynthia 'Cyn' Nabozny. He said, She said: Both King and Newman have accused the other of some form of abuse, amid their ongoing contentious divorce proceedings; the former couple are pictured in December 2019, which is five months before King filed for divorce in May 2020 A judge has also mandated that King and Newman have to 'meet and confer' on January 15 of each year to go over their agreement and 'adjust any overpayments or underpayments' that may have happened that previous year. As single parents, they will each continue to pay half of any extracurricular activities and medical expenses related to their two boys. They also need to communicate with each other if either of them chooses to stop splitting the cost of the kids' private school tuition. The court documents also show that most of the former couple's properties and assets still need to be divided up, which is expected to be addressed at their divorce trial. Since King and Newman's split nearly two years ago, they've each accused the other of some form of abuse. According to previous court documents, King claimed Newman was withholding their sons from her. Newman responded by alleging that his ex has engaged in reckless behaviors that endangered the children, which King has since denied. His take: In November 2020, the director, who's best known for helming Fansboys (2009), claimed he was the primary caretaker of their two sons through that year; he's seen in 2015 In November 2020, Newman requested full physical custody of their kids, with King having supervised visitation on alternating weekends and one night a week. At that time, the director and author claimed he had 'been the children's primary caretaker since their birth', and that the children 'spent the large majority of 2020 in my sole custody.' Since the divorce filing, Newman has accused King of substance abuse and infidelity, calling her a 'chronic drug addict and alcoholic' who 'refuses to acknowledge that she has a problem, let alone seek meaningful treatment for such problem,' according to documents obtained by ET. Among the abuse claims made by King against her estranged husband: she alleged she's been subjected to electronic surveillance, recording her without her knowledge, screaming and harassing her, and staging a fake intervention to force her into confinement, among others. King and Newman met on the set of the 2009 film Fanboys, which he directed and she made a cameo in. They tied the knot in Los Angeles in November 2007. Jade Goody's son Bobby Brazier stepped out in London on Friday after admitting he wasn't with his late mother 'long enough to miss her' before her death. Model Bobby, 18, was seen for the first since since discussing his mother's death from cervical cancer aged 27 in 2009, when he was just five years old. The son of Jade and Jeff Brazier wrapped up in a beige quilted coat which he wore over a black top during his outing in Leicester Square. Stepping out: Jade Goody's son Bobby Brazier, 18, cut a casual figure in London on Friday after admitting he wasn't with his late mother 'long enough to miss her' before her death He wore a pair of blue denim jeans and carried a black leather holdall, and he held his phone encased in a bright orange cover in his other hand. Bobby glanced back over his shoulder as he made his way through the West End while enjoying the spring sunshine. His outing comes after he said he 'misses what could've been' with his late Big Brother star mother Jade. Jade died when her sons Bobby and Freddie were just five and four. In style: Model Bobby wrapped up in a beige quilted coat which he wore over a black top, while he had on a pair of blue denim jeans Speaking to The Face, Bobby said he is frequently told by people who knew his mother what a 'presence' she had. He said: 'I don't feel like I've missed out on a mum. It's normal life to me. I've kind of spent more life without her than I did with her.' When asked if he misses her, Bobby replied: 'I don't. Because I don't feel like I was with her long enough to miss her. Interview: Bobby recently said he 'misses what could've been' with his late mother, but says he wasn't 'with her long enough to miss her' (pictured in 2021) 'I miss what could've been. I hear all the time she was such a presence, that she was one of a kind. What hurts most is that it wasn't just losing anyone, it was losing Jade.' Bobby, whose father is TV presenter Jeff, added that he would loved to have seen what other people saw in his mother when she found fame. Bobby lives with his father, his stepmother Kate Dwyer and brother Freddie and is currently carving out a career as a model. Family: The Big Brother star died from cervical cancer aged 27 in 2009 when her sons Bobby and Freddie were just five and four (pictured in 2006) Jeff previously praised his sons for their resilience in dealing with Jade's death at such a young age. Speaking to The Sun in 2020, he said: 'My gosh, they are just so resilient. Of course they were so young when she died and it pains me to think they never knew Jade in the same way we all did. 'When Bobby landed his first fashion magazine cover [for Man About Town] he said he hoped his mum was looking down on him and smiling. And Im sure she was. Candid: Bobby told how he misses 'what could've been' and is frequently told by people who knew his mother what a 'presence' she had (pictured in March 2022) 'When I look at Bobby and Freddie I see their mothers colourful personality shining through. I mean, Jade was one of the biggest characters out there and the boys have both inherited that from her.' Jeff paid tribute to Freddie at the end of September, on his 16th birthday. Sharing a series of snaps of him surrounded by balloons, Jeff wrote a sweet caption to go alongside it: 'Its not for parents to define a childs purpose but if this kid doesnt help thousands of people somehow Ill be very surprised. 'Id give anything to have @freddybraz1ers sense of adventure, energy and enthusiasm to have fun and depth and sensitivity around caring for others. 'Excited for him to get the academic phase done this year so he can unleash his creative gifts on the world.' Claire Danes seemed to be enjoying some free time in New York. The Homeland actress was seen laughing and chatting with a friend as they strolled the streets of SoHo. The mother of two, who will celebrate her 43rd birthday April 12, dressed warmly for the cool spring temperatures, donning a beige shearling gilet, an olive green corduroy top, jeans and tan sheepskin ankle boots. Time off: Claire Danes seemed to be enjoying some free time in New York. The Homeland actress was seen laughing and chatting with a friend as they strolled the streets of SoHo The Emmy winner appeared to wear little or no make-up. She carried a large leather tote and accented the look with simple jewelry, including a large watch. The camelian-like Claire, who is married to English actor Hugh Dancy, adopted a British accent for her role in the upcoming mini-series, The Essex Serpent. She will play a Victorian era widow who moves from London to Essex after the death of her husband, in search of a mythical creature. Button up: The mother of two, who will celebrate her 43rd birthday April 12, dressed warmly for the cool spring temperatures, donning a beige shearling gilet, an olive green corduroy top, jeans and tan sheepskin ankle boots. The Emmy winner appeared to wear little or no make-up, with simple jewelry, including a large watch There, she befriends the local vicar, played by Tom Hiddleston. When tragedy strikes, the local residents accuse the widow of attracting the monster. The six-part series debuts on Apple+ Friday, May 13. British accent: The camelian-like Claire adopted a British accent for her role in the upcoming mini-series, The Essex Serpent The SAG award winner is currently shooting another mini-series, this one in her hometown. Fleishman Is in Trouble is the story of Toby Fleishman (Jesse Eisenberg), a doctor and recently divorced dad who has his world turned upside down when his ex-wife (Claire) disappears and he's left to navigate life as a single parent, while trying to make a match via online dating. Once completed, the series is set to air on Hulu. Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles is losing two of its biggest stars. James Harris and David Parnes announced that they will step away from the show in an Instagram post on Friday. 'We started our business in Los Angeles in 2012 and we received a phone call that we were never expecting,' the post read. 'As two best friends from London, we were looking to make a start for ourselves. We had no money, no connections and lets not forget, no idea of our way around! Walking away: James Harris and David Parnes announced that they will step away from Million Dollar Listing in an Instagram post on Friday 'The voice on the other end of the line was a casting call for Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles. We never intended to come to Los Angeles to be on TV, and as fate had it, we started shooting a show which changed our business and our lives. 'From starting families to watching our kids grow, to climbing from $1M in sales to over $5 billion in sales, we would never in our wildest dreams have imagined the world watching it happen along with us.' The agents then delivered the sad news, writing, 'After 7 amazing seasons spanning over 9 years, we feel the time has come to move on and leave the show which in many ways, has defined us. 'Its a move that we have thought long and hard about and we feel that as our business has evolved, we need to keep moving. We thank all our fans wholeheartedly and vow that we wont stop because we cant stop.' Heartfelt: The post took fans through the pair's journey which saw them move their business from London to LA and become mainstays on the program The announcement: The agents then delivered the sad news, writing, 'After 7 amazing seasons spanning over 9 years, we feel the time has come to move on and leave the show They then thanked everyone who watched the show and Bravo and NBC for taking a chance on them. 'We are beyond grateful to all our supporters who have made us who we are and we promise this is just the end of chapter one. There will be many more chapters and we are working to make sure we continue to share them with you all. 'Most importantly, we are humbled and beyond grateful to have shared our lives with you all and we cant thank Bravo and NBC as well as the amazing crew and cast who we will value until the last chapter. We started this journey together and we will end it together.' Thankful: 'We are beyond grateful to all our supporters who have made us who we are and we promise this is just the end of chapter one,' the post read Longtime stars: The two have been major players on the show since joining the show in its seventh season The two have been major players on the show since joining the show in its seventh season. The pair run Bond Street Partners, a high-end real estate company that sells properties in upscale parts of Los Angeles like Malibu, Beverly Hills and Bel Air. Million Dollar Listing chronicles the professional, as well as personal lives, of real estate agents like Parnes and Harris who sell upscale properties. Million Dollar Listing New York and Million Dollar Listing Miami are sister-shows of MDLLA. One of the stars of Netflix's Byron Baes reality series has been busted in an awkward Instagram blunder. The philanthropist was promoting her trip to Monaco to attend a conference to save the Amazon forest when she accidentally shared more than she bargained for in a revealing post. A photo of her laptop shared to Instagram revealed an email from a storage company claiming that Elle was 42 days late on her storage payment. Awkward: Byron Baes star Elle Watson (pictured) has been caught in an awkward Instagram fail Elle has since deleted the post, but not before Celeb Spellcheck were able to screenshot it and re-post it on their page for their 230,000 followers to see. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Elle's management for comment. Since the photo blunder, the environmental activist has continued sharing details from her trip on Instagram. 'I enjoy living a life of service and contribution. Giving back and living a life filled with purpose allows me to lead a fulfilling life that propels me to move mountains where one might see obstacles,' she wrote in one post. Mistake: The philanthropist was promoting her trip to Monaco to attend a conference to save the Amazon when she accidentally shared more than she bargained for in a revealing post Busted! A photo of her laptop shared to Instagram revealed an email from a storage company claiming that Elle was 42 days late on her storage payment 'There are never any obstacles in my world only opportunities to think differently and move forward with vigour.' In another post, she gushed about meeting the tribal leader of the Ashanika tribe, Benki Piyako, to discuss 'bridging the gap between indigenous and western knowledge' to help save the planet. 'The Amazon are the lungs of planet earth, it requires our commitment more than ever!' she enthused. Elle is one of the stars of Netflix's much maligned reality series about influencers in Byron Bay, Byron Baes. Small screen: The philanthropist is one of the stars of Netflix's reality series Byron Baes Also starring in the series is Jade Kevin Foster, who claims to be Australia's 'biggest male influencer'. However, since the show aired, Jade has faced increased scrutiny over the legitimacy of his social media following. It was later revealed that the bulk of Jade's followers were from Turkey and India, leading to speculation that they were fake followers he'd purchased to make himself famous. Simon Cowell has told how he will leave a 'substantial amount' to various dogs shelters in his last will and testament, which is believed to be around 20million. The Britain's Got Talent star, 62, told how he decided to draw up his last wishes after suffering a traumatic bike accident which left him with an injured arm. The music mogul described the process as 'one of the most depressing things I've ever done, and one of the hardest', as he revealed that 'everything he cares about' will be covered in the will. Sharing: Simon Cowell has opened up about making a will for the first time, describing the experience as 'depressing' (pictured Feb 2022) The talent show judge only made his will for the first time recently, opening up to The Sun about it's contents and his reasoning behind it. Talking of the morbid experience, Simon shared: 'Unfortunately, you have to and that day, when it comes, is like, 'Christ, I've now got to sit and talk about my death for the next few hours' It was dreadful. But the fact that I've done it now has given me peace of mind.' During the chat, he also revealed that he will leave a 'substantial amount', to dog charities - including Dogs Trust, K9 in Barbados, and London's Battersea Dogs Home. Giving back: During the chat with The Sun, he also revealed that he will leave a 'substantial amount', thought to be around 20million, to dog charities (pictured in 2014) Dog lover: Dogs Trust, K9 in Barbados, and London's Battersea Dogs Home will all be included in the generous offering (pictured with son Eric in 2020) Simon said the will covered 'everything I care about', before revealing he had never made one before as he didn't think he would die. The millionaire shared back in 2009 that he wanted his body to be frozen when he dies, telling guests of a dinner party hosted by at-the-time Prime Minister Gordon Brown: 'I have decided to freeze myself when I die. 'You know, cryonics. You pay a lot of money and you get stuck in a deep freeze once you've been declared dead.' But he's now had a change of heart, telling The Sun: 'As you know, I was thinking about being frozen, until I realised they actually chop your head off. Freezing: The millionaire revealed back in 2009 that he wanted his body to be frozen when he dies, telling guests of a dinner party hosted by at-the-time Prime Minister Gordon Brown: 'I have decided to freeze myself when I die On the mend! The revelation comes just months after he suffered a traumatic e-bike accident, as he went over his handlebars - with reports that he was 'lucky to be alive' 'So when I realised I was just going to be a floating head, it was like, 'Well, that doesn't sound like a lot of fun'. So that idea went out the window.' The revelation comes just months after he suffered a traumatic e-bike accident, as he went over his handlebars - with reports that he was 'lucky to be alive'. The accident was 18 months after a previous bike accident, after which he had to have six hours of surgery to fit a rod, due to a broken back. Concerns: In August 2020, Cowell crashed while riding the Swind EB-01 bike, which can reach up to 60mph and is banned on public roads in the UK (stock image) Fresh batch of food aid from China distributed in Afghanistan Xinhua) 14:03, April 09, 2022 People receive food aid from China in Kabul, Afghanistan, on April 7, 2022. A fifth batch of food aid from China was distributed on Thursday in Afghanistan amid a humanitarian crisis in the war-torn country, which is suffering from an economic meltdown. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) KABUL, April 8 (Xinhua) -- A fifth batch of food aid from China has been being distributed on Friday in Afghanistan amid a humanitarian crisis in the war-torn country, which is suffering from an economic meltdown. A distribution ceremony was held on Friday in the Afghan capital Kabul, attended by Afghan acting deputy minister of refugees and repatriation affairs of the caretaker government Arsala Kharoti and Economic and Commercial Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan Hu Guo'ai. The 600 tons of rice distributed this time is the fifth batch of food aid under the emergency humanitarian assistance from China. Kharoti expressed gratitude to China for the humanitarian assistance, saying that China had provided packages of assistance including food and clothes in the past, which have been distributed to the needy Afghans. China is a friendly neighbor of Afghanistan, and whenever Afghanistan needs help, the Chinese people always lend a helping hand in time, Kharoti noted. Hu said the Chinese government pays close attention to the plight of the Afghan people under the influence of the epidemic, war and drought, and will do its best to provide assistance to Afghans. Following the withdrawal of the U.S. troops from Afghanistan last August and the U.S. government freezing nearly 10 billion U.S. dollars of Afghan assets, the economic problems of Afganistan moved from bad to worse. More than 22 million out of some 35 million population in Afghanistan, according to aid agencies reports, are facing acute food shortages and a humanitarian crisis. The Chinese government announced last September that it has decided to provide food, winter supplies, COVID-19 vaccines, and medicines worth 200 million yuan (about 31.4 million U.S. dollars) in emergency humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. China has provided a total of 6,220 tons of food aid to Afghanistan so far. People wait to receive food aid from China in Kabul, Afghanistan, on April 7, 2022. A fifth batch of food aid from China was distributed on Thursday in Afghanistan amid a humanitarian crisis in the war-torn country, which is suffering from an economic meltdown. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji) Huaweis Sub-Saharan Africa Region President, Mr Chen Lei paid a courtesy call to the Hon Pravind Kumar Jugnuath, Prime Minister, accompanied by Mr. Will Meng, CEO of Huawei Eastern Africa; Mr. Jason Xia Hesheng, vice-president Huawei Sub-Saharan Africa Region; Mr. Zheng Kui, CEO of Huawei Mauritius Office; Mrs. Fiona Pan, Director of Public Affairs and Communication, Huawei Eastern Africa Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnath, wooed investors by reiterating that Mauritius is open to the use of modern technologies. He welcomed Huaweis expansion of its business in Mauritius, continuously cultivate the talents needed for digitalization, and accelerate its post-pandemic economic recovery. Mr. Chen Lei briefed Prime Minister Jugnauth on Huaweis operations in Mauritius in terms of building connectivity, introducing new technologies to partners, creating opportunities transferring skills. President Chen Lei admire Mauritius visionary planning in Digital Economy, Renewable Energy and Talent Development. The global practice proved that the next two revolutions that will determine the success of social development in the future are the Information Revolution and the Energy Revolution. It is in line with the development strategy of Mauritius. In view to build a digital and green Mauritius, we may focus on 3 pillars namely connectivity, cloud and renewable energy while digital skills as the foundation of the whole. Equally connecting everyone is vital in todays social and economic development Prime Minister said, It is why we are investing in the network facilities to benefit everyone. We are open to the use of modern technologies, we welcome Huawei to strengthen cooperation with partners in advanced technology and benefit Mauritius as the business hub in Africa. It is also very important to train our youth to be able to use the innovative tools, in both short term and long term. We encourage Huawei to provide more opportunities to Mauritius youth. Added by Prime Minister. Facing the challenge of realization of 60% Renewable Energy in Mauritius, Prime Minister showed interest in strengthening collaboration with Huawei in energy sector. As an international technology provider, Huawei has been established in Mauritius for 18 years, working with local partners for innovation. At the same time, Huawei is committed to the contribution of developing digital talent. In 2021, Huawei officially launched the Digitalent Cultivation program and established ICT Academy in collaboration with seven universities and institutes, continuously providing training and enablement opportunities, forging Mauritius become an ICT talent hub in Africa. Prime Minister Jugnauth highly commend Huaweis contribution in local talent cultivation since years. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires Amber Heard took to Instagram on Friday to celebrate her daughter's first birthday. The Aquaman star, 35, posted an adorable and rare photo of herself and Oonagh Paige Heard - who was born via a surrogate mother - as they played with pink balloons. 'My little O is a year old today. I still can't believe you're here. The greatest year,' the actress wrote underneath the post, adding a red heart emoji. Celebrating: Amber Heard took to Instagram on Friday to celebrate her daughter Oonagh Paige Heard's first birthday, writing, 'I still can't believe you're here. The greatest year' The ex-wife of Johnny Depp looked casual cool in the family snap, wearing a black T-shirt and jeans, with her blonde tresses pulled into a messy bun. Meanwhile her little one sported adorable denim overalls and lavender socks, and had her hair styled into two cute tiny pigtails. This isn't the first time the Texas native has gushed about her child. When Oonagh turned six months, Amber commemorated the joys of motherhood with another sweet post. 'The six best months of my life, the first six months of hers,' she captioned a photo of her holding up her daughter and proudly beaming at her. Sweet: The Aquaman actress also recently shared an adorable snap of her laughing while holding her sweet girl - whose face was shielded by a large hat - in her arms The actress also recently shared an adorable snap of her laughing while holding her sweet girl - whose face was shielded by a large hat - in her arms. Heard announced the unexpected arrival of her little girl last year, by posting a sweet portrait of the baby laying on her chest. She also wrote a lengthy caption about wanting to have a child under her own conditions: 'I'm so excited to share this news with you. Four years ago, I decided I wanted to have a child. I wanted to do it on my own terms,' the star wrote, five years after her nasty split from Depp, 58. 'I now appreciate how radical it is for us as women to think about one of the most fundamental parts of our destinies in this way. I hope we arrive at a point in which it's normalized to not want a ring in order to have a crib,' she announced. 'A part of me wants to uphold that my private life is none of anyone's business. I also get that the nature of my job compels me to take control of this. My daughter was born on April 8, 2021. Her name is Oonagh Paige Heard. She's the beginning of the rest of my life,' she wrapped up. The name Oonagh (also spelled Una and Oona) is pronounced oo-nuh. It is a girl's name of Irish origin meaning 'lamb'. The middle name of Paige appears to be a tribute to her late mother Paige Heard, who died in May 2020. A sources close to Heard claim that she welcomed the child via surrogate after being told that she would never be able to carry her own baby, according to Page Six. Legal battle: Amber is set to face-off against her ex-husband Johnny Depp, 58, in their $100,000 million defamation trial that kicks off next week in Virginia, where they are both set to testify; Depp pictured in 2020 Meanwhile Amber is set to face-off against her ex-husband in person, in their $100,000 million defamation trial that kicks off next week in Virginia, where they are both set to testify. Heard has listed James Franco, 43, and Elon Musk, 50, as witnesses in the case, in connection with Depp's accusations she cheated on him with both men during the time they were married. In the case, Depp and Heard are accusing one another of defamation, and Judge Penney S. Azcarate is expected to listen to all of the claims at the same time, leading to the extensive list of witnesses and evidence. Depp initially sued Heard in March of 2019 over a 2018 opinion piece she penned for The Washington Post in which the actress said she had suffered domestic violence, but didn't mention the name of the actor in the article. Heard subsequently filed a $100 million countersuit against Depp in September of 2020. The couple were married from 2015 to 2017. Heard filed for divorce from the actor in May 2016, and obtained a temporary restraining order against him, alleging that he had been verbally and physically abusive throughout their relationship. The divorce was finalized in January 2017. Holly Valance has sparked backlash on Twitter from some of her longtime fans after dining with former US President Donald Trump and conservative British politician Nigel Farage. The former Neighbours star and her billionaire husband, property developer Nick Candy, enjoyed dinner with Trump and Farage at Trump's Palm Beach resort, Mar-a-Lago. The photo caused a stir among loyal fans of Valance's music, with many vowing that they'd never listen to the 38-year-old's hits like Kiss Kiss ever again. Controversy: Holly Valance has sparked backlash on Twitter from some of her longtime fans after she and her husband Nick Candy dined with former US President Donald Trump and conservative British politician Nigel Farage (pictured together) 'Gay Twitter, I am distraught,' tweeted HIV activist and writer Tom Hayes. 'Holly Valance is a Farage and Trump fan. Going to have to expunge her from my playlists. Heartbroken.' 'Im going to use Holly Valances 2003 "State Of Mind" album to express my thoughts on this photo' tweeted theatre director Peter Holland. '12: Double Take 5. Curious 3. Everything I hate 9. Over n Out,' Peter added. 'We have lost Holly Valance. Clearly shes not in the right State Of Mind,' added pop music podcaster Bradley Stern of Legends Only. 'Please respect my privacy at this time,' he added. Naughty girl: The photo caused a stir among loyal fans of Valance's music, with many taking to social media to vent their disgust at the situation 'Heartbroken: ' HIV activist and writer Tom Hayes vowed never to listen to Holly's music again Ignorance is bliss! Another fan said that they'd have to ignore the former hitmaker's association with Trump in order to enjoy her music Not shocked: Another Twitter user seemed to think that the backlash was overblown Double standards? One fan pointed out that Holly was receiving all the blame instead of her billionaire husband Nick Despite the backlash, some others on social media weren't quite as upset as Valance's longtime fans. 'Twitter having a meltdown because Holly Valance is hanging around with Trump and Farage. Rich people with objectionable views hanging around with each other, colour me shocked!!!!' tweeted one. Another joked: 'You have done it now #hollyvalance once seen with the orange man there is no going back - the cancel mob will be foaming at the mouth. A lot of #hollyvalance fans now suffering PTSD!' Never again? Many fans said that could no longer listen to Holly's 2003 album State of Mind due to her political associations Hitmaker: The 38-year-old shot to global fame back in 2002 with the release of her first single Kiss Kiss (pictured) Despite her celebrity status, Holly and husband Nick tend to keep a fairly low profile and rarely attend red carpet events. The couple, who tied the knot in 2012, enjoy a lavish lifestyle and previously lived in a two-storey Hyde Park penthouse worth 175million, making it Britain's most expensive flat. Nick and Holly have since downsized to a 10million countryside mansion in the Cotswolds, which they recently renovated. Last year, Nick gifted Holly with a 26million superyacht, despite the mother of two famously suffering from sea sickness. Amelia Hamlin took a day off from the glamorous life to enjoy a little downtime in New York, just hours after her ex Scott Disick stepped out with his new girlfriend in Los Angeles. The model was seen rambling around Manhattan in a casual pair of loose fitting gray sweats and black sneakers while listening to large headphones. The 20-year-old cover girl appeared makeup free with her long, dark tresses handing loosely about her shoulders. Downtime: Amelia Hamlin took a day off from the glamorous life to enjoy a little down time in New York. The model was seen rambling around Manhattan in a casual pair of loose fitting gray sweats and black sneakers while listening to large headphones Amelia chose to keep warm in the cool spring air with a Cactus Plant Flea Market hoodie quoting the Bible verse from John chapter three, verse seven in which Jesus admonishes, 'Ye Must Be Born Again.' Musical artists such as Drake and Pharrell have been known to favor the roomy streetwear standard. While the social media influencer usually promotes a sexy image for her followers, she seemed to enjoy hiding away in the comfy clothes, while still displaying perfectly manicured hands and a stack of beaded bracelets. Keeping warm: Amelia chose to keep warm in the cool spring air with a Cactus Plant Flea Market hoodie quoting the Bible verse from John chapter three, verse seven in which Jesus admonishes, 'Ye Must Be Born Again.' Musical artists such as Drake and Pharrell have been known to favor the roomy streetwear standard The 5'9 cover girl daughter of actors Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin has been in the public eye for years. She appeared as herself on television with her parents in their 2010 reality show Harry Loves Lisa. The Rachel & the TreeSchoolers actress has also turned up on camera in appearances with her mother on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, which is entering its 12th season. Public life: The 5'9 daughter of actors Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin has been in the public eye for years. She appeared as herself on television with her parents in their 2010 reality show Harry Loves Lisa and with her mother on the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, which is entering its 12th season She also gained notoriety for her nearly year-long romance with Kourtney Kardashian's baby daddy Scott Disick, 38. Scott and Amelia called it quits shortly after DMs written by the entrepreneur criticizing Kourtney, with whom he shares three children, were leaked. On an episode of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Amelia's mom, Lisa Rinna, admitted she was not happy about her daughter's relationship with the much older man, but tried to keep any negative comments to herself. Moving on: Amelia dated Scott Disick, 38, for about a year. The pair called it quits shortly after DMs written by the entrepreneur criticizing Kourtney Kardashian, with whom he shares three children, were leaked Awkward: The entrepreneur and his new girlfriend, Rebecca Donaldson, 27, made their first public appearance at the premiere of the new reality show, The Kardashians, not far from ex-girlfriend Kourtney and her new husband, Travis Barker After the break, the 58-year-old Lisa confirmed Amelia made the decision to part ways on her own. Scott has since moved on and made the first, albeit awkward, red carpet appearance with his new girlfriend, 27-year-old model Rebecca Donaldson. The pair turned up together at the premiere of The Kardashians, where the newly married Kourtney appeared with the Disick children and new husband, Travis Barker. Blended family: Kourtney and Travis turned up with their newly blended family, seen here l-r Alabama Barker, Reign Disick, Kourtney and Travis, Landon Barker and Travis' step-daughter Atiana De La Hoya Amelia recently revealed that she has landed the starring role in the new Michael Kors spring 2022 campaign. The popular influencer was seen modeling a variety of frocks, jumpsuits, shoes and purses in a video she posted on Instagram. Amelia described working with the legendary designer as 'such a dream.' Peta Murgatroyd and Maksim Chmerkovskiy stepped out together in Miami on Thursday night to attend the New You Beauty Awards. The couple, 35 and 42, wore complementary suits to the event, with Murgatroyd in white and Chmerkovskiy in black. The beauty mogul won an award for her eponymous brand, tanning business Peta Jane. Date night: Peta Murgatroyd and Maksim Chmerkovskiy stepped out together in Miami on Thursday night to attend the New You Beauty Awards The blonde bombshell put her perky cleavage on display in the plunging blazer, under which she skipped a shirt and bra. The pants were loose-fitting and she tied the straps of her silver heels over them at the ankles. Peta wore her hair in a long tight braid that she arranged over her shoulder. She adorned her neck in a sparkling choker. The mother-of-one wore her wedding ring and flaunted a flawless face of feature-accentuating makeup. His and hers: The couple, 35 and 42, wore complementary suits to the event, with Murgatroyd in white and Chmerkovskiy in black The Dancing with the Stars professional looked handsome in an expertly tailored black suit with white pinstripes. He donned a black crewneck shirt underneath and rocked a clean shaven face for the event. The pair, who married in 2017, walked the red carpet arm-in-arm as they happily posed for photos. The entrepreneur took to Instagram afterward and shared her excitement with her nearly one million followers. Pretty: The mom-of-one flaunted a flawless face of feature-accentuating makeup Winner: The beauty mogul won an award for her eponymous brand, tanning business Peta Jane 'WE WON,' she wrote with several trophy emojis. '@PetaJaneBeauty won BEST SELF TANNER last night at the @newyoumedia awards. 'My year has been made. Ive worked so hard alongside my partner Julie Nostrand for this day to come.' She added, 'I looked around the room as I was making my speech and I saw huge brands like Peter Thomas Roth and Dr Perricone sitting at nearby tables. What a dream.' The influencer highlighted her collaborators as she said, 'I am so proud of my team, Im proud that we launched this brand through a pandemic and came out on top.' Showing her gratitude she added, 'Thank you to everyone who has stood by me and helped me on this journey. This is just the beginning for Peta Jane Beauty, watch us take over the beauty space!!! Xo.' Happy girl: The entrepreneur took to Instagram after the event and shared her excitement with her nearly one million followers The superstar also posted a minute-long video clip to her page, sharing a recap of her evening. She gave her fans a closeup look at her glamorous look, turning around to show off her slick ponytail and makeup details. The New Zealand-born stunner also added photos of her and her husband and clips from her acceptance speech. 'Last nights recap,' she wrote in the caption with a star emoji. She tagged her glam squad as well. Rundown: The superstar also posted a minute-long video clip to her page, sharing a recap of her evening Last month Peta announced Maksim's return to the U.S. from Poland via her Instagram Stories. Chmerkovskiy was initially in Ukraine's capital Kyiv to film a dance show when Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, before he made his way to Poland and later back to Los Angeles. He subsequently returned to Poland to use his platform to help people impacted by the invasion, teaming up with businessman-humanitarian Michael Capponi's Global Empowerment Mission and Bethenny Frankel's BStrong foundation to help provide the people of Ukraine with aid amid the invasion from Russia. The dancer shared a brief clip in which she revealed she was headed to pick up her spouse from the airport. 'I'm gonna go pick up my husband from the airport,' she said, with a sigh of relief. 'I am so excited, can't tell you.' Advertisement Patricia Arquette, Kathryn Hahn and Britt Lower smiled big on the red carpet for the Los Angeles premiere of the show Severance's season finale on Friday. Arquette, who also celebrated her 54th birthday on Friday, attended the event in a black and white patterned pantsuit which she wore over a black button-down shirt. She added a pair of shiny black heels, and she held a black purse close to her body. Stars out in full force: Patricia Arquette, Kathryn Hahn and Britt Lower smiled big on the red carpet for the Los Angeles premiere of the show Severance's season finale on Friday The Boyhood star cut her blonde locks into a wavy bob with bangs that covered her forehead. Kathyrn Hahn also made it out to the event in a long black dress with several silver buttons down the front of her torso. She wore pants underneath the skirt and stood on tall black boots. Hahn combed her long brown hair over to the right and let it fall down her back. She flashed a tight-lipped smile. Rocking the bob: The Boyhood star cut her blonde locks into a wavy blonde with bangs that covered her forehead Strike a pose: She oozed confidence while posing for photographers Pop of color: She rocked a bright red lip At the event: Ben Stiller, who directed six of the series' nine episodes, walked the red carpet at the event Lower went with a more vibrant color scheme. She donned a bright red dress with shoulder pads and sleeves that draped down to the floor. She wore her red hair up into a bun with bangs that ended just above her eyebrows. Ben Stiller donned a black suit with a white button-down shirt and a loosely-tied blue tie. His silver hair stood up in a shock atop his head. He laughed it up as he made his way down the carpet at the event. A king of comedy: Producer extraordinaire Judd Apatow donned a smart purple blazer over a lavender button-down shirt. Tommy actor Michael Chermus hit the carpet in a black blazer and pants combination Gorgeous gown: Dichen Lachman enjoyed the event in a long pink off-the-shoulder dress slit down the left leg with long curly blonde tresses Producer extraordinaire Judd Apatow donned a smart purple blazer over a lavender button-down shirt. He added a pair of light brown pants to the look. The This Is 40 director walked in a pair of gray sneakers, and he smiled with a face covered in gray scruff. Tommy actor Michael Chermus hit the carpet in a black blazer and pants combination. His red and blue Hawaiian undershirt added a splash of color. Dichen Lachman enjoyed the event in a long pink off-the-shoulder dress slit down the left leg with long curly blonde tresses. More arrivals: Zach Cherry and Jen Tullock attended the show's finale as well Another famous face: Natalie Morales looked great in a green dress that matched with the backing Actor Zach Cherry donned a big blue plaid blazer over a lighter blue button-down shirt. He added black pants and brown shoes. Jen Tullock showed off some skin in a black dress cinched at the waist and the wrists with glittering jewelry. She walked in blue high heels that matched with her blue gloves and her blue bag. Parks and Recreation actress Natalie Morales stepped out in a loose-fitting teal button-down shirt that continued past her hands. She added a bunched up skirt, cinched at the waist and slit down the side, revealing the entirety of her left leg. Fun pattern! Ambyr Childers wore a long skirt with an interesting black and white design that ran down the middle toward a slit at the bottom Classy: Tramell Tillman donned a classic gray suit with a multi-colored striped handkerchief in his left breast pocket Plunging neckline: Arden Myrin donned a dark red dress slit around the sides with a plunging neckline revealing her ample cleavage Ambyr Childers wore a long skirt with an interesting black and white design that ran down the middle toward a slit at the bottom. Tramell Tillman donned a classic gray suit with a multi-colored striped handkerchief in his left breast pocket. Arden Myrin donned a dark red dress slit around the sides with a plunging neckline revealing her ample cleavage. Dree Hemingway decided to forego a dress and instead wore a black short sleeve sweater and a pair of white pants. Her blonde hair was parted in the middle and brushed straight down the sides of her face. A bit more relaxed: Dree Hemingway decided to forego a dress and instead wore a black short sleeve sweater and a pair of white pants Group photo! Many of the show's stars gathered to take one big group photo together at the event Family affair: Multiple members of the Arquette family made it out for Patricia's big night Multiple members of the Arquette family made it out for Patricia's big night. Patricia's siblings David and Rosanna went to the swanky affair with Rosanna wearing an all black jumpsuit and silver heels. David donned a black suit over a light blue button-down shirt. His dark hair was slicked back and he added a pair of clear frames. Playing around: Patricia's siblings David and Rosanna also made it out for her big night with Rosanna wearing an all black jumpsuit and silver heels Stylish: David donned a black suit over a light blue button-down shirt. His dark hair was slicked back and he added a pair of clear frames Severance follows an office worker who leads a team of people who have their memories separated into work life and personal life. The show stars Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Patricia Arquette and John Turturro. Severance has already been renewed by the streaming giant for a second season. Mark Wahlberg headlined a special screening of his latest film, posing for pictures with eager fans who showed up for a sneak peek in Phoenix of the uplifting new drama, Father Stu. The Oscar nominated star looked svelte in all black as he introduced the film based on the true story of Stuart Long, a boxer who leaves his native Montana for Los Angeles with dreams of becoming an actor. While scraping by as a supermarket clerk in the City of Angels, he falls for the beautiful Carmen, (Teresa Ruiz), who thwarts his romantic efforts because he isn't Catholic. Special screening: Mark Wahlberg headlined a special screening of his latest film, posing for pictures with eager fans who showed up for a sneak peek in Phoenix of the uplifting new drama, Father Stu; Mark pictured with Bishop Thomas Olmsted Meeting the fans: The Oscar nominated star looked svelte in all black as he introduced the film based on the true story of Stuart Long On his way to conversion, Stu is seriously injured in a terrible motorcycle accident. After his recovery, the former agnostic begins to wonder if there isn't something else out there for him and decides that rather than marry his girlfriend, he will go all in, and become a priest. Walking the straight and narrow becomes even more difficult when he is diagnosed with an incurable degenerative muscle disease. The newly ordained Father fights against the odds and in return inspires countless others on his spiritual journey. Jovial: For Friday's screening, Mark appeared to be in an extra jovial mood as he posed for photographs in front of the projection screen Mingling: Mark was also captured mingling with a slew of other screening attendees after addressing the crowd from the front of the theater Special guest: He was joined by Bishop Thomas Olmsted, who recently announced his retirement after serving as head of the Phoenix diocese for 18 years Say cheese! Mark seen beaming beside fans for a photo For Friday's screening, Mark appeared to be in an extra jovial mood as he posed for photographs in front of the projection screen. He was joined by Bishop Thomas Olmsted, who recently announced his retirement after serving as head of the Phoenix diocese for 18 years. Mark was also captured mingling with a slew of other screening attendees after addressing the crowd from the front of the theater. Taking hits: The father of four, who played a boxer in The Fighter, gained 30 pounds in order to demonstrate how the beloved priest's body declined during his devastating illness Inspiration: Mark, who is Catholic, was inspired by the story and not only stars in the film, but acts as a producer as well. The 50-year-old actor told the Religion News Service 'Father's Stu's journey from troublemaker to clergyman was inspiring to many, including me' Struggle: Father Stu served many during his years as a priest including prisoners Mark, who is Catholic, was inspired by the story and not only stars in the film, but acts as a producer as well. The 50-year-old actor told the Religion News Service 'Father's Stu's journey from troublemaker to clergyman was inspiring to many, including me.' The father of four, who played a boxer in The Fighter, gained 30 pounds in order to demonstrate how the beloved priest's body declined during his devastating illness. 'I was eating 11,000 calories a day. That drastic weight gain really took a toll on me over the course of the last seven, eight months.' Coming soon: Father Stu will open in theaters on April 13 Fellow Catholic Mel Gibson stars at the priest's father and Academy Award winner Jacki Weaver as his mother. The Braveheart star's partner, Rosalind Ross wrote the script and directed the project. Father Stu will open in theaters on April 13. Katie Holmes and Dianna Agron attended the New York screening for As They Made Us in New York City on Friday. Holmes cut a quirky figure for the evening by donning a striped shirt styled with a long, thin neck scarf. She slipped her feet into a pair of black square-toed slip-on shoes. Star-studded event: Katie Holmes and Dianna Agron attended the New York screening for As They Made Us in New York City on Friday The Batman Begins star parted her dark brown hair in the middle and smiled a close-mouthed smile. Agron, 35, donned a sleeveless olive dress with a slit down the left leg to show off her golden high heels. The Glee star's dark brown hair was combed over to the left and fell straight down her back. Smirking: Katie parted her dark brown hair in the middle and smiled a close-mouthed smile Well-maintained hair: The Glee star's dark brown hair was combed over to the left and fell straight down her back Strike a pose: Agron's light pink lipstick added some volume to her mouth as she hit a number of different poses Agron's light pink lipstick added some volume to her mouth as she hit a number of different poses. The pair snapped a photo with several of the film's producers at the event with Holmes in the middle and Agron to her right. Agron then headed up on stage to talk about the film with a couple of the producers before the screening began. With the producers: The pair snapped a photo with several of the film's producers at the event with Holmes in the middle and Agron to her right (L to R: Jesse Korman, Agron, Holmes, Jordan Yale Levine, Joran Beckerman. Talking about the film: Agron then headed up on stage to talked about the film with a couple of the producers before the screening began As They Made Us follows a recently divorced mother who works to find peace with her dysfunctional family while searching for another chance at love. It is The Big Bang Theory star Mayim Bialik's feature-length directorial debut, and she also penned the script. It stars Agron, Dustin Hoffman and Bialik's Big Bang Theory co-star Simon Helberg. Some of Australia's most stunning stars attended red carpet arrivals at Elizabeth Stakes Day at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Saturday. And it seems socialites Amy Castano and Kate Waterhouse narrowly escaped a massive fashion mishap, after the two stepped out in the exact same blazer. Both beauties appeared to be sporting the $900 Scanlan and Theodore Italian jacket in lemon as they posed for photos at the event. Same-same, but different! On Saturday, socialites Amy Castano (pictured) and Kate Waterhouse narrowly escaped a fashion mishap at Elizabeth Stakes Day, after the two stepped out in the same $900 lemon coloured blazer by designer Scanlan and Theodore Amy, the co-founder of celebrity favourite Acero gym, opted to team the pastel suit jacket with a pair of matching trousers. She also showed off a hint of cleavage as she styled her blazer with a plunging neckline. The 30-year-old wore a white oversized hat, a small Jacquemus bag and white heels. Pantsuit magic: Amy, the co-founder of celebrity favourite Acero gym opted to team the pastel suit jacket with a pair of matching trousers Pop of colour: Her makeup was fun, including a shimmer of blue shadow under her eye lids and a heavily lined 1990s-style nude lip The stunner wore her long blonde locks out and neatly straightened. Her makeup was fun, including a shimmer of blue shadow under her eye lids and a heavily lined 1990s-style nude lip. Amy also wore a collection of gold earrings and a gold watch to finish her outfit. Golden girl: Amy also wore a collection of gold earrings and a gold watch to finish her outfit Meanwhile, racing royalty Kate Waterhouse, 38, appeared to be wearing the identical blazer as Amy but finished her look with a pastel miniskirt. Kate looked incredible as she showed off her trim pins and carried a pink Bvlgari handbag. Her elegant blazer was also styled with no shirt underneath and in a slightly looser fit. Elegant: Her elegant blazer was also styled with no shirt underneath and in a slightly looser fit So chic! She accessorised with a pink pearl headband and wore chic black cat-eye sunglasses. She accessorised with a pink pearl headband and wore chic black cat-eye sunglasses. The daughter of Gai Waterhouse also wore nude pumps with her ensemble. Regular race-goer Kate was smiles as she posed for photographs at the event. Heiress Lou Hay wed property developer Jake O'Neil on Thursday as two of Australia's wealthiest families came together. The couple tied the knot in a secret ceremony at the heritage-listed Carthona mansion in Darling Point, Sydney, surrounded by their close family and friends. The wedding festivities - which reportedly totaled $1million dollars - have continued ever since, with a cavalcade of guests arriving at Bert's Bar and Brasserie in Newport in Sydney's Northern Beaches for day three of wedding celebrations on Saturday. Wedding bells: Heiress Lou Hay (left) wed property developer Jake O'Neil (right) on Thursday. The festivities have continued ever since, with a guests arriving at Bert's Bar and Brasserie in Newport in Sydney's Northern Beaches for day three of wedding celebrations on Saturday Guests dressed in white ensembles, which appeared to be the colour theme for the event. The elegant palette saw the society invitees opt for cream, off-white and ivory high fashion looks. The groom's parents arrived separately, with property magnate Denis O'Neil looking dapper in a cream suit. Smooch: Lou's sister Simmie Hay (right) stunned in a fitted, off-the-shoulder gown worn with a pair of towering silver stilettos. She shared a smooch with her male companion who was carrying a pink feathered dress later worn by the bride Looking good: The groom's mother, Charlotte O'Neil (pictured), stunned in a retro style jumpsuit with flared bottoms Details: The interior designer added a pair of metallic heels to the look and carried a gold purse. She completed the ensemble with black rimmed glasses and a chunky gold watch Dapper: The groom's parents arrived separately, with property magnate Denis O'Neil (pictured) looking dapper in a cream suit Happy day: He walked using a cane and added a pair of chic sunglasses to the look Chatty: Denis stopped for a chat with another man on the street near the venue The groom's mother, Charlotte O'Neil, stunned in a retro style jumpsuit with flared bottoms. The interior designer added a pair of metallic heels to the look and carried a gold purse. She completed the ensemble with black rimmed glasses and a chunky gold watch. Blushing: Inside, the bride partied the night away in a pink feathered dress with a waterfall design and an off-the-shoulder silhouette Stunner! She added a pair of strappy, metallic heels and opted for a glamorous makeup look, while wearing her hair down Beautiful: She posed for several stunning images inside the venue Posh: The tables were beautifully decorated with floral arrangements and ornate place cards Inside, the bride partied the night away in a pink feathered dress with a waterfall design and an off-the-shoulder silhouette. She added a pair of strappy, metallic heels and opted for a glamorous makeup look, while wearing her hair down. The tables were beautifully decorated with floral arrangements and ornate place cards. All white on the day: Guests dressed in white ensembles, which appeared to be the colour theme for the event Glam: The elegant palette saw the society invitees opt for cream, off-white and ivory high fashion looks Gifts: Paper bags branded with such high-end brands such as Dior seen among the crowd On their way: Guests made their way inside throughout the afternoon So bright: Gaggles of guests greeted one another on what was a sunny day Lou's sister Simmie Hay stunned in a fitted, off-the-shoulder gown worn with a pair of towering silver stilettos. She shared a smooch with her male companion who was carrying a pink feathered dress towards the venue - the frock was later worn by the bride. Several of the guests appeared to be carrying gifts for the newlyweds, with paper bags branded with such high-end brands such as Dior seen among the crowd. Presents: Several of the guests appeared to be carrying gifts for the newlyweds Fashionable crowd: There were many high-fashion ensembles among the attendees Fancy: Fittingly guests rolled up in luxury vehicles, including stunning vintage Mercedes Fantastic: Glamorous guests donned all manner of eye-catching frocks Event of the year: Attendees continued showing up all afternoon Fittingly attendees rolled up in luxury vehicles, including stunning vintage Mercedes. Lou, the daughter of the late Donald Hay, who founded cleaning products manufacturer Hayco in 1983 and built it into a major international company, stunned in a tulle wedding dress as she exchanged vows with the second-eldest son of millionaire superyacht broker and Rose Bay marina owner Denis O'Neil. Her wedding gown featured a strapless design, an embellished jewel bodice, a flowing train and romantic sheer sleeves. Good spirits: Guests appeared to be in great spirits as the filed in Greetings: Several attendees greeted one another warmly outside the venue Hugs all round: The wedding brought together friends and family Wedding day: Lou is the daughter of the late Donald Hay, who founded cleaning products manufacturer Hayco in 1983 and built it into a major international company The socialite wore her long dark hair loosely over her shoulders, and her makeup consisted of lashings of mascara and soft pink lipstick. Jake, meanwhile, looked dapper in a classic black suit and bow tie. Lou, who has already changed her surname on her social media accounts to O'Neil, shared a series of stunning images from their big day on Instagram on Friday. Lovely: She stunned in a tulle wedding dress as she exchanged vows with the second-eldest son of millionaire superyacht broker and Rose Bay marina owner Denis O'Neil on Thursday Party time: Lou revealed that despite getting married on Thursday, she and her new husband will also be celebrating with their extended family and friends on Saturday Jake's sister Poppy O'Neil Tzaneros shared a sweet tribute to the bride and groom on their wedding day, writing: 'Mr and Mrs O'Neil! Couldn't be more proud and happy for my brother, marrying the girl of his dreams!' Pretty: One guest opted for a romantic gown for the special occasion She simply captioned them with their wedding date, writing: '07.04.22'. Jake's sister Poppy O'Neil Tzaneros shared a sweet tribute to the bride and groom on their wedding day, writing: 'Mr and Mrs O'Neil! Couldn't be more proud and happy for my brother, marrying the girl of his dreams!' Lou revealed that despite getting married on Thursday, she and her new husband will also be celebrating with their extended family and friends on Saturday. Designer labels: Guests arrived in designer looks befitting the pricey wedding Taxi! A guest could be seen flagging down her ride after the party Bright: One guest carried a metallic pink purse while another opted for a dress with cut-outs Catwalk: The ensembles on display looked as if they'd come straight off a Paris catwalk She kept her thousands of followers up-to-date ahead of her nuptials, showing off a pair jewel-encrusted Jimmy Choo and Manolo Blahnik heels on her Instagram stories as she got ready at Sydney's Crown. She also flaunted her gorgeous diamond earrings and bracelet that fit the 'something borrowed and something blue' category. 'I can't believe we are getting married today! Can't wait to celebrate with more of our friends and family on Saturday,' Lou wrote to her 33,000 followers. Nice day for it: A guest headed into the venue through some foliage Which way? Another guest appeared momentarily confused and perhaps in need of directions Chic: One chic attendee opted for an eclectic slip-style dress with a lace insert Don't spill anything! The outfits on the day were consistently in white tones For the intimate ceremony, Lou had her sister Simmie Hay, sister-in-law-to-be Poppy O'Neil Tzaneros, Deborah Symond O'Neil, Alyce Tran, Caroline Tran, Hermione Underwood and India Banks as her bridesmaids. She gifted her bridesmaids some Chanel, La Mer and Estee Lauder gifts on her big day and got them to wear white silk robes to get ready in. For the ceremony itself, her bridesmaids a collection of colourful dresses. Retro: A female guest carried a vintage mother of pearl handbag to go with her white dress Getting hot! Some stripped down to skimpy outfits as the day wore on Turning heads: One attendee opted for a flowing gown and silver heels Ladies first: A pair of guests giggled together as they made their way inside Lou and Jake got engaged in June last year. The brunette beauty, a content creator, took to Instagram to share with her 28,000 followers that O'Neil had gotten down on one knee in a Sydney cafe surrounded by family and friends. 'This morning... Heart is exploding,' she wrote at the time. Matching: Many of the couples arrived in matching white ensembles Daring lengths: One guest opted for a fitted frock with a thigh-high split Social calendar: The event seemed to be very well attended with dozens invited Time for fun! Spirits among the party seemed very high indeed Lou previously lived between Hong Kong and London with her long-time Norwegian fiance Nicolai Asplin. The then-couple moved back to Sydney in 2020, where they threw a lavish engagement party at Bondi's Icebergs, before breaking up within weeks. She said at the time that the relationship 'had run its course'. Stunning: The couple tied the knot in a secret ceremony at the heritage-listed Carthona mansion in Darling Point, Sydney All in the details: Lou kept her thousands of followers up-to-date ahead of her nuptials, showing off a pair jewel-encrusted Jimmy Choo and Manolo Blahnik heels on her Instagram stories as she got ready at Sydney's Crown Lou then reunited with Jake, who she had previously dated years earlier in high school. Sadly, the fashion blogger's father Donald passed away in July 2019 from melanoma at age 76. Lou uses her platform to regularly urge her followers to get their skin checked while warning about the dangers of tanning. Dazzling: She also flaunted her gorgeous diamond earrings and bracelet that fit the 'something borrowed and something blue' category 'Perfection': Pictured are the gorgeous blooms and floral bouquets for the wedding party Hong Kong-based Hayco, which sells toilet cleaning brushes, brooms and other household products, has 6000 employees and ships 200million items a year to more than 60 countries. Meanwhile, Jake has followed in his successful father's entrepreneurial footsteps and works for Addenbrooke, a luxury property development company. 'Bride tribe': For the intimate ceremony, Lou had her sister Simmie Hay, sister-in-law-to-be Poppy O'Neil Tzaneros (middle right), Deborah Symond O'Neil (far left), Alyce Tran, Caroline Tran, Hermione Underwood and India Banks as her bridesmaids Deborah Symond O'Neil made headlines in Sydney's society pages in 2018 when she married Jake's brother Ned O'Neil in a lavish ceremony in the Whitsundays. The couple booked out Hamilton Island's exclusive Qualia resort for the three-day long celebration. Deborah, who has launched her own successful fashion retailer to rival the likes of Net-A-Porter, wore a custom-made $200,000 Christian Dior haute couture gown she had especially curated in Paris. Lavish: She gifted her bridesmaids some Chanel, La Mer and Estee Lauder gifts on her big day and got them to wear white silk robes to get ready in Preparations: The girls got ready by doing eye masks before the ceremony and were seen posing with their La Mer gift bags The couple flew 120 guests, including the ten men and women in their wedding party, to North Queensland where they used the hashtag #Neborah on Instagram to show off the day's festivities. Deborah and Ned met over a decade ago through family friends before realising their fathers were old associates. Deborah's father John and step mother Amber McDonald split their time between the their waterfront Sydney mansion, $75million superyacht and London penthouse. Their story: Lou and Jake got engaged in June last year. 'This morning... Heart is exploding,' she wrote at the time Bridesmaids: Sister-in-law-to-be Poppy O'Neil Tzaneros (left) and Deborah Symond O'Neil (right) acted as bridesmaids Meanwhile, Ned and Jake's sister Poppy Tzaneros (nee O'Neil), an interior designer, married Anthony Tzaneros - the head of IT at ACFS Port Logistics - in an equally as lavish wedding wearing a custom Jaton Couture gown in October 2020. Deborah, Poppy and Lou are staples of Sydney's high society social set, and regularly attend exclusive fashion and charity events together. The trio often rub shoulders with socialite Nadia Fairfax, PR maven Montarna Pitt, The Daily Edited co-founder Alyce Tran, and her stylist sister Caroline. Ricky Gervais has poked fun at the Academy's decision to ban Will Smith from future Oscar ceremonies for the next 10 years. The comedian, 60, took to Twitter on Friday and reshared the news of Will's, 53, punishment, noting he's likely to 'do six years with good behaviour.' Will, who has not been required to return his Academy Award for Best Actor, was given the ban after slapping Chris Rock on stage at last months ceremony, after he made a joke about his wife, Jade Pinkett Smith. Opinions: On Friday, Ricky Gervais reacted to the Academy's decision to ban Will Smith from future Oscar ceremonies for the next 10-years Sharing an article announcing Will's ban, Ricky wrote: 'Hopefully he'll only do 6 years with good behaviour' The actor has been a prominent voice among celebrities in the aftermath of the Smith-Rock incident. He has also hit out at people who have called Jada Pinkett Smith's alopecia a 'disability' as he weighed in on Will Smith's divisive Oscars slap. The comedian reshared the news on Twitter and wrote: 'Hopefully he'll only do 6 years with good behaviour' Ricky said Chris Rock's joke about Jada's alopecia 'wasn't bad' and described it as the 'tamest joke' he would have told as he spoke during a live Q&A session on Twitter. He has been vocal in criticising Will, 53, for storming on stage during the 94th Academy Awards and slapping Chris after the stand-up comedian made a joke about his wife's shaved head, comparing her to 'G.I. Jane'. Responding to people hitting out at Chris for making the joke, Ricky scoffed at social media users who have referred to alopecia, a hair loss condition, as a 'disability'. Opinions: Ricky has hit out at people who have called Jada Pinkett Smith's alopecia a 'disability' as he weighed in on Will Smith's divisive Oscars slap 'Someone said it was joking about her [Jada's] disability. Well I'm going a bit thin, so I'm disabled. That means I can park right up next to Tescos now,' he quipped. Letting out a laugh, he added: 'And I'm fat, that's a disease. I'm fat and balding, I should get f***ing benefits.' The Office star went on to insist that Chris's comment 'wasn't bad' as he condemned Will for slapping the Oscars host for making a joke. He said: 'You don't hit people over a joke, however bad it is. And it wasn't bad! 'That was like the tamest joke I would ever have told.' Will has been banned from the Oscars for 10 years for slapping Chris, but will be allowed to keep his award for Best Actor. ACADEMY'S FULL STATEMENT The 94th Oscars were meant to be a celebration of the many individuals in our community who did incredible work this past year; however, those moments were overshadowed by the unacceptable and harmful behavior we saw Mr. Smith exhibit on stage. During our telecast, we did not adequately address the situation in the room. For this, we are sorry. This was an opportunity for us to set an example for our guests, viewers and our Academy family around the world, and we fell short unprepared for the unprecedented. Today, the Board of Governors convened a meeting to discuss how best to respond to Will Smiths actions at the Oscars, in addition to accepting his resignation. The Board has decided, for a period of 10 years from April 8, 2022, Mr. Smith shall not be permitted to attend any Academy events or programs, in person or virtually, including but not limited to the Academy Awards. We want to express our deep gratitude to Mr. Rock for maintaining his composure under extraordinary circumstances. We also want to thank our hosts, nominees, presenters and winners for their poise and grace during our telecast. This action we are taking today in response to Will Smiths behavior is a step toward a larger goal of protecting the safety of our performers and guests, and restoring trust in the Academy. We also hope this can begin a time of healing and restoration for all involved and impacted. Advertisement In a statement, the Academy blasted Smiths 'unacceptable' and 'harmful' behavior that 'overshadowed' the entire evening. 'During our telecast, we did not adequately address the situation in the room. For this, we are sorry. This was an opportunity for us to set an example for our guests, viewers and our Academy family around the world, and we fell short unprepared for the unprecedented. 'The Board has decided, for a period of 10 years from April 8, 2022, Mr. Smith shall not be permitted to attend any Academy events or programs, in person or virtually, including but not limited to the Academy Awards. 'We want to express our deep gratitude to Mr. Rock for maintaining his composure under extraordinary circumstances. We also want to thank our hosts, nominees, presenters and winners for their poise and grace during our telecast.' In a statement on Friday afternoon after the decision was reached, Smith told Deadline: 'I accept and respect the Academys decision.' He had already resigned from the Academy last Friday, taking the decision out of their hands to rescind his membership is it did with Harvey Weinstein. Smith's wife Jada will still be allowed to attend in-person events. The 54-person Board of Governors met on Friday morning after furious debate between its 9,000 members raged over the last 12 days in hundreds of WhatsApp groups. The slap divided Hollywood and the public, with some insisting he should be stripped of his Oscar and not be rewarded for violence while others said dismissed it and mocked it on social media. Will slapped Chris on-stage after the comedian made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith's shaved head. Pinkett-Smith has been open in the past about her struggles with alopecia. After the slap, Smith returned to his seat and screamed 'keep my wife's name out of your f*****g mouth.' He the then won the Oscar for Best Actor in his role as Richard Williams, in the film King Richard. He used his speech to apologize to the Academy and to Rock, and he later posted an apology on Instagram. Chris has kept quiet on the issue, speaking out only to say he was 'processing' what happened. Thales is opening a new Cyber Security Operations Center (SOC) in Morocco, the sixth in its international network. This center will provide real-time protection against cyber-attacks in the country and across the African continent as a whole. The digital transformation of African societies, as illustrated by the extensive use of mobile payments across the continent, and the rise in teleworking due to the health crisis, have had a major impact on Africas vulnerability to cyber-attacks. While businesses, administrations and individuals are becoming increasingly connected, this trend must be accompanied by an increase in the level of protection in order to tackle the multiplication and sophistication of attacks. Outside the financial sector, all sectors are affected, including the most important ones, such as government services but also water distribution, energy and telecommunications. Furthermore, a new legal framework is driving African businesses to equip themselves with a means of supervision in the field of cybersecurity. Thales, which is already present in Morocco, is thus strengthening its cyber expertise on the continent. The SOCs combine 24/7 threat detection and analysis capabilities and deliver responses in compliance with the countrys cybersecurity infrastructure and policies. There are six SOCs located in Canada, France, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and now Morocco, and they currently form an international network operating according to the follow the sun model which offers continuous support to more than a hundred clients around the world, with an unequaled level of responsiveness and flexibility. Thales is proud to be able to strengthen its expertise and know-how in the field of cybersecurity in Morocco. The launch of this SOC demonstrates the Groups aspirations to support the development of security facilities in Africa, while closely matching its customers needs. As well as our analysis capacities, we offer businesses access to a hybrid consultancy and monitoring solution for their activity, thus demonstrating our commitment to fostering skills and autonomy over the long term, Hicham Alj, Managing Director of Thales Morocco. Thales offers its customers more than 20 years expertise in the field of cybersecurity, in particular SOC solutions, combined with an extensive portfolio of solutions: cyber auditing and consulting, integration of cybersecurity solutions developed by Thales as well as solutions from leading publishers, and simulation of Penetration Testing and Red Teaming attacks. In Africa, the Group supports its customers in ensuring compliance with regulations and technical processes, assessing cyber risks and their level of maturity, investigating and anticipating cyber crises and neutralizing complex attacks. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires She certainly knows how to turn heads with her jaw-dropping curves. And Demi Rose continued to show off her peachy bottom on Saturday as she shared another eye-popping Instagram post from her French Alps getaway. The 27-year-old wowed in a skintight Christian Dior ensemble as she poured her curves into one of the designers knitted jumpers which was tucked into figure-hugging white trousers. Wow! Demi Rose continued to show off her peachy bottom on Saturday as she shared another eye-popping Instagram post from her French Alps getaway Demi lapped up the luxury during a picturesque helicopter ride wearing a pair of 1980's inspired Dior mirrored snow goggles. The influencer held a red rose as she gave her 19.2 million fans a glimpse at the stunning mountainous backdrop out of the window. Another shot saw the blonde bombshell peering over the helicopters base while flaunting her peachy posterior leaving fans in a frenzy online. Flawless: Another shot saw the model peering over the helicopter's base while flaunting her peachy posterior in the tight white trousers She captioned her album: 'Where we going?' The model has been teasing fans with her stay in the French ski resort over the last couple of days. Last week she left fans hot under the collar as she shared a snap of her sporting just a pair of black salopettes, going naked underneath as she showed off her ample cleavage. Beauty: Her long mane of wavy hair tumbled down onto her back as she accentuated her striking features with a light dusting of make-up Holiday: She captioned her album: 'Where we going?' Assets: It comes after Demi went braless as she put on a busty display wearing only black salopettes from her trip to the Alps The beauty added a pair of black earmuffs to her look, tagging fashion house Chanel on the accessory. Demi stood in front of the beautiful French scenery, with snow-covered mountains decorating the skyline. She also shared some shots of ski resort Courchevel, which is known for having one of the longest ski seasons and the best snow cover in the whole of the Alps. The post comes as she is enjoying a getaway to the alps, keeping fans up to date with a slew of social media snaps. Holidaying: The post comes as she is enjoying a getaway to the alps, keeping fans up to date with a slew of social media snaps Shopping: She also shared some shots of ski resort Courchevel, which is known for having one of the longest ski seasons and the best snow cover in the whole of the Alps Demi doesn't seem to be letting the cold temperatures get to her, as she has been sporting a string of steamy outfits for the holiday. She jetted off on holiday last week to celebrate her 27th birthday, which was on the 27th March. Demi travelled in style, sharing a snap of her in a luxury jet to her 19.2million followers. Birthday celebrations: She jetted off on holiday last week to celebrate her 27th birthday, which was on the 27th March Abbie Chatfield is not one to shy away from dressing in a scantily clad fashion. And on Saturday, the former The Bachelor star gave fans a little more than they bargained for when she went braless in a cheeky crop top. Posting to her Instagram, the podcast host, 26, who is currently in Scotland, asked fans to 'Guess the temp via my nipples.' A little chilly, love? On Saturday, Abbie Chatfield (pictured) gave fans a little more than they bargained for when she went braless in a cheeky cropped top in a photo shared to Instagram In a second picture, Abbie poked out her tongue as she took a mirror selfie, which was tagged as being snot at an Edinburgh pub. Fans were quick to comment on her post, with many referencing an iconic scene from 2004 film Mean Girls. In that movie, the character Karen Smith, portrayed by Amanda Seyfried, predicts the weather by touching her bust. One way to guess: The podcast host, 26, who is currently in Scotland, asked fans to 'Guess the temp via my nipples' Among the comments were a few cheeky words from Abbie's boyfriend Konrad Bien-Stephens, 31, who hinted she'd been drinking. 'It's giving 'two pints down'' he wrote in below the image. The couple are currently enjoying an adventure around Europe and the UK - they started in Scotland, where they attended a friend's wedding. All over the world: Abbie is currently travelling around Europe and the UK with boyfriend Konrad Bien-Stephens (right) They then headed to Venice, Italy, and Lake Como, Italy, staying at five-star hotels all the way, before returning to Scotland on Saturday. Abbie revealed on Friday that her lucrative career is funding her luxury holiday after a troll asked her she had a 'rich mummy and daddy'. She replied again on her Stories: 'Me, publicly having four solid income streams, including a NATIONAL RADIO GIG???? regularly talking about having a single mum. Random people: must be her RICH DADDY'. Shaun White visited Nina Dobrev on the set of The Bricklayer in Thessaloniki, Greece, on Friday afternoon. The 35-year-old athlete and the 33-year-old actress appeared to be making the most of their time together, and The Vampire Diaries star flashed a smile while speaking to her boyfriend. The happy couple has been together ever since late 2019 when they met after giving presentations at a motivational event. Close couple: Shaun White visited Nina Dobrev on the set of The Bricklayer in Thessaloniki, Greece, on Friday afternoon White kept it casual in an all-white outfit that included a t-shirt, slim-fitting jeans and slip-on shoes. Dobrev was costumed in a dark orange blouse worn underneath a leather jacket during her time on set. The XXX: Return of Xander Cage cast member also rocked a set of blue jeans and light brown boots. Her gorgeous brunette hair was tied into a loose ponytail, although several strands fell onto the sides of her face. Enjoying it: The 35-year-old athlete and the 33-year-old actress appeared to be making the most of their time together, and the Vampire Diaries star flashed a smile while speaking to her boyfriend Starting off strong: White and Dobrev were first linked in the latter part of 2019, when they met during an event that was organized by Tony Robbins in Florida White and Dobrev were first linked in the latter part of 2019, when they met during an event that was organized by Tony Robbins in Florida. The snowboarder was previously in a long-term relationship with Phantogram band member Sarah Barthel that lasted from 2013 until 2019. The actress was also linked to her Vampire Diaries costar Ian Somerhalder from 2010 until 2013. The pair later went on a safari trip in South Africa in February of 2020, and their respective Instagram followers noticed that they had been sharing photos from the same location. Quality time: The pair later went on a safari trip in South Africa in February of 2020, and their respective Instagram followers noticed that they had been sharing photos from the same location The two eventually spent much of their period of quarantine in each other's company and were occasionally pictured in each other's company. The athlete and the actress eventually went Instagram official with their relationship in April of 2020 with a video that was shared to the latter's account. White and Dobrev have since taken to frequently sharing photos of each other to their respective accounts. The former Olympian previously spoke to People and told the media outlet that he was grateful for his girlfriend's presence. Letting everyone know: The athlete and the actress eventually went Instagram official with their relationship in April of 2020 with a video that was shared to the latter's account He notably described her as a major 'influence on my life. Not only does she run her own show, her own world, companies she's involved in, things she's producing, all this stuff going on.' White also expressed that Dobrev had certain expectations about their relationship, and he expressed that he was completely fine with that. 'She holds me to this same high standard which is so wonderful to have in a partner,' he said. Working well: White also expressed that Dobrev had certain expectations about their relationship, and he expressed that he was completely fine with that The snowboarder went on to speak about dealing with his girlfriend's various projects and noted that he was happy to follow her around various parts of the world. The former professional athlete stated: 'You just make it work, that's just the goal and key to it all.' White made a point of describing his romance with Dobrev as a 'beautiful relationship.' Enjoying it: White made a point of describing his romance with Dobrev as a 'beautiful relationship' Dobrev later switched into a much more eye-catching outfit while filming scenes with her costar, Aaron Eckhart. The performer donned a gorgeous red dress that showed off the lower portion of her toned legs. The actress also sported a set of black high-heeled shoes and a matching Yves Saint Laurent clutch during her time on set. Her gorgeous brunette hair cascaded onto her shoulders and contrasted perfectly with the bright color of her outfit. Ooh la la! Dobrev later switched into a much more eye-catching outfit while filming scenes with her costar, Aaron Eckhart Lady in red: The performer donned a gorgeous red dress that showed off the lower portion of her toned legs Fashionable: The actress also sported a set of black high-heeled shoes and a matching Yves Saint Laurent clutch during her time on set Eckhart, 54, sported a black suit and matching trousers, as well as a white shirt and a striped tie. Development on the project was initially announced by Deadline this past January, when the actor joined the cast of the film. The movie is based on Noah Boyd's novel of the same name, which was released in 2010. The feature will be centered on a retired CIA operative who is brought out of seclusion when an assassin begins blackmailing the agency by killing foreign journalists. Sharp-dressed man: Eckhart, 54, sported a black suit and matching trousers, as well as a blue shirt and a striped tie. Making moves: Development on the project was initially announced by Deadline this past January, when the actor joined the cast of the film Dobrev joined the cast of the upcoming feature the following month, which was also announced by Deadline. Other performers who have been added to the film's cast include Clifton Collins Jr, Tim Blake Nelson and Ilfenesh Hadera. Physical production on the forthcoming movie began last month at various locations in Europe. The Bricklayer currently does not have a scheduled release date. The Vampire Diaries is available only on Stan in Australia. Amanda Holden looked stunning as she beamed alongside her lookalike daughter Lexi on her Instagram Story on Saturday from Walt Disney World, Orlando. The TV personality, 51, is currently enjoy a family holiday to Florida with the 16-year-old along with her husband, Chris Hughes, 49, and ten-year-old Hollie. Wearing black Minnie Mouse ears with white polka dots and a glittery red bow, she framed her face with an oversized pair of sunglasses while posing with her mini-me. Family: Amanda Holden (right) beamed alongside her lookalike daughter Lexi (left) on her Instagram Story on Saturday during their family holiday to Walt Disney World, Orlando The Britain's Got Talent judge soon leant against the 'fontaine de vin' [fountain of wine] in a white T-shirt and distressed denim hot pants. Cosying up to Hollie in front of the attraction's iconic Cinderella Castle, Amanda accessorised her look with a black leather Gucci handbag. The youngster later hilariously pulled a worried face in front of The Hollywood Tower Hotel, which serves as the location of The Twilight Zone Tower Of Terror attraction. The previous day, Amanda looked chic in a cropped pink polo shirt, with a backless detail and white jeans. She revealed that the stateside holiday was a long time coming after being postponed for three years, captioning: 'We finally made it out here after 3 years of trying (covid)'. Poser: The Britain's Got Talent judge soon leant against the 'fontaine de vin' [fountain of wine] in a white T-shirt and distressed denim hot pants Adorable: Cosying up to Hollie, 10, in front of the attraction's iconic Cinderella Castle, Amanda accessorised her look with a black leather Gucci handbag Disneyland Florida was founded in 1971, as Amanda jested they 'had the same birthday' further in the caption. The family seemed in high spirits as they posed for a sweet pic in front of the iconic Disney castle, with Amanda wrapping her arm around Lexie - the pair bearing a striking resemblance. Earlier on, she teased her 1.8million fans with a snap of the pair's silhouettes - captioning: 'Guess where we are'. Gang: The TV personality, 51, is currently enjoy a family holiday to Florida with the 16-year-old along with her husband, Chris Hughes, 49, and ten-year-old Hollie Embracing it: She also took to her story to share some shots from the theme-park, as she and Hollie explored - complete with Mickey Mouse headbands Finally: Amanda revealed that the stateside holiday was a long time coming after being postponed for three years, captioning: 'We finally made it out here after 3 years of trying (covid)' The family getaway comes as Lexie is seemingly preparing to follow in her mother's showbusiness footsteps, as she has already been signed by modelling agency Storm. Amanda previously revealed that her daughter was approached last year, but the parents were waiting until she was 16 to sign with an agency - and won't do anything until she's 18. Talking to MailOnline earlier this year, Amanda shared: 'They came after her and they're very lovely and nurturing and it will be a soft, slow thing and she won't do anything until she's 18 but they want her and that's what she wants to do.' Cheryl Burke posted a sexy topless photo to her Instagram account on Friday afternoon. In the shot, the 37-year-old professional dancer was seen gazing into the camera and covering her breasts with her hands while a hairstylist tended to her luscious brunette locks. The Dancing With The Stars regular also wrote a short message in her post's caption that read: 'Good hair day. Thanks Kelsey! Also, stay cool, LA - it's HOT today.' Baring it all: Cheryl Burke posted a topless photo to her Instagram account on Friday afternoon Burke's post comes not long after she announced that she had separated from her estranged husband, Matthew Lawrence. The performer and her spouse, 42, initially met in 2006 while the latter's brother Joey was competing on Dancing With The Stars. The actor was previously engaged to Heidi Mueller, although they broke up before he began dating the dancer. The two began a relationship the following year, although they eventually split up in 2008. Recent split: Burke's post comes not long after she announced that she had separated from her estranged husband, Matthew Lawrence; they are seen in 2019 Burke and Lawrence remained separated for nearly ten years before they reconciled in 2017. The pair dated for a year before it was announced that they had become engaged in May of 2018. The former couple went on to tie the knot during a wedding ceremony that was Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego the following year. The two went on to post several pictures of each other to their respective Instagram accounts over the length of their marriage. Making it official: The former couple went on to tie the knot during a wedding ceremony that was Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego in 2019 It was announced this past February that Burke had filed for divorce after having separated from Lawrence the previous month. The dancer confirmed the news with a message that was shared to her Instagram account, where she noted that she wanted to be transparent about her love life. 'I know I have always said I'm an open book with you guys, I do strive to be, and in writing this I've realized there really isn't an easy way to announce that my marriage is ending,' she said. The performer went on to express that she would like a measure of space from her fans during her ongoing divorce process. All over now: It was announced this past February that Burke had filed for divorce after having separated from Lawrence the previous month Asking for privacy: The performer went on to express that she would like a measure of space from her fans during her ongoing divorce process 'I hope you can understand that I...am asking for understanding and privacy. Thank you all for all the kind words and support you've given me,' she wrote. An insider spoke to Us Weekly after Burke and Lawrence split up and expressed that the former couple's separation 'was not about having kids.' They also noted that the dancer was going to slow down and try and navigate her divorce in the best possible manner. 'Cheryl's taking this time to focus on next steps and focus on her mental health,' they said. Advertisement Betty White's idyllic beachfront estate in the picturesque California town of Carmel-by-the-sea has reportedly found a buyer for its whopping asking price of $8 million. Reports began swirling last week that the property, which Betty held for 40 years until her death this past New Year's Eve at the age of 99, was on the market. Now a report in TMZ says that an offer has been made and accepted, although the sale has not yet been finalized. Wow: Betty White's idyllic beachfront estate in the picturesque California town of Carmel-by-the-sea has reportedly found a buyer for its asking price of $8 million Views: Betty's home can be seen in an aerial view from over the Pacific Ocean Icon: White died as a result of a stroke she suffered on Christmas Day, according to her death certificate The comedy legend and her husband Allen Ludden had originally built the three-story beach-front home in Carmel Valley, California together, in the early eighties. Unfortunately Ludden died shortly after the property - which is built in a village north of Los Angeles and south of San Francisco - was completed in 1981. The 3,600-square-foot-property includes four bedrooms and four and a half bathrooms and was set at the asking price of $7.95million. The power couple had only paid $170K originally for the then-empty quarter-acre plot according to Dirt. Stunning: The 3,600-square-foot-property includes four bedrooms and four and a half bathrooms and has been set at the asking price of $7.95million Gorgeous: No doubt sunrises and sunsets look incredible Comforts of home: The primary bedroom is shown as the future homeowner can enjoy the epic ocean views Bond: The comedy legend and her husband Allen Ludden had originally built the three-story beach-front home in Carmel Valley, California together, in the early eighties (The couple are pictured together in 1974) Nicole Truszkowski of Truszkowski Freedman & Associates, Sotheby's International Realty - Carmel Brokerage, who holds the listing alongside Zak Freedman, told People last week: 'The home embodies the spirit of Betty and Allen. It was eloquently understated with the focus on nature and the natural beauty surrounding the home. 'Spending time in Carmel was one of Betty's favorite things to do. She enjoyed many treasured moments with her family and close friends.' The town of Carmel, which is also known as Carmel-by-the-sea, is situated near other celeb-favorite enclaves like Monterey and Big Sur. Truszkowski said that despite Betty being one of the most well-known comediennes in the world 'she was a private person. Betty's home in Carmel was her special sanctuary and it was one of her favorite places to recharge and rejuvenate.' Tragic: Unfortunately Ludden died shortly after the property - which is built in a village north of Los Angeles and south of San Francisco - was completed in 1981 Whoa: The power couple had only paid $170K originally for the then-empty quarter-acre plot according to Dirt Nicole Truszkowski of Truszkowski Freedman & Associates, Sotheby's International Realty - Carmel Brokerage, who holds the listing alongside Zak Freedman, told People on Monday: 'The home embodies the spirit of Betty and Allen. It was eloquently understated with the focus on nature and the natural beauty surrounding the home' The property also features panoramic ocean views of the Point Lobos Nature Reserve, Ribera Beach, and Monastery Beach from nearly every room. According to the listing, the home was designed by architect Richard Hicks, as he 'Infused with an effervescent energy, this three-story manor offers a parade of serene moments from outdoor decks, discrete spaces lush with blooms, and through generous windows that showcase the majesty of land meeting sea.' White died as a result of a stroke she suffered on Christmas Day, according to her death certificate. The beloved Golden Girls and Mary Tyler Moore Show actor died six days later on December 31 at her home in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles as the result of the stroke, according to the LA County death certificate. Never get sick of that: The property also features panoramic ocean views of the Point Lobos Nature Reserve, Ribera Beach, and Monastery Beach from nearly every room Comfortable: The town of Carmel, which is also known as Carmel-by-the-sea, is situated near other celeb-favorite enclaves like Monterey and Big Sur The 99-year-old was cremated and her remains were given on Friday to Glenn Kaplan, the man in charge of Whites advanced health care directive. Jeff Witjas, Whites long-standing agent and friend, who first confirmed her death to the AP, said she had been staying close to her Los Angeles home during the pandemic. The document lists Whites legal name of Betty Marion Ludden. She took the last name of her husband Allen Ludden. She was married to him from 1963 until his death in 1981. Truszkowski said that despite Betty being one of the most well-known comediennes in the world 'she was a private person. Betty's home in Carmel was her special sanctuary and it was one of her favorite places to recharge and rejuvenate' Interesting: According to the listing, the home was designed by architect Richard Hicks He 'Infused with an effervescent energy, this three-story manor offers a parade of serene moments from outdoor decks, discrete spaces lush with blooms, and through generous windows that showcase the majesty of land meeting sea' Simply stunning: The beach looks absolutely gorgeous by the property The information from Whites death certificate was first reported by TMZ. White, whose comic skills and up-for-anything charm made her a television mainstay for more than 60 years, died less than three weeks before her 100th birthday. US president Joe Biden, director Mel Brooks and many other celebrities and prominent leaders paid tribute to the star after her death. Nikki Grahame's mother Sue has criticised the hospital which discharged her daughter just 24 hours before her death and said she is considering legal action. Big Brother star star Nikki died in April last year at the age of 38 having battled anorexia since the age of eight. And Sue has condemned the nurses who discharged Nikki just one day before her death, claiming she begged them not to release her frail daughter. Fury: Nikki Grahame's mother Sue has criticised the hospital which discharged her daughter just 24 hours before her death and said she is considering legal action Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust conducted an internal review, which said it had 'not identified any shortfalls in care which might have influenced the outcome'. But the devastated mother told The Mirror she may take legal action and challenge the findings in a bid to open a new investigation into Nikki's case. Sue, from Bridport, Dorset, claimed that her daughter 'never' should have been discharged and accused doctors of being unable to cope with her care. I was there for two weeks with Nikki. Each day, I told the nurses she couldn't go home,' she said. Tragic: Big Brother star star Nikki died in April last year at the age of 38 having battled anorexia since the age of eight 'I was in despair when she was discharged. I said, "You can't let her go look at the state of her".' Sue alleged that her daughter had collapsed in front of nurses just two days before she was sent back to her North London home. She has previously revealed Nikki had a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 10 when she died, with a healthy BMI for a woman considered to be between 18.5 and 24.9. Sue claimed that Nikki's 'skeleton was breaking up', but claimed the nurses decided to discharge her daughter because she was able to walk up the stairs. 'Nikki was so determined, she would have crawled up those stairs,' Sue added. Heartbroken: Sue has condemned the nurses who discharged Nikki just one day before her death, claiming she begged them not to release her frail daughter She urged for doctors to be given more specialist training so they are equipped to handle people suffering from eating disorders. MailOnline has contacted Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for comment. Speaking earlier this month, Sue said her daughter was in a 'pitiful' state before she died of anorexia in April 2021. Sue said: 'She became very withdrawn and was just going into a decline. Little did I know it was going to be a 32-year journey. 'She was blue lighted to the local hospital in Dorset and she was there for two weeks. Devastated: It comes after Sue recalled the moment she saw her daughter carried away in a body bag after the Big Brother star's death in documentary Who Is She? on Thursday 'She had a BMI of 10, she was pitiful, and I went there every day to shower her, to dress her, to sit with her while she ate, to take the load off the nurses, it wasn't a specialised unit.' Sue added: 'Nikki managed to convince them "I'll be fine when I go home". They'd already said, "we can't have you, you can't make stairs", so they let her home and she died that night.' During Channel 4 documentary Nikki Grahame: Who Is She?, Sue broke down as she recalled the moment she saw her daughter carried away in a body bag. Sue cried as she said she stroked Nikki's head from the outside of the body bag as her daughter was carried away. Devastating: During Channel 4 documentary, Sue cried as she said she stroked Nikki's head from the outside of the body bag as her daughter was carried away She said: 'Watching them put my little girl in a bag and taking her down in the lift, and I said to them, "Can you tell me which end her head is?", and they said, "Yes, up here." 'I just stroked it from the outside. They took her away and I didn't see her again. Part of me has died. I miss her more than I can say. Her heartbroken mother said she thought Nikki had a 'premonition' about her death as the nation went into lockdown in 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic took hold. She said the reality star called to tell her how frightened she was to be cut off from the world, telling her: 'Mum, I don't know how I'm going to get through this.' Entertainer: Nikki was known for her rants in the Diary Room on Big Brother, with Big Brother's Little Brother host describing Nikki as one of the best Diary Room contestants ever Sue said she continues to be glad her daughter took part in Big Brother, and that Nikki never regretted being on the show. She told Breakfast: 'She said in interviews before that Big Brother saved her life, because I think that was the healthiest and happiness that she had been for those years. 'I think when she got voted out, she thought that everybody hated her, she always had this low self-esteem. 'So when the doors opened and she heard the cheering, it was genuine, her tears. Rage: Nikki was often seen screaming and throwing herself about in the Big Brother house as she confronted various challenges 'She was shocked because Nikki never got it. She said "I don't get it, I don't know why people are acting like this". She never saw her worth. 'I know that her going on Big Brother was her dream and I'm really glad she did, because I felt she deserved it. Because she'd lost her childhood, and I thought, "This is what you should have. This is yours".' Nikki appeared on the seventh series of Big Brother in 2006, and despite finishing fifth became one of its most recognisable contestants. She later spoke publicly about how she developed anorexia while still a child and struggled with the condition throughout her life, spending time in hospital on a number of occasions. For help and support with eating disorders contact SEED on (01482) 718130 or visit www.seedeatingdisorders.org.uk Strictly Come Dancing bosses want George Webster, the children's TV presenter who has Down syndrome, to compete in this year's show. The move follows the popularity of the series's first deaf participant, EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis, who won last year's contest. One insider said: 'The BBC are seriously considering getting George on the show this year. After the light that Rose shone on the deaf community after her appearance on Strictly, they want to continue to push boundaries. Strictly Come Dancing bosses want George Webster (pictured), the children's TV presenter who has Down syndrome, to compete in this year's show, insiders say 'There has never been a contestant with Down syndrome before and this really would be something spectacular and so important in raising awareness of the condition.' Sources say BBC executives believe 21-year-old Webster would be a 'huge ray of sunshine' and also help to attract a younger audience in much the same way as his CBeebies co-star Rhys Stephenson, who reached last year's semi-finals. The insider said; 'Having Rhys on the show brought new, younger viewers to the show so George would also be important for that too. 'The bosses are certain that the audience will love him, but are looking at logistics. He copes really well on CBeebies, but it's whether he'd be comfortable on the dancefloor.' Yorkshire-born Webster has made no secret of his desire to appear on the show. Asked by Christine Lampard on ITV's Lorraine programme in February if he would like to take part, he replied: 'Yes, I'd love to, another dream come true.' When he was announced last year as the first BBC children's presenter with Down syndrome, no mention of his condition was made on air. Instead, he introduced himself as a man 'who loves to cook, sing and dance'. He soon became popular with clips showing him performing Saturday Night Fever-style dance moves. Winner: Rose Ayling-Ellis, with dance partner Giovanni Pernice during the final of Strictly Come Dancing 2021 He was talent-scouted by the BBC from his work as an ambassador for Mencap, the charity for people with learning disabilities. In a video he made for the organisation, which calls him 'a mythbuster for Mencap', he said: 'I call myself George because that's who I am. Not Down's George. I have an amazing life. It's been very positive.' Paralympian amputee Jonnie Peacock was Strictly's first disabled contestant in 2017, followed a year later by Lauren Steadman, a swimmer born without her lower right arm. Former Royal Marine JJ Chalmers, badly injured by a bomb blast in Afghanistan, took part in Strictly in 2020. Claudia Winkleman looks great in her vibrant 2,369 jumper but have the colours run in the wash? The Strictly Come Dancing presenter wore the sweater for an Instagram advert plugging her Boots No 7 make-up and skincare range last week. Made by Los Angeles-based luxury lifestyle brand The Elder Statesman, the cable knit is made from 100 per cent cashmere. The Strictly Come Dancing presenter wore the sweater (pictured) for an Instagram advert plugging her Boots No 7 make-up and skincare range last week. Made by Los Angeles-based luxury lifestyle brand The Elder Statesman, the cable knit is made from 100 per cent cashmere And while it may seem like the 50-year-old has put the expensive garment on a boil wash, the Californian firm boasts of tie-dying its clothes to create 'vibrant palettes and groovy prints'. Its publicity continues: 'Hand-spun yarns, fine cashmere and relaxed style with charming details characterise this West Coast label that is sure to bring a ray of sunshine to any wardrobe.' The fashion house, a favourite of celebrities including Rihanna, Harry Styles and Jennifer Aniston, also sells dressing gowns for 1,885 and hand-made cashmere socks a steal at just 235 a pair. She earned between 450,000 and 500,000 from the BBC in 2017, but disappeared from the Corporation's disclosures of staff pay last year because BBC Studios, which makes Strictly, is not required to divulge its payments. Pictured: Winkleman on Strictly While the jumper may not be to everyone's taste, Ms Winkleman can certainly afford an expensive clothing collection. She is reportedly worth in excess of 10 million thanks to highly paid roles that include Strictly and a Saturday morning slot on BBC Radio 2. She earned between 450,000 and 500,000 from the BBC in 2017, but disappeared from the Corporation's disclosures of staff pay last year because BBC Studios, which makes Strictly, is not required to divulge its payments. Aside from her TV and radio appearances, Ms Winkleman, famous for her hairstyle, is about to embark on Behind The Fringe, a ten-date theatre tour of the UK. The show will see her recount anecdotes from her life, interview audience members on stage and even feature a group fringe-trimming session. He's known for taking very good care of his appearance. Yet Simon Cowell has recently revealed that he took his love of Botox too far, with his final treatment leaving him looking like 'something out of a horror show'. According to The Sun the 62-year-old said that he decided to stop when his strange appearance left son Eric, eight, in hysterics. Oh no: Cowell has recently revealed that he took his love of Botox too far, with his final treatment leaving him looking 'like something out of a horror show' (pictured in 2019) The former X Factor judge, who shares his son with partner Lauren Silverman, 44, revealed that as a result he no longer has any filler in his face. The music mogul began to look significantly differently back in 2016 during the 11th season of America's Got Talent. He said: 'There was a phase where everyone was having their faces pumped full of this and the other'. Later: The media mogul began to sport the strange look in 2016 during the 11th season of America's Got Talent before deciding to never have more filler (pictured in 2021) He went on to reveal that during that period he may have taken things a little too far in his a bid for a youthful appearance. Saying: 'I saw a picture of me from "before" the other day, and didn't recognise it as me first of all'. Botox is a cosmetic procedure that relaxes the muscles in the face in a bid to smooth out lines and wrinkles. Changing faces: Simon said: ' I saw a picture of me from 'before' the other day, and didn't recognise it as me first of all'. (pictured left in 1994 and right in 2020) Daddy: Simon revealed he decided to stop Botox injections after son Eric (far right) was left in hysterics his his appearance (pictured in 2018 with girlfriend Lauren Silverman and her son Adam) The Producer said that he decided to finally stop using the injectables when his son Eric noticed his changing profile: 'He was in hysterics. Enough was enough' The TV personality has more recently shown a more natural look saying: 'There is no filler in my face at all now. Zero'. This comes after Simon admitted that he can't see himself ever dating again as he opened up on changing his mind about marriage after falling in love with Lauren Silverman. Committing: Simon, who has never been married, admitted that he can't see himself dating ever again as he leaves his bachelor lifestyle behind to tie the knot with Lauren The star said he decided to propose to his long-time girlfriend in January after feeling like they were already engaged while living together during lockdown. He described the Covid-19 pandemic as a 'make or break' moment for relationships and said lockdown helped him and Lauren to grow closer and realise how much they get on. Simon, who has never been married, admitted that he can't see himself dating ever again as he leaves his bachelor lifestyle behind to tie the knot with Lauren. Elle Fanning and her sister Dakota were spotted while arriving at Miami International Airport on Friday. The 24-year-old performer and her older sibling, 28, stayed close while making their way through the travel hub and preparing to spend time with their friends. The pair later attended an event that was thrown in honor of a pal's bachelorette party and the younger actress' birthday, which fell on Saturday. Traveling together: Elle Fanning and her sister Dakota were spotted while arriving at Miami International Airport on Friday Elle sported a light blue crewneck sweater that featured a graphic print of Linus from Peanuts during her travels. The Super 8 actress also wore a matching pair of sweat pants and a bright pink set of slides. Her lovely blonde locks remained free-flowing and fell onto her back as she spent time at the airport. Dakota opted for a black crewneck sweater worn on top of a matching t-shirt while enjoying her sister's company. Ready for fun: The 24-year-old performer and her older sibling, 28, stayed close while making their way through the travel hub and preparing to spend time with their friends The I Am Sam actress also rocked a matching pair of joggers and white running shoes. The performer kept her lengthy blonde hair held back with a hair clip that matched the dominant tone of her outfit. She also wore a white facial covering to keep herself safe while spending time at the airport. Dakota shared a photo to her Instagram account on Saturday to commemorate her sister's birthday. Marking the occasion: Dakota shared a photo to her Instagram account on Saturday to commemorate her sister's birthday In the shot, the siblings were seen enjoying each other's company, and she wrote a short message to mark the special occasion. She wrote: 'Happy Birthday to my number 1 favorite person in the world. You're the queen of the birthday caption, so I won't even try.' The actress added: 'I'll just say that the thing I love most in life is being your sister. And I love you even more. Happy birthday my little fairy.' The siblings spent much of their Friday evening celebrating both Elle's birthday and their friend's bachelorette party. Joint celebration: The siblings spent much of their Friday evening celebrating both Elle's birthday and their friend's bachelorette party Standing out: The performer was also featured in a video in which she held a sizable and glowing birthday cake The younger of the pair was seen sticking her tongue out while spending time at a nightclub in a photo that was posted to a friend's Instagram Story. The performer was also featured in a video in which she held a sizable and glowing birthday cake. Elle also took a selfie prior to heading out for the evening that was shared to another friend's Story. The actress sported a lovely pink minidress while celebrating her special day. "In my family, it took just one generation to go from segregation to the Supreme Court of the United States." With those words, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson acknowledged both the struggles and progress of Black Americans in her lifetime. Her words, delivered from the South Lawn of the White House on Friday, one day after her historic Senate confirmation, were a tribute to generations of Black Americans who she said paved the way for her elevation to the nations highest court. "I have now achieved something far beyond anything my grandparents could have possibly ever imagined," Jackson said, noting they had gained only grade school educations before starting their family and later sending their children to racially segregated schools. "The path was cleared for me, so that I might rise to this occasion," she said. "And in the poetic words of Dr. Maya Angelou, I do so now." Quoting Angelous famous poem, "And Still I Rise," Jackson added: "I am the dream and the hope of the slave." President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris applaud Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as Jackson speaks during an event on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Friday, April 8, 2022, celebrating the confirmation of Jackson as the first Black woman to reach the Supreme Court. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Nina Turner, a former Ohio state senator who was a prominent surrogate for Sen. Bernie Sanders 2020 Democratic presidential campaign, said Jacksons speech was an awe-inspiring reminder of how far Black Americans have come amid their ongoing struggle. "Expressing that realization out loud for all of the world to hear, as she is about to take her place as the first Black woman Supreme Court justice, was just magnificent," said Turner. "It is vitally important that we, as Black people, continue to remind this nation from whence we came," she said. "The pain that it took to get to a `Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson could not be understated." Jackson, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, said that she has been lucky on her path to the high court. Although her arrival breaks one of the remaining racial barriers in American democracy, many Black Americans still struggle to surmount systemic blocks. She namechecked the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the civil rights icon, as well as Black federal judicial trailblazers such as Justice Thurgood Marshall and Judge Constance Baker Motley, thanking them for their leadership and role modeling. "For all of the talk of this historic nomination and now confirmation, I think of them as the true path breakers," Jackson said. "Im just the very lucky first inheritor of the dream of liberty and justice for all." Melanie L. Campbell, president and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and convener of the Black Womens Roundtable, watched Jacksons speech from the White House lawn as an invited guest on Friday. With the sun shining through clouds over Washington, there was a palpable joy in the crowd over what Jackson symbolizes for the country, she said. "It just felt like the ancestors were dancing." "I can see myself, in now-Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson," Campbell added. "(Jackson) understands the significance of this moment for Black women, for women, for the nation. And it is a game changer." Others watching the speech also noted the diversity at the event and the image at the center - President Joe Biden flanked by the first Black female Supreme Court justice and the first Black and Asian American vice president. Just before Vice President Kamala Harris introduced the president, she gushed over what Jacksons confirmation will one day mean to her young, Black goddaughter. "When I presided over the Senate confirmation vote yesterday, while I was sitting there, I drafted a note to my goddaughter," Harris said. "I told her that I felt such a deep sense of pride and joy about what this moment means for our nation and for her future." Speaking directly to Jackson, Harris added: "And I will tell you, her braids are just a little longer than yours." Although the occasion will be noted in history books as a symbol of racial progress, Turner said Jacksons elevation to the Supreme Court should be celebrated by Americans of all races and creeds. "Not only should the entire Black community be proud, the entire country should be proud because this has certainly been a long time coming," she said. "And from this victory, we certainly have an opportunity to continue to build and create more victories. Were not done yet." ___ Aaron Morrison writes about race and justice for the AP's Race and Ethnicity team. He is based in New York. Follow him on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/aaronlmorrison. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, accompanied by President Joe Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris, speaks during an event on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Friday, April 8, 2022, celebrating the confirmation of Jackson as the first Black woman to reach the Supreme Court. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's husband Dr. Patrick Jackson, right, and daughters Leila Jackson, second from right, and Talia Jackson, second from left, arrive on the South Lawn of the White House where President Joe Biden, accompanied by Vice President Kamala Harris and Judge Jackson, will speak and celebrate the confirmation of Judge Jackson as the first Black woman to reach the Supreme Court, Friday, April 8, 2022 in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, accompanied by President Joe Biden, waves as she takes the podium to speak during an event on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Friday, April 8, 2022, celebrating the confirmation of Jackson as the first Black woman to reach the Supreme Court. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson tears up as she speaks during an event on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Friday, April 8, 2022, celebrating the confirmation of Jackson as the first Black woman to reach the Supreme Court. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) President Joe Biden listens as Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson speaks during an event on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Friday, April 8, 2022, celebrating the confirmation of Jackson as the first Black woman to reach the Supreme Court. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) HYDERABAD: TPCC chief A. Revanth Reddy on Friday alleged that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had brought the Governor's office into controversy in order to overcome a feud in his family. The TPCC chief said that as Chandrashekar Raos son and minister K.T. Rama Rao was pressurising him for the CM post, the CM had deliberately politicised the Governor's office, he said. Speaking to reporters, the Congress MP said that they are not supporting Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan but were seeking that the decorum of statutory institutions be protected. The Congress leader said that it was to keep the Chief Minister in good humour that Union minister G. Kishan Reddy and BJP state president Bandi Sanjay had skipped Ugadi celebrations in Raj Bhavan. Meanwhile, after a meeting of party leaders, the TPCC warned the government that paddy purchase centres should be opened across the state by April 11, otherwise the party will stage statewide protests from the next day. In view of paddy arrivals, the state government should set up the Indira Kanthi Patham (IKP) paddy purchasing centres, TPCC said. TPCC leaders also decided to ask for a meeting with Governor Soundararajan to complain on paddy procurement issue. Toronto: A 21-year old Indian student was killed after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds following a shooting at the entrance of a subway station in Canada's Toronto city while he was on his way to work, according to police here. The victim, identified as Kartik Vasudev, was shot on Thursday evening at the Glen Road entrance to Sherbourne TTC station in St James Town. Vasudev received medical attention from an off-duty paramedic and was taken to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, the Toronto Police Service said in a statement. The homicide squad of the Toronto Police Service has taken over the investigation. Investigators would like to speak to any witnesses that were in the area at the time, as well as any drivers or businesses that have camera footage, the police said. We are shocked & distressed at the unfortunate killing of Indian student Kartik Vasudev in a shooting incident in Toronto yesterday, the Consulate General of India wrote in a statement posted on Twitter on Friday. We are in touch with the family and will provide all possible assistance in the early repatriation of mortal remains," it said. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed grief at the killing. Grieved by this tragic incident. Deepest condolences to the family, Jaishankar tweeted. Vasudev's brother told CP24 news channel he was a student at Seneca College and was taking the subway to his job when he was killed. He arrived in Canada in January. Seneca College said Vasudev was enrolled in its marketing management programme. "The Seneca community is saddened to hear of the tragic death of Kartik Vasudev, a first-semester Marketing Management student," a spokesperson said in a statement. "Our thoughts are with Mr Vasudev's family, friends and classmates. Counselling support is being made available to students and employees. Police said the suspect in the shooting is a Black male standing five-foot-six to five-foot-seven inches tall with a medium build. He was last seen carrying a handgun walking south on Glen Road toward Howard Street, according to the news channel. Information Technology industry veteran T V Mohandas Pai on Friday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention in addressing Bengaluru's infrastructure concerns, following which Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai assured that there will be large-scale road repair works in the city in the days to come. Terming recent attempts by neighbouring Telangana and Tamil Nadu to attract investors from Karnataka by criticising physical and social infrastructure here as "desperation", Bommai said no one can stop the state's progress, despite any number of such campaigns. "Bengaluru paid second highest IT at 1.69 lcr in 21-22, but we are ignored by Delhi! Our roads are bad, traffic sucks, quality of life down @narendramodi Sir as our PM pl intervene and help," Pai tweeted on April 7, tagging Bommai, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. Also read: KTR's attempts to compare Bengaluru with Hyderabad 'ridiculous', says Karnataka CM Responding to a question regarding Pai's tweet, Bommai said the condition of roads in Bengaluru has improved, and it will further improve in the days to come. "As rain (last year) continued (long) there was a bit of a problem. Now, there is marked improvement. In the coming one month we will further improve. I will speak to him (Pai) personally. There is no such reason for worry," he said. "All the details are in the public domain as to how much kilometre we have (developed) and what we have done. I have released the amount under 'Nagarothana" programmes and funds have been allocated in the BBMP budget, so there will be large-scale road repair works in the days to come," he added. Pai's tweet comes close on the heels of Telangana IT Minister K T Rama Rao's tweet asking an entrepreneur in Bengaluru to shift to Hyderabad, claiming better physical and social infrastructure there. Also, Tamil Nadus Finance Minister Palanivel Thiagarajan has reportedly said that his government is ready to welcome companies that want to move out of Karnataka amid growing communal tension in the BJP-ruled state. Responding to a question on this, Bommai said Tamil Nadu and Telangana are "very much desperate", and one can't compare Bengaluru and Karnataka with any other state or city. "...what they are doing is not in good taste. We have to invite people to invest by projecting positive aspects of our state. There is no need to vilify the other state for it. I have not called those who have invested in Tamil Nadu and Telangana to come and invest here, that's our strength. What they are doing shows that no one is coming to their states to invest, so they are calling people from here, it's their weakness," he said. Further, stating that international investors are coming forward to invest in Karnataka, the Chief Minister said, in the days to come, large-scale investment is expected, and there are big proposals. "There is a continuous flow of investments. In the last three quarters, Karnataka has received the highest investments in the country...," he said. Let Telangana and Tamil Nadu develop their own states, Karnataka is not against it, Bommai said, adding, "Based on our own strength, infrastructure and talent resources, investors are coming here and will come in the future as well. No one can stop Karnataka's progress, despite any number campaigns, and I will ensure it by taking all necessary measures." Check out DH's latest videos Ukraine called for more weapons and harsher sanctions after it blamed Russia for a missile attack that killed at least 52 people at a train station packed with women, children and the elderly fleeing the threat of a Russian offensive in the east. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the strike in Kramatorsk in the eastern region of Donetsk a deliberate attack on civilians. The city's mayor estimated about 4,000 people were gathered there at the time. Stay tuned for live updates. Pakistans Opposition leader Maryam Nawaz on Saturday lashed out at Prime Minister Imran Khan for lavishing praise on India, saying he should go to the neighbouring country if he likes it so much. The remarks of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam, who is the daughter of deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif, came after Khan called India a "nation with a great sense of honour". Prime Minister Khan, in an address to the nation on Friday night ahead of the no-trust motion where he has little chances of surviving unless some miracle takes place, said that he was not against India and had a lot of following in the neighbouring country. Also Read | Pakistan PM Imran Khan's ex-wife slams his pro-India stance "No superpower can force India to do anything against its interests. They (India) are buying oil from Russia despite sanctions. "Nobody can dictate India. What the European Union ambassadors said here, could they say that to India also? he asked and added that they could not because India is a sovereign nation. Responding to his remarks, Maryam said that Khan has gone mad. Someone should tell a person who has gone mad after seeing this power gone that he has been expelled by his own party and no one else. If you like India so much then shift there and leave the life of Pakistan, the 48-year-old PML-N leader said. Maryam tore into Khan, saying he should not be treated as the prime minister anymore. Get live updates of Pakistan Political Crisis here "One person who is not in his senses anymore cannot be allowed to wreak havoc & bring the entire country down. This is not a joke. He should not be treated as PM or ex PM, he must be treated as a PSYCHOPATH who just to save his own skin is holding the entire country hostage. Shame," she said in a tweet. "A maniacs fear of having to face the music has brought the entire country to a grinding halt & a complete standstill. The country of 22 crore is without a government for weeks now. This blatant violation of constitution and disregard to SC orders will be ugly & end badly," she said. This was not the first time when Prime Minister Khan has praised India to the surprise of Opposition parties. Last week, he praised India for its independent foreign policy. "They protect their independent foreign policy which is centred on its people," he had said. Also Read | Imran Khan says he will not accept 'imported government'; calls for street protests The 69-year-old cricketer-turned-politician, who has effectively lost the majority in the 342-member house, seemed to accept the writing on the wall and urged his supporters to stage peaceful protests across the country when the "new imported government" comes into power on Sunday. Khan faces the possibility of being the first premier in the countrys history to be voted out in a no-trust motion. No Pakistani prime minister has ever completed a full five-year term in office. Meanwhile, the Opposition has completed its initial talks for the formation of a new government once Prime Minister Khan is ousted. Plans are afoot for the removal of President Alvi and the return of deposed premier Nawaz Sharif from the UK, The Express Tribune newspaper reported on Friday. Shehbaz, 70, who is the Oppositions candidate for the new prime minister, will announce his possible government priorities after taking the oath. All Opposition parties will be given proportional representation in the new possible federal government. Check out DH's latest videos: Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government on Saturday filed a review petition in the Supreme Court challenging its decision to declare the ruling of the deputy speaker to dismiss the no-confidence resolution against the prime minister as unconstitutional. The review petition, filed through Dr Babar Awan and Azhar Siddique, named the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Supreme Court Bar Association, Sindh High Court Bar Association and the Sindh Bar Council as respondents. Also Read | US rejects allegations of conspiracy to topple Pak govt In a body blow to Prime Minister Khan, Pakistan's Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously struck down the ruling by deputy speaker Qasim Suri on the rejection of the no-confidence motion against him and ordered restoration of the National Assembly, saying the prime minister's move to dissolve Parliament and call early elections was "unconstitutional". In a landmark 5-0 verdict, a five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial ruled that the deputy speaker's ruling was "contrary to the Constitution and the law and of no legal effect, and the same are hereby set aside." The petition, the copies of which are available to media, urged the apex court to "review, recall and set aside" its order, "which is based on errors floating on the surface" and "the captioned causes be dismissed/discharged". The government's counsel further appealed that the execution of the "impugned order be suspended". Also Read | Pakistan PM Imran Khan calls cabinet ministers meeting late on Saturday night The review petition argued that the court order, in the absence of any detailed reasons, was not a judicial determination according to Article 184(3) of the Constitution which states that an issue needs to be of public importance if the court has to have jurisdiction on it. The petition further said that the order has given a "time table to proceed in the National Assembly (NA) which amounts to interfering in the affairs of the house/NA", which is in violation of the Constitution. The apex court's bench could not force "direct discharge of constitutional obligations by office holders of constitutional posts under the Constitution", it said. The petition also pointed out that the procedure for a no-trust vote was elaborately provided in the Constitution and, therefore, "the honourable apex court is not entitled to micro-manage the affairs of the Parliament". Meanwhile, the National Assembly is in session to implement the order of the top court to conduct the vote of confidence. The members of the PTI were making long speeches, clearly to buy time to delay the crucial vote. Speaker Asad Qaisar has said the apex court verdict would be implemented in letter and spirit. Pakistani media has reported that the vote on the no-confidence motion may take place after Iftar. Check out the latest videos from DH: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday fumed at Union Home Minister Amit Shah for asking people of different states to communicate with each other in the "language of India", saying his statement is an act that will hurt the unity of India and warned the BJP not to commit the same mistake. In a series of tweets in Tamil, Stalin accused the BJP of eroding the diversity of India through statements like the one Shah made on Thursday at the 37th meeting of the Parliamentary Official Language Committee. Union Home Minister Amit Shah asking people to use Hindi instead of English is an act that will hurt the unity of India. The BJP continues to engage with its job of eroding the diversity of India. Does Amit Shah think only Hindi-speaking states are enough and other Indian states are not needed? Stalin asked. Read | It is imposition: DMK, PMK on Amit Shahs statement on Hindi One language will not aid unity. And uniformity does not breed unity. You (BJP) are committing the same mistake. You will never succeed, the CM added. Stalin was responding to a statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs that quoted Shah as saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided that the medium of running the government is the official language, and this will definitely increase the importance of Hindi. Now the time has come to make the official language an important part of the unity of the country. When citizens of States who speak other languages communicate with each other, it should be in the language of India, Shah had said on Thursday. Shahs statement led to intense criticism on Tamil Twitter with many reminding the Home Minister that Hindi is just one of the official languages of India. DMK, which was at the forefront of the anti-Hindi agitation in Tamil Nadu in the 1960s which catapulted it to power, and other parties like AIADMK have been opposing the imposition of Hindi for the past several decades. Stalins half-sister and DMK womens wing secretary, Kanimozhi, too opposed Shahs comments by posting a terse counter on Twitter. Imposing a link language will not help unite the country but only help split. Union Government and Union Ministers should learn the history and sacrifices of the anti-Hindi agitation, Kanimozhi wrote. In a series of tweets, PMK founder S Ramadoss said Shahs statement was shocking. The meaning of his statement is that Hindi will be imposed on states. (Jawaharlal) Nehru accepted the demands of the non-Hindi speaking states and allowed English to continue as the link language, he said. If only an Indian language can be the link language only Tamil, being the oldest language, ticks the box, he said, adding that since Tamil Nadu does not believe in imposition of any language, the political parties demand all languages listed under the eighth schedule of Constitution be declared as official languages. Shahs statement also comes close on the heels of Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi indirectly batting for the introduction of Hindi in the state that has consistently opposed the language for decades together. In his Republic Day message, Ravi had stressed that students from Tamil Nadu also learn other Indian languages like students in other states. Watch latest videos by DH here: The Opposition will not leave the Presidential and Vice Presidential elections uncontested and will soon start looking for a common candidate who could pose an ideological challenge to the BJP-RSS. Leaders in the Opposition are clear that there is little chance for a consensus candidate for the post of President or Vice President though formal discussions on the possible names are some time away as the polls are in July and August respectively. Elected MPs and MLAs across the country with a total vote value of 10,90,300 form the electoral college for Presidential elections while Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs vote in the Vice Presidential elections. Also Read: Opposition front not 'enough' to take on BJP, says Manish Sisodia While the victory of a BJP nominee for Vice President is a foregone conclusion as NDA is expected to garner at least 500 of the 790 votes, the BJP would still need votes worth around 9,500 for a victory in Presidential polls. It banks on friendly parties like YSR Congress and BJD, which together have votes worth around 70,000. Opposition sources said there was no question of a consensus candidate and they would pitch it as an ideological battle, as the electoral fight is comfortably placed in favour of the ruling coalition. The Opposition is expecting that the BJP may choose either a tribal or a north-east or a south Indian to be the First Citizen of the country. In such a scenario, sources said, the Opposition would also have to look at its options and names. They cited the example of the 2017 Presidential elections when the joint Opposition fielded former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, a Dalit leader who is daughter of late Jagjivan Ram, against BJPs Ram Nath Kovind. Initially, there were some discussions on fielding Gopalkrishna Gandhi but after Kovinds name surfaced, parties zeroed in on Kumar. Gandhi was later chosen as a Vice Presidential candidate against BJPs M Venkaiah Naidu. The names that were considered also included Justice Gopal Gowda for both the Presidential and Vice Presidential polls. Also Read: BJP will win 2024 Lok Sabha polls: Goa CM Pramod Sawant Sources said if the BJP plans to field senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and if he agrees, the Congress would be in a bit of trouble, as the veteran politician has fans among other Opposition parties. It would be a difficult call to take. It will put our leadership in a spot, a senior Congress leader said. While they discount rumours about Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar moving to Delhi as a candidate, sources said he would be an ideal candidate for the Opposition but he would have to leave the NDA fold. In 2017, he had broken ranks with the UPA when he was heading a Grand Alliance government to vote in favour of Kovind. A senior Opposition leader said Congress should also learn to cede space and should not insist that the candidate should be from its fold. During the negotiations in 2017, sources said, Congress had insisted that the candidate should be from the party and managed to get support for Kumar. In the 2017 Presidential polls, Kovind had polled 7,02044 votes or 65.65 per cent of the votes polled while Kumar had managed 3,67,314 votes or 34.35 per cent of the votes. Watch the latest DH Videos here: An Iranian boat was "taken charge of" by the Indian Coast Guard in Indian seas and brought here for further investigation, official sources said on Saturday. Without divulging details, the sources said the Coast Guard took "charge" of the boat on suspicion and brought it to the harbour here. Further investigation was on and more central and state agencies were likely to join the probe, they added. Watch latest videos by DH here: The ruling of Pakistans Supreme Court against Imran Khans constitutional coup may eventually lead to the PTI chief being replaced by the PML (N) leader Shehbaz Sharif as the next prime minister. As the chief minister of the Punjab province of Pakistan, Shehbaz has proved himself to be a hard-working and able administrator. However, he may not like to rule for too long in the current difficult circumstances and thereby incur the burden of anti-incumbency for his party. The opposition unity may also not last. Therefore, though Imran Khans attempt to precipitate the national election has failed, Pakistan is likely to go to the polls earlier than when it would have normally happened in the second half of 2023. Sensing the gathering political storm and with an eye on the future political battles, Khan already started a campaign to present himself as a nationalist and victim of a foreign conspiracy someone, who is defending Pakistans interests against external pressures. He sought to buttress this image with the dubious claim of a threat from the US of adverse consequences for Pakistan in case he stayed in office. This also goes down well with his conservative religious constituency. His emphasis on an independent foreign policy is logical in view of Pakistans past Faustian bargains (like joining the Western bloc in the Cold War and becoming a lead player in the Afghan jihad) but sounds opportunistic at this juncture. Also Read | A political potboiler in Pakistan So does his repeated endorsement of Indias independent foreign policy, particularly in the backdrop of his having painted himself into a corner by linking bilateral dialogue with the improbable condition of India reversing its August 5, 2019 decision to strip Jammu and Kashmir of its special status and reorganize the state into two union territories. Differences between Khan and the chief of the Pakistan Army, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, are now in the open. In his speech at the Islamabad Security Dialogue in early April, Bajwa struck a note markedly different from the policies articulated by Khan during his stint as the prime minister. The army chief not only spoke about a long and excellent strategic relationship with the US but also criticised Russias invasion of Ukraine. The political drama in Pakistan has attracted a good deal of attention in India. However, since Pakistans foreign and security policies are tightly controlled by its army, the fate of a civilian leader can at best impact its external posture and key relationships only marginally. The army has repeatedly sabotaged peace moves by the civilian leaders. The collapse of Nawaz Sharifs moves to build a better relationship with India illustrates this point. The promise of his initiative in hosting Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Lahore in February 1999 was put paid to by the Kargil incursion led by Gen Pervez Musharraf. During the campaign for the 2013 elections, which brought him back to the office of the prime minister for the third time, Nawaz repeatedly spoke of improving relations with India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi would surely have seen some value in him as an interlocutor while deciding to make a halt in Lahore on his way back from Kabul in December 2015. However, Pakistans all-powerful army systematically sabotaged Nawaz Sharifs India agenda yet again by ramping up terrorism, including the Pathankot terror attack within days of Modis Lahore halt. Also Read | Unending cycle of Instability Further, the focus of the new government in Pakistan will be on the next election and alleviating the economic suffering of the people, thus making any major foreign policy initiatives highly unlikely. The predominantly Punjabi army has dominated the Pakistani polity throughout its existence its role bolstered, inter alia, by the failure of Pakistans creators to give it a stable, democratic political system and the country coming to regard itself as a national security state ranged against the external Indian threat. Positioning itself as the defender of Pakistans physical and ideological frontiers, the army has remained the prime mover of Pakistans hostility against India and has sought to sustain the India bogey through low-level tensions with India, in its institutional interest. However, when in a tight corner, it has not hesitated to make a tactical retreat. Zia-ul-Haqs charm offensive towards India after his western border heated up due to the Afghan jihad against the Soviet Union and Pervez Musharrafs constructive engagement with India post the pulls and pressures generated by 9/11 are some examples. General Bajwa has continued to send apparently conciliatory signals to India from time to time. In the absence of any credible evidence of a strategic shift in the above-stated world-view of the Pakistan Army, these can at best be regarded as tactical moves, necessitated by Pakistans floundering economy, its increasingly patchy relationship with the US, continuing volatility on its western frontier and the scrutiny by the Financial Action Task Force. It is these considerations that led Pakistan to restore the LoC ceasefire in February 2021 a move that also suited the Indian need to pay greater attention to the LAC with China. Also Read | Imran Khan loses no-confidence motion, ousted as Pakistan PM Bajwa has remained a leading voice in Pakistans discourse on a shift from geopolitics to geoeconomics a concept that also finds a place in Pakistans National Security Policy unveiled in January this year. He spoke of resolving all outstanding issues with India, including Kashmir, through diplomacy and dialogue at the recently held Islamabad Security Dialogue. At the same time, he played up the recent accidental firing of an Indian missile and referred to the need for quick resolution of the India-China border dispute through dialogue, thus making a common cause with China against India. Pakistans emphasis on geoeconomics, while denying trade and transit to India, makes little sense. Its volubility on the need to resolve Kashmir has been matched by its reluctance to work and settle for a practical, forward-looking and mutually acceptable solution. However, this should not stop India from exploring further the intent of Pakistan, even if tactical, to at the very least manage this complex relationship better than the last few years and possibly take some steps back to the point from where it had nosedived, especially 2016 onwards. I have in mind, in particular, the resumption of trade suspended by Pakistan since August 2019 (there is a demand to this effect from segments of trade and industry within Pakistan) and up-gradation of diplomatic relations back to the level of the High Commissioners to have senior interlocutors in each others capital. (The writer is Indias former High Commissioner to Pakistan and is the author of the forthcoming book, Indias Pakistan Conundrum- Managing a Complex Relationship). Watch the latest DH Videos here: The Bengaluru-based companies that are part of the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) are surprised that the central government has branded the first XE variant case as a misclassification due to an analysis error by the software. When Mumbai reported what it said was Indias first case of the XE variant of the Covid-causing virus, the Centre responded thus: The automated software for variant annotation presently misclassifies any Omicron with specific Delta variants as XE. This could be a sequencing or analysis error. The only way to verify is manually checking from raw data. A scientist from the Bengaluru-based MedGenome Labs said, A standard laboratory with capabilities should be able to identify it. Since enough cases of this variant have come up in the UK and we know its annotations, I dont think premier national labs will make sequencing or analysis errors. The variants genome data is constantly getting updated by institutes globally. Also Read | Covid: Centre writes to 5 states warning them against any laxity He continued, If there are new variations which are not updated in international databases at all, then it becomes tricky to identify. But XEs data is now publicly available. So unless a particular lab has not updated its pipeline, only then can they miss it. He spoke on the condition of anonymity. At least four private labs in Bengaluru are part of the INSACOG network. Dr Geetha Nagaraj, co-principal investigator, Central Research Laboratory, Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, said: Now, there are 473 sequences in GISAID with the XE variant. But people think it is a sequencing artifact (error) in India that has led to it (the first case identified here). There is also an XF variant. It is more divergent than Ba.1 and Ba.2. C14599T is the unique mutation of this lineage. It has both mutations from Ba.1 and Ba.2. Also Read | Precaution dose of Covid-19 vaccine announced for 18+ age group from April 10 Dr Raja Mugasimangalam, CEO and founder of Genotypic Technology, said he didnt think it was a software glitch. The mutations in a sample should be mapped to all known variants and then one should choose. Low sequence coverage and not updating the database can result in misclassification. Two labs of the National Institute of Virology are using our Commander software which updates every day. Commander is the software we made for Covid analysis and is widely used in India. Nextclade is a tool that identifies differences between sequences and a reference sequence used by Nextstrain and then uses these differences to assign sequences to clades. The pangolin web app is maintained by the Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance. It helps assign SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences to global lineages. Also read | 'XE variant of Covid not more severe than Omicron': Kang A senior scientist from Strand Life Sciences said: We use Pangolin or Nextclade to identify variants and mutations. Others may be using the Dragen pipeline from Illumina. There are several pipelines, free and paid. Each company might have a preferred pipeline for their analysis. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Statement on adoption of the fifth sanctions package Statement On 08 April, the EU adopted a fifth package of sanctions in response to the continuing war of aggression against Ukraine and the reported atrocities committed by Russian armed forces in Ukraine (see press release here). The sanctions package includes a prohibition on the import of Russian coal into the EU, a ban on Russian-flagged ships from EU ports, a ban on Russian and Belarussian road transport operators from the EU, further export bans designed to degrade Russias technological base and industrial capacity, as well as further import bans aligning sanctions targeting Russia and Belarus. Additional targeted economic measures are intended to strengthen existing measures and close loopholes. Another 18 entities were added to the sanctions list, including four key Russian banks, representing 23% of market share in the Russian banking sector. 217 additional individuals were also designated, including oligarchs, propagandists, President Putins two daughters and members of the parliaments and Ministers of the breakaway regions. Additional sanctions measures are likely to be discussed by EU Foreign Ministers at a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on Monday, 11 April. Speaking about the introduction of this latest sanctions package, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney T.D., said: Ireland, along with our EU partners, has agreed another ambitious sanctions package. This is particularly important following the atrocities committed in Ukraine that came to light last week. Ireland continues to support the strongest possible sanctions, and I look forward to discussing further measures with my colleagues at the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on Monday. We must do what it takes to cut off funding to the Kremlins war effort, and to push those close to the regime to use their influence to bring this unjustified, illegal and immoral war to an end. The EU will continue its close cooperation with like-minded partners to coordinate on the toughest sanctions. We stand united with Ukraine For more information on the sanctions adopted since 23 February, see this information note, as well as the Departments dedicated sanctions page. Updates are made to this information note on a regular basis. ENDS Press Office 8 April 2022 Previous Item | Next Item Twitter has stated that it is experimenting with new usability tools, making alt text descriptions much more valuable and visible for everybody on the network.On Thursday, Twitter came up with the news of ALT tag and updated picture captions that are now available to users across the world. This is going to make ALT tags and explanations more visible.As far as the functionality is concerned, it works really simply. When a Twitter user uploads an image that contains a caption or any kind of explanation, that tweet will receive an ALT tag, which when clicked will open up the description. Changes to Twitter were initially revealed in the previous month.According to a tweet from Twitter's Accessible handle, "the ALT tag and displayed picture captions become universal today, as predicted." They addressed errors and obtained comments from the restricted release group during the last month.Twitter added a detailed step wise guidance regarding insertion of ALT tag in a blog post To access the description regarding the image, a person has to tap on the badge. Prior to the release day, most users did not have access to an ALT badge if they keep the screen reader open. Image descriptions were originally offered by Twitter in 2016, however it may be difficult to figure out where and how to add them.Till the end of 2020, Twitter lacked a specific accessibility team, instead, employees who tried to assist with usability concerns volunteered their time.As per Twitter, the ALT caption will make it easier for people who cannot see, have impaired eyesight, have cognitive disabilities, use assistive technology, or reside in low-bandwidth locations to take part in the system. Just like the team mentioned, the ALT badge and visible image captions rollout globally, Twitter's Accessibility account announced in a tweet on April 8th.Read next: Twitter's Latest Update Blanks Out Deleted Embedded Tweets, Here's Why That's a Problem Irish Water say that homes and businesses in Tallanstown are enjoying a more reliable water supply as it completes its latest project to upgrade the local water supply, with a further programme of upgrade works already underway to improve water quality. These works continue to be carried out, Irish Water says, as part of its national Leakage Reduction Programme. Working in partnership with Louth County Council, Irish Water recently completed a programme of works to replace over 1km of old and broken, cast iron water mains along the R171, Louth Hall and R166, that were prone to frequent bursts and leakage, impacting customers water supply. The mains were replaced with new, modern pipework which, Irish Water says, has significantly reduced the number of bursts and outages, improving the water supply to homes and businesses for years to come. Following on from these works, Irish Water has announced the commencement of a further project in the area which will see over 1.5km of old cast iron mains replaced with new modern pipework, resulting in improved drinking water quality for customers. The works will also involve laying new water service connections from the public water main in the road to customers property boundaries and connecting it to the customers water supply. Where the existing service connections on the public side are lead, these will also be replaced. Speaking about the works, Matt Thomson, Irish Waters Regional Lead, commented, We are delighted to continue with these vital upgrades to the water network in Tallanstown. The water mains already installed will reduce the number of bursts and outages impacting customers while those currently being installed will also improve drinking water quality. Acknowledging the local community, Matt added: We understand this type of work can be inconvenient and we will ensure our crews make every effort to minimise any disruption these upgrade works might cause. We would like to thank the people of Tallanstown for their patience and cooperation while we continue to upgrade and improve their water supply. To facilitate the safe delivery of these works and to minimise disruption to the local community, works will be completed in short sections. Traffic management will be in place and local and emergency access will be maintained. Irish Water and Louth County Council say they will make every effort to maintain normal supply to properties throughout the works, however, some short-term water interruptions may be necessary. The project team will ensure that customers are given a minimum of 48 hours notice prior to any planned interruptions. The works will be carried out on behalf of Irish Water by GMC Utilities Ltd and are expected to be completed by the end of June 2022. Irish Water and Louth County Council say they regret any inconvenience these essential upgrades may cause. The Irish Water customer care helpline is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and customers can also contact them on Twitter @IWCare with any queries. For updates please visit the Water Supply Updates section of water.ie. Irish Water says that these works are an example of how the water utility company is working in partnership with Louth County Council to reduce leaks every day. Fixing leaks can be complicated, it says, with over 63,000km of water pipe in Ireland. Most leaks arent visible, resulting in precious water being lost but we are making progress. In 2018 the rate of leakage nationally was 46%, and by the end of 2021 it was reduced to 38%. Researching the background of the monument in Earl Street commemorating the visit of President Clinton to Dundalk at the end of his term in office in 2000, I was surprised to read the art work described as 'Rhythm and Rhyme'. The reason for this name was not clear but it has been suggested to me that the piece was not originally intended by the sculptor Sandra Bell to mark this 'Mission of Peace', as the visit had been described by the press at the time. I recall having been told that the two projections on the top were figures representing a sort 'Hands across the Border' symbol in a gesture of peace after the Good Friday Agreement of 1997. However, it seems that this interpretation may not have been correct and it has an entirely different meaning. The local wags had a different name for the piece which relates to Clinton's personal behaviour but it might be better not to mention this at a time when the world has much more serious problems to worry about! Be that as it may, many Dundalk people seem to believe that it has something to do with the 'Tain' sage and that the two projections are the horns of the Brown Bull of Cooley, which is not correct! However, I believe that this monument is one of the finest pieces of art work to be commissioned by the Louth County Council in Dundalk in recent times. I wonder do many of my readers agree with this? The reason I mention this is because in my 'Trip Through Time' musings over the past couple of decades I have realised that there were not very many public monuments, outside of churches and burial places, up to about thirty years ago but now there quite a few of them in the town and surrounding districts. I was a little surprised to learn that there are two 'Brown Bull' statues in North Louth, the one in the middle of the green at Bush, off the road to Greenore, which I think is a fine casting, and another near Knockbridge. which I have never seen! The only two figure castings, as far as I am aware, at the Garda statue in Ice House Hill Park and the 'Setanta', Young Cuchullain, off the Castletown Road, although I am told there is another Sandra Bell figure in the grounds of the Grammar School at Cambrickville. While I was growing up in Dundalk of sixty and more years ago there were really only two monuments in Dundalk - The Maid of Eireann statue at the Courthouse Square and the Kelly Monument at Roden Place. The Kelly Monument is slightly older but, perhaps, 'The Maid' has a greater significances, especially to exiles, because of its location. In fine weather it acts as a sort of a sundial, at six o'clock in the evening its shadow points towards the Courthouse Building which is, in itself, perhaps, the finest architectural structure in Dundalk - considering that it was erected as a symbol of British power in the district! Dundalk was never a great place for statues of people, real or imaginary, which is perhaps a good thing. In recent times historical figures are being commemorated in wall paintings which, perhaps, reflects the changing attitudes with the coming of the twenty first century? Statues, however, are a different matter and, maybe, these are best confined to places of worship! I wonder, if a 'vox pop' survey were to be taken what might prove to be the most popular piece of sculpture around Dundalk among the younger generation? My own favourite piece is not a new one and it is not one that represents a human being, real or imaginary! It is that carved horse's head over the archway leading to what was once livery stables at the back of the old Queens Hotel at the Square end of Crowe Street. I would be willing to bet that not many people have even noticed this piece of sculpture that must be well over 200 years old and carved by a hand that is now unknown? Which all goes to show, in my opinion, that there are many interesting things around the town and district which one could miss entirely if they do not look up or look down when strolling around! Dundalk Chamber held their cross border tourism conference online via zoom on the 6th of April and with over 230 registered for the conference, the event was a huge success. Organized by Dundalk Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by the Louth Leader Partnership, Local Enterprise Office Louth, Louth County Council, Carlingford Lough Ferry and The Marshes Shopping Centre, this event brought experts together from various tourism projects around Ireland so that tourism providers could replicate them in their own business. The online conference gave practical tips on how to improve your tourism business so that you can increase your sales and boost attendance figures at your attraction. There were five key speakers including Wayne Denner of 10th Step.com who gave a workshop on The Tools & Tactics to get your marketing message seen. Irene Hamilton of the Carlingford Lough Ferry told the story so far. Jarlath ODwyer of the Burren Ecotourism Network discussed The Burren Ecotourism Network Tangible Benefits from Effective Networking, Sinead Cahalan of Tipperary County Council spoke about Destination Lough Derg- the story from a Marketing Perspective and Grainne McKeown of Discover Boyne Valley Food Flavours discussed Sea Louth- A Tourism Destination. Pol O Conghaile- Travel Editor with the Irish Independent covered the 10 Travel Trends for 2022. Paddy Malone PRO Dundalk Chamber outlined the potential problems caused by the Borders and Nationality Bill currently before the House of Commons. This will require non-Irish/British citizens to obtain visas if they wish to visit Northern Ireland, he said. MC for the event was Kieran Swail Tourism Specialist Southern Regional College. President of Dundalk Chamber Sean Farrell said he was delighted with the superb line up of speakers who had a wonderful story to help tourism provides, and through their experiences are bound to help local tourism providers. WHAT does Ireland need to do in the next eight years to meet its climate targets by 2030? That is the focal point of a Prime Time - Climate Special which runs all next week on RTE. A digitally led project, rte.ie/primetime will host a week of in-depth analysis and data from Monday morning, publishing every day, as well an extended dedicated live programme on Thursday on RTE1 at 9.35pm. This programme will contain special reports on switching to electric cars and living a low-carbon lifestyle, and will hear from experts, politicians and ordinary people, examining whether Ireland can meet its ambitious carbon reduction targets, and if we do, what is on the other side. Also, Minister for the Environment and Transport Eamon Ryan, along with a panel, will discuss government responsibility, and individual and collective responsibility. With the war on Ukraine raging, all week Prime Time will engage on the urgent issues such as Europes dependence on Russian oil, which compromises climate targets, and what is the state of play on our energy alternatives. Reporter Oonagh Smyth reviews Irelands climate goals and addresses the obstacles standing in the way of achieving them in transport, energy, land use and agriculture. Prime Time also reports on Irelands car-buying habits, asking if we are on the right road with the million electric vehicles pledged by 2030, and looks at the difficulties facing consumers trying to make a smart choice. With the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warning of a small and rapidly closing window to act on the issue, reporter Conor Wilson explores this sliding doors moment for Ireland and what it will mean to live a low-carbon life. In this, he speaks to architect Dermot Bannon, who takes viewers through some of the changes needed when it comes to future living, such as being able to walk around your home in an ambient temperature in the depths of winter. Bannon addresses the scale of the issue, saying: Our housing stock is very, very poor. The average house in Ireland is a D1 rating, which is really poor in comparison to the rest of Europe. Our country has got to do half a million homes in the next eight years and that is a massive boulder to push up a massive hill. Conor Wilson reports from the Dingle Peninsula where locals are creating new ways to keep emigration at bay, and at the same time are adapting for the climate change impacts already hitting their shores. A CORK couple are determined to tackle the blight of dereliction in the city centre. Frank O Connor is an artist and designer. He returned to Cork in 2018 after many years of living abroad with his partner Jude Sherry. After arriving in Cork, they struggled to find accommodation while noticing the spread of derelict buildings across the country. Frank and Jude walk across Cork city every day to try to document the dereliction of buildings. In addition, they try to educate people about the issue. The reason we focused on dereliction is we moved back from Amsterdam in 2018 [and] we were struck by the housing crisis, the homeless crisis, the high vacancy levels, the entire dereliction, close to the decaying heritage. And we decided after initial research, to spend our time focusing on dereliction because dereliction touches a lot of our work, says Frank. They have written a report called Derelict Ireland, which analyses data for private and public properties. We covered about 450 properties in a year. That was a conservative estimate..the scale is crazy. They have been involved in social justice activism and equality and sustainability in Ireland and abroad. Our work has spanned all kinds of stuff, everything from products to urban environments. They have focused their activism on dereliction since returning to Cork. They believe that its a vast waste, and its a massive opportunity for society. [Dereliction] affects peoples lives and access to the home. So we decided that dereliction was something tangible, and we also felt it has become normalised in Ireland, says Frank. Everyone had come to a point where they accepted dereliction, which was quite shocking for us, coming from Amsterdam. If you have kids, why should they walk past the dereliction every day? Its such an eyesore. And such a waste for society. Where he lived in the Netherlands, Frank says theres a solid system to prevent it. Back in the 70s and 80s, there was a lot of dereliction in Amsterdam. And at the time, people went out in the street and kept protesting. So finally, the government did something about it. So since then, there have been a whole series of measures introduced... including vacancy taxes, custodian approaches. "The Dutch recognise the value of having no dereliction and the value of heritage like the building right behind me here, the Butter Exchange, which is... an empty building. Its not just that its decaying, the heritage associated with this building is huge. And we have to appreciate and understand the value of our heritage. The couples next target is to change the Government policy regarding the dereliction of houses. We presented our policy recommendations to the Government, and one of those things were looking for is to look at the vacancy tax; were looking for a custodian approach. There are talks about bringing in a vacancy tax, but its a very, very slow process. Jude said that artists are crying out for spaces in cities like Cork. We have so many people contacting us, from filmmakers, artists, and sportspeople, all types of people, even startups looking for spaces, that that lack of ability to find somewhere to innovate and trial damages our local economy. One example Jude cites is the Butter Exchange building in Shandon which was built in 1849. It historically set the price of butter globally across the whole world to Cork butter at the time was the best quality butter, and it lasted the longest out of any butter produced in the world. So this became the leading global area for butter. The building fell into disrepair after being used as a crafts centre a number of years ago. Cork City Council and Recreate Shandon are currently working on proposals to turn the building into an enterprise and community hub. See www.echolive.ie for a video of Frank and Jude walking through the city Labour Party members in Cork have called on the Government to increase funding allocated to local authorities to build new playgrounds and enhance existing facilities. It comes as this week it was announced that Cork City Council and Cork County Council will receive just over 16,500 each to refurbish the playgrounds at Blarney Park and Garryvoe. The projects are two of 30 across the country to be awarded funding under the Play and Recreation Grant Scheme for 2022. The application process was open to all local authorities and each local authority could apply for one project. While there was flexibility in special circumstances for a local authority to apply for more than one project if requested, funding was capped at 18,000 for each local authority. The awarding of the funding is contingent on the local authority co-funding each successful project with 25 per cent of the State funding allocated. Speaking to The Echo, Labour Party councillor for the citys north east ward, John Maher said that while any funding is welcome, what has been allocated is simply not enough. "Weve learned during Covid the importance of the outdoor spaces. Weve learned what they have to bring yet we get only 16,500 for the whole of Cork city the second city in the country, he said. "The idea that were relying on small local area budgets to build new playgrounds and to enhance the existing ones is just not good enough. This was echoed by Labour local area rep, Peter Horgan who called for a radical investment from the central Government to meet the demand for play areas". Mr Horgan asked his party colleague Cork East TD Sean Sherlock to raise this matter with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. THE Joint Committee on Health has written to the Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People to express dissatisfaction and concern that the Owenacurra Centre is to be closed. The Committee has called on Minister Mary Butler to reverse the decision as a matter of urgency as it said it is in contravention of the Sharing the Vision policy which seeks to locate mental health services within communities. In the letter to Minister Butler, which was seen by The Echo, the Committee said the evidence presented as the rationale for the closure centered around concerns that refurbishment could not bring the building up to the required standard. The Committee, however, is of the opinion that the evidence presented by the HSE has been unconvincing. Speaking to The Echo, Green Party councillor Liam Quaide said he welcomes the recommendation from the Oireachtas Health Committee to reverse the closure of the centre. Residents and families have suffered enough over the past nine months since this closure decision was announced. They should be relieved now of their prolonged limbo and we should have certainty about the provision of respite and long stay placements in this ideal location. The decision to close the centre followed a public hearing on the issue in December 2021. Last month, a meeting between the HSE and a delegation of the Oireachtas Health Committee took place at the Owenacurra site where the Committee was briefed by the HSE on the necessity to close the centre. Cork Kerry Community Healthcare (CKCH) management informed those present the decision to close the centre remained unchanged. A CKCH spokesperson said: The HSE recently briefed members of the Oireachtas Sub-committee on Mental Health on the necessity to close the Owenacurra Centre in Midleton. We have engaged on an ongoing basis on this matter with elected representatives, both local councillors and Oireachtas members. Given the unacceptable deficiencies in the accommodation, the extensive level of investment required to provide a centre that responds to and meets all of HSEs clients needs, the age and construction of the building (i.e.: a Roh-fab building developed in the 1970s), the restricted size of the site, essential systems such as heating, electrics, building fabric etc all beyond end of useful life and the premises falling significantly short of the Governments Climate Action Plan requirements, the decision regarding investment of significant funding into a building which would still not bring the unit up to current acceptable accommodation standards for residents, remains unchanged. We remain committed to providing quality mental health services for the population of East Cork and the wider region. We strive to support the principle of maintaining people in their own homes and communities where possible, and bringing the specialist services required as close to the homes and communities as possible. We are committed to ensuring that the existing site is used for mental health purposes. As previously indicated, the site will be used in the future for community-based supported living. POLISHED, presentable, and eloquent... three words that might easily sum up Stephen Donnelly. And our Health Secretary brought all three of those qualities into a meeting the other day of his Fianna Fail parliamentary party, where its TDs and senators gather to hear the latest from the seat of Government and mull over strategies. Mr Donnelly had been summoned to present an update on his departments latest initiatives and progress, and to give an overview of the direction our health system is heading. Well, hunky dory isnt the word for his reported remarks. The Department of Health is toiling tirelessly to meet all its challenges, and to provide a healthcare system that will be the envy of the world - with Mr Donnelly toiling sway tirelessly at the helm - was the gist of his feedback. Apparently, a few Fianna Fail apparatchik came close to blushing, such was the top-spin given to the performance of our health service as it strives to recover from two years of pandemic. Polished, presentable, and eloquent... But let me tell you, they were not the three words I would have chosen to describe our Health Minister that very same day, on the back of a phone call I received regarding my sons long wait for dental treatment in the public system. Pitiful, under-performing, and delusional more like - if Mr Donnelly really believes he is doing a good job as Minister as he blows his own trumpet in a fanfare to his party colleagues. As for three words to describe our health system: How about failing, or chaotic, or over-burdened? And that is putting it politely. On the day Mr Donnelly was holding forth on his brilliant work, I received a phone call in the long-running saga of my sons dental issue. It was autumn, 2019, when he entered the system and joined a queue for an assessment. The phone call was to inform me that he should, all being well, receive an appointment for his assessment in the summer - nearly three years after registering. Wow. There is a five year public waiting list for orthodontic treatment. Picture: Stock But wait, this was merely the assessment. What, I tentatively enquired, was the waiting time for the actual orthodontic treatment that may be deemed necessary? Ah, well, that could be as much as another five years... Yes, five years, the length of a Dail term, ironically. That means there is a queue of eight years for a child to receive dental care in the public health system - by which time many of those children will be adults. For a youngster who may require a brace, for instance, and who is at a self-conscious age, this is a disgraceful delay. My son is trapped in a circle of hell along with thousands of others in the Cork/Kerry region alone, and although Covid has clearly played a part in these waiting times, it cannot be wholly blamed for the faults. We all know the long delays and waits, the interminable queues, the unwritten nod-and-wink that tries to force everyone into the private system where they pay through the nose, have been with us for years - decades even. But the sense that the queues are getting longer, that nothing is being done to address them, and that our politicians and health management are simply unwilling or unable to fix them, is only growing by the day. The current Health Secretary may have inherited this mess, and he may point to a hundred or a thousand bureaucrats he pays to address these problems, but the buck stops with him. Just before the pandemic, more than 3,500 children and adolescents were on waiting lists for orthodontic assessments and treatments in Cork and Kerry, including one patient who had waited more than four years. Well, now there is at least one in my household who faces a wait of double that! The orthodontic waiting list for children nationwide by the end of last year stood at more than 13,000. The figures released in January, 2020, were obtained from the HSE by Cork TD and Fianna Fail Minister Michael McGrath - just before the last election - who described them as appallingly high and particularly worrying. I wonder what his view is of the current waiting list, and whether he asked Mr Donnelly about them in that cosy Fianna Fail parliamentary meeting? Perhaps he didnt want to halt the polished Health Minister while he was in full flow about his achievements? A few days after my phone call, I read about yet another change to the HSE management structure, as Mr Donnelly received Cabinet approval for his plan to introduce Regional Health Areas (RHAs). These are designed to align hospital and community healthcare services, with a defined population and their individual local needs, were told. Will this help address lengthy waiting lists and overcrowded hospitals? It seems more like the rearranging of deckchairs on the Titanic to me. All we ever seem to hear about are management structural changes that dont address the core issue for people and patients: The huge waiting times. In a previous life, Mr Donnelly was a management consultant and he still gives off that aura of believing there is no problem that cant be solved by a change in management structure, with a fancy new name, delivered by a man in a shiny suit. I look forward to the six-figure fee we taxpayers will have to fork out for the fancy new logos for these six RHAs... We have heard all this before. Centralise, then regionalise, the centralise... and, oh, is there anything to be said for another regionalisation. The issue with our health system is not lack of funds. The entire system is top heavy with managers - none of whom will ever reduce our lengthening queues by getting their hands dirty. Two years ago, there were only two consultant orthodontists to cover all Cork and Kerry, and Mr McGrath complained: We need more staff to cope with demand. Did we get those extra staff, Mr McGrath and Mr Donnelly? Or will these shiny new RHAs enable us to get them? Because, if not, the queues will only grow longer. In the past, the HSE have pointed to the fact they have a priority waiting list for orthodontic treatment, including those with cleft palate; a functional waiting list; and a routine fixed waiting list. In present circumstances, I imagine the strain on all of those is only getting worse. Of course, dental treatment is only one element of our health system, which is creaking across the board. On Wednesday, there were 568 patients waiting for beds in hospitals nationwide, according to the INMO; 466 were waiting in the emergency department, and 102 elsewhere in the hospital. If Mr Donnelly is reading this, he may want to follow some common sense advice from the streets: The problem of waiting times and queues will not be sorted by extra box-tickers, clerical staff, or bureaucrats. Clearly, it will only be addressed by hiring a lot more people who can do the assessments and work needed. The police in Meghalaya have been spurred into action after an email, from an alleged member of a terror outfit, threatened not just Chief Minister Conrad Sangma but even threatened to blow up the educational institutions in the state as well. The sender of the email has allegedly identified himself as an "armed cadre" of a terror outfit and claimed it was sent in "retaliation" against the dearth of jobs in the state. It also threatened to blow up educational institutions, including the North-Eastern Hill University. The email added that starting May 1, 2022, bombs will go off every week. The email also included a demand. The release of MLA Julius Dorphang who is in jail as he was convicted of raping a minor. It was while he was an MLA, the erstwhile chairman of the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council, Dorphang, had committed the crime. As reported by news agency PTI, it was a media house based in the state who received the email a few days ago and the police have launched a search to net those who are behind this, informed state Special Director General of Police Idashisha Nongrang. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police (Eastern Range) Davis NR Marak informed that a case has been registered by the cyber wing and crime branch of the state police. Both are now investigating the matter. He also mentioned that the police have taken the email, received from an unidentified person/persons, very seriously. When asked about the allegation that the terror group has links with any armed militant outfit, he said that it can be ascertained only after the investigation. The superintendents of police have been instructed by the DIG to ensure that all precautionary steps are taken so that security at educational institutions is assured. : WangLimin (), : NewYork : My Phone Calls to My Daughters will NOT be Answered --- My Daughter Alexandria Wang being Seduced an : American Evil System,Intentionally and meticulously RUIN FAMILY : BBS (Sat Apr 9 13:40:48 2022, ) My Phone Calls to My Daughters will NOT be Answered --- My Daughter Alexandria Wang being Seduced and Abducted by Humanscums of the American Evil System April 09, 2022 by Limin Wang The Live Broadcast on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/100034901027923/videos/5113005422078467 The American Evil System's Humanscums, with their SHEER EVIL under their claimed "NYC Administration for Children's Services", started this new round of "child neglect case" practically on Sept. 21, 2021, which was a Chinese' s Mid-Autumn Festival day meaning family union, and my family's SIGNIFICANT day. The humanscums have their CONTROL over my daughters' lives and future. While my elder daughter Rosila Wang is in Stony Brook University as a undergraduate, supposedly to be able to FREELY interact with the parents, her studying, and her "choice" of "a major", and her future, have apparently been under the AES HUMANSCUMS' threat and control. These AES HUMANSCUMS have "taught" her NOT to come back home for visits or even talk on the phone ! My younger daughter Alexandria Wang has been de facto abducted by the AES HUMANSCUMS into a factual SECRET location, for their SHEER EVIL purpose of turning my almost-18-yr-young Alexandria into a PSYCHOPATH, and using her as a hitting tool to drive the family into further turmoil, desperation, and destroy! Alexandria Wang had not even text-messaged me for more than a full month recently, leaving along the american dreams of "phone call" or "home visit" or "in-person meeting" or "home return"! -- WangLimin People's Voice http://blog.mitbbs.com/WangLimin http://www.mitbbs.com/pc/index/WangLimin :WWW mitbbs.com [FROM: 2603:7000:101:8] Google has blocked Russias Duma TV YouTube channel, according to Reuters . On Saturday, the company said it had terminated the channel, which airs meetings of Russias lower house of parliament, for a violation of the platforms terms of service. "If we find that an account violates our Terms of Service, we take appropriate action, a Google spokesperson told the outlet. Our teams are closely monitoring the situation for any updates and changes." The company added it was committed to complying with sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in late February. The suspension quickly drew the ire of Russian officials, with a spokesperson for the country's foreign ministry warning YouTube had signed its own warrant." Russias Roskomnadzor telecom regulator condemned the move and ordered Google to restore Duma TVs YouTube access immediately. "The American IT company adheres to a pronounced anti-Russian position in the information war unleashed by the West against our country," the agency said. While the religious code will undoubtedly create an imagined community by identifying common traits of spirituality among the Scheduled Tribes, challenges are bound to appear due to the presence of Adivasis from other religions as well as the plurality in Adivasi discourse. To overcome this challenge, community leaders will require to create a consensus based on grounded realities. With the census due in 2021, several demands are being posed by various groups for their separate enumeration and enlisting. While the caste census demanded by backward communities has been an ongoing affair, the inclusion of a separate column on religion for the Scheduled Tribes (STs) has gained momentum in the past few years. In a way, this is nothing more than reintroducing a standard practice in the census that existed during the colonial times but has been discontinued in post-independence India. Dilemmas of a Headcount Chinese ophthalmologists commended for cataract operations in Burundi Xinhua) 14:47, April 09, 2022 BUJUMBURA, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Burundian First Lady Angeline Ndayishimiye on Thursday commended Chinese ophthalmologists who were carrying out cataract operations at the Umugiraneza Hospital of Kibimba in the district of Giheta, province of Gitega, central Burundi. During the campaign that began Wednesday, 47 vulnerable patients underwent cataract operations free of charge. "To reach economic development, citizens need to have good health and a good sight as well. We selected vulnerable people having the cataract disease in villages, and who are unable to pay for health care," said the first lady, also chairperson of the Good Action Umugiraneza Foundation that owns the Umugiraneza Hospital of Kibimba. During the visit, the Burundian first lady was accompanied by the Chinese Ambassador to Burundi Zhao Jiangping, Burundian Public Health and AIDS Control Minister Sylvie Nzeyimana and finalist girls for Miss Burundi Contest 2022. Ndayishimiye took her opportunity to thank China via the Chinese Embassy to Burundi for various support to Burundi in the health sector, notably in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic as well as other contributions of medical missions in Burundi. Ambassador Zhao praised the Burundian first lady for having initiated the project on the campaign for cataract surgical operations on vulnerable people. "I am very glad that patients having cataracts have recovered their sight. This was possible thanks to the support from the Burundian health ministry and the Chinese medical team," said Zhao. The campaign for cataract operations by the 20th Chinese medical mission was prepared for two months between the Burundian party represented by the chairperson of the Good Action Umugiraneza Foundation and the Chinese party represented by the Chinese Embassy to Burundi. The current Chinese medical team has been in Burundi for a year. Before it, China sent medical teams to Burundi in 2016 and in 2018 to carry out free cataract operations, said Zhao. "The current team of medical experts has ended their mission in Burundi and are going back to China by mid-April, and these (free cataract operations) are gifts offered to Burundian friends," she said. According to Zhao, this testifies to friendship, love and solidarity from Chinese people toward the brotherly people of Burundi. Burundi and China have sealed bilateral ties since 1963 and cooperation between both countries has focused on several sectors including health, energy, education and infrastructure. China started to send its medical experts to Burundi in 1987, said Zhao, adding that a new team of Chinese medical experts will come to Burundi in May 2022 to continue cataract operations. (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji) People receive food aid from China in Kabul, Afghanistan, on April 7, 2022. A fifth batch of food aid from China was distributed on Thursday in Afghanistan amid a humanitarian crisis in the war-torn country, which is suffering from an economic meltdown. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) KABUL, April 8 (Xinhua) -- A fifth batch of food aid from China has been being distributed on Friday in Afghanistan amid a humanitarian crisis in the war-torn country, which is suffering from an economic meltdown. A distribution ceremony was held on Friday in the Afghan capital Kabul, attended by Afghan acting deputy minister of refugees and repatriation affairs of the caretaker government Arsala Kharoti and Economic and Commercial Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan Hu Guo'ai. The 600 tons of rice distributed this time is the fifth batch of food aid under the emergency humanitarian assistance from China. Kharoti expressed gratitude to China for the humanitarian assistance, saying that China had provided packages of assistance including food and clothes in the past, which have been distributed to the needy Afghans. China is a friendly neighbor of Afghanistan, and whenever Afghanistan needs help, the Chinese people always lend a helping hand in time, Kharoti noted. Hu said the Chinese government pays close attention to the plight of the Afghan people under the influence of the epidemic, war and drought, and will do its best to provide assistance to Afghans. Following the withdrawal of the U.S. troops from Afghanistan last August and the U.S. government freezing nearly 10 billion U.S. dollars of Afghan assets, the economic problems of Afganistan moved from bad to worse. More than 22 million out of some 35 million population in Afghanistan, according to aid agencies reports, are facing acute food shortages and a humanitarian crisis. The Chinese government announced last September that it has decided to provide food, winter supplies, COVID-19 vaccines, and medicines worth 200 million yuan (about 31.4 million U.S. dollars) in emergency humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. China has provided a total of 6,220 tons of food aid to Afghanistan so far. People wait to receive food aid from China in Kabul, Afghanistan, on April 7, 2022. A fifth batch of food aid from China was distributed on Thursday in Afghanistan amid a humanitarian crisis in the war-torn country, which is suffering from an economic meltdown. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) The COVID-19 pandemic has turned out to be the biggest humanitarian disaster of the century. This crisis has been effectuated due to the authoritativeness of the state that has used its powers under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and the hitherto Epidemic Disease Act, 1897 without paying heed to the decentralisation of powers, devolution of duties, and building community resilience. The world is hostage to an unprecedented crisis in terms of the COVID-19 pandemic. This outbreak, which started off from a small city in the eastern part of Wuhan, China with a population of over 11 million, has now spread to 216 countries and territories around the world affecting more than six million population worldwide1 (WHO 2020). The ramifications of this microorganism led the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare it as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January 2020 that was soon followed up by declaring it a pandemicdue to the escalation of the number of cases globallyon 11 March 2020. India witnessed its first COVID-19 positive case on 30 January 2020, which unwittingly coincided with the WHO declaration of the outbreak as a public health emergency. This virus, which spread from the droplets released through breathing, coughing, talking, and sneezing (WHO 2020), was non-native to India and finally spread in the country through the air traffic movement of international passengers. As per the estimates of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the passenger air traffic movement in the initial months of the year from JanuaryMarch 2020, which also remained the peak months for the global outbreak of this virus, was 6.49 million, 5.41 million, and 2.57 million, respectively. The metro cities remained the busiest airports of the country in terms of passenger traffic with New Delhi and Mumbai occupying the top positions followed by Kochi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad between January 2020 and March 2020 (Table 1). The global spread of the virus and the announcement of the WHO to declare it a pandemic led the Ministry of Health and Family Affairs (MoHFW) to issue a travel advisory for international travellers coming from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, Republic of Korea, France, Spain, and Germany that they shall be quarantined for a minimum period of 14 days.2 However, these advisories remained unenforceable in the absence of any guideline by the MoHFW and strict adherence to contact tracing, incapacity of district officials, inadequate testing, and follow-up measures to mitigate the unintended consequences. What could have been averted as an outbreak, which was initially limited to urban agglomerations with enhancing capacities of district health officials and stern adherence to guidelines, contact tracing, testing, and building community resilience, was instead precluded with a series of draconian lockdowns that ultimately turned the crisis into one of the biggest humanitarian disaster. Unification overwhelms the trifurcation of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Is it healthy for democracy? Among the governance experts, it has been generally agreed that smaller administrative units make the government more accessible to ordinary people. Economists, too, have found that smaller states have performed better. However, we are witnessing the opposite being proposed by the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022, tabled by the union home minister. Such an exceptional proposal, likely to be an act, demands an explanation. To recall the history, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) was trifurcated by the Sheela Dixit government in 2012. Although dividing the MCD into smaller units was expected to improve governance, what employees of the organisation and the ordinary people witnessed was a massive decline in its functioning. In the last 10 years, there has hardly been any achievement that could be celebrated. The current bill was tabled in Parliament with a powerful and convincing speech delivered by the home minister. In his eloquent defence of the bill, he questioned the justification behind the trifurcation and counted the failure of this idea on the grounds of administrative efficiency and financial viability. He argued that one of the consequences of the trifurcation was the significant administrative anomalies caused by different laws legislated by these municipal bodies, which resulted in serious confusion for people residing in the city. Another remarkable anomaly indicated pertains to finances, as one of the corporations had a lot of money and the other two were almost strapped for funds. This happened due to the differences in the economic activities in these regions. He also suggested that the trifurcation was a misuse of public money as it required three different sets of administrative infrastructure. During the pandemic, Americans in poorer counties died at nearly twice the rate of those in wealthier counties, according to a report released this week by Poor Peoples Campaign and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, emphasizing the intersection of wealth and health in the U.S. In some periods during the pandemic, death rate disparities between counties were even higher. For example, during COVID-19 surges in late 2020 and early 2021, death rates were 4 times higher in the counties with the lowest median income than in counties with the highest. Poverty was not tangential to the pandemic, but deeply embedded in its geography, the report said. Yet, failing to consider how poverty intersected with race, gender, ability, insured status and occupation during the pandemic created blind spots in our policy and decision-making, which wrought unnecessary suffering to millions of people. While COVID-19 highlighted the difference in health and health care access between groups based on socioeconomic status, such disparities existed long before the beginning of the pandemic. And if nothing is done to address these disparities, public health experts say, they will continue to harm the quality of life of millions of Americans well into the future. More people died of the coronavirus in the U.S. than in any other country in the world, according to Johns Hopkins University of Medicine data. Gap in understanding Recognizing the overlap of poverty and worse COVID-19 outcomes is a critical first step in finding a solution to the large number of deaths due to the virus, said Shailly Gupta Barnes, policy director for Poor Peoples Campaign and one of its anchor organizations, the Kairos Center for Religions, Rights and Social Justice. Theres a gap in our understanding of the pandemic in terms of poverty and low income, which has negatively affected attempts to slow COVID-19s destruction, she said. The report aggregated data from more than 3,200 U.S. counties on income, race and health insurance status, among other metrics. The Poor Peoples Campaign, a national campaign to address interlocking systems of injustice, worked with several community partners to compile and analyze the data. Carolyn Cole, MBR / TNS More people of color Counties with the highest death rates were, on average, poorer and had higher percentages of people of color compared with counties with low death rates. In the 300 counties with the highest death rates, 45 percent of people live under 200 percent of the poverty line, meaning they make less than $28,194 for a single-person household or less than $54,958 in a two-adult, two-child household, according to the report. Only in the first months of the pandemic did high-income counties see more deaths than low- and medium-income counties. For example, in Dallas, the very first cases we have are probably from Highland Park and University Park because they were the people doing international travel, and then it started spreading to the rest of the community, said Dr. Philip Huang, director of the county health department. But as people working the often lower-paid front-line jobs returned to work after the pandemic began, that trend shifted, the report said. Policymakers and health care organizations need even more granular data analysis to understand the full effect of poverty on COVID-19 outcomes, and the Poor Peoples Campaign report will ideally serve as a starting place, Gupta Barnes said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate There have been some changes since the last time the Battle of Flowers Parade and Fiesta Flambeau were in full swing, drawing thousands of people downtown for a celebration that is puro San Antonio. After a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the parades are back though there was a scaled-down version of Fiesta in 2021 and San Antonio residents have been eager to return to some of their most valued cultural experiences. The Battle of Flowers Parade starts Friday at 9:30 a.m., and Fiesta Flambeau starts Saturday at 7 p.m. But the biggest change affecting this years parades a new route disrupts decades of family traditions. Parade-goers, each with customs developed over time, used to line up on Broadway to downtown. Before the pandemic, late Ruben Tovars family continued his 30-year routine of arriving before dawn to reserve a curbside spot at Broadway and East Jones Street. Teresa Trevino followed in the footsteps of her late mother, Elisa V. Jimenez and reserved the same second-floor room at the Rodeway Inn that overlooked Broadway. Jimenez booked the room until her death in 2000. In the years following, her family displayed a large photograph of the matriarch as they watched the parade from the balcony. The Fiesta commission moved the route because of ongoing construction on the busy street. It now starts south from Main and Locust streets past Crockett Park. After a slight turn onto Lexington, the procession will head beyond Madison Square Park to St. Marys Street and veer right on Brooklyn Avenue. The parade will turn right on Avenue E, then onto Houston and left on Alamo past Alamo Plaza. It ends at Commerce and North St. Marys streets. Now Playing: Express-News interviews Michael Quintanilla aka Mr. Fiesta for things Fiesta this year! Video: Luis Vazquez As work crews Wednesday assembled bleachers along Main Avenue, Ramiro Garza spruced up his store at the starting point of the new route for the parades. Garza, owner of Monterrey Furniture, strung streamers from large metallic mariachis and the stores entrance with his son, Ram, 41, and sales manager, Jose Segovia, 34. Garzas store has been on Main, across from San Antonio College, for three years. After the two-year COVID delay, the frivolities are kicking off at his front door. The ways of Fiesta are already in place hes already rented two spaces to families for an inches-away view of the parade. Robin Jerstad / Robin Jerstad Its a far cry from when Fiesta faithful camped out near his old location at Bradley and Josephine streets. On Wednesday at noon, cars and pedestrians were the only traffic on the thoroughfare as the trio made their space Fiesta ready. Were just glad to be part of San Antonios festivities, Ram Garza said. We try to stay in the spirit and encourage people to buy local. Reserved spaces already were taped off a block from the vacant University Bookstore on Myrtle and Main. Gray metallic tape formed a six-foot square with the words Morin and Fiesta 22. The occupants of Cadillac Lofts will have a birds-eye view of the pomp and ceremony as it nears Madison Square Park. George Lucas, not the famous Star Wars creator, checked on crews putting up bleachers at the urban space on Lexington that has a dog-leash area. Lucas, 65, said the 32-member team is working two 12-hour shifts to construct bleachers that will seat 12,000. It is hard work, Lucas said. Were proud of it. I hope people will be happy with what weve put up. But people considering camping out overnight along the route may think twice the city has a park curfew from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. We understand everyone is excited to get back to Fiesta, said Connie Swann, marketing manager for parks and recreation. We ask that they observe the ordinance that the city has in place. And revelers will have to turn down the volume on their celebrations when they near Alamo Plaza. The historic site has been designated as a Reverent Zone. Parade participants will be prohibited from making amplified music from floats, air horns, shouting and other celebratory behavior. These actions are also discouraged for the public. Per tradition of the Fiesta Flambeau Parade, the University of Texas marching band likely will be allowed to play The Eyes of Texas at the Alamo. If the new route stays beyond this year, it no doubt will sprout new traditions just like the Broadway route did for many generations. Jessica Villarreal, property manager of the Lofts on Main, and her co-worker Tea Kutza, 23, will have a front-row view of the parades from a large window facing the street. Robin Jerstad / Robin Jerstad The pairs excitement about San Antonios event of the year was evident from their colorful displays. They spelled Fiesta in gold balloons across the front of the customer counter and had taken a day to decorate a backdrop with neon-colored balloons. Kutza said their location makes them feel as if they are part of the revelry. Its exciting, Villarreal said. We get to watch the parade and work at the same time. vtdavis@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Texas Military Department leaders told the state Senate Border Security Committee they need more than half a billion dollars in state funds to continue Gov. Greg Abbotts controversial border mission through the end of the fiscal year. The cost for Operation Lone Star, which has deployed 10,000 service members, has ballooned to more than $2 billion a year. That is well beyond the $412 million the Legislature budgeted for the military departments participation in Operation Lone Star, and state officials have already transferred another $480 million to the agency to keep the lights on through the spring. The military departments assessment that it will need another $531 million to fully fund the mission beyond May 1 drew a sharp rebuke from Sen. Juan Chuy Hinojosa of McAllen, the only Democrat on the three-member committee. I think, quite frankly, you can do the same job, border security, with a lot less troops, Hinojosa told TMD officials. I really dont understand the number of having to use 10,000 National Guard troops for border security. Maj. Gen. Thomas M. Suelzer, the departments new leader, said he was conducting an assessment of the mission to find ways to make it more effective and efficient. He said the number of troops is a big cost, as is the construction of fences along private properties near the border, which he was looking to contract out to local builders to cut down on costs. Were looking at all these things to see if we can drive that number down as we move into this last phase of the fiscal year, and possibly into the next fiscal year, he said. Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, who leads the committee, said the military department already had spent nearly half of the $287 million the Legislature had allocated for the department to pay salary and wages. Birdwell said he assumed Abbott would allocate more money to cover pay for the service members on the mission. But Birdwell said lawmakers had to figure out a way to sustainably finance the mission because migrants would continue coming to the states southern border for the foreseeable future. There is a continuing demand. We basically got a city of Waco coming in every month into the state, he said referring to the number of migrants crossing the border each month. So the challenge is how do you economize this but sustain it? The states fiscal year ends in August. Abbott and the Department of Public Safety, whose troopers also participate in the border operation, have repeatedly boasted that the mission has disrupted drug and human smuggling networks. But those claims of success have been based on shifting metrics that have included crimes with no connection to the border and work conducted before the operation. Suelzer was appointed as the military departments adjutant general in March, replacing Maj. Gen. Tracy Norris, whose three-year term ended in February and who had come under major criticism for her handling of Operation Lone Star. After Abbott ordered a major ramp-up of the mission in September, troops complained of poor living conditions, problems with pay and lack of adequate gear. Many of them were called up involuntarily and complained the mission was a political ploy by Abbott, a Republican seeking his third term as governor in November. In his first public appearance before lawmakers, Suelzer said living conditions had gotten better and pay accuracy rate for troops on the mission had improved to 99.4 percent. Suelzer also said he was looking at ways to make the mission more rotational and more sustainable over time. Service members are currently deployed for a year. Brig. Gen. Monie Ulis, who commands Joint Task Force-Lone Star and oversees the mission, told lawmakers the department would consult with Abbotts office and the Department of Public Safety on the length of future deployments once the current one-year deployments are finished. The department also faces growing concerns among service members about retention problems tied to Operation Lone Star. Ulis told lawmakers that 91 percent of service members who had been on the mission for more than one year had decided to stay on the mission. But upon further questioning from Hinojosa, Ulis clarified that the extension rate applied only to about 750 service members who had volunteered when the mission began last March. TMD began sending troops involuntarily last August, Ulis said, and currently does not have voluntary extension rates for those forced to go. We get the sense that there are a significant number of individuals that are going to volunteer, he said of the more than 9,000 other service members sent on the mission. Hinojosa also grilled TMD officials over the agencys deployment of service members to private ranches owned by wealthy Texans. Those deployments were first reported by the Texas Tribune and included assignments at the iconic King Ranch, which is more than an hours drive away from the border. Ulis said those deployments are directed by the Department of Public Safety, which receives permission from landowners to be there. Everywhere we are placed by DPS, DPS have solicited and have earned permission from the property owner, he said. But a spokesperson for the King Ranch previously told the Tribune that the ranch had not requested TMDs presence and that service members were not on the ranchs property but on public right of ways on the side of U.S. Route 77. The spokesperson repeated that statement last week. After the hearing, the TMD public affairs office said Ulis had misspoken when he said King Ranch requested the Operation Lone Star presence. The department said DPS directed service members to position security teams along U.S. Route 77 based on reports of transnational criminal activity. Records obtained through the states public records law show that those deployments led to 31 apprehensions, roughly less than one person per day for a group of about 30 service members in a period of a little more than a month. The records also show 68 referrals to enforcement agencies and 37 got aways. I think your time would be better spent on the river, Hinojosa, a border lawmaker who supports the deployment, told TMD officials. If this mission is to secure the border, I dont think its a good use of troops being in private ranches north of the border. Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood, asked TMD leaders about a rash of suicides tied to the mission last year that were reported by the Military Times. Every suicides a tragedy, Suelzer said. Its really become a public health crisis. Suelzer said the Texas Army National Guard has been below the suicide death rate of the Department of Defense and the Army National Guard for two of the last three years. But he said the deaths continue to be a problem and we need to do better. The general omitted that the states worst year of the three had been 2021, compared with new Defense Suicide Prevention Office data published earlier this month. The National Guard across all 54 states and territories experienced 118 suicide deaths in 2021 out of more than 445,000 Army and Air National Guard troops a rate of 26.5 deaths per 100,000. Texas, by comparison, has acknowledged nine suicides in 2021 among its approximately 22,000 troops. Its rate of 45 suicides per 100,000 troops is significantly higher than the rest of the Guard. TMD officials did not respond to a request for clarification on Suelzers comments from the Tribune and Military Times. Suelzer said the department has sent behavioral health specialists to the troops on the mission and leaders on the ground need to watch out for their troops. TMD leaders said they are reassessing and improving things on the mission to increase efficiency and use taxpayer dollars effectively. But they also urged lawmakers to restore cuts the Legislature made last session for troops tuition assistance programs, saying troops need to feel supported when they are on difficult missions. Lawmakers cut tuition assistance programs by nearly half last year at former top general Norris request, and Suelzer said his top priority heading into the next legislative session is to raise those benefits for service members. The cut, which gutted a key benefit that Guard troops receive in return for their state service, was announced Oct. 13 and applied retroactively, blindsiding some troops who had been counting on the reimbursement payments. Its important to show our personnel that we care about educating them and providing those benefits that really fill a gap in state college tuition that cant be filled by the federal government, Suelzer said. Birdwell said he would pass that message to other senators. Well certainly take that within the constraints of all the other things that we have going on, he said. But were listening. Command Sgt. Maj. Roger Branch said the mission had started out rough, but the department had done a good job addressing problems once they were brought up. I can guarantee that if a soldier is having issues and that they need help, they will have help. That is without question, he said. We go over and above, out of our ways to help them. But at the end of the day, he said, some soldiers just dont want to be here. Unfortunately, we dont get to pick and choose our deployments. The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. The University of Texas at Austin is starting a two-year pilot program next fall that will allow students to live together in certain campus residence halls regardless of their gender or sexual identity. Called the Family and Friend Expanded Roommate Option, any UT-Austin student can select any other UT-Austin as a roommate. Student advocates have been pushing the university to create a gender-inclusive housing option since at least 2006, according to Adrienne Hunter, a senior and transgender woman who has advocated for the change over the past few years. This is the result of so many students working on this issue, she said. Its something in my opinion that is tangibly going to lead to so many students, trans students, feel(ing) included. According to a housing page on the universitys website, the university said it is allowing for this option to build better community engagement. This helps enhance our residents sense of belonging and improve our competitiveness with the Austin market and other institutions, the university said on its website. It also allows us to be more responsive to student needs. Traditionally, dorms, even co-ed ones, have been designed to separate by sex students sharing a room. The new pilot policy applies to dorms where students have private bathrooms either shared among roommates or suitemates. Hunter said that UT housing would handle requests for more gender-inclusive housing situations on a case-by-case basis, but she said it sometimes posed problems for students who have yet to discuss their sexual identity to their parents and did not want to email about their situation for fear their parents might accidentally find out. To have the burden on the student to do this outreach instead of having this system was something a lot of students didnt feel comfortable with, she said. Earlier this year, the Queer Student Alliance at UT-Austin issued its first report on the state of LGBTQIA+ students since 2006. They surveyed more than 2,000 students on campus. It found while the vast majority of students who identify as cisgender felt comfortable expressing their gender identity on and off campus, transgender students in particular felt much less comfortable expressing their gender identity in on-campus housing than off-campus housing. The report recommended instituting gender-inclusive housing with a web page that uses clear language and definitions of gender-inclusive housing policies. Hunter said she and others used this data to make a case to UT-Austin President Jay Hartzell. The university eventually created a working group of students, faculty and staff, which provided feedback to the university as it developed a policy. The decision to begin this pilot project comes at a politically fraught time for transgender rights in the state. In February, Gov. Greg Abbott instructed the states Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate families who provide gender-affirming health care to their transgender children, for child abuse. A spokesperson for UT-Austin did not respond to questions about why the university started this pilot program now or why the university did not identify the new policy as gender inclusive housing, as other universities across the state and country have done. In Texas, a handful of other universities across the state already have gender-inclusive housing, including the University of Texas at Dallas and the University of Texas at San Antonio. The University of Houston has a living learning community that is gender-inclusive in two of its residence halls. In fall 2020, Texas Tech University in Lubbock created a housing option that went into effect in 2021 that allows students in the West Village residence hall to allow eligible students to live together in the same apartment on-campus regardless of gender. Disclosure: Texas Tech University, University of Texas - Dallas, University of Texas at Austin, University of Texas at San Antonio and University of Houston have been financial supporters of the Texas Tribune. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. Courtesy photo An alleged drug cartel boss whose gunmen are blamed for tons of drugs smuggled into the United States and scores of murders in Mexico is now in custody in San Antonio. Juan Gerardo Trevino Chavez, alias El Huevo, the reputed leader of Mexicos Cartel del Noreste, was transferred from San Diego to San Antonio on Friday. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Karl Rove visited Fox News on Friday and issued a warning to President Joe Biden and Democratic members of Congress. Rove, the political mastermind for former President George W. Bush, came armed with one of his patented whiteboards, showing that voter approval for Bidens handling of immigration has dropped over the past year from 40 percent to 32 percent. Rove denounced Bidens decision to lift Title 42, a public-health policy which has been employed during the COVID-19 pandemic to automatically expel asylum seekers from the border. Rove predicted Democrats would pay a stiff price in the November midterms. If we see 18,000 people a day coming across the border, Rove said, then were going to see those (approval) numbers sink even lower. Rove is right about the politics of the border. Biden, in his first 15 months in office, has demonstrated a Jimmy Carter-like talent for alienating both ends of the political spectrum at the same time. Like Carter, he has a way of failing to get credit for his accomplishments (the American Rescue Plan Act, the $1.2 trillion infrastructure package) and managing to get blamed for things he hasnt actually done. Nowhere has this political ineptitude been more in evidence than on border policy. For most of Bidens 15 months in office, weve heard Texas Republicans such as Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Congressman Chip Roy complain that our southern border is wide open, a playground for fentanyl and cartel violence. At the same time, Biden has angered progressive Democrats by keeping Title 42 a directive initiated by Bidens Republican predecessor, Donald Trump in place for this long. Republicans (and some moderate Democrats) warn that Bidens decision to rescind Title 42 next month will lead to an unmanageable surge of migrants on this countrys southern border. In response, Abbott hyped a plan this past week to begin transporting migrants from Texas to Washington, D.C., but only if they volunteered to go. Its important to recognize the stresses that come with living in this countrys border communities. When there are huge influxes of migrants coming to the border, places like Hidalgo, McAllen and Del Rio have to cope with it. They dont have the luxury of treating immigration like an abstract, ideological talking point. At the same time, were supposed to be a nation of laws. We dont get to suspend laws just because they might lead to inconvenient or burdensome results. People have a right to come to the border and seek asylum in this country. At times, the volume of those requests can be overwhelming and the question of what to do with asylum seekers while the process plays out can be daunting. But you dont solve long-term immigration issues with short-term public-health orders. Many of the same politicians who insist that the U.S. should continue using Title 42 to handle asylum cases would also argue that the worst of COVID-19 is behind us and we should get back to normalcy. With that in mind, denying asylum seekers their legal right to have their cases heard does not constitute normalcy. Putting aside the legal issue, theres also the question of Title 42s practical impact. In the two years since Trump authorized its use, Title 42 has blocked an estimated 1.7 million attempts to cross the border. Many of those attempts, however, have come from repeat efforts by individuals who keep returning after they get turned away. In other words, part of the reason for the high number of border encounters this country has experienced over the past couple of years has been that asylum seekers rejected under Title 42 just keep coming back and trying again. In a July 2021 guest column in the Greenville (South Carolina) News, social activist William McCorkle wrote about his visits to the Hidalgo-Reynosa border area to work with asylum seekers stranded in Mexico. McCorkle said that under Title 42, Hundreds of migrants, almost all from Central America, have been stranded in the city park in Reynosa. Some have tents, but many sleep together under large tarps. He added: We cannot be a nation that turns away 7-year-olds and their mothers from even having a chance to plead their case for asylum. One of the big problems we have with immigration is that our politicians scramble the terms and confuse the debate. Title 42 doesnt prevent people from sneaking across the border. It bars individuals who voluntarily turn themselves in from getting a fair hearing. It doesnt block illegal immigration. It stymies the legal process of applying for asylum. Rove is right. The politics of lifting Title 42 will be painful for Biden and his party. It often goes that way when you do the right thing. ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470 Gov. Greg Abbott created a task force to examine the Texas teacher shortage. This is certainly needed but has left teachers confused. For starters, the task force originally included only two teachers. After some backlash, Abbott rectified that slight. But as teachers, were still confused how the governor let it get this bad. COVID-19 may have shone a light on the problems, but they arent new. Teachers diagnosed the problems years ago. Simply put: Band-aids wont work anymore. The wound is too big. The cuts are too deep. Here are a teachers recommendations for healing our public school system: Refocus school funding. Every year, teachers spend thousands on supplies and learning programs for their students. Stop spending tax dollars on ineffective curriculum and testing and give it to teachers to stock their classrooms with materials that are proven to support student learning. Add teacher representation. We deserve a voice in every public school decision in Texas. We are college-educated, certified professionals. Replace the politicians and bureaucrats with teachers. RELATED: Commentary: Special education teachers should be part of task force Value essential skills over customer service. Someone has mistaken public education for a customer service industry. Vouchers and school choice have created a threat to public schools, requiring teachers and administrators to bend over backward to accommodate parent demands. This comes at the expense of teaching fundamental content, disciplining students and making decisions that are best for kids. Eliminate unreasonable, unproductive and unnecessary duties. Teaching has never been a 9-5 career. We knew that when we signed up. You wont hear a peep from us about tasks that benefit kids. But the minutiae of meaningless directives that dont serve our students must go. Let us teach. Compensate teachers for training. Dont expect us to spend hours upon hours of unpaid personal time on training. Its insulting. Eliminate STAAR testing. Nobodys success or failure can be measured by one day, especially not children. Reduce mandates. HB 4545 requires 30 hours of documented intervention for students not meeting the standards on the STAAR. What does the governor think weve been doing this whole time? And he wants more? When? How? Wheres the guidance on making this work? Its impossible unless someone adds hours in a day. Redirect perspectives away from teacher accountability and toward student accountability. We are doing our part. Focus on getting parents and kids to do theirs. MORE COMMENTARY: Preyor-Johnson: Some tips for Abbotts task force on teachers Increase teacher pay. We work far more than 40 hours in a week. And the yearly salary increases based on years of experience are offensive. Ive worked 21 years as a highly qualified educator with a degree, two certifications, and thousands of hours of professional development. I make 13.7 percent more than a first-year teacher. The governor is surprised when teachers dont stick around until retirement when faced with those dismal figures. Why arent educators compensated comparably to other professional industries? Some may wonder if its because were a predominantly female profession. Weve heard the tired excuse of getting summers off for years, and its downright abusive. We love our kids. We love teaching. We build knowledge that cures diseases and invents new technologies and negotiates for world peace. What we do in our classrooms will outlast us and thats why were passionate about it. But this administration has taken advantage of our passion for too long. It hurts us to think of leaving, but it kills us to stay. Courtney Schermerhorn is a teacher in Northside Independent School District. Commercial vehicles trying to enter the United States to deliver products from Mexico have been backed up for hours at Texas ports of entry following Gov. Greg Abbotts directive on Wednesday that state troopers increase inspections. This continues to add disruption to our supply chain, said Ermilo Richer, the owner of a 100-year-old logistics company in Laredo who said his trucks were taking between four and five hours to cross from Mexico. Its just something we dont need right now. Abbotts order is part of his push to stiffen security at the states southern border as the Biden administration in Washington, D.C., plans to end a pandemic-era emergency health order that had allowed federal officials to turn away migrants, even those seeking asylum. But officials in cities that depend on cross-border trade as economic engines fear negative impacts that the increased vehicle inspections could have. We value border security but its got to be weighed very carefully with the Texas economy, said Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz. Any slowdown in commerce at our bridges is a definite slowdown in our economy. On Friday afternoon, U.S. Customs and Border Protection showed five-hour delays for entry into Laredo through the Laredo-Colombia Solidarity International Bridge. The port of entry in Pharr had delays of more than four hours. El Pasos two inland ports had delays of three hours. Neither the Texas Department of Public Safety nor Abbotts office responded to requests for comment. On Abbotts order, DPS troopers appear to be checking every one of the thousands of commercial vehicles that cross selected ports, local officials said. The trucks are pulled over to DPS checkpoints after they are inspected by CBP at the international port of entry. Abbott said he is targeting commercial vehicles because drug cartels use them to smuggle humans and drugs into Texas. But DPS troopers can conduct only mechanical inspections, leading some, like U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, to question the efficacy of Abbotts orders. He said DPS had told federal officials they intended to check every vehicle and each inspection could take about 45 minutes. I dont know what the rationale is, Cuellar said. If youre worried about too many people coming in but you cant inspect the cargo, that doesnt accomplish anything except make things uncomfortable and have a negative impact on commerce. David Coronado, managing director for international bridges and economic development in El Paso, said between 2,500 and 3,000 trucks flow between Ciudad Juarez and El Paso every day. Its those businesses and the companies theyre servicing who will suffer because of the delays. The major impact right now is on trade and what its doing to the business community in El Paso and Juarez, he said. Mexico is Texas top trading partner, doing $442 billion in total trade last year. That trade includes automobile parts that move back and forth across the border, machinery, electric equipment, plastics and produce. As the United States continues to struggle with supply chain problems, border residents steeped in the importance of cross-border trade worry about the impact on the countrys broader economy. In a Friday statement, the Texas International Produce Association said commercial trucks crossing the Rio Grandes Pharr International Bridges waited in miles-long lines until early Friday morning, causing supply chain issues across the country. Dante L. Galeazzi, TIPA CEO and president, said his association fears businesses will move out of Texas to neighboring Mexico and Arizona. Warehouses have staff sitting idle, with no trucks to unload. Buyers in other parts of the country cannot understand why their product is not available. US trucking companies are losing money as they sit around for days with no loads to haul, he said. This is destroying our business and the reputation of Texas. Cuellar said the goods crossed through Texas ports go across the country, including popular produce like avocados and tomatoes, as well as parts for the auto industry in Michigan. The chain of supplies we have will affect wherever these companies may have their base, he said. This is going to add to the pandemic chain of supply problems weve been having and will be man-made by the governor. U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, joined Cuellar in decrying Abbotts move as impractical and detrimental to our local economy. Our state and our nation depend on the reliable, uninterrupted flow of goods to meet our nations needs. By implementing this action, Governor Abbott is exacerbating the supply chain crisis to further his crusade at the border, Gonzalez said in a statement. In halting legitimate trade, he is hurting Texans the people he was elected to serve. I urge the governor to rescind this action immediately and restore normal operations along the southern border. Abbott, a Republican who is seeking a third term in November, is pushing to win over Latino support in South Texas for his reelection bid. Hes railed against the Biden administrations inaction on immigration to win over some supporters in that area of the state and said he was increasing vehicle inspections in response to Bidens planned cancellation of Title 42, the pandemic-era order that allowed officials to turn people away at the border. But in doing so, he may be turning off some of the voters hes trying to win over. I know Gov. Abbott is right now really focused on Title 42 that Washington wants to cancel. I understand his frustration with Washington. But thats another issue, Richer said. We definitely need to make sure Washington figures out how to keep Title 42 open and control immigration but we need Gov. Abbott to make the right calls and not affect a community thats got nothing to do with immigration. Cuellar, the Laredo Democrat, is one of a handful in his party who also support keeping the emergency health order in place. But he said Abbotts response to the Biden administration will hurt only border communities that depend on cross-border trade. He was already fielding nervous calls from constituents and he encouraged them to voice their concerns to Abbott. The best thing to do is to let the governor know that what hes doing is not accomplishing what he wants, he said. I dont know what this has to do with Title 42. This is impacting trade, commerce. Jason Beeferman contributed to this story. We cant wait to welcome you in person and online to the 2022 Texas Tribune Festival, our multiday celebration of big, bold ideas about politics, public policy and the days news all taking place just steps away from the Texas Capitol from Sept. 22-24. When tickets go on sale in May, Tribune members will save big. Donate to join or renew today. This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2022/04/08/texas-border-operation-inspections-delays/. The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org. HOHHOT, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Four people were killed and one injured in a gas poisoning incident on Saturday in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. On Saturday morning, five cleaning workers visited a sewage pumping station in a community compound in the city of Erenhot, where they inhaled the poisonous gas. According to a preliminary investigation, one felt dizzy after entering the sewage well and then saw that the other four had fallen to the ground. The survivor held their breath, climbed out of the well and dialed the "119" emergency hotline. Further investigation is underway. Keep those letters and postcards coming! Belgrade resident and U.S. Sen. Steven Daines and Big Sandys U.S. Sen. Jon Tester were bipartisan sponsors of a long-awaited Congressional bill to revitalize the U.S. Post Office, Daines office announced Wednesday just as the Belgrade News was going to press. The most important reform in the bill was to release the USPS from what was been termed as an unfair mandate to pre-fund its employees health and retirement benefits 70 years into the future. The USPS is the sole federal agency under this requirement, which has caused significant financial strain, according to Daines office. His office added that the purpose of the bill was to increase accountability and efficiency with the post office and ease its financial burden. The Postal Service provides critical services for Montana seniors, veterans and folks across our great state from Eureka to Ekalaka and everywhere in between, Daines said. My bill revitalizes the Postal Service to better serve Montanans and makes certain it maintains deliveries six days a week so Montanans can receive important mail like paychecks and prescriptions. He claimed this was the most important postal reform bill in over a decade. On Feb. 8, the bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 342-92. It now heads to the presidents desk to be signed into law. There were 27 current co-sponsors when the bill passed. What Is XE Variant Is It A Variant Of Concern? Safety Precautions What The Expert Says Though Government of India has not officially reported any confirmed cases of the XE variety, which has resulted in a lockdown in China, the Mumbai civic council declared the first case of the XE type on Wednesday. The sample will be transferred to the National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (NIBMG) for additional testing in order to confirm the novel variant. A re-examination is being conducted using genome sequencing to corroborate the findings. Since its discovery in the United Kingdom in January of this year, this strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been reported in a number of nations.This is a 'recombinant', which implies it combines the previously known BA.1 and BA.2 kinds. With, this form of recombination is quite common and is a predicted mutational event. Last Monday, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a warning about a new mutation that may be more transmissible than any previous Covid-19 type."The XE recombinant (BA.1-BA.2), was first detected in the UK on January 19 and less than 600 sequences have been reported and confirmed since. Early-day estimates indicate a community growth rate advantage of 10 percent as compared to BA.2, however, this finding requires further confirmation," said the recent WHO report.China is currently facing lockdown crises due to this new variant, with Shanghai reporting over 17000 cases in a single day and more cases are expected. More widespread testing is being carried out by Chinese officials. Thailand and New Zealand have also been found to have the XE version. The WHO has stated that additional data is required before concluding anything regarding the mutation and transmission levels.There is currently no evidence that the XE version is considerably different from the other Omicron kinds. This variant has not yet been designated as a variant of concern by the WHO. It has been discovered that XE is approximately 10% more transmissible than the dominant BA.2 variation.Despite the fact that the center and respective state governments have repealed theand protocols that were in place previously, it is still recommended to wear masks, practice hand hygiene, and maintain social distancing for one's personal protection. "With cases being reported in China, Uk, and the US, we are already introduced to another sub-variant of the Omicron Covid - XE - after two years of battling the pandemic and adjusting to the new normal. It is a mutation of the Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 strains, not a new virus altogether. Now that the two covid variations have fused to form this sub-variant, it is naturally more effective at attacking immunity. For the time being, the virus has been discovered in China and United Kingdom and is rapidly spreading. There have been no new symptoms other than the ones we already know about; nonetheless, because it spreads quickly, we need to be cautious. Running nose, sneezing, and sore throat are the common symptoms to look for. In the instance of XE., the individual would be infected by two Omicron subvariants at the same time, making recovery time and effort difficult. This is the main reason we are concerned about pregnant women as their recovery will be challenging." - Dr. Nishi Singh, Head of Infertility Department, Prime IVF Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category As the legendary actor-turned-politician Jaya Bachchan turns a year older, we take this opportunity to celebrate her authentic personality, acting prowess, and bold career choices. The powerhouse is a successful actress, a Member of Parliament, a Padma Shri recipient, a proud parent and grandmother, and a loving wife. Filmfare dives into her multifaceted life and explores the various achievements of the successful actor. Her entry into the movie industry Her very first movie was Satyajit Rays Bengali film, Mahanagar, with which she made her debut at the young age of fifteen. This impressive debut led to two more collaborations with Satyajit Ray. Her experience with Ray inspired her to join the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). She would later graduate from the institute with a gold medal. Her moment of glory finally came when Hrishikesh Mukherjee cast her in Guddi in 1971. In the movie, she would play the role of a star-struck teenager. With the commercial success of the movie, she created a place for herself in the industry as the girl-next-door. She epitomised middle-class characters in movies such as Uphaar, Piya ka Ghar, Parichay, Koshish, and Bawarchi. However, she also made bold movie choices, stepping away from her routine characters when she experimented with movies such as Jawani Diwani and Anamika. In Jawani Diwani, she played a glamorous role, and in Anamika, she played a grey role of an amnesia-faking heroine. She proved her mettle with both of these unexpected movie choices. The actress was so natural on-screen, that people stopped believing that they were watching a movie. The actress would sport a natural no-makeup look, and won over millions of hearts with her refreshing personality. The leading photographer of those times, Gautam Rajadhyaksha had once said that her face had the most perfect bone structure. All about her love life Jaya Bachchan met Amitabh for the first time on the sets of Guddi. This is when Jaya was already a superstar but Amitabh Bachchan was a struggling actor. Even back then, she predicted that he would become a superstar, and no one else agreed with her. Her strong intuitions proved to be spot on, later when Amitabh Bachchan made his place as the top actor of the time. Jaya later spoke in an interview and said, I was introduced to him on the sets of Guddi.. I was impressed by him and somewhat in awe as he was Harivanshrai Bachchan's son. I felt he was different, though people laughed at me when I said that. I expressed my feelings and said he's going to make it big, even though I was aware he wasn't the usual stereotype hero. I fell in love with him very soon." Their romance blossomed on the sets of Ek Nazar and since then, the pair have been together for more than five decades now. Jaya and Amitabh became a hit on-screen pair with back-to-back hit movies such as Zanjeer, Chupke Chupke, Abhimaan, Silsila, Mili, and Sholay. The pair got married in 1973, in an intimate ceremony. She was pregnant during the shooting of Sholay. Later, she was also instrumental in reviving Amitabh Bachchans career. She wrote the story for Shahenshah, a movie that was released in 1988. This movie marked the return of Amitabh Bachchan on the silver screen, as he took a three-year-long hiatus. The movie was a huge commercial success. Jaya as a loving mother During the shoot of Sholay, she was pregnant with her daughter Shweta Bachchan Nanda. After Sholay, with the exception of Silsila, she did not make any new movies. The actress took a sabbatical from the movie industry so that she could direct all her attention to parenting. She mentioned in an interview that quitting Bollywood was entirely her decision and she wasnt influenced by her husband in any way. She would receive back-to-back offers for movies, but staying close to her kids and raising them right was a priority for her. Ever since Abhishek came into her life, he was the apple of her eye. When the actress was asked to describe her parenting skills and the values she passes on to her children, she told a leading daily in a 1998 interview, A bit of traditional values, a bit of scientific, modern values; Indian and western both, because we have the influence of both cultures in our house. I have always said that I would rather have you as good human beings than as successful scientists, doctors or actors. In a popular interview that went viral, Jaya Bachchan joked that she had to take care of three kids. When the interviewer asked, Three?, Amitabh cut in and said that he was the third kid after Shweta and Abhishek. Career post sabbatical This break lasted a long 17 years, after which she appeared in a Marathi film called Akka in 1995. She then went on to make other notable movies such as Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Kal Ho Na Ho, Fiza, and more. She then entered politics and is currently a Member of Parliament carrying on her fourth term in Rajya Sabha. The female powerhouse is very passionate about the work she does as a parliament member. Commenting on her experience with politics, she said, I like visiting the parliament, listening to the discussions, and raising questions. It's a stimulating environment and it opens your world view. While talking about her contrasting careers, she told in an interview, I'm fortunate to have a home in both Mumbai and Delhi and to be a part of cinema and the political world. Both are different and engaging. In an interview with a leading publication in 1998, the actress was asked, What or who is the real Jaya the traditional wife, or the shrewd corporate head? To this, she answered, I think both. I think Indian women, in fact, women in general, have a tremendous capacity to give. They can run an organisation well because in some ways it is like running a home; it needs a method. They are working and managing all the time. Time management is so important. It comes easily to me. The actress also engages in social work; however, she doesnt like to draw a lot of media attention to her charity. Speaking to a leading publication in 1998, she once said, Not much is known because I hate anything that draws too much attention and focus on me. I get enough of it otherwise. I have been working for the last 20 years with the Indian Society for the Rehabilitation of the Handicapped. It is a low-profile organisation. Everyone works voluntarily, though we have a number of professionals helping us. We train children in different fields, hold competitions, and give scholarships and awards. The legends achievements The actress has starred in 47 movies in total, she has also won 14 Filmfare Awards, with 8 Best Actress awards, three best-supporting actress awards, two special awards, and a Lifetime Achievement award. She has also been the recipient of the prestigious Padma Shri award, the fourth highest civilian honour awarded to her by the Government of India. The most anticipated Bollywood wedding is finally here. Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt are set to marry in a few days. While various reports have circulated, a source revealed that the RK Bungalow in Chembur is being prepared for the big day. The venue's preparations have begun. According to recent media reports, the couple, who are very close to their families, will host a traditional Punjabi wedding. The wedding date for Ranbir and Alia is said to be April 17, with the festivities expected to begin on April 14. The families have remained tight-lipped about the ceremony. The RK bungalow, a glorious heritage of the RK legacy, was chosen as the venue for a reason. Family means the world for the Kapoors. It is perhaps the last Kapoor Shaadi from this generation, which is why they wanted to keep it close to their roots, according to a source. The opulent bungalow has a sprawling lawn and can easily accommodate friends and family for the wedding. While invitations have not yet been distributed, people have been informed in advance. We've heard that the guest list is limited to close friends and family. In a touching gesture, Ranbir has invited all of the technicians he has worked with over the years, including his hair and make-up artists, spot boys, and assistants. Ayan Mukerji, Karan Johar, and Aditya Roy Kapur are all expected to attend. Vicky Kaushal is a close friend of Ranbir, so Vicky and Katrina Kaif, as well as Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone, are likely to be invited. Ranbir and Alia met on the set of their upcoming film Brahmastra. In 2018, the two made their first public appearance as a couple at Sonam Kapoor's wedding reception. According to our sources, Alia Bhatt will wear Sabyasachi for her main wedding ceremony and go with Manish Malhotra for all the other festivities. Ranbir Kapoor is said to be wearing Manish Malhotra on his big day. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2022) - Choom Holdings Inc. (CSE: CHOO) (OTCQB: CHOOF) ("Choom" or the "Company"), a Canadian retail Company focused on delivering an elevated customer experience through high quality service, announces that Mr. Kevin Puil and Peter Simeon have resigned from the board of directors of the Company effective immediately. "The Company has commenced a search for suitable independent directors to fill the vacancies left by the resignations and expects to have potential candidates to appoint in the near future." The Company thanks Mr. Puil and Mr. Simeon for their contributions and wish them every success in their future endeavors. About Choom Choom is a fast-expanding retail cannabis Company that has established an extensive store network across Canada. Choom is focused on delivering an elevated customer experience through high quality service. The Choom brand is inspired by Hawaii's "Choom Gang"-a group of friends in Honolulu during the 1970s who loved to have fun and smoke weed-or as the locals called it, "Choom". Evoking the spirit of the original Choom Gang, our brand caters to the Canadian market with the ethos of 'cultivating good times'. For additional information contact: Corey Gillon, CEO Chris Bogart, President Telephone: 604-683-2509 investors@choom.ca Cautionary Statement on Forward-looking information This news release contains forward-looking information relating to the Company's proposed activities and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking information relates to management's outlook and anticipated events or results and includes statements or information regarding the future or prospects of the Company. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. These factors include risks and uncertainties associated with or arising as a result of delays in obtaining or an inability to obtain required regulatory approvals, access to sufficient quantities of cannabis, the results of diligence investigations, the actions of third parties, the results of negotiations with third parties, developments in the cannabis sector, the ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, reliance on key personnel, regulatory risks and delays and other risks and uncertainties discussed in the management discussion and analysis section of the Company's interim and most recent annual financial statement or other reports and filings, including those made with the CSE and applicable Canadian securities regulators. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER HAS REVIEWED OR ACCEPTED 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/119916 - Toripalimab plus chemotherapy provided superior progression free survival, overall survival, overall response rate and duration of response compared to chemotherapy alone - SHANGHAI, China, and REDWOOD CITY, Calif., April 09, 2022presentation at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research ("AACR"). In the final PFS analysis, results from JUPITER-02 demonstrated that toripalimab in combination with chemotherapy provided a statistically significant improvement in PFS assessed by the blinded independent review committee ("BIRC") compared to chemotherapy plus placebo, with an improvement in median PFS of 13.2 months (21.4 versus 8.2 months). Furthermore, the addition of toripalimab to chemotherapy provided significant improvements in the secondary endpoints of PFS assessed by the investigator, objective response rate ("ORR") and duration of response ("DoR"), while maintaining a safety profile consistent with that in previously reported toripalimab clinical trials. Although the median OS ("mOS") was not yet mature in either arm, the interim OS analysis showed a trend favoring the toripalimab arm and will be formally tested in a prespecified final analysis. "First-line treatment options for advanced NPC remain limited for this difficult-to-treat tumor, resulting in poor outcomes for patients due to therapeutic resistance to chemotherapy, which is the current standard of care," said Professor Ruihua Xu, the poster's corresponding author from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (SYSUCC). "The JUPITER-02 results validate the potential advancement that toripalimab in combination with chemotherapy would represent as a new standard-of-care first-line therapy for patients with advanced NPC." Rosh Dias, MD, MRCP, Coherus' Chief Medical Officer, added, "Innovative immuno-oncology approaches including anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody treatments represent a promising new option for advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma, for which there are currently no approved immuno-oncology treatments in the United States. The significant improvement demonstrated in JUPITER-02 with the combination of toripalimab and chemotherapy across key clinically meaningful endpoints compared to chemotherapy alone supports its use as a potential new standard of care treatment option for advanced NPC." "We are excited that the updated results from JUPITER-02 confirm that the addition of toripalimab to chemotherapy significantly extends the median PFS of patients with advanced NPC by more than a year," said Dr. Patricia Keegan, Chief Medical Officer of Junshi Biosciences. "We believe that toripalimab can revolutionize the treatment of advanced NPC and are working closely with the FDA and our partner, Coherus, to provide the first approved therapy for patients with this rare disease in the U.S." The United States Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") granted breakthrough therapy designation for toripalimab in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin as first-line treatment for patients with advanced recurrent or metastatic NPC and for toripalimab monotherapy for second-line or later treatment of recurrent or metastatic NPC after platinum-containing chemotherapy. A biologics license application ("BLA") for these indications is under priority review by the FDA. Junshi Biosciences and Coherus are working closely with the FDA to complete the review process and schedule any required inspections in China. About JUPITER-02 Study Results JUPITER-02, conducted in mainland China, Taiwan and Singapore, is the largest Phase 3 clinical study to date to evaluate a checkpoint inhibitor plus chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of recurrent or metastatic NPC. Two hundred eighty-nine patients with advanced NPC who had received no prior chemotherapy for recurrent or metastatic disease were randomized 1:1 to receive toripalimab 240 mg or placebo in combination with gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 (d1, 8) and cisplatin 80 mg/m2 (d1), Q3W followed by toripalimab or placebo monotherapy until disease progression, intolerable toxicity or completion of two years of treatment. PFS and response were assessed by the BIRC and by the investigator per RECIST v1.1. There was one prespecified interim analysis of PFS at 130 (65%) PFS events and a final analysis at 200 PFS events. At the final PFS analysis (cut-off date June 8, 2021), the median follow-up time was 22.1 months for the toripalimab arm and 21.4 months for the placebo arm. A summary of the results is as follows: The addition of toripalimab to gemcitabine-cisplatin ("GP") chemotherapy as first-line treatment for advanced NPC patients provided superior PFS, OS, ORR and DoR than GP chemotherapy alone: Significant improvement in PFS: mPFS 21.4 vs. 8.2 months, HR=0.52 (95% CI: 0.37, 0.73), P <0.0001. Significant improvement in ORR: 78.8% vs. 67.1% (P = 0.0221). Significant improvement in DoR: mDoR 18.0 vs. 6.0 months, HR=0.49, P = 0.0003. Although mOS was not mature in either arm, a 41% reduction in risk of death was observed in the toripalimab arm over the placebo arm, HR=0.59 (95% CI: 0.37, 0.94), nominal P =0.0238. The safety profile was consistent with that previously reported in other toripalimab clinical trials with no new safety signals identified with toripalimab added to GP. About toripalimab Toripalimab is an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody developed for its ability to block PD-1 interactions with its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, and for enhanced receptor internalization (endocytosis function). Blocking PD-1 interactions with PD-L1 and PD-L2 promotes the immune system's ability to attack and kill tumor cells. More than thirty company-sponsored toripalimab clinical studies covering more than fifteen indications have been conducted globally by Junshi Biosciences, including in China, the United States, Southeast Asia, and European countries. Ongoing or completed pivotal clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of toripalimab cover a broad range of tumor types including cancers of the lung, nasopharynx, esophagus, stomach, bladder, breast, liver, kidney and skin. In China, toripalimab was the first domestic anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody approved for marketing (approved in China as TUOYI). Currently, there are four approved indications for toripalimab in China: unresectable or metastatic melanoma after failure of standard systemic therapy; recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma NPC after failure of at least two lines of prior systemic therapy; locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma that failed platinum-containing chemotherapy or progressed within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant platinum-containing chemotherapy; in combination with cisplatin and gemcitabine as the first-line treatment for patients with locally recurrent or metastatic NPC. The first three indications have been included in the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) (2021 Edition). Toripalimab is the only anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody included in the NRDL for melanoma and NPC. In addition, two supplemental New Drug Applications (NDAs) for toripalimab are currently under review by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in China: in combination with chemotherapy as the first-line treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic ESCC. in combination with chemotherapy as the first-line treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic NSCLC without EGFR or ALK mutations. In the United States, the FDA has granted priority review for the toripalimab BLA for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic NPC, an aggressive head and neck tumor which has no FDA-approved immuno-oncology treatment options. The FDA has assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act ("PDUFA") target action date for April 2022 for the toripalimab BLA. The FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy designation for toripalimab in combination with chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of recurrent or metastatic NPC in 2021 as well as for toripalimab monotherapy in the second or third-line treatment of recurrent or metastatic NPC in 2020. Additionally, the FDA has granted Fast Track designation for toripalimab for the treatment of mucosal melanoma and Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of esophageal cancer, NPC, mucosal melanoma and soft tissue sarcoma. In 2021, Coherus in-licensed rights to develop and commercialize toripalimab in the United States and Canada. Junshi Biosciences and Coherus plan to file additional toripalimab BLAs with the FDA over the next three years for multiple other cancer types. About Junshi Biosciences Founded in December 2012, Junshi Biosciences (HKEX: 1877; SSE: 688180) is an innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of innovative therapeutics. The company has established a diversified R & D pipeline comprising over 50 drug candidates, with five therapeutic focus areas covering cancer, autoimmune, metabolic, neurological, and infectious diseases. Junshi Biosciences was the first Chinese pharmaceutical company that obtained marketing approval for anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody in China. Its first-in-human anti-BTLA monoclonal antibody for tumors was the first in the world to be approved for clinical trials by the FDA and NMPA and has since entered Phase Ib/II trials in both China and the US. Its anti-PCSK9 monoclonal antibody was the first in China to be approved for clinical trials by the NMPA. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Junshi Biosciences responded swiftly and strongly, joining forces with Chinese and international scientific research institutions and enterprises to develop an arsenal of drug candidates to combat COVID-19, taking the initiative to shoulder the social responsibility of Chinese pharmaceutical companies by prioritizing and accelerating COVID-19 R&D. Among the many drug candidates is JS016 (etesevimab), China's first neutralizing fully human monoclonal antibody against SARS-CoV-2 and the result of the combined efforts of Junshi Biosciences, the Institute of Microbiology of the Chinese Academy of Science and Lilly. JS016 administered with bamlanivimab has been granted Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) in over 15 countries and regions worldwide. Meanwhile, VV116, a new oral nucleoside analog anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug designed to hinder virus replication, is in global Phase III clinical trials. The JS016 and VV116 programs are a part of the company's continuous innovation for disease control and prevention of the global pandemic. Junshi Biosciences has more than 2,800 employees in the United States. About Coherus BioSciences Coherus is a commercial stage biopharmaceutical company building a leading immuno-oncology franchise funded with cash generated by its commercial biosimilar business. In 2021, Coherus in-licensed toripalimab, an anti-PD-1 antibody, in the United States and Canada. A biologics license application for toripalimab for the treatment of metastatic or recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma is currently under priority review by the FDA with a target action date of April 2022. Toripalimab is also being evaluated in pivotal clinical trials for the treatment of cancers of the lung, breast, liver, skin, kidney, stomach, esophagus, and bladder. Coherus markets UDENYCA (pegfilgrastim-cbqv), a biosimilar of Neulasta in the United States, and expects to launch the FDA-approved Humira biosimilar YUSIMRY (adalimumab-aqvh) in the United States in 2023. The FDA is currently reviewing the biologics license application for CHS-201, a biosimilar of Lucentis (ranibizumab), with a target action date of August 2022. Coherus is also developing CHS-305, a biosimilar of Avastin (bevacizumab). Forward-Looking Statements Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding Coherus' ability to build its immuno-oncology franchise to achieve a leading market position; Coherus' ability to generate cash; Coherus' investment plans; Coherus' expectations for the launch date of YUSIMRY and other products; Coherus' plans to file additional BLAs for toripalimab; beliefs about toripalimab's ability to enhance treatment of patients; and potential for toripalimab plus chemotherapy to represent a new standard of care in the future. Such forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause Coherus' actual results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the risks and uncertainties inherent in the clinical drug development process; risks relating to the COVID-19 pandemic; risks related to our existing and potential collaboration partners; risks of the drug development position of Coherus' competitors; the risks and uncertainties of the regulatory approval process, including the speed of regulatory review, international aspects of Coherus' business, the need to schedule inspections in China and the timing of Coherus' regulatory filings; the risk of FDA review issues; the risk of Coherus' execution of its change in strategy from a focus on biosimilars to a strategy using cash from its portfolio to fund an immuno-oncology franchise; the risk that Coherus is unable to complete commercial transactions and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of Coherus' drug candidates; and the risks and uncertainties of possible litigation. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. Coherus undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. For a further description of the significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to Coherus' business in general, see Coherus' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 23, 2022, including the section therein captioned "Risk Factors" and in other documents Coherus files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. UDENYCA, YUSIMRY and CIMERLI, whether or not appearing in large print or with the trademark symbol, are trademarks of Coherus, its affiliates, related companies or its licensors or joint venture partners, unless otherwise noted. Trademarks and trade names of other companies appearing in this press release are, to the knowledge of Coherus, the property of their respective owners. Coherus Contact Information: IR Contact: McDavid Stilwell Chief Financial Officer Coherus BioSciences, Inc. IR@coherus.com Media Contact: Brian Grancagnolo Brian.Grancagnolo@hkstrategies.com +1 (212) 885-0449 Junshi Biosciences Contact Information IR Team: Junshi Biosciences info@junshipharma.com + 86 021-2250 0300 Goby Global Bob Ai bai@gobyglobal.com + 1 646-389-6658 PR Team: Junshi Biosciences Zhi Li zhi_li@junshipharma.com + 86 021-6105 8800 BEIJING, April 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- British professor, a fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, Martin Albrow's latest book "China and the Shared Human Future: Exploring Common Values and Goals" was launched in Beijing and London on 6 April. The activity was jointly organized by China National Publications Import & Export (Group) Co., Ltd and Global Century Press, UK. European scholars spoke highly of this book's publication. The book covers a range of topics such as a community with a Shared Future for Mankind, global governance and China, the Belt and Road Initiative, China's poverty alleviation work written from the perspective of a Western scholar. Speaking of his reasons behind writing the book, the author was inspired by the rise of China as a key factor in world events, hoped it could "add even the tiniest extra encouragement to China to realize its spirit as a truly global nation". Robin Cohen, Emeritus Professor, University of Oxford, commented, 'transculturality' in Albrow's book is the only term that actually conveys the various ways in which cultures come into contact, coexist and coevolve. It discards one-way acculturation and embracing mutual understanding and respect for each others' cultures. Violeta Bulc, Former European Commissioner for mobility and transport of European Commission and Former Deputy Prime Minister of Slovenia, underscored that Europe and China are like two lungs in the same body - only when they breathe together to their full capacity can the body perform well. Martin Jacques, former senior fellow at the Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Cambridge, pointed out a striking difference between China and the U.S.: While America is wedded to singularity and the exclusion of those countries it perceives to be different and therefore unacceptable, China, in comparison, is pluralist in its mentality and does not require other countries to be like it. "The idea of a shared future for mankind draws on the concept of 'tianxia' (all under heaven), of a world view rather than a concept of the world divided into over 190 nation states," Jacques said. At this critical moment of the world, the publication of Martin Albrow's book has more valuable meaning. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1783829/Martin_Albrow.jpg UNITED NATIONS, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Funding and timely action are critical to prevent a major oil spill from a decaying tanker anchored near Yemen's coastline, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen David Gressly said in New York on Friday. Gressly described the FSO Safer off Yemen's Red Sea coast as "a time bomb," which poses a threat. The 45-year-old floating storage and offloading facility holds 1.1 million barrels of oil, or four times the amount of the Exxon Valdez - the tanker that caused one of the greatest environmental disasters in U.S. history. It is at imminent risk of spilling a massive amount of oil due to leakages or an explosion. "If it were to happen, the spill would unleash a massive ecological and humanitarian catastrophe centered on a country already decimated by more than seven years of war," said Gressly. The FSO Safer has been moored some 4.8 nautical miles off the Ras Issa peninsula on Yemen's west coast for more than 30 years. Production, offloading and maintenance ceased in 2015 due to the conflict between a pro-government Saudi-led coalition and Houthi rebels, and the vessel is now beyond repair. Gressly warned that a significant spill would have devastating consequences for Yemen and beyond. Some 200,000 livelihoods in the already war and crisis-wracked country could be instantly wiped out, and families would be exposed to life-threatening toxins. A major oil spill would likely close, at least temporarily, the ports of Hodeidah and Saleef, he added, referring to critical entry points for food, fuel and supplies. The disaster would have a severe environmental impact on water, reefs and life-supporting mangroves. Saudi Arabia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Somalia are also at risk. Clean-up alone would cost 20 billion U.S. dollars. "That does not count the cost of environmental damage across the Red Sea. Or the billions that could be lost due to disruptions to shipping through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which is also a passageway to the Suez Canal," Gressly told journalists. A UN-coordinated plan aims to address the threat, with an overall cost of around 80 million dollars. Yemen's warring sides, which last week implemented a two-month ceasefire, have signaled their support, as have senior UN leaders and some countries on the Security Council. The plan has received the backing of the Yemeni government, based in Aden, while a memorandum of understanding has been signed with the de facto authorities in the capital, Sanaa, who control the area where the FSO Safer is located. The plan covers two tracks, which will run simultaneously. It calls for installing a long-term replacement for the decrepit tanker within an 18-month period, and an emergency operation to transfer the oil to a safe temporary vessel over four months, thus eliminating any immediate threat. Both the FSO Safer and the temporary vessel would remain in place until all the oil is transferred to the permanent replacement vessel. The FSO Safer would then be towed to a yard and sold for salvage. To raise the funds, a pledging conference in May, co-hosted by the Netherlands, is set to be announced shortly. Gressly will travel to Gulf capitals next week to discuss the plan and drum up financial support. He underlined the urgent need for funding, stressing that without it, the "time bomb" will continue to tick. "My particular concern is really we need to finish this operation by the end of September to avoid the turbulent winds that start in the latter part of the year... increasing the risk of a break-up, and also increasing the risk in conducting any operation," he said. The FSO Safer has not been inspected or maintained since 2015 and has been out of class since 2016, leading to serious concerns about its integrity. It is understood there is currently no oil leaking from the unit, but it is considered that the risk of an oil spill from the FSO Safer is increasing as its structure, equipment and operating systems continue to deteriorate, according to media reports. The SpacePi Pioneer community covers more than 70 countries and regions and has nearly 1.5 million Pi Network members New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - April 9, 2022) - CoinMarketCap and Coingecko, as the two top and most comprehensive blockchain encryption data statistics platforms in the world, officially listed SpacePi on March 24 and 25, 2022 respectively. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/8568/119809_9d67e9acc4ec39c6_001full.jpg Image Caption: SpacePi officially lands on CoinMarketCap and Coingecko The SpacePi Pioneer Community is one of the largest Pi Network communities in the world. The SpacePi Pioneer community covers more than 70 countries and regions and has nearly 1.5 million Pi Network members. The SpacePi Pioneer Community is a diverse team composed of the following people: social media administrators, web designers, graphic designers, artists, developers, product developers, finance people, IT security teams, investors, influencers and software engineers. As a pioneer, SpacePi promotes the belief and consensus, future and value of Pi Network to the outside world. In order to let the world understand and recognize the value of Pi Network, SpacePi makes bold attempts, dares to challenge itself, and breaks the inherent pattern. Forging a new way and opening up a new currency road, the pioneers of SpacePi decided to deploy contracts in the BSC ecological chain and create a spiritual home for Pi Network in the BSC ecological chain. The purpose is to give more spiritual sustenance to the majority of Pi Network members! On March 14, 2022, SpacePi officially deployed the contract in BSC, and the liquidity pool was directly locked all year round. SpacePi ranked first in the global blockchain hot search list. On March 20, the transaction volume exceeded 100 million US dollars, and the SpacePi Token holding address broke over 600,000, with multiple exchanges officially listed in SpacePi! The goal of SpacePi is to build an ecology in the BSC ecological chain. Its ecological development path is very clear. In the early days, it attracted the attention of a large number of users through SpacePi's marketing, that is to build a strong community and consensus, and then wait for the Pi Network mainnet to go online. The SpacePi pioneer community will open a cross-chain mode - cross-chain members of the BSC ecological chain Pi Network to the Pi Network ecological chain. The SpacePi pioneer community firmly believes that the real battle begins after the Pi Network mainnet is launched. The SpacePi pioneer community believes that the value of Pi Network is given by people and practicality all over the world! The purpose of SpacePi is to make the Pi Network ecological application value wider and greater. The ideal of the SpacePi pioneer community is to carry the banner of Pi Network. SpacePi Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpacePi_Com SpacePi Global Group: https://t.me/SpacePi_com SpacePi Github: https://github.com/SpacePiCom SpacePi Medium: https://medium.com/@spacepi Media Contact Company Name: SpacePi Contact Person: Alba Cruz Email: pi@space-pi.com Website: https://space-pi.com Disclaimer: There is no offer to sell, no solicitation of an offer to buy, and no recommendation of any security or any other product or service in this article. Moreover, nothing contained in this PR should be construed as a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any investment or security, or to engage in any investment strategy or transaction. It is your responsibility to determine whether any investment, investment strategy, security, or related transaction is appropriate for you based on your investment objectives, financial circumstances, and risk tolerance. Consult your business advisor, attorney, or tax advisor regarding your specific business, legal, or tax situation. For more info, please contact brandnewsproject@gmail.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/119809 New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - April 9, 2022) - Recently, DR PLANT launched Dendrobium Relieve Wrinkle Massage Eye Cream 2.0. As a new member of DR PLANT alpine skin care products, it has also deeply affected the company and the whole cosmetics industry. DR PLANT as an outstanding Chinese makeup brand, has refined ingredients and researched technology, and launched its Dendrobium Relieve Wrinkle Massage Eye Cream (Orchid Iron). To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/8722/119789_ In order to better use the Dendrobium plant in skin care, DR PLANT has together with more than 20 interdisciplinary botanists conducted in-depth research on the alpine Dendrobium orchid and filed the patent: "Dendrobium officinale extract and its preparation method", using the Dendrobium orchid extraction patent, to maximize the retention of the active ingredients contained in the alpine Dendrobium orchid, and thereby giving full play to its excellent skin care effects. The Dendrobium Relieve Wrinkle Massage Eye Cream condenses Dendrobium fermentation essence and contains Dendrobium orchid extract and yeast fermentation product filtrate. It effectively moisturizes and protects the skin around the eyes as well as tightens fine lines. The cream comes together with an included micro-massager, which vibrates at a frequency of 15,000 times per minute and further enhances the moisturizing and tightening effect, as well as the fine line fading results. According to data published by DR PLANT, using the Dendrobium Relieve Wrinkle Massage Eye Cream for 4 consecutive weeks can effectively reduce fine lines and firm the skin. It is believed that with its strong scientific research strength and down-to-earth research and development spirit, DR PLANT will continue to bring us excellent experiences of alpine plant skin care in the future. Daisy CHU douy@drplant.com.cn DR PLANT WEB SITE:https://www.drplant.com.cn To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/119789 DUBAI, UAE, April 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With the sharp rise in demand for residency permits and second citizenship in 2021, a great deal of focus has been given to the investment migration industry. This has invariably led to some notable changes to our leading global residency and citizenship programs in 2022.??? Montenegro Extends Its Citizenship Program The Montenegro Citizenship by Investment Program was launched in 2019 and was scheduled to end on December 31st, 2021. However, the Montenegrin Cabinet has taken the decision to extend the program for an additional year with changes implemented to the program's terms. Investors must provide the government with a bank guarantee of 50% of the investment. There won't be any new approvals of development projects during the period and investors need to buy real estate from the government's existing list of approved projects. The non-refundable contribution to the government has doubled on January 1st, 2022 . Citizenship applicants are now required to contribute 100,000 to the national budget and another 100,000 to the regional development fund. The investment structure for the government-approved real estate project will remain unchanged. The last-minute extension of the program was intended to ensure sufficient funding is available for all development projects to be completed by the end of 2022 due to the increase in applications during the pandemic.? St Lucia Extends COVID-19 Relief Bond An extension of one year to the Special Covid-19 Relief Bond has been approved by the Cabinet of Ministers in St Lucia.?It was introduced in May 2020 to raise additional government revenue during the pandemic and gives potential investors a chance to qualify for citizenship for themselves and their family members. Investors looking to obtain St Lucia citizenship under the non-interest bearing - Relief Bonds option will be able to make a minimum investment of US$250,000 for a family up to four. This is a substantial decrease from the investment requirement of US$500,000 mandated for its original government bonds option.?? The bonds need to be held by the investor for 5 to 7 years and can be redeemed after the holding period. Sole applicant - 5 years Applicant with 1 qualifying dependent - 6 years Applicant with up to 4 qualifying dependents - 7 years Originally set to expire by December 31st 2021, the COVID-19 Relief Bond option will remain eligible for applicants till December 31st 2022. St Kitts & Nevis Introduces Alternative Investment Option St Kitts and Nevis have introduced a third form of investment under the Citizenship by Investment Program called the Alternative Investment Option. The AIO gives investors the opportunity to invest in potential projects listed by the government or by private companies with access to financing. Once the project has been completed and operational for a certain period of time, it must be turned over to the Government. AIO is divided into two categories:? Public Good Project Developer (PGPD) - Projects fully funded by the PGPD with a minimum investment of US$175,000. After completion of the project, the government retains ownership of the asset?. Private Enterprise Developer (PED) - Projects built or funded by privately-owned companies with a minimum investment of US$200,000. Note: The limited-time offer on the affordable donation-based citizenship by investment for families up to four in St Kitts and Nevis expired on December 31st, 2021. From January 2022, the donation for a family of four will rise back up to US$195,000.? Portugal's Golden Visa in 2022 Portugal's government has confirmed that the country's Golden Visa Program will be subject to several new changes, starting from January 1st 2022, to boost interest in the country's low-density areas. The income generated by the Golden Visa program has produced uneven growth in the metropolitan property market leading to new measures being implemented to diversify investments to the interior regions of the country. As a result of the new regulations, applicants who intend to invest in real estate for the Golden Visa program are no longer allowed to choose popular metropolitan areas like Lisbon and Porto as territories eligible to purchase residential and rehabilitation properties. Only the inland and low-density areas are eligible for investment. Commercial property investments will still qualify in any part of Portugal, and this includes the metropolitan locations as well. Book A Free Consultation Savory & Partners is a government-approved agency that specializes in High-Net-Worth individuals applying to any Citizenship by Investment program. We are a British Authorised Agent with decades of experience who has helped over 1100 families obtain a second citizenship. If you would like to apply or learn more about our citizenship or residency by investment program updates, then contact us today for a free online consultation and one of our agents will happily aid you in your inquiry. Savory & Partners is an accredited agent for multiple governments where citizenship by investment is offered. Founded in 1797, the agency has evolved from pharmaceuticals to family assets and legacy protection through second citizenship and residency. The company's professional, multinational staff is made up of expert advisors who have guided thousands of clients, including many North African investors, on their journey to find the most suitable CBI program for them. The Savory & Partners team will be happy to answer your enquiries in English, Arabic and French. For more information, please send an email to contact@savoryandpartners.com . You can also call +971 04 430 1717 or send a WhatsApp message to +971 54 440 2955. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1738007/Savory_and_Partners_Logo.jpg Rhizen Pharma announces presentations at AACR showcasing its differentiated clinical stage PARP and DHODH programs Preclinical data on Rhizen's differentiated PARP inhibitor RP12146, indicates a superior haematological safety profile that the company expects will translate through ongoing clinical trials. Preclinical data on Rhizen's best-in-class DHODH inhibitor RP7214, indicates that it is active across AML models both as a single agent and in combination with SOC agents. Rhizen Pharmaceuticals AG (Rhizen), a Switzerland-based privately held, clinical-stage oncology inflammation-focussed biopharmaceutical company, announced the release of data on its differentiated next-generation clinical-stage PARP (Poly ADP-Ribose Polymerase) and DHODH (DiHydro Orotate DeHydrogenase) inhibitor programs at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 2022 Annual Meeting. Rhizen's poster presentations describe the preclinical characterization and differentiated features of its novel PARP inhibitor (RP12146) and preclinical data supporting the broad positioning of its DHODH inhibitor (RP7214) in AML. Rhizen had earlier indicated that its PARP program had demonstrated differentiated IND enabling preclinical safety. The additional preclinical data being presented at AACR 2022 suggests that this differentiated safety may be due to the lower bone marrow distribution of RP12146 and concomitantly lower haematological toxicity. "We believe RP12146's safety differential has allowed us to progress through the dose escalation study more efficiently. Further, the emerging data from our ongoing phase 1 dose escalation study is encouraging corroborative with robust target engagement and safety observed so far. We believe that this differentiation, as it translates more fully in the clinic, may allow us to explore the full potential of PARP inhibition across indications given RP12146's potentially wide therapeutic window," said Swaroop Vakkalanka, Founder CEO of Rhizen Pharma. Rhizen indicated that its DHODH inhibitor, RP7214 has robust activity as a single agent in inducing tumor volume size reduction and differentiation of AML blasts consistent with its mechanism of action. RP7214 also potentiates the activity of standard of care AML agents such as cytarabine, venetoclax and azacytidine.Swaroop added that "We have initiated a phase 2 study to explore RP7214 in combination with azacytidine in relapsed/refractory AML, CMML and MDS patients. The potential of DHODH inhibition as a therapeutic modality in AML remains unfulfilled and we expect RP7214 can eventually realize that potential. We believe elderly patients who are ineligible for frontline chemotherapy and maintenance settings represent areas of unmet need that RP7214 can address." Details on Rhizen Pharma's posters at AACR are as follows: Abstract Number: 1762 Title: Activity of RP7214, a novel, selective, and potent small molecule inhibitor of DHODH, in AML Session: Small Molecule Therapeutic Agents Poster Number: 5492 Abstract Number: 1766 Title: Activity of RP12146, a novel, selective, and potent small molecule inhibitor of PARP 1/2, in solid tumors Session: Small Molecule Therapeutic Agents Poster Number: 5493 About Rhizen Pharmaceuticals AG.: Rhizen Pharmaceuticals is an innovative, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel oncology inflammation therapeutics. Since its establishment in 2008, Rhizen has created a diverse pipeline of proprietary drug candidates targeting several cancers and immune associated cellular pathways. Rhizen has proven expertise in the PI3K modulator space with the discovery of our first PI3Kd CK1e asset Umbralisib, that has been successfully developed commercialized in MZL FL by our licensing partner TG Therapeutics (TGTX) in USA. Rhizen is also developing Tenalisib, a unique dual PI3K-d/? SIK3 inhibitor with a robust safety profile and promising activity in metastatic breast cancer and T-Cell lymphoma indications. Behind these assets, Rhizen has a deep oncology inflammation pipeline spanning discovery to clinical development stages. Rhizen is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. For additional information, please visit https://www.rhizen.com/ Safe Harbor This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements relating to the company and its business. Although the company believes its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, all statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release about future events are subject to (i) change without notice and (ii) factors beyond the company's control. These statements may include, without limitation, any statements preceded by, followed by, or including words such as "target," "believe," "expect," "aim," "intend," "may," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "project," "will," "can have," "likely," "should," "would," "could", and other words and terms of similar meaning or the negative thereof. Forward-looking statements involve certain risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Readers should therefore not place undue reliance on these statements, particularly not in connection with any contract or investment decision. Except as required by law, the company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220409005006/en/ Contacts: Rhizen Pharmaceuticals AG Contact: Samyukta Bhagwati Manager, Corporate Affairs Communications Rhizen Pharmaceuticals AG. Telephone: +41 32 580 0113 Email: corpcomm@rhizen.com GrubMarket, a San Francisco, CA-based foodtech company, completed the acquisition of Regatta Tropicals, a Vineland, New Jersey-based company that distributes, packs, imports and exports high quality fruits to customers across the United States and Canada. The amount of the deal was not disclosed. Founded nearly 30 years ago as an offshoot of a company called Coast-to-Coast Produce, and run by its original owner Steve Matych and his wife Teresa Barnes-Matych, Regatta Tropicals provides fruits to retail, chain stores and food service companies across the U.S. and Canada. The company also exports fruit to worldwide locations such as Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Costa Rica, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong and Europe and imports fruit from Chile, Peru, New Zealand, Australia, and Italy, among other countries. Regatta Tropicals currently operates in New Jersey and California, and also provides shipping, repacking and restyling services for its customers. Across both its West Coast and East Coast operations, Regatta employs nearly 200 people. After the acquisition, the business will continue to be managed by its current experienced and mission-driven leadership team. As a part of GrubMarkets portfolio, Regatta Tropicals will now utilize GrubMarkets WholesaleWare software suite, the companys software-as-a-service platform that provides food industry wholesalers and distributors with financial management, mobile and online ordering features, precise inventory management, lot traceability and tracking, grower accounting, and automated routing and logistics tools. Founded in 2014 and led by Mike Xu, CEO, GrubMarket is a food technology company operating in the space of food supply chain eCommerce for both business customers and end consumers, as well as providing related software-as-a-service solutions to digitally transform the American and global food supply chain. Currently, GrubMarket operates in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington and British Columbia (Canada), with plans to expand to the rest of the U.S., Canada, and other parts of the world. FinSMEs 09/04/2022 On April 4, 2022, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with visiting Panamanian Foreign Minister Erika Mouynes in Tunxi, Anhui Province. Wang Yi said, China and Panama enjoy time-honored friendship, and share similar historical experiences and common struggles against colonization and hegemony. The two sides are both old acquaintances and new friends. Five years ago, China and Panama opened a new chapter in bilateral relations as the two sides formally established diplomatic relations on the basis of confirming the one-China principle. At present, China-Panama relations are developing smoothly with increasingly deepening mutual trust and steady progress in cooperation, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples. This fully proves that the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Panama conforms to the fundamental interests of both sides, and opens up broad prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries. China is ready to work with Panama to build China-Panama relations into a model of mutual respect between large and small countries, solidarity and cooperation among developing countries, and exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations. Wang Yi said, China is ready to take the fifth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Panama as an opportunity to take stock of experience and make renewed efforts to realize the "four-wheel drive" of political mutual trust, pragmatic cooperation, cultural and people-to-people exchanges and multilateral coordination between the two countries, so as to create more "propellers" for China-Panama friendship. The two sides should seek greater synergy between development strategies and formulate a plan for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. Efforts should be made to give full play to Panama's unique geographical advantages and strengthen canal cooperation. The two sides should expand youth, subnational, medical and health cooperation to promote people-to-people ties. China is ready to share development opportunities with Panama, help Panama achieve diversified development, and welcome expanding exports of Panama's quality products to China. Mouynes said, I'm very glad to be the first foreign minister of Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries to visit China since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and China is also the first stop of my trip to Asia, which fully demonstrates the great importance Panama attaches to developing relations with China. The Panamanian people always remember the Chinese people's support for Panama's just cause of resuming the exercise of sovereignty over the Panama Canal, and always remember the Chinese people's contributions to Panama's railway and canal projects in the early years. She thanked China for its strong support for Panama in fighting the pandemic. The economies of Panama and China are highly complementary, with pragmatic cooperation yielding fruitful results. Panama welcomes Chinese investment and will provide a sound investment environment for Chinese enterprises. Mouynes stressed, facts have proved that the establishment of diplomatic relations between Panama and China is a completely correct decision. Panama cherishes the mutual trust with China and will firmly adhere to the one-China principle. Wang Yi expressed appreciation for this, stressing that China is ready to jointly safeguard this cornerstone of bilateral relations and continue to firmly support each other in safeguarding core interests and national dignity. Both sides believe that China-Panama relations enjoy broad prospects and great potential for cooperation, and are ready to deepen cooperation in various fields, release more positive information, and turn the right decision of establishing diplomatic ties between the two countries into more concrete results. The two sides are willing to actively consider restarting negotiations on the free trade agreement and strive to reach a high-level and mutually beneficial agreement at an early date. Efforts should be made to deepen cooperation in the Colon Free Trade Zone, and enhance connectivity between the two countries. Efforts should be made to strengthen cooperation in agriculture and grain, so as to help Panama build a regional agricultural center. The two sides exchanged views on China-LAC relations. Wang Yi said, China supports the building of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and supports LAC countries in independently exploring development paths in line with their own national conditions and formulating foreign policies according to their own needs. China is ready to implement the important outcomes of President Xi Jinping's five visits to LAC countries and jointly foster a China-LAC relationship for a new era characterized by equality, mutual benefit, innovation, openness, and benefits for the people. Mouynes said, Panama firmly adheres to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs, and LAC countries are not the "backyards" of any country. Central American and Caribbean countries should transcend differences in ideology and work together for common development. The two sides had in-depth communication on multilateral affairs. Wang Yi said, it's China's consistent position that all countries, big or small, are equal, and China stands ready to work with Panama to safeguard fairness and justice, as well as the basic norms governing international relations. Panama is welcome to participate in the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and accelerate the realization of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Mouynes appreciated the fact that China has consistently acted on the principle of sovereign equality, and said that Panama attaches great importance to the important GDI put forward by President Xi Jinping and stands ready to promote the strengthening of the synergy between Central American and Caribbean countries and China in this regard. The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine issue, among others. Mouynes said, the current geopolitical conflict further highlights the important value and strategic significance of the Panama Canal. Panama does not subscribe to imposing unilateral sanctions willfully in the international arena, stays committed to maintaining the permanent neutrality of the canal, and hopes to gain the support of China. Wang Yi stressed, China respects and recognizes the permanent neutrality of the Panama Canal, and is ready to work with developing countries including Panama to act on true multilateralism, jointly resist unilateralism and oppose bullying practices. There are lots of issues going on right now with the building of Super Duties. The deadline for ordering a 2021 SD was March 15/21. Production is scheduled to start June 1/21. You can order a 2022 right now, but build schedule for individual SD has not happened. This is all from memory so dates could be off a bit. Right now they are concentrating on building the remaining 2021 SD orders they have accepted. But the global chip shortage has reduced the number of trucks they are building. Logic says that that June date will slip. Logic also says that they may not be able to build as many 2022 SD to start as they planned due to the shortage. Dealers need to get some SD to show on their lots, then retail orders will be built. Then we get into the normal delivery issues for Canada. There is longer delivery times to Canada as they ship by rail and might require different rail companies. I am from Vancouver and in my circumstances, to reduce this, they ship to the border, store them in a lot, and deliver them by transporter to the dealers here locally. And as for any order, there is allocation to the dealer and the priority of the truck by the dealer. Then there is the commodity issues when picking up an order. No one knows what the delivery time will be. What is normally 8 to 12 weeks in normal times will be longer as it is a switch over time from 2021 to 2022. Then add in the slowing of builds due to the chip shortage, and there is no way to know how long delivery will be. Old delivery times are unlikely to be any guide to this situation. My only suggestion would be to ask your dealer what they have heard about delivery times for orders. If I had a bricknose, I might really consider the Aussie sealed beam conversion from OBS solutions and some Hella lamps. The best headlight other than that is going to be a factory Ford or Ford replacement. The best aftermarket replacement is the TYC assembly, all others are total trash. I have TYC CAPA cert lights on my aeronose and they work nearly as good as Ford ones. I'm not sure about the comment saying that they beam pattern isn't good, but maybe that is true on the bricknose lights.For bulbs get Philips Xtreme, Ge Nighthawk, or Sylvania Xtravision if not going with high wattage Hella ones. These are all clear non blue tinted gimmick stuff. Stay away from these garbage bulbs Sylvania Silverstar, Nighthawk Sport, Philips Crystal etc.No matter what setup is used, relays will make a difference.I usually agree with Conanski but not when it comes to LED headlights. The cold 5000-6000k color temperature is terrible for night vision and for inclement weather situations. I wish LED never made its way to headlight setups even the new factory ones. They do work great for tail lights brake lights and marker lights etc though. If you decide to go with LED or HID a projector is the correct way to do it, as he said, but those setups are fugly. I had at one time considered it for better lighting but just can't stomach the look of it.Also, There are no halogen reflector retrofit LED bulbs that work correctly to mimic a halogen bulb filament and therefore the optics of the reflector do not focus the light correctly. There are also no LED or HID bulbs that are actually legal for use in this application. Some of the LEDs will work poorly and some will appear to work decently and will be brighter but will usually only illuminate the foreground and provide less throw or distance lighting.I actually like halogen light the best, but the best light color may actually be the 4000k white non blue of most factory HID setups.Good info here. TAIPEI, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan on Saturday reported one death from COVID-19 and an additional 578 new cases of the disease, including 442 locally transmitted infections and 136 imported cases, according to the island's disease monitoring agency. The reported death involved a woman in her 90s, who was confirmed on April 4 to have been infected, and listed as part of an infection cluster in Keelung. She died on April 7, the agency said. The number of locally transmitted cases on Saturday set a new daily high for the year, although 250 of the new local cases were asymptomatic, the agency said. The local infections covered 17 counties and cities in Taiwan, with New Taipei having the highest number at 143. To date, Taiwan has reported 26,836 confirmed COVID-19 cases, of which 18,149 were local infections. In light of the rising number of local infections, Taiwan is taking measures to encourage people, especially the elderly, to administer COVID-19 vaccines. Currently, 83.6 percent of Taiwan's over 23 million population has received one COVID-19 shot, while 78.7 percent has gotten two doses. Members of a Chinese medical team hand over medical supplies to representatives of the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on April 8, 2022. The Chinese medical team in Sierra Leone on Friday donated a batch of medical supplies to the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Hospital to help it boost medical service. (Photo by Xie Jingjing/Xinhua) FREETOWN, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese medical team in Sierra Leone on Friday donated a batch of medical supplies to the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Hospital to help it boost medical service. The donated items included 24 categories of much-needed medicines and more than 30 kinds of medical apparatus and instruments, which will help address the shortage of medical supplies in the hospital, said Zhou Xi, chief of the team. According to Zhou, the hospital in which the team currently performs its duties has long been facing a shortage of medical supplies, electricity, and water, posing challenges for both patients and the medical staff. "The shortage of necessities is very common among all the hospitals across the country, and we believe the donation will enable the hospital to offer better medical services and save more people's lives," she said. During the donation ceremony, Karim Kabineh, the dean of the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Hospital, hailed the Chinese doctors' kind gesture, saying the Chinese medical teams have provided tremendous support for the hospital's medical service over the years. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and many other challenges, the team has successfully completed more than 40 surgeries since the beginning of this year, said Zhou, adding that the team will always be committed to sharing the experience with its Sierra Leonean counterparts and serving local patients. Another Alsea schools employee has come forward with allegations that former Superintendent and Republican candidate for Oregon governor Marc Thielman was sexually inappropriate with her throughout her tenure at the school district. The Alsea School District received a tort claim notice this month often a precursor to a lawsuit on behalf of former Assistant Superintendent Katie Sapp, who plans to assert claims against the school district, Thielman and other employees for creating a hostile work environment, which included sexual harassment, gender discrimination and retaliation. In a letter to this news group, Thielman's lawyer says the allegations are politically motivated. Representatives from the school board and school district could not be reached for comment. Sapp is represented by Nathan R. Rietmann of Salem-based Rietmann Law, who is also representing Alsea elementary principal Shannon Rice, who is on leave and whose contract will expire at the end of this school year. Rice is suing the school district for more than $3.7 million with similar allegations. Like Rice's suit, Sapp's claim alleges Thielman made inappropriate comments but went even further, including showing up at off-site conferences and propositioning her for sex. The harassment was so incessant throughout the course of Sapps nine-year employment, Sapp switched up her work attire from normal female business attire to wearing baggier clothing that obscured her body as much as possible, the tort claim alleges. It also mentioned an instance at a conference in Newport in 2019 in which Thielman allegedly asked Sapp if she would have sex with him if they were both single. While Sapp informally reported the incident to several people within the school district, she said she feared taking legal action because it would make her work life that much more difficult. In the latter years of her employment, Thielman would block the door whenever Sapp was trying to leave his office, not letting her pass until she held his hand, the tort claim alleges. Thielman's attorney, Tyler Smith of Canby, questioned both Sapp's and Rice's motivations, noting that Reitmann is the same attorney who represented the Coalition of School Administrators when it tried to "retaliate" against Thielman for speaking out against mask mandates and school closures during the height of the pandemic. "You should know that you appear to have been played, or are assisting in the intentional attack," Smith wrote on April 1. Smith also suggested Mid-Valley Media ask Reitmann who is paying his clients to file these accusations. In response, Reitmann said by email: "No one is paying Ms. Sapp to assert claims. The only party compensating Ms. Sapp at this time is the Alsea School District." Other male employees within the district followed Thielman's lead of disrespect toward women, the claim alleges. The culture set by Superintendent Thielman set the tone for the entire District and resulted in increasingly misogynistic and sexist behavior by other male staff, which simply became the norm, and a term and condition of employment, the tort claim alleges. For example, one employee harassed Sapp at work by screaming expletives at her and refused to take direction from her, according to the claim. Another refused to collaborate with Sapp at work because of her sex. Eventually, after fruitlessly trying to get her concerns addressed, including taking them to a school board member, Sapp was told by Thielman her "only hope" was to resign, according to the the claim. Thielman was willing to arrange a settlement agreement, the claim alleges, "in exchange for her acknowledging that he had never asked if she would have sex" with him. In November, Sapp did sign a settlement agreement with the district that would pay out the rest of her contract and cover her insurance. Sapp said she was under the impression board members knew why she was leaving but later found out Thielman had told them it was for health reasons, according to the claim. Sapp emailed an official complaint to the board Feb. 15 against Thielman and the entire school board questioning the legalities of the agreement. Since then, the tort notice reads, the Alsea School Board has remained incredibly hostile toward Ms. Sapp and been working to damage her personal and professional reputation in numerous ways. Joanna Mann (she/her) covers education for Mid-Valley Media. She can be contacted at 541-812-6076 or Joanna.Mann@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter via @joanna_mann_. Love 1 Funny 2 Wow 5 Sad 4 Angry 5 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. WUHAN, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Approximately 230,000 captive-bred Chinese sturgeon were released into the Yangtze River on Saturday to help restore the species' wild population. The fish were released in the city of Yichang, central China's Hubei Province, in the 65th sturgeon release event carried out by the China Three Gorges Corporation (CTGC). The number of sturgeon released hit a record high. The fish range in maturity from six months to 13 years, said Jiang Wei, chief engineer of the Chinese sturgeon research institute under the CTGC. Nicknamed "aquatic pandas," Chinese sturgeon have existed for more than 140 million years. However, the population of the species in the Yangtze plummeted in the late 20th century due to intrusive human activities. CTGC has so far released nearly 5.3 million Chinese sturgeon into the Yangtze River. Sydney, April 05, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Laos-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW Unitel was the first of the countrys four mobile network operators to kick things off with 5G trials in late-2019. This followed similar rounds of testing being conducted by parent company Viettel Groups other subsidiaries in Vietnam, Myanmar, and Cambodia.Yet it was Lao Telecom (TLC) who stole the march on the market leader, unveiling a commercial 5G service in areas of the capital city, Vientiane. LTC has plans to extend the service into regional areas, however the extent to which it is able to do so may be limited by the amount of network infrastructure that is already in place around the country to support an upgrade to 5G (as opposed to the much higher cost involved with installing brand new sites in previously unserved areas). And with the coverage of LTE networks in Laos still some ways off from being any near universal, the speed of that rollout may be less than spectacular. Key developments: LTC launches the first commercial 5G service in Laos. Unitel completes 5G trials. 5G-based IT and telecom solutions (including IoT) deployed as part of Laos smart motorway network on the China-Laos Expressway. Companies mentioned in this report: Lao Telecom (LTC), ETL, Unitel, Beeline, Planet Online, Huayuan Electronics. Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Laos-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW NEW YORK, April 08, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of MP Materials Corp. f/k/a Fortress Value Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: MP, FVAC, FVAC WS, FVAC.U) between May 1, 2020 and February 2, 2022, inclusive (the Class Period), of the important April 25, 2022 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you purchased MP Materials securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the MP Materials class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=3113 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 25, 2022. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Fortress Value Acquisition Corp. (FVAC) had overstated its due diligence efforts and expertise with respect to identifying target companies to acquire; (2) FVAC performed inadequate due diligence into legacy MP Materials prior to the business combination, or else ignored significant red flags regarding, inter alia, legacy MP Materials management, compliance policies, and Mountain Pass Rare Earth Mine and Processing Facilitys (Mountain Pass) profitability; (3) as a result, the Companys future business and financial prospects post-business combination were overstated; (4) MP Materials engaged in an abusive transfer price manipulation scheme with a related party in the Peoples Republic of China to artificially inflate the Companys profits; (5) MP Materials ore at Mountain Pass was not economically viable to harvest for rare earth metals; and (6) as a result, defendants public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the MP Materials class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=3113 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 lrosen@rosenlegal.com pkim@rosenlegal.com cases@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com SHANGHAI, China, and REDWOOD CITY, Calif., April 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co., Ltd (Junshi Biosciences, HKEX: 1877; SSE: 688180) and Coherus BioSciences, Inc. (Coherus) announced the results of the prespecified final progression-free survival (PFS) analysis and the interim overall survival (OS) analysis of the JUPITER-02 study (NCT03581786), a pivotal Phase 3 trial in first-line treatment of recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The JUPITER-02 results are summarized in a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). In the final PFS analysis, results from JUPITER-02 demonstrated that toripalimab in combination with chemotherapy provided a statistically significant improvement in PFS assessed by the blinded independent review committee (BIRC) compared to chemotherapy plus placebo, with an improvement in median PFS of 13.2 months (21.4 versus 8.2 months). Furthermore, the addition of toripalimab to chemotherapy provided significant improvements in the secondary endpoints of PFS assessed by the investigator, objective response rate (ORR) and duration of response (DoR), while maintaining a safety profile consistent with that in previously reported toripalimab clinical trials. Although the median OS (mOS) was not yet mature in either arm, the interim OS analysis showed a trend favoring the toripalimab arm and will be formally tested in a prespecified final analysis. First-line treatment options for advanced NPC remain limited for this difficult-to-treat tumor, resulting in poor outcomes for patients due to therapeutic resistance to chemotherapy, which is the current standard of care, said Professor Ruihua Xu, the posters corresponding author from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (SYSUCC). The JUPITER-02 results validate the potential advancement that toripalimab in combination with chemotherapy would represent as a new standard-of-care first-line therapy for patients with advanced NPC. Rosh Dias, MD, MRCP, Coherus Chief Medical Officer, added, Innovative immuno-oncology approaches including anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody treatments represent a promising new option for advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma, for which there are currently no approved immuno-oncology treatments in the United States. The significant improvement demonstrated in JUPITER-02 with the combination of toripalimab and chemotherapy across key clinically meaningful endpoints compared to chemotherapy alone supports its use as a potential new standard of care treatment option for advanced NPC. We are excited that the updated results from JUPITER-02 confirm that the addition of toripalimab to chemotherapy significantly extends the median PFS of patients with advanced NPC by more than a year, said Dr. Patricia Keegan, Chief Medical Officer of Junshi Biosciences. We believe that toripalimab can revolutionize the treatment of advanced NPC and are working closely with the FDA and our partner, Coherus, to provide the first approved therapy for patients with this rare disease in the U.S. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted breakthrough therapy designation for toripalimab in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin as first-line treatment for patients with advanced recurrent or metastatic NPC and for toripalimab monotherapy for second-line or later treatment of recurrent or metastatic NPC after platinum-containing chemotherapy. A biologics license application (BLA) for these indications is under priority review by the FDA. Junshi Biosciences and Coherus are working closely with the FDA to complete the review process and schedule any required inspections in China. About JUPITER-02 Study Results JUPITER-02, conducted in mainland China, Taiwan and Singapore, is the largest Phase 3 clinical study to date to evaluate a checkpoint inhibitor plus chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of recurrent or metastatic NPC. Two hundred eighty-nine patients with advanced NPC who had received no prior chemotherapy for recurrent or metastatic disease were randomized 1:1 to receive toripalimab 240 mg or placebo in combination with gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 (d1, 8) and cisplatin 80 mg/m2 (d1), Q3W followed by toripalimab or placebo monotherapy until disease progression, intolerable toxicity or completion of two years of treatment. PFS and response were assessed by the BIRC and by the investigator per RECIST v1.1. There was one prespecified interim analysis of PFS at 130 (65%) PFS events and a final analysis at 200 PFS events. At the final PFS analysis (cut-off date June 8, 2021), the median follow-up time was 22.1 months for the toripalimab arm and 21.4 months for the placebo arm. A summary of the results is as follows: The addition of toripalimab to gemcitabine-cisplatin (GP) chemotherapy as first-line treatment for advanced NPC patients provided superior PFS, OS, ORR and DoR than GP chemotherapy alone: Significant improvement in PFS: mPFS 21.4 vs. 8.2 months, HR=0.52 (95% CI: 0.37, 0.73), P <0.0001. Significant improvement in ORR: 78.8% vs. 67.1% (P = 0.0221). Significant improvement in DoR: mDoR 18.0 vs. 6.0 months, HR=0.49, P = 0.0003. Although mOS was not mature in either arm, a 41% reduction in risk of death was observed in the toripalimab arm over the placebo arm, HR=0.59 (95% CI: 0.37, 0.94), nominal P =0.0238. The safety profile was consistent with that previously reported in other toripalimab clinical trials with no new safety signals identified with toripalimab added to GP. About toripalimab Toripalimab is an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody developed for its ability to block PD-1 interactions with its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, and for enhanced receptor internalization (endocytosis function). Blocking PD-1 interactions with PD-L1 and PD-L2 promotes the immune systems ability to attack and kill tumor cells. More than thirty company-sponsored toripalimab clinical studies covering more than fifteen indications have been conducted globally by Junshi Biosciences, including in China, the United States, Southeast Asia, and European countries. Ongoing or completed pivotal clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of toripalimab cover a broad range of tumor types including cancers of the lung, nasopharynx, esophagus, stomach, bladder, breast, liver, kidney and skin. In China, toripalimab was the first domestic anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody approved for marketing (approved in China as TUOYI). Currently, there are four approved indications for toripalimab in China: unresectable or metastatic melanoma after failure of standard systemic therapy; recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma NPC after failure of at least two lines of prior systemic therapy; locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma that failed platinum-containing chemotherapy or progressed within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant platinum-containing chemotherapy; in combination with cisplatin and gemcitabine as the first-line treatment for patients with locally recurrent or metastatic NPC. The first three indications have been included in the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) (2021 Edition). Toripalimab is the only anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody included in the NRDL for melanoma and NPC. In addition, two supplemental New Drug Applications (NDAs) for toripalimab are currently under review by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in China: in combination with chemotherapy as the first-line treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic ESCC. in combination with chemotherapy as the first-line treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic NSCLC without EGFR or ALK mutations. In the United States, the FDA has granted priority review for the toripalimab BLA for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic NPC, an aggressive head and neck tumor which has no FDA-approved immuno-oncology treatment options. The FDA has assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date for April 2022 for the toripalimab BLA. The FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy designation for toripalimab in combination with chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of recurrent or metastatic NPC in 2021 as well as for toripalimab monotherapy in the second or third-line treatment of recurrent or metastatic NPC in 2020. Additionally, the FDA has granted Fast Track designation for toripalimab for the treatment of mucosal melanoma and Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of esophageal cancer, NPC, mucosal melanoma and soft tissue sarcoma. In 2021, Coherus in-licensed rights to develop and commercialize toripalimab in the United States and Canada. Junshi Biosciences and Coherus plan to file additional toripalimab BLAs with the FDA over the next three years for multiple other cancer types. About Junshi Biosciences Founded in December 2012, Junshi Biosciences (HKEX: 1877; SSE: 688180) is an innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of innovative therapeutics. The company has established a diversified R & D pipeline comprising over 50 drug candidates, with five therapeutic focus areas covering cancer, autoimmune, metabolic, neurological, and infectious diseases. Junshi Biosciences was the first Chinese pharmaceutical company that obtained marketing approval for anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody in China. Its first-in-human anti-BTLA monoclonal antibody for tumors was the first in the world to be approved for clinical trials by the FDA and NMPA and has since entered Phase Ib/II trials in both China and the US. Its anti-PCSK9 monoclonal antibody was the first in China to be approved for clinical trials by the NMPA. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Junshi Biosciences responded swiftly and strongly, joining forces with Chinese and international scientific research institutions and enterprises to develop an arsenal of drug candidates to combat COVID-19, taking the initiative to shoulder the social responsibility of Chinese pharmaceutical companies by prioritizing and accelerating COVID-19 R&D. Among the many drug candidates is JS016 (etesevimab), Chinas first neutralizing fully human monoclonal antibody against SARS-CoV-2 and the result of the combined efforts of Junshi Biosciences, the Institute of Microbiology of the Chinese Academy of Science and Lilly. JS016 administered with bamlanivimab has been granted Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) in over 15 countries and regions worldwide. Meanwhile, VV116, a new oral nucleoside analog anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug designed to hinder virus replication, is in global Phase III clinical trials. The JS016 and VV116 programs are a part of the companys continuous innovation for disease control and prevention of the global pandemic. Junshi Biosciences has more than 2,800 employees in the United States (San Francisco and Maryland) and China (Shanghai, Suzhou, Beijing and Guangzhou). For more information, please visit: http://junshipharma.com. About Coherus BioSciences Coherus is a commercial stage biopharmaceutical company building a leading immuno-oncology franchise funded with cash generated by its commercial biosimilar business. In 2021, Coherus in-licensed toripalimab, an anti-PD-1 antibody, in the United States and Canada. A biologics license application for toripalimab for the treatment of metastatic or recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma is currently under priority review by the FDA with a target action date of April 2022. Toripalimab is also being evaluated in pivotal clinical trials for the treatment of cancers of the lung, breast, liver, skin, kidney, stomach, esophagus, and bladder. Coherus markets UDENYCA (pegfilgrastim-cbqv), a biosimilar of Neulasta in the United States, and expects to launch the FDA-approved Humira biosimilar YUSIMRY (adalimumab-aqvh) in the United States in 2023. The FDA is currently reviewing the biologics license application for CHS-201, a biosimilar of Lucentis (ranibizumab), with a target action date of August 2022. Coherus is also developing CHS-305, a biosimilar of Avastin (bevacizumab). Forward-Looking Statements Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding Coherus ability to build its immuno-oncology franchise to achieve a leading market position; Coherus ability to generate cash; Coherus investment plans; Coherus expectations for the launch date of YUSIMRY and other products; Coherus plans to file additional BLAs for toripalimab; beliefs about toripalimabs ability to enhance treatment of patients; and potential for toripalimab plus chemotherapy to represent a new standard of care in the future. Such forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause Coherus actual results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the risks and uncertainties inherent in the clinical drug development process; risks relating to the COVID-19 pandemic; risks related to our existing and potential collaboration partners; risks of the drug development position of Coherus competitors; the risks and uncertainties of the regulatory approval process, including the speed of regulatory review, international aspects of Coherus business, the need to schedule inspections in China and the timing of Coherus regulatory filings; the risk of FDA review issues; the risk of Coherus execution of its change in strategy from a focus on biosimilars to a strategy using cash from its portfolio to fund an immuno-oncology franchise; the risk that Coherus is unable to complete commercial transactions and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of Coherus drug candidates; and the risks and uncertainties of possible litigation. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. Coherus undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. For a further description of the significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to Coherus business in general, see Coherus Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 23, 2022, including the section therein captioned Risk Factors and in other documents Coherus files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. UDENYCA, YUSIMRY and CIMERLI, whether or not appearing in large print or with the trademark symbol, are trademarks of Coherus, its affiliates, related companies or its licensors or joint venture partners, unless otherwise noted. Trademarks and trade names of other companies appearing in this press release are, to the knowledge of Coherus, the property of their respective owners. Coherus Contact Information: IR Contact: McDavid Stilwell Chief Financial Officer Coherus BioSciences, Inc. IR@coherus.com Media Contact: Brian Grancagnolo Brian.Grancagnolo@hkstrategies.com +1 (212) 885-0449 Junshi Biosciences Contact Information IR Team: Junshi Biosciences info@junshipharma.com + 86 021-2250 0300 Goby Global Bob Ai bai@gobyglobal.com + 1 646-389-6658 PR Team: Junshi Biosciences Zhi Li zhi_li@junshipharma.com + 86 021-6105 8800 PHILADELPHIA, April 08, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AnPac Bio-Medical Science Co., Ltd. (AnPac Bio, the Company or we) (ANPC), a biotechnology company with operations in the United States and China focused on early cancer screening and detection, announced that Dr. Aidong Chen has joined the Company as its board director, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors. Dr. Aidong Chen has been a practicing physician and researcher for over 10 years. He has received over 20 global patents on his work and published 91 papers over his career. Dr. Chen has been affiliated with many leading hospitals, including Yijishan Hospital, and Nanjing Medical University. He has replaced Dr. Chris Yu, Companys founder, who resigned as board director, CEO and Chairman of the Board of the Company. As head of China operations of the Company, Dr. Yu will remain with the Company in a senior management role to focus on growing business in China. The Company will also be adding Sheng Dorothy Liu to the Board of Directors, who will be replacing Mr. Chao Feng. Ms. Liu is currently the CEO of Zhongjintai Venture Capital (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., a venture capital firm in Shenzhen. She has worked in finance and consulting, including in private equity, for almost ten years. Ms. Liu will be an independent director and will also serve as a member of the Compensation Committee and Chairperson of the Nominating Committee. About AnPac Bio AnPac Bio is a biotechnology company focused on early cancer screening and detection, with 150 issued patents as of September 30, 2021. With two certified clinical laboratories in China and one CLIA and CAP accredited clinical laboratory in the United States, AnPac Bio performs a suite of cancer screening and detection tests, including CDA (Cancer Differentiation Analysis), bio-chemical, immunological, and genomics tests. According to a report by Frost & Sullivan, AnPac Bio ranked first globally in multi-cancer screening and detection test sample volume (accumulative to January 2021). AnPac Bios CDA technology platform has been shown in retrospective validation studies to be able to detect the risk of over 20 different cancer types with high sensitivity and specificity. For more information, please visit: https://www.Anpacbio.com. For investor and media inquiries, please contact: Company: Phil Case, Marketing and Investor Relations Phone: +1-267-810-6776 (US) Email: phil_case@AnPacbio.com Investor Relations: Ascent Investor Relations LLC Tina Xiao, President Phone: +1-917-609-0333 (US) Email: tina.xiao@ascent-ir.com Safe Harbor Statement This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are relating to the Companys future financial and operating performance. The Company has attempted to identify forward-looking statements by terminologies including believes, estimates, anticipates, expects, plans, projects, intends, potential, target, aim, predict, outlook, seek, goal objective, assume, contemplate, continue, positioned, forecast, likely, may, could, might, will, should, approximately or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, assumptions and uncertainties involving judgments about, among other things, future economic, competitive and market conditions and future business decisions, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond the Companys control. These statements also involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Companys actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statement. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, our ability to comply with Nasdaq Listing Rules, the implementation of our business model and growth strategies; trends and competition in the cancer screening and detection market; our expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of our cancer screening and detection tests and our ability to expand our customer base; our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protections for our CDA technology and our continued research and development to keep pace with technology developments; our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals from the NMPA, the FDA and the relevant U.S. states and have our laboratories certified or accredited by authorities including the CLIA; our future business development, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to obtain financing cost-effectively; potential changes of government regulations; general economic and business conditions in China and elsewhere; our ability to hire and maintain key personnel; our relationship with our major business partners and customers; and the duration of the coronavirus outbreaks and their potential adverse impact on the economic conditions and financial markets and our business and financial performance, such as resulting from reduced commercial activities due to quarantines and travel restrictions instituted by China, the U.S. and many other countries around the world to contain the spread of the virus. Additionally, all forward-looking statements are subject to the Risk Factors detailed from time to time in the Companys most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Because of these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions, undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements. In addition, these statements speak only as of the date of this press release and, except as may be required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason. Illustration: Liu Rui/GT Almost 90 percent of Chinese netizens believe the US is a hegemon and bully in the Ukraine issue, according to a latest survey conducted by the official Weibo account of Huanqiu.com. On March 30, Huanqiu's Weibo account launched a series of surveys asking netizens questions like "what's the role of the US in the Ukraine issue," "how to view the US threat of sanctioning China," and what they think of the "US Indo-Pacific Strategy." Among the 12,000 responses received by Thursday, 89.2 percent of respondents believe the US is a hegemon and bully in the Ukraine issue. Only 5.6 percent, or 672 people, think the US is fair and just, while 5.2 percent said they are not sure. During this crisis, the US and NATO, which hold the key to resolving the conflict, have not only failed to take practical actions to ease the situation, but instead further intensified the conflict by threatening to impose sanctions on China. Among the 7,347 surveyed, 92.2 percent believe the US' threat of sanctioning China is a bullying and coercive behavior that cannot conceal its real intention. Only 4.2 percent believe the US aims at ending the war and promoting peace, and 3.6 percent said it is not clear. In February, the White House released the Indo-Pacific Strategy, which attracted the attention of the international community. The US is vainly trying to build closer partnership with its allies in the Indo-Pacific region, and continues to incite China-related agendas on issues such as the South China Sea. The outdated Cold War zero-sum mentality and arrogant attitude of "America First" embedded in the strategy has made regional countries wary. People were also asked whether they think the US' Indo-Pacific Strategy is an Indo-Pacific version of NATO. Among the 5,856 people surveyed, 5,207 or 89 percent said "yes," a minor 6.2 percent said "no" while 4.8 percent said it is not clear. Some netizens commented under the survey, "The US is the only country among major powers which doesn't want peaceful negotiations between Russia and Ukraine." Others said, "The US has not achieved its goal for triggering the war, and it is bound to add fuel to the fire." "Any excuse will serve a tyrant. The US tries to hide its shamelessness by exploiting public opinion to sanction China," a Weibo user commented. Another netizen reminded the others to "Look at the map. The thousands of military bases and biolabs set up by the US-led NATO have besieged China and Russia." Some said, "If NATO targets Russia, then the target of the Indo-Pacific Strategy is China." China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on March 28 that China maintains that sanctions are not fundamentally effective ways to solve problems, noting China stands firmly against unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction with no basis in international law and no mandate of the UN Security Council. This is China's consistent position in both open and closed-door meetings. History shows that instead of solving problems, sanctions create new problems, he said. "The problem now is not about who wants to help Russia circumvent the sanctions, but about the fact that the normal trade and economic exchanges between countries, China included, and Russia have already been unnecessarily hurt," said Wang, adding that China urges the US to take China's concerns seriously when handling the Ukraine issue and its relations with Russia and avoid undermining China's legitimate rights and interests in any way. China will take all necessary measures to firmly uphold the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies and individuals. Zhao Lijian, another spokesperson, said at a press briefing on April 6 that in the past eight years from 2014, a group of countries, led by the US, imposed 8,068 sanctions designations on Russia, making it the most sanctioned country in the world followed by Iran. Since February 22 this year, 5,314 new sanctions designations have been slapped on Russia. "The ongoing war and sanctions have incurred an influx of refugees, capital outflow and energy shortage in Europe, but enabled the US to earn profit and make a fortune," Zhao pointed out. Global Times Saint-Laurent , April 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lithium-ion battery expert Martin Kepman forecasts that in the next few years, there will be a large demand for a Canadian and U.S. rare mineral supply chain. This is especially true for manganese, which is an important mineral for electric vehicles powered by lithium-ion batteries and energy storage devices. The current electric car and EV revolution has shown manganese to be an essential mineral in all future lithium-ion batteries, with the potential to produce more power, have more stability, with larger capacities, and be safer for consumers. Source https://evadoption.com/ev-sales/ev-sales-forecasts/ Martin recently released a report on the future of the lithium-ion battery market. Here are some highlights from his report. Kepman is bullish on the lithium-ion battery market and believes that it will continue to grow at a rapid pace. He cites several reasons for this growth, including the increasing demand for hybrid and electric vehicles and the need for energy storage solutions. Kepman also predicts that prices for lithium-ion batteries will continue to decline in the coming years. This will make them more affordable for consumers and businesses alike. Finally, Kepman believes that innovation in the lithium-ion battery industry will lead to new applications. The full report is available here and is available for download. About Manganese X Energy Manganese X Energy Corp. (TSXV: MN) (FSE: 9SC2) (OTC:QB:MNXXF) (FRANKFURT:9SC2) with its head office in Montreal QC, owns 100% of the Battery Hill property project (1,228 hectares) located in New Brunswick Canada. Battery Hill is strategically situated 12 kilometers from the US (Maine) border, near existing infrastructures (power, railways, and roads). It encompasses all or part of five manganese-iron zones, including Iron Ore Hill, Moody Hill, Sharpe Farm, Maple Hill and Wakefield. According to Brian Ways (2012) masters thesis on the Woodstock manganese occurrences, that includes Battery Hill, the area hosts a series of banded iron formations that collectively constitute one of the largest manganese resources in North America, approximately 194,000,000 tons. Media contact: Rene Perras Digital PR Consultant for Manganese X Energy Corp 514-816-4446 When sharing on social media please help us by using these hashtags: #ManganeseXEnergyisElectricGold #ManganeseXMinerforElectricGold #ManganeseisElectricGold #ManganeseXisElectricGold New Brunswick, Canada https://www.manganesexenergycorp.com ### Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains forward-looking information which may include statements with respect to the future exploration performance of Manganese X Energy Corp (the Company). This forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements of the Company, expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, as well as others, are disclosed within the Companys filing on SEDAR, which investors are encouraged to review prior to any transaction involving the securities of the Company. Forward-looking information contained herein is provided as of the date of this publication and the Company disclaims any obligation, other than as required by law, to update any forward-looking information for any reason. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking information. We seek safe harbor. Source: https://news.manganesexenergycorp.com/the-manganese-battery-hill-project-in-new-brunswick-canada-celebrates-elon-musk-tesla-battery-day_14366.html https://evadoption.com/ev-sales/ev-sales-forecasts/ Via KISS PR Distribution - Media Contact: Az@kisspr.com CALIFORNIA CITY, Calif., April 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ShiruPal (Pty) Ltd is a Cryptocurrency Technology Company Based in South Africa. The company is registered with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), of South Africa, in compliance with the Companies Act 71 of 2008. Shiru Token is one of eight planned divisions of ShiruPal (Pty) Ltd. The Shiru team is backed by specialists, experienced in Enterprise Software Management Solutions that will enable product development inline with best of features and usability to ensure brand adoption to pave the way to a new future. With so many complex processes, high gas fees, loopholes and vulnerabilities exploited daily, ShiruPal recognize the need to change the future of cryptocurrencies. The team and company is community-driven, focused on delivering tailor-made solutions and services to the cryptocurrency industry. The Token will serve as the basis for every project developed. This will lock in value and dividends on all business ventures paid out to token holders by only holding Shiru Tokens. Mission: ShiruPal's mission is to enable every individual to trade and transact at low to minimal fees at their favorite shopping destinations, whether it is at a local retail store or online. They plan to create a payment platform that can be used by both consumers and the commercial industry. Vision: Their vision is to become a world class leader by combining FIAT & cryptocurrencies seamlessly, essentially establishing a trust worthy source for payments globally. Values: Excellence in all they do Winning with people Customer focus Accountability and transparency Current and Future Projects: Shiru Token: BSC with 3% rewards in BNB per transaction. Shiru Wallet: Cross compatible with iOS, Android and Microsoft Windows. Shiru Swap: DEX, cross-compatible with iOS, Android and Microsoft Windows. Shiru Change: CEX, zero trading fees, zero account management fees and no minimum deposits. Shiru Chain: Blockchain with in-house mining system to ensure near-zero gas fees. Shiru Pay: FIAT and crypto integrated payment platform, facilitating any currency payments online. Shiru Chip: Debit Card facility linked to Shiru Wallet to shop and pay at favorite stores locally. Shiru Risk: Credit Risk Management, the first commercial Credit Bureau in the DeFi sector. PinkSale Presale link: https://www.pinksale.finance/#/launchpad/0xE454CD15dA3EF0C3Db048dC98AA5C6d394F15A26?chain=BSC Contract Address: 0xA9E85F8E01e9BC1ed13bA341A6cF769EfA2A7087 BscScan: https://bscscan.com/token/0xA9E85F8E01e9BC1ed13bA341A6cF769EfA2A7087 Website: https://www.shirupal.com - 15 different language translations available. Email: info@shirupal.com Telegram: https://t.me/ShiruToken Related Images Image 1: ShiruPal Multiple projects to be developed and launched to create a complete ecosystem This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- China's imports and exports of flowers exceeded 700 million U.S. dollars for the first time in 2021, up 12.66 percent year on year, according to the China Flower Association. China's flower industry currently faces severe challenges due to the COVID-19 epidemic and waning demand, said Zhang Yinchao, secretary of the association. The association will help flower farmers and companies transform marketing methods and use 5G technology and artificial intelligence in a bid to expand flower consumption, he said. The association will also work to strengthen international cooperation, explore global markets and increase flower exports, Zhang said. Toto Wolff and Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes have a close working relationship after winning the world title eight years in a row among the constructors. The Austrian tells in conversation with Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf about the bond between driver and team boss. Hamilton greatest F1 personality Seven-time world champion Hamilton can only count on praise from his team boss despite a poor start to the 2022 F1 season. The new car is not doing well either, but according to Wolff, Hamilton is far from finished in Formula One. The collaboration between the two began in 2013 and Wolff admires the driver because he still wants to learn every day. Wolff: "Along with Ayrton Senna, he is the greatest personality Formula 1 has ever known." Although it sometimes seems that Hamilton does not have his focus fully on F1, according to Wolff that cannot be pointed to as a reason why the Briton underperformed in Saudi Arabia. Indeed, Wolff recalls some examples: "In Japan, he once said on Sunday that he had hardly slept and had been making music all night. That day he crushed the competition." Wolff and Hamilton have a pact Wolff has a similar story about the 2018 Singapore GP. Hamilton had been to fashion shows in Shanghai and Los Angeles and to a friend's wedding in England just days before the race. That Saturday, he drove the best qualifying lap Wolff had ever seen from him. Wolff: "That's the pact I made with him. I give him freedom as long as he delivers." For a long time last winter it seemed uncertain whether Lewis Hamilton would continue in Formula 1. Finally, the former champion is back in his Mercedes every race weekend. But unlike in previous years, he does not (yet) play a significant role in the battle for victories. Fantastic shape The story is well known by now: Mercedes has the necessary problems with the porpoising and especially because of that the car is anything but competitive. The gap to Ferrari and Red Bull seems enormous. It is easy to imagine that someone like Hamilton at this point in his career does not fancy battles in the middle or even the back of the field, as he did in Bahrain. Team boss Toto Wolff of Mercedes let the English newspaper The Independent know that there is that there is no question of any diminished motivation on Hamilton's part. "You can only walk away if you dont like what you do any more, but Lewis loves doing this. Lewis is in fantastic shape. His lifestyle is hugely disciplined now and he has many, many years to go," Wolff believes. Chance of a podium In Australia, Hamilton will start from fifth position. The Briton is still suffering from the porpoising, but thinks he has a chance for a podium finish. No doubt it helps that Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz is only starting from position nine. BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday held a phone conversation with Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic over bilateral ties. Selakovic first conveyed sincere regards from Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to Chinese President Xi Jinping, expressing appreciation for Xi's immediate congratulations to President Vucic on his reelection, wishing the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China a complete success, and expressing the belief that China will make greater progress in its development under the leadership of President Xi. The Serbian side is proud of its profound traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership with China and thanks China for firmly supporting Serbia in safeguarding its core interests, said Selakovic, noting that Serbia also firmly supports China in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and opposes any attempt to split China. Overcoming the impact of the turbulent international situation, the cooperation between China and Serbia has made steady progress, said Selakovic, noting that the two countries have engaged in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, the Belgrade to Novi Sad (Beno) section of the Hungary-Serbia railway successfully opened to traffic, and the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries have achieved unprecedented results. Chinese enterprises have actively participated in Serbian national development and played an indispensable role in the country's economic and social development, Selakovic added, saying that his country is ready to deepen its iron-clad friendship with China and join hands together to meet challenges. Wang conveyed Chinese President Xi's cordial greetings and best wishes to President Vucic, saying that President Xi immediately sent a congratulatory message to Vucic on his re-election, which fully demonstrates the high-level mutual trust and deep friendship between the two heads of state. As Serbia's long-term and reliable iron-clad friend as well as its comprehensive strategic partner, China will firmly support Serbia in safeguarding its sovereignty, territorial integrity and national dignity, pursuing an independent foreign policy, and making judgements and decisions in accordance with the fundamental interests of the country and its people, Wang said. China opposes external forces' exerting political pressure on sovereign states or forcing other countries to take sides through coercion, he added. China stands ready to work with Serbia to continuously support each other on international and multilateral platforms, including resisting attempts to politicize and instrumentalize human rights affairs, Wang said. China, Wang added, is ready to work with Serbia to accelerate the implementation of the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and the construction of the Novi Sad-Subotica section of the Budapest-Belgrade Railway, support the sound operation and development of key cooperative enterprises, and sign bilateral free trade agreement as soon as possible to inject strong impetus into cooperation and help Serbia further enhance its competitiveness. Selakovic said that Serbia is firmly committed to upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and will not turn its back on its true friends, adding that China has always upheld a fair and just position in international affairs and actively promoted peace talks, which Serbia highly appreciates. Wang stressed that under the current situation, the international community should be highly vigilant against the resurgence of the Cold War mentality and jointly resist attempts to split the world. In the face of a complex and volatile external environment, Wang said, as long as Serbia stays focused and sticks to development, it will overcome the difficulties and obstacles on its way forward. He expressed the belief that Serbia has the wisdom and ability to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests. The two sides agreed that the phone call is very timely and necessary. Fully confident of the future of bilateral relations, the two countries will continue to firmly support each other and push for new progress in their comprehensive strategic partnership. In the new environment of energy insecurity intensified by Russias invasion of Ukraine and the resulting response from the West, the UK government has released a new British Energy Security Strategy that sets out how Great Britain will accelerate the deployment of wind, new nuclear, solar and hydrogen, while supporting the production of domestic oil and gas in the nearer term. Under the plan, 95% of electricity by 2030 could be low-carbon, the government said. The strategy will see a significant acceleration of nuclear, with an ambition of up to 24GW by 2050. This would represent up to around 25% of projected electricity demandthree times more than now. Currently, low-carbon nuclear supplies 15% of power as a steady source of generation to complement intermittent renewables. Subject to technology readiness from industry, Small Modular Reactors will form a key part of the nuclear project pipeline. A new government body, Great British Nuclear, will be set up immediately to bring forward new projects, backed by substantial funding. The government will also launch the 120-million (US$156-million) Future Nuclear Enabling Fund this month. The government will work to progress a series of projects as soon as possible this decade, including Wylfa site in Anglesey. This could mean delivering up to 8 additional reactors, equivalent to one reactor a year instead of one a decade. Layout of Hinkley Point C. EPRsoriginally known as European Pressurized Water Reactorsare a type of Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR). The design of the UK EPRs that will be built at Hinkley Point C represents a major development on previous PWRs, making them amongst the safest and most efficient civil nuclear power generators ever designed. The UK EPR design also marks significant progress towards sustainability. It has been designed to use less uranium and produce almost a third less long-lived radioactive wastes compared with water reactors in operation today. Britains first nuclear power station in a generation, Hinkley Point C, is currently under construction, and the government is in negotiations with the developer on the Sizewell C project in Suffolk. The two projects combined would generate about 6.5GW of power. The UK has 8 designated nuclear sites: Hinkley, Sizewell, Heysham, Hartlepool, Bradwell, Wylfa, Oldbury and Moorside. To facilitate its ambitious deployment plans, the government will also develop an overall siting strategy for the long term. The Energy Security Strategy plans also include: Offshore wind: a new ambition of up to 50GW by 2030more than enough to power every home in the UKof which up to 5GW should be from floating offshore wind in deeper seas. This will be underpinned by new planning reforms to cut the approval times for new offshore wind farms from 4 years to 1 year and an overall streamlining which will reduce the time it takes for new projects to reach construction stages while improving the environment. Oil and gas: a licensing round for new North Sea oil and gas projects planned to launch in Autumn, with a new taskforce providing bespoke support to new developmentsrecognizing the importance of these fuels to the transition and to energy security, and that producing gas in the UK has a lower carbon footprint than imported from abroad. Onshore wind: The government will be consulting on developing partnerships with a limited number of supportive communities who wish to host new onshore wind infrastructure in return for guaranteed lower energy bills. Heat pump manufacturing: The government will run a Heat Pump Investment Accelerator Competition in 2022 worth up to 30 million (US$39 million) to make British heat pumps, which reduce demand for gas. The plan will also look to increase the UKs current 14GW of solar capacity which could grow up to 5 times by 2035, consulting on the rules for solar projects, particularly on domestic and commercial rooftops. The government also aims to double its ambition to up to 10GW of low-carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030, with at least half coming from green hydrogen and utilizing excess offshore wind power to bring down costs. This will not only provide cleaner energy for vital British industries to move away from expensive fossil fuels, but could also be used for cleaner power, transport and potentially heat. KRAMATORSK, Ukraine -- At least 50 people were killed and 98 injured in what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called an "evil" Russian shelling attack on a train station where hundreds of civilians were attempting to flee ahead of expected attacks. Grisly scenes emerged from the city of Kramatorsk, with bodies strewn among luggage, toys and debris. Witnesses described a large explosion followed by four or five "cluster bombs" that tore into a crowd of people who had gathered to catch an arriving train. Pavlo Kyrylenko, head of the Donetsk regional administration, said 38 people died at the station and another 12 died while in the hospital. Among the dead are five children, he said, with a 16 children recorded as injured. The horrific attack in Kramatorsk comes a day after Russia was suspended from the U.N. Human Rights Council over reported atrocities in Bucha and elsewhere, and as Western allies continue to boost military and diplomatic support for Ukraine. "This is another war crime of Russia, for which everyone involved will be held accountable," Zelensky said in a video address Friday night in which he again pleaded for Russian to be held accountable by an international court. "Like the massacre in Bucha, like many other Russian war crimes, the missile strike in Kramatorsk must be one of the charges at the tribunal, which is bound to happen." As the war enters its seventh week, Russian forces are intensifying their shelling of eastern and southern Ukraine, with analysts saying forces that were pushed back or evacuated from other parts of the country are regrouping. Ukrainian officials are calling for immediate evacuation ahead of what they expect to be a violent onslaught in the eastern provinces in coming days, which made the specter of civilians slaughtered at a crowded train station even more haunting. President Joe Biden called the attack "yet another horrific atrocity committed by Russia." He and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that the U.S. will send a Patriot missile system to Slovakia, backfilling for the NATO member country after it earlier sent a Soviet-built S-300 air-defense system to Ukraine. "I have directed my administration to continue to spare no effort to identify and provide to the Ukrainian military the advanced weapons capabilities it needs to defend its country," Biden said. Biden also signed into law two new measures designed to punish the Kremlin for its invasion of Ukraine: an act formalizing the suspension of normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus, and one that prohibits the import of Russian oil, liquefied natural gas and coal. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 6 1 of 6 Photo for The Washington Post by Heidi Levine. Show More Show Less 2 of 6 Photo for The Washington Post by Wojciech Grzedzinski. Show More Show Less 3 of 6 4 of 6 Photo for The Washington Post by Wojciech Grzedzinski. Show More Show Less 5 of 6 Photo for The Washington Post by Wojciech Grzedzinski. Show More Show Less 6 of 6 British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday pledged to send another 100 million pounds ($130 million) in high-grade military equipment to Ukraine, including Starstreak antiaircraft missiles, antitank missiles and precision munitions, as well as more body armor, helmets and night-vision equipment. Japan announced it will expel eight Russian diplomats and take steps to reduce its dependence on Russian energy, including a planned ban on Russian coal exports, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said in a news conference Russia denied involvement in the train station attack, calling accusations by Ukrainian officials "absolutely untrue." Russia's Defense Ministry said in a statement that fragments the found near the station are "used only by the Ukrainian armed forces." A senior U.S. defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the Pentagon, said the Pentagon is "not buying" Russia's denial. Pro-Moscow journalists reported the missile attack on Telegram channels within minutes of the shelling, referring to it as a successful Russian assault on Ukraine fighters or hardware, according to open source data analysts. However, the posts were swiftly deleted when information emerged on the high civilian toll. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other top E.U. officials who traveled to Ukraine to meet with Zelensky, also denounced the train attack, with von der Leyen calling it "despicable" and saying she was "appalled by the loss of life." The group traveled to Bucha, using their first trip to the region since the invasion to draw attention to alleged war crimes there during the town's Russian occupation. Images posted from the trip show von der Leyen in a flak jacket, surrounded by armed Ukrainian military personnel, as they survey rows of black body bags in an outdoor area. Also in the group are Josep Borrell, the E.U.'s top diplomat, and Eduard Heger, the prime minister of Slovakia. "It was important to start my visit in Bucha," von der Leyen tweeted Friday. "Because in Bucha our humanity was shattered." The strike on the train station was in line with Russian President Vladimir Putin's "intent to heavily destroy infrastructure," said one senior NATO intelligence official. "Therefore we are not surprised that even in the phase of regrouping that he is still using missiles and airstrikes to destroy infrastructure and to kill people as well." The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under NATO ground rules, said he expects Putin will continue to keep pressure on Ukrainian forces with missiles and airstrikes "especially in the area of Kramatorsk and Donetsk and Luhansk," all of which are in the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine. But he predicted airstrikes from Kherson to Mariupol to Kharkiv as well. "Lacking the strength and courage to stand up to us on the battlefield, they are cynically destroying the civilian population. This is an evil that has no limits," Zelensky said in a Telegram message following the attack. Russian forces have expanded the number of military units in eastern Ukraine from 30 to more than 40, the Pentagon said on Friday, adding thousands of additional troops to the region after largely pulling out of the country's north. U.S. officials also assess that Moscow is using the Russian towns of Belgorod and Valuyki -- north of Ukraine's border -- to reequip its forces ahead of the changing offensive. The Pentagon said on Friday that many Russian units had been "almost completely devastated" earlier in the war, estimating that between 15 and 20 percent of Moscow's forces have been lost with some units diminished beyond recovery. "It's unclear if they will ever be re-formed," Defense Department spokesperson John Kirby said of the units, or whether commanders plan to reconsolidate parts of the units with others. NATO officials last month estimated that Russia could have lost up to 15,000 troops in the first month of fighting, but accurate figures are difficult to verify. A Washington Post photographer who arrived at the Kramatorsk train station moments after the attack saw Ukrainian military personnel, police and volunteers covering rows of dead bodies in green tarps. Nearby, the Kramatorsk Town Hospital No. 3 and its five operating rooms were overwhelmed with patients with serious injuries. Staff were treating more than 20 people in the hallways and waiting rooms. Around 100 yards from the station, a large missile fragment was visible wedged into the ground. On its side, a Russian phrase translated as "For the Children" was painted in white - an apparent allusion to Russia's motivation for the war as laid out in propaganda: protecting the Donbas region. The civilians seeking to flee Kramatorsk are among thousands across eastern Ukraine that have been given orders by officials to evacuate immediately, warning of more intense attacks in the coming days. The British Defense Ministry said on Friday that Russian forces have now fully withdrawn from northern Ukraine and have been recalled to Russia and Belarus as preparations are underway to transfer them to the eastern region of Donbas, where the Kremlin is focusing its attacks. Officials said in the Friday morning intelligence update that the troops are probably going to need "significant replenishment" and mass deployments could take up to a week. Officials in Ukraine's east are on high alert, and say constant shelling is a sign of the assault to come. "The scum don't stop and they are regularly raking us with fire," said Serhiy Haidai, regional governor of the eastern city of Luhansk in a Telegram Post. He said the situation in his region was "very bad" and said preparations for an all-out attack could take place in just a matter of days. A similar warning came from Pavlo Kyrylenko, the Donetsk regional governor. "They're shelling all day, especially in Adiivka and Vuhledar," Kyrylenko said in a television interview that was posted on his Telegram channel. Residents of the southern Ukrainian city of Odessa, so far relatively unscathed by the fighting, will be subject to a curfew this weekend amid fears of an attack similar to the one in Kramatorsk. "I appeal to the residents of Odessa and the region to understand the restrictions and not violate them . . . because the consequences can be fatal," Maxim Marchenko, governor of the Odessa region, said in a statement. In the southern port city of Mariupol -- subject to some of the fiercest attacks since the war began - shelling continues. An adviser to the mayor's office, Petro Andryushchenko, denied reports that Russian forces have taken hold of the city, though his comments could not be independently verified. "For the second day in a row, the Russians are spreading the same news that they have taken control of the city. This does not correspond to reality," Andryushchenko wrote on his Telegram channel. Ten humanitarian corridors, including routes through Luhansk, Mariupol and Melitopol were to be opened on Friday, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said. Around 6,665 people had fled via the corridors on Friday, up from 4,600 a day before. - - - Bennett reported from Kramatorsk, Ukraine; Ilyushina and Dixon reported from Riga, Latvia; Cadell, Lamonthe and Nakashima reported from Washington. The Washington Post's Adela Suliman in London, Michelle Lee and Julia Mio Inuma in Tokyo, Emily Rauhala in Brussels, Wojciech Grzedzinski in Kramatorsk, and Alex Horton, Karoun Demirjian and Felicia Sonmez in Washington contributed to this report. Chinese medical team donates medical supplies to Sierra Leonean hospital Xinhua) 14:50, April 09, 2022 Members of a Chinese medical team hand over medical supplies to representatives of the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on April 8, 2022. The Chinese medical team in Sierra Leone on Friday donated a batch of medical supplies to the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Hospital to help it boost medical service. (Photo by Xie Jingjing/Xinhua) FREETOWN, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese medical team in Sierra Leone on Friday donated a batch of medical supplies to the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Hospital to help it boost medical service. The donated items included 24 categories of much-needed medicines and more than 30 kinds of medical apparatus and instruments, which will help address the shortage of medical supplies in the hospital, said Zhou Xi, chief of the team. According to Zhou, the hospital in which the team currently performs its duties has long been facing a shortage of medical supplies, electricity, and water, posing challenges for both patients and the medical staff. "The shortage of necessities is very common among all the hospitals across the country, and we believe the donation will enable the hospital to offer better medical services and save more people's lives," she said. During the donation ceremony, Karim Kabineh, the dean of the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Hospital, hailed the Chinese doctors' kind gesture, saying the Chinese medical teams have provided tremendous support for the hospital's medical service over the years. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and many other challenges, the team has successfully completed more than 40 surgeries since the beginning of this year, said Zhou, adding that the team will always be committed to sharing the experience with its Sierra Leonean counterparts and serving local patients. (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji) Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta (2nd L) and his counterparts are seen during a treaty signing ceremony at State House in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, April 8, 2022. (Photo by Charles Onyango/Xinhua) The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Friday formally joined the East African Community (EAC) after the signing of the Treaty of the Accession of the DRC into the EAC in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, the EAC said in a statement. DAR ES SALAAM, April 9 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Friday formally joined the East African Community (EAC) after the signing of the Treaty of the Accession of the DRC into the EAC in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, the EAC said in a statement. The statement issued by the EAC headquarters in Tanzania's northern city of Arusha said the EAC chairperson, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, signed the Treaty of Accession with DRC President Felix Tshisekedi. Also present at the signing ceremony were Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame, said the statement. The statement said DRC now has up to Sept. 29, 2022 to undertake internal and constitutional processes to ratify the Treaty and deposit the instruments of ratification with the EAC secretary general. "To get to this point, it has taken strong leadership, commitment to the ideals of the EAC integration agenda and a clear understanding of the shared benefits that come with working together," said President Kenyatta. President Kenyatta said the region has already begun realizing the promise of the EAC, including the free movement of people, goods and services across the Community that has boosted trade and strengthened people-to-people ties. "The accession of DRC as a member state of EAC will even more elevate these gains and strengthen our economic muscles and competitiveness in the continent and globally," he said. DRC becomes the seventh member of the EAC, joining Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. GREENWICH Fearing torture and death at the hands of the Taliban, two Afghan men had to make a heart-wrenching call: get out of the country, even if it meant leaving behind their wives and children. The chaos and tragedy of the fall of Afghanistans government last summer when the United States removed its troops and the Taliban seized power riveted the world. The United States has opened its doors to welcome refugees from the war-torn country. Its a welcome particularly meaningful for brothers-in-law Hafizullah Hamid and Khasrow Sakhra, who escaped Afghanistan after threats to their lives and who are trying to create new lives with the help of Greenwich nonprofit Jewish Family Services. Both men said they dream of the day when they can be reunited with the children and wives they had to leave behind. Hamid has three sons and two daughters. His wife and three of his children could not get out with him but he did make it out with two of his sons. Sakhra had to leave his wife and two sons in Afghanistan because there was no way to take them, he said. Hamid was working as a tailor, having given up a job as a policeman after his life was threatened several times by the Taliban after the group retook power in 2021. Sakhra was working with the Afghan military in the government as an administration officer with the Corps Command, a position that left him in danger when the government fell. When the Taliban came, I left Baghlan Province, Hamid said, speaking through a translator. It was very unsecure and the Taliban had high influence there. I was able to get out (of) there with my two kids. It was an opportunity I had because the Taliban was killing army and police. My life was being threatened and it was the only opportunity I had to escape with my two sons. A week before the government collapsed, Sakhra recalled, the Taliban went on the offensive. They were looking for anyone who was involved with the army, even people who cooked for them, said Sakhra, who also spoke through a translator. They were being captured by the Taliban and tortured. I was hiding far from my family because I didnt want to have my wife and kids with me because there was a possibility of me being arrested by the Taliban and tortured. I didnt want my wife to be captured. If I was captured, I would be able to be tortured but I didnt want that to happen to my wife, he said. I had an opportunity to get to the airplane and get out. Jewish Family Services CEO Rachel Kornfeld said there are nine Afghan refugees in Greenwich, including Hamid and Sakhra. There are currently 24 Afghan refugees in Stamford, including a newborn, and 10 in East Hartford. Kornfeld said that JFS was initially asked by the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society to assist with the humanitarian crisis by becoming a temporary resettlement agency under the authorization of the Afghan Placement Assistance Program. While it was not a new responsibility for JFS, which had worked in the 1990s and early 2000s to help resettle refugees from Russia, it had been close to 20 years since they had been involved in resettlement. And they had less than a month to ramp up their efforts. It has not been easy at all, but that was mostly because of the time frame, Kornfeld said. We had three weeks to get the program up and running, including staffing. The services that JFS has provided include helping helping refugees find housing and secure jobs. Both Sakhra and Hamid are currently working in restaurants Sakhra in Stamford and Hamid in Norwalk but those jobs are temporary. Kornfeld said the organization is working to get the brothers-in-law something more long-term. The federal government is paying for 90 days of case management services for all the Afghan refugees in the country, Kornfeld said, although JFS, as a social services agency, has no such limit on its efforts. JFS has already helped Hamid get his two sons, ages 13 and 16, into school in Stamford, Kornfeld said. The state of Connecticut has been incredible, she said. Gov. Lamont has said this is a welcoming state and he has set aside funding for Afghan evacuees specifically. Theyve been wonderful at the state level organizing to help us provide more. We have programs that are 90 days. We have programs that are six months. We have programs that are a year and all of these are geared toward self-sufficiency. These jobs they have now are just step one. We want them to have jobs that are long-term that they feel really good about and can excel in. JFS is also helping with the complicated process of asylum paperwork for family members left behind. Kornfeld credited Community Centers Inc. with helping JFS provide legal services. JFS is in touch with a federal organization which also is helping, she said. If there is any possibility of us helping in any way, it will be done, Kornfeld said. When they first arrived, we didnt see a lot of avenues (to help get their families out too) but now we are starting to see avenues. The men are in contact with their families and know they are safe for now, they said, but the separation weighs heavily on them. It is very difficult and very hard for a person that is not with their family, Sakhra said. Especially because our families are in Afghanistan and the security is not good. Because I was working in the military, there are many challenges for my family there. It is not easy to be apart from your family. The route to Greenwich and to bringing the rest of their families to Connecticut has been a complicated one. We have just started filling out the asylum papers, Hamid said. We want our family to be here as soon as possible. Right now we are physically here but our minds and our thoughts are back with our families. We are very concerned about them. We want them to be here. Both men along with Hamids two sons left Afghanistan in August. They first landed in Qatar and then Germany before arriving in the United States in the middle of October. Their first stop was in Pennsylvania, where they stayed until the end of the year. Through JFS, the two arrived in Greenwich in January. They are, to date, the last refugees from Afghanistan who were able to resettle in Greenwich, Kornfeld said. We are very happy to be in America, the land of culture and the land of knowledge, Hamid said. I am grateful for all the help weve gotten from so many people. But escaping from Afghanistan has also meant starting over in a new culture with a language barrier. For that, both men say they believe they are fortunate to have been welcomed with such kindness in Greenwich. There are such welcoming and tolerant people here, Hamid said. We are new here. We are just adopting this society and the environment and we are promised we will have good jobs in the future and have a better future. After seeing war in Afghanistan for much of his life, Sakhra said he is happy to be in a land of peace. I hope for a bright future here for my wife and my kids here, Sakhra said. kborsuk@greenwichtime.com With mixed feelings about the budgets approved this week at the General Assemblys committee level, Gov. Ned Lamont said Friday that hes optimistic that a deal can be reached on a $24.1-billion spending package to take effect on July 1. But for starters, the governor noted that there is a glaring, $784 million difference between the the tax package approved by the legislative Finance Committee and the spending plan approved by the Appropriations Committee. Looking ahead to the start of closed-door meetings next week to begin negotiations, the governor said there is plenty of room for compromise. Theyre coming from two slightly different directions, but I think were going to get there, Lamont said. Ive given them a couple of my broad principles. The governor warned that the fiscal rules created during a bipartisan legislative budget in 2017, limiting spending and revenue, are important to follow. He warned that prior to that year, the state would bounce from fiscal crisis, to surplus, to fiscal crisis again. Lamont also doesnt like efforts to avoid the spending cap by moving some line items away from the actual budget. Weve had three years of surpluses and weve been able to pay down a lot of debt, Lamont said. I just want to make sure we dont get tempted to go back to the old days where we got into trouble. The current projected surplus is $1.7 billion in the state budget year that runs through June 30. Both legislators and Lamont have different ideas on how to use hundreds of millions of dollars in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. The other piece, which I worry about a lot, is people using one-time monies, for example ARPA monies, to make a down payment on long-term ongoing expenses, Lamont said. Thats bad practice. All that does is leave you with a cliff in 2024. Jeffrey Beckham, the acting secretary of the Office of Policy and Management following the recent resignation of Melissa McCaw, said that the Finance Committee budget included an attempt to evade the statutory cap on tax revenue. If you take the Finance Committee revenues and the spending proposed by Appropriations, they are out of balance by $784 million, Beckham said. Those two work products are not aligned at all in terms of what we have to live with. Theyre going to have to get aligned a little bit before we sit down. If you use the revenues that the governor proposed in his budget but then take the spending from Appropriations, we would have a General Fund balance and wed have about a $31 million surplus. In February, Lamont proposed tax cuts of $336 million, including reductions in local car taxes. Lawmakers however, offered different approaches from the Finance and Appropriations panels. Beckham said that while the calculated use of ARPA funding seems to top out at $179 million in allowed tax cuts, Lamont has proposed using even less: $174 million. I think were all pretty close, Lamont said of the atmosphere leading into the annual dance between lawmakers and the executive branch. We all want to cut the car tax. We know its an unfair tax. We know it penalizes those towns in particular that have a higher mill rate. kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT GREENWICH The Art Society of Old Greenwich is holding its Members Spring Exhibit and Art Sale at the Greenwich Botanical Center in Cos Cob. Dozens of pieces of art across a variety of mediums are displayed and for sale in the Botanical Centers auditorium. The opening reception will be held Saturday, April 9 at 4 p.m. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed a Republican-priority measure on Friday that would ban abortions in Kentucky after 15 weeks of pregnancy and regulate the dispensing of abortion pills. The governor raised doubts about the constitutionality of the bill and criticized it for not including exceptions for pregnancies caused by rape or incest. State lawmakers will have a chance to override the veto when they reconvene next week for the final two days of this years 60-day legislative session. The abortion measure won overwhelming support in the GOP-dominated legislature. A state Republican Party spokesman called the veto the latest example of the governor's ideological war on conservative values. The proposal reflects the latest attempt by Kentucky lawmakers to put more restrictions and conditions on abortion since the GOP took complete control of the legislature after the 2016 election. The proposed 15-week ban is modeled after a Mississippi law under review by the U.S. Supreme Court in a case that could dramatically limit abortion rights. By taking the preemptive action, the bill's supporters say that Kentuckys stricter ban would be in place if the Mississippi law is upheld. Kentucky law currently bans abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Beshear on Friday condemned the bill for failing to exclude pregnancies caused by rape or incest. Rape and incest are violent crimes, the governor said in his veto message. Victims of these crimes should have options, not be further scarred through a process that exposes them to more harm from their rapists or that treats them like offenders themselves. The governor said the bill would make it harder for girls under 18 to end a pregnancy without notifying both parents. As an example, he said that a girl impregnated by her father would have to notify him of her intent to get an abortion. Beshear, a former state attorney general, also said the bill is likely unconstitutional, noting that similar laws elsewhere were struck down by the Supreme Court. He pointed to provisions in the Kentucky bill requiring doctors performing nonsurgical procedures to maintain hospital admitting privileges in geographical proximity to where the procedures are performed. The Supreme Court has ruled such requirements unconstitutional as it makes it impossible for women, including a child who is a victim of rape or incest, to obtain a procedure in certain areas of the state, the governor said. Opponents of the Kentucky bill say its restrictions are so onerous that no abortion clinic could comply. The state Republican Party sharply criticized Beshear for the veto. It will likely surface as an issue again next year when the governor runs for a second term in Republican-trending Kentucky. On Friday, state GOP spokesperson Sean Southard said the governor's veto was "the latest action in his ideological war on the conservative values held by Kentuckians. Abortion rights supporters defended the governor's action. Jackie McGranahan, policy strategist for the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky, said the bill aims to shame and ostracize patients and push a safe and effective method of abortion care out of reach. Another key part of the bill would set regulations for the dispensing of abortion pills. It would require women to be examined in person by a doctor before receiving the medication. That part of the bill is part of a nationwide push by anti-abortion groups to limit the ability of physicians to prescribe abortion pills by telemedicine, and comes in response to the increased use of pills rather than surgery to terminate early pregnancies. About half of all abortions performed in Kentucky are the result of medication procedures. NEWTOWN Four Sandy Hook parents who won two defamation suits against Alex Jones in Texas last year have sued him, claiming that he transferred millions of dollars from his fortune to shield his assets from them. During the defamation cases, the Jones debtors doomsday prepped for these eventual judgments by diverting assets, reads a lawsuit filed this week in 200th District Court in Austin, Texas by the parents of two children who were slain in the Sandy Hook shooting. This fact is only confirmed by the jaw-dropping amount in transfers the Jones debtors made during the defamation cases. In 2021 alone, the Jones debtors transferred from Free Speech Systems tens of millions more than it cost to operate that year, the lawsuit reads. These transfers started just four months after the last appellate court decision was issued that allowed the defamation cases to proceed. Jones, the host of the internet program Infowars, faces the first of three jury trials to award damages later this month in Texas. Jones, who called the 2012 shooting of 26 first-graders and educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School staged, synthetic, manufactured, a giant hoax, and completely fake with actors, lost two defamation lawsuits in Texas and a third in Connecticut. Jones has been in the headlines for weeks because of his Connecticut case, where he skipped court-ordered depositions and was sanctioned with an escalating daily fine of $25,000. At the same time, Jones offered the 15 people in the Connecticut defamation case and the four people in the Texas defamation cases $120,000 each to settle. No one took the settlement. This week, Jones was in Bridgeport to sit for two days of depositions, giving public statements both days about his plight. In the latest lawsuit in Texas, the four parents and a Massachusetts man who Jones falsely accused of being the shooter in the 2018 Parkland, Fla. massacre accuse Jones of trying to divert his assets to shell companies owned by insiders like his parents, his children, and himself. No attorneys are listed in the court records for Jones in the latest lawsuit. Jones could not be reached for comment late Friday at his Texas-based Infowars studio. [T]he Texas Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act prohibits defendants from playing shell games to shield assets from their creditors, the lawsuit reads. And it allows creditors like the Sandy Hook families to void fraudulent transfers that defendants like Alex Jones make to their insiders. rryser@newstimes.com 203-731-3342 A 26-year-old woman has been charged with murder in Texas after authorities said she caused the death of an individual by self-induced abortion, in a state that has the most restrictive abortion laws in the U.S. Its unclear whether Lizelle Herrera is accused of having an abortion or whether she helped someone else get an abortion. Herrera was arrested Thursday and remained jailed Saturday on a $500,000 bond in the Starr County jail in Rio Grande City, on the U.S.-Mexico border, sheriff's Maj. Carlos Delgado said in a statement. Herrera was arrested and served with an indictment on the charge of Murder after Herrera did then and there intentionally and knowingly cause the death of an individual by self-induced abortion, Delgado said. Delgado did not say under what law Herrera has been charged. He said no other information will be released until at least Monday because the case remains under investigation. Texas law exempts her from a criminal homicide charge for aborting her own pregnancy, University of Texas law professor Stephen Vladeck told The Associated Press. (Homicide) doesnt apply to the murder of an unborn child if the conduct charged is conduct committed by the mother of the unborn child, Vladeck said. A 2021 state law that bans abortions in Texas for women who are as early as six weeks pregnant has sharply curtailed the number of abortions in the state. The law leaves enforcement to private citizens who can sue doctors or anyone who helps a woman get an abortion. The woman receiving the abortion is exempted from the law. However, some states still have laws that criminalize self-induced abortions "and there have been a handful of prosecutions here and there over the years," Vladeck said. It is murder in Texas to take steps that terminate a fetus, but when a medical provider does it, it cant be prosecuted" due to U.S. Supreme Court rulings upholding the constitutionality of abortion, Vladeck said. Lynn Paltrow, the executive director of National Advocates for Pregnant Women also noted the state law exemption. Whats a little mysterious in this case is, what crime has this woman been charged with?" Paltrow said. There is no statute in Texas that, even on its face, authorizes the arrest of a woman for a self-managed abortion. Another Texas law prohibits doctors and clinics from prescribing abortion-inducing medications after the seventh week of pregnancy and prohibits delivery of the pills by mail. Medication abortions are not considered self-induced under federal Food and Drug Administration regulations, Vladeck said. You can only receive the medication under medical supervision, according to Vladeck. I realize this sounds weird because you are taking the pill yourself, but it is under a providers at least theoretical care. In Rio Grande City on Saturday the abortion rights group Frontera Fund called for Herrera's release. We dont yet know all the details surrounding this tragic event," said Rockie Gonzales, founder and board chair of of the organization. "What we do know is that criminalizing pregnant peoples choices or pregnancy outcomes, which the state of Texas has done, takes away peoples autonomy over their own bodies, and leaves them with no safe options when they choose not to become a parent, Gonzalez said. Nancy Cardenas Pena, Texas State Director for Policy and Advocacy for the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, said in a statement that abortion should be available on the woman's own terms where she feels most comfortable. "Allowing criminal law to be used against people who have ended their own pregnancies serves no reasonable state purpose, but may cause great harm to young people, people with lower incomes, and communities of color, who are most likely to encounter or be reported to law enforcement, Pena said. ___ Miller reported from Oklahoma City and Hollingsworth reported from Mission, Kansas. Associated Press reporter Juan Lozano in Houston contributed to this report. SIERRA VISTA, Ariz. (AP) A 14-year-old Douglas boy has pleaded guilty to juvenile charges stemming from a March incident in which authorities said he backed up into a Border Patrol vehicle while driving two migrants who'd entered the country illegally. The boy, who previously was charged as an adult, pleaded guilty recently in juvenile court to felony fleeing and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, said Deputy County Attorney Doyle Johnstun. BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Relevant parties are working to broker a peaceful solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The following are the latest developments: Russia hopes that its special military operation in Ukraine will end "in the foreseeable future," Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday. The operation is continuing and Russia's goals are being achieved, while substantive work is being carried out both in the military sphere and at the negotiation table, Peskov said at a daily briefing. In an interview with the Sky News on Thursday, Peskov said that "our military are doing their best to bring an end to that operation. - - - - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday hailed the visit of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the European Union's (EU) foreign policy chief Josep Borrell to Kiev as a signal of support for Ukraine, the state-run Ukrinform news agency reported. "This is a very strong signal that Ukraine and the European Union are together," Zelensky said at the joint press briefing with von der Leyen and Borrell in Kiev on Friday. Von der Leyen said that Ukraine is welcomed in the European family and handed over a questionnaire to Zelensky, the completion of which is a necessary step for granting the status of an EU candidate. - - - - The Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday that it is expelling 45 Polish diplomats in response to the expulsion of the same number of Russian diplomats from Poland last month. The ministry said it had summoned the Polish ambassador and declared 45 employees of the Polish Embassy in Moscow and of Polish consulates in Irkutsk, Kaliningrad and St. Petersburg "personae non gratae" who must leave Russia by April 13. On March 23, the Polish Foreign Ministry ordered 45 Russian diplomats to depart within five days as part of a coordinated action by Western countries to expel several hundreds Russian diplomats since the start of a special military operation in Ukraine. PRESCHOOL GATE Gifted and Talented Education program accepting applications for pre-kindergarten program for 2022-2023 school year. Child must: Be a resident of Guam. Be 4 years old by July 31, born between Aug. 1, 2017, and July 31, 2018. Be able to interact with others without a parent or guardian. Participate in the visual-motor integration test, vocabulary test and the visual-closure test and score a minimum of 130 on any of the tests or an overall minimum score of 350. Applications available at tinyurl.com/yckwr9ft or any of the following: Astumbo Elementary; B.P. Carbullido Elementary; Harry S. Truman Elementary; Lyndon B. Johnson Elementary; M. U. Lujan Elementary; Machananao Elementary; H.B. Price Elementary. Childs birth certificate required. If a legal guardian is listed, guardianship documents must be included. Submit applications to gate@gdoe.net or at Guam DOEs central office in Tiyan. Deadline April 15. Testing through May 13. Call 671-300-1635 or email gate@gdoe.net. PRIVATE SCHOOLS Guahan Academy Charter School School laptops can be returned during Easter break 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at the Student Support Office. Devices will be used for the district-wide assessments. April 9-17: Easter break April 18: Classes resume April 20-25: Annual district-wide assessment, ACT Aspire April 26: 4th mid-quarter progress reports April 26-28: Make-up days Academy of Our Lady of Guam Business office open 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday to Friday. Payments may be made at aolg.edu.gu electronically or with PayPal. Email inquiries to acad@aolg.edu.gu. Calling all alumnae: Register online at aolg.edu.gu under Alumnae/Alumnae Registration. For a prayer request for living or deceased loved ones, complete the form at aolg.edu.gu under Alumnae/Prayer Request or call 671-477-8203. April schedule: April 11-18: Easter break, no classes. April 13-18: Business and main offices are closed. April 22: 1:35 p.m. early dismissal, 1:45 p.m. professional development. April 23: Placement test, call 671-477-8203 for more information. April 27-29: Senior exams. PUBLIC SCHOOLS STEM High School Summer Internship Program 10th- and 11th-grade students can apply for the 2022 STEM high school summer internship program until April 24. Interns will work June 1-30 with the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability faculty and student researchers. Upon completion of the program, interns will receive a $1,000 stipend. To apply, visit tinyurl.com/seashighschool. For more information, contact nsfincludes@triton.uog.edu. COLLEGE University of Guam undergraduate students interested and passionate about giving back to our island and region can apply to be a member of the United Nations Association UOG Chapter. The organization focuses on advocating for human rights, the environment and policy-making that would serve all the people of Guam and the Marianas. Members will have the opportunity to attend UN internships and seminars. To apply visit https://forms.gle/fdf5Ud7sh1XgT4XY8. Applications close 11:59 p.m. April 17. For more information, email uog.una@gotritons.uog.edu. SCHOLARSHIPS Bank of Guam IFIT Scholarship Bank of Guam is providing five $2,000 scholarships to graduating high school students from Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic Belau and San Francisco. The reward will be given toward any four-year accredited college or university. Applications at bankofguam.com or by emailing communications@bankofguam.com. Deadline is May 1. For more information, contact communications@bankofguam.com. PDN Lifestyle reporter Madison Scott takes us behind the scenes of Breaking Wave Theatre Company's "Much Ado About Nothing," which she also co-directed, at the University of Guam on May 3. The play runs May 5-8. Editors note: The Pacific Daily News is collaborating with the University of Guam Press to support the islands creative minds by showcasing their work in Songsong Stories every month. You can view the collection at songsongstories.medium.com. This morning from my window, sunrise is a gloomy gray and the road is still wet from last nights uchan. Hidden in the back of my lolas closet, I found a straw hat, which made me feel like a hard-working lancheru strolling out of the little white house shes renting. Droplets glide off the pago leaves and into my cold brew as we enter the cemetery to ask Mr. Quinene to bless us with good health and harmony. His fire lives on in my lola and His words are stars navigating me back to Malesso. Catching octopus, growing food, building a doghouse and financial literacy were some of the life skills demonstrated at free workshops at the Hagat Sagan Bisita Saturday. The Life Skills Workshop focused on three main categories: food independence to live sustainably off the land; health and wellness; and personal development. Team 27 comprised of members from government agencies and the private sector that participated in the Dan Dorr Advanced Leadership Seminar showcased workshops on skills meant to benefit island residents. This cohort really wanted to give something back to the community that people could build upon. It all comes back to the individual and how they can provide for their home, their village and their community, said Christine Camacho Fejeran, Guam Department of Agriculture Forestry and Soil Resources Division chief. The Guam Department of Agriculture had representatives discuss hunting safety and growing food. Guam Animals in Need showed participants how to build a dog house out of pallets and underlined the need to microchip pets. Fishermen taught children how to throw and repair a talaya and how to catch octopus. This is a kickoff to Earth Month as well. Were tying people to the land, the water, to the community and to self-development, said Fejeran. The Bank of Guam presented tips to help residents gain financial literacy and debit versus credit purchases. The Department of Public Health and Social Services talked about sexual health and preventing sexually transmitted diseases. We came out here today to make sure that the community knows about our free testing services that are offered at Public Health at the Northern Region Community Health Center, said Maura Dahl, associate for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Norllan Javier, 20, of Yigo, attended the workshops for extra credit for an environmental biology class at Guam Community College. Javier was most interested in presentations that revolved around plants and how to harvest them. Its a great opportunity to learn about the environment and different ways to preserve it, he said. Ledwynn San Nicolas, 40, of Chalan-Pago-Ordot, attended the event with three of his daughters and said the workshops were useful to his children. The Guam Chapter of the American Red Cross donated 60 cases of drinking water to mayors offices Friday for residents who need them. The water cans are part of a regular donation to the Red Cross by Ambros Inc., distributor of Anheuser-Busch beer on the island, said Chita Blaise, executive director of the Red Cross chapter on Guam. They have been very generous to the American Red Cross, said Blaise. In the past, the Red Cross shared the water donation with nonprofits such as the Salvation Army, Catholic Social Service and with front line workers battling COVID-19. We are supporting the mayors now because the pandemic is winding down a bit, said Ambrosio Constantino, disaster program manager of Guams Red Cross. Blaise said these donations are especially important during the dry season. The organization decided to distribute the cases to the village mayors, who can in turn donate them to those without regular access to clean or safe water to drink. It definitely helps for those residents who are in need of water. We know some residents have difficulty purchasing it, said Piti Mayor Jesse Alig, Mayors Council of Guam president. He said the water donation is beneficial to residents who receive federal assistance, such as food through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. One of the police officers who arrested Eligio Adriatico in 1983 said the killer, who recently asked for compassionate release, should never be freed from prison. Sen. Jose Pedo Terlaje was a police officer when the killing spree took place. He said Adriaticos crimes were not only the worst in his career, they were the worst the island had ever seen. It is a crime that has echoed through the generations, Terlaje said. Adriatico murdered nine people, including two in prison. He was sentenced to 11 life sentences plus 150 years without the possibility of parole. He has asked for compassionate release. There is no compassionate release from death for any of his victims, Terlaje said. If anyone deserves a life sentence, to die behind bars, it is Eligio Adriatico. Crimes On Sept. 28, 1983, Adriatico and accomplice Romeo Marquez began a string of killings when they shot 23-year-old Anthony Ignacio at Club Maxims, a bar in Anigua, according to PDN archives. Terlaje remembers that day. It was my birthday, Terlaje said. My wife set up a birthday party for me in Tumon. We were sitting down late in the afternoon with some friends who were police officers when another officer came and told us to come down to a command briefing. It was just the start of the week of violence. The next day, Adriatico and Marquez shot and killed two men at a bar in Dededo, the Roadhouse Club. On Sept. 30, 1983, Adriatico and Marquez shot and killed Raymond Sanchez, a 19-year-old Guam Police Department patrolman, and a man and woman at the Phillipines Scouts Club hours later, according to PDN archives. The search With Adriatico and Marquezs victims totaling six at the time, the investigation became a top priority. L Officers worked around the clock. We were gung-ho to find these guys as soon as possible because we knew these guys were really dangerous. Everybody on island was very scared. All the clubs and bars around the island were empty until we caught these guys, Terlaje said. Terlaje stayed at work as he pursued Adriatico and Marquez. Officers learned of the whereabouts of Adriatico and Marquez from a suspect who said they were at the Micronesian Hotel. Apprehension Upon learning where the men were, Terlaje said he and other officers went door-to-door at the hotel before finding the room where Adriatico and Marquez were staying. The initial breach was unsuccessful. An officer was shot in the neck. For the nine hours, the police, other law enforcement agencies and the military surrounded the hotel in hopes Adriatico and Marquez would surrender. Terlaje was asked to try to breach the hotel room a second time. I was scared. Given an assignment like that, I knew I was putting my life on the line, but I knew it was my duty, Terlaje said. With the help of agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI, Terlaje was able to break down the door before taking cover and landing on the body of Edgardo Sumabat, Adriatico and Marquezs seventh victim. He had been shot in the face with a 12 gauge shotgun and there was blood all over the floor, Terlaje said. Motives not clear The motives of the two men remain unclear. When they were caught, we thought they were under some influence of drugs, Terlaje said. We never really found out why they were on their murder spree. These were random killings. Anyone could have been killed. Following their apprehension, Adriatico and Marquez were given multiple life sentences at the Department of Corrections. But a year into their sentences, they killed two inmates with guns smuggled into the prison. After the DOC murders, Adriatico and Marquez were sent to federal prisons to serve their sentences. Request for release Adriaticos request for release has been met with pleas from Terlaje and victims family members urging the court to keep him behind bars. He has not paid his debt and I strongly urge the judge to rule against his request for a compassionate release as he did not care about the families he destroyed on his killing spree and cared even less for the islands public safety when he fired upon and killed a police officer, Terlaje said. One of the victims was Rechiyungel Fred Merep, who was shot and killed in the Roadhouse Club in Dededo. Mereps wife, Delfina Merep, also doesnt want Adriatico to be released. She said she wouldnt be able to sleep if he was. I am 70 years old and I still dont want him released. I will never forget what happened, how much I miss my husband, Delfina Merep said. He should serve the whole sentence he was given. Jayne Flores is the director of the Bureau of Womens Affairs. President Emmerson Mnangagwa is more likely to relinquish power compared to former President Mugabe if defeated in an election, NCA leader Professor Lovemore Madhuku has said. Madhuku said this when he launched his 2023 election campaign at Matambudze Business Centre, in his home district in Chipinge on Saturday. Madhuku argued that because Mnangagwa knew life both in and outside the presidency, it made him more likely to accept defeat in an election than Mugabe who only knew life as a President since returning from Mozambique in 1980. The late President was never for a minute led by another person since his return from Mozambique. For him, it was inconceivable that he could be ruled. However, the current president has had a president rule him for 37 years. He knows life as a president and life under somebody else. Therefore, we dont expect him to refuse to be defeated, argued Prof Madhuku. He told scores of supporters that the NCA was going to contest council, Parliamentary seats and the Presidency in 2023 and said that there was no opposition that has the capacity to run the country alone. Chipangayi in Middle Sabi is part of the area where Madhuku gave Mukonyowere villagers free legal service when they faced eviction from their land at the hands of greedy Government officials. Madhuku appears to enjoy immense support in the area because if the empathy he showed. We are all agreed that ZANU PF has failed to give basics to the majority of the people in Zimbabwe over the past 42 years. Now, as NCA, we present ourselves to you to vote for us in the 2023 elections. We will have men and women up for council, national and presidential elections in each area of Zimbabwe, he said. Madhuku told the gathering not to be coerced into attending meetings of political parties. We are throwing our hat in the ring for 2023. Our message is clear on our strategy and programmes. We are ready to win the next elections, he said. Madhuku took the opportunity to set up local party structures after the meeting. Fadzai Hama was elected the chairperson of the ward. Madhuku was accompanied Vrande Jambaya who is a national executive member of the NCA. Masvingo Mirror A top Chinese business representative has blamed the rampant violation of Zimbabwean investment laws by some of his compatriots on language barriers. Speaking at a panel discussion in Harare on Friday, African Empire Group chairperson Steve Ke Zhao said local media was unnecessarily stereotyping Chinese investors while failing to separate the bad apples from the lot. The candid discussion forum, themed The state of Chinese business investments in Zimbabwe and future of Sino-Zim relations, was organised by China-Africa Economic and Culture Exchange and Research Centre. Earlier, media expert Tawanda Majoni had acknowledged the positive role played by the Chinese in sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, health, mining, and advancing loans to Zimbabwe. Majoni said Chinas investment portfolio in Zimbabwe could not be matched by any country since 2000 but was quick to add, the positives are now overshadowed by the bad boy tag that the Chinese have been associated with. When people see what they see as impunity, there is a tendency for people to start to be emotional about it, Majoni said. People dont think the problem is with the Chinese only, of course they also blame the government for overprotecting these people. People tend to think government officials are getting bribes from the Chinese. Majoni also said the Chinese have not done themselves any favour by abandoning their public relations portfolio, which has left their operations open to all manner of speculation by both the public and the media. There is a vacuum in terms of connecting with the media and therefore there is lack of information, sometimes journalists find it difficult to go and get accurate information from the Chinese he said. In his response, Zhao pointed out that, In each and every community, there are always bad apples, there are good and bad people So I cannot say in the Asian community everyone or every company is perfect, but look at the majority (of investors). Zhao said a lot of media reports focusing on Chinese investment were never informed by what is happening on the ground. Some of the issues and I have to say that again, language is the problem. So, some of the people that came in as Chinese investors, they cannot really understand Zimbabwean laws. So, thats why from the Chinese companies, we work with government officials, we have more workshops to make people understand the policies in the country. So, follow the law in Zimbabwe, follow the policies; thats one of the things in the Chinese community. So, recently in the Chinese companies, we have already started saying if you dont want to follow the laws in Zimbabwe, please go back to China, we also dont want you to be here. We want clean projects, we want benefiting projects coming to Zimbabwe. Standard iciHaiti - Cooperation : Electrical discussion with Venezuela The engineer Rosemond Pradel Minister of Public Works met with Orlando Maneir the Ambassador of Venezuela accredited to Haiti... Thursday, April 7, 2002, the engineer Rosemond Pradel Minister of Public Works met with Orlando Maneir the Ambassador of Venezuela accredited to Haiti. This meeting allowed the two men to reflect on the ways and means to increase the production capacity of the Electricity of Haiti (EDH) especially in the metropolitan area. They also discussed the mechanisms that will make it possible in the short term to achieve an interconnection of the electricity networks. IH/ iciHaiti Haiti - DR : Student visas process completed The Embassy of Haiti in Santo Domingo said it had received from the Dominican Chancellery 206 passports with student visas for an equal number of Haitians residing and studying in the Dominican Republic. Passports with visas began to be delivered immediately to Haitian students on Thursday, April 7, 2022 at the headquarters of the Diplomatic Mission. The Embassy of Haiti explains "With the delivery of these 206 passports with visas, the process is completed by the involvement of the Embassy with a total of 1,205 visas received. 47 passports were missing, which during the long process had expired, but with special procedures, the Embassy of Haiti managed to have them renewed and these passports will be handed over later to the Ministry of External Affairs (MIREX) for obtaining the student visas. S/ iciHaiti Haiti - Artibonite Valley : Rice production, a disaster in 2022 In the Artibonite Valley, in the North West of Haiti, the most important rice-growing area of Haiti, (28,000 hectares) this year's harvest was meager and of poor quality due to lack of water and drought... "The year 2022 will be a catastrophic year for rice production in the Artibonite," said agronomist Chavannes Jean Baptiste, Founder of the Mouvement Paysan Papaye, the largest farmers' association in Haiti. He explains that the fields have become very vulnerable to droughts, as over the past 10 years the irrigation systems have been damaged and not maintained, due in recent years to armed gangs operating in the area. These gangs not only prevented the farmers from producing, but they also interrupted and damaged the irrigation system, for which no type of rehabilitation was carried out." Chavannes Jean Baptiste, recalls "[...] Haiti was self-sufficient in rice until the 1970s, but production gradually declined, due to rice imports authorized in 1986, after the fall of the dictatorship of Jean-Claude Duvalier." "[...] The other destructive moment for local rice was the lowering of tariffs decreed in 1995, after the return to the country of Jean Bertrand Aristide [...] Haiti has become the country with the lowest rice tariffs in the Caribbean." Cheap rice from the United States has helped change consumption habits in Haiti, since it has replaced other foods that were more consumed such as corn, bananas, potatoes or cassava to the point that today Haitians say they have not eaten if there is no rice on their plate... Figures support this perception, rice consumption has quintupled since 1985, from 100,000 to 500,000 tons per year, while production in Haiti has never exceeded 100,000 tons and is now in decline, according to a study by the Department of United States Agriculture (USDA). At the same time, the growth in imports has dealt a fatal blow to local rice farmers, who complain that they are not competitive on equal terms because they do not receive state subsidies and production is not mechanized. About 90% of rice imports come from the United States and Haiti is its second largest rice market. "We can't compete with American rice because we don't have the means to do it and it's done by hand," laments a farmer from Gonaives. "Meanwhile, in Haiti, production costs have increased in Haiti, in particular because of the rise in fertilizer prices, without the State helping the peasants," deplores Jean Baptiste. SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Diaspora Covid-19 : Daily Bulletin #750 GLOBAL SITUATION 2019-2022: Epidemiological situation: Saturday April 9, 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 497,865,348 cases (+1,149,771 in 24 hours ), the day before (+1,271,149) Number of infected countries: 225 *Healings: 433,456,729 people have been cured of Covid-19 worldwide (+1,041,164), the day before (+1,271,923) *Deaths: 6,199,362 people have died of Covid-19 worldwide since the start of the pandemic (+3,321 in 24 hours), the day before (+4,421) *Active cases (minus deaths and recoveries) in the world is currently 58,209,257 cases (+105,286 in 24 hours), the day before (-5,195) Average cure rate in the world: 87.06% (+) Average mortality rate in the world: 1.24% (=) World: Number of daily confirmed cases (Day-1) Vaccination: 11.43 billion doses of vaccine injected (+20 million doses injected. Update April 8, 2022 (latest data available). HAITI: Warning: The Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) did not make available after April 2, 2022 daily data on the Covid-19 situation in Haiti. Accordingly, the data below on the situation in Haiti are the latest available. According to the Ministry of Public Health, +8 new cases of Covid-19 and its variants have been confirmed in Haiti as of April 2, 2022 (latest partial data available ) for a total of 30,575 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 (+22 cases as of March 30, 2022). Heals: 28,975 (+230) Cure rate: 94.76% (+) Deaths: 833 deaths (+0) () Death rate: 2.72% (=) 5th Wave (Omicron Dominant): Total of the 5th wave (beginning of December 27, 2021) 4,581 confirmed cases and 67 deaths Screening since the start of the pandemic: 190,236 tests (+922 in 3 days) since March 19, 2020, latest data available. Note that the very small number of people screened every day at the national level out of a population estimated at 11.6 million citizens, does not statistically allow us to make a representative estimate of the situation in Haiti, which translates into a < B>number of daily confirmed cases largely underestimated. TOP 5 of the most affected municipalities in the West (2022): Delmas: 741 (+0); Petion-ville 624 (+0); Port-au-Prince 407 (+0); Tabarre 288 (+0); Cross-Bouquets 241 (+1) Confirmed cases by department (2022 / 2021 / 2020): West: 2022: 2,559 cases; (2021: 9.890); (2020: 6,945 cases) North: 2022: 269 cases; (2021: 664); (2020: 677 cases) Center: 2022: 231 cases; (2021: 1.001); (2020: 508 cases) Artibonitis: 2022: 186 cases; (2021: 855); (2020: 593 cases) Northeast: 2022: 148 cases; (2021: 404); (2020: 314 cases) Southeast: 2022: 268 cases; (2021: 768); (2020: 274 cases) South: 2022: 215 cases; (2021: 891); (2020: 262 cases) North West: 2022: 260 cases; (2021: 383); (2020: 229 cases) Grand'Anse: 2022: 175 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 have 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: Epidemiological situation: USA: *Cases since the first case (February 29, 2020): 82,034,738 cases (+46,460 in 24 hours), the day before (+38,031) *Healings: 66,311,893 healings (+92,397 in 24 hours), the day before (+131,345) National Cure Rate: 80.83% (+) *Deaths: 1,011,665 deaths (+569 in 24 hours), the day before (+559) National death rate: 1.23% (=) *Active cases (minus deaths and recoveries): 14,711,180 (-46,506 in 24 hours), the day before (-93,873) USA: Number of daily confirmed cases: (Day-1) Vaccination: 564.77 million doses of vaccine injected since December 14, 2020, date of the first injection in the United States (+890,000). Update April 8 (latest data available). DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Confirmed cases since March 1, 2020: 578,416 cases (+39 in 24 hours) the day before (+58 in 24 hours). First case (March 1, 2020) Healings: 573,896 healings (+11 in 24 hours), the day before (+71) National Cure Rate: 99.21% (-) Deaths: 4,375 deaths (+0), previous (+0) Death rate: 0.75% (=) Positivity rate over 4 epidemiological weeks: 0.98% (+) Active cases: (excluding deaths and recoveries) 145 cases (+28 in 24 hours) the day before (-13) Dominican Republic: Number of daily confirmed cases: (Day-1) TOP 5 Provinces with the most new cases in the last 24 hours: Distrito Nacional: +18 new cases in 24 hours (-) Santo Domingo: +8 new cases in 24 hours (-) Santiago: + 7 new cases in 24 hours (7) La Altagrafcia: + 4 new cases in 24 hours () La Vega: + 2 new cases in 24 hours () Vaccination: 15.54 million doses of vaccine injected since February 16, 2021, date of the first injection in the Dominican Republic (+20,000 doses injected). Update April 7, 2022 (latest data available). QUEBEC: Confirmed cases since the first case (February 27, 2020): 992,649 (+3.572 in 24 hours), previous (+3.777) Healings: 947,016 people (+3,161 in 24 hours) previous (+1,894) Cure rate: 95.40% (=) Deaths: 14,512 (+30 in 24h) previous (+26) Death rate: 1.46% (-) Active cases: (excluding death and recovery) 31,121 cases (+381 in 24 hours), previous (+1,855) Quebec: Trend of daily confirmed cases (average weekly trend) Vaccination: 18,818,996 doses of vaccine injected since December 14, 2020, date of the first injection (+35,199 doses in 24 hours), latest data available - MSSS as of April 8, 2022) FRANCE: *Confirmed cases since the first case (January 24, 2020): 26,698,031 cases (+148,768 cases in 24 hours), previous (+158,792) *Healings: 23,912,721 healings (+97,965), previous (+97,474) National Cure Rate: 89.56% (-) Deaths: 143,156 (+139 in 24h), previous (+105) Death rate: 0.53% (=) Active Cases: 2,642,154 (+50,664 in 24h), previous (+61,213) France: Number of daily confirmed cases (day 1) Vaccination: 142.10 million doses of vaccine injected since December 27, 2020, date of the first injection in France (+50,000 doses injected). Update April 8, 2022 (latest data available) Previous bulletin : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36377-haiti-diaspora-covid-19-daily-bulletin-749.html See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30319-haiti-health-origin-of-the-first-2-cases-of-covid-19-in-haiti.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30165-haiti-flash-first-case-of-covid-19-in-the-dominican-republic.html HL/ HaitiLibre LOCAL BRIEFS: Cemetery maintenance, 'Good Growth,' new Story Trail, free shredding Cemetery Maintenance Class Cemetery Maintenance Training Class will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 30, sponsored by the Henderson County Cemetery Advisory Committee. Hands-on training on the cleaning and straightening of grave stones will take place at the Williams Capps Cemetery in Zirconia, also known as the Fortune-Kuykendall Cemetery, in the Greenbriar subdivision. The grave site of Revolutionary War Patriot William Capps (1764-1848), the ancestor of all Capps descendants within Henderson County, is in this cemetery. Capps entered the county about 1801 and eventually purchased thousands of acres of land in this area of what became Henderson County. The grave sites of his wife, Nancy Cooksey Capps, and many descendants are also within the cemetery that was located near their home. The class will focus on landscaping care around stones and markers, how to safely clean grave stones (marble, sandstone, granite and historic masonry), and how to properly raise and level grave stones. Warren Scott, gravestone conservator and chairman of the Henderson County Cemetery Advisory Committee, will teach the class. Reservations are requested by contacting Toby Linville at 694-6627 or tlinville@hendersoncountync.gov. Due to limited parking at the site, plan to carpool from Ingles on Spartanburg Highway (U.S. 176) at North Highland Lake Drive. Meet behind the car wash. Class size is limited. 'Good Growth Makes Sense' From 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 14, Hendersonville Green Drinks presents the third of a four-part webinar series entitled Good Growth Makes Good Sense. The guest speaker will be Rebekah Robinson, assistant director for programs at Conserving Carolina. The presentation, "Nature for All: Planning for Inclusive Greenways, Trails, and Parks," is in direct response to public input, as reflected in the results of the early phases of Henderson Countys 2045 Comprehensive Planning process. This special monthly series is a collaboration between MountainTrue and Conserving Carolina. In order to attend the webinar, please register click here to register. Previous and upcoming "Good Growth Makes Good Sense" presentations include: -- Smart Growth: Looking to the Past to Plan for Our Future - Chris Joyell (Feb 10) -- The Value of Conserving Open Space and Farmland - Tom Fanslow (March 10) -- Nature for All: Planning for Inclusive Greenways, Trails, and Parks - Rebekah Robinson (April 14) -- State of the River: How Land Use Planning Can Make or Break Water Quality - Gray Jernigan & Hartwell Carson (May 12) Smart Start celebrates first Story Trail Smart Start Partnership for Children, Fletcher Parks and Recreation, the Community Foundation of Henderson County, Henderson County Public Libraries, Henderson County Chamber of Commerce and the Fletcher Area Business Associatio will host a ribbon cutting to be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 29, at Kates and Petes Park in Fletcher to celebrate the first ever permanent Story Trail fixture in Henderson County. A collaborative community project, this Story Trail was made possible by the Community Foundation of Henderson Countys Fletcher Community Fund. A Story Trail is an engaging fun activity that takes the pages of a childrens story book and places them along a path or trail for the community and families to enjoy. Books and educational activities will be provided by the Henderson County Public Libraries. Fletcher Parks and Recreation who will oversee installation of the project had this to say about the new park feature, We are excited to have the Story Trail come to Kates and Petes park as it will provide a fun learning experience for Fletcher families to enjoy. Families and community members are encouraged to attend the ribbon cutting. Smart Start Partnership for Children will also be handing out free books to all children and families who attend. League speaker focuses on climate change The League of Women Voters of Henderson County will host a program, Climate Change, Resiliency and Conserving Carolina, at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 20, via Zoom. The speaker will be attorney Amos Dawson, who has been practicing environmental law in North Carolina and South Carolina for the last 47 years. A former assistant attorney general in the Environmental Protection Section of the N.C. Department of Justice, Dawson also has served as the first staff attorney to the North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission and served as a mediator in state and federal courts. For more information and to register for the event, visit www.lwvhcnc.org. The event is free and open to the public but registration is required in advance of the program. After registering, participants will receive a Zoom link to attend the program. LWVHC celebrates Diversity, Equity and Inclusion by welcoming all members of our community. Credit union sponsors free shred event To assist members of the community to reduce their risk of identity theft, Local Government Federal Credit Union is sponsoring a free shred event from 9 a.m. to noon. Friday, Aopril 22, at the Etowah branch of the Henderson County Library. Henderson County residents are invited to bring documents that include personal or confidential information for disposal. Examples include pre-approved credit card offers, monthly statements, out-of-date account statements and other printed personal information. The documents will be shredded on-site. There is a limit of three boxes and 75 pounds per person and the event is open to residents only. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Michelle Obamas face, with arresting eyes and chin resting confidently on her hand, captivated 11-year-old Sarai Pettway as she stood in front of the former first ladys presidential portrait. The sixth grader, along with a group students from The Imani School, had come to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston to see the Obama Portraits Tour, which is on display through May 30. The students learned about the significance of the portraits from family discussions and classroom conversations. Seeing them up close, with the slightest detail from Michelle Obamas flowing Milly dress to Barack Obamas open-collared shirt, boots and watch details, made it more real. Her face is like empowerment, Pettway said. I think this painting was made for African American girls like me, to show us that we can accomplish great things. We can make a mark on the world. If a single work of art can inspire Black children to greatness, the Obama portraits have that potential the power to make children believe in the impossible and have their dreams come true. More Information Houston Public Library presents Jessica and Parker Curry When: 10:30 am.-1 p.m. April 30 Where: Barbara Bush Literacy Plaza at the Houston Public Library, 500 McKinney Details:houstonlibrary.libcal.com See More Collapse Michelle Obama has really emphasized the role of the portraits for Black children and seeing representation of themselves, said Anita Bateman, the museums associate curator of modern and contemporary art, whose mission is to expand the museums acquisitions of African Diaspora artists. These are unprecedented opportunities to see themselves reflected and understand the cultural as well as the historical significance of these portraits. I hope children come to the exhibition knowing that these portraits, in essence, were made for them. Artist Amy Sheralds portrait of Michelle Obama is designed to inspire children to think about how they can grow up and do great things with their lives, Bateman said. Likewise, President Barack Obamas painting by Kehinde Wiley, an artist well-known to hip-hop stars, has a similar impact on Black boys. This painting encapsulates what Barack Obama stood for, said Avery Brooks, 14, an eighth grader. As a Black male, Im trying to be the first Black billionaire in my family. Because Barack Obama was the first Black president, it inspires the rest of us Black children that we can be the first to accomplish great heights. In 2018, a photo taken by a stranger of then-2-year-old Parker Curry seemingly spellbound by Michelle Obamas portrait at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., went viral. Shortly after, Curry got to meet and dance with the first lady. The photo also inspired the bestselling picture book, Parker Looks Up (Simon and Schuster), and then a whole series including Parker Shines On and two for early readers, Your Friend Parker and Parker Dresses Up. The books are written by Parker and her mother, Jessica Curry, and illustrated by Brittany Jackson. The Currys will make a special appearance, in conjunction with the MFAHs Obama portraits exhibit, April 30 at the Houston Public Library Downtown. I would take Parker to museums and installations when she very young because exposure is so important, said Jessica Curry, who also has two younger children, ages 2 and 5. For brown children everywhere, to see this portrait of a woman, who wasnt born into wealth but went on to achieve such great things, shows anything is possible. I dont know what Parker will become, but I know that she is inspired by someone who has inspired me. Parker, now 7, recently moved with her family to Los Angeles, where shes working on an animated series based on her books. The best part? I get to read my books and give them out to other children. I like that, Parker said. At the museum, 12-year-old Sloan Latimer, who wants to become a writer, was drawn to the green and gray leaves in Barack Obamas portrait. I noticed the green leaves were overshadowing the gray ones, and I took that as symbolism to mean that its blocking out all of the past expectations of what presidents are supposed to be, and the green is bringing in the new, she said. He and Michelle Obama are both leaning in to show that they are all about power to the people. Farida Machoka, 12, an aspiring voice actress, said the pale blue background in Michelle Obamas portrait resembles a blue sky symbolizing limitless opportunities. And Marley Brailey, 13, who wants to be lawyer and serve on the Supreme Court, said President Obamas portrait makes me feel proud. It looks like he wants to empower us, where as other presidential portraits look like power is radiating off of them. Aliyah Cosby, 13, who wants to be an obstetrician/gynecologist, saw the portraits as a spiritual message. It inspires me that there is no limit, especially when you are a person of faith. The Imani School, which was founded by director Patricia Williams in 1988 as a private Christian school for African American children, recently created a Wall of Fame to celebrate Black figures, like the Obamas, throughout the year, instead of just during Black History Month. Those images, much like the Obama Portraits Tour, are essential to teaching children about history and building confidence. Images matter. Representation matters. Art in itself has the ability to inspire children to aspire, Williams said. It was important they see this exhibit because I want my children to know who they are, whose they are and what they can become. Williams named the school Imani, a Swahili word that means faith or to believe. Thats what children can do when you teach them and when you dont place limits on them. They can do anything, she said. They can believe it, too. joy.sewing@chron.com Two more Missouri City streets - Confederate South Drive and Confederate Court - will get new names today, respectively to Prosperity South Drive and Prosperity Court. In February, Missouri City elected officials and U.S. Rep. Al Green, gathered in the quiet suburban neighborhood to celebrate Confederate Drive being renamed "Prosperity Drive." It was the first street in Missouri City officially to be changed, an effort led by residents Rhonda and Beau Gilbo. The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans on Tuesday heard oral arguments in the lawsuit over Montgomery County Judge Wayne Macks courtroom prayer. Mack, a Class C misdemeanor and small claims judge in north countys Precinct 5, and his lawyers have argued the prayer ahead of courtroom proceedings by volunteer chaplains honors the multi-faith programs members. Instituted following Macks 2014 election, the countywide chaplaincy is designed to comfort grieving family members following a death. As a justice of the peace, Mack acts as one of five county coroners. Consisting of the Plano-based First Amendment advocacy nonprofit First Liberty Institute and the Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher law firm, Macks defense team assures his court makes it clear attendees are free to skip invocation and the judge never sees who does not participate. The suits plaintiff is the Madison, Wisconsin-based nonprofit Freedom From Religion Foundation, which advocates for the separation of church and state. Its time for a court to finally put an end (to) this seven-year-long harassment of Judge Mack, said First Liberty Institute Deputy General Counsel Justin Butterfield in a statement. Southern District of Texas Judge Kenneth Hoyt in May ruled Macks courtroom prayer violated the Establishment Clause, which prohibits the government from establishing a religion. Prayers in the courtroom continue as the Fifth Circuit Court in July granted a motion to stay. In court filings, Macks defense has argued courtroom prayer precedence lies in the U.S. Supreme Courts oyez, or the ceremonial God save the United States and this honorable court statement invoked before the high courts proceedings. It is frustrating that this lawsuit against a longstanding, historic practice continues to distract us from the business of serving the citizens of Montgomery County, read a statement this week from Mack. But, according to the FFRF, Fifth Circuit Judge E. Grady Jolly rebuffed that contention when made by Grubbs, Dunn & Crutcher lawyer Brad Hubbard during the one-day oral arguments before the three-judge panel. Come on, come on. Thats not precedent for what happened in this case, Judge Jolly said in response to Hubbard pointing to a similar ceremonial opening in the Fifth Circuit as a recent example of prayer in court, according to an account from the FFRF. In a press release, FFRF characterized the development as a boost in their challenge to Macks prayer. Oral arguments were made on FFRFs behalf by associate counsel Sam Grover. Filed in 2019, this is the second suit by the organization against the judge on the issue. The appeal, filed in September, characterizes Macks prayer practice as materially indistinguishable from the Supreme Courts 2014 upholding of legislative prayer in the Town of Greece v. George Galloway case. FFRF is countering this, maintaining Macks courtroom prayer is directed to defendants compelled to be there or face arrest or other penalties. A co-plaintiff on the suit is a pseudonymous lawyer who has practiced before Mack and asserts refusing prayer in the courtroom would incur the judges prejudice. This is a clear case of religion-based coercion, and the (Fifth Circuit) judges seem open to our arguments to that end, said FFRF Legal Director Rebecca Markert in a statement. As Macks back was turned to evictions court defendants in late December in his Willis courtroom, the men and women present could be observed willingly participating in a prayer led by a Muslim chaplain before proceedings. Though advised they could exit the courtroom during the invocation, none of the attendees stepped out. On Thursday afternoon, Mack explained a decision would not come down until another month or up to six months. jose.gonzalez@chron.com twitter.com/jrgzztx At Teslas Austin-area gigafactory on Thursday, Tesla CEO Elon Musk wearing a black cowboy hat and sunglasses told employees, the news media and Harrison Ford that the company would begin manufacturing the long-delayed Cybertruck at the plant next year. The billionaire made the announcement during the $1.1 billion facilitys grand opening, with Dr. Dres Still D.R.E. blasting in the background. We cant wait to build this here, Musk said. Sorry for the delay. But youre going to have this next year, and its really going to be great. The stainless-steel electric truck was originally slated to hit the market in 2021. On HoustonChronicle.com: All-private crew trains in Houston before planned launch to International Space Station Musk said the factory where itll be assembled is the size of three Pentagons. In January, Musk told analysts on an earnings call that the automaker had already been building Model Y SUVs there since late last year. He said at the time that Tesla couldnt make the Cybertruck yet because of a lack of parts. Tesla moved its headquarters to the Austin area last year from Palo Alto, Calif. The plant sits on 2,200 acres off State Highway 45 and U.S. 130, east of Austin city limits and near the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Last year, Musk took to Twitter to say the company would invest more than $10 billion in Giga Texas over time and create at least 20,000 jobs. Californias great and we were continuing to expand there, but we ran out of room, he said Thursday. We need a place where we can be really big, and theres no place like Texas. Just before last nights Cyber Rodeo event, Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted support for Musks move to Texas: Two years ago, I told @elonmusk that Texas moves at the speed of business. Tonight, @Tesla officially opens their new Gigafactory in Austin. This mile-long Gigafactory was built in just under a year and a half. Only possible in the Lone Star State. Jay Janner, MBR / Associated Press The celebration was an invite-only spectacle that treated party goers to a carnival, food trucks, a mechanical bull and a petting zoo, the Austin American-Stateman reported. The company opened sections of the plant to show off Teslas being built. The company is investing in workforce initiatives, our schools, and local challenges, Austin Mayor Steve Adler tweeted Thursday night. Working with [Austin Community College], its creating middle-skill jobs that will enhance thousands of lives. This is a golden opportunity coming to life. Inside the plant, Musk shared a stage with Tesla Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen, and said the company has started deliveries of Texas-made Model Y SUVs and plans to produce half a million more in a single year. Tesla also plans to ramp up production of its 4680 battery cells at the plant the large, cylindrical cells that the company says will provide more power to electric vehicles at a lower cost. We think, over time, this will be the biggest cell factory in the world, Musk said. In February, Colorado River Project LLC, an affiliate of Tesla, filed for a building permit to expand the plant to make cathodes, a key component for the lithium-ion batteries. As of Friday, the project was pending city approval. Tesla expects to release its Full Self-Driving beta software to North American customers this year. The optional add-on allows the vehicle to perform some driving tasks, such as changing lanes and parking. But it still requires a human driver to take the wheel in case the software malfunctions. On HoustonChronicle.com: SpaceX announces a new series of missions that will culminate in Starships first crewed flight In addition to starting production of the Cybertruck next year, Musk said company plans to produce a roadster, a semi-truck and hopefully the first version of Teslas artificial intelligence-powered humanoid robot called Optimus in 2023. The initial version of Optimus, which stands 5ft. 8 in. and has a screen for a face, uses the same chips and sensors found in the self-driving feature. It will do anything that humans wont want to do, he said. It will transform the world to a degree even greater than the car, Musk said. Everyones going to make sure its safe no Terminator stuff or that kind of thing. eric.killelea@express-news.net In my family, it took just one generation to go from segregation to the Supreme Court of the United States. With those words, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson acknowledged both the struggles and progress of Black Americans in her lifetime. Her words, delivered from the South Lawn of the White House on Friday, one day after her historic Senate confirmation, were a tribute to generations of Black Americans who she said paved the way for her elevation to the nations highest court. I have now achieved something far beyond anything my grandparents could have possibly ever imagined, Jackson said, noting they had gained only grade-school educations before starting their family and later sending their children to racially segregated schools. The path was cleared for me, so that I might rise to this occasion, she said. And in the poetic words of Dr. Maya Angelou, I do so now. Quoting Angelous famous poem, And Still I Rise, Jackson added: I am the dream and the hope of the slave. Nina Turner, a former Ohio state senator who was a prominent surrogate for Sen. Bernie Sanders 2020 Democratic presidential campaign, said Jacksons speech was an awe-inspiring reminder of how far Black Americans have come amid their ongoing struggle. Expressing that realization out loud for all of the world to hear, as she is about to take her place as the first Black woman Supreme Court justice, was just magnificent, said Turner. It is vitally important that we, as Black people, continue to remind this nation from whence we came, she said. The pain that it took to get to a Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson could not be understated. Jackson, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, said that she has been lucky on her path to the high court. Although her arrival breaks one of the remaining racial barriers in American democracy, many Black Americans still struggle to surmount systemic blocks. She namechecked the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the civil rights icon, as well as Black federal judicial trailblazers such as Justice Thurgood Marshall and Judge Constance Baker Motley, thanking them for their leadership and role modeling. For all of the talk of this historic nomination and now confirmation, I think of them as the true path breakers, Jackson said. Im just the very lucky first inheritor of the dream of liberty and justice for all. Melanie L. Campbell, president and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and convener of the Black Womens Roundtable, watched Jacksons speech from the White House lawn as an invited guest on Friday. With the sun shining through clouds over Washington, there was a palpable joy in the crowd over what Jackson symbolizes for the country, she said. It just felt like the ancestors were dancing." I can see myself, in now-Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, Campbell added. (Jackson) understands the significance of this moment for Black women, for women, for the nation. And it is a game changer. Others watching the speech also noted the diversity at the event and the image at the center President Joe Biden flanked by the first Black female Supreme Court justice and the first Black and Asian American vice president. Just before Vice President Kamala Harris introduced the president, she gushed over what Jacksons confirmation will one day mean to her young, Black goddaughter. When I presided over the Senate confirmation vote yesterday, while I was sitting there, I drafted a note to my goddaughter, Harris said. I told her that I felt such a deep sense of pride and joy about what this moment means for our nation and for her future. Speaking directly to Jackson, Harris added: And I will tell you, her braids are just a little longer than yours. Although the occasion will be noted in history books as a symbol of racial progress, Turner said Jacksons elevation to the Supreme Court should be celebrated by Americans of all races and creeds. Not only should the entire Black community be proud, the entire country should be proud because this has certainly been a long time coming, she said. And from this victory, we certainly have an opportunity to continue to build and create more victories. Were not done yet." ___ Aaron Morrison writes about race and justice for the AP's Race and Ethnicity team. He is based in New York. Follow him on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/aaronlmorrison. GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) A Mississippi man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for producing a video of a minor engaging in sexually explicit behavior, federal prosecutors said. According to court documents, Joshua Stockstill, 29, of Picayune, enticed a minor child to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct with his cell phone in November 2018, U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca said in a news release Thursday. Tesla recalls Model 3 vehicles in China Xinhua) 14:53, April 09, 2022 BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Electric carmaker Tesla launched a recall of 127,785 vehicles in China due to potential defects in semiconductor components, China's top quality watchdog said. The recall involves Model 3 vehicles manufactured between Jan. 11, 2019 and Jan. 25, 2022, with 34,207 of them imported and 93,578 made in China, according to a statement from the State Administration for Market Regulation. Faulty semiconductor components might cause failure to start a car or the loss of driving power. In extreme cases, such defects may increase the risk of collisions, thereby posing potential safety hazards, said the statement. The Beijing and Shanghai branches of Tesla promised to update the software on the recalled vehicles or replace defected parts free of charge. (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji) This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WARSAW, Poland (AP) Polands deputy prime minister and de-facto leader used surprisingly strong words Friday to criticize his long-time ally and friend, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and said further cooperation is not possible unless Orban's approach to Russia's aggression against Ukraine changes. Jaroslaw Kaczynski said in a radio interview that he has an unequivocally negative opinion of Orbans refusal to condemn Russian leader Vladimir Putin for the invasion of Ukraine or to help arm Ukraine and for saying that Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is one of his opponents. Kaczynski said Orban's attitude was very sad and a disappointment. The condemnation comes as a great surprise, following years of close strategic cooperation between Polands and Hungarys right-wing governments that have been backing each other in their separate rule of law and funding disputes with the European Union, at times blocking its decisions. "When Prime Minister Orban says that he cannot see clearly what has happened in Bucha, then he should be advised to go and see an eye doctor, and that is a disappointment, Kaczynski said on private Radio Plus that is focused on social and religion-related themes. However, he tried to see Orban's goals. I believe that what Viktor Orban is doing is linked to a hope of playing some role in bringing this conflict (in Ukraine) to a stop, but I think this is a dead end, totally, Kaczynski said Following his electoral victory last weekend, Orban said he wants to strengthen partnership ties with Poland and put an end to the split over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Poland is among Kyiv's staunchest allies. Kaczynski responded Friday by saying that a change in relations would be a good thing, on the condition that Viktor Orban changes" because, as things stand now, we cannot cooperate. Hungary, alone among Ukraines EU neighbors, has refused to supply the embattled country with weapons and has not allowed their transfer across the Hungarian-Ukrainian border. Orban, who has condemned Russias actions in Ukraine but avoided mentioning Putin by name, has also lobbied strongly against spreading EU sanctions against Moscow to Russian energy imports, on which Hungary is heavily reliant. Hungarys ambiguous position on the conflict raised the ire of Ukrainian officials, who have publicly called on Orban to take a firmer stance in their defense. In an address to EU leaders at the end of March, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Orban that you must decide for yourself who you are with, and pointed to the devastating bombardment of the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol as a reason that Orban should assist his country with weapons. But that appeal began a series of traded barbs between officials of the two countries. Hungarys foreign minister accused Kyiv of attempting to interfere in Hungarys elections, and Orban declared in a speech after his election victory that Zelenskyy had been one of the opponents he had defeated. ___ Justin Spike in Budapest contributed to this report. The weight of the moment almost overwhelmed 22-year-old Creshia Lewis as she stepped to the podium to speak Friday morning at The HAY Center. This program is going to help me and my son tremendously. We wont have to struggle anymore, Lewis said, pausing as tears streamed down her face. She stepped back and gathered herself as a supportive crowd erupted into applause.I can finally say Im free from stress. Im free," she continued. "I really am. Im free. Freedom comes in the form of a full-time job as a Health and Human Services Texas Works Advisor. It's a life-changer for Lewis and her 3-year-old son who have been receiving housing help from The HAY Center, an organization that provides resources and support to current and former foster youth between the ages of 14 and 25. When Lewis first came to The HAY Center, she was still a teenager, aged out of foster care and living at a shelter. I didnt know who to turn to. I was a troubled kid. I really was, said Lewis. But when I found The HAY Center and all the resources they had for me, it really made me want to change my life because theres so much more to life than trouble, jail ... I could have been anywhere. Mark Mulligan/Staff photographer Now she was standing with four of her peers, all former foster youth who had completed a new, seven-week job training program through a partnership with The HAY Center and the Texas Health and Human Services Commissions Texas Works Path to Success Program. The centers housing coordinator, Joan White, put an arm around Lewis's shoulder and they pressed their heads together in a warm embrace. It was White who had helped Lewis secure stable housing, which allowed her to find childcare and then a stable job. Lewis was not done though. She explained how she wants her son to have the childhood she never had. FOR THE FALLEN OFFICERS: New memorial pays tribute to fallen deputies in northwest Harris County Now, with a starting salary of $36,000 a year and full benefits including health care, vacation and a retirement plan, Lewis will be working for HHS to help Texans determine their eligibility for programs such as Medicaid and SNAP food benefits. Solutions have to be more than lip service, said Wayne Salter, the deputy executive commissioner of access and eligibility services with the Health and Human Services Commission who conceived the idea for the job training program. Two years ago they started the first training as a partnership with the Houston Independent School District. Seventeen students graduated from the program. Another program graduated 15 adults. The five graduates of the pilot program at The HAY Center are the latest in the programs mission to provide more opportunities for at-risk groups of young people. Funding comes from the mix of state and federal funds available in the HHS training budget. HHS provided the training while The HAY Center provided funds for the students enrolled in the seven-week program. All five of the former foster youth who entered the program at The HAY Center graduated from the program and will start work this month. We have to learn how to give people fighting chances, said Salter, who felt a guaranteed job needed to be there at the end of the training. We want it to be meaningful. We want it to be impactful. We want to change the trajectory of young peoples lives. 'An opportunity for me' That impact is apparent for 24-year-old Debra James. She was attending classes from 8 a.m. to noon every morning, and working security from 1 to 9 p.m. every evening. The job training provided an opportunity that she had been looking for. Im tired of struggling. Im tired of living paycheck to paycheck. Im tired of worrying if my lights are going to get cut off, said James. And this is an opportunity for me to become better, become bigger, be something bigger than myself. The group at The HAY Center has become like family to James, who was homeless when she first came to the center. She found housing resources there, and with a stable place to live, James was able to start working at a movie theater while studying at Houston Community College. James, though, was looking for something that her other jobs did not provide. When the opportunity came along to train for a job with full benefits and an opportunity to continue to advance, she could not pass it up. I had no childhood. I had to raise myself and my older siblings. I never really had anyone to fully depend on until I went into CPS and I aged out and got in contact with The HAY Center, she said. Now she is building a future with her fiance and a full-time job starting April 18. Mark Mulligan/Staff photographer As the graduation ceremony ended, current Health and Human Services Commission employees from offices around the city gathered to greet their new coworkers. They had been in the back during the graduation ceremony, cheering the five graduates. Its so good to see them all happy and excited, said Gail Cox, a supervisor with HHSC, who will be welcoming Lewis to her team in a week. We want to support them and show them they are family. Lewis talked to her supervisor as they posed for photos. She is anxious to get to work. Im ready to start on the 18th, to go in there and help the world, she said. Especially the single mothers who come in with kids. Im ready to help them. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Photo Courtesy City of Houston Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Photo Courtesy City of Houston Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Photo Courtesy City of Houston Show More Show Less After attending the historic confirmation ceremony for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who is set to be the first Black woman to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court, Mayor Sylvester Turner shared his reflections on the remarkable event. Turner traveled to Washington for the ceremony Friday. As Jackson spoke on the White House Lawn, Turner said her acknowledgment of historical Black figures who helped light the way such as Martin Luther King Jr., Justice Thurgood Marshall and Judge Constance Baker Motley made him ruminate on those who helped make this day a reality. A 54-year from Alvin was sentenced to 40 years in prison this week for selling property he didnt own to unsuspecting buyers, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced Saturday. Juchway Rhodes Jr. was convicted by a jury Thursday of aggregate theft of more than $300,000, a first-degree felony, after a five-day trial, Oggs office said. Rhodes took property from elderly owners or heirs of deceased owners, and then using forged or fraudulent deeds, presented the property as his own, according to the D.A. He stole $442,000 in cash and property, according to Oggs office. When a scammer perpetuates this kind of fraud, it creates two classes of victims: the true owners and the unsuspecting buyers, Ogg said in a statement. He often preyed on Spanish speakers who paid for property in cash and may not have understood the system. In court, Rhodes tried to blame the title companies, said Assistant District Attorney Valerie Turner, chief of the DAs Consumer Fraud section in a statement. But you cant take a forged or fraudulent deed, run it through a title company and somehow clean it up, she said. He knew that, but he did it anyway. Rhodes' scheme involved money and multiple properties in Houston belonging to at least eight groups of owners or their heirs, according to court documents. The crimes occurred between December 2016 to July 2017, according to court documents. Rhodes had faced a minimum of 25 years in prison. After he was convicted, he agreed to a 40-year prison sentence instead of letting a jury or a judge determine punishment, according to the D.A. An officer fired a weapon Friday afternoon in Texas City, striking a 72-year-old man who authorities say had been threatening a woman with a knife, according to police. Texas City police officers were sent out around 3:25 p.m. for a family disturbance in the 1100 block of 5th Avenue North, where they found a man threatening a woman with a knife, according to a release from police. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Houston ISDs first LGBTQ+ pride summit was a good first step to show support and affirmation as kids within the community face unprecedented mental health challenges and attacks on their rights, advocates and students said this week. It sends the message that were not alone and its OK to be open, said Jamie Troutman, an eighth grader at Meyerland Performing and Visual Arts Middle School. At Saturday mornings virtual summit, students heard from a panel of LGBTQ+ adults about their professional careers and the challenges they faced during their youth. HISD school leaders, teachers and Superintendent Millard House II told students that they want all students to feel like they belong in the district. We want you to come to school everyday knowing that HISD teachers are here for you and support you, said House during the event. On HoustonChronicle.com: replace this text with your teaser head and add hyperlink Parents, caregivers and community members were also welcome at the event, which had a special session for the group showcasing resources available to LGBTQ+ students and how to best support them. In middle and high school break out groups, students heard about the health and wellness services the district offers, resources from organizations such as the nonprofit Montrose Center and the importance of Gay-Straight Alliance groups in schools. Kennedy Loftin, chief development officer at the Montrose Center, which helped organize the summit, said the event couldn't have come at a better time. There are so few safe spaces for LGBTQ youth, he said. Were in an unprecedented mental health crisis for LGBTQ youth coming out of the pandemic. Since the pandemic began, LGBTQ+ youth have been more at risk of being exposed to the virus, less likely to get stable employment, have more difficulty finding housing and feel more isolated than their straight, cisgender peers, advocates say. Additionally, many youth said they felt more isolated from queer communities due to covid restrictions. According to a 2021 survey conducted by the Trevor Project, a nonprofit that works to prevent LGTBQ+ youth suicide, 72 percent of queer youth reported recent symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder and 62 percent said they had symptoms of major depressive disorder. The percentages were even higher for transgender and nonbinary kids. On HoustonChronicle.com: Texas has seen a surge in requests to pull books from schools. Here are Houston's numbers so far Following students return to classrooms, state lawmakers proposed more than 40 bills targeting trans and nonbinary youth in 2021, which the LGBTQ+ community has said is also negatively impacting youths mental health. In February, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a non-binding opinion directing CPS workers to treat parents who provide transgender teens with medically recommended care as child abusers. Opportunities are being taken away from us, said Tai Vo, a senior at HISDs Charles H. Milby High School. Since the 2021-22 school year began, groups of conservative parents have more frequently become vocal at local school board meetings, often making homophobic and transphobic statements. Many have asked districts to ban books that have queer characters or block websites to LGBTQ+ advocacy websites. HISDs summit, which was announced two weeks after Paxton criticized Austin ISD for holding a Pride Week, was a bold move in combating that rhetoric, Loftin said. For HISD to stand up against some of this more recent pressure is a very good idea because LGBTQ youth deserve the same rights in education as all other youth, he said. On HoustonChronicle.com: Katy ISD blocks LGBTQ+ resources, suicide prevention websites from students Shelby Broussard, a senior at Milby High School, said her school has been a safe space for her and many other LGBTQ+ students. In our area, it can be hard, she said. We arent treated as fairly as we should be. Some of her peers who dont feel comfortable coming out to their families have done so in school, Broussard said. My friend feels really supported in her ROTC class, Broussard said. Throughout the event, HISD staff reiterated the district intends to build upon the progress of the summit. The work doesn't stop here, said House during his virtual speech. We will keep working to transform HISD into a destination district where all students feel like they belong. hannah.dellinger@chron.com Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. Williamstown Brothers Achieve Eagle Scout Rank Brothers James (L, below) and Eddie Brannan (R, below) have earned the rank of Eagle Scout. WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. Brothers James and Eddie Brannan have achieved the rank of Eagle Scouts, the town's first since 2017. According to a press release, since its establishment in 1911, only 4 percent of Scouts have earned Eagle rank, the organization's highest accomplishment. The rank is awarded after a lengthy review. As part of the process, each completed a community-based project. James's Eagle Scout project was to rehabilitate a long-neglected courtyard at Herberg Middle School in Pittsfield. He also built two new raised planters for use by the school community. "My mom teaches at Herberg so she suggested the idea to me," James said. "I worked with the principal for planning and approval of the project." James collected supplies donated by a local contractor and set about working, mostly after school and on weekends, over the spring of 2020. James graduated from Mount Greylock Regional High School in 2020 and is attending the University of Massachusetts-Amherst where he is studying biology. Eddie's Eagle Scout project was to build a moldering privy (a composting outhouse), part of a campsite renewal project by the Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation along the Class of '33 trail. The Class of '33 trail is within the Berlin Mountain trail system, linking Williamstown to the Taconic Crest Trail. Williamstown Rural Lands supplied the materials for the project, approximately 1.5 miles from the Berlin Road trailhead. Eddie enlisted a group of volunteers to move the materials to the site before winter in 2020 and then returned in the spring and summer of 2021 to finish the project. "I really appreciate the efforts of my friends and family who helped drag lumber over steep ravines and carried tools to the worksite over the course of several weeks," Eddie said. "It wasn't easy, but it got us all together safely outside during COVID." Eddie is a senior at Mount Greylock Regional High School and will attend college in the fall. Emily Brannan, James and Eddie's mother, served as the pair's Cub Scout leader, having restarted the Cub Pack when James was in third grade, becoming assistant Scoutmaster for BSA Troop 70 in 2013 and then Scoutmaster from 2016-2020. The rank of Eagle Scout may be earned by a Scout who has been a Life Scout, the rank right below Eagle, for at least six months. The Scout must also earn a minimum of 21 merit badges, demonstrate Scout spirit, and show leadership within their troop, crew, or ship. Williamstown Troop 70 recognized the brothers for their accomplishments at a Court of Honor ceremony on Thursday, April 7, 2022, at the First Congregational Church. Town Manager candidates Robert Menicocci, left, and Alex Torpey meet with the Williamstown Select Board on Friday afternoon. Williamstown Select Board Conducts Interviews with Town Manager Finalists WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. Two finalists for the position of town manager made their case to the Select Board on Friday afternoon. On Saturday, the board will decide whether one of them makes the grade. Each was interviewed for a little more than an hour at town hall before an evening event at the Log on Spring Street, where community members had the opportunity to hear remarks from each candidate and meet them in person. Select Board members said they would welcome comments from community members after the televised interviews and informal Friday evening meet and greet. The candidates, Robert Menicocci and Alex Torpey, each started the more formal interviews by telling the board in his own words why he is the right person for the job. There are a multitude of things, but I think it breaks down into a couple of key categories, Menicocci said. The town needs to run. You need to have the experience to deal with the complexities that come at an organization the financing, the budgeting, the core pieces of what makes an organization like this click are critical. The other part of the work Ive done over time that would really suit the community in terms of some of the challenges it faces now involves the depth of being able to understand and synthesize issues and formulate public policies out of that. Torpey also said he brings a strong background in budgeting and finance work and understands how those concerns on a day-to-day impact the long-term position of a municipality. He also talked about wanting to repair the relationships between town government and residents that were damaged in the wake of 2020s revelations about events in the Williamstown Police Department. There is some community trust building to be done right now and making sure everyone in town feels they can participate in government and then actively engaging them to participate, Torpey said. Transparency is important, but its too passive a word. You can put [information] on a website, and thats transparent. But thats not engaging with communities that havent been engaged with before. Friday marked the second time in seven months that the Select Board has interviewed candidates to occupy the corner office. After a pair of October interviews, the board voted not to offer the position to either candidate. Robert Menicocci meets with Williamstown residents during a Friday evening reception. Williamstown Select Board Makes Choice for Town Manager Post WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. Six months after the Williamstown Select Board found itself unable to offer the town manager job to either of two candidates, it wanted to give the job to both finalists. But forced to make a choice, the board Saturday afternoon decided to offer the post to Gloucester native Robert Menicocci, who finished ahead by a nose in the minds of the board members. In a 5-0 vote, the board authorized Chair Andy Hogeland to enter negotiations with Menicocci but also authorized Hogeland to pivot to negotiations with runner-up Alex Torpey if, for any reason, the talks with Menicocci do not bear fruit. The way I felt was that if either interview [Friday] had been the first interview and then [headhunter Mike Jaillet] said the other guy pulled out, Id say, OK, well go with this guy, Hugh Daley said prior to the vote. Thats how good these candidates were. All four of Daleys colleagues agreed that either Menicocci or Torpey would be a good fit for the corner office at town hall. Im not typically an on-the-fence person, said Jane Patton, the only member not to explicitly state a preference prior to the vote. I would like to leave it with that because I think theyre both spectacular, especially with having this [state] grant to have the HR help, which is going to make either one of them that much more full-throated and have the resources they need. Im happy with both, unequivocally. Daley, who co-chaired the search committee with Patton, extolled the virtues of each finalist but Torpey came across as more of a visionary whereas Menicocci had more experience as a manager. Were supposed to be the vision, and we have our operations people deliver our vision our vision, driven by the people who elect us, Daley said. When I draw a distinction between [Menicocci and Torpey], theyre both extremely skilled. I feel one is a little stronger in operations and one is a little stronger on the vision side. Several members of the board commented on Menicoccis experience in social justice work, going back to his days at the commonwealths Department of Transitional Assistance in the 1990s and continuing through his current post as the director of the Santa Clara County Social Services Agency in California. Menicocci said his interest in that area goes back even further. When I started my education, I chose the school I chose [Brandeis] on its social justice framework, he said during Friday afternoons interview. And Ive carried that through to all my work. Its timely now because a lot of attention is being given to that work. And theres more and quicker buy-in given the urgency of the work. But its always been out there. Menicocci talked about his efforts in Santa Clara County to partner with the Government Alliance on Race and Equity work that likely resonated with a board representing a town that has been wrestling with equity issues for the last two years. He said that the GARE framework helped to normalize conversations about equity, particularly racial equity, in his Northern California agency. Were well into that work, and there has been some deep payoff on that, Menicocci said. Theyre uncomfortable conversations, but people learn to get comfortable with the uncomfortable. Torpey also talked in the interview about his work in the area of equity, including with the South Orange Community Coalition on Race when he was mayor of the northern New Jersey township. And at Friday evenings public reception at the Log on Spring Street, Torpeys remarks centered on a call to actively engage a wider variety of voices in the public dialogue. Jeffrey Johnson Saturday picked up on Daleys comments about Torpeys strength as a visionary. At the top of Alexs resume, it talks about him being a consultant, Johnson said. He may not get the [town manager] position, but It doesnt mean I wouldnt reach out to him [for consultation]. Menicocci and Torpey were recruited by GovHR, the same consultant that helped Williamstown on its last two town manager searches, including the unsuccessful effort last fall. They were selected for the final round of interviews by a search committee that stuck it out after that disappointing moment in October when neither finalist was offered the job. Daley on Friday evening at the Log made a point of singling out the efforts of search committee members Andrew Art, Jose Constantine, Melissa Cragg, Dan Gura, Chris Kapiloff, Dave Moresi, Ngoni Munemo, Susan Puddester, Abby Reifsnyder and Geraldine Shen none of whom signed up for a year-long search, Daley noted. Assuming negotiations pan out with Menicocci, Williamstown will be the latest stop in a 30-year career that has brought him across the continent five times, with three positions in Massachusetts and three in California. On Friday, he was candid about his reasons for wanting to get back to New England this time around. When I went out [to California] to do this job, coming up on nine years ago, I thought that was the final step, Menicocci said. We sold some property here and really made the move. Almost two years ago, we lost our home in one of the wildfires. That gave us some pause. Then, he said, the COVID-19 pandemic caused him to reflect on the importance of being near family back east. It boils down to decisions were making along the lines of some pretty crazy stuff happening in the climate change arena and seeing that in California, Menicocci said. Its a move that, to us, seems rational and sane to get out of an environment where theres a lot of risk. One natural disaster is probably enough to go through. New Hertz CEO Stephen Scherr has publicly admitted for the first time that some customers have been arrested for driving cars they rented. "It's not acceptable to Hertz to have any customer, a single customer, sort of, caught up in some of what's happened," Scherr told CNBC on Monday, about a month after starting his new job. The admission is a huge change for Hertz, to say the least. For more than a decade, the company has fought these claims in various courts, arguing that any customer arrests are the customers' own fault. "The vast majority of these cases involve renters who were many weeks or even months overdue returning vehicles and who stopped communicating with us well beyond the scheduled due date," a Hertz representative told Inc.com late last year. "Situations where vehicles are reported to the authorities are very rare and happen only after exhaustive attempts to reach the customer." The representative went on to disparage the reputation of the attorneys representing false-arrest plaintiffs in a lawsuit against Hertz. Scherr's statements were welcome news to the hundreds of customers currently suing the rental car company in bankruptcy court over false arrests. And they should be good news to anyone planning to rent a car from Hertz. But they also leave a lot of questions unanswered. Here are a few of them. How well does Scherr know the facts of the case? Before coming to Hertz, he was CFO at Goldman Sachs. He told CNBC and others that the false arrests were among his top priorities for his first 30 days as CEO. But in a TV interview, he explained the false arrests this way: "We had cars that were stolen or allegedly stolen. We put a police report in. When our car was found, the report was rescinded. And unfortunately, in certain circumstances, when that car went out again, it wasn't, in fact, rescinded. And so the customer was accused." What Scherr described does seem to have happened at least once. But most of the 230 customers who are suing Hertz over false arrests describe a completely different scenario. They say they were arrested after they extended a rental and the temporary hold the company put on their credit or debit card failed to go through. To anyone who's been following this story, Scherr seems like he's either being untruthful or is very uninformed. Neither is a good look for a leader. What about customers who are still being prosecuted today? Scherr's statement that the company withdraws stolen car reports once the cars are found is "demonstrably false," according to Franics Alexander Malofiy, an attorney representing the customers. "Hertz has always said that it is not empowered to withdraw police reports," he told Inc.com. "We have their letters saying this to our clients in December 2021. Scherr's statement "completely glosses over the severity and the harm visited upon so many people, and people still stuck in the system," he adds. So far, Hertz doesn't seem to have withdrawn its stolen car reports on around 40 customers who are currently facing prosecution, in some cases for years, Malofiy notes. How will this affect a potential investigation by Congress? Democratic senators Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal have both called for a governmental investigation into the false arrests and Hertz's business practices. Malofiy suspects this is why Scherr is treating the matter as urgent. "We will do right where our customers have been negatively affected and I'm looking to resolve that very, very quickly," Scherr told CNBC. Will customers keep getting arrested? This is the most important question for anyone thinking about renting from Hertz. "We have changed our policies to avoid the possibility of this happening," Scherr told CNBC. That sounds like a positive step. But he didn't specify what changes the company had made--or what policies led to the arrests in the first place. The South Kingstown High School Rebel Theater Group will present Roald Dahls Matilda the Musical this weekend at SK High School. The show opens with a 7 p.m. performance tonight through Sunday and a special 2 p.m. matinee Sunday afternoon. Pictured above are cast members acting out their roles during a dress rehearsal Tuesday. The Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022, was recently proposed by the Union government with the purpose of placing forth a body of law to govern a variety of operations on territory in Antarctica where India has established research centers. The government has introduced a draft Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022, almost forty years since India first joined the Antarctic Pact. On Friday, Earth Sciences Minister Dr. Jitender Singh introduced the draft Bill in the Lok Sabha. What is the Antarctica Bill? Twitter The Antarctica Bill aims to regulate Antarctica's travels and operations, as well as any possible issues that may occur among individuals who live there. It also includes penalties for certain significant infractions. Without a permission or written authorization from a member nation, private trips and expeditions to Antarctica would be illegal if the Bill becomes law. India officially joined the Treaty System in 1983 and is one of the 54 members of the Antarctic Agreement, which was formed in 1959. The legislation also establishes a framework for government personnel to investigate a vessel and undertake research facility inspections. The proposal also calls for the establishment of the Antarctic Fund, which will be used to conserve the Antarctic ecosystem. The bill gives the Indian court system authority over Antarctica and establishes penalties for crimes committed on the territory by Indian nationals, foreign people who are part of Indian expeditions, or those who are in the vicinity of Indian research facilities. orissapost India has set up two permanent research outposts in Antarctica, Bharati and Maitri, after its first mission to the continent in 1982. Both of these locations are staffed by scientists on a continuous basis. A 'Committee on Antarctic Governance and Environmental Protection' is also established by the legislation. The bill outlaws mining, dredging, and other activities that endanger the region's natural features. It prohibits the disposal of garbage in Antarctica by any individual, ship, or aircraft, as well as the deployment of nuclear weapons. The draft law is India's first domestic law on the subject of Antarctica. Antarctica has already been covered by local laws in twenty-seven other nations. What is the Antarctica Treaty? The Soviet Union, United Kingdom of Great Britain, Northern Island, The U.S were among the 12 countries that signed the Antarctic Treaty in 1959. The treaty later entered into force in 1961. Bas.ac.uk The Agreement applies to the region south of 60 degrees South latitude. The agreement's goals are to demilitarise Antarctica and develop it as a region for peaceful research, as well as to lay any geographical sovereignty conflicts to rest, guaranteeing global cooperation. The Antarctic Treaty now has 54 members, although only 29 countries have voting rights at the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings, including India. The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) was founded in 1980 to safeguard and preserve the Antarctic ecosystem, specifically the restoration and preservation of Antarctic marine habitats. The Antarctic Treaty Protocol on Environmental Conservation was signed in 1991 and entered into force in 1998. Antarctica is designated as a "natural reserve dedicated to peace and science," according to the treaty. Prohibitions under the bill The Bill makes it illegal to drill, dredge, excavate, or extract mineral resources, as well as to conduct anything that might lead to the discovery of such reserves the only exception being scientific research with a permission. Stock Images Damage to native plants, trying to fly or land helicopters or operating ships that may disrupt normal activities of birds and seals, using firearms that may disturb animal habitat, removing soil or biological substance native to Antarctica, engaging in any exercise that may negatively impact bird and animal habitat, and killing, injuring, or capturing any bird or animal are all explicitly prohibited. It is also forbidden to introduce wildlife, birds, vegetation, or microscopic organisms which are not native to Antarctica. A permission is needed for the extraction of species for academic experiments. Examinations can also be carried out by an official appointed by the national government. Penalty system A completely seperate assigned court for offenses committed in Antarctica is proposed in the draught Bill. The bill also includes harsh penalties, with the minimum penalty ranging from one to 2 years in jail and a fine of Rs 10-50 lakh. Exploitation of any Antarctic species or transfer of an exotic breed to the region can result in a seven-year prison term and a penalty of Rs 50 lakh. The penalty for disposing of nuclear waste or causing a nuclear explosion can vary from 20 years to life in jail, plus a penalty of Rs 50 crore. For more on explainers, news, sports and current affaris from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. With hours left for the rollout of the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to all eligible adults, Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech reduced the price of their vaccines to Rs 225 per shot for private hospitals. Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech was previously selling its COVAXIN to hospitals for Rs 1,200 and Pune-based SII had earlier announced a discounted price of Rs 600 for its Covishiled. BCCL "We are pleased to announce that after discussion with the central government, SII has decided to revise the price of COVISHIELD vaccine for private hospitals from Rs 600 to Rs 225 per dose," SII CEO Adar Poonawalla said in a tweet. "We welcome the decision to make available precautionary dose for all adults. In consultation with the Central Government, we have decided to revise the price of COVAXIN from Rs 1,200 to Rs 225 per dose, for private hospitals," Bharat Biotech Co-Founder Joint Managing Director Suchitra Ella said in a tweet. No free booster dose for all Unlike the first two doses, which were also administered through the government vaccination centres, the precautionary dose for those in the 18-59 age group is not free and is available only in private hospitals as of now. PTI Rs 150 administration charges The government has also said that private vaccination centres can charge a maximum of Rs 150 per dose as service charge over and above the cost of the vaccine. While making the announcement on Friday, the Health Ministry had said that the ongoing free vaccination programme through government vaccination centres for the first and second dose to the eligible population as well as precaution dose to healthcare workers, frontline workers and 60+ population would continue. According to the government, the precautionary dose will be of the same COVID-19 vaccine as the one used for the administration of the first two doses. BCCL Booster dose needed to fight Omicron Meanwhile, a study done by the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune has indicated that neutralising antibody levels waned after six months in those who were fully vaccinated against the coronavirus with Covishield, Covaxin and a mix of both Covishield as the first dose and Covaxin as the second dose with regard to Omicron variant. Dr Pragya Yadav, a scientist at the NIV, said that the findings have so far highlight the need for booster dose in the context of Omicron variant. BCCL "The gradual shift of VoCs from Delta to Delta-sub-lineage to Omicron, along with the observed waning of immunity post six months of vaccination, has prompted discourses around devising an innovative vaccination strategy. The present investigation findings contribute meaningfully to such discussions. Regardless of the findings of this study, longitudinal monitoring for breakthrough infections should remain a part of any surveillance system," the study stated. For more on news, sports and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Google has rolled out a new way to search for content through a never-before-seen combination of text and images. Yes, you read that right! Starting now, some users can Google by using text and photo in a single query. In essence, if you're looking for a pair of earbuds of which you have a picture but need them in a different colour, Google is making it possible. Want to find a workspace chair that complements your table? Simply feed Google your table's image and write chair and voila! Unsplash A new era in Google Search The new Google search feature is called "multisearch" and was first previewed in September. Now, it is available for users in the US as part of the Google Lens app. Google Search's vice president Liz Reid told CNN that the feature is currently considered experimental and is restricted to shopping-related searches as of now. "This will just be the start," he said. Also read: Google Is Offering Free Electric Scooters To Lure Employees Back To Work While it's unclear when the feature would be rolled out globally, this marks the first step in Google's departure from reliance on words to facilitate search. This builds on the fantastic capabilities of Google Lens that lets you find a product immediately through your phone's camera lens. Unsplash If you're currently in the US, you can find multisearch in Google's mobile app by simply tapping the camera icon on right side of the search bar, which will pull up Google Lens. Simply upload a picture, then press the "plus" sign followed by "add to your search." This would let you type words into the search mechanism. Also read: Anyone Can Be A Good Writer With Google Docs' New Features The new way to search is heavily dependent on artificial intelligence, and is powered by a machine-learning tool called MUM (multitask unified model) first revealed to users in May, 2021. Unsplash In 2020, Google allowed users to hum when they're searching for specific songs. And the new combination method for Google Search is one of Google's many ambitions to update how users perceive searching on its engine. What do you think about Google's efforts? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com. References Rachel Metz, CNN Business. (2022, April 7). Google now lets you search by combining images and words. CNN. Tesla will build a vehicle dedicated for use as a robotaxi, and will start making three new vehicles next year, chief executive Elon Musk told fans at a party celebrating the opening of a Texas factory. He gave no details of the robotaxi other than to say it will look quite futuristic. He also said Tesla will start building the Cybertruck pick-up at its new factory near Austin, Texas, next year. After that, it will start building a new Roadster and an electric truck, he said. Elon Musk at the Cyber Rodeo grand opening (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman/AP) He made his remarks on Thursday night at the Cyber Rodeo at Giga Texas, an invitation-only party for thousands of guests at Teslas new billion-dollar-plus factory. As many as 15,000 people were expected to attend the private event hosted to mark the opening of the new factory in Travis County that also serves as the companys new headquarters following its move from California. Mr Musk said at the event streamed live on YouTube that Tesla was delivering the first Model Ys built at the new factory, which he said can make a half million of the small SUVs per year. Tesla and Mr Musk have often missed targets to start producing vehicles. In 2019, he promised a fleet of autonomous robotaxis would be on the road the following year, but the companys Full Self-Driving software is still being tested by selected Tesla owners on public roads. Tesla Model Y (Alamy/PA) The company is the largest maker of electric vehicles in the US and the world. Mr Musk said this year will be about scaling up the Austin factory as well as a new one in Germany. He also said the company may start building a robot in 2023. Next year theres going to be a massive wave of new products, he told the crowd on Thursday night. A county-issued permit said the event included interactive tours, food, alcohol and live entertainment, but it was off-limits to the general public and the news media. Mr Musk has said the Austin-area plant will employ up to 10,000 workers. A senior garda has been appointed to conduct a review of garda protocols for dealing with third-party concerns about the potential for violence following the deaths of a Cork father and his two sons in October 2020. An Garda Siochana has confirmed to the Irish Examiner that a senior officer from outside the Cork North garda division has been appointed to conduct a review into this matter. Mark OSullivan, 26, was found dead in his room at the family home in Raheen, Assolas, near Kanturk, Co. Cork, on October 26, 2020, after being shot seven times by his brother Diarmuid, 23, and father Tadg, 59. They later took their own lives. Anne OSullivan, the mother of Mark and Diarmuid and Tadgs wife, was not targeted in the incident and raised the alarm. She died last year following an illness. Inquest An inquest into the three mens deaths held in Mallow last August heard that Mark had told a close friend, Claragh Lucey, that he was afraid that Tadg and Diarmuid would kill him and make his death appear like a suicide. The inquest also heard that Annes cousin, Louise Sherlock, went to see gardai on October 13, 2020, to highlight concerns she had about Anne and Marks safety, and to seek advice. She told gardai about an encounter she had with Tadg and Diarmuid in the previous days on the roadway close to the OSullivan property, during which she said Diarmuid told her this will all be over in a couple of weeks and that there would be carnage. Gardai gave her advice about protection and barring orders, she said. She also said they advised her to talk to a lawyer and she was told to make sure she had a copy of the Eircode should we need to contact gardai. The jury at the inquest issued a recommendation that garda protocols over third-party contacts to gardai involving the safety of others, particularly in cases of firearms possession, be reviewed. During the inquest, a statement made to gardai by Marks friend Claragh Lucey was read into evidence. Mark had told her of a row in the family home over a will regarding the land at Assolas, which he and Diarmuids mother Anne had inherited from her parents. The land was being rented to a farmer. Their father Tadg also had inherited land from his family, and the couple had never put the holdings into joint ownership. The lands had not become an issue until Anne received a terminal cancer diagnosis in February 2020. Diarmuid had wanted to inherit the majority of the land at Assolas, but Anne had wanted to split the holding between both sons. Tadg was on Diarmuids side in the row, the inquest heard. Kanturk murder-suicide Gardai received a call at 7.32am on October 26 about an armed incident at the property in Assolas. The body of Mark was found in the house; the bodies of Tadg and Diarmuid were found in a nearby field. Broken phones and a hammer were also found. The alarm was raised after Anne went to a neighbours house on foot, after seeing her son and husband fire shots into Marks room. The jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing in the case of Mark, and ruled that Tadg and Diarmuid had taken their own lives. Support and helplines: GAA commentator Marty Morrissey has opened up about the "difficult" last few months since he lost his beloved mother. Peggy Twomey, who was 94, died in the single-vehicle crash at Annagh, Miltown Malbay, Co Clare last December. Mr Morrissey, who was the only child of Peggy and her late husband Martin Morrissey, later thanked people for the love and support they had shown to him since his mother passed. On Friday, the much-loved presenter opened up about his final moments with his mother. "When you lose your mum, no matter what the circumstances, it's tragic," he told The Late Late Show. Describing Peggy, Mr Morrissey said: "She was 5'2" but she was a ball of fire. She was a rebel from Cork." He said she was a "formidable" woman who was "a great" mother. "I could not have asked for a better mother." Speaking about the night his mother died, Mr Morrissey said the one thing that scared his mother was a storm. He said when he heard there was going to be a red alert storm, they decided that Mr Morrissey would go down and they would stay in a hotel. They had plans to meet in Annagh, near her home. "She was driving on a road that she drove three or four times a day, and she missed a bend. And unfortunately, we lost her." Mr Morrissey said when his mother wasn't in Inagh, he kept driving. "I came upon the accident. It was tough. I told her I loved her." Marty Morrissey Emergency services were already on the scene when he arrived and Mr Morrissey was quick to praise their bravery and kindness. "I knew what my mother wanted because she [had] a deep faith," he said. "And I asked the fire brigade and the ambulance and the Gardai would they say a prayer with me. Once we had mum taken out of the car we all stood around her. We said a prayer together." Mr Morrissey said he wanted to thank and compliment those frontline workers. He added the thing he misses is the phone calls, saying they would have five or six phone calls a day. Mr Morrissey said that in the last few months, he has learned about the kindness of people and bout the generosity of spirit. He said the "generosity of the people of Ireland" was "overwhelming". "Every day, without exaggeration, since Mom died I've been getting casrds. Mass cards. Sometimes 120 to 125 per day." Mr Morrissey said he has read every letter with stories of people's grief, heartbreak and tragedy. "And their words consoled me so much." A hidden camera has captured the first live UK footage of a wild white-tailed eagle hatching. Staff at RSPB Scotlands Abernethy nature reserve in Perthshire, where the eaglet hatched, described it as being such a special moment. It comes after eggs were first spotted in a nest being used by eagles Shona and Finn early in March. The nests location remains secret, to avoid the birds being disturbed, but after both eagles took turns incubating the eggs and protecting them from the snow and recent storms, RSPB Scotland confirmed the first egg had hatched at 1943 on April 8. A camera, which has been hidden in a stick three metres away from the nest to avoid disturbing the birds, captured the moment with images of the eaglet emerging being beamed live to the Loch Garten Nature Centre in Abernethy. Fergus Cumberland, visitor experience manager for RSPB Scotland, said: The response to the eagles from the public has been one of excitement and anticipation. The true character and personalities of these birds are on full display for the public to experience and it is a wonder to watch it all unfold. Now to see that theyve hatched their first chick is incredible. We feel so privileged to have been able to witness such a special moment. Also known as sea eagles, white-tailed eagles are the UKs largest bird of prey with a wingspan of 2.5 metres. White tailed eagles, which are also know as sea eagles, can have a wingspan of 2.5 metres (Amanda Ferguson/RSPB/PA Media) The birds became extinct in Scotland in 1918, but eagles from Scandinavia were reintroduced to the Isle of Rum in 1975. Subsequent reintroductions in other parts of the country, as well as the birds naturally moving around the country, means there are now populations spread as far as Fife, Orkney and the north-west Highlands. After hatching, white-tailed eagle chicks generally remain in the nest, being fed by their parents for approximately 12 weeks. And after leaving the nest they remain close by and are dependent on their parents throughout the autumn, before seeking their own territory. Jess Tomes, of RSPB Scotland, said: The next two weeks are critical for this young eagle as they are unable to regulate their own body temperature for the first few days and are totally dependent on their parents to shelter them from the worst of a Cairngorms spring. Itll be a very tense time for all watching but we welcome everybody to visit us at the Nature Centre and experience these incredible moments. Junta Watch Junta Watch: Regime Plans Thingyan Party Amid Chaos; Official Retirement Age Raised and More Young protesters take to the streets in Monywa, Sagaing Region on April 8, 2022 calling for a boycott of junta-organized Thingyan festivities. Civil service retirement age boosted as ranks thin out Myanmars regime has raised the official retirement age for civil servants to 62 in a bid to shore up its dwindling military manpower, which has been hit by battlefield attrition and desertions since the coup. In an announcement on March 31, the junta said the change was aimed at conserving the human resources of the State, supporting the development of the country based on the work experience and expertise of senior civil servants, and promoting skilled civil servants. The official retirement age was previously set at 60. Though the Civil Service Personnel Law does not count police and soldiers as civil servants, junta spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun said the amendment would also apply to military personnel and police. Hundreds of junta soldiers and police have been killed and thousands more have deserted as a result of fighting with resistance groups and ethnic armed organizations since the military coup. To mitigate the effects of this, both regime chief Min Aung Hlaing and his deputy Soe Win have visited battalions to shore up morale among military personnel. The regime has also trained and armed pro-junta groups known as Pyu Saw Htee, and enacted a law making it compulsory for law enforcement personnel to fight alongside junta soldiers on the front lines. At the same time, Australia has granted asylum to military defectors from Myanmar, dealing another blow to the regime. Junta organizes Thingyan Festival; public in no mood Eager to create an impression of normalcy in Myanmar, the regime is making big plans for what is traditionally the countrys largest annual celebration. At a regime cabinet meeting on March 30, Min Aung Hlaing said permission had been granted for ThingyanMyanmars traditional New Year festivalto be celebrated in the regions and states, as the COVID-19 pandemic had been brought under control to a certain extent. He asked ministries to organize Thingyan festivities in line with COVID-19 regulations, and observing security precautions. The announcement was followed by reports in junta-controlled newspapers about how chief ministers were planning to hold Thingyan festivals in their respective regions and states. Reports have also emerged of local junta authorities soliciting donations from residents in some wards in Yangon, and of junta ministries pressuring businessmen to set up Thingyan pavilions and collecting donations from them. However, with the country plagued by violence, financial hardship, rising prices and power outages, many Myanmar people are in no mood to celebrate. Opposition forces have also called for a boycott of Thingyan, which falls on April 13-16. Forex decree a headache for foreign business The Singapore, Japan and EU embassies have asked the Myanmar regime to exempt their nationals companies from a draconian new foreign-exchange regulation. On April 3, the Central Bank of Myanmar ordered that foreign exchange earned by locals must be converted into the local currency at the official rate within one working day. The embassy of Singapore, which is the biggest investor in Myanmar, said Singaporean companies operating in Myanmar will face serious challenges to their regular operations under the new regulation, and may have difficulty in continuing their business in the country. The Japanese Embassy also asked the juntas Ministry of Foreign Affairs to exempt Japanese companies and governmental organizations from the new directive, citing the countries close bilateral relations. The EU Embassy in Yangon also asked that businesses, international schools, the European Chamber of Commerce and EU-based non-governmental organizations be exempted from the new regulation. Shooting a slap in the face for regime The vice-governor of the junta-controlled Central Bank of Myanmar, Daw Than Than Swe, was shot at her house in Yangon on Thursday, becoming the highest-ranking regime official so far to be attacked. The Yangon military command of the parallel National Unity Government said the attack was the final phase of Operation Pyan Hlwar Aung. The command said Daw Than Than Swe was shot five times on her doorstep. Confirming the shooting, junta spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun told media she was admitted to a military hospital with minor injuries. But sources from the Central Bank said she was in critical condition. The 55-year-old served as a director-general at the bank under the National League for Democracy, and was appointed as one of the banks two vice-governors on Feb. 4, 2021, three days after the military seized power by overthrowing the countrys democratically elected government. The shooting came a few days after the central bank issued a controversial order requiring that all foreign exchange earned by locals be converted to local currency at the official rate within one working day. In November last year, former navy lieutenant commander U Thein Aung, the chief financial officer of the military-owned telecom operator Mytel, was shot dead outside his home in Yangon. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Rohingya Genocide Case Is Legitimate, Gambia Tells UNs Top Court Cobra Gold Military Exercise Kicks Off in Thailand Without Myanmar EU Adds More Myanmar Companies, Regime Officials to Sanctions List Johnson City, TN (37604) Today Cloudy. Some light rain is likely. High 57F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Rain showers early with overcast skies late. Low 47F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for a firm global response Friday after a missile strike killed 52 people at a train station in eastern Ukraine where civilians had gathered to flee a feared Russian offensive. This is another Russian war crime for which everyone involved will be held accountable, Zelensky said in a video message, referring to Fridays missile strike, whose victims included five children. World powers have already condemned Russias attack on Kramatorsk. We expect a firm global response to this war crime, he said. After the attack in the Donetsk capital, US President Joe Biden accused Russia of being behind a horrific atrocity. France condemned it as a crime against humanity. At least 52 people were killed, the regional government said. Zelensky reported 300 wounded, saying the strike showed evil with no limits. The Ukrainian president said the bombing had been reported in Russia before the missiles had even landed and called for more weaponry to counter Moscows aggression. I am sure that the victory of Ukraine is just a matter of time, and I will do everything to reduce this time, he added. AFP journalists saw the bodies of at least 30 people under plastic sheets next to the station. Body parts, packed bags and stuffed animals were flung across the floor. On the station forecourt, the remains of a missile were still visible. It was tagged in white paint with the words for our children in Russian, an expression frequently used by pro-Russian separatists in reference to their losses since the start of the first Donbas war in 2014. I was in the station. I heard, like, a double explosion. I rushed to the wall for protection, said Natalia, searching for her passport among the abandoned belongings. Another woman in a state of shock told AFP: I saw people covered in blood entering the station and bodies everywhere on the ground. The governor of Donetsk claimed a missile with cluster munitions was used in the strike, according to quotes published by the Interfax news agency. Russia denied being behind the missile strike, which came with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Kyiv for talks with Zelensky and to visit the scene of civilian killings in the town of Bucha. Russia faces decay because of ever tougher sanctions and Ukraine had a European future, Von der Leyen said at a news conference with Zelensky. My instinct says: If this is not a war crime, what is a war crime? she said of the Bucha killings, calling for a thorough investigation. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer on Friday headed for Ukraine and is expected to travel to Bucha on Saturday, according to his office. All this horror Six weeks into President Vladimir Putins invasion, Moscow has shifted its focus to eastern and southern Ukraine after stiff resistance ended plans to swiftly capture Kyiv. Russian troops appear set on creating a long-sought land link between occupied Crimea and the Moscow-backed separatist statelets of Donetsk and Lugansk in the Donbas region. Civilians have been urged to flee the heavy shelling there that has laid waste to towns and complicated evacuation efforts. The defence ministry in Moscow said Saturday that Russian forces had destroyed an ammunition depot in the Dnipro region, and struck 85 Ukrainian military targets in the previous 24 hours. There is no secret the battle for Donbas will be decisive. What we have already experienced all this horror it can multiply, warned Lugansk regional governor Sergiy Gaiday. In the city of Lozova west of Kramatorsk, more than 15,000 people have fled, Oleg Sinegubov, head of the Kharkiv regional military administration, said on Telegram. There are still about 50,000 [people]. A large number of people will leave. Departures are organized both by rail and own vehicles, he said, adding that fighting was taking place nearby. In the south, the Black Sea port city of Odessa girded for rocket attacks, imposing a weekend curfew. Residents and Ukrainian officials returning after a Russian withdrawal from an area near Kyiv, meanwhile, were taking stock of the scale of the devastation. Bucha where authorities say hundreds were killed, some with their hands bound has become a byword for the brutality allegedly inflicted under Russian occupation. But Zelensky warned worse was being uncovered. They have started sorting through the ruins in Borodianka, northwest of Kyiv, he said in his nightly address. It is much more horrific there. There are even more victims of Russian occupiers. Conflict in the area has wrought massive destruction and bodies are only now being retrieved, with 27 recovered from two destroyed buildings, according to Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova. Fresh allegations also emerged from Obukhovychi, northwest of Kyiv, where villagers told AFP they were used as human shields. Help us now Moscow has denied targeting civilians, but growing evidence of atrocities has galvanised Ukraines allies in the EU, which has approved an embargo on Russian coal and the closure of its ports to Russian vessels. The bloc has frozen 30 billion euros ($32.6 billion) in assets from blacklisted Russian and Belarusian individuals and companies, it said Friday. It also blacklisted Putins two adult daughters and more than 200 others as part of its latest sanctions package, according to an official list published late Friday. The United States and Britain had already sanctioned the Russian leaders daughters. En route to Kyiv, Borrell told journalists the EU would supply 7.5 million euros to train Ukrainian prosecutors to investigate war crimes, which Russia is accused of committing. Ukraine has welcomed new pressure on Moscow, but it continues to push for harsher sanctions and more heavy weaponry. Either you help us now and Im speaking about days, not weeks or your help will come too late and many people will die, many civilians will lose their homes, many villages will be destroyed, foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said after meeting NATO foreign ministers in Brussels. Britain said Friday it was sending Ukraine more high-grade military equipment including Starstreak anti-aircraft missiles and 800 anti-tank missiles, while Slovakia said it had given Ukraine an S-300 air defence system. burs-qan/dhc The EU is to discuss its support for war crimes probes in Ukraine in meetings over the next two days with the International Criminal Courts chief prosecutor, the European Commission said on Saturday. Karim Khan, of The Hague-based court, is to meet EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Sunday in Luxembourg, then take part in a meeting of EU foreign ministers in the city on Monday. The meetings underline the European Unions strong support also voiced in a G7 statement on Thursday for investigations into atrocities in Ukraine, spurred on notably by killings in the town of Bucha, near Kyiv. Ukraines government and some neighbouring EU countries have said Russia whose troops occupied Bucha before the discovery of the corpses was responsible and guilty of war crimes. Moscow denies that. Top EU officials have been more prudent, observing due process and preferring to await the results of war crimes investigations conducted by Ukraines prosecution service with help from the ICC, the EU, the UN human rights commissioner and the OSCE. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, who visited Bucha on Friday with Borrell, said as she left Ukraine on Saturday: If this is not a war crime, what is a war crime? But, she added, a rigorous investigation was needed so that any future war crimes charges stood up in court. The EU is providing 7.5 million euros ($8.2 million) to train Ukrainian prosecutors to investigate war crimes. Scrutiny of possible war crimes intensified further Friday with the missile strike on an eastern Ukraine train station packed with civilians fleeing a feared Russian offensive in which 52 people were killed. The UN rights chief, Michelle Bachelet, has also said her office has received credible allegations that Russian armed forces have used cluster munitions in populated areas. The ICCs Khan said early last month his service had opened several probes into alleged war crimes in Ukraine. Joint investigation team Borrell said in a Kyiv media conference on Friday alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky: We are in the presence of war crimes and we will help you, we will help the Ukrainian prosecutor, to present the proofs in front of the International Criminal Court. The EU has set up a joint investigation team with the Ukrainians to gather evidence in Bucha and elsewhere, with forensic experts drawn from some EU member states. A commission spokesman said: There are ongoing talks between Eurojust (the EU agency for judicial cooperation) and the International Criminal Court to join forces and for the court to be part of the joint investigation team. Additionally, 10 of the EUs 27 member states have opened national investigations into alleged crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine, he said. It is important that we connect the dots and work together to ensure that those responsible for atrocities and war crimes in Ukraine will be held accountable, the commission spokesman said. Evacuations resumed on Saturday from Kramatorsk, in eastern Ukraine, where a missile strike killed 52 people at a railway station, as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson became the latest Western leader to visit Kyiv. Hailing the countrys response to the Russian invasion, Johnson offered Ukraine armoured vehicles and anti-ship missiles to help ensure, he said, that the country will never be invaded again. Because of the invincible heroism and courage of President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainian people, Russias monstrous aims are being thwarted, he said. A video released by Zelenskys office showed him and Johnson walking through largely empty city streets to Kyivs historic Maidan Square, as snipers kept watch. The two men greeted passersby, and one visibly emotional man called out to Johnson, We need you. Johnson, who a day earlier pledged to send Ukraine weaponry including Starstreak anti-aircraft missiles and 800 anti-tank missiles, added that the discovery of scores of civilian bodies in Ukrainian towns had permanently polluted Russian President Vladimir Putins reputation. Six weeks into Russias invasion, Moscow has shifted its focus to eastern and southern Ukraine after stiff resistance thwarted plans to swiftly capture Kyiv. With thousands killed in fighting and more than 11 million fleeing their homes or the country, the Ukrainian president called on the West to follow Britains example on military aid. We need even more sanctions against Russia, Zelensky said in a video address Saturday evening. We need more weapons for our state. Plea to evacuate EU leaders were meeting with Zelensky in Kyiv on Friday as news emerged of the devastating attack on Kramatorsks station. The 52 victims included five children. US President Joe Biden accused Russia of being behind a horrific atrocity in Kramatorsk, and France condemned the strike as a crime against humanity. Moscow denied responsibility for the rocket attack, which also wounded 109 people, according to the latest official count. As Russian forces regroup in the east and south of Ukraine, local officials are urging residents to flee before it is too late. On Saturday, the mayor of eastern Lysychansk, Oleksandr Zaika, called on residents to evacuate as soon as possible due to constant shelling by the Russian army. It has become very difficult in the city, enemy shells are already flying, Zaika said in a video message. While the city had stocks of humanitarian aid, he added, that doesnt mean it will save your life if an enemy shell arrives. And more Russian shells did arrive on Saturday, killing five people in the eastern cities of Vugledar and Novo Mikhaylovka, local governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said on Telegram. Meanwhile, in Kramatorsk minibuses assembled at a church to collect shaken evacuees. Almost 80 people, most of them elderly, sheltered in a building near the targeted station. There were around 300 to 400 people who rushed here after the strike, Yevgeny, a member of the Protestant church, told AFP. They were traumatised. Half of them ran to shelter in the cellar, others wanted to leave as soon as possible. Some were evacuated by bus on Friday. The Kramatorsk station was serving as the main evacuation hub for refugees from parts of the eastern Donbas region still under Ukrainian control. AFP reporters at the station saw the remains of a missile tagged in white paint with the words for our children in Russian an expression used by pro-Russian separatists to invoke their own losses since fighting in Donbas began in 2014. The governor of Donetsk claimed a missile with cluster munitions banned by an international treaty was used in the attack, according to remarks published by the Interfax news agency. All this horror Speaking Saturday from Warsaw, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said a global pledging event for Ukrainian refugees has raised 10.1 billion euros ($11 billion). In another sign of Western solidarity, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer also visited Kyiv and the nearby town of Bucha on Saturday. Bucha where authorities say hundreds were killed, some with their hands bound has become a byword for the brutality allegedly inflicted under Russian occupation. And Ukrainian officials say they are uncovering even greater devastation in nearby towns. In a joint news conference with the Austrian leader, Zelensky said Ukraine was still ready to continue negotiations with Moscow talks stalled by the killings in Bucha and elsewhere. Ukraine said Saturday it had completed a third prisoner exchange with Russia, bringing 12 soldiers and 14 civilians home. Warning of worse to come Russian troops appear intent on creating a long-sought land link between occupied Crimea and the Moscow-backed separatist territories of Donetsk and Lugansk in the Donbas region. Moscow said Russian troops had fired on a Ukrainian vessel trying to evacuate commanders of the Azov battalion from the besieged southeastern city of Mariupol. The Azov Special Operations Detachment has been fighting Russian forces in Mariupol scene of some of the wars most grievous civilian suffering as it lies between Russia-occupied Crimea and pro-Russian separatist regions in Ukraines east. Moscows defence ministry, underscoring Russian advances, said its forces had destroyed an ammunition depot in the Dnipro region and struck 85 Ukrainian military targets in the previous 24 hours. Help us now Fresh allegations also emerged from Obukhovychi, northwest of Kyiv, where villagers told AFP they were used as human shields. Moscow has denied targeting civilians, but growing evidence of atrocities has galvanised Ukraines allies in the EU, which has approved an embargo on Russian coal and the closure of its ports to Russian vessels. The bloc has frozen 30 billion euros ($33 billion) in assets from blacklisted Russian and Belarusian individuals and companies, it said Friday. It also blacklisted Putins two adult daughters not long after the US and Britain did the same as part of its latest sanctions package, according to an official list. As sanctions bite, credit rating agency Standard and Poors Global Ratings downgraded Russias foreign currency payments rating to selective default after Moscow paid a dollar-denominated debt in rubles this week. burs-dlc-har/jj/bbk/md GOOGLE Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said Saturday that he was deeply disappointed and saddened by the behaviour of his old friend Russian President Vladimir Putin over the Ukraine invasion. I cannot and I do not want to hide that I am deeply disappointed by the behaviour of Vladimir Putin, Berlusconi told a public meeting of his right-wing Forza Italia party in Rome, which is part of the broad coalition supporting the government led by Mario Draghi. Ive known him about twenty years ago and he always seemed to me to be a democrat and a man of peace, the 85-year-old billionaire continued. Berlusconi, who served as head of the Italian government three times between 1994 and 2011, had previously refrained from publicly criticising Putin. When he was in power, Berlusconi maintained friendly personal ties with the Russian president, going so far as to invite him on vacation to his luxurious villa in Sardinia. Faced with the horror of the massacres of civilians in Bucha and other places, real war crimes, Russia can not deny its responsibilities, he said Saturday. Lawyers representing a cannabis biopharmaceutical group and applicants for federal cannabis cultivation licenses filed a petition in court today, arguing that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is taking too long to make a decision on its application. The petition, filed in U.S. District Court of Rhode Island by Megan Sheehan of Sheehan and Associates, requests a Writ of Execution, or order from a court to a lower government official to properly perform official duties or correct an error . Abuse of discretion. The document also contains a complaint of declaratory and injunctive relief. MMJ BioPharma Cultivation (MMJBC), MMJ International Holdings (MMJIH), and MMJ BioPharma Labs (MMJBL) filed petitions through Sheehan asking the court to direct the DEA to rule on the status of their Schedule 1 applications for bulk registration and import registration. MMJ BioPharma Labs argued that the DEA violated federal laws and regulations on controlled substances by failing to make a decision on the companys manufacturing application. The company further seeks declarative and injunctive relief for DEAs violation of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) for unreasonable delay in determining the outcome of its cannabis manufacturing and import clinical trial registration application. Before, Dr. Sue Sisley of Scottsdale Institute successfully sues DEA Obtain a federal cultivation license for medical marijuana research purposes. MMJ Biopharma Cultivation is close behind. MMJBC executives spoke exclusively to Cannabis and Tech Today about their frustrations with the long DEA process. Dr. Elio Mariani, CEO of MMJ triumvirate and a career pharmacy expert for over 40 years, said: We will address this unnecessary delay once and for all. Sadly, we have to take this action. Mr. Duane Boise, president of the MMJ Corporation, insists he has thoroughly investigated how the DEA issued registrations to other applicants. Needless to say, theyre not applying the same approval standards consistently across the country, Boise said. Boise insists that the DEA has missed its own deadline. Im completely bewildered by the DEAs unreasonable delays. Its a complete dereliction of duty to MMJ, which has gone into excruciating detail to meet the demands of the law, said Tim Timothy, chairman of the board of directors of a trio of corporate and practicing attorneys for over 50 years. Tim Moynahan said. This duty applies to all applicants and requires basic fairness and equal protection of the law. The denial of these principles to the MMJ creates a series of questionable conduct on the part of the DEA that violates the rights of all citizens, Moynahan continued. Cannabis and Tech Today Talk to a representative from the DEA State Office, who declined to comment publicly when asked why some applications were processed but not the MMJBC. The agent suggested contacting the local field office for clarification; however, DEA representatives in Rhode Island and Boston could not be reached for comment. In the summer of 2015, Andy Slavitt didnt have time for the possible. Slavitt, then administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, spent a year trying to support Affordable Care Act communications after many major insurers pulled out, saying the market was too risky. But Maricopa County, Arizona, raises a question. The largest county in the state and the fourth largest in the country has no ACA insurance options weeks before open enrollment. Slavette called the heads of several insurance companies to ask them to start a program in Maricopa, and each CEO said they would study the area to see if it made economic sense. Then Centene Corp. Chairman and CEO Michael Neidorff agreed to offer an invisible plan, Slavitt said. I think about the fact that when youre in government, people say to you, Hey, if you need anything, tell me, and there are very few people who are really serious. Thats the power of Michael, St. Lavert said. Two years later, the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) cast a decisive vote to prevent Republicans from repealing Obamacare, a move Slavert believes would not have happened without the proposal from the Centene ACA. Michael was one of the very few people responsible for saving the ACA, he said Nedorf, 79, died thursday After suffering what his family said was a long-term illness. He was head of St. Louis-based Centene for more than 25 years before announcing plans to retire at the end of the year. Policymakers and health insurance leaders say his blending of personal values ??with his career will define his legacy. Michaels gift is in giving, Slavert said. All he wants to do is contribute. Neidorff joined Centene in 1996 to lead a single health plan covering three counties. For years, he has focused on growing Centene through acquisitions, with the two companies largest most recent deal being a $15 billion merger with rival government insurer WellCare. At the time of the deal, Centene made headlines for its investment in the ACA plan as a Supreme Court decision loomed on whether to end the plan. We have to look at the practical, the political, Nedov tell health leaders then. Everything Ive seen is saying, This is a great deal. It makes it harder for two great companies in a very meaningful way, serving a lot of audiences that you would never be able to do.' Last summer, a report from Moodys Investors Service said Centene had the fastest growth compared to its seven publicly traded rivals over the past decade. The insurer is now a $125 billion Fortune 25 company and the largest Medicaid operator in the U.S., with low-income adults and children accounting for more than half of its 26.6 million enrollees. The company is also a major player in the Medicare Advantage and ACA exchange business. The public health footprint of insurers is no accident. Matt Eyles, CEO of the health insurance lobby group AHIP, said in a statement that Nedorf is a tireless advocate for improving the health of underrepresented and underserved communities, and is a leader in recognizing and investing in behavioral health. An industry leader in tools and social determinants serving to improve personal well-being. Neidorff has served on the AHIP Board of Directors. It is this vision that has grown Centene from a regional business into one of the nations leading health insurance providers, Ayers said in a statement. The heads of other large ACA and Medicaid insurers likewise called Neidorff a leader in transforming care for the most vulnerable, and Anthem CEO Gail Boudreaux emphasized his unwavering commitment to uplifting communities in need. Karen Lynch, CEO of CVS Health, pointed to his passion for increasing health care delivery, and Joe Zubretsky, CEO of Molina Healthcare, said he would miss Neidorffs energy and competitive spirit. The business we do requires compassion, intelligence and a sense of community, qualities that Michael fully embodies, Zubrecki wrote in an email. His unwavering leadership of Centene for more than 20 years has pointed the way for those who carry on that mantle. Neidorffs passion for bridging differences drives his advocacy. In the weeks following the 2014 civil unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, Nedorf spearheaded a $30 million investment in the community, bringing much-needed opportunity and hope to the region and anchoring small businesses in the community, An obituary written by the family said. In 2016, he opened a $25 million call center office in Ferguson, including a kindergarten for employees children. The company also donated more than $1 million to open a health clinic in the East St. Louis community. His activism has affected other communities as well. Neidorff served as chairman of the National Urban League Board of Directors in 2014, after serving on the board for four years. President and CEO Mark Morial said in a statement that Nedov helped civil rights groups recover long after the Great Depression and was behind the City Alliances new $242 million headquarters in Harlem, New York driving force. Our community is forever changed by his influence, and he will never be forgotten, Morial said. In May 2020, following the murder of George Floyd in police custody and the protests that followed, Nedorf used his public stance to advocate for social change. He said Black Lives Matter at the opening of Centenes June 2020 annual investor day, which typically focuses on financial performance. He spoke for a few minutes about race, a new internal corporate committee and external initiatives aimed at fostering dialogue and research on health disparities. The insurer also set a national example by becoming the first major company to make the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for its 75,000 employees, Slavitt said. I call other employers, and I hear a lot of, Wed love to do this, its a good idea, but we have to be careful, because A reasons, B reasons, C reasons,' Slavett said. Again, I called Michael and he said absolutely. Modern Healthcare has recognized Neidorff for many years as one of the magazines 100 Most Influential Healthcare People In recognition of his work in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the healthcare industry. In his obituary, his family mentioned his work at Centene promoting women, people of color, LGBTQ, veterans and people with disabilities. Neidorffs celebration of a different individual can be seen in Centenes new CEO: Sarah LondonAt 41, the youngest woman to lead any public insurance company. London said in an email that Nedov was a visionary who transformed care delivery in the U.S. Michaels passion lives on in Centenes women and men, and his commitment to his mission to transform the health of Americas most vulnerable citizens lives on, London said. Following his appearance in tvN's fantasy-romance series "Doom at Your Service," Kang Tae Oh is returning with a new drama, "Strange Lawyer" where he is partnered with actress Park Eun Bin! Park Eun Bin is Kang Tae Oh's Newest Leading Lady. Versatile actor Kang Tae Oh is confirmed to join Park Eun Bin in the forthcoming legal drama "Strange Lawyer," also known as "Unusual Lawyer Woo Young Woo." The story revolves around Woo Young Woo, a young and promising lawyer with Asperger's syndrome who joins a known law firm. She has an amazing IQ of 164. Due to her impressive memory and creative thinking ability, Woo Young Woo graduated from the prestigious Seoul National University with high honors both in college and law school. Though she's naturally brilliant, she still lacks social interactions. Kang Tae Oh is Lee Jun Ho, a handsome and thoughtful law firm employee who is famous among his colleagues due to his attractiveness and caring personality. He then starts working with Woo Young Woo and forms a special connection with her. This gives the lawyer unfamiliar emotions. What We Know So Far About 'Strange Lawyer' ENA and popular streaming platform Netflix will team up to produce "Strange Lawyer." In addition, the legal-romance drama is slated to premiere this coming June. Woo Young Woo will be played by "The King's Affection" actress Park Eun Bin. Director Yoo In Sik is in charge of the series, while writer Moon Ji Won will pen the script. "Strange Lawyer" is also one of the contents under StudioGenie. Kang Tae Oh continues to showcase his unique acting and impressive character expression through his previous projects such as "Run On," "The Effect of a Finger Flick on a Breakup," and "Doom at Your Service." Expectations are already high for another role transformation that Kang Tae Oh is about to show in "Strange Lawyer." This marks his first drama collaboration with rising actress Park Eun Bin. With their solid acting skills, viewers and fans are already looking forward to their performances and love chemistry in the drama. Other stars who are also confirmed to join the cast of "Strange Lawyer" are Kang Ki Yong, Jeon Bae Soo, Baek Ji Won, Jin Kyung, Ha Yoon Kyung, Joo Hyun Young, Im Sung Jae, and Joo Jung Hyuk. On the other hand, apart from the legal series, Kang Tae Oh to potentially work with Shin Hye Sun in a new horror film "Open the Door." Are you excited for Kang Tae Oh's newest Netflix drama "Strange Lawyer"? 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. What better way to enjoy a weekend with friends than watching an amazing and worthwhile 16-part K-Drama? If you're looking for a drama that will hook anyone (even the ones new to K-Drama!), then you're lucky! Here are the best K-Dramas to introduce to your friends to get the "oppa" fever started! 'Crash Landing on You' The classic South Korean city girl meets North Korean soldier drama "Crash Landing on You" starring Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin never gets old! In an unexpected paragliding accident, Yoon Se Ri (Son Ye Jin) ends up in North Korean territory where she meets handsome yet strict soldier Ri Jeong Hyuk (Hyun Bin). Eventually, after a series of mishaps, the two fall in love. "Crash Landing on You" is a wonderful drama to get a newbie into K-Drama Land, especially when the lead stars are very smitten with one another! Did you know that they married each other in real life in March 2022? It's such a treat, and it'll make you want to fall in love again! Watch it now on Netflix! 'Kingdom' A zombie cult and history fanatic? Here's Ju Ji Hoon and Bae Doo Na's "Kingdom"! It follows the story of crown prince Lee Chang (Ju Ji Hoon) who tries to find the reason why he's not allowed to visit his father. In order to find out, he goes out to look for his father's doctor. In his journey, he meets Seo Bi (Bae Doo Na) and the storm of zombies that are slowly taking over the country. "Kingdom" is entertaining and gripping for a zombie or horror drama. Ju Ji Hoon and Bae Doo Na's acting will certainly impress any viewer. It's undoubtedly a great watch for any of your peers who will give it a try. "Kingdom" is available with English subtitles on Netflix! 'The Red Sleeve' Based on the novel of the same name, "The Red Sleeve" tells the story of emperor Yi San (Lee Junho) who falls in love with court lady Seong Deok Im (Lee Se Young). In spite of their societal status differences, the two deeply fall in love with each other while trying to fight for their nation. "The Red Sleeve" is a novelty drama but its enticing storyline will hook anyone in any age group! It has almost every genre packed into a series including romance, comedy, suspense and more! 'My Name' This Netflix series is Han So Hee's greatest work so far. It follows the life of Yoo Ji Woo (Han So Hee) who has grown up with a conman as a father. When he gets killed, Yoo Ji Woo becomes an undercover police officer in order to figure out who is responsible for her father's sudden demise. Unlike many dramas, "My Name" exudes coolness and girl crush vibes. It guarantees a solid watch experience as it involves a female lead who's ready to take down people for revenge. You'll be holding the edge of your seats as "My Name" doesn't have any room for boredom! With that, it's the perfect series to binge and get your friends into K-Drama Land! KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Time to return from our interfaith journey of the past two weeks as we learned about the Hindu holiday of Holi and the Muslim holiday of Ramadan. What is ahead of us is a holy week for Jews and Christians here on planet earth. Passover begins Friday, April 15, at sundown, which is also the end of Good Friday in anticipation of Easter Sunday on April 17. Rather than bunch them together in a single column, I wanted to give each holiday its own space to sing its song of salvation. Father Tom Hartman and I used to divide this up each springtime with Tommy writing the Passover message and me writing the Easter message. I can't do that anymore. Tommy will have to speak his Passover message to the angels. The meal celebrating the arrival of Passover is called the seder meal. Seder means "order" and the rabbinic book containing the order of the prayers and stories and biblical verses is called a Haggadah which means "the telling". It is the story of the Exodus from Egypt. This Passover this is what I want you to know: The Passover seder is a home ritual not a synagogue ritual. Passover is welcomed at home with family and friends and guests. Tommy loved being at my home for the seder, though I was never sure if he liked the prayers and songs more than Betty's brisket. The rabbis called the Jewish home a mikdah m'at, which means "a little Temple". The old Temple in Jerusalem is long gone but every Jewish home will recreate itself on that Passover night into a Temple of sacrifice, thankfulness and joy. The synagogue has its place, but for Jews the home is the most natural place of sanctity. The seder delivers that spiritual message for the generations. Studies show that the Passover seder meal is the only Jewish ritual celebrated by most of the Jewish people. Some seders are quite original, some are a little too long, and some are a little too short, but they are all a collective act of praise by the Jewish people to God and to God's liberation that took us out of slavery into freedom and a holy land. A matzah is not a cracker. In Judaism the only bread that has two blessings is the matzah. It is blessed with the traditional blessing over all bread and with the blessing that eating it is a special commandment. This is because the matzah is the most famous symbol of the Exodus. It is a remembrance of the bread baked in haste that did not have time to rise. In the rabbinic interpretation, matzah is just flour and water mixed together and baked within 18 minutes after the mixing. An unleavened cracker is not a matzah because nobody in the cracker factory is counting off 18 minutes. The matzah is a symbol of slavery. It is called lechem oni, "the bread of affliction". It is the symbol of hunger. So, the holiday of Passover and its rich bounty of holiday foods (I already mentioned Betty's brisket) is bracketed by the eating of simple poor unleavened bread. Matzah is eaten early in the seder and matzah is eaten at the very end of the seder meal when the children find a hidden piece of matzah and bring it to the table at the dessert called (in Greek) the afikomen. Let us take the message of the matzah that "all who are hungry should come and eat" and let us work for a day when no one made in the image of God will have to eat poor bread as they flee any modern pharaoh. Egypt is not just a place. It is a condition. Egypt is more than just a place of slavery. The word for Egypt in Hebrew is mitzraim, which comes from the root meitzar. A meitzar is a narrow passage between two high cliffs. It is a narrow canyon pass -- a place of constriction. Therefore, the Egypt in the Passover remembering is not just a place but a condition of being hemmed in. It is about feeling that there is no way out. The Bible teaches that every Jewish person must say on Passover, "I am doing this because of what God did for me when I left Egypt." (Exodus 13:8). Of course, this is not true. Only our ancestors left Egypt. However, if Egypt is a condition of spiritual constriction, then all people in any age -- Jews or non-Jews -- who are trapped in a meitzar can pray for another Exodus. This Passover, I will pray for the people of Ukraine and for a liberation from invasion and suffering they did not cause and do not deserve. May God free them with a strong hand and an outstretched arm. A zeesen pesah -- A sweet Passover! Enjoy! Enjoy! Love this! Send questions and comments to The God Squad via email at godsquadquestion@aol.com. Rabbi Gellman is the author of several books, including "Religion for Dummies," co-written with Fr. Tom Hartman. Also, the new God Squad podcast is now available. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. RTHK: All-private astronaut team arrives at space station The first all-private team of astronauts sent to the International Space Station (ISS) arrived safely at the orbiting research platform on Saturday to begin a week-long science mission hailed as a milestone in commercial spaceflight. The rendezvous came about 21 hours after the four-man team representing Houston-based startup company Axiom Space Inc lifted off on Friday from Nasa's Kennedy Space Centre, riding atop a SpaceX-launched Falcon 9 rocket. The Crew Dragon capsule lofted to orbit by the rocket docked with the ISS at about 8:30 a.m. EDT (1230 GMT) on Saturday as the two space vehicles were flying roughly 250 miles (420 km) above the central Atlantic Ocean, a live Nasa webcast of the coupling showed. The final approach was delayed by a technical glitch that disrupted a video feed used to monitor the capsule's rendezvous with ISS. The snafu forced the Crew Dragon to pause and hold its position 20 metres away from the station for about 45 minutes while mission control trouble-shooted the issue. With docking achieved, it was expected to take about two hours more for the sealed passageway between the space station and crew capsule to be pressurised and checked for leaks before hatches can be opened, allowing the newly arrived astronauts to come aboard ISS. The multinational Axiom team, planning to spend eight days in orbit, was led by retired Spanish-born Nasa astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria, 63, the company's vice president for business development. His second-in-command was Larry Connor, a real estate and technology entrepreneur and aerobatics aviator from Ohio designated as the mission pilot. Connor is in his 70s but the company did not provide his precise age. Rounding out the Ax-1 crew were investor-philanthropist and former Israeli fighter pilot Eytan Stibbe, 64, and Canadian businessman and philanthropist Mark Pathy, 52, both serving as mission specialists. Stibbe became the second Israeli to fly to space, after Ilan Ramon, who perished with six Nasa crewmates in the 2003 space shuttle Columbia disaster. They will be joining the existing ISS occupants of seven regular, government-paid space station crew members - three American astronauts, a German astronaut from the European Space Agency and three Russian cosmonauts. (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2022-04-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. A view of an almost empty street in downtown Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb 25, 2022. [Photo/Agencies] By "We have seen that China is unwilling to condemn Russia's aggression, and Beijing has joined Moscow in questioning the right of nations to choose their own path," said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg after a meeting on April 7. He also called it "a serious challenge to us all". Would anybody please tell Stoltenberg that by saying so he is questioning the very right of China to choose its own path? China is neither a member of NATO nor of the Western alliance in any sense of the word, and it has the right to say words and take actions according to its own national interests in international affairs. So why force China to join the West in condemning Russia? Why should China follow the path of NATO and Western nations on the issue? The words of Stoltenberg expose that he and his organization are still trapped in a "diode mentality", namely seeing the world in only two extremes, either for them or against them. Concerning the Ukraine crisis, they not only take Russia as the enemy, but also take any nation that does not stand with them as one. And they are still in the old, harmful habit of imposing their own values upon others. They want every nation in the world to follow their steps like they follow the US, which will only result in a unipolar or bipolar world, like the Cold War era. As a creation of the Cold War, NATO is full of mentality of the 1960s and shows no hint of walking out of it. It is under the guidance of that very mentality that NATO continued expanding eastward and turned Russia from an imaginary enemy into a real one. It is time they avoided repeating that mistake and turning more nations with different thinking into enemies. By pointing his fingers at China, Stoltenberg is trying to shrug off the responsibilities of his organization instead of finding a solution to it. Unable or unwilling to extinguish the flames of war in Ukraine, he passed the buck to China to avoid letting the world see his failures, but everybody knows that it is NATO's expansion eastward that worsened the geopolitical sphere of Russia and Ukraine and led to the military conflict. He that tied the knot is the best person to untie it. Time for Stoltenberg and the NATO to stop blaming China for their wrongs, and join China's call for the two sides to come back to the negotiation table. So that peace can come back to Ukraine and the refugees could go back home early. Few individuals are called upon to be heroes like Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy who, in choosing to stay and fight a massive, invading army, faces a real possibility of imprisonment and death. This is true courage. Within the medical profession, there are also wars to be fought that require true courage. One thinks of the late Dr. Paul Farmer, who worked tirelessly throughout his career to bring high-quality health care to Haiti, Rwanda, and other resource-poor nations around the world. Even if one does not seek out situations that call for courage, they will knock on ones front door. Such was the case when I was asked by the Quinlan family, in 1976, to care for their daughter. Karen Ann Quinlan was in a persistent vegetative state, and there had never been a right-to-die case before. Aware of worldwide media coverage, I was uncertain at first, and hesitant. But how could I deny this bereft family the medical support necessary for a more satisfactory palliative outcome? Didnt I always stop at accidents and offer my help? From a moral standpoint, wasnt this the same thing? What cemented my willingness to help was that six of my most respected colleagues at Morristown Medical Center unhesitatingly said they would support me. That was nearly a half-century ago. Today, there are many other challenges that also require courage. First and foremost, in my mind, are the gross inequalities of health and health care in America, which have been exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the 1980s, I served as vice-chair of a New Jersey group, Citizens Committee on Biomedical Ethics, that labored in this area. Today, I feel a renewed call to enter the fray of this modern, medical civil war and support public groups dedicated to expanding affordable, effective care to all. Another challenge is the way the medical-industrial complex has eroded our ability to serve our patients, the public, and our profession. We must fight to tame the powerful behemoth of high-tech care driven by profit that has contributed to the demise of relational, educational, and preventive areas of patient care. Creating a more proportionate balance between hi-tech and hi-touch will not only improve the quality of care for patients but will also improve career satisfaction for physicians. The doctor-patient relationship is the heart of medicine, and physicians have suffered moral injury from the demise of relational medicine. Restoring this balance will provide us the energy and conviction to improve our charge to society. To paraphrase the poet David Whyte, in an essay on courage appearing in the book, Consolations: Courage is the measure of our heartfelt participation with life, with work, with a profession; and yes, with a future. Whyte observes that the word courage originates from couer, or heart. Joseph Fennelly is an internal medicine physician. This piece was originally published in Pulse voices from the heart of medicine. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Passengers queued outside Dublin Airport on Saturday morning as new arrangements to tackle delays ahead of the busy Easter break got under way. The airport had asked passengers to arrive up to three-and-a-half hours before their flight departure time. A number of passengers posted videos on social media showing queues outside Terminal 1. A statement on the Dublin Airport Twitter feed said: We are currently filtering passengers into the terminal buildings in an orderly manner to join check in & security queues which are moving & we thank passengers for their cooperation & patience at this extremely busy time of the morning in advance of the first wave of departures. We are currently filtering passengers into the terminal buildings in an orderly manner to join check in & security queues which are moving & we thank passengers for their cooperation & patience at this extremely busy time of the morning in advance of the first wave of departures. Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) April 9, 2022 Airport operator daa said on Twitter: Passengers were heeding our advice from very early this morning to arrive at the airport up to three and a half hours before their departure time. This resulted in us having to stagger the flow of passengers into the terminals which was well managed by Airport Police. The airport this week announced a five-point strategy after lengthy queues in recent weeks sparked concern from government and complaints from some passengers that they had missed their flights. The queues were attributed to delays at security screening during peak times. The airport said it had been trying to rebound from the impact of the pandemic and blamed shortages in fully trained staff working at the countrys busiest airport. They advised passengers to arrive at the airport a minimum of three-and-a-half hours prior to their departure time over the busy Easter period. Other measures being taken include the recruitment and training of additional security screening staff, deployment of a task force, a targeted communication campaign and keeping security in Terminal 1 open 24/7 to reduce the build-up of queues. There have been calls for the Defence Forces to be called in to help. But Minister of Defence Simon Coveney has said he was not very keen on the idea of deploying troops at the airport. TWIN FALLS A 118-year tradition was a little quieter this year. Twin Falls Canal Co. officials opted not to hold its annual ceremony marking the opening of the Twin Falls Canal system headgates. Changes in the water delivery date and previously low attendance levels influenced the decision to open the headgates on April 1 without the typical presentation, said Twin Falls Canal Co. general manager Jay Barlogi. The water filling the canal will charge the system in preparation for the late-April delivery date. Releasing all the water at once could damage the canal banks. Water managers are preparing for a challenging irrigation season, Barlogi said. Its going to be a rough year, he said. But there is no doubt in my mind we are going to make it through fine. Weve done it before, weve had drought years before. The local canal system brings water to several thousand Magic Valley farmers, maintains 110 miles of canals and 1,000 miles of laterals and makes possible the irrigation of 202,000 acres of land. Data from across the state shows just how rough things might get. Currently, 67% of the state is experiencing severe drought conditions or worse, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The snow water equivalent, how much water is in the snowpack if it were melted, is 69% of the 29-year average, according to the National Water and Climate Center. Its been kinda crazy, Twin Falls Watermaster Troy Jones said. The company hoped to delay the start of water deliveries to April 25. This would allow more time for reservoirs to fill, most of which entered 2022 with limited storage. You can almost look at the calendar from year to year and bank on when were going to flush and when were going to deliver, Jones said. Not this year. Mother Nature had other plans. Several days of warmer weather combined with very wind conditions forced the company to change the water delivery date to April 18. A month ago the soil moisture was great, Barlogi said. But the wind just dries everything out and so that soil moisture begins to disappear. Reservoirs, aquifers, rivers and lakes are all feeling the pinch of drought. There have been several exceptional lows on natural streams in south-central Idaho, said David Evetts, assistant director for hydrologic data with the United States Geologic Survey. As of Friday, the Raft River in Cassia County is flowing at .50 cubic feet per second, putting it in less than the first percentile for normal flow. This means over the past 68 years, 99% of flows on April 8 were higher. It hasnt gone dry but its very close, Evetts said. In my career, Ive never seen that river go dry this time of year, usually in the spring things are starting to ramp up. Drought years dont just affect the agricultural community. Ag is what keeps this area afloat. Ag is what keeps the whole state of Idaho afloat, Barlogi said. If those farmers arent doing well then those guys down at the car lots arent selling new pickups and those families arent eating out near as often. Rep. Suh Byung-soo speaks during a parliamentary committee meeting, Feb.9, at the National Assembly in Seoul. Korea Times file By Lee Kyung-min The Bank of Korea (BOK) and state-run lenders including the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Eximbank) are facing increasing pressure to relocate out of Seoul following legislative moves to transfer them to other cities. Rep. Suh Byung-soo of the People Power Party (PPP) said Friday that he has proposed a bill that will enable the relocation of Eximbank from Seoul to Busan. This is the latest in a recent series of similar bipartisan legislative moves to relocate Seoul-based state-run lenders including the Korea Development Bank (KDB) to the southern port city, as well as the country's central bank. Behind the unified efforts for the relocations is President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, whose campaign pledge included moving the KDB to Busan, a decision he said would help elevate the status of the nation's second-largest city, transforming it into a global financial hub, housing major financial institutions. Eximbank was added to the list, April 4, when Yoon met with a group of PPP lawmakers to discuss ways to tackle the country's ultra-low birthrate. Suh said the bill, which was sponsored jointly by 12 other lawmakers, was amended to revise a clause that stipulates that the headquarters of Eximbank be located in Seoul, adding the word Seoul was replaced with the word Busan. A group of PPP lawmakers who serve constituents in Busan proposed a similar bill in January, he said, adding that he expects a great synergy effect will be created if Eximbank moves to Busan. The relocation of the KDB and Eximbank, in his view, will help small industries related to shipbuilding and marine businesses, the growth drivers of not only Busan but nearby South Gyeongsang Province. "Busan will become a financial hub city that can foster not only maritime businesses but also high-tech, advanced financial technologies including fintech and blockchain," he said. Similarly, Rep. Kim Du-kwan of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) proposed a bill, Monday, to revise a clause that stipulates the headquarters of BOK, KDB and Eximbank be located in Seoul. He said the word Seoul was replaced with the word Korea. The Korean Financial Industry Union representing employees of KDB, Eximbank, and state-run Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK) issued a statement, April 1, protesting the relocation of the KDB. "Pushing for the relocation of state-run lenders over all other pressing reform tasks is nothing but a political gimmick designed to court voters ahead of the June 1 local election," the union said. Angola, IN (46703) Today Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 64F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight A mostly clear sky. Low 38F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 64F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight A mostly clear sky. Low 39F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Joe Budden, an American media personality and former rapper, is currently receiving hate for his comments on BTS after the K-pop group's performance at the 2022 Grammys. Read on to know what happened. Joe Budden Slammed for His Comments on BTS Following Group's 2022 Grammys Appearance On the April 6 episode of Joe Budden's podcast, called "The Joe Budden Podcast," he reviewed the 2022 Grammys that took place on April 3. While talking about the topic, the former rapper brought up BTS who was one of the performers at the said music awards ceremony. The K-pop boy group performed their latest English hit "Butter" that night. He unveiled his feelings about the group by saying, "I hate them BTS n***as." After hearing this, his co-hosts, Ice and Ish, said that he was "wildin'" and asked him why he hates BTS. In response, Joe Budden asked the two if he needed a reason to hate the K-pop group. His co-hosts, however, said that BTS's music is actually good, but he went on to express his hate toward the band. Joe said, "I don't want to hear that s**t. I don't want to see them dance moves. I don't want to see you come down from the sky in a little umbrella. I don't want to see your four f***ing codies come from the audience and then link up like Voltron to do all of the 98 Degrees moves." He continued, "I don't want to see none of that s**t. I don't want to see it. I know they [are] big, I know it's China, I don't want to see it." READ MORE: BTS Jungkook Grammys 2022 Stunning Visuals Trend Ice and Ish then corrected him that BTS comes from South Korea. Joe Budden then called BTS Korea's *NSYNC, which was a reference to the American boy band *NSYNC. Joe later asked why people can't hate a talented and popular group. He asked, "Why do y'all think that because a group is big or an act is big, and they're talented that you can't hate them?" joe budden pulling shit about bts out his ass, but he sure knew every little detail of their grammy performance. that's a lot of attention paid to someone you supposedly "hate" for no goddamn reason. jealousy is a disease and joe budden is one step away from the grave sammelsurium (@sammelsurium7) April 6, 2022 Joe's remarks about BTS during his podcast reached ARMYs, and so fans took to Twitter to express their disapproval of what he said. Just heard the Joe Budden podcast clip of him hating BTS. Just say you are racist and xenophobic, alot quicker than claiming you hate them but " don't need to have a reason". Shut the fuck up. They are more successful than you will ever be. Continue to be jealous. Jo (@Serendipity3412) April 6, 2022 joe budden is such a bitch ass hater. i mean theres nothing wrong with not liking BTS, everyone has different music tastes and all but the ignorant comments he made was just so unnecessary. (@kittyk0ul_) April 7, 2022 What can you say about Budden's comments on BTS? BTS's Cumulative Album Sales Amount on the Gaon Chart Revealed On April 7, it was revealed that BTS sold more than 800,000 copies of their albums on the Gaon Chart in only the first three months of 2022. They sold a total of 873,824 copies to be precise. What makes this more impressive is that the septet has not released a new album this year, yet they are close to reaching one million sales in South Korea already. Their latest work is the "Butter" CD that came out in July of last year. .@BTS_twt have surpassed 33.9 million albums sold on Gaon! They have sold 873,824 album copies in 2022 alone. pic.twitter.com/AkqnJDgwt9 BTS Charts & Translations (@charts_k) April 7, 2022 Based on the chart above, the boy group's albums that were released a few years ago are still recording sales this year. Their 2018 album "Love Yourself: Tear," has the highest album sales among the BTS albums to date. It has sold 116,466 copies as of March. Since their debut in 2013, BTS has sold a cumulative of 33,990,968 album copies in South Korea. For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article Written by Mhaliya Scott Jin is said to be limiting his movement during BTS' "Permission to Dance On Stage" concert in Las Vegas. Keep on reading to know why. BTS Jin to Limit Movement at 'Permission to Dance On Stage' Concert in Las Vegas Due to Hand Injury On April 8 KST, BTS' label Big Hit Music announced through the global fan community platform, Weverse, that member Jin will be limiting his movements during performances at the group's "Permission to Dance On Stage" concert in Las Vegas. According to Big Hit Music and their previous statements dating back on March 19, Jin underwent surgery after suffering a partial damage to his tendon on his left index finger. He then received surgery to repair his damaged extensor, and subsequently received orders from his doctor to be careful of his movements. In fact, Jin was spotted wearing a cast on his left hand when he departed for Las Vegas from Incheon International Aiport. Once again during the 64th Grammy Awards back on April 3, in which Jin refrained from doing BTS' extensive choreography for their "Butter" performance at the ceremony. As a result, Jin will refrain from making vigorous movements that can stress his injury and lead to further damage, which can result in another surgery. With that, he will only be participating in a limited number of performances at the concert while focusing on recovery. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: BTS Jin Sparks Concern After Appearing on Grammy Red Carpet with Injured Hand Meanwhile, BTS is currently in Las Vegas for their sold out four-night "Permission to Dance On Stage" concert at the Allegiant Stadium. This will be taking place on April 8 and 9, and April 15 and 16 local time. BTS also recently attended the 64th Grammy Awards, where they gave an incredible performance of "Butter" and was nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Read Big Hit Music's statement here: "Hello. This is Big Hit Music. We would like to inform you about the performance of BTS member Jin during the 'BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE - LAS VEGAS' that is scheduled on April 8th, 9th, 15th, and 16th. As we have previously informed on March 19, Jin underwent surgery to suture the extensor tendon of his left index figure due to some damage to his left hand. As there is a risk of re-operation when he is forced to move or stress his injury while recovering from the surgery, he was advised by the doctor that he should be careful in making vigorous movements. Despite the artist's strong will to participate in the performance, we decided to limit Jin's movements during the four-day performance of 'BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE - LAS VEGAS' according to the advise of the medical staff. Therefore, Jin will only participate in the choreography of some songs, and we ask for your understanding that [his] performances on stage may be limited. We put the health and safety of our artists as our top priority, and we will do our best so that the BTS member can be with their fans in a healthy state. Thank you." We wish Jin a speedy recovery! IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: What is BTS Doing in Las Vegas? Idols Share Updates on Activities For more K-Pop news and updates, always keep your tabs open here on KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Robyn Joan Amidst backlash over school violence allegations, LE SSERAFIM member Kim Garam's old Ask.Fm posts are drawing attention. Keep on reading for all the details. LE SSERAFIM Kim Garam's Past Ask.Fm Posts Draws Backlash Following school violence and bullying allegations against LE SSERAFIM member Kim Garam, internet users have uncovered the idol's old Ask.Fm account. Ask.Fm is a popular question-and-answer network where people can ask questions anonymously to a user. The one receiving the question answers publicly and create photo polls. The website is popular in South Korea, and several idols were discovered to have one before making their debut. Sadly, the website has also been known to instigate bullying. Two of Kim Garam's old posts have surfaced following her scandal. One of the questions she received reads, "How is your relationship with OO?" The name was redacted for privacy reasons. To this, Kim Garam replied, "It is f*cked lol." ALSO READ: LE SSERAFIM Kim Garam Accused of Dissing IVE In another post, Kim Garam received a question that reads, "I know that you drank and smoked in elementary school, you crazy b*tch." Kim Garam responded to this message angrily, replying, "Where did you hear this from? You crazy b*tch." Many people were no longer shocked by Kim Garam's social media posts. Instead, people used this as further proof that the idol was capable of school violence during her schooling and demanded HYBE Labels remove her from the line-up. Her image is ruining the reputation of LE SSERAFIM. Previously, Kim Garam was accused of bullying juniors who do not greet her well. Photos with sexually inappropriate words posted by Kim Garam were shared online. This shocked the public because she is only 17 years old. Additionally, Kim Garam and her friends were accused of dissing IVE after being told she would debut in a HYBE Labels girl group. LE SSERAFIM Kim Garam's Ask.Fm Post Gets Compared to Kim Chaewon's Old Replies Kim Garam is not the only LE SSERAFIM member to have their Ask.Fm exposed. Kim Chaewon's account was also uncovered, and people expressed their surprise over the contrast in their questions and replies. In one post, someone tells Kim Chaewon that they want to confess to her but they do not have the courage. In response to this, Kim Chaewon says, "Oh... What am I supposed to say? I am not sure what to say. Saying things like 'Find courage!' is also a bit meh lol." In another post, someone tells Kim Chaewon, "Your face is small, your nose is small, your height is small, everything is small, but your eyes are big. You are so pretty!" Kim Chaewon responds by saying, "I love you! But my height is not small!" Many people believed Kim Chaewon's Ask.Fm post proves she is a cute girl with an innocent personality. Internet users stated that only people like Kim Chaewon should be given a chance to be a celebrity and that Kim Garam has proved she is unworthy of being a person with influence. What do you think of the situation? Tell us in the comments below! For more K-Pop news and updates, always keep your tabs open here on KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns This Written by Alexa Lewis Touted as the largest egg hunt in Walworth County, Lakeland Community churchs event will have children of all ages can searching for over 100,000 Easter eggs. There will also be food trucks, a bounce house, prize tables and more. Gates open 2:30 p.m. The race for Williams Bay School Board came down to a small three-vote margin, with Mark Schneider just barely eking ahead of Sam Perkins. A Board of Canvass was held on Friday, April 8, to certify the election results. The totals remained as they came out on Election Night and Perkins, who lost by three, has said he will not file for a recount. Three candidates competed on the April 5 spring general election ballot for two available school board seats. Incumbent 6-year board member Jack Lothian, the current Board of Education president, was the top vote-getter with 662 votes. Next was Schneider with 528 votes and Perkins with 525 votes. The two were vying for the position that had previously been held by Dianna Woss, who decided not to run for re-election, retiring after 15 years of elected public service. Ed Nichols, the Williams Bay School Board clerk, said the canvass lasted about 8 minutes. The canvas is not a recount. Its just a confirmation of the vote total on the paper roll that is recorded by the ballot counting machine. It is a standard procedure that happens with all elections, regardless of the vote totals. If there was to be a recount, the candidate needs to ask for it directly. The deadline to do so is 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 13, three full business days after the canvass. Perkins said in a message to the Lake Geneva Regional News that he will not be pursuing a recount. Perkins was endorsed by the Republican Party of Walworth County for the non-partisan Williams Bay Board of Education post. Im proud of the campaign we ran, he said. We stuck to issues that were pertinent to the school board and came up with ideas. Im disappointed in the result. It was a hard-fought campaign. We stuck to the issues. Came up a bit short. At a candidate forum, some concerns were brought up that Perkins attended a President Donald Trump support rally in Washington D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021 that later turned violent with some entering the Capitol. But Perkins said he was there to listen to speeches and not involved in anything violent. While I was in the vicinity of our Capitol, I did not enter any part of the building nor did I take part in any violence or illegal activity at our Nations Capitol, he said. He said in an email before the election that the continued conversation about the Jan. 6 event was a distraction from those who are short on ideas. He said, Lets focus on our kids and the Williams Bay school district needs. Village Board Competing for the Williams Bay Village Board were incumbents Robert Rob Umans and Lowell Wright and registered write-in candidates Colin Doerge, Brenda Hausner, Adam Jaramillo and Steve Russell. Incumbent trustee Don Parker declined to seek re-election. Wright and Umans easily won re-election with 612 and 504 votes respectively, and Jaramillo earned 131 votes to fill Parkers seat. I am thankful to all of my supporters and I look forward to working hard to serve every villager, Jaramillo said. Registered write-in candidates falling short in their bid for the Williams Bay Village Board were Colin Doerge (125), Brenda Hausner (87) and Steve Russell (46). 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 historic building that has been the site for astronomical studies and discoveries will soon be open for public viewing, once again. Representatives from the Yerkes Observatory, 373 W. Geneva St. in Williams Bay, plan to have the building ready for public tours in May, just in time for the areas summer tourism season. Walt Chadick, director of external affairs and programs for Yerkes Observatory, said throughout the observatorys 120-year-plus history it mostly has been used for research and study, so he is excited about the facility being open for regular tours. The observatory was constructed in 1897 and used by the University of Chicago for research labs, dark rooms and classrooms to study astronomy and astrophysics. They were doing profound scientific work here, Chadick said. Now were opening up to the public for the first time, and we take a lot of pride in that. Officials from the University of Chicago closed the observatory in 2018, then donated the facility and 50 acres of surrounding property to members of the Yerkes Future Foundation in 2020. The observatory has undergone an extensive renovation project since then to prepare the building for public tours. The former mailroom is being converted into a welcome center and gift shop, and the restrooms are being renovated to make them more compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. These were century-old bathrooms, and now we got all new bathrooms going in, Chadick said. Several of the former classrooms and office spaces will be used for community events, lectures, social gatherings and meeting rooms. We can have sci-fi movie nights. We can have someone teaching wine-making classes all kinds of things for community involvement, Chadick said. We want to reinvent ourselves not just in the scientific community but also to the arts community. The observatory will feature several exhibit rooms, which will focus on the history of astronomical research and well-known astronomers. Tours of the observatory also will include a visit to what is being called the Ann Drake Library, which also is in the process of being renovated and will feature research books from the 1890s to the 1960s. This was a working research library for astrophysicists, Chadick said. Ann Drake has become a benefactor to restoring the library. Weve begun with lights around the top and bringing down the very renowned astronomy books. The library also will include copies of the Astrophysical Journal, which was published at the observatory for about 70 years. A lot of people dont realize the Astrophysical Journal was published out of here, Chadick said. It was the premiere astrophysics and astronomy magazine of its day. It was like the National Geographics for astronomy. One of the highlights of the tours will be the great refractor telescope, which is stationed in a 112-foot tower located on the west end of the observatory. The tower features a large circular elevator which can travel 23 feet up to the telescope. Both the telescope and tower are in the process of being renovated. Not only are you looking at the largest refractor telescope in the world, this is also the largest indoor elevator in the world, Chadick said. The telescope is able to take pictures and has captured images of many celestial objects throughout the observatorys history. Chadick said it takes the telescope about three hours to take a photograph of an image. All this stuff works magnificently. Its a real tribute to the American engineers and lens makers, Chadick said. It takes a lot of work before you get to the astronomy part. It takes crafts people. It takes draftsmen, then the astrologers can look through the lens. Hidden spaces tours will be offered, which will allow people to visit areas of the observatory that have not been viewed by the general public including an astronomy library that was used by researchers and university students. The library features a selection of old astronomy books and journals. These are some of the great books of astronomy, Chadick said. This is what they used as their library if they were a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, for example. A former computer room is being converted into an exhibit that will resemble an information technology room from the 1960s. The exhibit will include old computers, microfilm machines, floppy disks, photographs and computer manuals. All of the top-of-the-line computer programs and microfilm machines when they first started transferring things to computers are in this room, Chadick said. We will set this up atmospherically to show what a working IT room looked like at the observatory. It encompasses the 1950s to the 2000s. The observatory has three plate rooms with about 170,000 plated photographs of images that were taken at the observatory. The photographs include images of the Milky Way, star clusters, eclipses and galaxies. Youre not just talking about American history, youre talking about universal history, Chadick said. Youre talking about original pictures of the cosmos. Besides the artifacts and exhibits, Chadick said he hopes people will enjoy the interior and exterior architecture of the building, as well. You can see how whimsical it is, Chadick said. You can see Apollo on the chariot. You can see hearts and Celtic imagery. You can see Charles Yerkes face. Its just very fun out here. Chadick said renovating the observatory will be an ongoing process during the next several years. We want people to know that this is not close to being finished, Chadick said. Were going to be conducting astronomy and tours, but we got a long way to go. Chadick said conducting tours will be a learning experience for the staff, especially during the first year of operation. The first summer of tours will be us trying to figure out how to talk about (Yerkes) and what to talk about, Chadick said. Theres a lot of stories to tell here and getting them right is important to us, because its a piece of history that has been kind of secretive. Tours will be conducted by reservation only. Chadick said they plan to conduct four timed tours a day with 25 people each. Were not going to be a place where we start out with 250 people running around the building. Its going to be very curated, Chadick said. I wouldnt blame people if they just wanted to wander around here, but we have to think of peoples safety. There are priceless artifacts here. Chadick is in the process of developing an updated website for the observatory where people can schedule a tour and purchase tickets. Ive been working on that for four months, Chadick said. It will be all brand new from scratch starting in May. 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. New Delhi [India], April 9 (ANI): Fresh baby corn and banana from India will soon be exported to Canada as the Canadian authorities have granted market access for these farm products with immediate effect, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare said on Saturday. The negotiations between National Plant Protection Organisations of India and Canada on market access for Indian banana and baby corn resulted in Canadian market access for these commodities, it said. Also Read | OSSTET Result 2021: BSE Odisha Releases Phase 2 Result At bseodisha.ac.in; Check Details. Manoj Ahuja, Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, met Cameron MacKay, Canadian High Commissioner in India, on 7th April here to discuss the issue. MacKay informed that the export of fresh baby corn from India to Canada may begin from April 2022 after updation of directive D-95-28: Plant Protection Import and Domestic Movement Requirements for Corn and the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS), according to a statement released by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. Also Read | Goa: CM Pramod Sawant Expands His Cabinet With Induction of Three More Ministers. "Based on the technical information provided for fresh banana by India, Canada has approved banana for entry into Canada with immediate effect," it said. This decision of the Government of Canada would immensely benefit the Indian farmers growing these crops and would also enhance India's export earnings, the ministry added. (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, April 9: Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to embark on a two-day visit to West Bengal from April 16, which will be his first visit to the state after the last year's Assembly elections, said sources in the BJP. Shah is likely to hold a series of meetings with the party workers during his visit in the state. According to sources, the Home Minister is likely to visit the state on April 16 and 17. He is also likely to take part in the programme "Three Bigha Corridor" in Cooch Behar on April 16. The Union Home Minister is also likely to visit the BSF camp on the India-Bangladesh border, said sources. Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Slams Amit Shah for Advocating 'three-language Formula', Says It is Completely 'off Logic'. Sources further informed that Shah on April 17 is likely to visit Kolkata where he may hold a meeting with the party MLAs and top state leaders of the BJP. During the meeting, Shah is likely to take details on the internal evaluation of the state committee of the party on the outcome of the Assembly elections. Notably, the five-member panel set up by the BJP had submitted its report to the Union Home Minister on the Birbhum violence in which nine people were charred to death. In a view of the incidents in Birbhum, discussion on the law and order situation in the state is also likely to take place during the visit of Shah. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh) [India], April 9 (ANI): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday disbursed Rs 1,024 crores to the mothers of 10,68,150 students across the state under its flagship scheme Jagananna Vasathi Deevena which helps the students with boarding and lodging charges for 2021-22. "By depositing the financial assistance directly into mothers' accounts, they are now demanding accountability. It gives them the right to question the college management. We placed a great deal of responsibility on the mothers to deal with college and the children's future," Reddy said while addressing the students here. Also Read | Haryana Fulfills Target of 'Har Ghar Nal Se Jal' Mission by Supplying Clean Tap Water in Every Household, Say Officials. He further said that every student should be able to complete their education, and that is their right. "Our government will ensure that every child gets a quality education. They should be focusing only on the studies not perplexed about other issues," the Chief Minister stated. Also Read | Gujarat Shocker: Class 12 Girl Raped, Impregnated in Surat; Youth Held. With the aim of no students being deprived of higher education due to poverty and parents should not sink into debts for education expenses for their children, the state government is crediting the amount directly to the bank accounts of mothers of the students under Jaganna Vasathi Deevena. Under the scheme, the government disburses the payment in two instalments every year so students could take care of their boarding and lodging expenses. Students of ITI are entitled to receive Rs 10,000, Polytechnic Rs 15,000, and Rs 20,000 for Degree, Engineering, and Medicine students. Taking a dig at the previous government, the Chief Minister said, "Recently, the government reimbursed a total fee of Rs 709 crores for the quarter October-December 2021 through Jagananna Vidya Deevena." "In 34 months of our government, Rs 6969 crore was deposited under Jaganna Vidya Deevena including the arrears of Rs 1,778 crore kept by the previous government and Rs 3,329 under Jagananna Vasathi Deevena," he added. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Panaji (Goa) [India], April 9 (ANI): Ahead of Goa cabinet expansion, Sanguem Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Subhash Phal Dessai on Saturday resigned from the post of Deputy Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly. "Sir, I, Shri Subhash Phal Dessai, Deputy Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly, hereby tender my resignation as Deputy Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly with immediate effect," she said in a resignation letter. Also Read | MSRTC Conductor From Kolhapur Found Dead Near Parel Bus Depot in Central Mumbai; No Foul Play Suspected. Dessai is likely to take oath as Cabinet Minister later in the day. Pramod Sawant's cabinet expansion comes days after the Chief Minister himself took oath along with eight ministers on March 28 in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Union Ministers and Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh: Customs Officials Arrest Two Men For Smuggling 224 Grams Gold at Lucknow Airport. Three MLAs will take oath as Cabinet Ministers at a swearing-in ceremony as part of the state cabinet expansion of the Pramod Sawant-led government which will be held today at Raj Bhavan in Panaji. Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai will administer an oath to all three ministers. Sanguem MLA Subhash Phal Dessai and Tivim MLA Nilkanth Halarnkar, both from BJP, and MGP's Marcaim MLA Ramkrishna Dhavalikar will take oath today. In the 40-member assembly, BJP has 20 MLAs, three Independents and two from Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) have supported Sawant, new three cabinet ministers. With the induction of three new ministers, Sawant will have his full cabinet of 11 ministers. (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 9 (ANI): The associations of auto drivers, who have been protesting against the continuous rise in the price of CNG, will hold a protest outside the Delhi Secretariat on April 11. They also plan to go on indefinite strike from April 18 if a subsidy of Rs 35 is not given to them. Also Read | Weather Forecast: Heatwave Spell Likely to Continue Over Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh And Bihar; Pre Monsoon Activities Lash Kerala. At present, there are 95,000 autos plying in Delhi. Rajendra Soni, Delhi Auto Rickshaw Sangh's general secretary, while speaking to ANI said, "At 12 pm we will start protesting against the CNG hike outside the Delhi Secretariat. We are demanding a subsidy of Rs 35 from the Delhi government as we don't want to burden our passengers. If the government listens to us then it's fine else from April 18 onward taxis, and autos will go on indefinite strike." Also Read | Andhra Pradesh: Woman Delivers Baby Under Cellphone Light at Govt Hospital in Narsipatnam. He also said the Delhi government has not held any meetings with any of the unions since the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) came into power. The auto associations are also planning to rope in associations from the NCR to take part in the protest. CNG in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi now costs Rs 69.11 per kg. Vikas, an auto driver said, "We do not know how we will survive. Are we considered human beings at all? Other than the rent everything is increasing like fire. Now schools have started functioning and each day kids need school uniforms, books where will we bring them from? Won't our children study? The Government must think about it." Another auto driver Anis said that they have never experienced a crisis like this before. "Rs 400 daily rent, Rs 300 CNG what is left for us to survive on? We are experiencing a crisis like this for the first time. We want relief else surviving would be tough." The country has been witnessing a rise in the prices of petrol, diesel, and CNG. (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 9 (ANI): The Delhi High Court recently dismissed a plea moved by a fugitive accused challenging the extradition proceedings terming it 'premature'. The petitioner is an accused in a rape case lodged in London in May 2017. The petitioner had sought the quashing of extradition proceedings. Justice Asha Menon dismissed the petition moved by Jose Inacio Cota observing, "This court is of the considered view that this petition is premature." Also Read | MSRTC Conductor From Kolhapur Found Dead Near Parel Bus Depot in Central Mumbai; No Foul Play Suspected. The bench observed, "It is clear from the submission made by the counsel for the petitioner, that the pleas taken here are precisely those which can be raised before the court dealing with extradition proceedings." Justice Menon also observed, "It will be most inappropriate for this court, at this stage, to comment on these aspects, in a manner pre-empting the Extraditing Court from applying its mind independently. That could be prejudicial to either or both sides." Also Read | Uttar Pradesh: Customs Officials Arrest Two Men For Smuggling 224 Grams Gold at Lucknow Airport. Advocate Arpit Batra, the counsel for the petitioner, had submitted that the extradition proceedings were liable to be quashed in as much as they have been initiated without due compliance of the Extradition Treaty between India and the United Kingdom (UK). The Counsel for the petitioner also submitted that no authenticated warrants of arrests have been issued by a Judge or a Magistrate or Competent Authority from the requesting State (UK) as mandate under treaty. It also does not contain the evidence against the petitioner of the commission of the offence, as required under the law of requested State (India), petitioner submitted. "The documents accompanying the Extradition Petition are Xerox copies and not the originals or the certified copies of the originals. The signatures appearing on the various documents were of different people and the signatures also appeared to be different," the counsel argued. Relying on the observation of the Delhi High Court in Srichand P. Hinduja and others V/S State matter, the counsel submitted, "since none of these documents were capable of being proved during trial, the extradition proceedings be quashed." On the other hand, Rekha Pandey, Special Public Prosecutor for the Central Government submitted that the petitioner has not chosen to appear before the Extraditing Court, where all the contention could be agitated. Hence, this petition should be dismissed. This case pertains to the case of alleged rape at Two Rivers Pub in London on 28 May 2017. On the request of the government of the UK, the extradition proceedings were initiated in 2021 pending before the Patiala House Court, New Delhi. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Srinagar, Apr 9 (PTI) A gunfight broke out between security forces and militants in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir in the early hours of Saturday, police said. Security forces had launched a cordon-and-search operation in the Sirhama area of Anantnag following inputs about the presence of militants there, a police official said. Also Read | Haryana Fulfills Target of 'Har Ghar Nal Se Jal' Mission by Supplying Clean Tap Water in Every Household, Say Officials. He said the search operation turned into an encounter after the hiding militants fired upon the security forces, who retaliated. The exchange of fire is going on and further details are awaited, the official said. Also Read | Gujarat Shocker: Class 12 Girl Raped, Impregnated in Surat; Youth Held. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Anantnag (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], April 9 (ANI): An encounter started in the Sirhama area of Anantnag district in Jammu and Kashmir, informed police on Saturday. Police and security forces are on the job to tackle the situation on the spot. The internet has been snapped in some parts of Anantnag for precautionary measures. Also Read | Haryana Fulfills Target of 'Har Ghar Nal Se Jal' Mission by Supplying Clean Tap Water in Every Household, Say Officials. "#Encounter has started at Sirhama area of #Anantnag. Police and security forces are on the job. The Internet has been snapped in some parts of Anantnag for precautionary measures. Further details shall follow. @JmuKmrPolice," Kashmir Zone Police tweeted. More details are awaited. (ANI) Also Read | Gujarat Shocker: Class 12 Girl Raped, Impregnated in Surat; Youth Held. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) By Nishant Ketu Guwahati(Assam) [India], April 9 (ANI): Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla on Saturday said that dialogue and diplomacy is the important part to resolve issues. His remark came during the inaugural function of the mid-year Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Executive Committee Meeting. Also Read | Pakistan National Assembly Session Adjourned After Ruckus. Speaking on the occasion Birla reiterated the belief that international issues should be resolved through mutual dialogue and diplomacy. International peace and stability are essential for global prosperity. He further said that India is a strong votary of democracy and democratic values. Indian democracy is not only ancient but strong, mature, and vibrant also. Democracy is in our thoughts and actions and has become a way of life. Also Read | OSSTET Result 2021: BSE Odisha Releases Phase 2 Result At bseodisha.ac.in; Check Details. Talking about Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsava, Lok Sabha Speaker said that during these 75 years of our Independence, our democracy has consistently gone from strength to strength. Confidence of our people in democracy has increased over the period of time. Highlighting India's success in conducting elections from panchayat to Parliament, the Speaker said that our perseverance and success in conducting elections to 800 parliamentary seats, nearly 4500 assembly seats, and 2.75 lakh panchayats testify that Indian democracy is functional, progressive, and successful. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has emerged as a prosperous and developed country. Talking about India's cultural diversity Birla said that we are all united despite our linguistic, cultural, geographical, and religious diversities. The democratic institutions of the Commonwealth countries are capable of withstanding any challenge. We should work with the collective goal of the welfare of humanity.Referring to climate change, Birla emphasized India's commitment to achieving the targets approved under COP26. He mentioned initiatives like the International Solar Alliance and expressed confidence about achieving the targets under the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. CPA Executive Committee met physically in Guwahati after three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 53 delegates from Commonwealth countries participated in the meeting physically and digitally. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], April 9 (ANI): Out of 47, 24 students of the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar tested COVID-19 positive on Saturday. Block Medical Officer (BMO) Hazratbal in a letter to the Head of the Department, Social and Preventive Medicine GMC Srinagar informed that the students tested positive in a Rapid antigen test (RAT) on Saturday. Also Read | Pakistan | PTI Submitted a Reference Against 20 Deviant Members to National Assembly Latest Tweet by ANI. "This is to inform that 24 cases have been Rapid antigen test (RAT) tested for COVID-19 positive while testing today at NIT out of 47 students. It is requested to kindly take up the matter with the concerned authorities for necessary declaration of MCZ," the letter states. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Shillong, Apr 9 (PTI) The Meghalaya government has successfully installed solar-powered devices in 100 health centres in remote villages, an official said on Saturday. The state government said it plans to cover all rural health centres under the solar power scheme to improve the functioning of these centres and ensure that last mile delivery in the health sector is achieved using solar technologies. Also Read | Maharashtra | Mumbais Colaba Police Will Record the Statement of Shiv Sena Leader Sanjay Latest Tweet by ANI. In a pilot programme, the National Health Mission has successfully powered 100 sub-centres in the 11 districts with solar devices, a senior health official said. He said as part of the programme, energy efficient equipment like radiant warmer, suction apparatus, spotlight, solar direct drive vaccine refrigerator and luminaries, were installed and made functional. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh: Customs Officials Arrest Two Men For Smuggling 224 Grams Gold at Lucknow Airport. To meet the health demands of the vulnerable people in remote areas of the state, the government had partnered with SELCO Foundation to scale the remaining 342 sub-centres and 122 primary health centres (PHCs) across the state, according to the official. The site assessment is in progress at all these centres to ensure last mile health care facilities in Meghalaya. Irrespective of the difficult terrain, remoteness, vulnerability to climate risks and natural disasters of rural habitations, the intervention will greatly benefit from solar energy that can power critical healthcare services including immunization, maternal care, deliveries, diagnostics and contribute to increasing monitoring including vaccination of COVID 19 among others. Joint Secretary, Health Department, Ram Kumar, who also heads the National Health Mission said, Having consistent energy flow into the health systems, builds the confidence among people on the services provided by the health systems. He said the aim is to ensure that these health centres, irrespective of their remoteness, provide consistent power and ensure that services are available 24/7. Health centres are sustained on their own in terms of power so that there is no dependency on external power as well as have an efficient system of monitoring them, he said. In the programme, adopted on a pilot basis in Meghalaya and a few other states, the NHM is being supported by SELCO Foundation and Cryptorelief to cover the entire spectrum of public health facilities in the state, the official stated. An ANM of Jalyiah, C Syrti, said, We are getting important solar powered equipment which are used in conducting safer and healthier deliveries. SELCO Foundation and Crypto Relief said they are partnering with each other in one of the largest programmes for upgrading and empowering public health facilities with solar energy across five states. CryptoRelief chief Sandeep Nailwal said, The team at Crypto Relief realises the potential that solar powering health centres will enable a foundation to impact health indicators on the ground in these districts. SELCO Foundation CEO Dr Harish Hande said the company is honoured to partner with Meghalaya government. In this existing programme of 100 sub centres in the state, which can then be a model for countries to replicate and by using solar energy we can democratise the delivery of health to the last mile people, he said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Seoni (MP), Apr 9 (PTI) Two persons were killed and 12 others injured in separate incidents of lightning strike in parts of Madhya Pradesh's Seoni district that witnessed unseasonal rains and thunderstorms, an official said on Saturday. Also Read | Chinese State Media Has Virtually Gloated over the News of US House Speaker #NancyPelosi Latest Tweet by IANS India. The incidents occurred on Friday evening, he said. Also Read | Weather Forecast: Heatwave Spell Likely to Continue Over Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh And Bihar; Pre Monsoon Activities Lash Kerala. "The weather suddenly changed between 5 pm and 6 pm. Sudden unseasonal rains and lightning strikes resulted in loss of human lives, besides damage to a property and electricity lines," a district administration official told PTI. The lightning strike incidents occurred in Barghat, Dharnakhurd, Tikari, Salhekala, Ashta and Sapapar villages, he said. In Salhekala, Deepchand Bopche (58), was killed and some people accompanying him injured when they were returning from a farm after harvesting, he said. Similarly, a 16-year-old boy, Gaurav Sanodia, died after being struck by lightning at his agriculture field, he said. The official said that at least 12 persons were injured in similar incidents in the district as per the information received so far. A house in Dharnakhurd and electricity lines at other places were damaged due to lightning strikes, he added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) 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 Mumbai, Apr 9 (PTI) A holiday court here on Friday remanded advocate Gunaratna Sadavarte, arrested in connection with the MSRTC protest at NCP chief Sharad Pawar's residence here, to police custody till April 11. Also Read | Sharad Pawars Residence Attacked: Court Sends MSRTC Counsel to Two Days Police Remand, Judicial Custody for 109 Others. The lawyer, however, claimed that he has been "falsely implicated" in the case by Pawar and other politicians for "exposing their misdeeds and corruption". Also Read | Ram Navami 2022: Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel to Kickstart 1st Phase of Ram Van Gaman Project Tomorrow to Boost Tourism. The police had on Friday arrested Sadavarte, who claims to represent the striking employees of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC). A group of over 100 MSRTC workers staged a fierce protest outside the NCP chief's bungalow Silver Oak when the latter was at home, taking the police by surprise. The lawyer was produced before the metropolitan magistrate court. The police informed the court that Sadavarte was arrested after a probe revealed that he was allegedly involved in the conspiracy to commit the crime. Seeking his 14-day custody, special public prosecutor Pradeep Gharat argued that Sadavarte had "intentionally provoked" the other accused to attack Pawar's residence. He had no reason to take the law in his hands. Gharat submitted before the court a transcript of Sadavarte's speech, in which he allegedly repeatedly named Pawar and instigated them to take action against the senior politician. The advocate's conduct throughout shows that if he is released on bail, he will again pose a serious threat to the law and order and public, he argued. However, advocate Mahesh Vaswani, appearing for Sadavarte, opposed the remand plea, citing that there were "absolutely no grounds for custodial detention", and moved a bail plea on behalf of the accused. Vaswani submitted that Sadavarte has been framed in the case at behest of politicians like Pawar, state Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, because of the actions of the advocate and his wife in exposing their misdeeds and corruption. The applicant is innocent, has absolute respect for the rule of law, and has always condemned all forms of violence, Vaswani said. He further said that the accused advocate feared that his life is in danger in custody of the state machinery, and expressed urgency in hearing of the bail plea. Sadavarte had successfully fought for the rights of the MSRTC employees and succeeded in getting them multiple rights and reliefs from the Bombay High Court, the lawyer said. After hearing arguments put forth by both sides, the court remanded Sadavarte to police custody till April 11, while the other arrested accused were sent to judicial custody. The police have arrested 110 persons in connection with the attack and a case of rioting, unlawful assembly, assault and criminal conspiracy has been registered at Gamdevi police station. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) By Payal Mehta New Delhi [India], April 9 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 14 will inaugurate the "Pradhanmantri Sanghralaya (museum)", which acknowledges the contributions of all previous Prime Ministers of the country while a redeveloped Block I will also exhibit a number of gifts received by first PM Jawaharlal Nehru, which have not yet been part of Nehru museum. Also Read | OSSTET Result 2021: BSE Odisha Releases Phase 2 Result At bseodisha.ac.in; Check Details. The inauguration of the museum will coincide with the birth anniversary of the architect of the Indian Constitution Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar. The government has said that the museum aims to sensitize the younger generation about the leadership, vision and achievements of all the former Prime Ministers. Also Read | Goa: CM Pramod Sawant Expands His Cabinet With Induction of Three More Ministers. The "Pradhanmantri Sanghralaya" is an endeavour by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to acknowledge the contributions of all his predecessors irrespective of ideology or tenure in office. Sources told ANI, "Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya is an inclusive endeavour by PM Modi, which is aimed at sensitizing and inspiring the younger generation about the leadership, vision and achievements of all our Prime Ministers." The "Pradhanmantri Sanghralaya" is a seamless blend of the old and the new and includes the erstwhile Nehru Museum building, designated as Block I, which now has a completely updated, technologically advanced display on the life and contribution of India's first PM Jawaharlal Nehru. A number of gifts received by him from all over the world but not exhibited so far have also been put on the display in the renovated Block I. Starting from India's freedom struggle, and the making of the Constitution, the "Pradhanmantri Sanghralaya" goes on to tell the story of how Prime Ministers navigated the nation through various challenges and ensured the all-round progress of the country. The guiding principle has been to recognize the contribution of all the Prime Ministers in a non-partisan manner, sources added.The design of the museum building is inspired by the story of rising India, shaped and moulded by its leaders. The design incorporates sustainable and energy conservation practices. No tree has been felled or transplanted. The total area of the building is 10,491 square meters. The logo of the building represents the hands of the people of India holding the "Ashoka Chakra", symbolizing the nation and democracy. "Information about the former Prime Ministers was collected through institutions such as Doordarshan, Film Division, Sansad TV, Ministry of Defence, Media Houses (Indian and foreign), Print Media, Foreign News Agencies, Toshakhana of MEA, etc. Families were also contacted for information about the former Prime Ministers," sources said. They also stated that the information about the former PMs has been acquired on a perpetual license in most cases. Appropriate use of Archives (Collected Works and other literary works, important correspondences), some Personal items, Gifts & Memorabilia (Felicitations, Honours, Medals conferred, commemorative stamps, coins, etc.), speeches of PMs and anecdotal representation of ideologies and different aspects of the lives of Prime Ministers have been reflected in a thematic format.The "Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya" has employed cutting edge technology-based interfaces to present information in an easy and interesting manner, especially for the youth. Holograms, virtual reality, augmented reality, multi-touch, multi-media, interactive kiosks, computerized kinetic sculptures, smartphone applications, interactive screens, experiential installations have been leveraged to make the exhibition content highly interactive, sources added. In a recent BJP Parliamentary party meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told his party MPs that it is important that each one of them visits the museum and also sensitize the youth about the contribution of each of the PMs. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], April 9 (ANI): Srinagar police on Saturday arrested two men accused of murdering their father whose body was found in the Dal Lake here two days ago. The police said that the two accused, identified as the sons of the deceased, dumped the dead body of their father in the lake two days after killing him on April 5. Also Read | India-US 2+2 Dialogue: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Embarks on US Visit to Cement Bilateral Ties. The police informed that on April 7, a dead body was found in the Dal Lake, identified as 62-year-old Khurshid Ahamd Tota of Elahibagh Soura. Soon after fishing it out, the police sent the body to the hospital for medical examination and later handed it over to the family after the medical formalities. The police registered a case under section 174 of the Code of Criminal Conduct (CrPC) and initiated the investigation. Also Read | Maharashtra Shocker: 30-Year-Old Man Bludgeoned to Death, Body Dumped in Mira Road. The preliminary medical report revealed marks on the neck of the deceased. During the investigation, the police found other suspicious stances which indicated the death was a killing. Through circumstantial evidence, oral witnesses, CCTVs and technical analysis, it came to force that the deceased was killed by his family members at their home on the evening of April 5 after some altercation and the family kept the body at home for a day. On the evening of April 6, with a proper plan, they carried the body to Dal Lake in a car and disposed of in the lake. The police identified the two sons of the deceased as the main accused in the case and thus arrested them after filing a case under sections 302, 120B, 201 of the Indian Penal Code. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Srinagar, Apr 9 (PTI) A self-styled commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror outfit, who was involved in several attacks on civilians including non-locals and security personnel, was killed in an encounter in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, police said. The slain terrorist was identified as Nisar Ahmad Dar alias Musaib, resident of Redwani Bala, Kulgam, a police spokesman said. Also Read | Sharad Pawars Residence Attacked: Court Sends MSRTC Counsel to Two Days Police Remand, Judicial Custody for 109 Others. Acting on specific information regarding the presence of the terrorist in village Sirhama, security forces had launched a cordon and search operation there, he said. As the search party approached his hideout, the terrorist fired indiscriminately at the security personnel who retaliated. Also Read | Ramzan 2022 Time Table: Sehri and Iftar Timings for 8th Roza of Ramadan on April 10 in Mumbai, Delhi, and Lucknow. In the ensuing encounter, the hiding terrorist was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of the encounter, the spokesman said. According to police records, the slain ultra was active since April last year. Inspector General of Police (IGP) (Kashmir) Vijay Kumar appreciated the joint team of security forces and termed the elimination of the terrorist as a big success as he was wanted by law for his involvement in gruesome terror activities. He was involved in several killing of civilians and outside labourers. Besides, he was also involved in grenade lobbing attacks on security forces. "For his terrorist activities, many FIRs were already registered against him. He was also instrumental in motivating gullible youth to join terrorist ranks, thereby attempting to revive terrorism, the spokesman said. "Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition have been recovered from the site of the encounter," the spokesman said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh) [India], April 9 (ANI): After casting vote in the elections for the members of the Legislative Council, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after almost four decades will attain a majority in the Upper House. "After almost four decades, a ruling party will attain a majority in the Legislative Council. Anti-land-mafia task force is taking back encroached land from the mafias. We won't raze shanties of poor on encroached land until we rehabilitate them," said Adityanath in Gorakhpur. Also Read | Weather Forecast: Heatwave Spell Likely to Continue Over Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh And Bihar; Pre Monsoon Activities Lash Kerala. The polling for 36 Legislative Council seats spread across 35 local authorities constituencies is underway on Saturday. Of the 100-member Legislative Council, the BJP currently has 34 MLCs, the Samajwadi Party (SP) has 17 seats and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has four members. The Congress, Apna Dal (Sonelal), the Nishad party and Nirdal Samooh have one member each in the House. Also Read | Andhra Pradesh: Woman Delivers Baby Under Cellphone Light at Govt Hospital in Narsipatnam. The elections for the Legislative Council are taking place a month after the BJP retained the power in the state for the second time by bagging 273 seats along with its allies in the Assembly polls. The biennial polls were earlier scheduled to be held in two phases on March 3 for 29 constituencies and March 7 for six constituencies but they were later rescheduled keeping in view of the Assembly polls in the state, held in seven phases. The counting of votes will take place on April 12. (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, April 9: The ninth month of the Islamic calendar is known as Ramzan and it's celebrated globally by Muslims. This Holy month is considered a time for fasting and introspection and to get together for a meal with family and friends. The meal that is eaten before sunrise is known as Sehri, while the night feast that marks the breaking of the fast is called Iftar. Traditionally, the fast is broken with dates and water followed by a light and nutritious meal. However, there are also some special dishes made only during Ramzan and enjoyed at Iftar get-togethers. Around the world, each culture has its own Iftar customs and traditions. Let's have a look at some of the unique ones below. Saudi Arabia The tradition of breaking the fast that is kept from morning to night is done by eating dates, Arabic coffee, soup, and fried or baked stuffed pastry along with several other dishes. One of the traditional dishes in the Western region of Saudi Arabia is foul and tameez, which is a combination of fava bean stew and tamees bread. In the eastern province, people break their fast with meat and vegetable stew known as saloona. The most famous Ramzan sweets in Saudi Arabia are Kenafa with cream, Qatayef with cream and Basbusa. Ramzan 2022 Time Table: Sehri and Iftar Timings for 8th Roza of Ramadan on April 10 in Mumbai, Delhi, and Lucknow. Egypt Iftar is usually held at the house of the family's eldest member and streets are decorated with lanterns hung on the doors of each house. Most Egyptian families break the fast with a dish prepared from foul medames which is eaten with brown bread. As beans are healthy and not heavy on the stomach hence, in most homes they are mixed with hot oil, salt and pepper, but some people prefer to cook them with onion and tomatoes. Egyptians also make some special drinks called qamar al deenandarasyi, which is made from dry apricots that have been soaked all day. It's a delicious and healthy way to break the daylong fast. Another Ramzan speciality is the crescent-shaped bread or khaboos. Iran Fantastic stews, sweets, fresh dates, traditional Azari cheese with vegetables and nuts accompanied by a glass of tea to wash them down are what one can find on any dinner table in Iran during Ramzan. Other special dishes that are a must during Ramzan include sheer berenj and firni made from milk and rice, ash reshteh, a thick vegetable soup and a dish made from rice and lentils called adaspola. Iranians also make a saffron-flavoured halwa. Pakistan Preparations for iftar commence about three hours beforehand, in homes and at roadside stalls. The fast is broken by eating dates, or simply by drinking water if dates are not available. Savouries such as jalebis, samosas and pakoras are also served during Iftar. Several restaurants also offer iftar meals during this time. Right after Iftar, Tawarih, an 8 or 20 rakat Muslim prayer, takes place which is followed by people flocking to the local bazaar for the ChaandRaat festivities. Ramzan 2022: How People Manage Fasting and Praying at Workplace. Malaysia In Malaysia, Iftar is called 'berbuka puasa', which can be literally translated "to open the fast". After breaking the fast with traditional dates and water, people indulge in bandung drink, sugarcane juice, soybean milk mixed with grass jelly, nasi lemak, laksa, ayampercik, chicken rice, satay and popiah. Night markets are also popular dining spots after sunset, open to all, serving the masses as they break the daylong fast with affordable street food feasts. So feast and indulge in your favourite iftar delicacies this Ramzan as it is very important to replace the energy lost during the day and to start the next day of fasting well-hydrated. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bucha [Ukraine], April 9 (ANI): European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen who visited Ukraine's Bucha town where Russian forces allegedly massacred and raped hundreds of civilians said that the world was mourning with the people of Bucha. Addressing mediapersons at a news conference here, the EU President who looked visible moved said she had witnessed the "unthinkable." Also Read | Priyanka Chopra Jonas Urges World Leaders to Help Refugees Amid Russia-Ukraine Crisis (Watch Video). "Here in Bucha, we saw humanity being shattered and the whole world is mourning with the people of Bucha... and therefore, we stand with them in this important fight," Von Der Leyen said after visiting a mass grave in Bucha, of civilians found dead after Russian troops withdrew over the border to Belarus. Leyen said that the civilian deaths in the Ukrainian town showed the "cruel face" of Russia's army and pledged to try to speed Ukraine's bid to become a member of the European Union. Also Read | Canada: Kartik Vasudev, 21-Year-Old Indian Student From Ghaziabad Shot Dead Outside Subway Station in Toronto. "The unthinkable has happened here. We have seen the cruel face of Putin's army. We have seen the recklessness and the cold-heartedness with which they have been occupying the city," she said. Ursula Von Der Leyen was joined in bucha by European Union's foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell Fontelles along with Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Eduard Heger reached Kyiv on Friday [local time] to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and discuss the bloc's proposals for the country invaded by Russia. "In Ukraine with @vonderleyen (Ursula von der Leyen) and we're ready to discuss our proposals for helping Ukraine with @ZelenskyyUa (Volodymyr Zelenskyy) and @Denys_Shmyhal (Denys Shmyhal). To help get EU perspective by creating a reform team. To offer options for transporting grains, including wheat and to increase the use of a humanitarian hub," Heger tweeted. Earlier, on Tuesday, the Chief spokesman of the European Commission announced that Von der Leyen and Josep Borrell will meet with Zelensky in Kyiv this week. Hundreds of civilian residents were found dead on the street of Bucha, beside their homes, and in mass graves. Ukraine accused Russia of the Bucha massacre. However, Russia has denied the allegations and said that it was Ukrainian propaganda. Even the local morgue in Bucha ran out of space as deaths mounted in March; to deal with all the bodies, a tractor was brought in to dig a mass grave, according to CNN. Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. Several countries including the UK, the US, Canada, and the European Union have condemned Russia's military operations in Ukraine and imposed sanctions on Moscow. These countries have also promised to help Ukraine with military aid to fight Russia. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Islamabad, Apr 9 (PTI) Pakistan's embattled Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday night rejected reports that he had dismissed Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, amidst the raging political and constitutional crisis in the country over a no-confidence motion against him in Parliament. Talking to a group of his favourite journalists, who are known for defending him in the talk-shows, Khan rejected rumours about making any change in the Army leadership. Also Read | Pakistan Political Crisis: Imran Khan Rejects Reports Claiming Dismissal of Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. "There was neither any talk of dismissing the army chief nor was this on the cards," Khan told journalists after chairing an emergency Cabinet meeting where it was decided that he should not resign despite losing majority in the National Assembly and facing possible defeat in the no-confidence motion which he has been trying to stall. "I will do my job as per the law and in line with the Constitution," he was quoted as saying by Geo TV. Also Read | Iran Sanctions 24 Americans Over Terrorism, Human Rights Abuse. The emergency Cabinet meeting has taken many by surprise as Khan has little chance of surviving the no confidence motion against him. Earlier, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar called upon General Bajwa to "play his role to defuse the crisis". "If the NA speaker and the government don't act on the clear directives of the Supreme Court, then General Bajwa should play his role in this situation of crisis," Khokhar tweeted. "Yes! He should issue a statement that he stands with the decision of the Constitution, democracy and the Supreme Court," he added. Khan, who came to power in 2018 with promises to create a Naya Pakistan', apparently lost support of the powerful Army after he refused to endorse the appointment of the ISI spy agency chief last year. Finally, he agreed but it soured his ties with the powerful Army, which has ruled the coup-prone country for more than half of its 75 years of existence and has hitherto wielded considerable power in the matters of security and foreign policy. Khan wanted to keep Lt Gen Faiz Hameed as the spy chief but the army high command transferred him by appointing Corps Commander in Peshawar. Interestingly, no Pakistani prime minister has ever completed a full five-year term in office. (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 9 (PTI) US President Joe Biden expects that the Indo-US two-plus-two Ministerial here on Monday will drive forward his administration's work with India and their "shared goals" in the Indo-Pacific region and have "close consultations" on the war in Ukraine, the White House has said. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin are all set to host their Indian counterparts External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for the 2+2 Ministerial on April 11. This is the first such meeting between the two countries under the Biden Administration. Also Read | Russian Central Bank To Cut Key Rates By 300 Basis Points To 17% Per Annum From April 11. The two Indian leaders are expected to arrive in Washington DC over the weekend. We also believe both sides will continue our close consultations on the consequences of President (Vladimir) Putin's brutal war against Ukraine and mitigating the impact by addressing energy and food prices. Obviously, it could cover a range of topics, but we expect that to be a central one, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters at her daily news conference on Friday. Also Read | Pakistan PM Imran Khan Warns of 'Imported Government' Ahead of No-Trust Vote Today. There has been some disquiet in Washington over India's position on the Ukraine crisis as well as its decision to procure discounted Russian oil. Asserting that India is strongly against the Russia-Ukraine conflict as no solution can be arrived at by shedding blood, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday said that if New Delhi has chosen a side, it is the side of peace and an immediate end to violence. India on Thursday abstained from the United Nations General Assembly voting on Russia's suspension from the UN Human Rights Council. The 193-member UN General Assembly voted to suspend Russia, a veto-wielding Security Council member, from the Geneva-based top human rights body over allegations that Russian soldiers killed civilians while retreating from towns near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. The United States and Ukraine have alleged that the Russian forces may have committed war crimes in the Eastern European country. President Biden believes our partnership with India is one of the most important relationships we have in the world. As you know, he met with Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi and other Quad leaders in March," the White House Press Secretary said. "He (Biden) expects that at this 2+2, Secretary Blinken and Secretary Austin, will continue driving forward our work with India and our shared goals in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world, Psaki said. India, the US and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China's rising military manoeuvring in the region. China claims nearly all of the disputed South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea. India on Thursday said the '2+2' dialogue with the US will provide an opportunity to exchange views on important regional and global developments and how both sides can work together to address common interests and concerns. "The dialogue would enable both sides to undertake a comprehensive review of cross-cutting issues in the India-US bilateral agenda related to foreign policy, defence and security with the objective of providing strategic guidance and vision for further consolidating the relationship," Arindam Bagchi, the Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in New Delhi. The Pentagon on Thursday said this year's 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue will span the full breadth of the partnership - including defence, science and technology cooperation, climate, public health, and people-to-people ties, it said. Since its inception in 2018, the 2+2 Ministerial has allowed the US and India to work toward building an advanced, comprehensive defence partnership that is poised to meet the challenges of the 21st century, it said. Meanwhile, Congressman Mark Green met India's Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Met with India's Ambassador to the United States Taranjit Singh Sandhu this week. Our countries' strong partnership is critical. Grateful for the opportunity to reaffirm the USIndia relationship, he said in a tweet. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Colombo [Sri Lanka], April 9 (ANI): A protest was held outside US Embassy in Colombo against the Sri Lankan government as the country faces a severe economic crisis. Demonstrators are demanding to freeze Sri Lankan Prime Minister Rajapaksa's property in USA. Also Read | Pakistan PM Imran Khan Praises Indians for Being Self-Respecting, Says 'No Superpower Can Dictate Terms to India'. Rajiv, a photographer said that Prime Minister's illegally occupied assets should be frozen and liquidated, he should not escape the country. "This is an opportunity to the whole world to give a message to the strong nation like - the UK, USA and EU - everyone to stand up and say if any politician is planning to rob any country's money and if they have a plan B to escape somewhere when thing s fall apart. It should be done," he said. Also Read | Ukraine Records Over 100 Attacks on Healthcare, Says World Health Organisation. The protesters also urged the Uniter Nations to freeze and send the money to the distressed people of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is battling a severe economic crisis with food and fuel scarcity affecting a large number of the people in the island nation. The economy has been in a free-fall since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sri Lanka is also facing a foreign exchange shortage which has, incidentally, affected its capacity to import food and fuel leading to the power cuts in the country. The shortage of essential goods forced Sri Lanka to seek assistance from friendly countries. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Fire breaks out at LIC office in Mumbai's Vile Parle area; no casualty reported: Official. By Ashoke Raj Colombo [Sri Lanka], April 9 (ANI): Sri Lanka's main opposition party Samagi Jana Balwegaya (SJB) announced that it will move a no-confidence motion against President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's government if it fails to provide immediate relief to the people of the island nation adversely impacted by the economic crisis. Also Read | Russian Central Bank To Cut Key Rates By 300 Basis Points To 17% Per Annum From April 11. "We have decided to bring a no confidence motion against Sri Lanka president Gotabaya Rajapaksa as he fails to address the country in connection with economic policies. We have called a meeting with all opposition leaders and will take a final decision on it soon," Sri Lanka Leader of Opposition, Sajith Premadasa told ANI. Further, he said opposition MPs have also discussed that there should be an end to the Executive Presidency and power should be divided in Sri Lanka between the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary. Also Read | Pakistan PM Imran Khan Warns of 'Imported Government' Ahead of No-Trust Vote Today. Earlier, opposition leader Sajith Premadasa had said that Sri Lanka must abolish the all-powerful Executive Presidency and strengthen Parliament without paving the way to a similarly dictatorial premiership while ensuring adequate checks and balances. "For nearly 20 years every leader promised to abolish the Executive Presidency but only strengthened it," Premadasa said in a strongly-worded speech in parliament on Tuesday reminding the Parliamentarians about the necessity to introduce a new electoral system. It is pertinent to mention that since the introduction of the presidential system in 1978, every election which ensued was fought on the promise to abolish the presidency. However, once elected all presidents chose to ignore the election promise. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan citizens continue to protest against the current government across the country and have raised demands to sack the President and Prime Minister. Sri Lanka is battling a severe economic crisis with food and fuel scarcity affecting a large number of the people in the island nation. The economy has been in a free-fall since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sri Lanka is also facing a foreign exchange shortage, which has, incidentally, affected its capacity to import food and fuel, leading to the power cuts in the country. The shortage of essential goods forced Sri Lanka to seek assistance from friendly countries. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) United Nations, Apr 9 (AP) The United Nations urged donor nations on Friday to provide USD80 million for an emergency operation to remove a million barrels of crude oil from a tanker moored off the coast of war-torn Yemen since 1988 that could explode or leak causing a major environmental disaster in the Red Sea and beyond. David Gressly, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, made the appeal saying the FSO Safer tanker is a time bomb because a major oil spill from it would unleash a massive ecological and humanitarian catastrophe centered on a country already decimated by more than seven years of war. Also Read | Pakistan PM Imran Khan Praises Indians for Being Self-Respecting, Says 'No Superpower Can Dictate Terms to India'. Without funding over the next six weeks or so the project will not begin on time, and this time bomb will continue to tick, he said. In early March, the United Nations and Yemen's Houthi rebels signed a memorandum of understanding after years of talks authorising a four-month emergency operation to eliminate the immediate threat by transferring oil on the Safer tanker to another vessel. In the longer term, the MOU calls for replacing the Safer tanker with another vessel capable of holding a similar quantity of oil within 18 months. Also Read | Ukraine Records Over 100 Attacks on Healthcare, Says World Health Organisation. Gressly, who signed the MOU on behalf of the United Nations, said the emergency oil transfer from the Safer needs to start in early June and finish by the end of September to avoid turbulent winds and currents that start in October and continue in the last months of the year which increase the risk of the tanker breaking up and for the transfer operation. Waiting beyond then could mean delaying the start of the project by several months, leaving the time bomb ticking, he said. The Houthis control Yemen's western Red Sea ports, including Ras Issa, just 6 kilometers (about 4 miles) from where the Safer is moored, and the U.N. has been negotiating with the rebel group for years to try to get experts on the tanker to examine it. Gressly said a UN-led mission in March to the Ras Issa peninsula near where the Safer tanker is anchored confirmed that it is rapidly decaying and beyond repair, and is at imminent risk of spilling a massive amount of oil due to leakages or an explosion. As an example, he said, the inert air that is used to inhibit explosions has long disappeared. A skeleton crew of about a half dozen remain on the Safer tanker and have done heroic work over the years to keep this thing from falling apart, but he said but there's a limit of what they can do with hardly any resources. The Safer tanker is a Japanese-made vessel built in the 1970s and sold to the Yemeni government in the 1980s to store up to 3 million barrels of export oil pumped from fields in Marib, a province in eastern Yemen that is currently a battlefield. The ship is 360 meters (1,181 feet) long with 34 storage tanks. Gressly said the UN estimated the USD80 million cost for the emergency operation which includes the salvage operation, leasing a very large vessel to transfer the 1 million barrels of crude oil, and payments for the crew and maintenance for the Safer for 18 months. The Netherlands, which has been a major player supporting the UN's efforts, will host a pledging conference in the first half of May, he said. Gressly said he will lead a mission next week to discuss the plan and seek support in Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Kuwait. He said raising funds for a replacement for the Safer tanker must also start now. While a final cost hasn't been set, Gressly said it will probably be an order of magnitude of let's say $25 million for a used vessel that's probably no longer appropriate for transporting crude oil but is still suitable for storing oil. He explained that any vessel will have to be modified because it needs a large piece of equipment that's attached to the bow of the ship that attaches it to the oil pipeline. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington [US], April 9 (ANI): Zarifa Ghafari, the winner of the International Women's Rights award and one of Afghanistan's first woman Mayors of Maidan Shahr who defied the Taliban restrictions on Afghan women, continues to raise voice for the people of her homeland with her radio channel and humanitarian foundation. Now living in Germany, Ghafari with her foundation, the Assistance and Promotion of Afghan Women organization, continues to advocate for women's rights in Afghanistan. Also Read | Pakistan National Assembly Session Adjourned After Ruckus. Ghafari fled Afghanistan after the Taliban took control of the country last August. In an interview with CNN, Ghafari defiantly said, "The Taliban cannot erase us, they can't. This is not like the 1990s or before -- they have to accept (women). They have no other choice." Also Read | Priyanka Chopra Jonas Urges World Leaders to Help Refugees Amid Russia-Ukraine Crisis (Watch Video). Ghafari said that her heart broke further when the Taliban went back on their much-anticipated promise to let girls above 6th-grade return to school in March. Her organization is building a centre in Kabul to provide basic tailoring, handcraft and secondary education classes to women as well as maternity care and general healthcare services. But Ghafari knows that her efforts alone are not enough. This week, as she accepted the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy's 2022 International Women's Rights Award, she urged the world to do something. "I urge you to do everything you can to take our people out of this predicament, and to raise your voices in support of humanity. The solution is not for all just sitting and sending statements. We need action at least after seven months of darkness for men and women of my country," she said in her acceptance speech at the UN. "My country has been at war for 40 years. Achieving peace in a country that has been at war for decades is never easy. It often involves making distasteful choices and speaking with people you find abhorrent. And yet there is no other way. That is how peace was achieved in Northern Ireland and in Yugoslavia, and I believe it is the only way it can be achieved in Afghanistan," she continued. In addition to prioritizing human rights and women's rights in any international talks with the Taliban, she asked world leaders to not close their doors to Afghans seeking safe shelter. Referencing the welcome many European countries are offering those fleeing wars in Ukraine, Ghafari added, "Our blood is not different by colour from Ukrainians". Ghafari fought for months to be allowed to actually take up the position of Mayor of Maidan Shahr following protests from locals. Melissa Mahtani, writing for CNN, said that Ghafari finally succeeded in changing some people's attitudes. Ghafari said that one of her fiercest critics told her years later that she had proved him wrong when he had told her she was nothing more than a little girl. "I was able to show the power and the ability of women and to prove that we can do anything. I showed people that it doesn't matter how many more times I get attacked, I will be still here because I think what I am doing is right," she said. In the aftermath of the Taliban taking control of Afghanistan and her father being murdered in 2020 along with multiple assassinations attempt, she fled in August 2021 making it out of the country by hiding in the footwell of a car. The Taliban regime which took over Kabul in August last year has curtailed women's rights and freedoms, with women largely excluded from the workforce due to the economic crisis and restrictions. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Union Public Service Commission, UPSC Recruitment 2022 notification has been released for various posts of Assistant Engineer, Lecturer and applications have been invited to fill up 11 posts. Candidates can apply on the official website - upsc.gov.in. The last date for UPSC Recruitment 2022 registrations for these posts is April 28, 2022. It must be noted that applications can be submitted only online and not through any other way. The recruitment is being done to fill these posts - Assistant Engineer, Lecturer, Junior Technical Officer, Assistant Director. BPSC Recruitment 2022: Last Date Extended Till April 18, Apply for 107 Assistant Town Planning Supervisor Posts at bpsc.bih.nic.in; Check Details Candidates can check the details of vacancies, departments and number of posts that are available. All the required information and steps to apply are given below. Vacancy Details Assistant Engineer (NQA): 5 Posts Junior Technical Officer: 2 Posts Lecturer (Chinese): 1 Post Assistant Director (Fishing Harbour): 1 Post Assistant Director in Computer & System Division: 1 Post Assistant Director (Engineering): 1 Post UPSC Recruitment 2022: Eligibility Eligibility criteria vary for all the positions, thus read the detailed recruitment notification here to know the eligibility. Railway Recruitment 2022: Vacancies released for TGT, Assistant Teacher at wr.indianrailways.gov.in; Check Details UPSC Recruitment 2022: How to apply Visit the official website of Union Public Service Commission - upsc.gov.in Under the Recruitment tab, click on the notification for relevant advertisement. Select the post and then start filling the application form. Upload the documents as asked and pay the requisite fees. Click on submit and print a copy of the application form for future references. Candidates applying for these 11 vacancies under UPSC Recruitment 2022 have to pay Rs. 25 as the application fee. However, the official notice reads, "No fee for SC/ST/PwBD/Women candidates of any community. No "fee exemption" is available to Gen/OBC/EWS male candidates and they are required to pay the full prescribed fee." (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 09, 2022 11:13 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Ahmedabad, April 9: A 67-year-old man from Mumbai, who had travelled to Vadodara in Gujarat last month, was found infected with XE, Omicron's sub-variant that is considered more transmissible than other variants of coronavirus, making it the first such case in the state, officials said on Saturday. The patient had tested positive for COVID-19 on March 12 during his visit to Vadodara, but had returned to Mumbai the next day without informing the local authorities, the officials said. Punjab: Delhi BJP Leader Booked for Sharing 'Doctored' Clip of Aam Aadmi Party Leader Arvind Kejriwal. He was later found infected with the XE variant as per a report given by a Gandhinagar-based lab, which was cross-checked and confirmed by a facility in Kolkata on Friday. The man is currently in Mumbai and his health condition is stable, they added. The state health department said that the patient was first tested for COVID-19 at a private laboratory after he developed fever following his arrival in Vadodara in a flight. His sample was sent for genome sequencing at a laboratory in Gandhinagar, where it was found that he was infected with the new XE variant, it said in a release. Samples of three persons, who had come in contact with him, had tested negative for the viral infection, it said. "The patient's sample was further sent for cross-checking at a laboratory in Kolkata, which confirmed on Friday that it was XE variant," Additional Chief Secretary (Health), Manoj Aggarwal told reporters. The patient had left Gujarat and gone to Mumbai after testing positive. The health department contacted him over phone and found that he was in a completely stable condition, the department said in a statement. He is co-morbid, it said. "The patient has no other symptoms as of now. We have shared the information about him to the officials of the Maharashtra government so that they can take necessary steps. We are keeping a constant eye on the development," Aggarwal said. The patient had given the address of a local (Gujarat-based) relative to the private laboratory, where he had tested positive. After testing positive for the COVID-19 infection, he had returned to Mumbai without informing the local authorities, Medical Officer of Health, Vadodara Municipal Corporation, Devesh Patel said. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that XE could be more transmissible than any COVID-19 strain so far. XE is a combination or recombinant of both sub-variants (BA.1 and BA.2) of Omicron. Happy Ram Navami 2022! India is the land of festivals and so is the Hindu calendar. Ram Navami is a festival that is celebrated with great enthusiasm by the people of the Hindu religion all over India. This festival comes once a year and is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Ram. This year, Ram Navami 2022 falls on April 10, Sunday. On this day, the followers of the Hindu religion in the country celebrate this occasion with great pomp. People wish each other with lovely festive greetings, which is why we bring a collection of the latest Ram Navami 2022 wishes, Happy Ram Navami 2022 greetings, Ram Navami images, Happy Ram Navami 2022 HD wallpapers, WhatsApp stickers, Facebook status, SMS and GIFs to celebrate the day. Ram Navami Images & HD Wallpapers for Free Download Online: Wish Happy Ram Navami 2022 With Latest WhatsApp Stickers, GIF Greetings, SMS and Facebook Messages. Many people fast for Lord Ram to express their faith and also remember the Lord. Chaitra Navratri ends on the day of Ram Navami and many Hindu people visit Ayodhya and take bath in the Sarayu river. On this day, Chaitra Ram Mela is organised in Ayodhya which sees a large crowd every year. After bathing on the day of Ram Navami, Ramcharit Manas is recited in the temples in homes and Purana readings are also organized in many places. According to the scriptures, it is believed that Lord Vishnu was born in the seventh incarnation as Lord Rama in Tretayuga. On this day, havans are also performed and it is believed that by observing a fast on this day, all the wishes of the worshiper are fulfilled and desired results are obtained. On this auspicious day, devotees observe fast and recite Ram Katha and people wish each other by sending messages and wishes, you can also wish Ram Navami to your loved ones by sending the greetings given below: Happy Ram Navami (File Image) WhatsApp Message Reads: Ram Navami 2022. "Lord Rama Means One. When One Gets this Oneness Within and This Oneness is Corroborated by the Members of the Human Race, Then No Other Desire Arises." - Sri Jibankrishna Happy Ram Navami (File Image) WhatsApp Message Reads: Ram Navami Wishes and Blessings to You and Your Family. May Lord Ramchandra Bless You All with All the Good in the World and the Best of Health. Happy Ram Navami (File Image) WhatsApp Message Reads: Let's Celebrate Our Ancient Tradition of Oneness, Brotherhood, Bravery and Shun Violence And Negativity in this Ram Navami. Happy Ram Navami (File Image) WhatsApp Message Reads: Happy Ram Navami 2022. May the Virtue and Wisdom of Lord Rama Inspire You and Help You Reach Your Goals Happy Ram Navami (File Image) WhatsApp Message Reads: When Shree Ram is in the Heart, Everything Will be Alright. Happy Ram Navami 2022. How to Download Ram Navami WhatsApp Stickers Online? You can download Ram Navami 2022 WhatsApp Stickers online from Play Store. HERE is the download link. Apart from beautiful festival stickers, these festive packs also have GIFs and greetings. Happy Ram Navami GIF Greetings Happy Ram Navami Wishes (File Image) Ram Navami 2022 Wishes: Messages, Images, Quotes and Greetings To Celebrate the Birth of Lord Rama Lord Rama was born to end the atrocities of Ravana and to establish a new religion by eliminating the wicked from Earth. That is why the festival of Ram Navami is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Rama. According to the scriptures, it is also believed that Lord Rama worshipped Maa Durga to conquer Lanka. The festival of Ram Navami comes only after the end of Navratri of Chaitra month. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 09, 2022 10:02 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Haiti has a rich history, with its culture being a mixture of African, Taino and European traditions due to the French colonization. Haiti also witnessed slave practices that brought many of the country's ancestors to the Caribbean island's shores. Haitians have certain practices in their beliefs and etiquettes, with the majority of its population practicing Catholicism. READ NEXT: Chile Travel Guide: Tourist Attractions and Safety Tips to Know Before Your Trip to the 'Country of Poets' People of Haiti Eighty percent of Haitian Christians were identified as Catholic, and only 16 percent were protestant, according to Restavek Freedom. The cultural practice of vodou also coexists alongside Christianity. Vodou focuses on the idea of evil spirits at work on the island. Those who practice vodou use candles, incenses, and oils with the intention to appease evil spirits and bring order to chaos and pain. The practice of vodou has been long stereotyped as "black magic." However, many vodou practitioners earn most of their income from healing the sick rather than attacking targeted victims. Catholics and protestants alike generally believe in the existence of Iwa. However, they consider it to be demons to be avoided rather than family spirits to be served. The people of Haiti mainly speak Creole and French. History of Haiti The first inhabitants of the island of Hispaniola, now shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic, were the indigenous Taino people. The group spoke Arawak and started arriving from the Yucatan peninsula as early as 4000 BCE, according to Ref World. The Taino-Arawak ruined the first Spanish settlement. There was continued resistance among the group, and those who were not killed disappeared into the remote mountains. The Spanish introduced sugar cane from the Canary Islands, which prompted the increase in the importation of West Africans for forced labor on the plantations. Enslaved West Africans led an uprising on the sugar plantation owned by Christopher Columbus' son, Diego Colon. The severe restriction of the Spanish movement has allowed both the British and the French to start using the nearby island of Tortuga and the western portion of the island for hunting. The French established direct control in the 1600s from Tortuga, further expanding to the north coast. The French colonial settlement earned the most profitable operations with its forced labor, becoming the wealthiest colony in the Western hemisphere. In August 1791, the Haitian revolution started, which was led by Toussaint L'Ouverture. Traditions in Haiti Haiti has various celebrations and festivities, mainly associated with the practice of vodou. According to USA Today, a vodou priest or priestess leads the ceremonies for honoring the dead, which is usually celebrated in their year and one-day rituals. Haiti is also known for its Carnival, which is the largest annual event that occurs throughout the country. Haiti's Carnival features parades, costumes, local music, and dancing in the streets. Rara Festival in Haiti is also known as the peasant carnival. It refers to the diverse Haitian style of music and dance that is usually played during Easter week. Musicians play vaskin, a bamboo-type horn, along with drums and tin trumpets. READ MORE: Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry, Asked to Testify in Pres. Jovenel Moise's Assassination Hearing, Rejects the Invite This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Divided Island: How Haiti and the DR Became Two Worlds - From Vox In response to legal action from a coalition of organizations, the Biden administration has agreed to review the Trump administration's illegal approval of fracking on nearly 45,000 acres-70 square miles of the Greater Chaco region of northwest New Mexico and to reconsider whether to authorize oil and gas extraction on lands exceptionally sacred to Dine people. READ NEXT: Greater Chaco Coalition Demands More Than Piece-Meal Protection in Response to 10-Mile Buffer "Dine C.A.R.E views this latest settlement agreement as a sobering reminder of the lengths local Dine communities must go to advocate for environmental justice within the Greater Chaco Landscape," said Dine C.A.R.E. Greater Chaco Energy Organizer Mario Atencio. "The Bureau of Land Management's fly-by-night approvals for oil and gas leasing during the pandemic chaos of the waning days of the Trump administration undermines the trust responsibility the Bureau has with Dine living on the Counselor, Ojo Encino, and Torreon lands. The Sisnaateel Mesa Complex is highly sacred for the Dine, and it should not come to threatening federal court actions for the federal agencies like the Bureau to consider the adverse effects its oil and leasing bonanza is having on lands in the Greater Chaco Landscape. Somewhere, the Bureau administration needs to come into alignment with the Justice40, the 'Honoring Chaco Initiative,' and other executive orders that are supposed to bring environmental justice to the Dine," Atencio added. In January 2022, the groups asked a federal judge to halt all drilling, based on the Trump administration's illegal approval of the oil and gas leases. In response, the Biden administration has finally agreed to reconsider. (See court order granting stay here.) The Agreement Pauses Oil and Gas Extraction Activities The agreement pauses oil and gas extraction activities on the oil and gas leases while the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management reviews the leasing. In addition, the agreement requires the Bureau to engage in significantly enhanced Tribal consultation and public meetings, including with local leaders and Navajo chapter houses, and to perform specific cultural analysis of these sacred lands. Oil and gas company EOG, formerly called Enron, will not develop in any way the 119 wells for which it holds Bureau approval to drill as we await a new agency decision. The leased lands include the sacred Sisnaateel Mesa Complex, which is central to the Dine cosmology and akin in importance to Jerusalem, Mecca, or the Bodhi Tree in India. The Bureau has agreed not to approve any new wells, roads, or pipelines as it reconsiders the Trump administration's illegal leasing. After this process, the Bureau will issue a new decision on these leases-again exceedingly sacred to Navajo people-including the possibility of revoking them. We encourage this action as for these places, "too special to drill" is a vast understatement. Today's agreement comes as Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland, last year launched the "Honoring Chaco" Initiative, a process to both protect a 10-mile buffer around Chaco Culture National Historical Park and to develop a landscape-level plan to protect the region's irreplaceable cultural values. Groups have called on Interior Secretary Haaland to pause oil and gas leasing and drilling as the Honoring Chaco Initiative unfolds. The agreement is also concurrent with science, namely this February's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, calling for rapidly winding down and ultimately phasing out fossil fuel production as a key strategy to confronting the climate crisis. "We are hopeful the Bureau of Land Management will reconsider its decisions to ignore the inequities and injustices inherent to its oil and gas leasing program in Greater Chaco," said Ally Beasley with the Western Environmental Law Center. "This case provides an opportunity for the Bureau to correct one example of its systemically unjust treatment of Greater Chaco as an energy sacrifice zone. A new decision-and new decision-making process-for these leases could be a meaningful step toward truly 'honoring Chaco' as the agency has alluded to." The Bureau's inadequate public participation process for these leases fell far short of the "fair treatment and meaningful involvement" that environmental justice demands - an important consideration because these leases impact the Greater Chaco region and the Dine communities of Torreon and Ojo Encino. The majority of available lands within the Greater Chaco region are already leased for oil and gas development with more than 40,000 wells existing in the area. "If President Biden and Interior Secretary Haaland are serious about honoring the Greater Chaco region, then they'll cancel these illegally approved oil and gas leases," said Rebecca Sobel, organizing director for WildEarth Guardians. "Much more needs to be done to truly honor the Greater Chaco Landscape, and the impacts from unchecked fracking across increase every day the administration fails to take action." Mike Eisenfeld of San Juan Citizens Alliance said: "The Department of the Interior can no longer blindly lease lands for oil and gas in Northwestern New Mexico." "We are cautiously optimistic that the Biden administration is taking steps to address some of the unlawful oil and gas exploitation afflicting Greater Chaco, its people, and its sacred places," said Miya King-Flaherty with the Sierra Club - Rio Grande Chapter. "We hope the Biden Bureau of Land Management follows through on the sentiment of 'honoring Chaco' by pulling back these and more leases in places that have been historically treated as sacrifice zones for energy development." READ MORE: Greater Chaco Coalition Celebrates New Path Forward For Landscape Protection Will Smith has acknowledged the consequences vested by the Academy after he slapped Chris Rock during the Oscars 2022 last month. In a statement on Friday, Smith said that he "accepts and respects the Academy's decision," Deadline reported. Smith's short and succinct statement came after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Board of Governors (AMPAS) decided that the actor will be banned for 10 years, in attending the Oscars. "Today, the Board of Governors convened a meeting to discuss how best to respond to Will Smith's actions at the Oscars, in addition to accepting his resignation," AMPAS President David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson said in a letter, per Us Weekly. The ban will not allow Smith, whether in-person or virtually, to attend any events hosted by the Academy. The AMPAS officials also explained that they came up with their decision because Will Smith's slap on Chris Rock overshadowed the true purpose of the Oscars, which is to celebrate the people who did great in their community. Ruben and Hudson then apologized to the public for not addressing the situation during the event ahead of time. "During our telecast, we did not adequately address the situation in the room. For this, we are sorry," the AMPAS officials said, contending that they fell short and they are not prepared for the unprecedented. READ NEXT: Oscars 2022: Here's What Will Smith Did Ahead of the Academy's Decision on His Future After Slapping Chris Rock Will Smith Academy: What Will Happen to the Actor After He Was Banned From Attending Oscars? According to Deadline, Smith's ban on attending the Oscars will not affect his liberty to be nominated in the Oscars categories in the future. However, he will not be able to present the next Best Actor award to the next winner, even though that is the tradition of the award-giving body. The Academy also explained why they cannot seize Smith's Oscars following the incident. "There have been calls from industry insiders and moviegoers for Smith's Oscar to be taken back, which the Oscars have no legal authority to claim," the Academy explained, mentioning that convicted criminals Harvey Weinstein and director Roman Polanski still have their Oscars following their expulsion, according to Variety. The Academy also pointed out they have no other options but to ban Smith from attending future Oscars because the actor's membership with the organization is no longer active after he resigned. Will Smith-Chris Rock: Comedian Lauded by the Organizers of Oscars 2022 The Academy also lauded Chris Rock in their statement, contending that the comedian maintained his composure after the unprecedented events in the awards show. Furthermore, the organization also thanked the hosts, winners, presenters, and nominees for their poise and grace during the telecast. It can be recalled that Will Smith slapped Chris Rock after the comedian made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head, due to her alopecia. After returning to his seat, Smith then shouted "keep my wife's name out of your f*****g mouth." A day after the Oscars 2022, Will Smith took to Instagram to apologize to Chris Rock, claiming that he was out of line and wrong. The actor also admitted that he was embarrassed by what he did during the awards ceremony. READ NEXT: Oscars 2022: Here's Jada Pinkett Smith's Shocking Reaction After Will Smith Slapped Chris Rock This article is owned by Latin Post. Written By: Joshua Summers WATCH: Actor Will Smith banned from attending Oscars for 10 years - From CNN Experts said Friday that the U.S. should immediately send more weapons to Ukraine to win the war against Russia. Some policy analysts and lawmakers noted that the move from the U.S. would change the outcome of the Russia-Ukraine war, according to New York Post. "In the short term, if you want Ukrainians to win this war there is nobody like the United States that could make that happen," American Enterprise Institute's senior fellow Dalibor Rohac told The Post. Rohac then urged the U.S. government to send everything Ukraine asks and not be afraid of Russia's President Vladimir Putin. In an email sent to The Post, a spokesperson of House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Gregory Meeks said the committee supports giving additional weaponry to Ukraine, including longer-range anti-aircraft missile systems. In an op/ed published in The Post on Friday, retired Gen. Wesley Clark wrote that the U.S. government must up its intensity and focus on the war and not waste time providing Ukraine with thousands of artillery rounds, MiGs and tanks, and Sukhoi aircraft. "Why? Because there is a window of opportunity now - for a week or two perhaps - in which Ukraine can counterattack in the north, south and east to expel Russian forces. This will require mobile armored forces and air power," Clark noted, adding that if this window is lost, "the future is darker and more uncertain." These remarks from the experts came a day after the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) vowed to send more weapons to Ukraine to curb the conflict and control Russia's brutalities against the Ukrainians. READ NEXT: U.S. to Issue More Sanctions on Russia; Ukraine Facing More' Hard Days' Ahead Amid War Mitch McConnell Slams Joe Biden Over Russia-Ukraine War In an interview on Fox News Friday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) slammed President Joe Biden over the Russia-Ukraine War, claiming that the U.S. chief executive "has been a little too cautious" about Ukraine. McConnell said the U.S. should support Ukraine and give them everything they wanted as Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his men demonstrated their will to fight for their country. "What we need to do is give (Ukrainians) every single useful weapon they ask for and need to beat the Russians," McConnell noted. Meanwhile, former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst told The Post that the Biden administration "spooked itself" by the thought that its action would trigger Russia to lead a nuclear standoff. However, Herbst noted that he thinks providing weapons to Ukraine will not provoke Putin to nuke the U.S. Weapons Provided to Ukraine The U.S. is not the only nation helping Ukraine in its war against Russia. According to The Hill, Biden confirmed that Slovakia has already transferred a Soviet-era S-300 air defense system to Ukraine. To enable this transfer and ensure the continued security of Slovakia, Biden said on Friday that the U.S. would reposition a Patriot missile system to Slovakia. The Czech Republic has also delivered tanks, multiple rocket launchers, howitzers, and infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine, Reuters reported. The delivery of the weapons came as a train station in eastern Ukraine sustained a rocket attack, killing 50 individuals and injuring more than 100 others. The Hill reported that five children were among the dead. "Our assessment is that this was a Russian strike and that they used a short-range ballistic missile to conduct it," Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said Friday. READ MORE: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's Plan to Bus Migrants to D.C. Receives Pushback From Jen Psaki; White House Press Secretary Calls It 'Publicity Stunt' This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Joshua Summers WATCH: Russian Forces Attacking Ukraine's Food Supply - From MSNBC YAOUNDE, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Security and local sources said on Saturday that a notorious separatist commander has been killed in Cameroon's war-torn Anglophone region of Northwest in clashes between rival separatist groups. The commander who was identified as 'field marshal Insobu' was killed in Bui division of the region late Friday after he attempted to attack another separatist group. Separatist fighters released a video of him on social media saying they were celebrating the "death of a traitor". "The terrorist commander was responsible for countless killing and abductions of civilians and soldiers. He blocked a major highway in the region for over five years causing untold suffering. Civilians are actually celebrating his death," a senior military official in the region who asked not to be named told Xinhua. It is unclear whether other fighters were killed in the clashes. Infighting among separatist fighters has caused the death of over 100 fighters since an armed separatist conflict erupted in Cameroon's English-speaking regions of Northwest and Southwest in 2017, according to security reports. U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) are one step closer to getting the bipartisan Recovering America's Wildlife Act across the finish line. Today, the landmark conservation legislation was voted out of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) with bipartisan support. The legislation now heads to the Senate Floor for consideration. The House legislation advanced out of the House Natural Resources Committee in January. READ NEXT: Sen. Martin Heinrich Offers Well Wishes to Sen. Ben Ray Lujan Who Suffered a Stroke Senators Heinrich and Blunt Held a Conference Call for Reporters Senators Heinrich and Blunt held a conference call for reporters to discuss the progress. A recording of their remarks can be found here. "The outdoors have once again proven to be a real uniting force. I'm so proud of the bipartisan leadership and widespread support that is moving the Recovering America's Wildlife Act forward. Senator Blunt has been a great partner and EPW Chairman Tom Carper and Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito helped us advance this landmark conservation legislation. I am confident that if we can keep up our momentum, we will pass this bill through the full Senate with broad, bipartisan support," said Heinrich, member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. "Without enough resources, state, and Tribal wildlife agencies have been forced to pick and choose which species are worth saving. Instead of doing the proactive work that is necessary to maintain healthy wildlife populations on the front end, they have been forced into using reactive measures to rescue species after they are listed as threatened or endangered. We urgently need to change this paradigm and save thousands of species with a solution that matches the magnitude of the challenge. The Recovering America's Wildlife Act offers us a constructive path forward. Passing RAWA into law will mean our grandchildren will be able to experience the same rich and abundant American wildlife-from bumblebees to bison-that we have been so lucky to grow up with." "Protecting habitats and wildlife is not only important to states like Missouri - with some of the best hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation in the country - it's important to communities all across the nation," said Blunt. "By encouraging states, territories, and Tribes to make significant contributions to voluntary conservation efforts, we can preserve our nation's wildlife for future generations. I would like to thank the Environment and Public Works Committee for advancing RAWA, and I will continue working with my friend Senator Heinrich to get this landmark legislation to the president's desk." "Today, our committee took a step forward in advancing impactful, bipartisan conservation legislation," said EPW Chairman Carper. "The Recovering America's Wildlife Act seeks to address the pervasive and growing threat of biodiversity loss, which scientists warn could dramatically worsen in the years ahead without action. I appreciate the strong leadership that Senators Heinrich, Blunt, and Capito demonstrated as our committee contemplated this legislation, and I look forward to working with them, and other proponents, to find a way to pay for this important investment and to take additional action to stem our biodiversity loss crisis. Much like successful species conservation, legislating is a shared responsibility." "An integral part of West Virginia is our natural landscape and native wildlife," said EPW Ranking Member Capito. "I was proud to support the Recovering America's Wildlife Act, which will provide a historic investment to help states with their species recovery efforts. I thank my colleagues, Senators Blunt and Heinrich, for leading this legislation to provide our state fish and wildlife agencies with more resources to conserve at-risk species." Senators Heinrich and Blunt's legislation invests in proactive, on-the-ground conservation work led by states, territories, and Tribal nations to support the long-term health of fish and wildlife and their habitat all across America. These locally-driven, science-based strategies would restore populations of species with the greatest conservation need. Since introduction in July 2021, the Recovering America's Wildlife Act has gained significant momentum with 32 bipartisan sponsors and cosponsors, and is backed by over 60 Tribes and 1,500 organizations representing state fish and wildlife agencies, sportsmen and women, conservation groups, and industry associations and businesses. Additional Resources: READ MORE: Senator Heinrich Leads Call for Biden Admin to Reverse Changes to National Monuments The Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise Leo Varadkar is looking forward to Electric Picnic in Laois this year, just like another 70,000 punters. Speaking in Portlaoise on Friday, April 8 where he toured the huge zero carbon Canadian factory Greenfield Global, Minister Varakar confirmed his intention to come back in September to enjoy what is Ireland's biggest live music and arts festival. "I hope to make an appearance, I don't think I'll make it down for the whole weekend. For a day maybe. It is a great event. I would have liked for it to happen last year as people know. That wasn't possible for a lot of reasons and I do understand the concerns that residents of Stradbally had in relation to that. I understood both sides. I think it's fair to say this time everyone is going to welcome the return and hopefully it will be a big event," the Tanaiste said. This year's festival returns after a two year hiatus thanks to Covid-19, and takes place from September 2 to 4. Mountmellick has hosted Fine Gael leader and Tanaiste Leo Varadkar in virtual meeting with Fine Gael representatives from right around Ireland. Fine Gael representatives met on Friday, April 8 with Ministers, TDs and Senators joining from 32 connected hubs throughout Ireland. The party says it was the first time a single meeting was conducted virtually using the hubs. Laois was central to the meeting because that is where Mr Varadkar tuned into proceedings. He logged on from the Webmill Digital Hub in the Beale Centre at the Mountmellick Development Association. Mr Varadkar was accompanied by Laois-Offaly TD and Mountmellick native Charlie Flanagan. Its fantastic to be here with Deputy Flanagan to once again see the benefits of a local hub at first hand. If theres one thing we learned from the pandemic, its that we cant go back to the old ways of working. We want to see more remote working, more home working, more hybrid working. And these hubs make it possible even in areas which are not currently serviced by the National Broadband Plan. Record levels of funding have been provided to support community hubs. Remote working helps to sustain and strengthen our communities.Its good for quality of life and family life, and its also good for the environment by cutting down on commuting. Hubs like this are at the heart of Fine Gaels plans to build stronger, safer communities, he said. A statement issued by the party's HQ said the initiative is part of Fine Gaels Stronger, Safer Communities campaign. It said the campaign aims to highlight the partys commitment to ensuring our towns, villages, and cities are great places to live, work, run a business, raise a family, and grow old, and ensure that they are stronger and safer than ever before. Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys joined this afternoons meeting from The Yard Workspace in Newcastle West, Limerick, along with local Minister of State at the Office of Public Works, Patrick ODonovan. I have visited hubs the length and breadth of the country and one thing is clear: They are essential in making remote working a reality for tens of thousands of our citizens. My Department has invested millions of euro in funding in the establishment of new remote working hub facilities and has launched the Connected Hubs initiative, which allows people to book their hotdesk space at a click of a button via a new mobile app. This is all about giving people a better quality of life. Its about moving away from the days of people sitting for hours on end in traffic jams, or standing like sardines on the Luas, DART, bus or train. Above all, its about creating an environment where people can work in their local hub in their own town and village. Its about attracting people back to rural Ireland, boosting our local economies and ensuring remote working is part of our rural future, said Minister Humphreys. Fine Gael said the meeting showcased the acceleration that has been seen in connectivity across the country and demonstrates that remote working is now a viable option for every county, including those living off the coast. A statement said the party is determined to ensure balanced regional development across the country and an important element of that is making remote working an option for more people. It added that the drive to encourage remote working will help revitalise towns and villages and it supports Fine Gaels ambition to build stronger safer communities nationwide. Communities around Laois are being urged to get involved in a new project to help communities to use technology to develop their localities. Laois Partnership says itself and Laois County Council appreciate the roles that smart communities and smart regions will play in community development for many years to come. With this in mind, Laois Partnership has organised a workshop for all involved in community development across Laois in conjunction with eTownz. They want key stakeholders from every community in Laois to join us to help drive both local and county initiatives. Acting CEO of Laois Partnership, Catherine Cowap said Laois Partnership works directly with individuals, communities and enterprises through LEADER and SICAP. She explained what's involved. "We believe that the Smart Village concept is the future of strategic community development in Laois. We are looking for 3 to 4 civic minded stakeholders from each community representing the health and wellbeing, environment and sustainability, and business and economy sectors. Join us to help drive both local and county initiatives and to learn from each others experiences in developing communities, " said Ms Cowap. Peter ONeill is the Chairman of Laois Partnership. Laois Partnership are proud to be collaborating with 20+ Local Development Companies around Ireland to support the development of the Smart Village curriculum. The Smart Village concept will be of core importance to all project funding in the years to come, he said. The organisers say the curriculum is created by eTownz and is a modular and pragmatic approach to local development where the town creates an interactive register. This register will include: Community assets Local stakeholders (Businesses, Clubs & Public services) Community goals Key projects Metrics Pat Kennedy is CEO of eTownz. The Smart Village approach seeks to bring together local knowledge and digital tools to empower local communities, he said. The first session takes place in the Manor Hotel Abbeyleix on Thursday, April 21 from 7pm to 9pm. Places are limited to register and for more Information visit https://training.etownz.ie/laois/ Since 2017, the KWWSPCA has had a link with a Swedish charity that takes rescue dogs from Ireland and rehomes them to Swedish families. The Swedish Charity, Hundar Utan Hem (Dogs Without Homes) advertises the dogs on their website, checks the suitability of the applicants and organises home checks. If the home is suitable, arrangements are made for the dogs to be transported to Sweden and to a new life. In 2021, the KWWSPCA sent 14 rescue dogs to be rehomed in Sweden. We would normally look for a home in Ireland first for our rescue dogs. Some dogs, however, are not so easy to rehome here but are very popular in Sweden. The dogs need to have a rabies vaccination and a pet passport so that they will be ready to travel when a suitable home in Sweden is found. Our photo shows Sergei who we rehomed in Sweden last August. He goes everywhere with his new owner in his truck and the family says he loves travelling. Dionne Looking for a new home This lovely Belgian Shepherd is still really only a pup at around one year old. Dionne has not had a good start in life, having been recently found as a stray. She would bowl you over with affection, and came to us with little or no training. With the ongoing patience and work by our volunteers she has already learned a lot and will continue to improve with the love and attention that she is receiving. Her home should not have children, but while she loves other dogs, another dog in her home should be able to tolerate her boisterous and bouncy play. A home in a quieter rural location would suit her better than a home in a busy area, and a cat free home would be preferable. She is not suitable as a guard dog or protection dog. Dionne has been spayed, vaccinated and chipped (chip number 981020002391976, origin Ireland). If you are interested in offering Dionne a home, please complete and return the expression of interest form on our website kwwspca.ie About Us The Kildare & West Wicklow Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (KWWSPCA) is a Registered Charity which investigates and deals with reports of cruelty and neglect to animals, family pets, wild animals and birds, throughout County Kildare and West Wicklow. The Society is run entirely on a voluntary basis, there are no paid employees. Charity Number, CHY 6280 Helpline: 087 1279835 Email: kwwspca@gmail.com Website: www.kwwspca.ie Follow us on Facebook In March 1980, Kildare town native Mick Dempsey was newly married and suddenly found himself jobless and extremely worried for what the future might hold for himself and his new wife, Chris. Then just 23, Mick had been working with the horse trainer, John Oxx, before moving on to work in the wallpaper factory in Kildare town. However, unfortunately for Mick, the factory was under pressure and was shut down leaving the workers with no employment or money. Long-serving members of Newbridge Silverwares staff: Martin Kennedy (41 years with the company), Mick Dempsey (42 years), CEO William Doyle (42 years), Paddy Barry (60 years), John Doran (41 years) and Tommy OReilly (45 years) It was 1980, no one had a bob, it was a really hard time for a lot of people and the prospect of me finding another job was very unlikely, said Mick. Soon after I was let go from the wallpaper factory myself and Chris were out for a walk in Newbridge. We were going past the Newbridge Cutlery factory on Cutlery Road and Chris said to me, Go on, go in there and see if you can get a job. So, I walked in, no appointment, no interview, nothing like that, and the first person I met in the yard was Dominic Doyle, the father of the current CEO William Doyle. Should you not be up in Oxxs feeding the horses? says he, because he knew me to see. I told him no, and explained that I had gone on from Oxxs yard to the wallpaper factory and told him about the unfortunate situation I found myself in. He just looked at me and without a seconds hesitation he said, alright Mick, come into me on Monday morning at 8.30am and we will get you started. That was the only interview Mick Dempsey did, and on that fateful day in March 1980, he found himself starting out on a career that would see him working for Newbridge Silverware (formally called Newbridge Cutlery) for 42 years. Having retired last Wednesday, Mick recalls his time at the factory and the craft he honed and the friends he made. We always called the factory The Cutlery, it was a great place to work. I was lucky, I was sent to the Blanking Shop where I had two great men, Myles McCormack and Jim Barnwell to show me the ropes. They were experienced men, in their sixties, and they had great patience and took their time to teach me what was to become my craft. Soon after Mick started in the business, Newbridge Cutlery moved from the old Army Barracks on Cutlery Road to its current location and he recalled how all the staff came in over one weekend and moved the big pieces of machinery. For 42 years Mick Dempsey worked in the Blanking Shop in Newbridge Silverware where he would expertly place thin sheets of metal into the blanking machine which cut out the shape of a knife, fork, or spoon. The process of crafting tableware is virtually unchanged since the companys formation in 1934 and many of the original machines are still in use today including the famous blanking machine which Mick so skilfully operated for all those years. They used to call me Two Sheets Dempsey in the factory because I knew exactly how many sheets of metal would be required to cut out a certain pattern of cutlery. I knew my job so well and never got bored with the process. Labour of love Making something beautiful is a real labour of love and every single piece of cutlery starts its life out with me in the Blanking Shop. I loved seeing that process, from a single sheet of metal right through to the finished, gleaming piece of cutlery. In 1993, the Newbridge Cutlery Factory was faced with a serious crisis. Style preferences had changed, and consumers were less interested in formal dining. Newbridge Cutlerys products were now seen to be old fashioned, and demand fell to the point where the company faced the real possibility that it might close. There was a need to for a dramatic change. Through research and development, a discovery was made. The craftsmen could make jewellery. They had the skills, and the equipment was available. Scrap material left over from the blanking process could be recycled into jewellery. We discovered that after I cut out the shape of a piece of cutlery, like a fork for example, the bits that were left behind werent waste at all and could be made into something else. It was very exciting, and I remember the crafts people experimenting with various designs, said Mick. The first pieces didnt really work out, but the team worked hard and ended up creating the most beautiful pieces of jewellery. It makes me smile now when I think of how I was part of a process that meant that every single piece of metal could be used. The cutlery and now the jewellery started its life in my hands. That makes me very proud. William Doyle, the current CEO and son of Dominic Doyle who gave Mick Dempsey the job, also started working in the Newbridge Cutlery Factory in 1980. William had just finished studying in Trinity and had started to work in the factory to get some experience. He was supposed to have gone off to America, but I suppose he just never got there and like myself he stayed at the factory because he loved it too. Speaking about William Doyle and the management Mick said, we are around the same age, and we started out working in the factory together, so we know each other really well and get on great. William would often stop by the Blanking Shop and we would chat about sport, he has a good sense of humour, we would always have a laugh and in the 42 years I working there we never, ever, had a cross word between us. Over the years Mick has seen some famous people visit the factory and the showrooms including Charlie Haughey, Keith Wood and Princess Charlene of Monaco. The rugby players loved the factory and I remember when Peter Clohessy, The Claw, came to visit, he was mad for the machines he wanted to sit right up at them and operate them, he was really into it! In 2018 Newbridge Silverware opened its factory to the public and for the first time in its history people could tour the factory itself and see the products being made. Due to Covid-19, the Factory Tour hasnt been running but the hope is that it will commence again soon. Now, 42 years after Mick Dempsey first cut out his first fork the time has come for him to retire. Work and craic I cant really believe I worked at Newbridge Silverware for so long. The time has just flown, and I can honestly say that it was never a hardship or a chore going to work. We worked hard but we had the craic and I remember some great dances, days out at the races and just lovely camaraderie, there were great days and great times. Im looking forward to doing my garden in Lakeside Park in Newbridge and hope Chris doesnt give me too many jobs! I have to say though, I will miss the sound of the machines. In early July this year, 60-year-old retired primary school teacher turned adventurer, Dermot Higgins will attempt to swim the entire length of the river Shannon, from source to sea in only 10 days. In his own words, Dermot hopes to become the oldest, fastest (and the fattest!) person, to complete this challenge. His marathon swim will start in Dowra, Co Cavan on July 1 and Dermot plans to finish in Limerick just 10 days later on July 11. Dermot acknowledges: Im really excited by the challenge of swimming the Shannon this summer. Its going to be tough, Ive swam long distances in the past but 25 km every day for 10 days! At my pace thats about 10 hours of swimming every day. He is no stranger to adventure and endurance exploits, having previously paddled the Shannon in three days. He also become the oldest person to cycle around the world and most recently become the first Irish person to swim for 24 hours non-stop. Over the past few years Ive raised hundreds of thousands of euros for various charities. This time I hope to raise 100,000 for the mental health charity, A Lust For Life, he said, adding that it was his own personal experience with mental health struggles which has driven him to try and raise funds for charity. As well as raising awareness of the importance of looking after your mental health, this time Dermot also wants to help to raise 100,000 for the mental health charity A Lust For Life which was founded by singer Bressie. As a suicide survivor myself, I know all too well the importance of resilience training for young adults which this amazing charity, promotes, he explains. Im thrilled to have had so much support from friends and family. My amazing partner Anne will be with me every stroke of the way down the Shannon and Ill also have the support of some of my kayaking friends from Skerries. As part of the challenge Dermot has teamed up with Emerald Star-Le Boat who are generously providing a support boat for him during his swim. The boat will be vital for navigational assistance, feeding me, motivating me and will also provide a comfortable accommodation base for me and my team, he said. Ive teamed up with my loyal partner Aura. Aura is very generously providing support via their professional nutritionist and personal trainer guidance and also with a contribution towards the logistics of the challenge, he added. Ive also teamed up with my loyal partner in South East Wetsuits, who are providing me with a custom made wetsuit for the challenge. So keep an eye out for Dermot as he makes his way down the Shannon this July and don't forget to show your support by making a donation. An opponent of compulsory vaccination in front of the Bundestag in Berlin on April 7, 2022. JOHN MACDOUGALL / AFP Vaccination against Covid-19 will not be mandatory in Germany. This was decided on Thursday, April 7, by the Bundestag, which voted by a large majority against a bill to introduce such a requirement for those over 60. Despite government support, the bill received only 296 votes in favor, while 378 members voted against it and nine abstained. This result is a slap in the face for Chancellor Olaf Scholz (Social Democratic Party, SPD), who, in hopes of getting the measure passed, had even rushed Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock (Alliance 90/The Greens) back from Brussels, where she was about to participate in a NATO meeting on Ukraine. Thursday's vote concluded a saga that began on November 30, 2021. On that day, a week before he succeeded Angela Merkel as head of government, Mr. Scholz said that a bill proposing mandatory vaccination would be taken up by the Bundestag before the end of the year, to take effect "in early February or March" 2022. Prior to this date, the future chancellor had opposed such a requirement. To justify his U-turn, he gave the following explanation: "We have always been counting on the fact that the vast majority could be persuaded. If we had 80% of the population already vaccinated, or even more, as is the case in other countries, the situation would be different and I would not have changed my mind." At that time, 68% of the German population was vaccinated, placing the country around the average for the European Union but far behind Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Italy or France. Today, 76% of Germans are double vaccinated, but only 59% have received a booster dose. Voting without group discipline From the outset, however, it was clear that it would be difficult for such a measure to pass. Mr. Scholz quickly realized that it would be difficult to reach a consensus within his "traffic light" coalition, as each of the three components of his majority was divided on the issue, whether it was the SPD, the Greens or, in particular, the Free Democratic Party (FDP), some of whose elected representatives a minority, but a very combative one immediately announced that they would oppose any vaccination requirements. In this politically sensitive context, leading a country where the anti-vaccine movement has been highly mobilized, Mr. Scholz has opted for a cautious strategy. Although the idea came from him, he did not want the government to present a bill, preferring that the members of the Bundestag themselves propose one or more bills before each one ultimately votes "according to their conscience" in other words, without group discipline. You have 46.53% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. NATIONAL Broadband Ireland has announced that the first premises in County Limerick have been successfully connected to high-speed fibre network it is rolling out under the National Broadband Plan. The first connections have been made in Ballysheedy area and hundreds more premises located in the intervention area, around Limerick city, are in the 'Ready to Connect' phase. This means potential customers in townlands such as Roxborough, Ballysimon, Ballyvarra and Caherconlish West can now obtain broadband services from retail providers through the new network. As a wholesale network operator, NBI does not sell fibre broadband directly to end users, rather it enables services from a range of broadband providers Around 85m is to be spent in Limerick to delver fibre broadband to almost 22,000 premises in County Limerick under the National Broadband Plan. Peter Hendrick, CEO of National Broadband Ireland, said: National Broadband Ireland is delighted to be able to say that we have now commenced our first connections in Limerick, which will enable users to experience the life-changing benefits that high-speed broadband provides. This is a key milestone for this intervention area. Seamus ODonoghue, Business Development Manager with Digiweb, said: The new connection to high-speed fibre broadband under the National Broadband Plan is going to bring incredible benefits to the people of Limerick. We are delighted to work with NBI to connect our customers as part of the National Broadband Plan. We are already receiving really positive feedback from our customers in Limerick, who are now experiencing some of the substantial benefits of high-speed fibre broadband. Liam Judge, one of the first customers in the Limerick Deployment Area to be connected to the NBI network added: We were delighted to be connected to high speed broadband by NBI. Its allowed our family to experience a variety of advantages, knowing that we can rely on a consistent connection to high speed broadband. This includes greater capacity to work from home and to enjoy leisure activities such as streaming. Rob ODriscoll, Broadband Officer with Limerick City and County Council said the local authority is delighted to see how local people and businesses are benefitting through a connection to high speed broadband via the National Broadband Plan. "This development will bring a variety of new and exciting opportunities to people in the area, he said. NBI contractors have been on the ground since January 2020 surveying townlands across the county. This involves physically walking the routes and documenting images, notes and measurements of the poles, cables and underground ducts in each area, and enables design solutions for the provision of the fibre network. THE IFA would be nothing without women like Josie Ahern, Croagh and men like Sean Hanley, Anglesborough. At the first in person Limerick IFA AGM in two years, IFA president Tim Cullinan presented IFA Honorary Life Membership awards to Josie for 2021 and Sean for 2020. Sean Lavery, Limerick IFA chair, said the award is presented for outstanding, loyal and long service to the organisation. Josie was once described on a radio show as a formidable woman and they werent wrong. She always stood up for what she believed in and is as kind as the day is long. Mr Lavery said Josie has never been found wanting in supporting and representing her local farmers over the years. We can all remember Josie organising tea and sandwiches for the beef factory protest in 2014 on a 24/7 basis, said Mr Lavery. This reporter doubts if there was ever an IFA protest that Josie didnt support. Away from Limerick IFA, her fundraising for numerous charities is legendary. Josie raised thousands of pounds and euros for a school for dyslexic children in Limerick and she is one of the true Friends of St Itas in Newcastle West. In recognition of her selfless work over the years, Munster IFA awarded the 2012 Paddy Fitzgerald Memorial Award to Josie. It is only given every two years. Josie was an excellent farmer and won many fatstock prizes at Rathkeale Mart over the years. Josie and her late husband Ned raised four daughters and one son. On the other side of the county, Sean Hanley was the founding secretary of the Anglesborough branch of IFA 60 years ago in 1962. A man ahead of his time, he installed the first bulk-milk tank and was also the first to build a slatted unit in Anglesborough. Mr Lavery said Sean held many officer positions in his local branch and said his campaigning for farmers has been outstanding over the years. He was very much involved in supporting several farmers who had gotten into financial difficulties and was able to organise support at county level to find a solution for those farmers. Whenever there was an IFA national protest in Dublin for dairy, beef or pig farmers Sean and the Anglesborough branch was always well represented, said Mr Lavery. Away from IFA, Sean has been very involved locally in supporting community activities. He enjoys his gun dogs and attending vintage machinery shows in Ireland and England. Sean is married to Mary Mullins and they have three daughters and one son. Josie and Sean are very deserving recipients of IFA Honorary Life Membership awards. THE UL Creative Writing Festival will take centre stage again this year as literary legends come to Limerick to share their tips, insights and views on their most esteemed works. Described as the highlight of early summer for all readers and book lovers, the UL Creative Writing Festival returns for 2022, featuring a stellar line-up of international, award-winning writers. These include The Commitments creator Roddy Doyle, who will be conducting a reading with award-winning author and University of Limerick Creative Writing Writer in Residence, Kit deWaal. Audiences will also be treated to Limerick born and well-travelled author Kevin Barry, noted for Night Boat To Tangier, which was longlisted for the 2019 Booker Prize. Danielle McLaughlin, Donal Ryan, Joseph OConnor, Louise Kennedy, Sebastian Barry and Sarah Moore Fitzgerald also feature on the programme of events. Poets on the day include Emily Cullen, Kayssie Kandiwa, Sean Hewitt, Rachael Hegarty and Jane Clarke. The Festival will include the launch of the 2022 edition of ULs literary journal The Ogham Stone and readings from ULs unique Creative Writers In The Community module, led by Eoin Devereux. The line-up of events will see a mix of poetry, prose, talks, writing tips and book signings. The festival takes place between Friday, May 20 and Sunday, MAY 22 at the Irish World Academy of Music & Dance building, located past the living bridge on the North Campus. Weekend tickets are available at 35, with concessions priced at 20. These include access to all events over the three-day weekend. For more details on the programme of events or to book, see UCH.ie. A LIMERICK man who entered the offices of an award-winning Limerick company claiming to be the CEO has avoided a criminal conviction. Limerick District Court was told the bizarre offence was like something out of Walter Mitty and was hard to explain. Charles Johnston, aged 37, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to a single charge of trespassing at Samco, Adare on November 4, 2021. Sergeant Sean Murray said Mr Johnston arrived at the premises dressed in a suit and tie and told staff he was the CEO of the company. Samco is a family run agricultural business that designs and manufactures agri-equipment and degradable film. The company was founded in 1997 by Managing Director Samuel J. Shine. Sergeant Murray said after a short conversation with the defendant, staff realised that Mr Johnston was not who he said he was. Gardai were called and Mr Johnston was subsequently arrested and removed from the premises and later charged. He cooperated with gardai and made admissions when questioned about the incident. The court heard the 37-year-old has no previous history with the company and that the incident was a random act. Mr Johnston has one previous conviction, under the Public Order Act, for which he was given a two month probation order. Addressing the court, Ted McCarthy, solicitor for Mr Johnston, said there were no nefarious intentions from his client who, he added, apologised to management at the company a number of weeks after the incident. Mr McCarthy (pictured) said no damage was caused and that his client did not pose a risk to anyone working at the companys offices on the day. Noting the defendants personal circumstances, his cooperation and his guilty plea Judge Patricia Harney applied the provisions of the Probation Act. This means a formal conviction will not be recorded. A LIMERICK senator has called on Bus Eireann to provide an hourly service for Castleconell during day time hours. Senator Paul Gavan made the call in the context of the still unpublished Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (LSMATS) and the "pressing need to persuade people to switch from cars to public transport on their journeys to and from the village to Castletroy and the city centre". He said traffic has been returning to pre-pandemic levels, and it can often take close to an hour to travel to and from Castleconnell to the city by car during peak times. "However, the alternative public service transport options are just not there at present. It would be far more effective to offer additional frequency of bus services. If people knew they could pick up a bus every hour they would be much more likely to use that service. "A loop service linking Castleconnell to Castletroy incorporating Annacotty and the university would also make a big difference and begin to see many more people making the switch from car to bus," said Senator Gavan, who resides in Castleconnell. He also made the same case for other commuter towns like Newport, Murroe and Caherconlish. "We are still awaiting publication of the new updated LSMATS which needs to far more ambitious than the first draft. It also needs to be published-its now getting on for two years since the first draft was made public. "To date weve had lots of talk but precious little delivery in terms of enhanced local transport option for Limerick commuters," concluded Senator Gavan. The money-transfer service boomed during the pandemic, when people avoided ATMs and replaced cash and checks with digital money transfers. Zelle recorded some 1.8 billion transactions in 2021 totaling $490 billion, both more than double their prepandemic levels. That growth has opened up new possibilities for Zelle and sparked a disagreement among the banks that own ita group that includes JPMorgan Chase & Co., Bank of America Corp. and Wells Fargo & Co. At the center of the debate is whether it is in the banks best interest to promote a payment option that competes with card networks Visa Inc. and Mastercard Inc., according to people familiar with the matter. Banks collectively earn billions of dollars each year from fees merchants pay when shoppers use credit and debit cards. A payment option that moves funds directly between shoppers and merchants bank accounts could chip away at that. But Visa and Mastercard set the fees and take some for themselves, and sidestepping the card networks would allow banks to set rules and fees on their own. Zelles newfound popularity has some bank executives asking if the service could be the way to do that. Wells Fargo and Bank of America are in favor of expanding the service to retail payments, according to people familiar with the matter, eyeing the popularity of such offerings in Asia. Bank of America customers made more Zelle transactions than wrote paper checks for the first time ever last year. Executives at JPMorgan, Americas largest bank, arent convinced it is the right time for a Zelle expansion and are urging first more focus on protecting consumers from fraud, the people said. U.S. Bancorp and Capital One Financial Corp. are undecided, they said. Banks in favor of the move could try it out on their own, but a vote from Zelles owners is needed before the service can be activated across all of the banks that use it, some of the people said. Seven banks own Early Warning Services LLC, the company that operates Zelle, and around 1,450 financial institutions offer Zelle to their customers. Some banks are reaching out to merchants to gauge interest in a pilot that would allow them to accept Zelle for online payments as soon as this year, the people said. How it would work, what to charge the merchants for the service and what incentives to offer consumers are all being debated, the people said. Zelle has already added features that serve businesses and is working with financial institutions to explore more opportunities," a spokeswoman for Early Warning Services said. There is no guarantee such a service would catch on in the U.S., where card payments reign supreme. Large merchants banded together several years ago to offer shoppers a pay-by-bank-account option, but the effort ultimately fizzled out. Past failures havent stopped companies from trying. Discover Financial Services recently partnered with a financial-technology firm to enable bank-account payments over its network. The popularity of pay-by-bank services such as Alipay and WeChat Pay in Asia has some banks and payments companies worried that a tech giant could swoop in and displace them. Zelle in 2019 began allowing shoppers to use the service at small businesses. Zelle saw a 162% increase in small-business payments in 2021 from a year earlier, Early Warning Services said. Meanwhile, three banks plan to launch a pilot that will allow people to use Zelle to send rent payments to a couple of large property managers, according to people familiar with the matter. Rent for years has been a sector that card networks have been trying to gain traction in without much success. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text Russia and Ukraine are willing to move forward with talks even though images of bodies found in the Ukrainian town of Bucha have stalled the process, a Turkish official said on Friday. "Both Russia and Ukraine are willing to hold the talks in Turkey but they are far away from agreeing on a common text," the official said. There are "some issues pending" including the status of the Donbas and Crimea regions as well as security guarantees, according to the official, who added there was no date fixed for the next round of negotiations. Turkey, which hosted talks last week between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators, has been mediating for an end to the conflict. On March 31, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu had said the Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers could meet within two weeks but the images that emerged from Bucha last weekend have cast a shadow on the peace talks, according to the Turkish government. Russia has accused Ukrainian negotiators of changing demands since the Istanbul talks, claiming that Kyiv was not interested in ending fighting. In return, Ukraine urged Russia to show it was ready for dialogue by lowering "hostility". This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. When the dinosaur-killing asteroid collided with Earth more than 65 million years ago, it did not go gently into that good night. Rather, it blasted a nearly mile-high tsunami through the Gulf of Mexico that caused chaos throughout the world's oceans, new research finds. The 9-mile-across (14 kilometers) space rock, known as the Chicxulub asteroid, caused so much destruction, it's no wonder the asteroid ended the dinosaur age, leading to the so-called Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) extinction. "The Chicxulub asteroid resulted in a huge global tsunami, the likes of which have not been seen in modern history," said lead researcher Molly Range, who did the research while getting her master's degree in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Michigan. [Image Gallery: Ancient Monsters of the Sea] Range and her colleagues presented the research, which has yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal, at the American Geophysical Union's annual meeting on Dec. 14 in Washington, D.C. And the research, first reported by EOS, is novel. "As far as we know, we are the first to globally model the tsunami from impact to the end of wave propagation," Range told Live Science. The idea for the project got started when Range's two advisors Ted Moore and Brian Arbic, both in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Michigan realized there was a glaring gap in the Chicxulub research field. Mainly, no one had published a global simulation of the tsunami the asteroid created. "It wasnt until starting this project that I realized the actual scale of this tsunami, and its been a fun research story to share," Range said. Getting to work The researchers knew that the asteroid hit shallow water in the Gulf of Mexico. But to correctly model its huge impact, they needed a model that could compute "the large scale deformation of the [Earths] crust that formed the crater, as well as the chaotic waves from the initial blast of water away from the impact site, and waves from ejecta falling back into the water," Range said. So, the group turned to Brandon Johnson, an assistant professor who studies impact cratering at Brown University in Rhode Island. Johnson ran a model detailing what happened in the 10 minutes following the impact, when the crater was nearly a mile deep (1.5 kilometers) and the blast was so powerful, there wasn't any water in the crater yet. "At this point, some water was moving back toward the crater," Range said. According to the model, "this water will then rush into the crater and then back out, forming the 'collapse wave.'" In a second model, the team studied how the tsunami propagated through oceans around the world. They did this by taking the results from the first model (particularly the crater shape) and the impact's waves with respect to resting sea level and water speeds, Range said. They then used data sets on the ancient terrain of the ocean, and used that to determine how the tsunami would have played out. The results show the effects of the tsunami were felt all around the world. [In Pictures: Japan Earthquake & Tsunami] "We found that this tsunami moved throughout the entire ocean, in every ocean basin," Range said. In the Gulf of Mexico, water moved as fast as 89 mph (143 km/h), she found. Within the first 24 hours, the effects of the tsunami's impact spread out of the Gulf of Mexico and into the Atlantic, as well as through the Central American seaway (which doesn't exist anymore, but used to connect the Gulf to the Pacific). After the initial nearly mile-high (1.5 km) wave, other huge waves rocked the world's oceans. In the South Pacific and North Atlantic, waves reached a whopping maximum height of 46 feet (14 m). In the North Pacific, they reached 13 feet (4 m). Meanwhile, the Gulf of Mexico saw waves as high as 65 feet (20 meters) in some spots and 328 feet (100 m) in others. To put that in perspective, the largest modern wave ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere was a "measly" 78 feet (23.8 m) tall, which struck near New Zealand in May 2018, Live Science previously reported. Hard evidence There's evidence that supports the models, Range said. According to the second model, fast-moving water from the impact likely caused erosion and sediment disruption in South Pacific, North Atlantic and Mediterranean ocean basins. In a separate study (which also has yet to be published), Moore examined sediment records across the ocean. His findings agree with the tsunami model, Range said. It can be hard to imagine such a cataclysmic tsunami, so the researchers compared it to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed at least 225,000 people. The two tsunamis were as different as night and day, they found. "Over the first 7 hours of both tsunamis, the [Chicxulub] impact tsunami was 2,500 to 29,000 times greater in energy than the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami," Range said. Of course, the giant tsunami wasn't the only event that did in the non-avian dinosaurs. The asteroid also triggered shock waves and sent a vast amount of hot rock and dust into the atmosphere, which rubbed together with so much friction that they started forest fires and cooked animals alive. These particles also hovered in the atmosphere and blocked the sun's rays for years, killing plants and the animals that ate them. Originally published on Live Science. Click here to read the full article. The Motion Picture Academys decision to ban Will Smith from Oscar ceremonies and events for 10 years as discipline for slapping Chris Rock is little more than an extended time out for a playground bully. Its a toothless penalty that lays bare the shallowness of Hollywood morals. At this point, the only person who can redeem the integrity of the Oscars is Smith himself. He needs to come to grips with the gravity of the offense he committed: slapping Rock, live on March 27 in front of millions on the Academy Awards stage. Smith needs to express-mail his golden trophy back to the Academy and publicly state something to the effect of: Out of respect for the 94 years of honor conferred upon this award, I do not in good conscience feel worthy of being its custodian. Of the many unsettling things said in the aftermath of the slap, the most galling to me was his reference to the influence of a higher power during his surreal acceptance speech after he won for his work in King Richard less than an hour after his act of violence and the Academys equally shocking decision not to eject Smith from the ceremony. In his rambling remarks, Smith said, 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, he said. This attempt to explain his actions added to the travesty of this ethical catastrophe. In couching his acceptance speech as somehow submitting to the will of God, Smith abdicated personal accountability. Smiths brutality stripped the entire evening of its prestige. That was proven when stunned Oscar attendees gave a standing ovation to someone whod just committed an assault in front of their eyes. With one deft blow, Will Smith created an existential crisis for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. The incident was such a jolt to societal norms that it will gnaw away at our national conscience until somehow properly atoned for. Smith, who resigned his AMPAS membership on April 1, was quick to accept his punishment when the 10-year ban was announced April 8. But there is more he should do. Given the coarseness of pop culture in the age of social media, it was no surprise that much of this years Oscar proceedings were frequently profane. But it is an insult to the honor of God to assign him any part of the tawdry episode. To argue that some deterministic force was at play is to deny the sad fact that the affair was purely human. To be sure, a grave moral failure occurred, but the psychology and philosophy that underpins this ongoing spectacle can very ably be explained as an act of free will. The stain on the Motion Picture Academy cannot be easily remediated. The only hope for a justifiable grace must involve Smith voluntarily returning his award for best actor. Veteran actor Harry Lennix, a member of the Motion Picture Academy and Television Academy, has been a steady presence in film and TV since the late 1980s. Recent credits include such series as Billions, Insecure, The Blacklist, 24 and Emily Owens, M.D. as well as features Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Man of Steel (2013), Chi-Raq (2015), Ray (2004), The Matrix Reloaded, Titus (1999) and The Five Heartbeats (1991). Lennix made his Broadway debut in 2007 in August Wilsons Radio Golf and starred in Wilsons King Hedley II at the Mark Taper Forum. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. YouTube will award $100,000 to the grand-prize winner of a new global talent show to find the next breakout gaming creator, hosted by U.K. YouTube gaming creator Ali-A. YouTubes uTure contest kicks off Saturday with a call for entries and the show will debut in June, letting aspiring digital stars compete in weekly challenges to win the top prize. The project demonstrates that YouTube, even after shuttering its original content group, wants to keep a hand in producing certain special-event programming. The uTure competition is the brainchild of Ali-A (Alastair Aiken), who has more than 25 million subscribers across his YouTube channels and specializes in gameplay videos of Fortnite and other titles. Judges for the contest will include Ali-A alongside Australian YouTuber Lachlan and the U.S.s LilSimsie. YouTube is home to tens of thousands of brilliant gaming creators who havent yet been discovered, Ali-A said in a statement provided by YouTube. Its my hope that uTure will give all these creative individuals their moment to shine and learn from gaming veterans in the space in front of YouTubes millions-strong global audience. Entries for uTure (rhymes with future) open Saturday at 1 p.m. ET. Those must be in English and submitted as a YouTube Short, the platforms TikTok-style vertical video format, of up to 60 seconds. Applicants must upload their video to YouTube Shorts using the hashtag #uTureShow, then submit it to uture.show for a chance to be featured on the show. Submissions close May 8. In June, the top 10 applicants selected from the entries will face weekly content-creation challenges over the course of nine weeks, hosted on a new, dedicated uTure channel on YouTube. Episodes will air twice a week (on Wednesdays and Saturdays), each showcasing a new challenge. Judges will score each contestant as well as provide feedback. Viewers will be able to vote for their favorite contestants at the uture.show website. However, the decision about who advances to the next round and who ultimately wins the whole thing will ultimately be at the discretion of Ali-A and the other judges. Were committed to nurturing unique and diverse talent by providing opportunities on an open platform with a truly global reach, said Lester Chen, global head of gaming creators at YouTube. Many of our brightest stars find ways to use gaming as a vehicle for storytelling and creative expression. (Pictured above: Ali-A) Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Now in its eighth year, Discover TAMIU makes its on-campus return Saturday, April 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. offering a robust 110-plus activities throughout its 300-acre campus. The university has set up a dedicated website with a full, downloadable program located at tamiu.edu/discovertamiu. The free, family-friendly event celebrates the excitement and discovery made possible at Texas A&M International University. Attendees are encouraged to bring their friends and family to enjoy a day full of fun, educational activities. Event activities offer something for everyone. Highlights include free showings at the Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium, activities on fire safety, the ever-popular Make Your Own Piggy Bank craft activity, a D.I.Y. lava lamp and much more. Music and dance sequences will also be performed by the TAMIU Ballet Folkorico, TAMIU Spirit Cheer and Dance, a Percussion Concert, a Brass Concert, a Single Reed Ensemble concert and more. Discover TAMIU follows five distinct, segmented Pathways that attendees can enjoy and explore. Through the Artistic Avenue Pathway, participants can enjoy activities dedicated to art, dance and music. Through the Spirited Speedway Pathway, individuals can learn more about campus life and Dustdevil traditions. Through the International U Pathway, families can learn more about the humanities, culture and social sciences. The Business Boulevard Pathway focuses on the role of business in the world. The final Pathway, Scientific Journey, encourages participants to learn more about science and STEM. Scheiby Gonzalez-Fisher, interim associate vice president for Student Success, lauded the event as an opportunity to engage with the university in a meaningful way. Children and their families should attend Discover TAMIU and enjoy a wide range of activities, ranging from musical sessions, performances, DIY crafts and more. Community members will have a chance to meet our gifted faculty and students while enjoying the universitys beautiful campus, Gonzalez said. Beverages and snacks will be available for purchase on campus at the universitys Food Court and Dustys Diner, both located in the Student Center. Starbucks will also be open, and is located on the first floor of the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library. For more information on Discover TAMIU, contact TAMIUs Office of Outreach and Pre-college Programs at 956-326-2700, email discover@tamiu.edu or visit offices in the Senator Judith Zaffirini Student Success Center, Room 138. University information can also be found throughout its social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube. TRENTON, N.J. (AP) Gas prices declined again in New Jersey and around the nation amid plans for the release of more oil from the federal Strategic Petroleum Reserve. AAA Mid-Atlantic says the average price of a gallon of regular gas in New Jersey on Friday was $4.12, down six cents from last week. Drivers were paying $2.90 a gallon on average a year ago at this time. A man has been arrested for punching his girlfriend and threatening her with a screwdriver, according to Laredo police. Aaron Alan Zavala, 27, was served with an arrest warrant on April 5 charging him with assault, family violence and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Laredo police officers responded to a disturbance reported on March 8 at the Tex Mex Credit Union on 1420 Cedar Ave. Officers met with a bank employee and a distraught female. The female stated she had gone to the bank along with her boyfriend, who was identified as Zavala. She was crying due to a verbal dispute with Zavala. He entered the bank lobby and began yelling at the female, accusing her of making a show in front of everyone. Bank employees then told Zavala to step out of the lobby because he was not wearing a mask. Irate, Zavala began yelling obscenities at the female and bank employees. The woman told police Zavala is very jealous and is always assaulting her at home. She added he has been physically abusive in their two-year relationship but would refuse to report him. The woman showed officers her right eye, where she had a large bump and bruise covered by makeup, according to the affidavit. She stated that on March 6, Zavala became enraged when she tossed a ball back to the next door neighbors yard and exchanged words with him briefly. Zavala then punched her in the face and in the back of her head. He then threatened her with a screwdriver. Then on March 8, Zavala started getting physical with her before entering the bank. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday that he is committed to pressing for peace despite Russian attacks on civilians that have stunned the world, and he renewed his plea for more weapons ahead of an expected surge in fighting in the countrys east. He made the comments in an interview with The Associated Press a day after at least 52 people were killed in a strike on a train station in the eastern city of Kramatorsk, and as evidence of civilian killings came to light after Russian troops failed to seize the capital where he has hunkered down, Kyiv. No one wants to negotiate with a person or people who tortured this nation. Its all understandable. And as a man, as a father, I understand this very well, Zelenskyy said. But we dont want to lose opportunities, if we have them, for a diplomatic solution. Wearing the olive drab that has marked his transformation into a wartime leader, he looked visibly exhausted yet animated by a drive to persevere. He spoke to the AP inside the presidential office complex, where windows and hallways are protected by towers of sandbags and heavily armed soldiers. We have to fight, but fight for life. You cant fight for dust when there is nothing and no people. Thats why it is important to stop this war, Zelenskyy said. Russian troops that withdrew from northern Ukraine are now regrouping for what is expected to be an intensified push in the eastern Donbas region, including the besieged port city of Mariupol that Ukrainian fighters are striving to defend. The president said those defenders are tying up a big part of the enemy forces, characterizing the battle to hold Mariupol as the heart of the war right now. Its beating. Were fighting. Were strong. And if it stops beating, we will be in a weaker position, he said. Zelenskyy said he is confident Ukrainians would accept peace despite the horrors they have witnessed in the more than six-week-long war. Those included gruesome images of bodies of civilians found in yards, parks and city squares and buried in mass graves in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha after Russian troops withdrew. Ukrainian and Western leaders have accused Moscow of war crimes. Russia has falsely claimed that the scenes in Bucha were staged. It also put the blame on Ukraine for the attack on the train station in Kramatorsk as thousands of people rushed to flee ahead of an expected Russian offensive. Despite hopes for peace, Zelenskyy acknowledged that he must be realistic about the prospects for a swift resolution given that negotiations have so far been limited to low-level talks that do not include Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelenskyy displayed a palpable sense of resignation and frustration when asked whether the supplies of weapons and other equipment his country has received from the United States and other Western nations were enough to turn the tide of the war. Not yet, he said, switching to English for emphasis. Of course its not enough. Still, he noted that there has been increased support from Europe and said deliveries of U.S. weapons have been accelerating. Just this week, neighboring Slovakia, a European Union member, donated its Soviet-era S-300 air defense system to Ukraine in response to Zelenskyy's appeal to help close the skies to Russian warplanes and missiles. Some of that support has come through visits by European leaders. After meeting Zelenskyy in Kyiv earlier Saturday, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said he expects more EU sanctions against Russia even as he defended his countrys opposition to cutting off deliveries of Russian natural gas. The U.S., EU and United Kingdom responded to the images from Bucha with more sanctions, including ones targeting Putin's adult daughters. While the EU went after the Russian energy sector for the first time by banning coal, it has so far failed to agree on cutting off the much more lucrative oil and natural gas that is funding Putin's war chest. Europe relies on those supplies to generate electricity, fill fuel tanks and keep industry churning. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson also made an unannounced visit to meet Zelenskyy, with his office saying they discussed Britain's long-term support. In Kyiv on Friday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented Ukraine's leader with a questionnaire marking the first step for applying for EU membership. The head of the blocs executive arm said the process for completing the questionnaire could take weeks an unusually fast turnaround though securing membership would take far longer. Zelenskyy turned introspective when asked what impact the pace of arms deliveries had for his people and whether more lives could have been saved if the help had come sooner. Very often we look for answers in someone else, but I often look for answers in myself. Did we do enough to get them? he said of the weapons. Did we do enough for these leaders to believe in us? Did we do enough? He paused and shook his head. Are we the best for this place and this time? Who knows? I dont know. You question yourself, he said. ___ AP photographer Evgeniy Maloletka contributed to this story. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) A jury acquitted two men of all charges in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer but couldnt reach verdicts against the two alleged leaders, a stunning defeat for the government after a weekslong trial that centered on an FBI sting operation just before the 2020 election. Whitmer's chief of staff critical was critical of Friday's outcome, saying that Americans are living through the normalization of political violence. Though Whitmer has not commented directly on the proceedings, she alluded to the trials outcome Saturday while speaking at the Michigan Democratic Party Endorsement Convention in Detroit. I have often been asked why the heck do I want to keep doing this job. And after yesterday Im sure we all have to ask that question maybe once or twice, she said. But heres the reason: Tough times call for tough people and we are going to get through this together. The trial's result was announced on the fifth day of deliberations, a few hours after the jury said it had been struggling to find unanimity on charges in the 10-count indictment. The judge told the panel to keep working, but jurors emerged again after lunch to say they still were deadlocked on some counts. Daniel Harris, 24, and Brandon Caserta, 33, were found not guilty of conspiracy. In addition, Harris was acquitted of charges related to explosives and a gun. The jury could not reach verdicts for Adam Fox, 38, and Barry Croft Jr., 46, which means the government can put them on trial again for two conspiracy charges. Croft also faces a separate explosives charge. They'll remain in custody. No juror spoke publicly about the mixed result. Obviously were disappointed with the outcome. ... We have two defendants that are awaiting trial and well get back to work on that, U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge said. Harris and Caserta embraced their lawyers when U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker said they were free after 18 months in jail awaiting trial. Family members moments earlier gasped and cried with joy when the verdicts were read. The arrests in Michigan came amid upheaval in the U.S. in 2020. The year had started with pandemic lockdowns then shifted to armed Capitol protests over COVID-19 restrictions ordered by Whitmer and other governors. By late May, anger over racial injustice and the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police erupted into demonstrations in cities nationwide. In a Grand Rapids courtroom, during 13 days of testimony, prosecutors offered evidence from undercover agents, a crucial informant and two men who pleaded guilty to the plot. Jurors also read and heard secretly recorded conversations, violent social media posts and chat messages. Ty Garbin, who pleaded guilty and is serving a six-year prison sentence, said the plan was to get Whitmer and cause enough chaos to trigger a civil war before the election , keeping Joe Biden from winning the presidency. Garbin and Kaleb Franks, who also pleaded guilty and testified for the government, were among the six who were arrested in October 2020 amid talk of raising $4,000 for an explosive to blow up a bridge and stymie any police response to a kidnapping, according to trial testimony. Prosecutors said the group was steeped in anti-government extremism and furious over Whitmers pandemic restrictions. There was evidence of a crudely built shoot house to practice going in and out of her vacation home, and a night ride by Croft, Fox and covert operatives to check the property. But defense lawyers portrayed the men as credulous weekend warriors, often stoned on marijuana and prone to big, wild talk. They said FBI agents and informants tricked and cajoled the men into targeting the governor. During closing arguments a week ago, Foxs attorney, Christopher Gibbons, said the plan was utter nonsense, and he pleaded with jurors to be the firewall against the government. Harris was the only defendant to testify in his own defense, repeatedly telling jurors absolutely not when asked if he had targeted the governor. I think what the FBI did is unconscionable," Caserta's attorney, Michael Hills, said outside court. "And I think the jury just sent them a message loud and clear that these tactics were not going to condone what theyve done here. He said Whitmer was never in any danger. Gibbons said the acquittals of Harris and Caserta demonstrated serious shortcomings in the government's case. Well be ready for another trial. ... Well eventually get what we wanted out of this, which is the truth and the justice I think Adam is entitled to, Gibbons said. Meanwhile, Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist said the outcome is disappointing. Whitmer's office released a tough reaction from the governor's chief of staff, JoAnne Huls. The plot to kidnap and kill a governor may seem like an anomaly. But we must be honest about what it really is: The result of violent, divisive rhetoric that is all too common across our country, Huls said. There must be accountability and consequences for those who commit heinous crimes. Without accountability, extremists will be emboldened. Deliberations resumed earlier Friday with a court employee handing jurors a large plastic bag containing pennies, known as evidence exhibit 291. The pennies were requested before jurors went home Thursday. Pennies taped to a commercial-grade firework were intended to act like shrapnel against Whitmer's security team, according to the government. The trial covered 20 days since March 8, including jury selection, evidence, final arguments and jury deliberations. Croft is from Bear, Delaware, while the others are from Michigan. Whitmer, a Democrat, wasn't a trial witness and didn't attend. She 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. A jury of six women and six men heard the case, as well as four alternates. Little is known about them. Citing privacy, Jonker ordered that they be only identified by numbers. Two jurors were dismissed during the trial because of illness. The jury pool was drawn from a 22-county region in western and northern Michigan that is largely rural, Republican and conservative. Several people were dismissed after saying they had strong feelings about Whitmer positive or negative or the government. Matthew Schneider, a former U.S. attorney in Detroit, believes prosecutors could have done a better job of learning about the backgrounds and personal views of some jurors who were called up near the end of the all-day selection process. The government had laid out its case. The jury didnt believe it, Schneider said of the verdict. Separately, authorities in state court are prosecuting eight men who are accused of aiding the group that was on trial in federal court. ___ Find APs full coverage of the Whitmer kidnap plot trial at: https://apnews.com/hub/whitmer-kidnap-plot-trial ___ White reported from Detroit. Associated Press reporters Sara Burnett in Chicago; David Eggert in Grand Rapids, Michigan; and Mike Householder in Detroit contributed to this report. Two men charged with public order after arguing about religion in the street have been afforded the opportunity to make a charitable donation in return for a strikeout. Adrian Dolinski, 27 Cluain Ard, Ardnacassa, Longford, and Sylvester Parczewski, 4 River Court, Great Water Street, Longford, appeared before Judge Bernadette Owens at last weeks sitting of Longford District Court. The court heard that, on March 12, 2022, on Great Water Street at 3.15am, Gardai were called to a disruption at an apartment. On arrival, Gardai spoke to two males who were highly intoxicated and became threatening and abusive. Gardai engaged with the two men who started to shout loudly. When cautioned about their behaviour and asked by Gardai to move on, the men failed to do so and were arrested and conveyed to Longford Garda Station where they were charged. They were released from custody when they sobered up. I dont know how they were when they left custody but time has a sobering effect, said court presenter, Sgt Mark Mahon. Solicitor for the accused men, Mr Frank Gearty, admitted it was a very serious matter that these two adults - family men - were aggressive on the street. Politics and religion should never be discussed after consuming alcohol, he said.They are two brothers in law and unfortunately they started talking about God. They got into a noisy argument about a technical issue with regard to belief and, unfortunately, it ended up on the street. And now these men who have otherwise not come to Garda attention find themselves in court. By the time they got to the Garda Station, they realised where they were and they have avoided this type of situation since. They are extremely sorry to everyone concerned. It was reported by a neighbour but it is a family matter, which only goes to show the danger of talking about religion in an intoxicated situation. Judge Owens noted that both accused men came before the court with no relevant previous convictions. It seems the combination of alcohol and a discussion trying to delve into a matter pertaining to religion got out of hand, she said. Im giving them the opportunity to pay 150 to the local branch of St Vincent de Paul. If paid, Ill strike out the charges. If not paid, they will be convicted and fined 150. The two men have six weeks to pay the charitable donation. A man accused of viciously assaulting another man on Granards Main Street last weekend has been refused bail at a special sitting of Longford District Court tonight. Calum Meade (24), Apt 3, Market Street, Granard, was arrested by Detective Garda Brendan Lynn this morning (Friday) and charged with threatening and abusive behaviour and section 3 assault causing harm. Giving evidence to the court tonight, Detective Garda Brendan Lynn told Judge Alan Mitchell the alleged assault took place on Sunday, April 3, 2022 at 1.55am on Main Street Granard. It is alleged that Mr Meade struck another main in excess of 20 times, knocking the injured party unconscious. The victim received facial injuries, a fractured orbital bone, several chipped teeth and multiple bruises as a result of the assault. There is also a build-up of fluid in his sinus area which may require surgery, the court heard. Detective Gda Lynn explained that Mr Meade was identified by an eyewitness who made a statement to Gardai. CCTV footage was also harvested from the area, allowing Gardai to identify Mr Meade. The CCTV footage captures Mr Meade knocking the injured party to the ground with a punch, said Detective Gda Lynn. He is then seen kneeling over the injured party who appears to be unconscious. He proceeds to punch him in the head in excess of 20 times. Detective Gda Lynn was of the opinion that if Mr Meade was released on bail, there was a possibility there would be other offences committed. Mr Meade attended at Granard Garda Station at 8.30am today and was arrested by Detective Gda Lynn at 8.44am. He was under the influence of an intoxicant and told us hed been drinking all night. I called a doctor and his detention was suspended for four hours as he was unfit for interview, said Detective Gda Lynn. He added that evidence was obtained from a number of members of the public who witnessed the event and expressed concern that, should the defendant be bailed on these charges, there may be an attempt to interfere with those witnesses. Detective Gda Lynn also told the court that the accused has acknowledged his role in the alleged incident. Solicitor for the defence, John Quinn, put it to Detective Gda Lynn that his client had volunteered himself to the station and cooperated in full with Gardai during questioning. He attended the Garda Station, Det. Gda Lynn confirmed, and he was detained. I cant say he cooperated initially but at the end of the day, yes. He has admitted his involvement but he said he didnt start this, said Mr Quinn. Yes, theres a witness who said there had been a verbal exchange. Also, an eyewitness described it as a jostling at the front door of the premises where the assault occurred, said Det. Gda Lynn. But the accused will say he was struck first and his wife was also struck, said Mr Quinn. Det. Gda Lynn confirmed that the accuseds partner had been "elbowed". Mr Quinn also suggested that any concerns that witnesses would be interfered with were unfounded due to the fact that Mr Meade had acknowledged his own part in the incident. He also stated that his client had taken up gainful employment in recent months and suggested that the case be dealt with by way of strict bail terms. Questioning Det. Gda Lynn on behalf of the state, Inspector Dave Jordan asked if the CCTV footage shows Mr Meade being struck first. That isnt captured on the CCTV but a witness provided a statement and Mr Meade has alleged he was punched in the back of the head, said Det. Gda Lynn. Evidence would lead us to believe after the jostling at the door, Mr Meade took it upon himself to assault the injured party who fell backwards to the ground. Mr Meade allegedly knelt over the injured party and proceeded to punch him excessively into the face. Judge Mitchell, upon hearing the evidence, asked Det. Gda Lynn why it took Gardai five days to arrest Mr Meade for this offence. Det. Gda Lynn explained that the injured party did not give a statement until yesterday evening because he spent Sunday in hospital and was unable to give a statement due to his pain. Judge Mitchell refused bail and remanded Mr Meade in custody until Tuesday, April 12, when he will reappear at Longford District Court. Man (20s) in 'serious' condition in hospital after late night Co Longford assault A man in his 20s is in a serious condition in hospital this afternoon after being allegedly attacked on the main street of a Granard during the early hours of this morning. CHIEF Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Tony Holohan has decided not to proceed with his secondment to Trinity College. The Limerick man was embroiled in controversy recently with the news on March 25, that he would take up a secondment as Professor of Public Health Leadership and Strategy, at Trinity College, Dublin. Both public and media scrutiny centred around his 187,000 per annum salary, to be paid by the Department of Health. Taoiseach Micheal Martin called for a pause and reassessment around the secondment, with the Government due to receive a report on the process, next week. However, today, Dr Holohan released the following statement: "I intend to retire as CMO with effect from 1 July to allow the Department of Health sufficient time to advance the process of appointing my successor. "I do not wish to see the controversy of the last few days continuing. In particular, I wish to avoid any further unnecessary distraction that this has caused to our senior politicians and civil servants." More than 27,000 raised in Longford mans motor neurone battle A public appeal to row in behind a Longford man's courageous battle with motor neurone disease has raised more than 27,000 local charities. He said that it was his "strong belief" that the secondment was a "significant opportunity" to work with the university sector to develop "much needed public health capacity and leadership for the future." In his statement, he thanked Trinity College and the Provost for their foresight and support in establishing this role. "Following my departure, I look forward to sharing my knowledge and expertise outside of the public service," he concluded. Local News, Business & Finance By Long Island Published: April 09 2022 HIA-LI Hosts Long island's Largest B2B Business Trade Show on Thursday, May 26 at Suffolk Community College in Brentwood Hia-LI's 34th annual trade show and conference features business leadership breakfast and more than 100 exhibitors. First-ever "Manufacturing Pavilion" focuses on special challenges facing Long Island's manufacturing sector. HIA-LI, one of Long Islands largest business advocacy organizations, is hosting its 34th Annual Business Trade Show and Conference on Thursday, May 26 at the Suffolk Federal Credit Union Arena at Suffolk County Community College in Brentwood. The event, running from 9:00am to 3:00pm, on Thursday, May 26 and is Long Islands largest business-to-business trade show. More than 100 exhibitors will represent a full spectrum of Long Island business sectors, including technology, energy and environment, manufacturing, finance, hospitality, healthcare, media and advertising, education, government, and workforce development. HIA-LI anticipates attendance by more than 4,500 business professionals from Nassau and Suffolk counties, and beyond. Three-quarters of these attendees are upper-management decision-makers. The trade show will feature an Executive Breakfast with a panel of prominent Long Island business leaders, as well as a full schedule of complimentary seminars and breakout sessions covering an array of business topics. In addition, sponsors and exhibitors will offer special offers, prizes, and promotions. The HIA-LI Trade Show Executive Breakfast will focus on regionally significant Long Island projects that have the potential to revitalize the areas economy. The breakfast takes place between 8:00am and 10:00am and will be moderated by Marc Herbst, Executive Director of the Long Island Contractors Association. Panelists will include Scott Burman, Principal with Engel Burman; John D. Cameron, Jr., Managing Partner of Cameron Engineering & Associates, LLP; Joe Campolo, Managing Partner at Campolo Middleton & McCormick LLP, and; Jim Coughlan, principal at TRITEC. Campolo and Coughlan are both HIA-LI board members. For the first time ever, this years HIA-LI Trade Show will feature a Manufacturing Pavilion focused on special issues facing Long Islands manufacturing sector, such as labor challenges, supply chain disruptions, automation, marketing, and employee training. Among topics to be addressed at the trade shows full agenda of complimentary seminars and breakout sessions are: Mastering the Art of Online Marketing; Developing Your Talent Pipeline; What Small Business Needs to Know in 2022; Avoiding a Cyber-Security Attack; Connecting Education to Business; among others. Each year, this show consistently presents more sales and networking opportunities for regional businesses than any other event on Long Island, said Terri Alessi-Miceli, HIA-LI President and CEO. You simply cant beat this kind of face-to-face, in-person contact for building valuable relationships and for generating new business. We are thrilled to be back at our usual venue at Suffolk County Community College and look forward to welcoming new and returning attendees. The tremendous variety of business exhibitors strongly reminds us of the great breadth and diversity of the Long Island economy, said Rich Humann, HIA-LI Board Chairman and President and CEO of H2M Architects and Engineers. A regional trade show of this magnitude elevates its attendees to an exciting, new level of business-to-business synergy. Its not to be missed. Attendees must pre-register by calling 631-543-5355 or by visiting www.hia-li.org to avoid the $10 same-day walk-in fee. Interested businesses can contact HIA-LI about exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities. CONAKRY, April 9 (Reuters) - The interim government of Guinea, the world's second-largest bauxite producer, on Friday asked international mining companies to present plans to refine their bauxite production into alumina within the country by May 2022. Africa's biggest producer of the aluminium ore has been seeking to channel its mineral wealth into economic development, pressuring companies in recent years to commit to building local facilities that will refine bauxite into higher value alumina. A junta that took power in a military coup in September has toughened the stance towards multinationals, ordering the suspension of all activities at a massive iron ore deposit last month to clarify how Guinea's interests would be preserved. The companies concerned by the alumina ultimatum, including Guinea's top two bauxite producers Societe Miniere de Boke (SMB) and Compagnie des Bauxite de Guinee (CBG), had all previously committed to developing local refineries, the interim government said. "The respect of basic agreements remains a non-negotiable for us," junta leader Mamady Doumbouya said during a hearing with company representatives broadcast on state television late on Friday. "You and I can no longer continue this fool's game that perpetuates great inequality in our relations," he added. The companies were asked to submit project proposals and a "precise timetable" for the construction of alumina refineries to the mines ministry by the end of May. "Penalties" will ensue if the deadline is ignored, Doumbouya said without providing further detail. SMB is owned by a consortium including Singapore shipping company Winning International Group, Shandong Weiqiao - a subsidiary of the world's top private sector aluminium producer China Hongqiao - and Guinea's UMS International. CBG is 51%-owned by consortium Halco Mining Inc and 49%-owned by the Guinean government. Rio Tinto and Alcoa Corp each hold 45% of Halco, while Dadco Investments holds the rest. he companies did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment outside regular business hours. (Reporting by Saliou Samb; Writing by Sofia Christensen; Editing by Sandra Maler) As part of Pollensas Easter Sunday procession, tradition has had it down the years that six or seven rifles are fired with cartridges. This Easter Sunday, there will be no shotguns, an amendment to Spains weapons regulations having prohibited the use of firearms for fiestas and similar events. This amendment was made in August 2020. Until now it hasnt had any impact. In fact, the amendment went more or less unnoticed. Coronavirus was preventing fiestas, people had more on their plate as it was, and little attention was paid to a legislative modification in Madrid. There will be less public knowledge of the use of firearms in Pollensa at Easter than on an occasion later in the year - the Moors and Christians battle in August. It was when arrangements were being made for the islands other big battle, Sollers in May, that the change to the law really became apparent. Soller has firearms as well. For Pollensas Moors and Christians, some thirty shotguns are fired in all. A solution is being sought, one being blunderbusses that are replicas from times past. These would also be more like the type of weapon that was used when the Moorish pirates invaded in the mid-sixteenth century. It still seems, though, that a special permit would be needed. The guns that have been used in Pollensa and Soller have basically been hunting rifles. These are now specifically outlawed. Soller town hall was officially notified earlier this week by the Spanish government delegation in the Balearics that these couldnt be used. An implication is that Pollensa only appreciated what was going (and which would affect Easter Sunday) once Soller had been informed. In Soller, there are apparently seventeen registered old-style weapons that conform to the new regulations. Normally, 34 shotguns are used. Pollensa would need to get hold of these blunderbuss type guns at a total cost of some 15,000 euros. It may be the case that the federal government in the USA is no longer giving out stimulus checks to support low-income and medium-income households, but states are organising new benefits programs themselves. For example, in New Mexico they've just passed a law to give out $500 Tax Rebate Checks. There are similar benefits schemes across the USA and, in our live blog this Saturday April 9th, we'll outline the details on several of them. So, stay right here for the latest information on how to save money! Tesla opens up shop Texas and receives massive tax breaks The recently opened Tesla Texas Gigafactory is located east of the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The company is ready to hire about 5,000 employees with an approximate salary of $47,147, while entry level collaborators will earn about $35,000. According to Reuters, Local government has corresponded and agreed to a huge tax break of millions of dollars, for the vehicle company, furthermore, the local school district voted in favor of allowing a tax break of $50 million. Pundits say that Americans are not likely to lose their homes if the real estate bubble snaps Odeta Kushi, Chief Economist at First American Title believes that two reasons why American homeowners will not lose their real estate assets are that the housing market is in a much stronger position than it was 10 years ago. Furthermore, there is more control over the standards of the loans. The Federal government has enacted the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act for consumers to avoid those rapacious lending practices that lead Americans to one of the worst economic crises in the last 30 years. Tax deadline 2022: Who should file a tax extension and why? File an Automatic Extension of Time to File US Individual Income Tax Return (PDF) (Form 4868) on or before the regular due date of your return. You must make a proper estimate of your tax for the year. If you do not make a proper estimate of your tax, you will be treated as not having filed a valid request for an extension and you may be charged a penalty for late filing. An extension of time to file is not an extension of time to pay. You do not have to pay any tax due with Form 4868. However, if you do not pay the amount due by the regular due date, you will owe interest on the unpaid amount. Possible gas stimulus check for all Americans Democrat lawmakers are pushing an initiative to grant stimulus checks for all Americans. The bill is not approved yet. Congress and the Senate want a gas stimulus payment to individuals earning $75,000 or less. For joint filers, lawmakers are trying to help couples who earn $150,000 or less. Dependents would be eligible for a $100 check per month. Individuals with an income between $75,000 and $80,000, will be eligible for stimulus funds, but with a reduction. A tool to ensure you file your taxes correctly With less than 10 days to go until the tax deadline, many Americans will spend part of this weekend filing their 2021 tax returns. It's worth keeping in mind that the IRS has a useful tool called the Interactive Tax Assistant. This can help clear up any doubts and ensure you don't pay the wrong amount. Oil executives questioned over gas prices With gas prices having risen in recent weeks, some of the USA's top oil executives were questioned about the increase at a sub-committee. The hope is that a solution can be found to help bring prices at the pump back down. "The American people are getting ripped off" the executives were told, as they were accused of "profiteering". Avoid delays with your 2022 tax refund For those who have already filed their taxes, they're currently waiting on their tax refund, if they are due one from 2021. There are some methods that you can try to speed up that process. One way of speeding up the tax refund process is to file your taxes electronically and have the money arrive via direct deposit, but that's not the only tip. You can read more here about how to get your tax refund quicker. Last chance for a third stimulus check Some people didn't actually receive their third stimulus check from the federal government and they're still entitled to claim that money, but only until April 18. As CNN reports, those who didn't get the right amount of money and who may be due more can also claim it over the next nine days. Appealing Medicare LCDs If you have been denied an item or service through a Medicare Local Coverage Determination (LCD), you might be able to appeal. You can appeal if you require the item or service that isn't covered by the LCD and if you're entitled to benefits under Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance), are enrolled under Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance), or both. You can read more here about how Medicare LCDs work. $500 Tax Rebate Checks in New Mexico The New Mexico Legislature has passed a bill that will give out $500 checks across two payments in the coming months. That is great news for all who file taxes in this state. New Mexicans who already filed or will file their income tax return for 2021 will get $500 as individual filers or $1,000 if they file jointly, with the first payment expected in May or June. You can read more here about the $500 Tax Rebate Checks that are coming in New Mexico. Child Tax Credit payments are due Between July and December of 2021, advanced payments of Child Tax Credit were sent out, in instalments of up to $300 per month. But, that was only half of the year's Child Tax Credit, with the remaining amount to be paid out this April. You can read more here on how and when that remaining amount of Child Tax Credit will be paid out. Prepare for the tax deadline by learning the difference between marginal tax rate and effective tax rate The tax deadline is coming up on April 18 and Americans are, therefore, trying to get their heads around some of the more complicated tax filing terms. That includes marginal tax rate and effective tax rate. Essentially, the marginal tax rate is different because this is the tax rate imposed on someone's last dollar of income, whereas the effective tax rate is the percent of their income that an individual or a corporation pays in taxes. You can read more here to learn about the difference between marginal tax rate and effective tax rate. Prenatal visits are found to be lowered with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic as per a study at the Georgia Tech's School of Economics, published in the journal Pediatrics. The study for the first time examined the pandemic-era birth data at scale. "While much more research needs to be done, including understanding how these changes affected fetal deaths and how doctors triaged patient care by risk category during the pandemic, these are significant findings that should spark discussion in the medical community," says Assistant Professor and lead author of the paper, Daniel Dench. Advertisement Premature births from Cesarian (C-sections) and induced deliveries are found to be lowered by 6.5% during the first month of the COVID-19 pandemic in an effort to contain the spread of the virus. At the 37th meeting of the Committee of Parliament on Official Language, Home Minister Amit Shah stated that Hindi should be accepted as an alternative to English. The Home Minister was quoted as saying by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Now the time has come to make the official language an important part of the unity of the country. When citizens of states who speak other languages communicate with each other, it should be in the language of India. And added, Unless we make Hindi flexible by accepting words from other local languages, it will not be promoted. Soon after Amit Shahs Hindi remark, a lot of people reacted strongly to it including a number of leaders from Tamil Nadu. Amid the controversy, Oscar winning music composer AR Rahman took to social media and shared a poster of Goddess Tamil without adding any comment to it. The poster has a goddess holding a staff with the Tamil letter 'a' (lazha) on it. The letter is unique to only Tamil language. Besides that, the poster also has 'Tamizhanangu' written on it along with a line from a poem by revolutionary poet Bharathidasan. The line reads, Inba Thamizh Engal Urimai Sempayirukku Vaer" (Delightful Tamil is the root of the staple crop of our rights). Check out AR Rahmans post below: AR Rahmans post went viral in no time and the music maestro is now trending on Twitter. Sharing ARRs post, one user wrote, So much love and respect for #ARRahman. The way he always takes a stand, when needed. Softly, but strongly. Another user tweeted, This man got no chill. While a third user wrote, #Guts Proud of you #ARRahman. Check out the reactions below: #ARRahman While recovering His Oscar Told a One liner in Tamil It's because He loves his Mother Tongue more than His Religion! Amit Shah too has the right to Speak in Hindi in any international Podium like UN But he won't be invited to speak there #AmitShah#stopHindiImposition https://t.co/WZKTKCJlUX MTvalluvan (@MTvalluvan) April 9, 2022 So much love and respect for #ARRahman. The way he always takes a stand, when needed. Softly, but strongly https://t.co/3d81khu7Av Nalan || (@nalanin1987) April 9, 2022 On the work front, AR Rahman has composed the music for the upcoming Tiger Shroff, Tara Sutaria & Nawazuddin Siddiqui starrer Heropanti 2 slated for April 29, 2022 release. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Mark Birdsall/Huron Daily Tribune Bad Axe Free Methodist Church hosted an Easter egg hunt on Saturday. Several lucky kids also won a new bicycle or a gift-filled Easter basket in a special drawing just prior to the hunt. File photo A 33-year-old man was extradited from Georgia on Thursday and lodged in the Gladwin County Jail on first-degree and second-degree criminal sexual conduct charges. Kurtis Dell was arraigned Thursday in Gladwins 80th District Court on the charges. He is held on a $200,000 cash surety bond. Dell is set for a preliminary hearing at 11:30 a.m. April 18. In the week of April 4-8, Unionville-Sebewaing Middle School held Kindness Week to encourage kids to be more positive toward others and themselves. Special education teacher Marci LaValley was inspired to organize Kindness Week by Vassar Community Schools, which had its own kindness week in January 2022. She pitched the idea to the principal and started planning the week in March. Activities during the week were centered around the students' interactions with each other. The biggest elements of the week were the sticky notes that students would put on each other's lockers, each with a different color to symbolize the day's theme. The principal also approved money to buy tokens of appreciation that the kids could help pass out. Monday was yellow, for kindness. Students were encouraged to give a positive comment to everybody they could and sit by someone new at lunch time, to hopefully make new connections in the student body. The token of the day was a jolly rancher for each student. Tuesday's color was green, for gratitude. The students all put green sticky notes on someone else's locker in their grade, thanking them for something they had done for them. Water bottles were passed out on that day. On Wednesday, pink was the color for self-love. On that day, the students put two kind sticky notes on their own lockers, to hopefully boost their self-esteem and confidence. Pieces of chocolate were the day's appreciation tokens. Thursday was orange, for helpfulness. This note, again, went on their own lockers, telling how they can help others or how anybody in their life has helped them. The students helped hand out apples. Friday was blue, for encouragement, and the students all wrote a compliment for someone else's locker in their grade. The final appreciation token for the week was a bag of popcorn. According to LaValley, the week was largely a success. In her own classes, her students were more grateful and wanted to volunteer to pass out the appreciation gifts each day. "I think the kids appreciated it and they learned stuff about the other kids by reading what was put on other people's lockers," she said. Waterbury Police Department / Contributed Photo WATERBURY Two motorcyclists are in critical condition after a crash with a car ejected them from their bikes Friday night, according to the Waterbury Police Department. Police were called to the crash on Homer Street around 7:30 p.m. One motorcyclist, identified as a 22-year-old man from Wolcott, was taken to Waterbury Hospital. An ambulance later took him to Yale Hospital in New Haven where he is considered to be in critical condition, police said Saturday morning. Since 2020, Navy SEALs have been unable to stealthily train at Washington state parks. That pause could become permanent if an April 1 ruling from state Superior Court Judge James Dixon is not overturned on appeal. Navy SEALs first began training at state parks in the early 1980s, and appeared poised to expand that use from five to possibly 17 parks or more under a motion approved by the state Parks and Recreation Commission in January 2021. It was a high-profile, controversial decision that drew hundreds of public comments. The SEALs training exercises are intended to be undetectable by the public. Critics have opposed the training as a kind of militarization of state parks and were upset about the idea that part of the exercises would have included surveillance of park activity. In a scathing verbal opinion from the bench, Dixon found that the Legislature never granted the authority to permit military uses of the state Department of Parks and Recreation. "It's not even a stretch. It just does not exist, either in real words, or by implication," Dixon stated in his bench ruling that found the commission in approving the Navy's use of the park was "outside its statutory authority." The judge also concluded the commission violated a state environmental law by not analyzing "the creep factor" referenced by plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging the Navy's use of the parks, according to an official transcript of the hearing made by a court reporter. "Over the past few days this court has spent some time trying to articulate another definition or phrase that might adequately describe the emotional impact ... something other than 'creep factor' because it's a long way from a legal term. But I can't find one. It is creepy," Dixon said. Washington state has long offered wide-ranging military training opportunities in the air, at sea and on land, and the judge's decision marked a rare moment when a state court set a limit to where such exercises can take place. " Washington laws are clear, and Judge Dixon just enforced them. Parks are not for military use," said Steve Erickson, litigation coordinator for the lawsuit plaintiff, the Whidbey Environmental Action Network. The decision could be appealed, but what happens next is unclear. The judge asked the attorney for the Whidbey Environmental Action Network to draw up a proposed order to implement his ruling from the bench. A draft will be circulated among litigants and submitted to the judge for his signature. Becki Ellison, executive assistant to the Parks and Recreation Commission, said the court's ruling will be reviewed. "We will post updates to our Navy webpage as information becomes available," Ellison said. In a Jan. 29, 2021, written statement announcing the 4-3 vote to approve the Navy use of state parks, the commission stated that permits to use parks will begin to be issued to the Navy "in the next few weeks." But Ellison said Friday that no permits have been issued and no Navy training is now occurring in state parks. SEALs are elite special operations forces. Navy officials say their request reflects the imperatives of finding more diverse and challenging areas to conduct important training that is not intended to be visible to visitors and will not interfere with the public's use of the parks. The training involves submersible vessels that navigate through offshore waters and unarmed SEAL team trainees in groups of six to eight who then make their way to shore, typically under the cover of darkness. Once on land, they conceal themselves for 24 to 48 hours to conduct surveillance, then depart by water. "These aren't the guys that are your Rambo guys. ... These are the guys who ghost into the environment and just disappear," Chief Warrant Officer Esteban Alvarado said at a November 2020 meeting of the state Parks and Recreation Commission. Opponents of the Navy's use of parks argued the Navy should find other coastal areas for the training. Navy spokesperson Joe Overton, in a written statement, said that no single site provides the full range of environments needed for training to be as realistic as possible. The Navy uses military as well as private and public properties where permissions have been granted. "With the State parks unavailable, the military members who need this critical training, which takes place only a few months each year, will have fewer options to hone their unique skills," the statement said. How to use the mindat.org media viewer Click/touch this help panel to close it. Welcome to the mindat.org media viewer. Here is a quick guide to some of the options available to you. Different controls are available depending on the type of media being shown (photo, video, animation, 3d image) Controls - all media types Zoom in and out of media using your mousewheel or with a two-finger 'resize' action on a touch device. Use the mouse or your finger to drag the image or the view area of the image around the screen. < and > at the left and right hand side of the screen move forwards and backwards for the other images associated with the media you selected. Usually this is used for previous/next photo in a gallery, in an article or in search results. Keyboard shortcuts: use shift + the left and right arrow keys. < and > in the bottom center are used for switching between the photos of the same specimen. Keyboard shortcuts: use the left and right arrow keys. > in the bottom center, raises the information box giving details and further options for the media, < at the top of this box then hides it. Keyboard shortcuts: use the up and down arrow keys. ? opens this help window. Keyboard shortcuts: use the H key or the ? key. Other keyboard shortcuts: 1 Fit image to screen 2 Fill screen with image 5 Display at full resolution < Make background darker > Make background lighter space Hide/dim titles and buttons Scalebar If the field of view (FOV) is specified for the photo, the scalebar appears in the left bottom corner of the viewer. The scalebar is draggable and resizeable. Drag the right edge to resize it. Double click will reset the scalebar to it's default size and position. If the scalebar is in default position, double click will make it circular. Controls - Video Video files have a standard set of video controls: - Reset to start, - Skip back, - Play, - Pause, - Skip forwards. Keyboard shortcuts: You can stop/start video play with the P key. Controls - Animation (Spin Rotation) Animation (usually 360 degree spin rotations) have their own controls: - enable spin mode. Note that while images are loading this option will not be available but will be automatically activated when the animation has loaded. Once active you can spin the image/change the animation by moving your mouse or finger on the image left/right or by pressing the [ or ] keys. The button switches to move mode so that you can use your mouse/fingers to move the image around the screen as with other media types. The button, or the P key will start playing the animation directly, you can interrupt this by using the mouse or finger on the image to regain manual movement control. Controls - 3D Stereoscopic images If a stereoscopic 3D image is opened in the viewer, the 3D button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "3D settings" menu. The 3D images can be viewed in several ways: - without any special equipment using cross-eyed or parallel-eyed method - with stereoscope - with anaglyph glasses. - on a suitable 3D TV or monitor (passive 3D system) For details about 3D refer to: Mindat manuals: Mindat Media Viewer: 3D To enable/disable 3D stereo display of a compatible stereo pair image press the 3 key. If the left/right images are reversed on your display (this often happens in full-screen mode) press the 4 key to reverse them. Controls - photo comparison mode If a photo with activated comparison mode is opened in the viewer, the button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "Comparison mode settings" menu. Several layouts are supported: slider and side by-side comparison with up to 6 photos shown synchronously on the screen. On each of the compared photos a view selector is placed, e.g.: Longwave UV . It shows the name of currently selected view and allows to select a view for each placeholder. Summary of all keyboard shortcuts Products Frontrunner Vaccine Will Affact the Price of Platinum Chloride (II) (PtCl2)-Powder - Market Trend CEO of Pfizer partner BioNTech says coming winter will be hard but by April, 300 million immunization units should be ready, which will have an impact on the global pandemic. 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Learn more knowledge about Lithium nitride from nanotrun website. Inquery us Hollywood's film academy on Friday banned Will Smith from attending the Oscars for 10 years after the best actor winner slapped presenter Chris Rock on stage at the Academy Awards ceremony 13 days ago. The board of governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences took the action at a meeting held one week after Smith pre-emptively resigned from the group over his outburst at the live, televised event. "The 94th Oscars were meant to be a celebration of the many individuals in our community who did incredible work this past year," academy President David Rubin and Chief Executive Dawn Hudson said in a statement. "However, those moments were overshadowed by the unacceptable and harmful behaviour we saw Mr. Smith exhibit on stage." In a statement, Smith said, "I accept and respect the Academy's decision." The actor has issued previous statements apologising to Rock, the Oscars producers, nominees and viewers. In addition to the Oscars, the film world's most prestigious awards, the board banned Smith from all other academy events and programs, in person or virtually, for 10 years. The group did not say, however, that he would be ineligible to be nominated for Oscars during that time. Smith's next movie, action thriller "Emancipation," about a man who escapes from slavery, had been set for release later this year. Credit: Reuters GNA Yaw Opoku Mensah BISHOP 08.04.2022 LISTEN It seems the recent comments of the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana on educational matters, most especially the Free SHS, is becoming one too many recipes to satisfy his disenchantment with the program. Not only that, but he has also taken contentment in factoid submissions, even in the commitment of his in-depth knowledge on educational issues. Prof. Addae-Mensah made several unfounded submissions in derailing the importance of Free SHS and acknowledging it as a disservice. He also described the countrys education system as vulnerable, and particularly the second cycle as gradually waning. This he attributed to the Free SHS policy and insisted that the policy has not yielded the desired impact. In the legal frame, when the law is ambiguously stated, there arises the need to seek clarification in the law court. So as in this context, the only medium he, Prof. Addae-Mensah can defend his submissions is to consider the facts and data available as such. It would have been face-saving for him to have sought the statistics available to acquit his opinions, which he seemingly didnt consider. Now, the data available in the archives of the Ghana Education Service and the Ministry of Education paints a positive trend in the education sector since the introduction of the Free SHS policy. The performance of students during this period has witnessed a significant milestone. Comparatively, for the past seven years (2015 2021), graduating students under the Free SHS policy has been vindicated by their performance in the WASSCE Exams. Since 2017, when the Free SHS policy was successfully introduced by the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government, not only has it provided financial relief for parents, it has historically increased access to SHS from approximately 880,000 in 2016 to well over 1.2 million learners. With this, the WASSCE results over the past two years of Free SHS students show that quality is not compromised. It is worth mentioning that the WASSCE results of candidates from 2021 who are pioneers of the Double Track School calendar introduced in 2018 show that their performance is the second-best in the past 7 years. (2015 2021). This points to the fact that the double-track school calendar was a game-changer in allowing more students to have access to Free Quality SHS education without compromising quality. According to WAEC, the average Aggregate Percentage of passes (A1C6) in core subjects (English, Mathematics, Integrated Science, and Social) indicates that over 50% of candidates consistently attained A1C6 in the four core subject areas between 2017 and 2021. Significant to note is that the 2020 and 2021 (Free SHS candidates) attained 60% in aggregate percentage passes in the core subject areas. With this succinct analysis, you dont need to be an illustrious academic to comprehend that Free SHS investment is paying off. Regardless of its challenges, the policy is satisfying its purpose as required. Prof. Addae-Mensah should give credence to the facts and data available before any submission with regard to the Free SHS flagship program. Hate it or like it, the policy remains a game-changer in the education sector since the fourth republic. BY Yaw Opoku Mensah, Deputy PRO, Ministry of Education An helicopter belonging to the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) reportedly made an emergency landing at an elementary school just outside of central business district of Accra on Thiurdday. There were no injuries and the military colour and symbols helicopter did not crash, according to report but it landed on a field and the school was not damaged. Information available to DGN Online indicates that GAF helicopter was returning from Takoradi in the Western Region when it made an emergency landing near a school field in the Ga South Municipal area that afternoon due to bad weather. The helicopter has attracted curious pupils from their classrooms to the field where efforts were made to get it flown out. Students of West End University College and some residents came out of their homes to catch a glimpse of the helicopter as it hovered over their homes in search of a place to land. Meanwhile, officials are tight-lips about more information on what caused the emergency landing. ---DGN online National Communications Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi has lambasted Vice President Dr. Bawumia for being insincere about how Ghanas economy has deteriorated under his watch. Speaking in a discussion on TV3 on Saturday, April 9, 2022, the NDC Communicator insisted that the recent address delivered by the Vice President on the state of the economy was full of falsehood backed by cooked data. He said after mismanaging the Ghanaian economy for the past five years, it is sad Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government are refusing to accept responsibility for the mess. I couldnt listen to the live address by the Vice President but I have taken time to read the 129-page speech he delivered. After I did so, I felt sad for this country because we have a vice president who is very insincere and deceitful. The Vice President who is not willing to accept responsibility for his own economic mismanagement and the failings of this government, Sammy Gyamfi said on the Key Points show. The NDC communicator argued, That 129-page speech is full of blatant falsehoods and a litany of excuses that do not hold water. The use of cooked figures and false statistical data to create an impression this government has done better when the true facts rather show that this country has had its economy deteriorated in the last five years. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on Thursday, April 7, 2022, addressed several issues of the economy while speaking at the National Tertiary Students Confederacy (TESCON) Training and Orientation Conference at Kasoa in the Central Region. Among other things, the Vice President stressed that although the country is experiencing challenges with Ghanaians going through unbearable hardships, things are better compared to the erstwhile John Dramani Mahama administration. Even though the NDC is no longer in power, in the past, the ex-government of John Mahama was involved in many corruptible activities which affected the country, one of them is taking the salaries of people that dont exist. One of the commonest frauds in many companies and other places throughout Ghana is payroll fraud, whereby accountants facilitate malicious wage theft by paying monies to employees that dont exist. Known as ghost employees, these fraudulent acts affect the country and the unemployed. The NDC government even though did very well on developmental issues, many of the party's politicians were involved in corruption that affected the country. Both the NDC and NPP politicians are likely receiving double salaries because the former Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, who was officially signed on to investigate and prosecute politicians, including the Members of Parliaments taking double salary was intercepted, by who? While Amidu was the Special Prosecutor, he was frequently attacked by the media and Ghanaians, as corrupt and incompetent, without any slight idea that it was the president, Nana Akufo Addo, who was restricting him from doing the work in the right manner. For example, everyone knows that Amidu was investigating double-salary politicians in the country but nobody knows that the Member of Parliaments double salary criminal investigation file was in the hands of the Attorney-General and never by the Special Prosecutor. As concerned Ghanaian citizens, we need to ask ourselves why even though some Members of Parliament were on a double salary scale fraud, why did the Attorney-General refuse to give the file to Amidu? That means there are some NPP politicians also involved. This is the way Ghana is run under corruption and fraud, while the same people go to the church and mosques to pray daily for the progress of Ghana. According to Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, Ghana loses close to US$3 billion to corruption annually, yet nobody has ever been prosecuted. Akufo Addo has failed in the fight against corruption since he has many corrupt politicians in his government. However, if he wants people to take him seriously, he must hold the bull by its horns to wrestle it down. Any politician, whether NDC or the NPP found involved in double salary fraud, should be prosecuted and be jailed to serve as a deterrent to others. Else, the fight against corruption in Ghana will be meaningless. A total of one hundred(100) entrepreneurs in the construction sector have received start-up tools to help them start and also boost their businesses. The support is made up of Hammers, chisels spade, tape measure, pinch bars, levels, brushes, rollers, tile cutters, hand saws, block/jack planes, putty knives, welding machines, safety glasses, hand gloves, rubber boots, wooden floats, crowbars, masonry trowel, among others. The initiative forms part of the Pathways for Sustainable Employment for Women and Youth (PASEWAY) project, implemented by the Regional Advisory Information and Network Systems (RAINS) in collaboration with Plan International Ghana and Plan International Germany funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Corporation and Development. The Start-up tools are linked to the completion of mandatory six-month training on technical skills and a career guidance program by the beneficiaries. They included 61 female and 39 male construct-preneurs and aimed at increasing youth access to employment in the construction sector in Ghana. Globally, the issue of youth unemployment continues to pose a challenge to governments and development partners. In Ghana, despite recent economic growth recorded, youth unemployment continues to persist, PASEWAY project, therefore, seeks to empower young people so that they can successfully find employment or set up their businesses in the construction sector. The project is also expected to contribute to formal youth employment in decent work by 2023 and in fulfillment of SDG 8 which highlights decent work and economic growth. It is being implemented in the Tamale Metropolitan and Sagnerigu Municipal areas, with a total of 1, 240 young people within the 15-35 age group beneficiaries. The project area includes Tilling, Electrical, Plaster of Pari (POP), Plumbing, Aluminium & Glass Fabrication, Steel bending, Welding, and Carpentry. In his remarks, the Project Coordinator, Mohammed Kamel Damma, said the support for youth entrepreneurs was an important milestone towards the achievement of RAINS' strategic objective of Diversifying Employment and Livelihoods options. He further added that the start-up package was one of the strategies employed by the project to better equip the youth to develop the knowledge, skills, and creativity needed to function effectively in the job market. Madame Lardi Francisca Yabaani a beneficiary of PASEWAY and the start-up tools in an interview, expressed satisfaction with the support package. She said the support was timely; as it will enhance access to employment. I have lost job opportunities because of the lack of tools." She was optimistic about the future following the support she has received, and thanked the donor (BMZ) and RAINS, for the tools. About RAINS Established in 1992 in Northern Ghana, the Regional Advisory Information and Network Systems (RAINS) is a national development and advocacy organization. RAINS engages the government on policy reform matters and have a long history and experience in working with communities, other CSOs, and development agencies in Ghana. Since its formation, the organization has focused on improving the quality of life, particularly for children and youth, women, and girls in Northern Ghana. Over the years RAINS has contributed to ensuring that more girls in Northern Ghana are educated and protected from exploitation. Malawi journalist Gregory Gondwe was recently detained by police, who questioned him about his sources for a recent article on alleged corruption. Photo: Platform for Investigative Journalism 09.04.2022 LISTEN Lusaka, April 8, 2022 Malawian authorities should cease harassing journalist Gregory Gondwe, drop any attempt to force him to disclose his sources, and reform the countrys laws so they are not used to censor the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On March 30, the privately owned news website Platform for Investigative Journalism, where Gondwe works as the managing director, published an article alleging that the countrys attorney general had approved payments to a businessman for contracts that were previously cancelled due to alleged fraud. On Tuesday, April 5, police in the commercial capital, Blantyre, detained Gondwe for about six hours and demanded he reveal his sources for that article, according to news reports, a statement by the local chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa press freedom group, and the journalist and his colleague Golden Matonga, both of whom spoke to CPJ via messaging app. Police also searched the PIJs office and confiscated Gondwes cellphone and laptop, forced him to disclose his passwords, and then returned his devices the following day, according to the journalist. Malawian authorities must respect journalist Gregory Gondwes right to cover corruption allegations freely, stop harassing him and his family, and drop any attempt to force him to reveal his confidential sources, who he is ethically bound to protect, said Angela Quintal, CPJs Africa program coordinator, in New York. The police should cease all attempts to criminalize investigative journalism and whistleblowing, and authorities should overhaul laws that are an impediment to press freedom. After the March 30 article was published, Gondwe said that Attorney General Thabo Nyirenda had asked him to disclose his sources and, when the journalist refused, said he would get the information by other means. On Monday, police called Gondwes younger sister while she was traveling and told her to abandon her trip so they could question her; when his sister submitted to questioning, officers asked about Gondwes whereabouts, saying they wanted the journalist to lead them to a suspect in a crime, the journalist told CPJ. Gondwe said that when he called the police and asked how they acquired his sisters phone number, an officer said they had accessed their phone records, and reiterated that they wanted to speak with him about a criminal suspect. The following day, Gondwe met a group of police officers at PIJs office, he said. He told CPJ he offered to bring the officers inside the office, but they declined and brought him to a nearby car, introduced him to other police officers, and showed him a court sanctioned warrant to search the premises and confiscate electronic devices in pursuit of the source for that March 30 story. Gondwe told the police he would only speak to them in the presence of a lawyer; the officers proceeded to search the PIJs office and brought Gondwe to a local police station where he was held for about six hours, questioned in the presence of his lawyer, and then released without charge, he said. When police returned his devices the following day, Gondwe said he could see that some of his emails and WhatsApp messages had been read. I am not sure of how much information they mined from the confiscated gadgets. Even when I am in the process of replacing them, I really dont feel safe, he told CPJ. Gondwes lawyer, Joseph Lihoma, told CPJ by messaging app that his client had not been charged, but police were still investigating the case. The warrant for the April 5 search, which CPJ reviewed, states that Gondwe is accused of spamming, pertaining to the illegal transmission of information online, under Section 91 of the Electronic Transaction and Cyber Security Act of 2016, which carries a fine of 2 million Malawian kwacha (about US$2,500) or imprisonment of up to five years for convictions. Nyirenda told CPJ via messaging app that he had apologized for Gondwes detention and questioning, and that he had no idea police were going to detain the journalist and confiscate his devices. When asked about Gondwes claim that Nyirenda had threatened to find other means to disclose the journalists sources, Nyirenda said that was water under the bridge. In a statement, the Media Institute of Southern Africa also said that Nyirenda had apologized, and that he had committed to a government review of archaic laws that restricted media freedom. Nyirenda told CPJ that he did not have the power to make police drop their investigation into Gondwe, saying, All I can do as attorney general is to appeal to them to drop those investigations and allow the press to enjoy their freedom. Police spokesperson James Kadadzera said in statement that Gondwe had not been arrested but had been interviewed in connection to an ongoing investigation into that news article and other related issues. Kadadzera told CPJ via messaging app that he could not disclose further details about the case to avoid jeopardizing the legal process. He said he was unaware of Gondwes suspicions that his devices were tampered with while in police custody. Chief government spokesperson Gospel Kazako said the government would investigate the circumstances of Gondwes detention, according to reports. Private legal practitioner, Justice Abdulai has returned to the Supreme Court seeking a review of the recent ruling on the Deputy Speaker's right to vote while presiding over proceedings in the absence of the main Speaker of the House. In the ruling authored by Justice Yonny Kulendi, the seven-member panel of the Supreme Court on March 11, 2022, held that the 1992 Constitution does not place any restriction on a Deputy Speaker from being part of the quorum for decision making, and voting on matters for determination. To cause a member to forfeit their vote in Parliament merely on account of having to preside over the business of the House in the Speakers absence would unfairly disenfranchise not only the presiding member but also their constituents. Such an interpretation would likely give rise to certain perverse outcomes. For example, it could lead to opportunistic absences by a Speaker or one of the other Deputy Speakers, as an absence would mean a vote loss by the presiding member and their party, the court held. After carefully reviewing the decision, Justice Abdulai has applied for a review from the Supreme Court. In his application, Justice Abdulai argues that apart from the legal grounds stated on the motion Paper of this Application, the Law and practice of the jurisdictions referred to in the judgment do not, in fact, support the position of Ghana as declared by the Ordinary Bench of the Court. That on account of the foregoing, I believe that the judgement of the Court would have been different if the errors of Law stayed on the motion paper were duly avoided. That I believe the errors of Law referred to, amount to exceptional circumstances that led to a grave miscarriage of justice on the people of the Republic of Ghana, parts of the review application from Justice Abdulai reads. It concludes, That I accordingly pray that the Court reviews its judgement dated 11th March 2022, on the legal ground stated on the motion paper, and on grounds of the facts stated in paragraphs 7 above. A British Airways commercial flight that was headed for Accra from London was compelled to make a detour on Friday, April 8, 2022, due to the closure of the airspace in Bamako, Mali. A statement released by the Ghana Airports Company Limited said all passengers have been duly informed about the development. Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), wish to inform the general public that British Airways has reported that its Flight BA 081 outbound flight (London-Accra) was unable to land in Accra on Friday, April 8, 2022, due to the Airspace Restrictions in Bamako, Mali. Consequently, the BA flight had to return to London. British Airways has informed its passengers accordingly, the statement said. According to the Ghana Airports Company, the development means that British Airways will operate 2 flights on Saturday, April 9, 2022. British Airways Passenger Handling and Ticketing staff will be available this evening, Saturday, April 9, 2022, to offer assistance to affected passengers and also direct those who have been rebooked onto their carriers, the statement added. British Airways in a letter to passengers indicated that alternative arrangements were being made to ensure their arrival in Accra. ---citinewsroom Congress leader Sachin Pilot met Rahul Gandhi in Delhi on Friday triggering a political buzz. Sources say that Pilot apprised Gandhi of the situation in the state after the Karauli incident in Rajasthan and discussed other political issues with the former party president. Pilot, who is eyeing a comeback in the state politics since he revolted against the Ashok Gehlot government, is likely to be entrusted an organisational role very soon. The BJP has been on attacking mode since the clashes broke out between two groups in Karauli. The state government has claimed that it has taken strict action but the Opposition is continuing with its attacking stance. The BJP on Friday said that it seems like "there is Taliban rule in the state". Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, Rajasthan BJP president Satish Poonia said that due to the "appeasement politics of the Gehlot government it looks like there is Taliban rule in Rajasthan". "The appeasement policy of the Chief Minister clearly indicates that he himself has created a divide in the name of majority and minority. If you look at the track record of the last three years, you will find that the Rajasthan's majority community are hesitant to celebrate their festivals, they are afraid," Poonia added. Hungary's voters gave an overwhelming fourth mandate to incumbent Prime Minister Viktor Orban on 3 April. But critics and observers say that state control of the media, misinformation and a lack of democratic tradition played crucial roles in the victory for Orban's extreme-right Fidesz party. As France gears up for its own elections, what can it learn from observing its fellow European member? On the iconic Hosok Tere (Heroes Square) in Budapest stands a temporary, cube-like structure of black cloth, reminiscent of the Kaaba in Mecca, overlooked by the pillar of the Millennium Monument with its statues of the seven Chieftains of the Maygar tribes Hungary's founding fathers on horseback. A meters-wide television screen on one of the sides of the structure shows a gesticulating politician in black and white, their face not visible. Loudspeakers blare harsh rhetoric: it's the voice of Hungary's strongman Orban uttering sentences, played in first in regular speech then in reverse, adding to the surrealist feel. "It's a video protest, against tyranny," explains Adamko David, the artist who created the project. Inside the tent, a smaller screen shows pictures from a century of Hungarian history which is dominated by autocrats and a population which at times revolts, but in the end seems to give up resistance. "And there we are today, here we are again," says a commenter's voice. Adamko set up his Onkeny - Tyranny project just a week before the elections on 3 April. "The main question behind this is why Hungarian society always moves towards autocracy. Over the last 150 years, autocratic regimes have ruled Hungary. Only just for a few moments did we turn to democracy." 'Post-modern autocracy' The fact the government allows artistic, political protest in the centre of Budapest only means the dictatorship grew more subtly, says Adamko. "It is a post-modern autocracy. It is not repressive; they don't put people like journalists in jail. It's Europe, they can't do that." Russian economist and author Sergei Guriev, who lives in exile in Paris after running into trouble with authorities in Moscow, has coined a term for Orban-style post-modern autocrats: 'spin dictators'. In the book Spin Dictators the Changing Face of Tyranny in the 21st Century, which he co-wrote with political scientist Daniel Treisman, Guriev argues that modern dictators differ from their 20th century predecessors. "In the 20th century there was a traditional model based on ideology, repression and fear," he says. Notorious dictators such Hitler and Stalin "would terrorise the population into submission". But today's autocrats are 'spin' dictators who try to remain popular "through the manipulation of information and cooptation by the elite", resulting in far less repression. It is not that the opposition is not allowed to try. Over the past eight years, opposition parties in Hungary struggled hard to find a way to fight the Orban machine and break the stranglehold of the Fidesz party on society an impossible task, as proven again by the results of last week elections, when Fidesz won an outright two-thirds parliamentary majority. "We have been fighting together for democracy for a long time," Budapest vice-mayor Tutto Kata, a leader of the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP), told RFI. "We tried different ways to defeat Mr Orban four years ago, but it didn't work." MSZP is one of six political groupings of diverse colours that formed the opposition United for Hungary coalition, which then launched economist Peter Marki-Zay as their candidate to defeat Fidesz. But another four years of compromises and coalition building didn't help. "We have to form a community of the opposition parties and of the voters." There were some small successes, including winning the Budapest City Council and inroads in other big cities. But the big prize, the premiership of Hungary, keeps on eluding the opposition. Monster win "All the polling institutions predicted that Fidesz would win," muses Mraz Agoston, founder of the government owned Nezopont Intezet, heralded by Orban as "the first Hungarian think-tank modelled after its Western peers." "And clearly it was a huge victory. But nobody predicted that it would be a two-thirds majority, which is necessary to change the constitution." According to Mraz, it was Orban himself who pulled Fidesz towards the monster win. "The popularity of Viktor Orban was always higher than the support for Fidesz." And that resulted result that was 3.5 percent higher than any poll predicted, he says. But unlike countries such as France, where media covering the elections is obliged to give equal airtime to political candidates, opposition figures in Hungary are rarely shown on the mostly state-controlled press. "Hungarian state television is financed from a yearly budget that is double the budget of the two largest private channels combined," Gulyas Janosz, head of a communications company in Budapest, told RFI. "State television has managed to invite 18 opposition politicians over the past four years. In that context the opportunity for the opposition to convey its messages is very limited." "Viktor Orban's idea of politics is that he needs to control a certain part of the media," says Szabolcs Panyi, a research journalist with the crowd-funded independent online publication Direkt36. "This is because he faced election losses in the 1990s and the 2000s, and from that he learned that what matters most is a favorable coverage in the media." Tight controls According to Tutto, the vice-mayor, "500 media outlets are controlled by Fidesz. The public media don't serve the public interest," she says, "they absolutely serve Fidesz' interest." Szabolcs adds that it's been Orban's "mission, for years, to establish a pro-government media empire". One way to achieve that was for Orban to urge state-owned banks to "give loans to businessmen connected to the government, who then used that money to buy up media outlets," and control editorial content. Mraz, of the Orban-friendly Nezopont institute, plays down the allegations. "Our data show that 6.8 million citizens can be reached by the liberal media, and the same amount by the conservative press." According to Mraz, "being pro-government is a tradition for Hungarian public media", adding this was already the case before Orban took office. "But that doesn't mean that the liberal, leftist and opposition media cannot send their messages to the citizens," he says. But in practice, Orban is the master of the airwaves. He capitalised on his omnipresence in the press after the Russian invasion into Ukraine briefly threatened his popularity. The opposition tried to capitalise the occasion, telling voters they had the choice between "a Hungarian Putin" or "Europe". But just days after the start of Moscow's military adventure, Orban played down his support for Putin, and started presenting himself as the "candidate for peace". He counter-attacked, saying that a vote for the opposition would mean "dragging Hungary into the conflict". The Orban-controlled press carried the message into the far corners of the country. It worked. "I was helping refugees from Ukraine in the countryside," relates Orosz Monika, who also worked as an election monitor for the opposition. "Many old people said [the war] 'was caused by the other party'. Orban doesn't want to go to war, it is because of the other party." What do Fidesz' voters say themselves? "It's the war," explained Alexandra, a 77-year-old Fidesz voter interviewed by RFI on election day, echoing Orban's words that Hungary should stay out of the conflict. "We are a small country. We can't change anything. It is up to the superpowers. I'm old enough to see that." Adriana, a woman in her twenties, says: "It's always hard to experience change. I feel like the current status is better than the unknown. So that's why I just stayed at a safe place." On 4 April, the day after the elections, the verdict of some election observers was harsh. A total of 906 international observers were officially registered with Hungary's Election Commission, including representatives of the US British and Japanese embassies, NGO's like the right-leaning Judicial Watch, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) "Issues in the pre-election day period, including shortcomings and gaps in the legal framework, tilted the playing field in favor of the ruling coalition," according to the report of the European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO). Deep polarisation "The legal framework necessitates an overhaul, as to address observed issues and improve conditions for holding democratic elections said Dritan Taulla, head of the ENEMO mission, who also told RFI that he worried about the monopoly of the state-owned press which heavily favored Orban's party. "The campaign was mostly characterized by lack of constructive discussions, failing to provide the public with meaningful information, as well as deep polarisation," added political and campaign analyst Dmytro Tuzhanskyi, quoted by ENEMO's website. The site also complained that women were "generally underrepresented in politics and the legislative body of Hungary" and that "domestic civil society organisations are not allowed to observe elections". Yet the overwhelming victory for Orban means that his ruling Fidesz party will dominate Hungarian politics for four more years. "It is a very strong mandate for Mr Orban," says Mraz of the pro-Orban Nezopont thinktank. "Nobody can question this mandate, it was a democratic, free and fair election with a very clear result. "And with it, I think we'll be very influential in the 'new right' of Europe, together with the [right wing-parties of] Poland, Spain, Portugal and Italy." But many remain unhappy with the result. "It was quite depressing and shocking," says Adamko David, the video artist. "I was a bit too optimistic. I am surprised. I think it is sad. It is really sad about what's going on here." "Now, they will continue what they were doing. We will be more separated from Europe, we will go more to the system of Vladimir Putin. It's similar. It's parallel." Dr George Yaw Marfo, Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) Training School has said the institute is ready to offer tertiary courses in electronics waiting for approval from the Ministry of Energy. Dr Marfo in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Tema said they desired to get the green light from the Ministry and other relevant regulatory institutions for the school to begin tertiary courses. He said the school was properly resourced to venture into degree programmes, adding that we are now counting on our ministry to give us the go-ahead, to be able to start those programmes. According to him, the process started a long time, but was yet to get the approval, stating that they however understood the delay because the ministry would have to take their time to delve into it as it was not the core mandate of the ECG Training School. The Director of the school disclosed that their premises was being used by other institutions such as the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) for their tertiary programmes, an indication that they were ready to run similar ones by themselves. He said when approved, they would start with electrical and electronics engineering degree awarding courses and would then consider adding up other sectors such as project management. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Energy in 2018 indicated its readiness to support ECG to transform its training school into a tertiary institution of excellence to position it to offer training for electrical and electronic engineers in the country. The then sector Minister, Mr Boakye Agyarko indicated in a speech during the Company's 50th-anniversary celebration stressing that upgrading the school would play a major role in building the capacity of staff and the country's local expertise. The ECG Training School located in Tema was established in 1972 and currently run certificate and diploma courses in all forms of electrical training. It trains officers of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCO), the various mines, and all electricity companies in West Africa. Members of the public who also want to be certified by the Energy Commission, also receive training and sit for the exams at the school. GNA French citizens in Shanghai will be unable to vote at a city polling station in Sunday's first round of the presidential election, France's embassy in Beijing said on Friday. This due to the city's strict Covid-19 lockdown rules. Until March, China had kept cases low with snap lockdowns, mass testing and travel restrictions, but more than 100,000 cases have been reported in Shanghai since March in a test of the country's strict zero-Covid policy. The city's roughly 25 million inhabitants were locked down in phases last week, prompting complaints of food shortages and viral videos of disgruntled residents clashing with officials. Shanghai reported more than 23,000 new infections on Saturday -- mostly asymptomatic, accounting for more than 90 percent of new domestic infections in the country. Repeated approaches to Chinese authorities seeking permission to open the polling station inside the city's French consulate, and for voters and polling officials to be allowed to leave their homes, were rejected, the embassy said, ahead of Sunday's election. Complicated situation "Unfortunately, it was answered by the Shanghai authorities on April 7 that 'given the serious and complicated situation in Shanghai, it is objectively impossible to fulfil the conditions for the organisation by your consulate of the election, for the security of all people residing in Shanghai'," the embassy said on its WeChat social media account. Neither the Shanghai city government nor China's foreign ministry immediately responded to a Reuters request for comment. Shanghai is home to roughly 26 million people, including 4,848 registered French voters as of December, according to the embassy. It has been under lockdown as it battles China's worst Covid-19 outbreak since the pandemic began in Wuhan over two years ago. As part of China's zero-Covid policy, authorities are insisting on isolating every person who tests positive in hospital wards -- which have left existing facilities overrun with patients, even if they show no severe symptoms. An unpopular policy of separating infected children from their virus-free parents was softened this week after triggering public anger. Shanghai officials said Saturday they planned to perform a new round of PCR tests on the city's entire population, after which it would begin relaxing rules in some neighbourhoods -- provided they met the strict requirement of no infections in the past 14 days. Frustration "It's a big frustration because it's a right that we have and we never missed a single election," said David Iosub, 47, a Parisian who has lived with his family in Shanghai for eight years. French voters can only cast their ballots in person or via proxy, and applications to vote by proxy must be completed well in advance and in most cases must include a visit in person to designated locations such as a police station or a consulate. "It is always regrettable from a point of view for democracy that a large number of French people cannot vote in a major election," said Franck Pajot, a Beijing-based candidate for this summer's French legislative elections for the Asia, Oceania and Eastern Europe constituency of French people living abroad, which includes China. Polling stations in six other cities in China including Beijing, Hong Kong and Guangzhou will be open as planned. A second round of voting will take place on 24 April. (with newswires) A Tamale High Court has granted an injunction against Satia Na of Gumbihini in Tamale, Nashiru Ussif from the allocation and sale of portions of land belonging to state-owned Ghana Broadcasting Corporation in the Northern Region. The chief is said to have sold portions of the Corporations land to private developers who are seen operating on the land. The ruling by the court, therefore, bars the sub-chief from engaging in any venture on the land. In recent years, many state-owned institutions across the country have expressed worry over the encroachment of their lands. In the Northern Region, particularly the regional capital, Tamale, litigations over state lands have ended up in court. The regional station of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, which houses Radio Savannah, is one of such victims, with the Satia Na of Gumbihini allocating portions of land belonging to the state broadcaster to a private developer. Apart from the regional FM Station, the land has some security installations which are being threatened by encroachers. Over the years, some traditional authorities have been engaged in the sale of portions of the land to private developers. Following a suit filed by GBC, the Tamale High Court issued an injunction to halt the sale of land by Satia Na of Gumbihini in Tamale. The lawyer for the Corporation Kwame Wajah spoke on the ruling, saying What it implies is that, nobody would have the authority to tamper with the land until the matter of ownership is determined. It is not as though GBC is contesting this ownership with anybody. What it is, is that some people have as it was put themselves in the position to argue that this land was given to GBC by the skin and so several years after they have the right to come and encroached, rent them out, etc. Dont forget that these lands are not just GBCs land, they are state lands in GBCs possession. There are lots of masks on it, some of these mask houses national security equipment. So whatever GBC is doing is on behalf of the state. He further urged authorities to safeguard government lands to prevent a complete takeover by private developers. This is a message that must go out to state institutions who have possession of state lands as in the case of GBC, they have to just get up and ensure that these lands are not encroached upon recklessly. It's Saturday afternoon and pupils from a primary school in Lagos, Nigeria, have travelled with their teacher to the Badagry Heritage Museum to learn about the transatlantic slave trade. "We wanted to see how people were enslaved in those days," teacher Temilade Akinola tells RFI's Africa Calling, as the tour winds up at the Badagry Heritage Museum. "We wanted to feel what their pains were, see the shackles, see the things they went through for us to understand our heritage." Badagry, a border town between Nigeria and Benin, became a thriving slave port in west Africa when European merchants bought and shipped human labour to work on plantations in America. Visitors to Badagry will find the history of that trade in the Badagry Heritage Museum, which contains collections on the slave trade between Africa, Europe and America. "We are trying to use the trip to the museum to improve the pupils' learning ability," Akinola says of the trip. "So seeing first hand these things that we have been seeing in our books, and what people actually went through, it goes a long way to help them understand what they have been taught in class." Inside, Hundeyin Isiaka, a native of Badagry, acts as tour guide at a venue built in 1863 for administrative purposes to house the district officer. It was converted into the museum in 2002 on the instructions of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the governor of Lagos State. "Badagry Heritage Museum is one of the best sites you have to visit when you talk about slavery," Isiaka explains. Not far away from the Badagry Heritage Museum, the Mobee Slave Relics Museum complements the journey into the past. The privately owned museum is run by the descendants of the traditional ruler of Badagry. 400 years of history On display are the original chains used on slaves during the days of trade. "These chains were brought here by the white men in the 15th century," says Prince Abiodun Mobee, a descendant of the royal family. "And all this environment around was used as a slave corridor." The grave of chief Sunbu Mobee lies in the plot. The traditional ruler of Badagry during the slave trade era died on 16 October, 1893. Abiodun says that it was in 1886 during Chief Sunbu's reign that slavery stopped in Badagry. Towards the end of the 18th century, a movement emerged in Europe calling for an end to the slave trade and, later, slavery itself. But while Britain - responsible for 50 percent of trade in enslaved Africans - backed the abolition of the slave trade, it did not apply to their colonies. Britain's involvement in the slave trade formally ended in 1833. Abiodun speaks about the significance of this area as Nigeria was an important colony for Britain. "Each market day here in Badagry, 300 slaves were sold. Around 17,000 slaves were sold here annually here in Badagry. "And this trade we are talking about lasted 400 years. So that tells us that Badagry slave port happens to be the largest slave port in west Africa." Investment needed Down by the waterfront, several young people relax on makeshift wooden chairs while music blares out from a small loudspeaker. Just in front of them, a man fans a fire in preparation for a barbecque. A few local hawkers add to the colour. "But this place is wasted. The land is wasting," Abiodun laments. Abiodun, a tour operator himself, claims the former slave port is operating far below its potential. He recounts how he once gave tours for celebrities like musician LL Cool and other tourists from America. But he says a dearth of supporting infrastructure means guides like him find it difficult to earn enough money from tourism. "If you get to some advanced countries, tourism is what they are using to boost themselves. "We just need government assistance to put more into this kind of tourism so that we too here in Nigeria can have something to say." Abiodun is calling on government to renovate all the sites around slavery and tourism in Badagry to attract more visitors and give a boost to the local economy. "Before Covid 19, a lot of people used to come to Badagry. We are just trying to get back to those levels now, added Abiodun. Listen to the interview in Episode 15 of RFI's Africa Calling podcast. The Ashanti Flour Users Association says recent spiralling prices have pushed their cost of production high, compelling some of its members to shut down their businesses. The bread bakers say, although they have been compelled to increase their prices in recent times, they are still making losses, hence the resultant closure of businesses by some of their members. Comfort Akotua is the President of the Ashanti Flour Users Association. She has been in the bread baking business for the past 35 years. She however says, as the result of the high cost of production in recent weeks, she has since February 2022 stopped operating. She pours out her frustrations to Citi News. Many bread bakers have stopped operating. For instance, many of those around Anloga Junction are no more in operation. This is because we have been incurring losses. The saddest aspect of it is that, the retailers who engage in street hawking keep complaining that it is expensive. We are always praying for the situation to improve. Although I am quite old, I can still work, but I am unable to work because I have been making losses. How do I take care of my needs and other utility bills if I am not working? Mavis Kwegyir Stiles, the Chief Executive Officer of Okyeso Nyame Bakery at Bantama, laments that the high cost of flour and other ingredients have negatively affected her business. The high cost of flour has affected production. Last year, we used to buy 100 bags of flour for 16,000 but now it costs us 34,000 to get that. The cost of sugar is also up. One bag of sugar sells at GH400 whereas it used to sell at GH280 last year. Prices of all other ingredients have gone up. We now sell bread for GH5 and the retailers sell at GH6 Ghana cedis. The consumers are however complaining that it is expensive and that we should reduce it. We cant reduce it because the production cost has gone up. The members of the Ashanti Flour Users Association say they will be forced to once again increase the price of bread, next week due to the high cost of flour and other ingredients. We have now increased the price of bread. The ones that used to sell at GH2, have been increased to GH3. By next week, we will increase it again to GH4. We will also get some that would be sold at GH6. We may further increase the prices. For now, we will always increase it anytime the cost of flour and other ingredients go up, president of the Ashanti Flour Users Association, Comfort Akotua disclosed to Citi News. Some bread retailers also say sales have reduced drastically as a result of the recent increase in the price of bread. The consumers hardly buy from us lately. They always say the prices are expensive. They even accuse us of inflating the prices. We only make GH1 from it, a bread retailer, Jennifer Atebawini lamented. The consumers at times call us but after asking of the price, they refuse to buy from us. After buying it here for GH5, I buy polythene as well, so I wont make any profit if I sell it GH5, another bread seller, Rose Boatemaa added. The bread bakers are thus calling on the government to intervene in ensuring that prices of flour, sugar and other ingredients are stabilised. The authorities should intervene to ensure that the prices of ingredients are reduced. The prices have gone up astronomically, CEO of Okyeso Nyame Bakery, Mavis Kwegyir Stiles, appealed. If there is anything government can do, we want them to come up with an intervention to relieve us, Comfort Akotua urged. Ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor has paid glowing tribute to the memory of the late Ramatu Aliu Mahama, who was the second lady during his administration between 2000 and 2008. Speaking to pressmen following a solemn Islamic funeral ceremony at the Independence Square in Accra, President Kufuor said he enjoyed great support from the late Ramatu Aliu Mahama, who discharged her duties with excellence and did not cause any scandals during his administration. She was very gracious, intelligent and motherly and was aware of the weight of the office in which she discharged duties with such excellence. She was a good human being. There were no scandals at at least from her quarters, he said. He said Ramatu Aliu Mahama ensured he and his officials had the needed comfort anytime they were on official duties in the northern part of Ghana, particularly around Tamale. She was thoughtful and supported her husband, who was Vice President during my time in government. She was a great hostess any time we travelled in the north, especially around Tamale, he added. Hajia Ramatu Aliu Mahama was the wife of the late Alhaji Aliu Mahama who served as Kufuors Vice President. She passed on earlier this week in Accra. Her death came 10 years after her husband, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, passed on. Alhaji Aliu Mahama died on November 16, 2012, aged 66, from a heart-related complication. The body of the late second lady is being conveyed to Tamale in the Northern Region for burial. citinewsroom 09.04.2022 LISTEN A man identified as Mohammed Iddi has been arrested by the Police in the Northern Region for the unlawful possession of six foreign pistols. The Northern Regional Police Command on Thursday, 7th April 2022 arrested suspect Mohammed Iddi alias Water for unlawful possession of firearms, a statement on the Facebook page of the Ghana Police Service has said. According to the Police statement, the suspect was arrested at the Pigu police barrier, on the Tamale-Bolgatanga Highway during routine police intelligence operations. The operation led to the retrieval of six (6) new foreign-made '9mm Calibre Bruni 92' pistols. Suspect Mohammed Iddi was subsequently arraigned before High Court One on Friday 8th April 2022, in Tamale and has been remanded to police custody. The suspect is to reappear in Court on 25th April 2022. The Ghana Police Service while commending the Northern Regional Police Command has assured the public that the Police remains committed to ensuring a safe and secure environment for all. Thousands of people took to streets of major cities across France on Saturday afternoon to "March for the Future" and reiterate the importance of social justice and the fight against climate change. Many believe the environment has not weighed heavily enough in the debate leading up to the first round of presidential polls on Sunday. From Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Rennes, to Montpellier... dozens of environmental, anti-racist, feminist groups and charities came together to share their common message with the rallying cry "justice, climate, equality and peace". 83 events were organised across France, with some 300 associations involved, including Alternatiba, Greenpeace, Les Amis de la Terre (Friends of the Earth), #NousToutes and the Abbe Pierre Foundation. "It's an exceptional gathering," Lorette Philippot, spokesperson for Les Amis de la Terre told AFP. "It's to show that at the end of this presidential mandate, and at the beginning of a new one, all of these problems have the same cause. And even if we can't talk about the candidates directly today, it's an opportunity to discuss the themes which have been forgotten during the campaign." French law stipulates that candidates are not allowed to do any campaigning the day before the election, and there is a media blackout in effect. Despite this, green candidate Yannick Jadot was spotted among marchers, while far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon also called in for a brief encounter, his staff said. In Paris, Yellow Vest supporters could be seen walking side by side climate defenders for a turnout of over 5,000 people according to police, closer to 35,000 according to organisers. Banners reading "Red alert for a greener future" or "let's isolate housing, not people" could be seen in the crowd. Red alert For 26 year-old Astrid, there's no time to lose faced with global warming. "This is a cry from the heart, so that they realise that we are serious about this and we don't care about the rest. This is an emergency, it's for our survival. Animals might be able to survive but we won't be able to adapt," she told France Info. After a massive rally on 12 March, the slogan "Look Up" has emerged, drawing inspiration from the film "Don't Look Up" directed by Adam McKay, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, and Meryl Streep among other celebrities. The Netflix production highlights in a cruel light modern days politics and the disastrous consequences awaiting humanity in the face of unbridled climate change. For the organisations involved, the film succeeded in "getting major issues back into the public debate". End of the world as we know it In Lyon where around 2,000 people turned out, the words "don't throw fuel on the fire", and "they're destroying the living, let's destroy the powerful", could be seen nearby the large planet symbol of Greenpeace. "End of the world, end of the month; same struggle" reads another banner from the Europe-wide Alternatiba group, one of the main organisers behind the events. In sunny Bordeaux, some protesters expressed their concern over the latest scientific report released by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on 4 April. "Regardless of what happens at the polls, it's too late. The IPCC experts have given us three years to reverse the trend concerning carbone missions," a spokesperson for "Il est encore temps" (There's Still Time) and a member of environmental activist network Extinction Rebellion. This thought is prominent in the minds of many protesters, as they face the report's grim outlook for the planet calling for a radical change of economic structure. "It's very scary," 26 year-old Julie told French media during the rally in Paris. "There have been reports for years and they haven't been taken into account. Today the conclusion is unavoidable; it's now or never." Open you eyes, look up "Climate emergency is now undeniable; but instead of facing up to the truth and take responsibilities, political leaders and multinationals deliberately look away, or even spoil the very hope of a fair and bearable future", organisers wrote on Facebook. Citizens are therefore being encouraged to "open their eyes, considering the next five years as decisive to redress the balance". "The fact that we're seeing many young people here gives me hope," Chloe told France Info. "We don't have the choice, if we do nothing we'll hit the wall." "We need to change our lifestyle, and that needs to be accompanied by our politicians, it can't only be individual actions," adds Serge, a researcher in biology. "When we see that taking the plane is cheaper than the train, then a political decision must be taken". One thing that most people in attendance agree on is that the coming years will be crucial for the environment, regardless of who gets voted into power in the election. "We're trying to get people to march with us, but it's really hard," says Nicolas, an activist for a citizen's group. "Lots of people have Covid, and others are recuperating after having caught Covid. There are also many supporters of political parties who are having a rest after the campaign period." "Today, it's a warm-up for the post election period," he says. Two persons have allegedly been shot to death by gunmen suspected to be armed robbers at Mamadukoraa, a farming community in the Chache Electoral area in the Bole District of the Savannah Region. The deceased are Mr. Yaw and madam Dibuone Akua age 60 and 40 respectively. The armed men are reported to have invaded the community today dawn and robbed the community members of their valuables. According to ModernGhana News' sources, the invasion occurred when members of the community were still indoors. The sources further revealed that the gunmen who rode motorbikes to the community aimed shot at Mr. Yaw in his house killing him instantly. The source further noted that all occupants of the house were locked in one room by the invaders before committing the dastardly act. The armed men were said to have started shooting sporadically within the house leading to the death of the woman who was locked up in the room with other occupants of the house after they were done with their operations. A son of the deceased (Yaw) was also beaten to pulp by the invaders. The source added that the intensity of the shooting forced members of the community to take cover in the bushes for fear of their lives. An amount of thirty thousand Ghana cedis is said to have been taken away from the son of the deceased and another unspecified amount from the deceased. The community has since been thrown into a state of mourning, fear and panic. The incident has since been reported to the Bole District Police Command. Thanks to the successful negotiations between an Indian agency and the Canadian government, Indian banana and baby corn can now be exported there, officials said on Saturday. "The negotiations between National Plant Protection Organisations of India and Canada on market access for Indian Banana and Baby corn resulted in Canadian market access for these commodities. Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Manoj Ahuja held a meeting with Canadian High Commissioner Cameron MacKay on April 7 wherein this was cleared," an official said. Canada informed that export of fresh baby corn from India to Canada may begin from April 2022 after updation of directive D-95-28: Plant Protection Import and Domestic Movement Requirements for Corn and the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS). Further, based on the technical information provided for fresh bananas by India, Canada has approved its entry with immediate effect. "This decision of the government of Canada would immensely benefit the Indian farmers growing these crops and would also enhance India's export earnings," an official said. India is the largest producer of bananas accounting for over 25 per cent of global production. Government data showed that fruits and vegetables exports were up by 12 per cent to touch $1,676 million in 2021-22 against $1,492 million in 2020-21, while processed fruits and vegetables exports were up by 7 per cent to reach $1,202 million in 2021-22 against $1,120 million in the previous year. Leyla Mammadova 09.04.2022 LISTEN Climate change is all over the place across Europe and far beyond. Heatwaves have become more common in most parts of the world as a result of climate change, as have extreme rainfall occurrences, which in turn lead to flooding. Even if greenhouse gas emissions are dramatically decreased, global warming and associated changes in temperature, precipitation patterns, and sea levels are expected to persist throughout the twenty-first century. Currently, high temperatures, flooding, water shortages, and wildfires are all becoming more common in European cities than ever before. The actual hazards are determined by the city's or town's geography and unique features. When compared to other regions, closed areas and densities of humans and assets in urbanized areas enhance hazards from climate and weather events. The situation in Europe particularly tends to become more severe year by year: land and sea temperatures are rocketing high; rainfall trends are dramatically changing; sea levels are increasing; and the heat waves becoming a major challenge (Climate Adapt, 2021). Put differently, nearly all regions of Europe reached the frontline with the climate change phenomenon. With Europe being heavily urbanized continent and the 75% of the European population residing in cities, the detrimental impact of the climate change seems to be inevitable and indeed will come at a high expense. Urban sprawl leads to excessive energy, land, water, and air consumption, which makes the destiny of European cities the very bone of contention. As a result of the high concentration of people, economic activity, investments, and vital infrastructure in cities, they are more vulnerable to climate change than rural areas. Furthermore, the substitution of artificial surfaces and buildings for natural vegetation modifies temperature, humidity, wind speed, and precipitation patterns. By trapping heat and causing the so-called urban heat-island effect, impermeable surfaces restrict extreme amounts of rainfall from draining through into earth, start increasing in cities different from the surrounding area. In the past few years, scientists have given growing dire warnings about the prospect of elevated global warming (possibly a 48C rise in global average surface temperatures beyond pre-industrial norms by the 2060s or 2070s), which would test societies' adaptive capabilities to the breaking point (Carter, 2011). Instances of urban climate change adaptation techniques are beginning to appear in related to policy solutions. These are frequently incorporated into larger climate change and green innovation that include, and in some cases, are primarily focused on, climate change mitigation. It is important to note that the cities or the urban-level politicians, should be regarded on the same level along with other political actors that are to contribute to the climate change mitigation. Precisely, nearly 70% of total energy consumption stem from the cities, and since there is a rapid process of urbanization going on in the world, the number is expected to grow over time. The way urban areas are planned and developed as well as they respond to the ongoing climate crisis play a crucial role in Co2 emissions and the energy use, which in turn, affect the climate change phenomenon at large. (University of Bergen, 2020) According to the member of IFIMES Advisory Board, J Scott Younger (2022), the architects and urban planners are now expected to put extra efforts in adapting to climate change mitigation and renewable energy usage since the coming 30+ years ahead are to witness even higher level of urbanization. Climate change policies that are integrated entail those developed for cities such as Madrid, Copenhagen, and Rotterdam. Moreover, planning and zoning restrictions in Stuttgart, Germany, for instance, aim to protect open space and promote the presence of plants in intensively built-up regions. This is to improve air flow and hence reduce overheating and pollution issues. A Building and Construction Law of 2002 in Basel, Switzerland, mandates that all new and refurbished flat roofs be greened. As a result, Basel has surpassed London as the world's leading green roof metropolis in terms of green roof area per capita. The Biotope Area Factor law in Berlin, Germany, mandates that a certain percentage of major innovations be kept as green or accessible land (Carter, 2011). It's becoming clear that European cities are playing an increasingly important role in climate and energy governance. Cities themselves are well aware of this new governance role. Inter-city networks are being mobilized by city governments to explore remedies to energy and climate concerns (e.g. C40, Energy Cities). The European Union's multi-level governance has created new administration areas for cities throughout Europe. Inter-city networks appear to be crucial in terms of the ideas that planners and policymakers are pursuing on a domestic level. The actions initiated by the EU and its Member States show the extent to which the situation is pressing, and the need to expand the efforts beyond EUs capabilities (Carbon Brief, 2020). All in all, to tackle the issue and to address it in a reasonable way, the collective action must be taken by all means possible. The 21st century and the late COVID-19 crisis have shown that it is no helpful to rely solely on political actors or single stakeholders, but rather to take the situation in own hands and take the necessary measures as soon as possible. In other words, it appears that the European community must not only rely on the governments ability to implement its coercive power in the climate-related policymaking, but rather start working on the footprint in line with the Paris Agreement and call for the collective green action. To help cities maintain an urban life in a greener; and more sustainable way, the united efforts of both the people and the government should be put into force. We no longer have time to waste; it is time to press the alarm button and take the action. About the author: Leyla Mammadova of the University Leuven, Belgium (Leuven International and European Studies (LINES) is a researcher specialized in international humanitarian law, demography and the EU Institutions. 09.04.2022 LISTEN Bob Marley led a colorful and controversial life, and he is remembered and celebrated as both a music icon and a humanitarian for equality. Marley stated his racial views in 1975 by declaring My father was white and my mother black, you know. Them call me half-caste, or whatever. Well, me dont dip on nobodys side. Me dont dip on the black mans side nor the white mans side. Me dip on Gods side, the one who create me and cause me to come from black and white, who give me this talent. Did Marley make peace with being a biracial man living in a world of racism? Music was his gift to a divided humanity. In the 36 short years of Bob Marleys life, his iconic music evolved from ska to reggae to rocksteady, and eventually into a blend of all three that, along with his wild dreadlocks, became his signature style, according to National Todays website. Marleys birthday is celebrated annually on February 6th. He was born in Nine Mile, Jamaica, and was given the birth name Nesta Robert Marley. His birthday is now celebrated around the world as Bob Marley Day. In the 1970s Marley sang about political unrest in Jamaica. In 1976, during one of his peace concerts, an assassination attempt was made on his life, along with his wife and manager. All of them survived and Marley showed up two days later for his next gig. Marley planned an American tour to reach blacks living within the U.S. Unfortunately, he died of cancer in 1981. I don't stand for the black mans side, I don' t stand for the white mans side. I stand for Gods side. Bob Marley. The United Nations Peace Medal of the Third World was given to Marley in 1978. In 1981, he was awarded The Order of Merit for his contributions to Jamaican culture. In 1994, Bob Marley was inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. In 2001, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Frame. In 2002, he was bestowed the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. A statue of Bob Marley stands tall in Kingston, Jamaica. Learn more at www.bobmarley.com. My music will go on forever. Maybe it's a fool say that, but when me know facts, me can say facts. My music will go on forever. Bob Marley Many books have been penned on the life of Marley. So Much Things to Say: The Oral History of Bob Marley by Roger Steffens is a more recent book (2017) with thirty-five chapters. A revelatory, myth-shattering history of one of the most influential musicians of all time, told in the words of those who knew him best. If you're white and you're wrong, then you're wrong; if you're black and you're wrong, you're wrong. People are people. Black, blue, pink, green - God make no rules about color; only society make rules where my people suffer, and that why we must have redemption and redemption now. Bob Marley Being an advocate of early literature and a picture book author myself, my favorites are the picture books based on his songs and adapted by Marleys daughter, Cedella: Every Little Thing, All You Need is Love, What a Wonderful World, and One Love. Cedella is the acting director of the Bob Marley Foundation, which works with disadvantaged children in Jamaica. Ziggy, Marleys son is the author of the childrens books: I Love You Too, My Dog Romeo, Music Is in Everything. Little John Crow is a 2021 picture book by Ziggy and his wife Orly. Ziggy Marley is an eight-time Grammy Award winner, Emmy Award winner, author, philanthropist, and reggae icon. Bob Marley was both popular and controversial in his social justice beliefs and his personal life during his years on Earth. Who are you to judge the life I live? I know I'm not perfect-and I don't live to be-but before you start pointing fingers...make sure you hands are clean!, proclaimed Marley. Rest in peace, Bob Marley, my brother. Melissa Martin, Ph.D., is a syndicated opinion-editorial columnist. She lives in USA. 09.04.2022 LISTEN We the members of Calabar Humanists Association unanimously reject the judgement of the Kano State High Court as it amounts to a miscarriage of justice. We demand that the President of Humanists Association of Nigeria be set free and reunited with his family. Mr Mubarak Bala has languished under illegal detention for two years despite court orders for his immediate release. During this period, the Islamic community, which apparently controls the government and social structures of the State have made significant threat and intimidation to compel him to admit guilt when it is apparent to all that he is innocent. Mr Bala is a chemical engineer, husband and father, and whose travails began in 2014 when he announced on his Facebook page that he is no longer a Muslim, but an atheist. He should not have done that? He should have respected the sensitive nature of his community? Apparently, this public declaration saved him from being tried in a Sharia court. It also saved him from living a life of pretence as every Muslim is expected to observe the compulsory daily rituals that define Islam. He was no longer obliged to pray 5 times daily and to fast during Ramadan. But the religious community wouldnt have it. His immediate family were the first to strike. He was accused of being insane and forcefully admitted into a mental institution for 18 days. During this period he was given medications to correct his alleged mental defects until the atheist community in Nigeria was able to secure his release. From then onwards, he became a marked man. He received death threats regularly from members of his former faith. Before his deconversion, he was a pious Muslim who attended the Saudi funded Islamic Foundation, Aliyu Bin Abi Talib primary school. He was trained in the Wahhabi Islamic thought, with a jihad ideology and later attended an all-Muslim private science secondary school, Hassan I. Gwarzo, in Kano State, where Islamic (Qur'anic) study is given a very high priority. Mr Bala was arrested again in April 2020 for making posts on Facebook against Islam. Despite court orders to release him on bail, the police authorities ensured that he was kept behind bars for two years in Kano. On April 5th 2022, against the advice of his lawyers, he pleaded guilty to the charges of making inciting statements on his Facebook page and the judge immediately passed a 24 years sentence. It is worthy to note that these posts were not taken down by Facebook for breach of community standards or hate speech, nor was the claim proven in court. Mr Bala pleaded guilty because he might have suffered a mental meltdown and wanted to end the charade by giving in to the pressure from the kangaroo court. As a community for atheists, it is sad to announce that a large number of atheists and humanists living in northern Nigeria(officially regarded as religious minorities) constantly face human rights violations. Despite their using anonymous identities online, we keep seeing fanatics making death threats. It is not enough that the Islamic faith controls, the mainstream media, public life, schools, as well as government, there is a deliberate attempt by the so-called custodians of the faith to control the thought process of ordinary citizens. We have heard reports of how young men have been arrested in Kano for playing worldly music and wearing worldly haircuts and clothes. You have probably heard worse. Christians have been killed by mobs for making inciting speeches or payers against the Islamic faith and we have all witnessed the accused being exonerated and charges quashed in court. It was John Stuart Mill, a utilitarian philosopher, who opined that for evil to triumph, it is necessary for good people to do nothing. Mr Bala is a good man who tried to do something about the rise in fanatical adherents to the Islamic faith with literal and destructive interpretations of a 9th-century religious text. But it is apparent that he cannot ght alone. He needs everyone with empathy and conscience to join this ght for a better world. We can begin by being united in the demand for his freedom. 9th April 2022 Prepared by Innocent Thomas for Calabar Humanists Association. [email protected] As part of efforts to promote institutional and environmental sanitation, the Northern Regional Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, organised a cleanup exercise at the Fachi Little Flower School Complex, a privately owned basic school in the Tamale Metropolis. The exercise which took place in the early hours of Wednesday created the opportunity for the EPA to advocate the need for institutions, especially schools to take environmental cleanliness seriously. It also created room for the EPA to present some sanitation materials to the school, and also motivate them for being noted as one of the most cleaned schools in the metropolis. Some of the materials donated included dust bins, brooms, Veronica buckets, among others. The donation according to the agency was aimed at supporting the school in its quest to improve environmental cleanliness. The Assistant Programmes Officer at the EPA for the Northern Region, Karim Jato Sayibu, speaking to the media, on the sidelines of the exercise, urged institutions to take the business of environmental cleanliness serious. He also encouraged schools to train their students on the need to protect the environment and also to promote environmental safety and health. He said the agency was dedicated to improving, conserving and promoting the countrys environment and striving for environmentally sustainable development with sound, efficient resource management, taking into account social and equity issues. "As part of our mandate we usually give awareness and also sensitisation at the basic schools, 'As the saying goes, catch them Young, and they will yours forever, so at this tender age, we want to conscientise them on the need for sanitation. "We are here at the Fachi Little Flower this morning to do some cleanup exercise with them, we have also made some donation to boost their sanitation in the school," he intimated. The Environmental Tutor at the Fachi Little Flower School Complex, Mr. Abdulai Manan who received the materials on behalf of the school, thanked the EPA for the gesture and pledged to ensure that the school becomes even more cleaner. "The gesture is a very kind one, and we need for of such kind of donations, we promised that we are going to make good use of the materials," he emphasised. 09.04.2022 LISTEN Desist from prank calls as it interrupts prompt and timely intervention in time of emergencies to save lives and properties the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) Tema Regional Command has cautioned. The GNFS Tema Regional Command in a bid to create an environment for the public to reach it in time of emergencies with the reactivation of fire emergency telephone numbers. This is part of policies rolled out to sensitize residents on various ways to mitigate fire outbreaks, GNFS Tema Regional Command statement to the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) in Tema stated. According to the GNFS Tema Regional Command, it has identified public education is a key ingredient to equipping residents hence providing them with GNFS emergency numbers in their various areas of jurisdiction forms a major part of sensitization. The GNFS Command noted that reaching out to service providers especially fire service in times of emergencies was paramount to saving lives and properties. The GNFS Tema Regional Headquarters can be reached on 0303202554, 0307090015, 0299340631, with GT-020-4783 digital address code as its direct emergency lines. The GNFS district emergency numbers: Ashaiman - 0291702028, 0299340628, 0205346762, with the digital address GB-017-2713; Tema Industrial 0299340568, 0291702024, 0302968140, with the digital address GT- 020-5892; and Ada - 0302968140 with the digital address GY- 0033-7271. The others are: Dodowa 0299640630, 0299320089, 0291713034 with the digital address as GO- 0010-0975; Prampram 0299340635, 0291702044, 0506439263, with the digital address GN-0047-1030; and Katamanso 0291702014, with the digital address GK-0518-2504. The rest are Tema Newtown 0291702032, 0556119119 with the digital address GT- 150- 6790; Gbetsile 0291702018, 0505176940, with digital address GT- 0294-3557; Devtraco 0291702082, 0556119119, with the digital address GN-0490-8523; Sege 0299341143, 0299341033, with the digital address GX-0003-3948. The GNFS Motorway contact 0291702011 with the digital address GB- 0006-2031; Kasapreko 0291702059, 0302948513, 0291702281 with the digital address GT-333-2331. The GNFS national emergency numbers are 192, 112, and 0302772446. Source: CDA Consult Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who will face a no-confidence vote in the resurrected National Assembly on Saturday as per the Supreme Court verdict, said on Friday that he was "saddened" by the ruling but would respect it. In an address to the nation, Khan, however, rued that the top court did not consider the "foreign conspiracy" angle in its Thursday verdict and should have at least initiated a probe. "I respect the Supreme Court and the judiciary, but the apex court should have looked at the threat letter before issuing the verdict," Khan said, complaining that it did not take the matter of the "threat letter" seriously, Geo News reported. "There was foreign interference in Pakistan's no-confidence motion. I wanted the SC to at least look at it, it was a very serious allegation that a foreign country wants to topple the government through a conspiracy. "The SC could have at least asked for and looked at the document to gauge whether we're speaking the truth. I was a bit disappointed because this is a very big issue and there was no discussion on it in the SC." Citing his arrest under a previous regime, Khan said that he strongly believes that the judiciary is the guardian of justice in the country, but added that he was disappointed by the court's stand on the Constitution's Article 63 (A) regarding horse-trading. "The youth of Pakistan is our future and if they see leaders selling their conscience, what precedent are we setting for them," he asked. Even the MNAs who came on reserved seats were tainted by the malaise of horse-trading, he added. About the threat letter, he said that it could not be shared publicly as it is in code and if these codes are revealed, "all secret information of Pakistan will be unveiled". Khan also said that in the meeting of the Pakistani Ambassador to the US with a top US official, the latter had castigated his visit to Russia. He claimed that even before the no-confidence motion was filed against him, the US official had warned the Pakistani Ambassador that if Imran Khan manages to save himself, Pakistan will have to face "severe consequences", adding that the US seemed to know the opposition's plan in advance and also who would be the new PM. He said that the Ambassador was told that if Imran Khan is ousted, Pakistan will be spared no matter who takes the charge, and alleged that PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, "who apparently has prepared his sherwani for the oath-taking ceremony", was involved in this "foreign conspiracy". On Thursday, the Supreme Court of Pakistan declared "unconstitutional" NA Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri's ruling scrapping the no-confidence motion and the government's subsequent move to dissolve the National Assembly. It has ordered Assembly Speaker Asad Qasier to summon a session on Saturday and allow the vote on the no-confidence motion. Earlier in the day, Khan chaired a Cabinet meeting, following which Minister for Information and Law, Fawad Chaudhry, said a commission will be formed that would probe the "threat letter" and present its report within 90 days after investigating how many dissident MNAs were in contact with "foreign powers". He also said that the parliamentarians would be briefed regarding the details of the threat letter before the voting on the no-confidence motion. For clarifications/ Ukrainian President Zelensky Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday hailed the visit of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the European Union's (EU) foreign policy chief Josep Borrell to Kiev as a signal of support for Ukraine, the state-run Ukrinform news agency reported. This is a very strong signal that Ukraine and the European Union are together," Zelensky said at the joint press briefing with von der Leyen and Borrell in Kiev on Friday. Zelensky thanked the European officials for coming to Ukraine in difficult times and for visiting Bucha outside Kiev, where hundreds of murdered civilians were allegedly found after Russian forces withdrew, Xinhua news agency reported. Von der Leyen said that Ukraine is welcomed in the European family and handed over a questionnaire to Zelensky, the completion of which is a necessary step for granting the status of an EU candidate. "We are with you in your dreams of Europe. I want to say very clearly: Ukraine has a place in the European family," von der Leyen said. Separately, Borrell said that the EU will be supporting the Ukrainian Prosecutor General in providing training and equipment to support the investigation of the Bucha massacre. Von der Leyen and Borrell arrived in Kiev earlier on Friday for a visit, which marked the first trip by top EU officials to Ukraine since the start of the conflict with Russia. Before talks with Zelensky, the European officials visited the town of Bucha, some 28 km northwest of Kiev, where at least 280 people, including children, were found dead after the Ukrainian army retook control of the town from the Russian military. April 09, 2022 More Evidence That Ukraine Fired The Missile Which Killed Dozens In Kramatorsk This is a follow on to yesterday's Ukrainian Tochka-U missile strike on the Kramatorsk railway station. Russia no longer has Tochka missiles (search for Tochka in the pdf) while the Ukraine, Belarus and several other states still use them. There is now additional evidence that the missile was fired by Ukrainian forces. The facts do not matter in 'western' media who stick to whatever story they are told to produce. Still, I do believe that facts matter at least in the long term and that there is a historic value in documenting them. The Tochka-U is a tactical missile with a maximum range of some 120 kilometer. It is typically fired from a transporter, erector, launcher vehicle (TEL) with little need of preparations. The TEL vehicle for the Tochka is a six wheeled BAZ 5921 /5922. These are amphibious floating hull chassis. The picture below shows a BAZ TEL in parade mode with a Tochka missile slightly erected. In the normal transport mode the missile lies horizontally under a protective roof. There were several claims of such vehicles being seen in Belarus or with Russian forces in Ukraine. But not every six wheeled BAZ vehicle can be said to be a Tochka missile TEL or Tochka transporter. There are various look alike variants of the vehicle with radar or communication equipment or simply used as transporters or ferries for all kind of goods. The Tochka missile, below in a firing position, consists of a rocket engine, four fins and grids to direct its course, a solid fuel compartment and a warhead at its front. A complete missile weighs about 2,000 kilogram. There are various warhead types available which weigh about 500 kilogram each. The warhead which was used in Kramatorsk is a fragmentation one with 20 sub-munitions (gray) each with some 7.5 kilogram of explosives enclosed in a metal hull. Over the target area these sub-munitions get expelled and explode while still in the air and each one creates some 800 fragments. The warhead thus leaves no hole in the ground but expels a huge number of deadly metal fragments at high speed over a relative large area. The Tochka missiles are not very precise. They have a circular error probability (CEP) of some 150 meters. They are so called area weapons to be used against concentrations of infantry or unarmored vehicles. After being fired the rocket engine propels the warhead towards is destination. Shortly before the impact the warhead separates from the booster section and continues its path while the rocket engine shuts down. Having lost its thrust and aerodynamic tip the relative heavy booster section will then tumble to the ground. If everything works as designed the booster section always falls short of the warhead section. Which brings us to the scene in Kramatorsk. Several pictures from the scene show the booster section of the missile. The place where it landed was geo-located as being near a parking space some 60 meter west-southwest of the railway station. Here is the Google maps view of the railway station area. The warhead explosions happened on the east side of the station over the departure platform. The location of the booster debris and where the explosion happened allows one to point out the trajectory from where the missile was fired. I have checked the locations depicted below and found them to be correct. North is to the top. The station is encircled and the point is where the booster section landed. The arrow shows the trajectory the missile must have taken. Oh, the map is annotated in Russian and you don't trust Russian sources? Well, here is the New York Times posting a similar map. Here is map from Liveuamap depicting the current front lines in Ukraine. Kramatorsk is marked in yellow. Note that there are no Russian or Russia-aligned forces west-southwest of Kramatorsk within the 120 km maximum range of a Tochka missile. The missile must have been fired by Ukrainian forces. Unsurprisingly the Russian military has come to the same conclusion: An analysis of the engagement radius of the warhead, as well as the characteristic position of Tochka-U missile's tail section, clearly confirm that it was launched from a south-western direction away from Kramatorsk. According to intelligence reports, one of the divisions of the 19th Missile Brigade armed with Tochka-U missile systems at the time of the strike on Kramatorsk was located near Dobropol'e in Donetsk Region, 45 km south-west of Kramatorsk. This area is still under the full control of the Ukrainian military grouping troops in Donbass. The publicly available evidence shows that the Ukrainian military must have fired the missile that killed some 50 Ukrainian civilians in Kramatorsk. The only purpose of the attack I can think of was to create propaganda that, when distributed as 'Russian attack' through 'western' media, will create more military support for Ukraine. Everyone who urges to give more arms to the Ukraine or who eggs it on to continue this war is guilty of creating impetus for more incidents like the one seen in Kramatorsk. Posted by b on April 9, 2022 at 10:23 UTC | Permalink Comments next page Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is rumoured to be appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs once the joint Opposition in Pakistan manages to oust embattled Prime Minister Imran Khan, the media reported. Bhutto-Zardari, Chairman of the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), said decisions regarding the ministership will be taken by his party, reports Geo News. He believes the Supreme Court judgment is "first step" towards ridding institutions of controversies. Amid the anticipation of the outcome of Saturday's crucial National Assembly (NA) session, all eyes are on the prospective candidates for the main positions if a new government is formed. Once again while criticising the government, the PPP Chair said that Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has made the Foreign Ministry and National Security Committee (NSC) controversial. He said that democracy had been damaged during the four-year rule of the PTI; however, the Supreme Court's judgement is the "first step" towards ridding institutions of controversies. NA Speaker Asad Qaiser has adjourned the session till afternoon after Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi's response to PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif's demand for the vote on the no-trust motion against Khan, The News reported. The Supreme Court in a landmark judgement on Thursday declared the ruling of NA Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri unconstitutional and directed that the voting should be held on the motion according to the agenda issued on April 3. West Texas is an energy center, home not only to one of the worlds most prolific oil and natural gas basins but major wind and solar power installations. Now the region is becoming home to battery energy storage facilities. Its really where they can be the most beneficial, Caitlin Smith, senior director for Regulatory, External Affairs & ESG at Jupiter Power, told the Reporter-Telegram by telephone from her Austin office. Jupiter Power has just commenced operations of its Flower Valley II battery energy storage facility in Reeves County, a 100-megawatt storage facility that sits alongside its 9.9-megawatt Flower Valley 1 facility. The new facility represents enough power to meet the electricity needs of 20,000 homes during peak demand in Texas. Combined, the two facilities represent an investment of more than $70 million in Reeves County. Jupiter also has two other facilities the 200-megawatt Crossett in Crane County and the 100-megawatt Swoose II in Ward County under construction. Already in operation are the 7.5-megawatt Triple Butte I in Pecos County and 9.9-megawatt Swoose 1, also in Ward County. The company expects to have more than 650 megawatt hours of dispatchable energy storage capacity to be online before this summers peak season for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. Smith explained that the battery storage sites can benefit the electric grid by relieving transmission constraints. Transmission constraints can mean theres too much wind in West Texas with no place to go, she said. Rather than building new transmission lines to move that wind power, she said the batteries can absorb that excess energy until its needed, then distribute it to the grid. Its time-shifting, she said. The 200-megawatt hour capacity of the Flower Valley II, which is the same size as the upcoming Swoose II project, creates 100-megawatt of power for two hours. Smith said that, on average, the cost of a facility doubles as the duration doubles. Battery storage technology is still developing, according to Smith. We need the costs to come down for longer duration. Two-hour duration is good, she said, but we want it to be more and more hours. The technology needs to develop longer duration at lower cost. One way to advance that development is for battery storage facilities, such as those Jupiter is building, to receive the same incentives as other power generators, Smith said. She said the companys utility-scale battery storage facilities could help firm up the renewable energy facilities growing throughout the Permian Basin. She pointed to criticism of wind and solar power failing during Winter Storm Uri last February, contributing to the blackouts suffered throughout the state. Battery facilities that can store and then dispatch energy could support wind and solar power that is generated when its not needed or not able to work when it is needed. I see battery storage enabling us to have wind and solar power and still be reliable, she said. That was the comment of former Congressman Bill Flores, who served on the Energy & Commerce Committee during his time in Congress. Projections show that Texas will continue to lead the U.S. in the addition of wind and solar generation. Renewable resources, however, add increasing complexity and reliability challenges to grid management, but the addition of significant energy storage and related technologies will help mitigate these challenges to help improve grid resilience and reliability as part of an All of the Above energy solution to provide power while reducing emissions, he said in a statement. Jupiter is backed by EnCap Investments L.P., Yorktown Partners and Mercuria Energy. The company has invested more than $250 million to date in a portfolio of utility-scale energy storage projects operating or in construction throughout the US. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MEXICO CITY (AP) A small archipelago off Mexicos Pacific coast that had been home to an island prison colony is finalizing preparations to receive tourists. Getting to Islas Marias, however, is currently a challenge for even the sturdiest tourist: a 4-hour boat ride in often choppy waters. But Mexico's government plans to make things easier, putting the country's navy in charge of tours in the latest new function assigned to Mexico's armed forces under President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Some people, like Beatriz Maldonado, are already imagining the voyage. When Maldonado was imprisoned between those walls of water as a Mexican writer also confined there described it she thought she would never see her mother again. Maldonado only spent one year of her six-year sentence there for drug and weapons possession, but it was the most painful. I lost my smile, my happiness, she said. Now at age 55, a laundry worker and an activist advocating for other imprisoned women, she wants to return to close wounds. The Islas Marias prison colony was founded in 1905 on Mother Maria Island, the largest of the four islands and the only inhabited one more than 60 miles off the coast of Nayarit state. Frequently buffeted by hurricanes scraping along Mexicos coast, the government closed the prison in 2019. Lopez Obrador had it converted into an environmental education center, though which some 150 youths have passed. Now the government wants to make it an ecotourism destination where visitors can watch sea birds and enjoy the beaches and local history. On Saturday, Mexico's president announced that the navy will be in charge managing tours, the island's airport will expanded and two ferries will be added that can make the trip in 2.5 hours. Visitors will stay in the old houses - of prisoners or workers - that are being rebuilt to avoid having to construct new buildings that could damage the archipelago's nature reserve. Everything could be ready in three months, Lopez Obrador said. But it is unclear when tours will start because hurricane season begins in June. Many wonder whether Islas Marias will become a tourist draw like Alcatraz, the infamous prison accessed from San Francisco, or a place like the Panamanian island prison colony Coiba, closed in 2004, which became a natural paradise that is being reclaimed by the jungle. Although the government has been criticized for giving many functions to the military, from construction works or plant nurseries to controlling Mexico City's new airport, Maldonado sees nothing wrong with the navy taking charge of tourism. I hope there is no nepotism and we all have the opportunity to visit it, she said in a message after the announcement. The island now is nothing like the dirt-floored warehouse-like prison dorms with five bathrooms for 500 women that Maldonado remembers. We lived in a chicken coop, she said. Now a colorful mural of former South African leader Nelson Mandela, himself held for years on an island prison, welcomes visitors to remodeled buildings, a whitewashed church and a museum with the Mexican writer Jose Revueltas, imprisoned there during the 1930s for his work in the Communist Party, as main character. What was a hell is becoming a paradise, Lopez Obrador said. There was a time when it was considered the tomb of the Pacific. Revueltas said the prison was much more terrible than he could describe in his book Walls of Water. The worst couldnt be described, he said, because of modesty or because you dont know how to show that its really true. Island prison colonies were common around the world to make escapes nearly impossible or to rehabilitate through forced labor. Most tried to be self-sufficient. Prisoners on Mother Maria Island harvested salt and farmed shrimp. They tried to make a little money brewing their own alcohol from fermented fruits, illegally trading exotic birds or killing boa constrictors to make belts. In later years, it was known as a prison without walls where some prisoners lived with their families in semi-freedom and relatively good conditions. That changed when President Felipe Calderon launched the war against the drug cartels in 2006 and hundreds of new prisoners were sent there. In 2013, the inmate population reached 8,000. Maldonado served her time during that era. She said the women, who were the minority, were the worst treated. Unlike the men, they werent allowed outside the fences even though they had skills and barely received enough food. Maldonados weight dropped to about 45 pounds. They didnt pay attention to us when someone got sick, she said. My friends gallbladder ruptured. The extreme isolation was the most punishing part, broken only on the 15th of every month when they were allowed a 10-minute phone call with a relative. Some who tried to escape drowned. Occasionally the Navy rescued others who set out on improvised crafts. The boats came on Thursdays to bring us supplies and letters, and I saw the tears of my mother on the stained pages, Maldonado said. The worst was thinking that I would never see her again. Infrequently some relatives made visits that then involved 12 hours at sea. Maldonados one colorful memory was of a tube of red lipstick, the only personal item she took. When it ran out she solemnly buried it because she felt like it gave her life. A year after Maldonado was transferred to a prison in Mexico City, six people died on the island in a riot sparked by a lack of food. It was closed in 2019 because of the high operating costs, some $150 a day per prisoner, which was much higher than on the mainland. Prison reform had also significantly reduced its inmate population. Devils Island in French Guiana, immortalized in the film Papillon, closed in 1946. Alcatraz closed in 1963. Later, others in Chile, Costa Rica and Brazil were shuttered. The most abrupt was Perus El Fronton in 1986 when the government used gun boats to put down a riot, killing more than 100 inmates. Maldonado applauded the Islas Marias closure and supports the idea of inviting visitors. She said the proceeds should go to re-insertion programs for inmates. She has already written to former cellmates to see if theyd like to go with her to the place she thought shed never see again. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Courtney Sacco Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Since the beginnings of people living in social groups millennia ago, goods have been exchanged in some form. Through imports and exports, consumer choice improves, prices are reduced, business opportunities escalate, and economies grow. The essential mathematics explaining the process were worked out in the early 1800s. Pandemic-induced supply chain snarls have illustrated the interconnectedness of the contemporary world and just how much consumers rely on a steady stream of imports. Trade is necessary for the efficient functioning of the economy. Most products that are exported from the United States have been manufactured or processed domestically, creating opportunities for companies that make, market, transport, process, create, or otherwise participate in the production chain as well as their employees. Ripple effects enhance the benefits. For goods that are imported, there are downstream impacts for inputs to manufacturing processes, and even finished goods lead to logistics, retail sales, and other activity. Former P&G Mexico Researcher Ladd Moves to Hotspex Toronto, Canada-based CPG research specialist Hotspex has appointed former Procter & Gamble insights leader Luis Ladd as SVP, Product Innovation and ResTech. The employee-owned firm advises on areas including shopper behaviour and category dynamics, segmentation and U&A studies, brand health and identity, and is a multiple GRIT award winner for innovation. Ladd (pictured) brings more than a decade of experience of building businesses and consumer insights capabilities for big global brands. At P&G he led the Mexico Mental Availability Insights team, winning the Global CEO Award for his work developing multiscreen communication tools allowing the consumer products giant to strengthen its ties with Mexican consumers. For the last four years he has worked as Global Director, Consumer Intelligence & Analytics at Mexico City-based Genomma Lab, presiding over a more than threefold increase in the size of its Insights Organization team. Earlier in his career he focused on food development, including supplier selection and supplement formulation. His work has included 'cutting edge' quant studies bringing elements of neuroscience and consumer behaviour science into product development. In his new role, with responsibility for a team of behavioral and data scientists as well as full stack technology developers, he will develop subscription products from concept to implementation, spotting opportunities, overseeing technical development and managing launches. 'We are thrilled that Luis chose Hotspex for the next phase of his career', says Chief Commercial Officer Gera Nevolovich. 'His client experience and technical expertise makes him the ideal innovation leader for us to elevate our product development and optimizing customer engagement. We know our clients and staff will benefit from partnering with Luis'. The company is online at www.hotspex.com . 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It is recommended you contact the group in advance to verify details. Any changes in meeting schedules can be emailed to JJCsocial@myjournalcourier.com. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS 217-370-4002 Jacksonville locations: First Baptist Church, 1701 Mound Ave. Wheelchair-accessible. Club HOW, 638 S. Church St. Monday Closed discussion, 7:30 a.m. at Club HOW. Closed discussion, noon at Club HOW. Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at First Baptist Church. Bowen Group. Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at Club HOW. Tuesday Open discussion, noon at Club HOW. Womens open meeting, 5:30 p.m., First Christian Churchs Fireside Room. VIRGINIA: Closed discussion, 7 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, Main and Washington streets. ROODHOUSE: Closed discussion, 12-step/12 traditions, 8 p.m. at Grace Center, 114 W. Palm St. Wednesday Closed discussion, noon at Club HOW. Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at Club HOW. Thursday Closed discussion, 7:30 a.m. at Club HOW. Closed discussion, noon at Club HOW. Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at Club HOW. Newcomers Group. Friday Closed discussion, noon at Club HOW. TGIF Group. Closed discussion, 5:15 p.m., Big Book Study at Club HOW. VIRGINIA: Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at United Methodist Church, 401 E. Broadway Ave. Saturday Open speaker, 8 p.m. at Club HOW. Open meeting, noon at Club HOW. Sunday Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at Club HOW. 12 & 12 Group. Closed discussion, 10 a.m. at Club HOW. (Second Sunday is open) SPRINGFIELD: AA for Women, 10 a.m. at Discovery Club, 313 W. Cook St. AL-ANON Meetings are nonsmoking and open to anyone. The only requirement is that there be a problem of alcohol with a loved one or friend. 217-248-6434. Wednesday Al-Anon, 7:30-8:30 p.m. at Centenary United Methodist Church, 331 E. State St. (use Morgan Street entrance). NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS All meetings are nonsmoking. Not affiliated with any religious organization. Jacksonville locations: First Christian Church, 2106 S. Main St. (enter through far southeast door). 217-883-1975. Lutheran Church for the Deaf, 104 Finley St. (enter through back door). 217-883-1975. Wednesday Open discussion group, 8 p.m. at Lutheran Church for the Deaf. Friday Open discussion group, 7:30 p.m. at First Christian Church. OTHER MEETINGS Monday Addicts Victorious, 7-8 p.m. at Faith Tabernacle, 571 Sandusky St. Use side entrance to church hall. PITTSFIELD: Addicts Victorious, 7-8 p.m. in the basement of Subway in Pittsfield. 1-800-323-1388. Tuesday Jacksonville Sunrise Rotary, 7 a.m. Holiday Inn Express meeting room, South Jacksonville. 217-243-6895. American Legion Post 279, first Tuesday of every month, 7 p.m. at 903 W. Superior Ave. Wednesday Breastfeeding support group, 6 p.m., Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, Meeting Room 2. ROODHOUSE: Women with Hearts of Love (WWHOL), 6-7 p.m. at House of Restoration, 208 W. Franklin St. 217-602-1670. Thursday Jacksonville Area Chess Club, 6-9 p.m. at Jacksonville Public Library. 217-370-0882. St. Johns UCC Grief Group: 7 p.m., St. Johns UCC, 216 North St., Brighton. Free | Support group for those grieving the loss of a loved one. Jacksonville Kiwanis Club, noon at Hamiltons. WHITE HALL: Addicts Victorious, teens 5:30-6:30 p.m.; adults 7-8 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of New Life Church, 626 Curtis St. Friday Jacksonville Rotary Club, noon at Hamiltons. PITTSFIELD: Addicts Victorious, 6 p.m. at Assembly of God, 575 Piper St. 800-323-1388. Saturday Jacksonville Amateur Radio Societys Net, 9 p.m. Transmitted on K9JX repeater. K9JX.com. Compiled by Angela Bauer State lawmakers have unanimously approved a landmark funding increase for nursing homes that one sponsor called the most important improvement ever made to long-term care facilities in the state. Responding to long-standing problems that were made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic, the bill would increase payments to nursing homes and tie much of the increase to staffing levels and quality of care. This is the biggest reform weve done ever, said sponsoring Sen. Ann Gillespie, a Democrat from Arlington Heights. This is going to drive accountability. To qualify for bonus reimbursement, nursing homes would have to meet at least 70% of federal staffing level guidelines, and would get paid based on their quality star rating by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The measure also provides money for a new pay scale for chronically understaffed certified nursing assistants, based on their tenure and job levels. Under the plan, the $2.5 billion in annual nursing home funding by the state would increase by roughly $700 million, with $100 million from the states general revenue fund and the rest from federal Medicaid and local nursing home assessments, which by law are not supposed to be passed on to residents. The funding pays for the care of about 70% of the states 45,000 residents in skilled nursing facilities. For the first time, long-term care facilities also will be required to publicly identify all owners, which often can be hidden in a maze of corporate structures. That requirement is in response to a trend toward private equity ownership that Gillespie said is more focused on profits than patient care. The change also adopts the federal Patient Driven Payment Model, meant to reflect the clinical needs of each patient while preventing upcoding to increase bills without providing the needed care. Gov. J.B. Pritzker credited Gillespie and Rep. Anna Moeller, a Democrat from Elgin, for sponsoring the measure. For the first time, Pritzker said, increased funding for nursing homes will be tied to staffing levels at these facilities, ensuring new funds go directly to improving care for our seniors instead of profit for owners and allowing us to hold bad actors accountable. Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services Director Theresa Eagleson had pushed for the change for two years, saying it would put people over profits. Nursing home resident Mark Cooper testified at state hearings, hoping the changes would help address what he called mistreatment of Medicaid patients. The measure was supported by elderly advocate AARP Illinois and nursing home associations Leading Age and the Illinois Health Care Association. Another facility trade group, the Health Care Council of Illinois, which represents more than 300 skilled nursing facilities, had opposed the measure, warning that it could drive some Medicaid-dependent homes out of business. The council didnt raise an objection Thursday after sponsors addressed some of its concerns. AARP Illinois Director Philippe Largent welcomed the change, saying, The reform is a step forward in offering safe, high-quality and equitable care to residents, and beginning to address the chronic problems in nursing homes that contributed to the death of more than 11,000 nursing home residents and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
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Literary Ladies: The First 130 Years of The Wednesday Class began as an idea by Linda Ryan, Suzanne Verticchio and Cathy Green to put together a pamphlet about the history of the 134-year-old Jacksonville womens literary society. The pamphlet-turned-book focuses on the lives of members and what was happening during different time periods. It includes photos, maps and favorite tea recipes. It provides glimpses into the literary societies, members' families and the community. "'Literary Ladies documents and celebrates one of Jacksonvilles unique historical features: the existence of multiple male and female literary societies since the middle of the 19th century," Steve Hochstadt of Jacksonville wrote in a review. The award was being presented at the historical society's 123rd annual meeting at 11:30 a.m. today at the Hoogland Center for the Arts in Springfield. More than 35 nominees were being awarded for their achievements and publications on Illinois history. Illinois State Historical Society Executive Director William Furry said he believes this years group of nominees was especially memorable. "It has been a great year for history in Illinois, despite the pandemic. Although it virtually shut down the state, COVID-19 created opportunities for Illinois historians, historical societies, and museums to create special projects that tell our Prairie State stories. Now it's time to celebrate their achievements," he said. Ryan said the book showed a hidden world of local history. I dont think there are any other publications that tell how a literary club in Jacksonville like this works, the history of the club and especially about the lives of the woman," she said. "To me that is extremely exciting. Green said it was an honor to receive the award. This honor gives value to our belief and research that so much history can be gleamed through these literary societies," she said. The book is available at Our Town Books in Jacksonville. A motion for a new trial in a 2018 stabbing death has been denied. Dustin A. Finlaw, 22, of Meredosia argued that the state failed to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt when a jury in January convicted him of murder in the stabbing death of Robert L. Utter, 42, of Rushville. Utter was found May 24, 2018, in a car in Meredosia. He had been stabbed multiple times and his throat had been slashed. Finlaw who represented himself during the trial filed the request in February, saying the court made several errors, that prosecutors made inflammatory statements during closing statements, and that there was insufficient evidence. He also claimed a failure to have an impartial trial, that hearsay information was allowed and expert witnesses lacked proper qualifications. He elaborated on those claims during a hearing Friday, saying there are other possibilities the evidence failed to eliminate. "There was no forensic evidence that connected me to the murder weapon," Finlaw said. He also said the court "erred in denying the (defendant's) motion for a directed verdict of not guilty at the close of the state's evidence." Assistant State's Attorney Chad Turner argued that a majority of Finlaw's reasons should have been objections made during the trial. "If there is some sort of objectable evidence, the objection has to be timely," he said. "If they don't object, they typically waive argument." Turner said the state provided enough evidence to support a guilty verdict, including Finlaw's presence at the crime scene, incorrect statements made to officers and circumstantial evidence linking the knife used to Finlaw's house. He said Finlaw's claim that one juror was biased because the juror is a corrections officer wasn't valid because he could have argued against his inclusion during jury selection. "Just because someone has the occupation of a police officer or a prison guard doesn't mean they can't be fair," Turner said. Finlaw also said he was ineffective as his own counsel. Turner argued that allowing the argument would open the door for others to make the same claim. "He was arguing that as he was acting as his own counsel, he was ineffective," Turner said. "It's the same thing. If you choose to represent yourself, you waive the right to argue ineffective counsel." Finlaw said he plans to appeal the decision. He has asked for appointment of counsel prior to his sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for April 29. He is facing from 20 to 60 years in prison. What's new at Jacksonville Public Library: "The Dickens Boy" by Daniel Thomas Keneally: Edward Dickens, the 10th child of Victorian Englands most famous writer, Charles Dickens, is a bit of a disappointment to his parents. Unable to apply himself at school and adrift in life, he is sent to Australia in hopes that he can make something of his life. He soon finds himself in the remote Outback, surrounded by colonials, ex-convicts, Aboriginals and very few women. This rollicking, high-spirited tale offers penetrating insights into colonialism and a wonderfully intimate portrait of Charles Dickens as seen through the eyes of his exiled son. Adult Non-Fiction "15-Minute Better Back" by Suzanne Martin: Fit exercise into your busy life with these short but effective back-strengthening programs. Follow these routines for just 15 minutes regularly anytime, anywhere to make a difference. DVD "Inequality for All": A passionate argument on behalf of the middle class, this documentary features Robert Reich as he demonstrates how the widening income gap has a devastating impact on the economy. Reich uses humor and a wide array of facts to explain the issue of income inequality. Young Adult Fiction "Squire" by Sarah Alfageeh: Aiza, a member of the subjugated Ornu people in the Bayt-Saiji Empire, dreams of becoming a knight. When the empire finds itself on the brink of war, Aiza gets her chance to enlist in the competitive Squire training program, but she must hide her true background from her new friends and rivals. Juvenile Fiction "Once Upon a Tim" by Stuart Gibbs: Beloved author of the Spy School series Stuart Gibbs introduces readers to Tim, a woodsmans son growing up in the kingdom of Wyld. While his family seems content to be peasants forever, Tim wants more out of life. When neighboring Princess Grace is kidnapped, Tim joins Prince Ruprecht on a hilarious quest to rescue her. Did you know? Come to the library this Sunday to enjoy a free concert as part of the library's Music Under the Dome series. Americana-folk duo Stone and Snow will play beginning at 4 p.m. Shanghai hospital pays the price for Chinas COVID response View Photo BEIJING (AP) A series of deaths at a hospital for elderly patients in Shanghai is underscoring the dangerous consequences of Chinas stubborn pursuit of a zero-COVID approach amid an escalating outbreak in the city of 26 million people. Multiple patients have died at the Shanghai Donghai Elderly Care hospital, relatives of patients told The Associated Press. They say their loved ones werent properly cared for after caretakers who came into contact with the virus were taken away to be quarantined, in adherence to the strict pandemic regulations, depleting the hospital of staff. Family members have taken to social media to plea for help and answers and are demanding to see surveillance video from inside the facility after getting little to no information from the hospital. The conditions and deaths at the hospital are a sharp rebuke of Chinas strategy of sticking to a zero-COVID policy as it deals with the outbreak in Shanghai in which most of the infected people dont have symptoms. With a focus on forcing positive cases and close contacts into designated collective quarantine facilities, the costs of zero-COVID may be outweighing the risk of getting sick. On Saturday, Shanghai Vice Mayor Zong Ming said the lockdown could soon be lifted or eased in communities that report no positive cases within 14 days, after another round of citywide COVID-19 testing. Shen Peiming, 71, was one such casualty of harsh measures. She died Sunday morning at the hospital, without any relatives by her side. A family member said they have been calling the hospital non-stop to find out the circumstances of Shens death, but have not gotten a clear answer. How many times have there been lockdowns since 2020? They still dont have experience managing this? the family member said. All they know is her doctor and nurses had not been there to care for Shen, who was partially paralyzed after a stroke. Her last nursing assistant had been quarantined for being a close contact of a positive case, the relative said, speaking on condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution. An unfamiliar worker called to inform them of her death. Later, the hospital said it was due to a chest infection. The hospital had a COVID-19 outbreak, the family heard from orderlies, but Shen had tested negative as of last week. Shanghai authorities have reported no deaths from this outbreak, but questions have been raised about the reliability of the data. A city health official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic, said that the criteria for confirming cases and deaths are very strict and susceptible to political meddling. It is unclear how many patients have died at the hospital, and whether any died of COVID-19. Families say they are talking with other families whose relatives have also died. An article from Chinese news outlet Caixin describing the deaths and infections was taken down shortly after it was published, apparently targeted by censors. Calls to the main office of Donghai Elderly Care went unanswered. The Shanghai government did not respond to a faxed request for comment. Most experts agree that Chinas zero-COVID approach was highly successful in keeping deaths to a minimum when there were limited drugs or vaccines. But now that shots are widely available in China, and with the advent of the omicron variant, many say the government should abandon the policy and focus medical resources on the elderly and vulnerable instead. Instead, Shanghai has locked down its 26 million people and carried out repeated mass testing to tackle an outbreak driven by the highly contagious omicron BA.2 variant. On Saturday, the city reported more than 23,000 new local cases, of which only 1,015 had symptoms. If youre asymptomatic, whats going to hurt you? said Ray Yip, the founding director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control office in China, who maintains close ties with Chinese health officials. The only people who get sick are those with diabetes, obesity, chronic disease, old people. Protect those people. You can protect them. A low vaccination rate among the elderly, though, remains a concern. Only 62% of Shanghai residents over 60 have been vaccinated, according to the latest data available. Some experts support the strict approach, saying China needs to raise that rate before it can safely live with the virus. The U.S. guidelines for asymptomatic cases, as in the U.K., are that individuals isolate at home for five days. In Shanghai, workers are rushing to set up massive temporary facilities in exhibition halls and elsewhere to try to house everyone who tests positive. The citywide lockdown has disrupted daily life and the economy. Many residents, trapped in their apartment buildings, are scrambling to buy food through apps and place bulk orders with neighbors. Some in quarantine have posted videos showing chaotic scenes of people rushing to get food and a lack of clean toilets. Others have posted pleas for relatives who need medicine urgently. The U.S. said Friday that it is allowing the voluntary departure of non-essential personnel and family members from its consulate in Shanghai because of the situation. The government has trumpeted its success in curbing COVID-19, touting it as evidence of the superiority of Chinas governing system especially compared to Western democracies, where deaths have far exceeded Chinas. That narrative, experts said, is making it difficult for Beijing to switch tactics. They bragged too hard to their own people about how wonderful they are, and now theyve painted themselves into a corner, said Yip. The only way they can control Shanghai now is to repeat what they did in Wuhan. The 11 million residents of Wuhan were locked down for more than two months at the start of the pandemic in 2020. Shanghais lockdown is an abrupt about-face from just a month ago, when some Chinese health experts publicly suggested softening pandemic control measures. The citys economic importance and advanced health care system left officials reluctant to impose strict measures and confident about combating any outbreaks. Further, Chinese leader Xi Jinping ordered that ongoing outbreaks in China be controlled at minimum cost in mid-March, emphasizing Beijings desire to protect the economy while curbing the virus. Shanghai took targeted steps, locking down individual office buildings, shopping centers and neighborhoods for 48 hours at a time but otherwise allowing life to go on as usual. With the soft measures, the citys case count rose. The outbreak spilled over to at least 71 other cities, according to a notice posted by Guangxi province in southern China, and pressure grew for harsher measures. On March 28, the city started an eight-day lockdown in two phases, which has since evolved into a citywide one with no end in sight. There is no time to waste, Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan said on a visit to the city last weekend, according to a government statement. We need to move forward faster and harder to provide strong support for the elimination of cases in society. The actions sent nurses and doctors into quarantine, causing conditions to worsen at Donghai Elderly Care. Chen Jielei said the outbreak at the hospital infected her unvaccinated, partially paralyzed 81-year-old mother. Because staff members also fell ill, her mother wasnt served meals on time and her sheets were unchanged for days. After a few days, a replacement worker started taking care of her. A college professor who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was afraid of retribution, said his family wasnt notified for more than a day after his 82-year-old father died on March 31. His last contact was on March 28 with a nursing assistant who called to warn there were positive cases and they could no longer take care of his father. In those three days, what happened to my father? What kind of mistreatment did he suffer? he asked. His fathers condition had been stable on March 28 when he spoke with the nursing assistant. Shen had lived on and off in the hospital for three years after her stroke. Family members visited every week. But visits were banned in early March as the COVID-19 outbreak spread through Shanghai, the relative said. They were not worried initially because the hospital had always been very responsive and they were in contact with the nursing assistants who took care of Shen. But one orderly warned on March 26 there were positive cases and many of Donghais staff were being quarantined. The hospital hired temporary nursing assistants, but many did not have healthcare experience, one nursing assistant said. The woman, who gave only her last name of Zhang, said an employment agency told her it was a cleaning job. They said your work is just to clean, you wont even have to wear a protective suit. But what they said was completely different from what I had to do, she said. Shen needed to be assisted with eating through a tube by having her food blended into a liquid. She also had a tube in her throat that had to be disinfected each day. In the past, if there was an issue, theyd always call me. This time, there wasnt even a voice message, and she died so suddenly, the relative said. Now the hospital is asking the families to sign a form to cremate the deceased. Shens relative said the family will refuse until they get a clear answer. The hospital sent an apology letter Wednesday to some of the families. The AP has viewed a copy. Because of the outbreaks emergency, and many of the seniors had not been vaccinated, this caused those with severe underlying illness and weak health to die, it said. While Chinese government researchers have begun exploring ways to end zero COVID, the government continues to punish officials with large outbreaks on their turfs. The space for discussion is now eliminated, said Yanzhong Huang, a public health expert at the Council for Foreign Relations in the U.S. The message is loud and clear: zero-COVID, no exceptions. ___ Wu reported from Taipei, Taiwan. Associated Press video producer Olivia Zhang in Beijing and researcher Chen Si in Shanghai contributed to this report. By HUIZHONG WU and DAKE KANG Associated Press 2 European divers rescued in Indonesia, Dutch teenager dead View Photo KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) Two European divers were rescued by fishermen on Saturday but a third, a 14-year-old Dutch, had died, four days after they disappeared off a southern Malaysian island and drifted some 70 nautical miles (100 kilometers), authorities said. Alexia Alexandra Molina, 18, of France and Adrian Peter Chesters, 46, of Britain were found early Saturday in neighboring Indonesian waters and taken to a hospital, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency said. Chesters Dutch son, Nathen Renze Chesters, remained missing but Chesters told police that he had died because he was too weak, the agency said in a statement. The agency said it notified Indonesian authorities to continue searching for the body. The search operation in Malaysia has been called off. Molina and Chesters were found 16 nautical miles (30 kilometers) north of Indonesias Bintan Island, which is about 70 nautical miles (100 kilometers) from the location they were reported missing on Wednesday, according to Mersing police chief Cyril Edward Nuing. The three were diving with their Norwegian instructor, Kristine Grodem, about 15 meters (50 feet) deep at an island off Mersing town in Malaysias southern Johor state. Grodem, 35, was rescued Thursday by a tugboat. She said the four of them surfaced safely Wednesday afternoon but later drifted away from the boat and were separated by a strong current. Grodem was training for the other three, who were seeking to obtain advanced diving licenses, maritime officials said. The boat skipper was detained for further investigation, and diving activities off Mersing were suspended. There are several islands off the town that are popular dive spots. 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(AP) When Ted Budd won a surprise endorsement from former President Donald Trump last year, he was a little-known congressman running for a Senate seat in North Carolina against some of the states most recognizable Republicans, including a former governor. As he enters the final stretch before the states May 17 primary, Budd is again hoping for a boost, banking on the power of Trumps endorsement to put him on top of a field that includes a dozen other Republicans. We feel weve got strong momentum, Budd told The Associated Press. Whether its grassroots, trend lines in polling or fundraising, we think were in a very good place. Budds candidacy will serve as an early test of whether Trumps backing is powerful enough to lift someone from relative obscurity to the GOP nomination for a critical Senate seat. A strong showing by Budd could provide clues about how Trump-backed candidates in other states, including Georgia, that vote in quick succession after North Carolina, will fare. The race will be a test of the Trump effect on North Carolina among North Carolina Republicans, I think not just for North Carolina but nationally, said Mike Rusher, a political consultant who previously worked for the state GOP. Democrats have made inroads across the South in recent years, winning a presidential election in Georgia in 2020 for the first time in 28 years and picking up two Senate seats. North Carolina has experienced similar demographic changes, driven by an influx of new residents to the Raleigh and Charlotte areas. But for now, Democrats have struggled to make the same progress in the states presidential and Senate races. Barack Obama was the last Democratic presidential contender to carry North Carolina in 2008, and a Democrat hasnt won a Senate seat since Kay Hagan the same year. Trump returned to the state on Saturday for a rally in rural Johnston County, just southeast of Raleigh, where he hyped Budd as a great guy and a tremendous person. Some people didnt know him, but now they know him, he said. Trump was a boon to North Carolina Republicans in the 2020 campaign, boosting turnout so that GOP candidates with few exceptions won races up and down the ballot even as Trump himself only narrowly eked out a win. Budd is running for retiring Republican Sen. Richard Burrs seat against former Gov. Pat McCrory, who is viewed as a moderate and has kept some distance from Trump while backing his economic policies. A dozen other Republicans are also seeking the nomination, including former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker, who has resisted Trumps entreaties to drop out. The winner is expected to take on presumptive Democratic nominee Cheri Beasley, a former state Supreme Court chief justice, in Novembers general election. Like nearly all statewide races, the general election should be close, and a Democratic victory could thwart GOP hopes of retaking the Senate majority. While McCrory entered the race as its best-known candidate, Budd and his advisers are increasingly optimistic that his position is strengthening in the races final weeks. Budd credited Trumps endorsement as the single biggest factor to help advance and get attention on this campaign. He has also benefited from millions of dollars in super PAC spending on his behalf, including from the Club for Growths political wing. The groups ads heavily feature Trumps endorsement, casting Budd as a reliable conservative while highlighting McCrorys past criticism of the former president and slamming him as a disloyal, liberal loser. McCrory became governor in 2013 but lost reelection after he signed a bathroom bill targeting transgender people that cost the state billions. Saturdays rally comes amid questions over whether Trumps influence is fading amid stumbles in other states. Last month, he withdrew his endorsement of Rep. Mo Brooks, who was struggling to gain traction in Alabamas Senate primary. Last year, his endorsed candidate in Pennsylvanias Senate race, Sean Parnell, dropped out amid allegations of abuse by his estranged wife. As aides have warned that he is setting himself up for failure by offering too many endorsements, Trump has held off picking sides in several competitive Senate contests, including in Missouri and Ohio, where early voting is underway. Seeing Walker as a potential spoiler, Trump has tried to no avail to pressure him to leave the race a tactic he has used successfully in other contests to bolster his favored candidates chances. The top vote-getter must garner more than 30% of the vote to avoid a runoff. Otherwise, the top two finishers advance to a runoff in late July. Look, we appreciate President Trump and the work that he did for our country, but it doesnt mean that he makes the right decisions and sometimes he gets bad counsel, Walker said in an interview. And in this particular incident, he has hitched his wagon to the wrong horse. McCrory, meanwhile, dismissed polling out this week suggesting he had lost his early edge, saying theres time for a counterattack. This race is going to be a dead heat. Its neck and neck right now, and its amazing that were even in that position, considering $7 to $8 million have been spent against us from a special interest group in D.C., McCrory said in an unnamed reference to Club for Growth Action. Many voters have yet to make up their minds, with early in-person voting beginning April 28. John Dismukes, 48, of Carolina Beach describes himself as 100% undecided. Im looking at all three of them, he said. Billy Shomaker, a retired commercial pilot from Beech Mountain, said he supports Budd regardless of Trumps endorsement. I like President Trump. I dont like everything he does, said Shomaker, 68. Trumps preferred candidates in North Carolina havent always been successful. In 2020, political newcomer Madison Cawthorn comfortably won a GOP congressional primary runoff over Trumps pick. But Trump soon embraced Cawthorn, who won the general election at age 25 and became one of the ex-presidents strongest supporters. Now, Trump is returning the favor, featuring him as a rally speaker and endorsing him for reelection even as Cawthorn has faced backlash over recent incendiary comments. McCrory said he had other events to attend Saturday and wouldnt have shared the stage with Budd, Cawthorn or Trump even if offered. Trump says I dont represent his values, McCrory said, referencing the former presidents words when he endorsed Budd 10 months ago. I agree with the policies of Trump. But yeah, we maybe have different opinion on values. ___ Colvin reported from New York. By GARY D. ROBERTSON and JILL COLVIN Associated Press (Editors note: This project is a collaboration between the Plainview Herald and Saint Francis Ministries to showcase kids who are cleared for adoption.) Kyler is an imaginative and happy-go-lucky young boy. He likes to keep the attention of the adults around him by asking tons of questions and telling entertaining stories. Kyler has what seems to be an infinite amount of energy; hes eager to play and always up for a fun time! Hes all boy and loves being out in the dirt and sunshine. The 10-year-old will entertain himself in almost any context, from playing alone in his room with toys, or finding any willing participant to join him. Hes a social butterfly and prefers to be in the middle of the action, enthusiastically engaging others. Kyler enjoys school, but occasionally gets in trouble for talking too much. Whoda thunk? If your house is too quiet and your routine mundane, this colorful kid can remedy that for you! --- Kyler is among the children listed on the Texas Adoption Resource Exchange (TARE) website. Visit https://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Application/TARE/Home.aspx/Default for more details. Saint Francis Ministries is a nonprofit organization and a community-based care provider for the Texas Department of Family Protective Services Region 1. This region includes 41 counties across the Panhandle and South Plains. To learn more about fostering or adopting, those interested are encouraged to attend one of the monthly virtual meetings hosted by Saint Francis Ministries and other child placing agencies. The meetings provide information about how to get started, the basic qualifications and more, in addition to providing opportunity for attendees to ask questions. Those interested can visit Saint Francis Texas on Facebook @SFMtexas to register for the online meetings, which can also be found below: The meetings are scheduled for the second Thursday of the month (Lubbock area https://lubbock-area-foster-care-adoption.eventbrite.com) and the third Thursday of the month (Amarillo area https://amarillo-area-foster-care-adoption.eventbrite.com). For more information, please contact Erin Baxter at (806) 317-5631 or email texasinfo@st-francis.org. Visit Saint Francis Ministries online at https://saintfrancisministries.org. March 31 A crash was reported on March 31 at the 3000 block of W. 11th St. Plainview Police were dispatched to the location where officers learned a Ford Raptor pickup drove into the rear driver side of a vehicle parked on the curb. The driver of the Raptor said a glare interrupted his view of the road. No injuries were reported. The driver of the truck was able to drive away from the scene. The owner of the other vehicle moved his to the driveway. A 50-year-old man was arrested on March 31 at the 500 block of Houston St. Officers were dispatched to the location in reference to criminal activity. Officers were told a man was knocking on the door of the residence. The man, described as Hispanic, was aware of the active criminal trespass citation and was arrested. He was charged with criminal trespass. Police arrested 17-year-old Brendon Blake Gomez on March 31 at the 600 block of W. 29th St. Officers were advised a man known to have an active warrant was seen leaving the Walmart Supercenter. A vehicle description was provided and officers tracked he individual. Gomez was arrested for an active felony warrant for aggravated sexual assault of a child. A 55-year-old man was arrested on March 31 at the 1100 block of Dallas St. for an active warrant for assault causing bodily injury, family violence. A 61-year-old man was arrested on March 31 at the 800 block of Independence. He was found to have two active warrants for assault causing bodily injury. April 1 Officers were called to the 900 block of W. 28th St. on April 1 in reference to criminal mischief. Damage to a vehicle was reported. A two-vehicle crash was reported on April 1 at the 400 block of W. 5th St. The crash resulted in vehicle damage but no injuries. A stolen vehicle was reported on April 1 at the 310 block of W. 5th St. Police were dispatched to the Cefco where the victim reported a stolen Ford Escort stolen from his house by a known female. A 21-year-old man was arrested on April 1 at the 700 block of Galveston St. Jesus Borgas was charged with possession of a controlled substance, which is a felony. The arrest was made during a traffic stop following a search of a vehicle. Theft from a vehicle was reported on April 1 at the 700 block of Utica. An unknown person forced entry into a GMC Yukon parked in the Harral Auditorium parking lot. The suspect broke the glass window on the passenger side and took a purse containing cash and credit cards. A 27-year-old man was arrested on April 1 at the 1000 block of W. 5th St. Luis Eduardo Esquivel was charged with possession of a controlled substance, which is a felony, and with false drug test, falsification device. The arrest was made after officers searched the vehicle and found drug paraphernalia inside. An aggravated assault was reported at the 210 block of Milwee on April 1. Officers were dispatched to the location in reference to a disturbance where they met a male victim who told them the suspect fled the scene. The victim provided the name of the suspect and cleared the scene after an investigation. A theft was reported April 1 at the 1500 block of N. I-27. Suspects were stopped after passing the point of sale at Walmart with items they had not paid for. April 2 A 37-year-old woman was arrested on April 2 at the 600 block of W. 5th St. during a traffic stop following a traffic infraction. During the stop, the driver admitted to have marijuana and a firearm in the vehicle. A probable cause search was conducted and officers found a white powdery substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine. The woman was charged with controlled substance act offense and with unlawfully carrying a weapon. A crash was reported at the 700 block of Milwaukee St. on April 2. Vehicle damage was reported. Officers responded to the 1600 block of Joliet St. on April 2 in reference for deadly conduct. A 56-year-old man was arrested on April 2 at the 1100 block of Quincy St. The man was charged with an outstanding out-of-county warrant for probation violation. April 3 Officers were dispatched to the 210 block of Milwee St. on April 3 in reference to a burglary in progress. Officers noted the front door of the residence was open when they arrived. A window on the north side of the residence was also observed to be broken. A traffic stop initiated for a defective headlight ended in the arrest of the driver at the 500 block of Joliet St. on April 3. The vehicle was observed leaving the parking lot of the 1000 block of W. 5th St. headed westbound. During the stop, the driver consented to a search of the vehicle. Officers found a glass pipe and a probable cause search was conducted. Officers found two small baggies of a crystal-like substance, which tested positive for methamphetamine. Police arrested 39-year-old Miranda Lynn Estrada for possession of a controlled substance, which is a felony. Criminal mischief was reported at the 1300 block of Portland St. on April 3. Damage to private property was reported. A crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported on April 3 at the 1000 block of N. I-27. A 42-year-old man was arrested on April 3 at the intersection of W. 7th and N. Columbia. Jermaine Jerod Finch was charged with an out-of-county felony warrant for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Officers were dispatched to the 100 block of W. 9th St. on April 3 in reference to a violation of a court order. April 4 Mail theft was reported on April 4 at the 1300 block of Holiday St. An assault was reported on April 4 at W. 10th and Ennis Streets. A crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported on April 4 at the 2400 block of N. Columbia. Criminal mischief was reported at the 2000 block of W. 5th St. on April 4. Damaged property was noted. Officers responded to the 100 block of Pecos Place on April 4 in reference to a disturbance involving an aggravated assault. A 22-year-old man was charged with assault causing bodily injury, family violence. Two men were arrested on April 4 at the 400 block of Yonkers St. The arrests were made during a traffic stop. Officers arrested and charged 36-year-old Christopher Lynn Cantrell with manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, which is a felony. Damiann Raeya Sanders was also arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and with possession of a controlled substance, which is a felony. Identity theft was reported on April 4 at the 1900 block of S. Columbia St. Criminal mischief was reported at the 1000 block of N. Broadway on April 4. Damaged property was reported. April 5 A crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported on April 5 at W. 5th St. and Xenia. Another crash was reported at W. 6th and Quincy. Vehicle damage was noted. A third crash was reported at the 4100 block of Olton Road. Vehicle damage was reported. Plainview PD arrested a 33-year-old man on April 5 at the 600 block of W. 24th St. Officers responded to the location in reference to criminal trespass. Thats what the individual was charged with. Police arrested 29-year-old Christopher Michael Kiff on April 5 at the 2600 block of Olton Road. He was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, which is a felony. He was also found to have two active felony warrants for fraudulent use/possession of identifying information and for unlawful use of a criminal instrument. April 6 Police arrested 34-year-old Ray Hernandez, Jr., on April 6 at the 4000 block of Olton Road. They were called to the location in reference to a kidnapping. Hernandez was charged with aggravated kidnapping, which is a felony. A victim told officers they and another individual were forced to accompany Hernandez to his room at the Plainview Inn to avoid injury. It was noted that the victim and suspect are familiar to each other. The case remains under investigation. Burglary of a building was reported on April 6 at the 1600 block of Galveston. Damage to a vehicle was reported at the 1200 block of Joliet St. on April 6. A burglary was reported at the 800 block of Portland on April 6. Officers noted evidence of forced entry and property was reported stolen. At the same location, officers were informed that a vehicle had been taken from the driveway of the residence. Further investigation revealed a second vehicle had been taken from the detached garage. Criminal mischief was reported on April 6 at the 3300 block of Olton Road. Officers noted a vehicle window had been broken. Police arrested 35-year-old Sheri Jolynn Garza on April 6 at the 1600 block of W. 5th St. during a traffic stop initiated for a traffic infraction. Garza was found to be in possession of a controlled substance. She was charged with possession of a controlled substance, which is a felony. Drug paraphernalia was found during a traffic stop for vehicle equipment violation at the 600 block of Ennis St. on April 6. A police K-9 conducted an open-air sniff which led to the discovery. NO arrests were indicated. April 7 An assault was reported at the 1200 block of W. 23rd St. on April 7. Police arrested 30-year-old Violet Ann Tonche. Officers found the victim had an active felony warrant for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Criminal Case Dispositions January 2021 64th District Court Steve Lawrence Polzin possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, at least 4 grams, less than 200 grams (convicted) confinement 5 years Texas Department of Corrections, CSCD and Community Control 5 years Sabrina Alaniz interfering with child custody (dismissed) uncooperative victim Corey Luke Everett indecency with a child, sexual contact (dismissed) pled guilty in another case Desiree Nicole Gomez unauthorized use of a vehicle (probation revocation) confinement 15 months state jail Corey Luke Everett injury to a child/elderly/disabled criminal negligence (deferred) CSCD and community control 4 years Erick Joel Quintana evading arrest/detention with a vehicle (convicted) confinement 4 years Texas Department of Corrections, CSCD and community control 4 years Monica Mancias possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, less than 1 gram (deferred) CSCD and community control 4 years Melissa Renee Ward unlawful possession of a metal or body armor by a felon (convicted) confinement 2 years Texas Department of Corrections 242nd District Court Kenneth Herman Parks possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 2, at least 4 grams, less than 400 grams (deferred) CSCD and community control 3 years Valentino Robles assault of a family/house member impeding breathing/circulation (dismissed) re-filed as misdemeanor Sierra Nicole Santos possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, less than 1 gram (convicted) confinement 12 months, state jail Jarrod Alan Burreson possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, less than 1 gram (dismissed) co-defendant took responsibility for crime Joe Reyes possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, less than 1 gram (dismissed) Joe Reyes possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, at least 1 gram, less than 4 grams (convicted) confinement 5 years, Texas Department of Corrections January 2022 242nd District Court Chance Dumas illegal dumping, 1,000 pounds or more (dismissed) refiled as misdemeanor and defendant pled guilty Zachery Rene Lamas sexual assault of a child (acquitted) count II Zachery Rene Lamas sexual assault of a child (convicted) confinement 1 year county jail Natividad Ortiz aggravated assault with a deadly weapon convicted confinement 1 year county jail Felix Vargas, Jr. obstruction or retaliation (dismissed) per plea agreement in another case Elias Daniel Mancias theft of property valued to at least $2,500 and less than $30,000 (dismissed) defendant paid total amount of restitution owed Matthew Cole Rinne possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, at least 1 gram, less than 4 grams (dismissed) refiled in another case Charles Michael Jacobs prohibited substance/item in a correction/civil commitment facility (dismissed) refiled under a different case Dustin Craige Smith possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, at least 1 gram, less than 4 grams (convicted) confinement 3 years Texas Department of Corrections CSCD and community control 4 years Michael Reyes driving while intoxicated, third or more IAT (convicted) confinement 4 years Texas Department of Corrections Matthew John Ketelhut possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, less than 1 gram (dismissed) Ivan Calvillo driving while intoxicated, third or more IAT (convicted) confinement 4 years Texas Department of Corrections CSCD and community control 4 years Charles Michael Jacobs possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, less than 1 gram (convicted) confinement 18 months state jail CSCD and community control 5 years Eliseo Rene Zambrano assault int/reck breathing/circ family member, prev IAT (convicted) confinement 10 years Texas Department of Corrections Eliseo Rene Zambrano burglary of a habitation intended other felony (convicted) confinement 10 years Texas Department of Corrections 64th District Court Arturo Daniel driving while intoxicated, third or more (convicted) confinement 7 years Texas Department of Corrections Jerald Armindariz Perez possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, less than 1 gram (convicted) confinement 18 months Texas Department of Corrections, CSCD and community control 4 years Raul Martinez Menchaca driving while intoxicated, third or more offense (convicted) confinement 10 years Texas Department of Corrections, CSCD and community control 10 years Arturo Daniel driving while intoxicated, third or more offense (dismissed) pursuant to plea agreement Deion Mollette possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, less than 1 gram (convicted) confinement 12 months state jail Eric Longoria Suniga assault of a family/household member with a previous conviction IAT (convicted) confinement 5 years Texas Department of Corrections Jack Aundre Robinson aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (dismissed) indicted under a different case David Orona burglary of a habitation (convicted) confinement 3 years Texas Department of Corrections Christopher Roshon Sansom unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon (convicted) confinement 3 years Texas Department of Corrections February 2022 242nd District Court Frankie Lee Cada, Jr. credit card or debit card abuse (dismissed) Frankie Lee Cada, Jr. forgery financial instrument elderly (convicted) confinement 10 years Texas Department of Corrections CSCD and community control 10 years Dylan Ty Philpott credit card or debit card abuse (dismissed) Emilio Gaucin possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, at least 4 grams, less than 200 grams (convicted) confinement 8 years Texas Department of Corrections Daniel Larralde Garcia, Jr. assault causing bodily injury to a date/family/house member (convicted) confinement 2 years Texas Department of Corrections Tiffany Lois Downey possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, less than 1 gram (convicted) confinement 18 months state jail Leroy Harrison, Jr. driving while intoxicated, third or more offense (convicted) confinement 4 years Texas Department of Corrections Jonathan Ross Urrutia theft of at least $2,500, 2 or more previous convictions (dismissed) Anna Salinas hinder apprehension or prosecution of a known felon (dismissed) refiled as a misdemeanor Desirea Dominique Lopez unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon (convicted) confinement 3 years Texas Department of Corrections Desirea Dominique Lopez possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 2, less than 1 grams (dismissed) Steven Joshua Asencio assault of a family/house member impeding breathing/circulation (convicted) confinement 5 years Texas Department of Corrections Angelo Michael Castro fraud, use/possession of identifying information (convicted) 2 years, state jail Emerson Josue Argueta evading arrest/detention with a vehicle (dismissed) defendant deported Darien Dale Red Stone sexual assault (dismissed) Jonathan Ross Urrutia theft of less than $2,500, 2 or more previous convictions (convicted) confinement 9 months state jail Miquela Mitchell Hinojosa theft of property valued to at least $2,500, less than $30,000 (convicted) confinement 2 years state jail, CSCD and community control 5 years Frankie Lee Cada, Jr. manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, at least 4 grams, less than 200 grams (convicted) confinement 10 years Texas Department of Corrections, CSCD and community control 10 years Frankie Lee Cada, Jr. credit card or debit card abuse (dismissed) Robert Ramirez, Jr. aggravated sexual assault of a child (convicted) confinement 15 years Texas Department of Corrections Robert Ramirez, Jr. aggravated assault of a child (convicted) confinement 15 years Texas Department of Corrections Robert Ramirez, Jr. indecency with a child, sexual contact (dismissed) Robert Ramirez, Jr. indecency with a child, sexual contact (dismissed) Robert Ramirez, Jr. indecency with a child, exposes (dismissed) Robert Ramirez, Jr. indecency with a child, exposes (dismissed) Robert Ramirez, Jr. indecency with a child, exposes (dismissed) 64th District Court Travis Wayne Hodge possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, at least 1 gram, less than 4 grams (convicted) confinement 3 years Texas Department of Corrections Leeza Nicole Ramirez-Rodriguez injury to a child/elderly/disabled, criminal negligence (convicted) confinement 9 months Texas Department of Corrections Melissa Ann Cozart manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, at least 1 gram, less than 4 grams (convicted) confinement 5 years Texas Department of Corrections Trenton John Reis possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 2, at least 400 grams (dismissed) in the interest of justice Joshua Eugene Hines possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, less than 1 gram (convicted) confinement 18 months state jail, CSCD and community control 3 years Richard Medina, Jr. aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (convicted) confinement 10 years Texas Department of Corrections Nickolas Kyle Short, Jr. forgery of government/national government instrument money/secur (convicted) confinement 4 years Texas Department of Corrections, CSCD and community control 4 years Monica Mancias possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, less than 1 gram (convicted) confinement 12 months state jail Esmerejildo Balderas evading arrest/detention with a vehicle (convicted) confinement 4 years Texas Department of Corrections Marcuis Anthony Martinez prohibited substance/item in correction/civil commitment facility (convicted) confinement 12 months, Texas Department of Corrections March 2022 242nd District Court Trinny Marroquin assault of a family/house member impeding breathing/circulation (dismissed) plea agreement in a different case Abel Rodriguez evading arrest with previous convictions (convicted) confinement 15 months state jail Abel Rodriguez unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon (dismissed) pursuant to plea agreement in a different case Alex Espinoza theft of property valued to at least $2,500, less than $30,000 (convicted) confinement 15 months state jail Alex Espinoza unauthorized use of a vehicle (dismissed) Alex Espinoza forgery of a financial instrument (convicted) confinement 15 months state jail Gilberto Vera theft of property valued to at least $2,500, less than $30,000 (convicted) confinement 60 days county jail Matthew Xavier Trevino sexual assault of a child (dismissed) unable to locate the victim Michael Don Potts unauthorized use of a vehicle (dismissed) insufficient evidence Michael Don Potts credit card or debit card abuse (dismissed) insufficient evidence Michael Don Potts credit card or debit card abuse (dismissed) insufficient evidence Sarah Lynn Guzman possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, less than 1 gram (convicted) confinement 18 months state jail, CSCD and community control 3 years Gilberto Vera theft of property valued to less than $2,500, two or more previous convictions (dismissed) plea agreement in a different case Jesus Garcia possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, at least 4 grams, less than 200 grams (convicted) confinement 12 years Texas Department of Corrections Trinny Marroquin prohibited substance/item in a correction/civil commitment facility (convicted) confinement 3 years Texas Department of Corrections Crystal Lee Garcia forgery of a financial instrument (convicted) confinement 12 months, state jail Crystal Lee Garcia fraudulent use/possession of identifying information, less than 5 items (convicted) confinement 12 months state jail Crystal Lee Garcia forgery of a financial instrument (unadjudicated with) Crystal Lee Garcia fraudulent use/possession of identifying information, less than 5 items (unadjudicated with) Ezequiel Soto Riojas possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, less than 1 gram (convicted) confinement 18 months state jail Brenda Lee Blevins possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, less than 1 gram (convicted) confinement 15 months state jail Dolores Arredondo possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, less than 1 gram (convicted) confinement 2 years state jail Dwayne Lamont Hood forgery of a financial instrument (dismissed) insufficient evidence Alberto Flores unauthorized use of a vehicle (convicted) confinement 18 months state jail, CSCD and community control 3 years Gilbert Lee Sinor driving while intoxicated, third or more IAT (convicted) confinement 9 years Texas Department of Corrections Tres Vicente Cisneros driving while intoxicated, third or more IAT (convicted) confinement 5 years Texas Department of Corrections, CSCD and community control 5 years Harvey Harold Thomas Young theft of property, at least $2,500, less than $30,000 (unadjudicated) Raul Garcia, Jr. aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (dismissed) at the request of the victim Ricardo Bernal, Jr. possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, less than 1 gram (unadjudicated) per guilty plea in a different case Ricardo Bernal, Jr. aggravated robbery (convicted) confinement 6 years Texas Department of Corrections The Plainview Lions Club held its weekly get together at the Plainview Country Club on Wednesday, April 6. Lion Boss Rob Kinkaid presided over the group, with the able assistance of Queen Paige Pierce and Princess Esperanza Perez. Two guests joined the meeting, Jonathan Scanlon, the new pastor at First Presbyterian, brought by Lion Jim Tirey, and Whitney Katz, with her father, Lion Bill Cross. After their traditional singing, pledging, and praying, the Lions filled several Meals on Wheels routes for the week, and they heard about the opportunity to assist a local family who has lost everything in a recent fire. Lion Donnie Ebeling reminded the members to begin contacting businesses for the annual Silent Auction---making its return after a COVID-induced two-year absence---which will begin on April 30 and run through May 14. Lion Linda Morris announced a service opportunity on April 23, when the Club will endeavor to clean up the overpass area at the intersection of Olton Road and Interstate 27. TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images British actress Emma Watson, best known for her roles as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films and as Belle in the live-action Beauty and the Beast, made a surprise visit to a Dallas ISD school this week. The 31-year-old actress has spent the past few weeks in the U.S. after appearing at the British Academy Film Awards. While the visit was brief, Watson was still able to impart acting advice and shared stories about her career to theater students at the Sudie L. Williams Talented and Gifted Academy, according to Tommy Cummings of the Dallas Morning News. The school's principal Michael Jackson described the star as "very accommodating and kind" and told the Dallas Morning News she was willing to answer any questions the students had. 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(AP) West Virginia's U.S. senators are among a dozen asking President Joe Biden to consult with officials state by state on the possible impact of recommendations of the Department of Veterans Affairs to the Asset and Infrastructure Review Commission. The recommendations are overly focused on quantitative data that does not do enough to consider the impact the proposed changes would have on our Veterans, particularly elderly Veterans," said the senators. The group includes West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin and Republic Shelley Moore Capito. WASHINGTON (AP) A North Carolina man on Friday became the second member of the extremist group Proud Boys to plead guilty to conspiring with other group members to stop Congress from formally certifying Joe Biden's 2020 election victory. Charles Donohoe, 34, pleaded guilty during an appearance in federal court in Washington to charges of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and assaulting or impeding federal officers. His plea agreement includes a provision to cooperate in the ongoing Justice Department cases against other Proud Boys members. Federal sentencing guidelines call for a prison term of about six to seven years, although terms of his sentence will be up to a federal judge. The indictment against Donohoe and other members of extremist groups, such as the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, have been a focus of the Justice Departments sprawling investigation of the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection. Donohoe who had been president of a local Proud Boys chapter in North Carolina has close ties to the group's leader, Enrique Tarrio. More than three dozen people charged in the Capitol siege have been identified by federal authorities as Proud Boys leaders, members or associates. Tarrio pleaded not guilty this week to charges that he remotely led a plot to stop Congress certification of Bidens 2020 victory in the presidential election. Though he wasnt at the Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot, prosecutors say Tarrio organized encrypted chats with Proud Boys members in the weeks before the attack, had a 42-second phone call with another member of the group in the building during the insurrection and took credit for the chaos at the Capitol. A New York man, Matthew Greene, became the first Proud Boys member to plead guilty to conspiracy in December. He agreed to cooperate with authorities as part of a plea agreement. On the morning of Jan. 6, Proud Boys members met at the Washington Monument and marched to the Capitol before President Donald Trump finished addressing thousands of supporters near the White House. Around two hours later, just before Congress convened a joint session to certify the election results, a group of Proud Boys followed a crowd of people who breached barriers at a pedestrian entrance to the Capitol grounds, according to one of the indictments. Several Proud Boys also entered the Capitol itself after the mob smashed windows and forced open doors, the indictment says. Since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 775 people have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, officials said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Civilian evacuations moved forward in patches of battle-scarred eastern Ukraine on Saturday, a day after a missile strike killed at least 52 people and wounded more than 100 at a train station where thousands clamored to leave before an expected Russian onslaught. In the wake of the attack in Kramatorsk, several European leaders made efforts to show solidarity with Ukraine, with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson visiting Kyiv the capital city that Russia failed to capture and where troops retreated days ago. Johnson met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a surprise visit in which he pledged new military assistance, including 120 armored vehicles and new anti-ship missile systems. Zelenskyy noted the increased support in an Associated Press interview, but expressed frustration when asked if weapons and other equipment Ukraine has received from the West is sufficient to shift the war's outcome. Not yet, he said, switching to English for emphasis. Of course its not enough. Zelenskyy later thanked Johnson and Nehammer during his nightly video address to the nation. He also thanked the European Commission president and the Canadian prime minister for a global fundraising event that raised more than 10 billion euros ($11 billion) for Ukrainians who have had to flee their homes. He added that democratic countries are united in working to stop the war. Because Russian aggression was not intended to be limited to Ukraine alone. ... The entire European project is a target for Russia. Zelenskyy repeated his call for a complete embargo on Russian oil and gas, which he called the sources of Moscow's self-confidence and impunity. More than six weeks after the invasion began, Russia has pulled its troops from the northern part of the country, around Kyiv, and refocused on the Donbas region in the east. Western military analysts said an arc of territory in eastern Ukraine was under Russian control, from Kharkiv Ukraines second-largest city in the north to Kherson in the south. But counterattacks are threatening Russian control of Kherson, according to the Western assessments, and Ukrainian forces are repelling Russian assaults elsewhere in the Donbas. Ukrainian authorities have called on civilians to get out ahead of an imminent, stepped-up offensive by Russian forces in the east. With trains not running out of Kramatorsk on Saturday, panicked residents boarded buses or looked for other ways to leave, fearing the kind of unrelenting assaults and occupations by Russian invaders that brought food shortages, demolished buildings and death to other cities. It was terrifying. The horror, the horror," one resident told British broadcaster Sky, recalling Friday's attack on the train station. "Heaven forbid, to live through this again. No, I dont want to. Ukraines state railway company said residents of Kramatorsk and other parts of the Donbas could flee through other train stations. Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said 10 evacuation corridors were planned for Saturday. Zelenskyy called the train station attack the latest example of war crimes by Russian forces and said it should motivate the West to do more to help his country defend itself. Russia denied responsibility and accused Ukraines military of firing on the station to turn blame for civilian casualties on Moscow. A Russian Defense Ministry spokesman detailed the missiles trajectory and Ukrainian troop positions to bolster the argument. Major Gen. Igor Konashenkov alleged Ukraines security services were preparing a cynical staged media operation in Irpin, another town near Kyiv, intended to attribute civilian casualties to Russian forces falsely, he said and to stage the slaying of a fake Russian intelligence team that intended to kill witnesses. The claims could not be independently verified. Western experts and Ukrainian authorities insisted that Russia attacked the station. Remnants of the rocket had the words For the children in Russian painted on it. The phrasing seemed to suggest the missile was sent to avenge the loss or subjugation of children, although its exact meaning remained unclear. Ukrainian authorities have worked to identify victims and document possible war crimes in the country's north. The mayor of Bucha, a town near Kyiv where graphic evidence of civilian slayings emerged after Russian forces withdrew, said search teams were still finding bodies of people shot at close range in yards, parks and city squares. Workers unearthed 67 bodies Friday from a mass grave near a church, according to Ukraine's prosecutor general. Russia has falsely claimed that the scenes in Bucha were staged. Ukrainian and Western officials have repeatedly accused Russian forces of committing atrocities. A total of 176 children have been killed, while 324 more have been wounded, the Prosecutor Generals Office said Saturday. Speaking to AP inside the heavily guarded presidential office complex in Kyiv, Zelenskyy said he is committed to negotiating a diplomatic end to the war even though Russia has tortured Ukraine. He also acknowledged that peace likely will not come quickly. Talks so far have not included Russian President Vladimir Putin or other top officials. We have to fight, but fight for life. You cant fight for dust when there is nothing and no people. Thats why it is important to stop this war, he said. Ukrainian authorities have said they expect to find more mass killings once they reach the southern port city of Mariupol, which is also in the Donbas and has been subjected to a monthlong blockade and intense fighting. As journalists who had been largely absent from the city began to trickle back in, new images emerged of the devastation from an airstrike on a theater last month that reportedly killed hundreds of civilians seeking shelter. Military analysts had predicted for weeks that Russia would succeed in taking Mariupol but said Ukrainian defenders were still putting up a fight. The city's location on the Sea of Azov is critical to establishing a land bridge from the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia seized from Ukraine eight years ago. Many civilians now trying to evacuate are accustomed to living in or near a war zone because Moscow-backed rebels have been fighting Ukrainian forces since 2014 in the Donbas, a mostly Russian-speaking, industrial region. Ukrainian officials have pleaded with Western powers almost daily to send more arms and further punish Moscow with sanctions, including the exclusion of Russian banks from the global financial system and a total EU embargo on Russian gas and oil. Nehammer said during his visit to Kyiv that he expects more EU sanctions against Russia, but he defended his countrys opposition so far to cutting off deliveries of Russian gas. A package of sanctions imposed this week wont be the last one, the chancellor said, acknowledging that as long as people are dying, every sanction is still insufficient. Austria is militarily neutral and not a member of NATO. Johnson's visit came a day after the U.K. pledged an additional 100 million pounds ($130 million) in high-grade military equipment to Ukraine. Johnson also confirmed further economic support, guaranteeing an additional $500 million in World Bank lending to Ukraine, taking Britains total loan guarantee to up to $1 billion. ___ Anna reported from Bucha, Ukraine. Robert Burns in Washington, Jill Lawless and Danica Kirka in London 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 Zebra mussels, roughly an inch and a half big, are causing massive problems for Hill Country lakes and rivers infrastructure. Zebra mussels are found in Medina Lake, Highland Lakes, Canyon Lake, and several lakes downstream of Canyon Lake in the Guadalupe River basin, said Monica E. McGarrity, senior scientist of aquatic invasive species inland division Texas Parks and Wildlife Department on March 30. "The biggest negative impact is on infrastructure for water supply, water control, and hydroelectric facilities as they clog intakes and pipeline and other water infrastructure as well as on private water intakes and pumps," McGarrity said in a Wednesday, April 6 email. "For larger facilities, it's possible for systems to be put in place to reduce the effects." McGarrity said chemical injections, UV lights, and anti-fouling coatings would reduce the effect, but the cost that comes with those options is expensive. Mussels were detected first detected in Lake Travis in the spring of 2017 and the latest lakes to have them were Medina and Inks Lakes in June 2021. TPWD conducts early detection monitoring plankton sampling on high risk lakes every spring and fall to spot what other lakes could have the invasive mussels. TPW also check settlement samplers and conduct shoreline surveys periodically during the year when our biologists are out at the lakes, as time permits, McGarrity said in an Friday, April 8 email. Zebra mussels also affect the food web in a lake. They compete with filter-feeding species such as shad - important prey species for bass - and can shift the food web from more open water species like bass to favoring bottom feeding species like catfish, McGarrity said in an email to MySA. Courtesy Texas Parks and Wildlife Department "They also attach and harm native mussels, many of which are imperiled in Texas," McGarrity said. "Unfortunately, once zebra mussels have become established, it is virtually impossible to eradicate them. There are a few smaller lakes in other states that aren't large river impoundments like our lakes where chemical treatment with low-dose copper may have been effective but such treatments just aren't feasible for our large lakes in Texas and likely wouldn't be 100% effective." So what can people do to help reduce the population? Well, nothing. McGarrity said the public can't remove them, and hand removals wouldn't be effective at controlling the population. "It's prohibited for people to possess and transport them with the exception that lakefront landowners can remove them from their docks and pumps and black bag them for disposal," McGarrity said. "But that just temporarily reduces the nuisance they cause and isn't a way to manage them." The way the invasive mussels are introduced into the lakes is primarily on boats, barges, or other equipment that has been in an infested lake and wasn't properly cleaned, drained, dried or fully decontaminated, if it was stored in water, she says. "Although in Texas, where our lakes are series of river impoundments, they can also disperse downstream from an infested lake naturally through their free-floating larvae as we've seen happen in some of the Highland Lakes," McGarrity said in a Wednesday, April 6 email. Courtesy Texas Parks and Wildlife Department One lake in Texas, Lake Waco, caught the mussels early and were able to successfully eradicate them using tarps covering the bottom of the lake in a small area where they were found. The situation was unique and usually when zebra mussels are detected, "its too late for such an effort," McGarrity said. The first Texas zebra mussel infestation was found in Lake Texoma in 2009. There are 28 Texas lakes that are fully infested with zebra mussels, which means the body of water has an establish reproducing population. Zebra mussels are native of Eurasia and arrived in North America in the late '80s, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife website. The Texas Parks and Wildlife department and numerous partners implement a public outreach campaign during peak boating season each year to increase awareness of the problematic zebra mussels. Boaters need to clean, dry and drain their boats to prevent the spread, McGarrity added in a Thursday, April 7 email. They also monitor nearly 50 bodies of water for early detection. It also helps provide operations of facilities during raw surface water with early warning of the potential impact to prepare them. Like what you read? Click here to make a contribution to the Scene and support local journalism! (Natural News) Banks in the U.S. have flagged more than 150 suspicious transactions involving either presidential son Hunter Biden or his uncle James Biden, according to newly obtained bank records. The bank records reviewed by CBS News revealed that the financial transfers involving James and Hunter were flagged by American banks as concerning. The concerns include large wire transfers that were escalated for further review. The news outlet was unable to determine the outcome of the banking reviews. The records were released as part of a probe by Republican senators. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, told Catherine Herridge of CBS News: We have people with the Biden name dealing with Chinese business people that have a relationship [with] the [Chinese] Communist Party. I think James Biden was very much a part of this. According to the documents obtained by the GOP senator, James firm Lion Hall Group received payments from another Chinese-financed consultancy in 2018. The payments were issued in 2018, before his older brother incumbent President Joe Biden announced his intent to run for president. Grassley added that in the same year, both James and Hunter received monthly retainers that amounted to $165,000 in all. Of this total, $100,000 went to the presidential son while $65,000 went to James. The Iowa senator said his team obtained the records directly from the bank where the Chinese consultancy did business. Grassley has spent three years scrutinizing the business deals of the two Biden family members, describing them as very concerning. (Related: Hunter Biden had links with questionable personalities during his fathers tenure.) A September 2020 report penned by Grassley and Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) stated that Hunter and Chinese businessman Gongwen Dong set up a credit line with credit cards issued to Hunter, James and James wife Sara. Using this credit line, they purchased airline tickets, hotel accommodations and food amounting to $100,000. The 2017 application for this credit line bearing the signatures of both Hunter and Dong was also part of the bank records made public by the GOP inquiry. These records we got are the first [ones] that have ever been made public on this issue. Nobody else has them, said the Iowa senator. Hunter and James shouldnt have entered into those deals Members of the Biden family refused to comment on the bank records released by the GOP senators. Hunters attorney and two lawyers who have represented James did not respond to requests for comment sent by CBS News. Meanwhile, White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain said during an April 3 interview with ABC News that the actions of the two are private matters that do not involve the president. The 72-year-old James the incumbent presidents younger brother has been involved in a number of finance and business ventures over the years. However, his name was mentioned in the news in 2021 after he abandoned a British renewable energy venture he was involved in. James let go of his plans for the 2BT firm after a White House ethics review flagged it for potential conflicts of interests. Members of the First Family are required to disclose their business ventures with the White House Counsels office of business engagements. These ventures are then reviewed for potential or actual conflicts of interests, after which the office advises on its findings and the next steps. Robert Weissman, president of the Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group Public Citizen, criticized Hunter and James dealings with Chinese business entities. I think Hunter and James should not have entered into those relationships, full stop. To the extent that those occurred while Joe was the vice president, theres a worry that they hope to get something direct from the Obama administration, he said. Weissman continued that even after the former vice presidents term ended, there should still have been concerns about the potential for investing in these family members to get future benefits in the possibility that Joe would become president later on. Head over to BidenCrimeFamily.news to read more about the shady dealings of Hunter and James Biden. Watch Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley expounding on the bank records of Hunter and James Biden below. This video is from the In Search Of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Hunter Biden maintained close relationship with CCP-tied energy tycoon. Biden familys China ties date back decades to Joe Bidens term as senator. Ohio lawmaker demands answers from FBI on Hunter Bidens illicit foreign deals. Hunter Biden under scrutiny for business deals with Chinese exec with links to military. New York Post uncovers new Hunter Biden emails indicating his alleged deals with military-linked Chinese executive. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com CBSNews.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) Victorian MP Bernie Finn alleges the Education Department is exposing girls as young as 10 to inappropriate sexual material during school classes. (Article by Alexandra Marshall republished from RebelNews.com) Finn raised the matter publicly with the Minister for Education, Labor MP James Merlino, stating: It is not often in this job I am absolutely shocked. I thought Id seen everything. Finn read out a letter from a constituent who shared a worksheet given to their 10-year-old daughter at school. In quoting the letter, Finn said, Part of her homework was to discuss his erections and ejaculation with her father. I find this very disturbing and sickening. I have complained to the school and was told it was just part of the curriculum. [] My daughter still plays with dolls and writes letters to the tooth fairy. There is no way any little girl should be told to ask these questions. Finn then turned on the Chamber and furiously added, Well, so say all of us. What the hell is going on in this state when 10-year-old girls are told to go home and talk to their father about his erections and ejaculations? What the hell is going on here?! How the hell are we supposed to protect our kids when this sort of perversion is in our schools? This is what is being dished up to them on a daily basis in a primary school not even a secondary school a primary school. This is just unbelievable. Its staggering. I could not imagine the reaction I have three daughters I could not imagine the reaction of any of them if they were told to do that. They would be traumatised for life. I dont think theyd ever recover. Im not sure Id recover. It seems to be a part of the ongoing war by the Andrews government against children in particular in this state. Let kids be kids. It is deplorable. Finn asked those present if they would be happy if this was happening to their children. I ask the minister to conduct an urgent investigation to remove this material. There has been no public response from the Minister of Education about the claim. Read more at: RebelNews.com (Natural News) Germany has just rejected a bill making vaccination against the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) mandatory for citizens over the age of 60. Legislators in Germanys Bundestag (federal parliament) have been debating for months whether to introduce a policy to mandate the experimental, ineffective and deadly COVID-19 vaccines for all citizens 18 years and older. After lengthy negotiations, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was able to get his left-wing coalition government to craft a bill that would make the vaccine mandatory for citizens over 60. This proposal was referred to as a compromise, as many members of the coalition government, particularly from the more pro-free market Free Democratic Party (FDP), were unwilling to make vaccinations mandatory for all. (Related: Germanys COVID vaccine mandate could be delayed due to bureaucratic hurdles.) This compromise legislation would have made it mandatory for everybody over 60 to show proof of vaccination or recovery from a previous COVID-19 infection by Oct. 15. Unvaccinated adults under the age of 59 would have also been required to attend counseling sessions on the COVID-19 vaccines. The vote was preceded by an intense series of debates that spanned several weeks. The last of the debates took place right before the vote and lasted for more than three hours. Member of Parliament (MP) Dagmar Schmidt, who introduced the bill, tried to fearmonger other MPs to support it by claiming this will prevent cases from surging later this year. Today is not about whats happening now, but what will very likely happen in the fall, she said. But the opposition, led by the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, argued that the vaccines were not necessary because cases were already going down all over the country. CDU MP Tino Sorge argued that, because the current situation showed that it is unlikely Germanys healthcare system will be overwhelmed once again if cases do rise, it was not necessary to make vaccination compulsory. Scholz, expecting the vote to be very close, even recalled members of his coalition who were currently attending to other matters overseas. This included Foreign Minister and Greens co-leader Annalena Baerbock, who was at a major North Atlantic Treaty Organization meeting regarding Ukraine. But the vote was far from close. Of the 674 members of the Bundestag that voted, 378 voted against the vaccine mandate, while only 296 supported it. In the governing coalition, most if not all of the members of the left-wing Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Greens voted for the mandate. Most of the dissenters in the government came from the FDP. To get the FDP to even agree to bring the bill to the floor of the Bundestag for a vote, Scholz had to consent to let lawmakers vote with their conscience rather than being forced to vote along party lines. This allowed many senior FDP members to come out during the debates against the vaccine mandate. German chancellor gives up push to mandate vaccines for seniors The Bundestags rejection of the bill is a major blow to Scholz and his coalition government. The chancellor himself said after the vote that he was disappointed with the Bundestags rejection of the mandate. He added that he would not launch a second campaign to make the vaccines mandatory. I find the Bundestags decision very clear, said Scholz, who added that his government would find other ways to increase the countrys vaccination rate without mandates. Currently, 76 percent of all Germans are fully vaccinated, and 59 percent have received booster vaccines. We will do everything we can to convince more citizens of this country to get vaccinated, said Scholz. After the vote, members of the Greens and the SPD blamed the FDP for not committing to the goals of the rest of the coalition and for siding with the conservative opposition. The SPD and the Greens also tried to pin the blame on the CDUs leadership for not letting their members vote their conscience, as they believed there were many within the ranks of both parties who would have supported the mandate but were prevented from doing so by the leadership. Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach, who along with Scholz led efforts to get the mandate passed, reacted with concern to the failure of his preferred policy choice to get passed. He warned that this could lead to more COVID-19 infections in Germany later this year. It is a very important decision because now the fight against corona in autumn becomes much more difficult, he claimed. Laying political blame does not help. We move on. Learn more about the fight against COVID-19 mandates at HealthFreedom.news. Watch this video to listen to the speech of Alternative for Germany co-leader Alice Weidel against COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Germany. This video is from the Vigilent Citizen channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Ukrainians fleeing Putin fall right into hands of vaccine Nazis in Germany, where all refugees are being fully jabbed. France, Italy, Germany and Spain suspend use of AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine amid blood clot fears. Official government data from Germany suggests covid fully vaccinated people will develop AIDS. Truth hurts: 96% of omicron cases in Germany are among the fully vaccinated. Desperate Germany announces national lockdown for the unvaccinated. Sources include: LifeSiteNews.com DW.com Reuters.com NYTimes.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) More than 17 million poultry birds, including chickens and turkeys, have died in recent months, supposedly due to a new wave of avian flu. And in the aftermath, egg prices are rising in some areas. According to reports, egg prices recently reached their highest point since the beginning of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) plandemic, with shell prices rising to $2.88 a dozen. This represents an increase of about 52 percent since February 8 when the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed the first bird flu case in a commercial flock in Indiana. Because of the disease, we are told, roughly three percent of all egg-laying chickens in the U.S. have perished, and this has occurred at a really inconvenient time, Easter, when egg sales are typically the highest. Egg availability heading into Easter is sure to be hampered, said Brian Earnest, an animal protein economist at CoBank. For many years now, the population of egg-laying chickens in the United States has been declining. In April 2019, there were 340 million birds, but as of February 2022, there were only 322 million birds. Meanwhile, check out these five strategies to protect your chickens from bird flu. Experts do not expect any immediate supply shortages. However, retailers are reportedly buying up eggs in anticipation of a possible supply crunch in the days leading up to Easter. In addition to chickens, turkeys are also said to be dying from bird flu, though not in the same numbers as chickens. In the last two months, dozens of bird flu cases have been reported across the U.S. from Maryland to South Dakota. The USDA also confirmed the presence of the disease in five new states. U.K. imposes bird flu lockdown, causing free-range eggs to disappear from supermarkets As is often the case, the United Kingdom went overboard in response to the news by imposing a bird flu lockdown that saw free-range eggs disappear from grocery stores. Much like what happened to human beings during the plandemic, authorities in England forcibly quarantined eggs from the grocery store, leaving shelves empty and bellies that rely on eggs for sustenance hungry. Around 35 million of Britains hens have spent the last four months cooped up after an unprecedented spike in case numbers led to the largest ever outbreak of H5N1, also known as avian flu, on U.K. soil, reported the Daily Mail. Officials at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) ordered millions of egg-laying hens in Britain indoors on November 3, then brought additional housing measures into force on November 29. Because the birds were housed for more than 16 weeks, poultry keepers were no longer able to retain their free-range status for either eggs or meat. Instead, the eggs had to be marketed as barn eggs. Farmers throughout the country had hoped that the government there would lift the indoor housing order next week, but those hopes were dashed after government officials decided to keep it in place after the total number of outbreaks supposedly reached 80. We remain in ongoing dialogue with Defra as to who will make the final decision on when the housing order is going to be lifted, announced a spokesperson for the British Egg Industry Council, which expects the housing order to be lifted in a couple of weeks. There is no virus; they are for the birds, joked one commenter at the Daily Mail. Keeping them indoors is making them get sick. I hope Britain doesnt believe this Bird Flu or Avian Flu joke, again, suggested another. It wasnt true last time and its not true this time. The leaders of the world are laughing at us. Its for the gullible. Wake up! They are making fools out of you. More related news can be found at Collapse.news. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk NaturalNews.com (Natural News) South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is set to ban Critical Race Theory (CRT) in the states public school by means of an executive order (EO). The Republican governor announced that she will sign an executive order prohibiting the instruction of CRT from students in kinder until 12th grade during a town hall meeting in the city of Mobridge, footage of which Noem shared on her Twitter account. CRT has no place in our South Dakota public education, she tweeted. During the meeting, Noem mentioned bringing two proposals banning CRT from public schools and universities in the state. While the anti-CRT bill for universities passed, the South Dakota Legislature killed the K-12 one. Given this turn of events, the governor mentioned her signing of the EO against CRT to make sure that [it] is not taught to our kids in our public school systems, too. She first introduced the anti-CRT proposals in December 2021, saying in a statement that Americans believe all men are created equal, and we also believe the American dream is available to all regardless of race, color or national origin. Our schools should teach our children our nations true and honest history. They should teach about our successes in establishing a country that is a beacon of freedom to the world, and our mistakes along the way. Our children should not, however, be taught the false and divisive message that they are responsible for the shortcomings of past generations and other members of our respective races. (Related: North Dakota becomes latest state to ban divisive critical race theory in schools, calls for curriculum to be factual and objective.) Noems proposals sought to block education teaching that any race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity or national origin is inherently superior or inferior. They also sought to block ideas that persons are responsible for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity or national origin, and that they should be adversely treated or feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress based on the aforementioned qualities. Florida takes it up a notch with the Stop WOKE Act While Noem sought to ban CRT from educational institutions with her EO, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took it up a notch with the Stop Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees (WOKE) Act. DeSantis first announced The Stop WOKE Act, which aims to limit CRT instructions in classrooms and workplaces, back in December 2021. Described as a tool to fight back against woke indoctrination, the Florida governors office said the proposal will be the strongest legislation of its kind in the nation that is set to take on both corporate wokeness and CRT. In Florida, we are taking a stand against the state-sanctioned racism that is CRT. We wont allow Florida tax dollars to be spent teaching kids to hate each other, said DeSantis. We must [also] protect Florida workers against the hostile work environment that is created when large corporations force their employees to endure CRT-inspired training and indoctrination.' The Florida House of Representatives approved the Stop WOKE Act on Feb. 24 in a 74-41 vote, with legislators in the states lower chamber voting along party lines. Two weeks later on March 10, the Florida Senate approved the proposal in a 24-15 vote. It is now set for DeSantis desk, with only his signature needed for it to become law. Under the Stop WOKE Act, public schools enacting a CRT learning plan would not receive state funding. Staff would also be prevented from undergoing diversity training, which DeSantis dubbed as anti-racist therapy. Furthermore, the proposal would enable parents to challenge CRT teachings in court if signed into law with the state reimbursing their legal expenses. A lot of times, these people will fear lawsuits more than a fine from the Florida Department of Education, said DeSantis. CampusInsanity.com has more stories about the pushback against CRT in schools. Watch Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis explaining the Stop WOKE Act to Glenn Beck below. This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: CRT takedown: Victims of woke discrimination join forces, launching multiple lawsuits. Florida Gov. DeSantis pushes back big-time on society-destroying critical race theory by introducing Stop W.O.K.E. Act. New Va. Gov. Glenn Youngkin cleans house, asks all diversity office staffers (liberal fascists) to resign, appoints anti-CRT official. Sources include: TheNewAmerican.com News.SD.gov FLGov.com TheCapitolist.com CBSNews.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) The Minnesota Board of Animal Health (BAH) has issued a temporary statewide ban on the sale and exhibition of poultry supposedly due to the spread of avian flu in the state. The BAHs statewide ban will last from April 1 through May 1. The prohibition includes a ban on all community sales, swaps, fairs, exhibitions and other events where poultry and susceptible birds are brought together. The outbreak in Minnesota, known as the H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), is considered to pose a high risk to poultry but a low risk to the public. State health officials have stressed that there is no need for the public to panic over concerns regarding food safety. (Related: Americas poultry giants have sold tens of thousands of meat products contaminated with DEADLY BACTERIA.) Viruses like HPAI need hosts to continue to spread. Its our job to stop the spread of disease, said State Veterinarian Dr. Beth Thompson. Unfortunately, in this situation, we feel one of the best things we can do for the health of all birds in Minnesota is to take a pause on poultry events through May 1. The first cases in this outbreak were detected on March 25. This is the first time avian flu cases were detected in the state since 2015. During the 2014-2015 outbreak, Minnesota canceled all poultry shows at the State Fair, and state authorities euthanized more than nine million birds. Authorities had to cull so many flocks that the governor had to activate the National Guard to assist with disease control. The current outbreak has already spread to 34 states and has affected an estimated 22.8 million birds so far. Iowa has been particularly hard hit, losing over 13 million birds. More than a million birds supposedly affected by bird flu When the BAH published its initial report and ordered the ban, avian flu was detected in flocks in five counties in central, southwestern and southeastern Minnesota Meeker, Stearns, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle and Mower counties. As of the latest report from the Minnesota National Guard published on April 7, the avian flu has spread to 1,017,568 birds from 21 flocks in 11 counties. It has also spread to south-central, northwest and northeastern Minnesota. The two largest flocks alone account for 420,000 turkeys. All of the affected flocks are currently being depopulated by state health authorities. The affected properties where the flocks reside were also placed under quarantine, and the bird carcasses are composted inside the barns to minimize the risk of accidental spread of the flu. The way to contain this flu is unfortunate, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist and professor of preventive medicine and health policy at Vanderbilt University. What you do is actually kill a lot of poultry in order to prevent areas from becoming hot spots for bird flu. Furthermore, all flocks within 6.2 miles of the affected farm have been placed under quarantine. The birds on the farms will be tested by state health authorities before normal poultry operations in those farms can resume. Minnesota Legislature approves $1 million in emergency funding to combat outbreak To help combat the spread of avian flu in the state, both chambers of the Minnesota Legislature have voted to provide the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) with an additional $1 million. Republican State Sen. Torrey Westrom advanced an amendment to another bill to get the emergency funding for the department approved. The Senate passed the bill with the amendment unanimously on April 7. The emergency funding was then sent directly to the House of Representatives for approval. All but one lawmaker voted in favor of the bill. Minnesota farmers needed this relief yesterday, and we cannot afford to wait any longer, said Westrom. The needs for both commercial and backyard flocks to respond quickly to HPAI is important, and the funding provided today gives those impacted the resources they need, said Minnesota Farm Bureau President Dan Glessing, speaking on behalf of other farm organizations in the state. Additional agriculture funding and emergency relief bills are being drawn up in the state legislature and could offer affected farmers even more aid. Watch this episode of the Health Ranger Report, a podcast by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, as he talks about how Americans are finally waking up to the reality that they might also experience food shortages. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: US government diagnosing chickens with bird flu using fraudulent PCR tests, then slaughtering them. PLANNED STARVATION: Grain deliveries by rail to be partially HALTED, devastating dairy herds and meat operations nationwide. Soaring fertilizer prices ahead of planting season could lead to higher food prices, shortages. The longer the Ukraine conflict drags on, the higher the likelihood it will trigger a GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS. Food shortages of meat, eggs, poultry, other commodities worsening in U.S. supermarkets amid new supply chain disruptions. Sources include: SHTFPlan.com WattAgNet.com EverydayHealth.com BringMeTheNews.com AgWeek.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki confirmed that illegal immigrants are indeed issued free smartphones. However, she defended the initiative as part of efforts to monitor these immigrants as they enter the United States. Peter Doocy, Fox News White House correspondent, played a pivotal role in extracting this admission from Psaki. He asked during an April 6 press briefing if the move to issue smartphones to illegals formed part of the Biden administrations plan to deter illegal immigration. Our team in Texas is saying that you guys are starting to give smartphones to border crossers, hoping they theyll use the phones to check in or be tracked, said Doocy. The Biden administration spokeswoman retorted that Doocy, of all people, would recognize that [the Biden administration needs] to take steps to ensure that we know where individuals are and we can track [and] check in with illegal immigrants. Psaki then outlined three technologies the administration is using to track the movements of illegal immigrants. Two of these involve the use of mobile devices such as smartphones. First, the telephonic technology uses a participants voice to create a biometric voiceprint during the enrollment process. When immigration officers call the participant to check in on their location, the latters voice is compared to the voiceprint on the database. Second, the SmartLink technology utilizes facial recognition technology to monitor where an illegal immigrant is located using their smartphone. Third, global positioning system monitoring relies on satellite tracking through an ankle bracelet to track illegal immigrants location and movement patterns. [These are] all part of out effort, as individuals come into the U.S. and individuals who are entering who will proceed to immigration proceedings, to monitor and track where they are, said Psaki. (Related: Jen Psaki gives completely unacceptable answer when pressed about why Americans must have vaccine proof but illegal aliens dont.) Tracking technology useless when illegals throw away phones Doocy followed up with another question, asking if the Biden administration was concerned that illegal aliens will take the phones and just toss them rendering the tracking technologies useless. The White House correspondents question is not without basis. His colleague, Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin, brought up the possibility of illegal immigrants simply throwing away the government-issued mobile devices in a tweet. Sources tell me with parole releases, the [illegal immigrants] are asked to turn themselves in to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in a city of their choice. Im told many of them are given these phones by the government to track them and allow them to communicate with ICE, but theres no way to stop them from being tossed, he wrote. Psaki then countered by asking Doocy if he had a record of the illegal immigrants discarding the smartphones, to which the Fox News correspondent replied: Im just asking if thats a concern. Refusing to answer Doocys question, Psaki continued that the concern was ensuring that individuals who irregularly migrate to the U.S. [not only] proceed through a process of being monitored, [but also participate] in hearings to determine whether or not they will be able to stay. I would note that nearly 80 percent of non-citizens released at the border from Department of Homeland Security custody under prosecutorial discretion have either received a notice to appear or are still within their window to report. So actually the vast, vast majority of people are reporting. In part, we have these monitors and monitoring systems in order to do that effectively. Visit OpenBorders.news for more stories about the Biden administrations response to illegal immigration. Watch an exchange between Peter Doocy and Jen Psaki over illegal immigration below. This video is from the News and Java.com channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Illegal immigration skyrockets under Biden to third-highest level in 97 years. Ex-DHS head warns of immigration and border security crisis following Bidens executive orders. As border crisis worsens, over 118,000 migrants got away from Border Patrol in less than six months. Migrant invasion of U.S. worsens as 10,000 Haitians crowd under Texas bridge and lawmaker calls on governor for answers. According to the White House, Covid CANNOT SPREAD from infected illegal immigrants to Americans unless they stay in the country for a long period of time. Sources include: 100PercentFedUp.com RealClearPolitics.com Twitter.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) After the Ukrainian government claimed Russian forces carried out a missile strike on civilians inside a railway station, Russias Defence Ministry claimed AGAIN that the incident was a premeditated false flag provocation. (Article by Steve Watson republished from Infowars.com) The world is now witnessing a vicious cycle where an atrocity is committed, blamed on Russia, and then claimed by Russia to be a false flag carried out by Ukrainians themselves. The latest example came this morning when scores of people were killed and hundreds injured by an attack on Kramatorsk Railway station. Just to clarify a linguistic nuance: The way this is written in Russian za ditei means we are firing this missile in support of/on behalf of the children and not this missile is intended for children. https://t.co/lbSF8VsTqf Dmitry Grozoubinski (@DmitryOpines) April 8, 2022 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Russian military hit the railway terminal, adding There are witnesses, there are videos, there are remnants of the missiles and dead people. Why do they need to hit civilians with missiles? Zelensky continued in an address to Finlands parliament, adding Why this cruelty that the world has witnessed in Bucha and other cities liberated by the Ukrainian army? He claimed the incident was even more sadistic than the killing of civilians in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha. Warning: Graphic images and footage russians carried out two missile stikes on railway station in Kramatorsk, where evacuation of civillians was taking place. But russian war criminals not only deliberately targeted thousands of people; theyve used cluster munitions. More than 30 killed More that 100 injured pic.twitter.com/oj9zMCdIlz Defence of Ukraine (@DefenceU) April 8, 2022 BREAKING: 30 refugees, many of them children, were killed in rocket attack on the Kramatorsk railway station while trying to flee west. Yesterday, Russia struck the tracks, making it impossible to leave. It was repaired & ppl tried to leave today insteadpic.twitter.com/36RsWfOqhK Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) April 8, 2022 russian army launched Iskander missile with a cluster charge into Kramatorsk railway station, Donetsk region, when civilians tried to evacuate. As you can see, theyre not military at all just ordinary civilians. The Russian massacres in Ukraine continue. pic.twitter.com/yQtaShcyiI Alina Mykhailova (@Mykhailova_A) April 8, 2022 Russians knew that the train station in Kramatorsk was full of civilians waiting to be evacuated. Yet they stroke it with a ballistic missile, killing at least 30 and injuring at least a hundred people. This was a deliberate slaughter. We will bring each war criminal to justice. pic.twitter.com/cq0CX9wovV Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) April 8, 2022 The Russian MoD responded claiming Russian armed forces did not carry out any fire missions in the city of Kramatorsk on April 8. Calling the attack a provocation, the Russian MoD also claimed that fragments of Tochka-U ballistic missiles found near the railway station in Kramatorsk are used only by Ukrainian forces. ??Russian Defence Ministry denies statements made by Kiev regime about an alleged missile attack on the railway station in Kramatorsk, Donetsk Region ? https://t.co/JgX0fpS1M9 pic.twitter.com/L5f8zO6Ai1 ?????????? ?????? (@mod_russia) April 8, 2022 Donetsk militia leader Eduard Basurin also claimed that Ukrainian forces deliberately organised the attack on the railway station, stating A provocation took place in Kramatorsk. The Ukrainian authorities did not hide the fact that they were preparing another provocation. First, an evacuation was announced from the cities of Kramatorsk, Kostyantynivka, Slovyansk. People began to gather in places where you can leave railway stations. Ammunition hit, there are about 30 dead. Militia forces also claimed that the obsolete Soviet-era missile system used in the attack is not registered with the military forces of the Donetsk Peoples Republic, Lugansk Peoples republic, or the Russian Federation, adding that It is, however, being actively used by Ukrainian militants. The Donetsk fighters also claimed that earlier in the day Ukrainian forces had fired on the territory over 30 times. Some claimed that Russian forces initially bragged about the attack but then changed the narrative to claim it was a false flag. First, Russian bragged about hitting the Kramatorsk railway station. However, later they launched the narrative the Ukrainians did this. These people are sick. Image: @StratcomCentre pic.twitter.com/IydRcJFPPn UkraineWorld (@ukraine_world) April 8, 2022 Russia posted a video of the launch of missiles from the occupied Donbas but now says that this attack on Kramatorsk railway station was carried out by Ukrainians themselves and removed the video from the Internet. On the rocket that killed civilians Russians wrote: for children pic.twitter.com/AbBxniPhhu Oleksandra Matviichuk (@avalaina) April 8, 2022 The latest claims of a false flag come after Russia claimed the torture and killing of Ukrainians in Bucha was orchestrated by Ukrainian soldiers. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described the situation as yet another fake attack. ? Official Statement by @mod_russia ? All the photos and videos published by the Kiev regime in Bucha are just another provocation. Facts ? https://t.co/L91uGBs4r5 ? This confirms conclusively this is another #hoax by the Kiev regime for the Western media. pic.twitter.com/VO3umSNwkE MFA Russia ?? (@mfa_russia) April 3, 2022 Ukrainian police posted on Facebook that they had conducted a clearing op in Bucha the day before videos emerged showing dead bodies scattered around the settlement, as the war of words over the alleged war crime continues. Following the claims of genocide, Zelensky stated that negotiations to end the conflict now might not happen. Read more at: Infowars.com (Natural News) Some states are still holding on to the emergency powers that allowed them to dictate peoples lives, whether in the form of banning social gatherings, mask restrictions or vaccine mandates. Despite many countries around the world already dropping their Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) mandates, some states say they need to direct emergency funding and oversee hospitals to keep them from letting go of their emergency orders as public places have now reopened and concerns about the pandemic started fading. Emergency orders at the state level are supposed to be issued in response to temporary threats such as weather disasters and are usually wrapped up within a few days or weeks. However, with the pandemic exploding in March 2020, most governors issued broad executive orders that effectively banned crowds, closed businesses and imposed mask mandates. However, critical lawmakers are now challenging the power to take such actions and keep measures in place indefinitely, as pandemic lockdowns have exposed leaders stringent authoritarian impulses. (Related: Dr. Robert Malone calls for immediate end to Bidens national emergency.) Nick Murray, a policy analyst at the Maine Policy Institute, said that ruling by decree over an extended period during the pandemic is part of a broader move to condense power to the executive branch. You see these things come into play during a crisis and then [remain in place] to give more executive power. Its a theme that has devolved into bureaucracy, he said. The state of emergency has been declared in perpetuity in Nevada, with lawmakers being unsuccessful in passing measures to limit the authority of Democratic Governor Steve Sisolak. Orange County residents and officials have been pushing back against pandemic restrictions mandated by California, as virtually all precautions are winding down. In March, Republican state legislators attempted to end Governor Gavin Newsoms state of emergency, but were shot down by the Democratic supermajority, saying that it needs to stay in place to aid hospitals and emergency responders. In Kansas, Democrat Governor Laura Kelly also extended emergency authority to January 2023 despite the states director of public health questioning the need for a continued state of emergency. Democratic Governor Roy Cooper from North Carolina also vetoed legislation in November that would require wider input from elected leaders as he continued to issue restrictions under a declared emergency. However, the Republican-controlled legislature got around the veto by attaching provisions to the states budget bill, which prevented Cooper from declaring another state of emergency and exercising singular authority for longer than 30 days. Lawmakers in most states have either passed laws or introduced legislation aimed at curtailing the governors emergency authority. These laws include prohibiting mask mandates and business closures as well as setting time limits to emergency orders. Twelve states, seven of which have Democratic governors and legislature, have emergency powers still in place others have either ended their emergency or have announced their end dates. COVID-19 restrictions need legislative oversight Lori Tremmel Freeman, CEO of the National Association of County and City Health Officials which represents workers in 2,800 municipal public health offices, said people cant have sweeping legislation based on a single event. There is a balance that can be found, but some of these have gone to the opposite end of the spectrum that allows them to prohibit [health officials] from doing anything, she said. Meanwhile, Jason Mercier of the Center for Government Reform in Washington State said the COVID-19 restrictions need legislative oversight. There had been varying laws regarding the ending of the emergency powers. In some states, only the governor can end an emergency, but other states give this power to legislators. Mercier said that in his state, where Governor Jay Inslee controls the statehouse, a state of emergency can be extended indefinitely, and has been, with the Democratic governor insisting that he can rule without agreement from others. The struggle over emergency powers is happening within states as some cities and counties declared emergencies early in 2020 and used such powers to enact local restrictions. Follow Pandemic.news for more news related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Watch the video below to know more about what happens when emergency powers cease. This video is from the Excellent PODCASTS & Real NEWS channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Tyrannical judges order coronavirus patients in Kentucky to wear tracking devices like prisoners, but how far do emergency powers go? Why they want to keep the health emergency going forever. Senate passes bill to end COVID-19 state of National Emergency. For decades, U.S. Presidents have signed Executive Orders that activate a DICTATORSHIP during a national emergency. Justin Trudeau crosses the Rubicon and reveals the end stage of fake liberal democracy. Sources include: WND.com VoiceOfOC.org Brighteon.com (Natural News) Oklahomas Republican-controlled House of Representatives has approved a bill that will ban abortion throughout the state, even in cases of incest or rape. The bill was passed in a 70-14 vote on Tuesday without any type of debate or questions on the floor. Last year, the Oklahoma Senate approved the bill, and now it is on its way to Governor Kevin Stitt. The governor is widely expected to sign it; last year, he wrote on Twitter: I promised Oklahomans I would sign every piece of pro-life legislation that came across my desk. In addition, the bills main author, state Senator Nathan Dahm, said that Stitt had told him in a previous conversation that he would sign it. Although the measure bans abortions in almost all cases, it does not prohibit the sale, use, administration or prescription of contraceptives, nor does it allow for women to be criminally charged in the death of an unborn child. Republican state Representative Jim Olsen, who is the bills main House author, explained why be supports the idea of banning abortions even in cases of rape and incest. Although he believes those are horrible crimes, the baby that is conceived from them has a right to live. He told CNN: The baby should not be liable for the sins of the father. Its still a life. The new law is particularly relevant because Oklahoma had previously been a state where Texas residents went to get abortion procedures. In September, Texas banned abortions after the sixth week of pregnancy, and Oklahoma clinics report having to raise their capacity to keep up with the demand of 600 extra patients each month. In fact, a study by the Texas Policy Evaluation Project revealed that nearly half of all Texans who went out of state to get abortions between September and December of last year headed to Oklahoma, with others going to Louisiana, Colorado and New Mexico. Abortion provider Planned Parenthood reported that its number of Texas abortion patients at locations near the border in Oklahoma climbed by 2500 percent between September and December of last year compared to the year before. The new law only allows abortions to be carried out in the case of a medical emergency. It will see abortion providers penalized with fines of up to $100,000 or ten years in prison, or potentially both. Oklahomas state Senate is also weighing legislation modeled after a Texas law allowing the enforcement of abortion bans via private lawsuits. In addition to banning most abortions at any point throughout pregnancy, it would allow private citizens to enforce this with civil litigation. Meanwhile, legislators in Missouri are reportedly preparing a bill banning state residents from getting an abortion, even if they go out of state to receive it. In addition, the bill would permit individuals to sue anyone who helped a Missouri resident get an abortion. Abortion laws changing as country awaits Supreme Court ruling Several states have recently passed abortion restrictions as the anti-abortion movement seems to be gaining momentum. The U.S. Supreme Court is currently considering a case asking it to overturn the Roe v Wade decision that legalized abortion throughout the country. A ruling is expected in June on the case, which could see nearly half of states in a better position to outlaw abortion thanks to trigger laws that come into force if the landmark ruling is overturned. Right now, 13 states have trigger laws that will automatically ban abortion during the first and second trimesters if Roe v Wade is overturned, and many others are likely to follow suit. Colorado, however, has taken the opposite stance, with Governor Jared Polis signing a new bill into law affirming access to abortion at any point in a womans pregnancy up until the point of giving birth. Sources for this article include: InfoWars.com Edition.CNN.com This picture taken on May 14, 2017 shows Moken fishermen holding cuttlefish for sale at a fishing market in Nyaung Wee village in the Myeik Archipelago, off the coast of southern Myanmar. Until recently the sea provided the Moken, a nomadic seafaring tribe, with everything they needed: a base for boats they lived in, fish and seafood to eat and bounty such as pearls to trade with islanders for fuel and rice. But the waters have been devastated by the commercial fishing industry that has eaten away the area's once abundant marine life. (Photo : Photo credit: YE AUNG THU/AFP via Getty Images) While squids are known to change color underwater, it was a first to actually observe this behavior in a lab setting in Japan by a team of scientists from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University. Thousands of color-changing cells called chromatophores, found in a wide range of animals including amphibians, fish, reptiles, crustaceans, are also present in cephalopods such as squids. The same cells allow animals to communicate with each other and blend in the wild. The species of oval squid namely the Sepioteuthis lessoniana had never been observed doing this type of environmental camouflage, until the team captured a video of them changing color to hide in plain sight, Gizmodo reported. The details of the study was published last week in Scientific Reports. It's a Match! In a matter of seconds, Coleoid cephalopods camouflage to match their visual surroundings, although this behavior is more commonly observed in benthic cuttlefish and octopus. "Squid usually hover in the open ocean but we wanted to find out what happens when they move a bit closer to a coral reef or if they're chased by a predator to the ocean floor," said Ryuta Nakajima, a biologist at University of Minnesota Duluth and the lead author of the paper, in an Okinawa Institute release. "If substrate is important for squid to avoid predation, then that indicates that increases or decreases in squid populations are even more tied to the health of coral reef than we thought." In the new study, findings show that squid can and will camouflage by matching the color of a substrate to avoid predators. In a laboratory-based experiment, the scientists were able to record the squid's camouflaging abilities, from light to darker color. This squid, locally known as Shiro-ika, is one of three oval squids found in Okinawa. Since they are notoriously hard to keep in captivity, it is perhaps safe to say that this kind of research is rare and a first. However, researchers suspect that when it would be a different story entirely in their natural habitat or in the ocean floor. Also read: Experts Struggle to Identify Bloated Alien-Like Creature Washed Up on Australian Beach Camouflaging Abilities Never Seen Before The oval squid at the OIST's Marine Science Station was "almost accidentally" observed camouflaging to the substrate for the first time while researchers were cleaning their tank to remove the algal growth. A subsequent observation shows that the squid in the clean side of the tank appears to be lighter in color, but when they were above the algae, they immediately turned darker. This controlled experiment uncovers ability that had never previously been reported in squid, "opening up exciting avenues for exploring the visual capabilities of the animal," the study suggests. "This effect really is striking. I am still surprised that nobody has noticed this ability before us," said another first author, Dr. Zdenek Lajbner. "It shows just how little we know about these wonderful animals." This particular squid originally discovered by local fishermen long before the scientists, shows importance for Okinawa "for economic and cultural reasons." According to senior author Prof. Jonathan Miller, Principal Investigator of OIST's Physics and Biology Unit, they look forward to exploring the squid's camouflage abilities and cephalopods in general. Related article: Mysterious Octopus Communities Prove That We Should Leave These Sentient Beings Alone A scientist uses a microscope as he works on samples at a laboratory in Athens, on January 18, 2021. - At a time when mass testing is extremely important to keep the pandemic under control, a Greek team of scientists managed to create a domestic Covid-19 rapid test. The production of an in-house rapid test will allow Greece, which has relatively low levels of testing, to become more independent in terms of testing completeness, would help the prices to drop. schools. (Photo : Photo by ARIS MESSINIS/AFP via Getty Images) An investigation of mitochondrial DNA in the sea has uncovered large numbers of unrecognized RNA pathogens and an increased quantity of phyla; or natural families, of infections believed to emerge. Study of Genetic Materials in the Ocean As shown in a recent report issued in the journal Science, the most well-known RNA pathogens are those that induce human illnesses spanning from of the coughs and colds to COVID-19. They also contaminate flora and fauna that are vital to humans. Rather of DNA, these strains produce their hereditary data in RNA. RNA pathogens develop far more quickly than DNA infections. Whilst still scientific researchers have catalogued large numbers of DNA Viral proteins in their environmental conditions, RNA infections have received little attention. Pathogens, with exception of living beings as well as other cell-based animals, dearth distinctive brief segments of DNA that may serve as a molecular bar code, according to experts' interview with ScienceAlert. Attempting to recognize various varieties of infection in the environment lacking such a bar code could be difficult. To overcome this constraint, researchers sought to find the genome that codes for a specific enzyme that permits a pathogen to reproduce its DNA. It is the sole enzyme which all Pathogens share since it is necessary for their replication. Minor changes in the DNA that causes for the enzyme in each Opportunistic pathogen, nevertheless, may disambiguate one kind of viral infection from the next. As a result, researchers evaluated a worldwide repository of RNA fragments from phytoplankton gathered throughout the Tara Oceans voyages universal field study, which lasted four years. Plankton are any microscopic underwater creatures that can travel despite the stream. They play an important role in aquatic food connections and are popular carriers for RNA viruses. The analysis resulted in the identification of almost 44,000 genetic reasons for the viral enzyme. The following step was to discover the developmental relationships among these alleles. The greater the similarity between two sequences, the higher probable infections with those genetic makeup were connected. Since these patterns developed ages ago, the gene variants showing where viral particles might have broken off from a single origin was already left by the wayside. Nonetheless, as posted in CELL website, a type of synthetic intellectual ability known as machine learning enabled scientists to methodically arrange these patterns and spot discrepancies objectively than if the work had been performed conventionally. Also read: Camouflaging Squid Caught on Cam in Japan, First Time to be Observed in Lab Analyzing the 5000 Previously Unknown Viruses in the Ocean Analyzing these novel genomes indicated that two of the new phyla were very prevalent throughout wide marine areas, with geographic biases in either moderate or tropical seas, the Taraviricota, named after the Tara Oceans expeditions. Taraviricota, scientists assume, may be the long-sought connecting element in the development of RNA viruses, uniting two separate identified lineages of RNA viruses that differed in how they reproduce. These newfound genomes enable experts comprehend not just development of RNA viruses, yet even the development of earliest species on Earth. According to Science Direct latest news update, as the COVID-19 outbreak has demonstrated, RNA infections may induce fatal infections. RNA viruses, on the other hand, perform an important position in biosphere since they can contaminate a diverse range of life forms, such as bacteria that have a nerve agent impact on surroundings and nutrient cycles. Identifying where these RNA infections dwell across the globe may better explain how viruses influence the creatures that drive several of the natural systems that keep the earth running. The study also gives investigators with enhanced techniques for cataloging novel viruses as genomic collections develop. Notwithstanding the discovery of several novel RNA viruses, determining which creatures they transmit persists difficult. Investigators also were usually restricted to largely shards of inadequate RNA virus genetic sequences, owing to hereditary difficulty and resource constraints. Related article: New Type of Cell Discovered Hiding Inside in the Human Lungs Champaign, IL (61820) Today Showers early, then cloudy overnight. Low near 45F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Showers early, then cloudy overnight. Low near 45F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%. 'Right now, all our hearts are so broken because this guy helped a lot of families back in Africa,' Robson Kiyangi, vice president of the Congolese Community of Champaign County, said of Nzengeli Mfwamba, 49, who died after being brutally attacked outside his home early Wednesday morning. Reporter Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). Amber Oberheim, left, widow of Champaign police Officer Chris Oberheim, who was killed in the line of duty in May, greets Terry von Thaden on Sunday at a fundraiser for von Thadens son, Liam Gasser, who is recovering from grave injuries suffered when he was shot in the head in October while driving on North Prospect Avenue. Preliminary data from an artificial intelligence model could potentially predict side effects resulting from new combination therapies, according to results presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2022, held April 8-13. Clinicians are challenged by the real-world problem that new combination therapies could lead to unpredictable outcomes. Our approach can help us understand the relationship between the effects of different drugs in relation to the disease context." Bart Westerman, PhD, senior author of the study and associate professor at the Cancer Center Amsterdam Many cancer types are increasingly being treated with combination therapies, through which clinicians attempt to maximize efficacy and minimize the chances of treatment resistance. However, such combination therapies can add multiple drugs at once to a patient's already complicated list of medications. Clinical trials that test new drugs or combinations rarely account for other medications a patient may take outside of the tested treatment regimen. "Patients seeking treatment commonly use four to six medicines daily, making it difficult to decide whether a new combination therapy would risk their health," Westerman said. "It can be hard to assess whether the positive effect of a combination therapy will justify its negative side effects for a certain patient." Westerman and colleagues-;including graduate student Asl Kucukosmanoglu, who presented the study-;sought to use machine learning to better predict the adverse events resulting from new drug combinations. They collected data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), a database containing over 15 million records of adverse events. Using a method called dimensional reduction, they grouped together events that frequently co-occur in order to simplify the analysis and strengthen the associations between a drug and its side-effect profile. The researchers then fed the data into a convolutional neural network algorithm, a type of machine learning that mimics the way human brains make associations between data. Adverse events for individual therapies were then used to train the algorithm, which identified common patterns between drugs and their side effects. The recognized patterns were encoded into a so-called "latent space" that simplifies calculations by representing each adverse event profile as a string of 225 numbers between 0 and 1, which can be decoded back to the original profile. To test their model, the researchers provided unseen adverse event profiles of combination therapies to their model, called the "adverse events atlas," to see whether it could recognize these new profiles and properly decode them using the latent space descriptors. This showed that the model could recognize these new patterns, demonstrating that measured combined profiles could be converted back into those of each drug in the combination therapy. This, Westerman said, demonstrated that the adverse effects of combination therapy could be easily predicted. "We were able to determine the sum of individual therapy effects through simple algebraic calculation of the latent space descriptors," he explained. "Since this approach reduces noise in the data because the algorithm is trained to recognize global patterns, it can accurately capture the side effects of combination therapies." Westerman and colleagues further validated their model by comparing the predicted adverse event profiles of combination therapies to those observed in the clinic. Using data from FAERS and the U.S. clinical trials database, the researchers showed that the model could accurately recapitulate adverse event profiles for certain commonly used combination therapies. One complicating factor of combination therapies is the new, potentially unforeseen side effects that may arise when drugs are combined. Using additive patterns as identified by the model, the researchers were able to differentiate additive side effects from synergistic side effects of drug combinations. This, Westerman said, may help them better understand what could happen when complex adverse event profiles intertwine. The researchers are developing a statistical approach to quantify the accuracy of their model. "Given that the landscape of drug interactions is highly complex and involves many molecular, macromolecular, cellular, and organ processes, it is unlikely that our approach will lead to black-and-white decisions," Westerman said. "The adverse events atlas is still in the proof-of-concept phase, but the most important finding is that we were able to get snapshots of the interplay of drugs, diseases, and the human body as described by millions of patients." Limitations of this study include potential difficulties in comparing these data with more sparse data, as well as the limited application of the model to clinical practice until further validation is provided. Patients with advanced melanoma whose cancer does not respond to treatment with widely used immunotherapy drugs known as PD-1 inhibitors are often switched to treatment with a second type of immunotherapy drug a CTLA-4 inhibitor such as the drug ipilimumab. New results from a clinical trial by the SWOG Cancer Research Network, a group funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), show that these patients are more likely to benefit from ipilimumab when it is given in combination with the PD-1 inhibitor nivolumab than when given alone. Patients in the study who got an ipilimumab and nivolumab combination had longer progression-free survival (PFS) time than patients who were treated with ipilimumab alone (six-month PFS estimates of 34 percent vs 13 percent). The overall rate of response to treatment was also greater on the combination arm (28 percent vs 9 percent). Analysis of patient-derived biopsies also allowed researchers to test the hypothesis that primary anti-PD-1 resistance due to a lack of pre-existing T-cell infiltrate could be overcome by adding treatment with the anti-CTLA4 antibody ipilimumab. The results are being presented Tuesday, April 12, at the clinical trials plenary session of the 2022 annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) in New Orleans. Ari Vanderwalde, MD, MPH, a SWOG investigator with the West Cancer Center and Research Institute in Germantown, Tennessee, was study chair for the trial and will present the work at the AACR meeting. We have known for more than seven years that patients receiving PD-1 inhibitor monotherapy do better than patients receiving ipilimumab alone in the front line setting. But we still don't know what the appropriate therapy is for patients without BRAF mutations in the second-line setting. This study answers the question of whether patients who progress on PD-1 agents can continue the PD-1 agent in combination with ipilimumab, or if they should be switched to ipilimumab altogether." Ari Vanderwalde, MD, MPH, SWOG Investigator The clinical trial, known as S1616, enrolled 92 patients with advanced melanoma who had been treated with anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy drugs and had not received an anti-CTLA-4 drug. In all cases, the patients' cancer had not responded to this therapy and had become worse or had spread, either while the patient was on this therapy or after the patient had stopped the therapy. These patients were randomized in a 1:3 ratio to receive either ipilimumab alone (3 mg/kg every 3 weeks) for 12 weeks (23 patients) or a combination of ipilimumab (3 mg/kg every 3 weeks) and nivolumab (1 mg/kg every 3 weeks) for 12 weeks followed by monthly nivolumab (480 mg) for up to two years (69 patients). Side effects were consistent with what has been previously described for these agents. "More than 50% of patients don't achieve a response to PD-1 inhibitors in the front-line setting," Vanderwalde said. "These primary refractory patients have had limited evidence-based options. SWOG S1616 should establish the combination of ipilimumab and nivolumab as the standard in patients who have progressed on first-line therapy that did not contain ipilimumab." Study S1616 is sponsored by the NCI, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), led by SWOG, and conducted by the NIH-funded National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN). S1616 was funded by the NIH/NCI through grants CA180888, CA180819, CA180821, and CA180868, and in part by Stand Up To Cancer and the American Association for Cancer Research. Bristol Myers Squibb provided support to this study through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with NCI. (Newser) In Liberia, where the gross national income per capita works out to just $530, it might have taken motorbike taxi driver Emmanuel Tuloe nearly a century to earn $50,000. One day last October, he found that amount in a plastic bag on a street. By then, the teen had already worked for half his life, having dropped out of school at age 9 following his father's death. Now 19, Tuloe is back in school, but it's thanks to his honesty, not the money itself, reports the BBC. Shortly after finding the precious bundle, Tuloe heard local businesswoman Musu Yancy on the radio "crying for her money and appealing to anyone finding it," per the AP. He returned it to her. She rewarded him with cash and gifts worth about $1,500; WBTV reported one of the gifts was a mattress, which he planned to give his grandmother. Next came praise from Liberia's Anti-Corruption Commission and an invitation to meet President George Weah, who handed Tuloe $10,000. Tuloe also landed a seat at the prestigious Ricks Institute, where he resumed his education despite being years older than classmates. To top it off, North Carolina's historically Black Livingstone Collegewhich has long-running ties with Liberiaoffered him a full scholarship. The BBC checks in with Tuloe now, reporting he won't be done with his studies and ready for college until he's 25. Once there, Tuloe wants to study accounting "to prepare myself to help guide the use of the country's money." While some mock his honesty, most see it for what it is. Speaking to the BBC, a fellow moto-taxi driver said, "Its a good thing that Emmanuel has gone back to school, we thank God for him He now has an opportunity that some of us don't have." (Read more uplifting news stories.) (Newser) While its invasion has not gone to plan, Russia may have successfully deployed an array of new-age weaponry in Ukraine. Last week, an ordnance disposal team near Kharkiv found a new menace: the POM-3, a little-known antipersonnel mine that can be dispersed in droves using the Zemledilie-I mine-laying rocket launcher. The mines descend by parachute and stick in the ground, waiting ominously. This is no ordinary landmine: Unlike typical mines that are triggered when stepped on, the POM-3's seismic sensors can pick up a person's approach and then detonate. The New York Times reports the sensors are able to tell animals apart from humans, and that the fragments it produces can be "lethal up to about 50 feet away." The Times contacted the HALO Trusta British-American mine-clearing charitywhich has been working to neutralize mines and other unexploded munitions in Ukraine's Donbas region since fighting erupted there in 2014. Referring to the POM-3, HALO leader James Cowan says, "These create a threat that we dont have a response for." The invasion has forced HALO to pause its work, but fighting will end someday. When it does, the leftovers of modern warfare will leave Ukraine with the same "multigenerational burden" experienced by so many other nations, per the Center for Public Integrity, from France and Germany to Cambodia and Syria. In a recent address, President Zelensky warned fellow Ukrainians that the Russians left landmines "across the whole territory" outside Kyiv, per CBS News. This is a known hallmark of the Russian military and its proxies, according to Human Rights Watch, which says it "has documented the use of Soviet/Russian-origin antipersonnel mines in more than 30 countries." Cowan predicts the situation will only get worse. "The war is entering a static phasetrenches are being dug. This is the time when I would expect the Russians to start using land mines on a massive basis." (Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.) (Newser) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is calling for a "firm global response" to what he says was another Russian war crimean attack on a crowded train station in eastern Ukraine that killed at least 52 civilians and injured around 100 more on Friday. Zelensky said an international tribunal should be set up to hold Russia accountable for its actions. "Like the massacre in Bucha, like many other Russian war crimes, the missile strike on Kramatorsk must be one of the charges at the tribunal, which is bound to happen," he said, per the New York Times. Russia has denied carrying out the attack, claiming Ukraine attacked its own people in a "bloody provocation," but analysts and US defense officials have rejected the denial, saying evidence suggests Russia fired a short-range ballistic missile at the station, Reuters reports. The civilians killed in the Kramatorsk attack, including at least five children, were trying to heed calls to flee the region. Residents are continuing to leave for safer parts of Ukraine and other countries ahead of an expected Russian offensive. Authorities say the shelling of eastern Ukraine has intensified in recent days. Elsewhere in Ukraine, authorities say they are continuing to find evidence of Russian war crimes, the Guardian reports. The country's defense ministry said Saturday that the bodies of 132 "tortured, murdered citizens" were found in the Kyiv-area town of Makariv following the Russian retreat. Many more bodies have been found in towns including Bucha, which European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Friday. "My instinct says: If this is not a war crime, what is a war crime, but I am a medical doctor by training and lawyers have to investigate carefully," she told reporters. (Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.) (Newser) Two divers were rescued by fishermen on Saturday four days after they disappeared off a southern Malaysian island and drifted some 70 nautical miles, but it was too late to save a 14-year-old boy. Alexia Alexandra Molina, 18, of France and Adrian Peter Chesters, 46, of Britain, were found early Saturday in neighboring Indonesian waters and taken to a hospital, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency said. Chesters' son, Nathen Renze Chesters, remained missing but Chesters told police that he had died because he was too weak, the agency said in a statement. The agency said it notified Indonesian authorities to continue searching for the body, the AP reports. Molina and Chesters were found 16 nautical miles north of Indonesias Bintan Island, which is about 70 nautical miles from the location they were reported missing on Wednesday, according to Mersing police chief Cyril Edward Nuing. The three were diving with their Norwegian instructor, Kristine Grodem, about 50 feet deep at an island off Mersing town in Malaysia's southern Johor state. Grodem, 35, was rescued Thursday by a tugboat. She said the four of them surfaced safely Wednesday afternoon but later drifted away from the boat and were separated by a strong current. The boat skipper was detained for further investigation, and diving activities off Mersing were suspended. (Read more diving stories.) (Newser) Three people were murdered Friday in a robbery at a shooting range in Georgia, police say. The Grantville Police Department says the owner, his wife, and their grandson were killed at the Lock Stock & Barrel Shooting Range in a rural area around 50 miles southwest of Atlanta, CNN reports. Police say around 40 guns and a DVR camera were taken. The robbery occurred around 5:30pm and officers were dispatched to the scene at 8pm, police say. They have not disclosed how the three family members were killed. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is conducting the investigation. "Due to the amount of weapons taken, the ATF was also called in to assist as well as members from the Coweta County Sheriff's department," police said in a statement. Police said anybody who drove by the shooting range between 5:30pm and 6:30pm and saw vehicles other than a white Ford dually truck and a black Ford Expedition should contact the police department. Property records show that the range is owned by two Sharpsburg residents, Tommy Hawk and Thomas Richard Hawk Jr., the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. (Read more Georgia stories.) (Newser) Thousands of Sri Lankans rallied Saturday in the country's main business district and Christian clergy marched in the capital on a day of protest calling on the debt-ridden nation's president to resign, as anxiety and anger over shortages simmered. Protesters carrying national flags and placards, some bemoaning the hardships through songs, blamed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his administration for mismanaging the crisis, the AP reports. He has refused to step down even after most of his Cabinet quit and loyal lawmakers rebelled, narrowing a path for him to seek a way out as his team prepares to negotiate with international lending institutions. "Go home Rajapaksas" and "We need responsible leadership" read the placards. The protest included a large number of young people who had organized through social media and refuse to accept any political leadership. Many carried signs saying, "You messed with the wrong generation!" The protesters stayed around the presidents office and vowed not to leave until their mission is accomplished. For months, Sri Lankans have stood in long lines to buy fuel, cooking gas, food, and medicine, most of which come from abroad and are paid for in hard currency. The fuel shortage has caused rolling power cuts for several hours a day. The nation is on the brink of bankruptcy, saddled with $25 billion in foreign debt over the next five yearsnearly $7 billion of which is due this yearand dwindling foreign reserves. Talks with the International Monetary Fund are expected this month, and the government had turned to China and India for emergency loans to buy food and fuel. Much of the anger expressed during weeks of growing protests has been directed at Rajapaksa and his elder brother, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who head a clan that has been in power for most of two decades. Thakshila Jayasinghe, a 35-year-old lawyer who joined the protest, said she regretted voting for Rajapaksa in the 2019 presidential election. "I wonder what sin I have committed by voting for this president when I see the people suffer," she said. (Read more Sri Lanka stories.) (Newser) In what he called "a show of our unwavering support for the people of Ukraine," UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson made an unannounced trip to Kyiv on Saturday to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky. While there, Johnson announced a new package of financial and military aid to help fight off the Russian invasion, Axios reports. After the meeting, Johnson praised Zelensky's leadership and Ukrainians' courage. "I made clear today that the United Kingdom stands unwaveringly with them in this ongoing fight," he said, per the Guardian, "and we are in it for the long run." Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer also traveled to Kyiv on Saturday for talks with Zelensky, part of a recent series of visits by allies. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was there Friday, per the AP, following visits from the Czech, Polish, and Slovenian prime ministers. After meeting with Zelensky, Nehammer said the EU will step up sanctions against Russia "until the war stops," adding, "As long as people are dying, every sanction is still insufficient." He also said the staff of the Austrian embassy, now in western Ukraine, will return to Kyiv. Von der Leyen was in Warsaw on Saturday, leading a fundraising event that she said brought in $11 billion in pledges from governments, celebrities, and others for Ukraine. The new assistance announced by the UK includes about 120 armored vehicles, anti-ship missile systems, and $500 million in guaranteed loans from the World Bank for Ukraine. Zelensky has praised the UK's commitment, noting that other NATO nations such as Germany have been less help. Johnson said Saturday that Ukraine has "pushed back Russian forces from the gates of Kyiv, achieving the greatest feat of arms of the 21st century." (Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.) (Newser) Update: An arrest has been made in the shooting deaths of three family members at a Georgia gun range. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports Jacob Christian Muse, 21, was arrested Friday and charged with three counts of malice murder. Grantville Police Chief Steve Whitlock did not discuss whether Muse knew Lock Stock & Barrel Shooting Range owner Thomas Hawk, 75; his wife, Evelyn, 75; and their teen grandson, Luke; all were killed April 8. "Even though hes in jail and with warrants signed for murder, there's a lot more to work," Whitlock said. Muse, a College Park resident, is being held at Coweta County Jail. Our original story from April 9 follows: Police are searching for at least one armed suspect in connection with the killing of the owner of a gun range in Georgia and his wife and grandson, authorities said Saturday. The Grantville Police Department posted on Facebook that the robbery occurred Friday evening. When officers arrived at the scene around 8pm, the AP reports, they discovered the bodies of Lock Stock & Barrel Shooting Range owner Thomas Hawk, 75; his wife, Evelyn, 75; and their grandson, Luke, 17. Police Chief Steve Whitlock said the Hawk family was well-known and well-respected in the small, tight-knit community. The Hawks had operated Lock Stock & Barrel for nearly 30 years. Their grandson was on spring break, helping his grandparents at the shop. "This is just a shock to everybody in the community," Whitlock said. "We're trying to do the best that we can to figure this out." Whitlock said investigators believe the robbery and shooting happened around 5:30pm, which is when the range normally closes. He said Hawk's son, Coweta County Coroner Richard Hawk, came by the business and found the victims. There are no suspects as of early Saturday, Whitlock said, and no arrests have been made. Investigators said that as many as 40 guns and the range's surveillance camera were also stolen. A reward of $15,000 reportedly has been posted for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer or killers, and police are asking any witnesses to come forward. Whitlock said investigators have no video evidence to work with right now. The shooting range is in rural Coweta County, about 50 miles southwest of Atlanta. (Read more fatal shooting stories.) Staff Sgt. Elise Denning, assigned to Artificial Intelligence Integration Center, conducts maintenance on an unmanned aerial system in preparation for Project Convergence at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, on Oct. 20, 2021. Undersecretary of the Army Gabe Camarillo said that the service will continue to focus on modernization in its fiscal year 2023 budget including Project Convergence, the Army's series of joint, multi-domain operations. (Patrick Hunter) Spc. Isaiah Stinger (left) and Pfc. Anthony McGrath, both Patriot Fire Control Enhanced Operators/Maintainers with Battery B, 3rd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, perform power-up procedures on the Launcher Electronic Module (LEM) to connect with the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS). Stinger, newly arrived at the unit, is being trained by McGrath during operational testing of the Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense (AIAMD). (Staff Sgt. Christopher Pabst, Testing NCO, Air and Missile Defense Test Directorate) Fairbanks, AK (99707) Today Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low near 35F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low near 35F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. Saudi Reinsurance Company (Saudi Re) has announced that its board has recommended an increase in capital through a SR445.5 million ($118.7 million) rights issue. Saudi Re, which is listed on the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul), said the move to boost the capital from SR891 million ($237.5 million) to SR1.37 billion ($356 million) is aimed at strengthening its capital base and support its future expansion activities. Accordingly, the number of shares will increase from 89.1 million to 133.65 million. However, Saudi Re pointed out the capital hike is pending approval of the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), the Capital Market Authority (CMA), and other regulatory authorities, in addition to its extraordinary general meeting. Last year, Saudi Re had successfully boosted its capital to SR891 million from SR810 million by capitalizing SR81 million from retained earnings. The capital increase was done through a 1-for-10 bonus share distribution, it added. On the capital hike move, Managing Director and CEO Fahad Al Hesni said: "We have attained a growth rate of 19% over the past three years, as we expand our activities across more than 40 markets in the Middle East, Asia and Lloyds Market in the United Kingdom and Africa." "Our Gross Written Premium (GWP) increased scale by 19.3% to SR1.1 billion in 2021, marking the highest premium level achieved in the history of Saudi Re and reinforcing our status among the top-ranked Middle Eastern reinsurers," he noted. The Saudi group has developed its strategy towards 2026, which focuses on solidifying the group's presence in its home market, as well as diversifying in international markets. "In line with our long-term strategy towards 2026, we have set out with a clear ambition at the onset of 2021 to evolve and diversify as a company that can reliably serve the risk and growing reinsurance needs of the Kingdom, aiming to become among the top 50 global reinsurers," stated Al Hesni. Despite challenging market conditions, Saudi Re maintained its track record of profitability in 2021 by registering a net profit of SR38.3 million, resulting in a 4.4% growth in total shareholders equity to SR964 million ($257 million) by the end of 2021. One of the biggest reinsurers in the region, Saudi Re provides several solutions in the transfer of risks and specializes in compulsory and optional reinsurance solutions in engineering, property, marine, accidents, vehicles, life, and health sectors. It has maintained its Insurance Financial Strength Rating (IFSR) at A3 with a stable outlook from Moodys Investors Service, thus reflecting industry expectations for the company to maintain profitability, capital adequacy, adequate level of reserves and strong asset quality demonstrated by its investment portfolio.-TradeArabia News Service TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Bahrain yesterday strongly condemned the terrorist shooting in Tel Aviv, which led to the death of two people and injuring civilians. In a statement, the Foreign Affairs Ministry expressed condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims and the Israeli government, wishing a speedy recovery for the injured. It also stressed the firm position of Bahrain, rejecting all forms of terrorism and violence. The UAE strongly condemns the terrorist attack, the UAE Embassy in Israel said on Twitter, and offered its condolences to the families of the victims of this dreadful act. Reports said the attacker had entered a pub on a crowded main street of Tel Aviv on Thursday night and began shooting, killing two people and wounding several others before fleeing. A third victim died of his wounds on Friday. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Israeli forces were on high alert nationwide Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the Tel Aviv attack. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com The High Appeals Court rejected an appeal filed by a 40-year-old Bahrain man challenging jail terms received for peddling Shabu in Bahrain. The defendant was earlier sentenced to five years in prison and slapped with a fine of BD3000. Court files say police caught the defendant in a sting operation. The suspect fell into a trap set by an undercover agent, who offered to buy BD150 worth of illicit drugs from him. Unsuspecting the police operation, the suspect met the agent, who was under the surveillance of the anti-drug squad. Soon after completing the delivery, police officers swooped on the suspect and took him into custody. "I received a phone call from a man who offered to buy drugs from me. He said he wanted drugs worth BD150. We agreed to meet in a public place. Police arrested me as soon as I handed over the drugs," the defendant told prosecutors earlier. The public Prosecution charged him with selling drugs. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com No month holds as much significance as Ramadan. It is a practice that dates back thousands of years and it forms an integral part of the religion of Islam. Worshippers around the world observe Ramadan by fasting between sunrise and sunset during the ninth month of the lunar year. Rooted in the five pillars of Islam, fasting is one of the core values every believer is obligated to follow which makes Ramadan a compulsory principle for those who follow Islam. It is widely respected by people from all religions and cultures across the globe, but few outside of the Islam community know the history behind the holy month. In around 610 AD in the city of Mecca, Prophet Muhammad started to receive teachings from Allah during a month-long period. During this month, he encountered the Angel Gabriel. During this encounter, it is said the Angel Gabriel revealed the exact words of Allah in the form of the Quran. It is believed that Prophet Muhammad was the last of the prophets Allah chose to share his words and his teachings with mankind, and as such, the Prophet Muhammad is considered the messenger of God along with the 24 other prophets, which includes Ibrahim, Adam, Isa and Musa. The night the Angel Gabriel revealed the Quran is known as Laylat Al-Qadr. Translated to English, it means The Night of Power. Many people believe Laylat Al-Qadr falls on the 27th night of the ninth month of the lunar year, but others believe it falls on the 23rd night. Given this is the night the holy Quran was first revealed, this is the most prominent day of all for believers and is the most important day of Ramadan. The practice of fasting w a s familiar to the pre-Islamic Arabs, as the Quran mentions: You who believe, fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may be mindful of God. (Quran 2:183) The Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad over a period of 23 years, and the verses instructing believers to fast the entire month of Ramadan came in the latter half of that period. During the first 12 years in Mecca, the Islam minority faced torture, tyranny and persecu- tion from the Qurayshi ruling pagan tribe, wit h many losing their lives. The surviving believers migrated to the city of Medina in 622 AD, over 300km away. Two years later, the verses about fasting in Ramadan were revealed, with Prophet Muhammad establishing the holy months practices in the sanctuary of their new home. Nissan Motor in an online event Friday revealed its prototype factory for all-solid-state batteries, which the automaker says could revolutionize electric vehicles by charging three times faster and offering twice the range as earlier models. The Japanese automaker said it is working with NASA and other partners to commercialize the next-generation cells. The potentially "game-changing technology" could bring EVs to the same cost level as gasoline cars, according to Nissan. Nissan aims to set up a pilot production line in fiscal 2024 and start selling EVs equipped with the batteries in fiscal 2028. "If we can meet the timeline we have announced, we will be in a very competitive position globally," said Kunio Nakaguro, executive vice president for research and development. Other automakers also are rushing to commercialize all-solid-state batteries. Nearly two years before Japanese fashion titan Yusaku Maezawa embarked on his recent tourist visit to the International Space Station, he made global headlines for launching a worldwide search for a life partner to go to the moon with him. In his online appeal for love, Maezawa, who was 44 at the time, said he hoped finding a companion would ease the feelings of loneliness and emptiness surging within him. A few months later, however, he abruptly called off this quest for a romantic partner due to unspecified personal reasons. Now, it appears Maezawa is betting robots may be able to fill the hole in ones heart. The eccentric billionaire, who made his fortune through the Japanese e-commerce fashion site Zozotown, announced last month that his investment fund is buying Japanese robotics startup Groove X, which makes a product called Lovot, a combination of the words love and robot. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The pet-sized companion robots aim to stir an instinct to love in its human customers, according to the companys website, with potential use cases in nursing homes and with children. As the pandemic raged, the so-called emotional robots also found new purpose in providing companionship to those who have been forced to stay apart from others, according to the company. The wide-eyed devices roll around on wheels and have more than 50 sensors to respond to stimuli from humans (whom it distinguishes via a thermal camera) through machine learning technology, according to the company. The robot is currently only available for sale in Japan. The price starts at $2,825 for a single device, plus a monthly service fee of approximately $80. Groove X was founded in 2015 by CEO Kaname Hayashi, a SoftBank veteran who developed the humanoid robot Pepper. The firm received funding from the Japanese government and unveiled its first Lovot device to the local market in 2019. These robots dont seek to provide any convenience or practical purpose. In fact, the company has previously described it as not a useful robot. The robot was born for just one reason to be loved by you, the company said. ...continue reading Students at a Presbyterian boarding school in Sitka, Alaska, in the summer of 1883. U.S. Catholic and Protestant denominations operated more than 150 boarding schools between the 19th and 20th centuries. Native American and Alaskan Native children were regularly severed from their tribal families, customs, language and religion and brought to the schools in a push to assimilate and Christianize them. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DANBURY When you picture what a disaster-relief lunch looks like, a mozzarella-tomato-and-arugula sandwich with balsamic vinegar is probably not the first image that comes to mind. But it should be if you live in Danbury, now that the city has approved a mass feeding and emergency food distribution agreement with a well-known catering venue called the Amber Room Colonnade. We have always believed that supporting our community is one of the most important goals that a business can achieve, said the Amber Rooms owner, Doug Polistena, in a letter to city leaders this week. Should the Amber Rooms services be requested, we are ready and able. After a brief discussion, Danburys City Council unanimously agreed. That means that in addition to weddings, corporate events and special occasions, the Amber Room is now in business to deliver hundreds of emergency meals within hours when the citys next natural disaster strikes. What are we going to use it for, when theres power outages? asked Ben Chianese, a City Council member, during a meeting this past week. Matthew Cassavechia, the citys emergency management director, responded that the city needed to be prepared for any mass-feeding need that presented itself. Any disaster anything that would create a situation where we would be required to feed a mass amount people whether they be first responders, health care workers or citizenry we are preparing for all of those scenarios, Cassavechia said. If the agreement with the 50-year-old catering venue in northern Danbury seems novel because it isnt with an established relief service, it shouldnt, both sides said this week, because the Amber Room Colonnade has been delivering emergency meals under the radar for years. The Amber Room Colonnade has a long history of serving the Danbury community, as well as the experience in providing a large quantity of quality meals within a short period time, Cassavechia said in a letter to the City Council. For example, the citys agreement with the catering venue states, through the (COVID-19) pandemic and multiple collaborations, the Amber Room Colonnade has provided 75,000 meals to help with food insecurity. The agreement also states that the Amber Room has serviced over 2,000 meals within a 24-hour period. Moreover, the city plans to pursue additional relief agreements with organizations for emergency response purposes, Cassavechia said. In February, Danbury approved an agreement with the Salvation Army to provide services and assistance in a non-sectarian manner in preparation for, response to, or recovery from a man-made or natural emergency or disaster. Although the agreement with the Amber Room is intended to be flexible and adapt to the unique circumstances of the next emergency, there are a handful of stipulations, including: A 30-meal minimum order, and a minimum of three hours notice, with the maximum meal count based upon the meal type and advance notice Delivery of the food within 20 miles is included in the price, with extra charges for multiple locations that need to be delivered to simultaneously Three breakfast options ranging from $10 to $14; three lunch options ranging from $10 to $14; and three dinner options ranging from $15 to $20. During a City Council meeting on Tuesday, Chianese noted there was no expiration on the agreement, and asked what would happen to the pricing in the future. The $10 ham and cheese may not be $10 when we actually need it, he said. Its effective as long as the ham and the cheese is effective, joked Les Pinter, the citys deputy corporation counsel. Seriously, I think the agreement is not intended to be codified in permanent law. It is intended to be an arrangement until parties agree to change their minds. rryser@newstimes.com 203-731-3342 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) In the days after a group of West Point cadets on spring break were sickened by fentanyl-laced cocaine at a South Florida house party, community activists sprang into action. They blitzed beaches, warned spring breakers of a surge in recreational drugs cut with the dangerous synthetic opioid and offered an antidote for overdoses, which have risen nationally during the COVID-19 pandemic. Street teams stood under the blistering sun, handing out beads, pamphlets and samples of naloxone, a drug known by the brand name Narcan, which can revive overdose victims. We werent sure how people would react, said Thomas Smith, director of behavioral health services for The Special Purpose Outreach Team, a local mobile medical program. But the spring breakers have been great. Some say, I dont do drugs, but my buddy sometimes does something stupid. They are happy to get Narcan. Smith's team pulls up to Fort Lauderdale beach in a brightly colored mobile clinic van. They walk the sidewalks that run parallel to the beach, across the main drag from the bustling oceanfront clubs and restaurants. Have you heard of Narcan? Huston Ochoa, a clinical counselor for The SPOT, asked Tristan Gentles on a recent afternoon as music blared from the Elbo Room, a bar at the heart of Fort Lauderdale Beach. Gentles, who worked as a bartender and bouncer in New York City before moving to Fort Lauderdale, said he appreciates their efforts. There's only so much you can do when you see someone on the floor, he said, adding that he had witnessed numerous overdoses during his days in New York. Fentanyl and other synthetic drugs, which can be 50 to 100 times more potent than heroin or prescription opioids, are what make the overdoes so dangerous, said David Scharf, who oversees community programs for the Broward Sheriff's Office and is the chairman of the county's Opioid Community Response Team. Last year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that for the first time more than 100,000 Americans had died of drug overdoses over a 12-month period. About two-thirds of the deaths were linked to fentanyl and other synthetic drugs. Stress from the coronavirus pandemic and the use of fentanyl are considered factors in the increase in deaths, according to preliminary reports by the CDC. Broward County led the state in fentanyl deaths in 2020, the latest year for which statistics are available from the Florida Medical Examiners Commission. In the vast majority of the deaths, fentanyl was combined with another drug, the sheriffs office said. One snort, one swallow, one shot can kill," said Jim Hall, a retired epidemiologist from Nova Southeastern University, who has worked with the county's opioid response team. "It is not just in Florida but anywhere in North America. For the first three months of 2022, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue responded to 373 calls involving a possible overdose, where Narcan was administered, Battalion Chief Stephen Gollan said. That's an average of more than four per day. The reaction in Broward was swift after the five U.S. Military Academy cadets overdosed in Wilton Manors on March 10, just as thousands of college students were heading to Fort Lauderdale for spring break. The following Monday, more than 100 people representing agencies from law enforcement to social service organizations and hospitals met via Zoom to devise a plan to keep spring breakers safe. Groups such as The SPOT and the South Florida Wellness Network, which partner with the United Way of Broward County, agreed to hit the beaches to talk with people about the dangers associated with fentanyl-laced drugs. They also talked to restaurant and bar owners who could distribute Narcan if "someone went down," Scharf said. The groups have so far distributed more than 2,000 doses of Narcan supplied by state grants. The SPOT volunteers handed out packages with two doses of the nasal spray plus instructions. It was kind of a blitz operation to get out there as quickly as possible, and to get as much information and Narcan out on the streets," Scharf said. The volunteer groups and sheriff's office don't have figures on how many of the distributed doses were actually used but believe the program has succeeded in raising awareness. The region isn't yet out of the spring break period, which runs until mid-April, but Scharf said organizers have been heartened to see a couple of weekends pass without any overdoses that resulted in emergency calls. We had zero, which is like the first time in forever that we had none," Scharf said. We had a terrible situation, with overdoses of the cadets and others, and turned it into an opportunity to really beef up our education and prevention efforts by flooding the beaches and the streets, Scharf said. Smith, of The SPOT, said spring breakers were grateful and appreciative and his group now has to plan how to "keep the momentum going." To that end, the street teams plan to continue working events that bring in large crowds, such as this weekends sold out Tortuga Music Festival on Fort Lauderdale Beach. It's about saving lives," said Emy Martinez, who manages a safe syringe program for The SPOT. It's all about saving one life at a time." VICKSBURG, Miss. (AP) A group of high school students from the Vicksburg Warren School District are taking advantage of a new residential architectural design class offered through Hinds Community College. The class Residential Design and Building Information Modeling, is taught by instructor Richard Hunt, who graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a degree in Architectural Engineering Technology. The idea is to teach them how to understand how a house goes together. We focus primarily on residential construction, Hunt said. (How to understand) the elements that have to be there, how to talk to the client and get the clients needs, and translate that into the language of construction. Students are taught at the Hinds Community College facility which boasts brand new iMacs, 3D printers and a state-of-the-art plotter on which the students can hone their skills. They are currently learning how to use modeling software to create a home of their own design. So its basically virtual construction, right? Hunt said. The idea is, you design every aspect of the building details before you ever drive the first nail. The software the students are learning to use allows them to design a useable, detailed plan of the construction project. Its able to print out materials lists, full specs, all that stuff, Hunt said. It can give you detailed cost estimates and things like that. The course isnt just focused on architectural design. Hunts class is also learning about the business aspects of construction. After getting his Bachelors degree, Hunt worked in the construction industry. Now he is trying to pass along the knowledge he wished hed known before entering the field professionally. When I started out, I didnt know what to charge people. I didnt know how to talk to them about the money side of it, Hunt said. Teaching them how to grade that and be confident when talking about money to clients is a really important thing, too. I think that if they take nothing else away from (the course), being able to know their own value and know the value of their work is one of the most important things I hope that they picked up in this class. Hunt said that the design process is a moving experience. He is trying to show the students that going from the sketch phase to the final design phase, and even on to the construction phase is a rewarding experience. When you see something that was in your mind, and you put it on a piece of paper, he said. And then someone builds it, and you see it for the first time in real life, Its a goosebumps moment. Hunt said he is hopeful that the course will last past its first year, but he really needs it to grow in order to remain viable for the school district. Right now Ive got five students, he said. I really have to have 10. So I need to get some interest from the students at large to bring them in here. Hunt is also looking for support from the community. I actually have a few friends who are in the construction trades, and some real estate agents, a couple of developers that Ive talked to, and they have all offered support, he said. Those types of professionals are interested because it would benefit them Im trying to teach (the students) that they could do this right here. And that this could benefit this community directly, he said. Hunt thinks the course is a way for the students and the community to invest in a brighter economic future. Theres a housing shortage in this country, Hunt said. Getting your students started in the design-build process by learning about it is the first step of getting that corrected. Several students were confident that the skills they are learning in the course could be applied to their future careers. Trinitee Odom, a senior, said this course is directly related to the fields she is interested in. It helped me learn that I actually want to be (in construction), Odom said. But I want to be an architect too; I want to do it all. Several students eagerly explained the architectural concept of the work triangle, a general set of rules for laying out the floorplan in a space where work is performed (like a kitchen) to maximize the efficiency and ease of use of the person working. Another student, Owen McCardle, said he was mostly interested in the artistic aspects of the course, and that the skills learned here are not only applicable to the fields of architecture and construction. Definitely take it. I mean, its not that you have to just take it because you want to be an architect, McCardle said. You could take it just to have some background knowledge on how some other things work. Hunt echoed the sentiment. Youll learn something about construction, you learn something about design, he said. Youll learn something about what it means to build a community and be part of a community (and how to) run a business. DANBURY The City Council gave bipartisan support to the citys newest constable following a controversy over his political affiliation. City Council voted 18-2 on Tuesday to approve the appointment of Francis Kieras to the constable position left open after the November election. The process was held up last month after some Democrats voiced transparency concerns. Kieras, who was a constable as a Democrat, switched his party affiliation from Republican to Independent shortly before Mayor Dean Esposito appointed him to the role. Danbury has five constables, but only four candidates three Republicans and one Democrat ran in the November election. Based on minority representation rules, it was expected that a non-Republican would be appointed to fill the open seat. Concerned that Democrats didnt have the opportunity to put their name forward, Democrat Joe Britton, at the councils March meeting, requested the issue go to an ad hoc committee. The ad hoc committee voted unanimously to support Kieras appointment. Officials have praised his character and credentials. Danbury has historically applied minority representation rules, but thisvacant position could technically be filled by someone from any political party, Town Clerk Janice Giegler told the committee, citing information from the Secretary of the States Office. During public comment of Tuesdays meeting, two residents, including a former City Council member, criticized Britton for the way he raised the issue. But Britton earned the support of the former Democratic Town Committee chair. Without discussion, council members approved Kieras appointment, with Britton and Democrat Richard Molinaro opposing. DOVER, Del. (AP) It was a challenge that turned into a dare that eventually led to the takeoff of one of the most momentous C-5A Galaxy flights out of Dover Air Force Base Jan. 30, 1986. Retired Col. William Bill Jordan, now 79, vividly remembers the sequence of events that led to the first all-Black aircrew of a C-5A cargo plane leaving Dover bound for Germany that day. After all, he was chosen to lead the historic mission. The way it got started was I was chair of the Black History Month Committee that year and one of the members of that committee had suggested that we bring a R&B group down from Philadelphia and have a dance, and I was opposed to that, Mr. Jordan said. I said I didnt think the base would go for that. So, a female NCO on the committee said, They never go for anything. I bet they wont go for an all-Black flight C-5 crew. Mr. Jordan said he was kind of put in a difficult spot and he committed that he would ask then-Col. Walter Kross, who was Dover Air Force Bases wing commander back then, if he would approve her idea. Much to his surprise, Col. Kross OKd the proposal and history was put into motion. I guess the thing that made it so memorable for me was the fact that Col. Kross had the fortitude to authorize that flight in the face of a lot of people saying that he was making a mistake, Mr. Jordan said. So, he and 17 other Black airmen representing Dover AFBs 3rd Squadron, 9th Squadron and Reserves, were selected and put into place to fly a routine mission to Germany in honor of Black History Month in February. The purpose of the flight was to symbolize the role Black airmen played in national defense commitments. In an article in The Airlifter, the base newspaper, published in 1986, then-Lt. Col. Jordan, who served as the flight commander, said, Members of the crew wanted to fly an ordinary mission, not an around the flagpole mission. There arent any special events planned en route. The mission is a symbol of Black History Month, and we know it will inspire young Blacks to strive harder to achieve whatever their dreams may be. At the time, he also knew the flight would have its share of detractors. There are people who are going to try to turn this into something negative, he said. There will be comments that its tokenism or an attempt to segregate a crew. Neither statement is true. Little did Mr. Jordan and other members of the all-Black flight crew know at the time about the interest level that many had involving the flight, including a young Black airman at an air base in Incirlik, Turkey. The most memorable thing about the flight was the second leg, when we went into Turkey, said Mr. Jordan. There was an airman who couldnt believe there was going to be an all-Black flight and he stayed up all night at the base in Incirlik, Turkey, waiting to see that C-5 come in and land. He was out on the flightline just looking to see the all-Black crew. He was a Black airman, so the fact that it meant so much to him and it meant so much to all the Air Force people that we ran across meant a lot to us. It was amazing. People were coming up to us and congratulating us and thankful that we did that flight. When he looks back on that flight today, there isnt a whole lot that he would change, calling it an honor to be a part of history. We didnt want it to be just a symbolic flight. We wanted it to be a normal mission, Mr. Jordan said. It was to show that on a day-to-day basis that we contributed to the regular Air Force mission showing that we do this daily, and we can do this all the time. I think the biggest honor for me was to see the performance of the entire crew. Everybody on the crew did a fabulous job. Its always a great honor to work with such a highly motivated and dedicated crew of people. Unfortunately, time is catching up to many who participated in the mission. Pilot Joe Lindsay died in January, and several others have also passed away over the years. Their exploits are still remembered including another flight by a second all-Black air crew that took place years after the inaugural flight. On Feb. 24, 1999, there was a C-5 reunion and recognition luncheon for both the flights at Dover Air Force Base. If you ask me, it was a momentous flight, said Mr. Jordan, who now lives in Spotsylvania, Virginia. However, he said it wasnt the most significant flight of his aviation career. My service in Vietnam might be more significant than that flight, Mr. Jordan said. My flying of air medical evacuations One of my friends asked me what the most important mission I ever flew in the Air Force was, and I told her two missions where I saved two little girls who had been burned over 80% of their bodies, one down in New Orleans and one in Memphis, Tennessee. And the lady was shocked. She knew I had been down in Vietnam, and Id done all that and the Black flight (at Dover) that flight was very significant to me, but was it the most significant thing in my Air Force career? No. The deceased, 21-year-old Kartik Vasudev, who used to work part-time at a restaurant was killed following a shooting outside the Sherbourne subway station in the city, according to local media reports. An Indian student was shot dead on Thursday (local time) in Toronto. The deceased, 21-year-old Kartik Vasudev, who used to work part-time at a restaurant was killed following a shooting outside the Sherbourne subway station in the city, according to local media reports. Kartik hailed from Uttar Pradeshs Ghaziabad. According to reports, the student identified as Kartik Vasudev had gone to Canada this January and was pursuing a course in Global Management. Speaking to ANI, the deceaseds father, Ritesh Vasudev, said that he suspects his son was killed during a robbery attempt. He stated, I think it is a case of robbery, somebody must have tired to snatch my sons bag he had gone to Canada this January to study. He was also working part time in a restaurant. When he departed for his work and left the metro subway, somebody shot at him. The Consulate General of India in Toronto said in a tweet that the mission is in touch with the parents of the victim and will provide all possible assistance to transport the mortal remains to India. India in Toronto said n a tweet, We are shocked & distressed at the unfortunate killing of Indian student Kartik Vasudev in a shooting incident in Toronto yesterday. We are in touch with the family and will provide all possible assistance in early repatriation of mortal remains. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also expressed grief at the incident. He tweeted, Grieved by this tragic incident. Deepest condolences to the family. The Supreme Court on Friday ruled in favour of the amendments to the provisions of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2020. The apex court was hearing a petition challenging the constitutional validity of the amendments to the FCRA. The top court observed that foreign donations have the ability to manipulate the countrys socio-economic structure and political scenario. The court said, For, foreign contribution can have a material impact in the matter of socio-economic structure and polity of the country. Foreign aid can create the presence of a foreign contributor and influence the policies of the country. It may tend to influence or impose political ideology. Noting that foreign donations may influence domestic affairs of the country, the three-judge bench hearing the matter said that foreign contribution should be at a minimal level. The bench stated, Such being the expanse of the effect of foreign contribution coupled with the tenet of constitutional morality of the nation, the presence/inflow of foreign contribution in the country ought to be at the minimum level, if not completely eschewed. The amendments to the FCRA impose several new conditions on the receipt and use of funds by NGOs, besides making it mandatory for the foreign contribution to be received only in an account designated as FCRA account in the State Bank of India. The court said in its order, The amended provision is not to completely prohibit inflow of foreign contribution but is a regulatory measure to permit acceptance by registered persons or persons having prior permission to do so with condition that they must themselves utilise the entire contribution including for administrative expenses within the limits. The Imran Khan-led PTI government in Pakistan is set to face the dreaded no-confidence motion against it in the countrys National Assembly today. This comes after a decision by the PTI-backed Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri to dismiss the motion was overruled by the Pakistani Supreme Court. The SC had observed in its judgement that the Deputy Speakers decision to dismiss the no-trust vote and dissolve the National Assembly did not hold legality. The SC overturned the Deputy Speakers ruling and reinstated the National Assembly. The court also declared that the Prime Minister and federal ministers, ministers of state, advisers, etc, stand restored to their respective offices as on April 3. Moreover, the court ordered the Speaker to hold a no-trust vote not later than 10:30 am on April 9. The Speaker is under a duty to summon and hold a sitting of the Assembly in the present Session, and shall do so immediately and in any case not later than 10:30 a.m. on Saturday 09.04.2022, to conduct the business of the House as per the Orders of the Day that had been issued for 03.04.2022 and in terms as stated in, and required by, Article 95 of the Constitution read with Rule 37 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly Rules, 2007 (Rules), the Supreme Court verdict said. The Supreme Court also ordered that, in event of a defeat for Imran Khan, the opposition will get to elect the Prime Minister. The opposition has threatened the Speaker with legal consequences on failing to conduct the no-trust vote as ordered by the countrys top court. The government in its plea has urged for suspension of the Supreme Court verdict and for the National Assembly to be allowed to function according to the rules, reported ARY News citing sources. The Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government in Pakistan today filed a review petition in the nations Supreme Court against the apex courts verdict in the matter pertaining to the dissolution of the National Assembly by the Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri, as per Pakistani media reports. This comes ahead of the no-trust vote scheduled for later this evening. Notably, Imran Khan had reportedly held a meeting with his legal team prior to the Supreme Court judgement on Thursday. The government in its plea has urged for suspension of the Supreme Court verdict and for the National Assembly to be allowed to function according to the rules, reported ARY News citing sources. Meanwhile, the National Assembly secretariat has announced that the Speakers failure to conduct a no-trust vote today would result in the initiation of Contempt of Court proceedings, according to local media reports. Officials of the secretariat were quoted as saying by Pak media outlets, We have conveyed to the speaker that there is no way except voting on the no-trust move today. If there will be no voting then it will be tantamount to contempt of court. The Supreme Court said in its judgement that the decision by the National Assembly Deputy Speaker to reject the no-trust vote is unconstitutional. The apex court had ordered the Speaker to hold the no-trust vote before 10:30 am on April 9. However, the no-trust vote was deferred till 8 pm after adjournment of session earlier in the day. The opposition MP also said that the Parliament should address the political crisis in the country to fix the economic situation. Vijitha Herath stated, "It is absurd to find a solution to the economic crisis without the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa." Amid the severe economic crisis in Sri Lanka, National Peoples Power (NPP) MP Vijitha Herath on Friday called for the impeachment of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in case he refuses to step down from his post. Herath also proposed a no-confidence motion against the current government. He said, We are ready to support both impeachment and no-confidence motion. The opposition MP also said that the Parliament should address the political crisis in the country to fix the economic situation. Herath stated, It is absurd to find a solution to the economic crisis without the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. He further said that the country need a new leader to solve the worsening economic crisis. Earlier, the entire Sri Lankan cabinet, except Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, resigned citing the deepening economic crisis in the island nation. Later, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa invited opposition parties to join the government as part of the cabinet. Gotabaya Rajapaksa has refused to step down as President of Sri Lanka. However, he has declared that he is willing to hand over the government to any political party that succeeds in proving majority in the countrys Parliament. Widespread protests have erupted in the nation demanding the removal of Gotabaya Rajapaksa as President. The statement came after her visit to a mass grave where the victims of the alleged Russian massacre have been laid to rest. European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen visited the town of Bucha in Ukraine where hundreds of civilians were allegedly massacred by Russian forces. Von Der Leyen denounced the Russian army and stated that the perpetrators will be brought to justice. She said in a tweet, It was important to start my visit in Bucha. Because in Bucha our humanity was shattered. My message to Ukrainian people: Those responsible for the atrocities will be brought to justice. Your fight is our fight. Im in Kyiv today to tell you that Europe is on your side. The statement came after her visit to a mass grave where the victims of the alleged Russian massacre have been laid to rest. The European Commission President was accompanied by European Unions foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell Fontelles and Slovakian Prime Minister Eduard Heger. Heger said in a tweet, In Ukraine with @vonderleyen (Ursula von der Leyen) and were ready to discuss our proposals for helping Ukraine with @ZelenskyyUa (Volodymyr Zelenskyy) and @Denys_Shmyhal (Denys Shmyhal). To help get EU perspective by creating a reform team. To offer options for transporting grains, including wheat and to increase the use of a humanitarian hub. On Thursday (IST), Russia was expelled from the UNHRC following a vote by the members of the UN General Assembly. 93 member countries voted against Russia, whereas, 24 countries voted in their favour. 58 countries, including India, abstained from the voting process. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HAMDEN Sometime in the not-too-distant future, joggers may be able to breathe a sigh of relief when they run the beautiful but harrowing stretch of road on Mather Street over Whitney Lake. The town is slated to receive more than $5.3 million in state aid to replace two deteriorating bridges, realign the intersection of Mather and Waite streets and install a continuous sidewalk along those streets to connect Whitney and Dixwell avenues, according to officials. The Legislative Councils public works committee green-lighted the project, but it still requires approval from the full council. The town would be required to contribute about $500,000 toward design costs, according to a memo from Mayor Lauren Garrett. Approximately $5.38 million was awarded to Hamden through the state Department of Transportations Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program, the memo says. Officials say the bridges on Mather and Waite streets have structural ratings of 4 and 3, respectively. A bridge with a rating of 4 is considered to be in poor condition, while a bridge with a rating of 3 is considered to be in serious condition, said Town Engineer Stephen White. The Mather Street bridge last was rated in 2018 and it was unclear whether its rating has changed, according to Garrett, who said the town is getting it reinspected. The new inspection comes after a car recently crashed into the bridge and knocked some concrete off a parapet, according to White. To my own knowledge, its still safe (to travel on) but we are getting it inspected to make sure, White said. Once officials learned of the crash, we went out to go look at (the bridge) ourselves, he said. It looks safe, but we really want to have a structural engineer look at it to make sure. White said the town is working with a consultant. He hopes to have the bridge inspected within the next few weeks. Car crash aside, both bridges have deficiencies that justify replacement, according to officials. The deficiencies mostly stem from concrete degradation, White said. When a bridge has a structural rating of three, he said, you really need to have a plan in place to replace it. Connecticut Department of Transportation has warned the town that the bridge may need to be closed to traffic if its condition deteriorates further, White told the Legislative Council in a memo. While the bridges structural raings make the improvements a priority for the town, Garrett said, it will bring additional benefits, such as realigning the intersection of Mather and Waite streets, which Garrett said can be confusing to those unfamiliar with the area. Currently, cars approaching the intersection circumvent a small traffic island. Were turning it into a T intersection, said White. I think it simplifies the intersection. The traffic islands adds unnecessary complexity. Having a sharper turn radius also should prevent cars from speeding through the intersection, he said. Changing the intersection should make it a little safer for pedestrians and cyclists that are moving through that area, said White. The project also would connect the towns two major corridors Dixwell and Whitney avenues via a continuous sidewalk. Part of that sidewalk would be installed along the west side of Mather Street, White said, a stretch of road that happens to be part of his own jogging route. Its a beautiful area to jog, but I think it will be much safer with some sidewalks, said Garrett. Im just happy that were investing in our infrastructure and making our roadways more pedestrian-friendly. It may be some time before residents see changes to the infrastructure in question. The town needs to go out to bid for the design plans and then get feedback from the state, which could require adjustments, according to Garrett, who said the process takes between six and 12 months. Editors note: This story has been updated to reflect that the bridges on Mather and Waite streets have structural ratings of 4 and 3, respectively, according to officials. meghan.friedmann@hearstmediact.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate CONCORD, N.H. (AP) The medical technician who drew blood from New Hampshire Rep. Peter Schmidt after he broke his leg in February was registered with the state, thanks to a 2014 law enacted after a traveling medical technician infected dozens of people with hepatitis C. But by the time Schmidt was back on his feet, colleagues had hijacked his bill aimed at improving the registry. House lawmakers passed a bill last month eliminating the registration requirement altogether, and Schmidt is now urging senators to reject it. Please do not pass this, this is a terrible idea, Schmidt said. I think we need to continue to register these medical technicians, otherwise we are opening ourselves up to a potential repeat of the Exeter experience. New Hampshire created the Board of Registration for Medical Technicians in response to David Kwiatkowski, who is serving 39 years in prison for stealing painkillers and replacing them with saline-filled syringes tainted with his blood. At the time, officials hoped the board would become a model for other states, but that hasnt happened. And those who want to ditch it say it creates unnecessary bureaucracy at a time when health care facilities are struggling to hire workers. The actions of one bad actor, however heinous, are not reason to require thousands of technicians to register and pay fees, said Rep. Carol McGuire, R-Epsom, when the House passed the bill last month. But Linda Ficken, a Kansas woman who contracted hepatitis C from Kwiatkowski in 2011, said she believes any medical worker with access to drugs should be registered and should undergo frequent drug testing. Every time I go into the hospital, I cant help but wonder, is this a repeat? she said. Cured or not, the thoughts and anxiety are still there. Despite being fired numerous times over drug allegations, Kwiatkowski had worked in 18 hospitals in seven states before being hired in at Exeter Hospital in New Hampshire. After his arrest in 2012, 46 people in four states were diagnosed with the same strain of the hepatitis C virus he carries, including one who died in Kansas. In all, 32 patients were infected in New Hampshire, seven in Maryland, six in Kansas and one in Pennsylvania. Kwiatkowski also worked in Michigan, New York, Arizona and Georgia. The case highlighted the fact that medical technicians arent as closely regulated as nurses or doctors, whose misconduct and discipline are tracked via a nationwide database. While some states require certain technicians to be licensed, four of the states where he worked didnt license any of them at the time of his arrest, including New Hampshire. The registry New Hampshire eventually created applies to all health care workers who are not otherwise already licensed or registered and have access to both patients and drugs. Hospitals are required to report disciplinary actions to the board, which also investigates complaints and takes disciplinary action. The board has struggled to maintain a quorum, however, and hasnt met in more than a year, said Lindsey Courtney, director of the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification. Were greatly concerned the state is not meeting its obligation to protect the public, she said at a public hearing. Courtney, who isnt taking a position on eliminating the board, supported Schmidts original proposal to convert it to an advisory panel that would make recommendations to her office. There are currently 1,691 registered technicians, and although complaints are rare, the board has taken action in a handful of cases each year. Schmidt said his goal was to shift some of the administrative burden from the board to the larger agency. He hopes the Senate will either kill the amended bill or return to his original idea. While hospitals are on the front lines of preventing and responding to drug diversion, partnering with public health, licensing and law enforcement agencies is essential, said Dr. Matthew Crist, a medical officer with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He said the CDC isnt aware of outbreaks in recent years related to drug diversion and is cautiously optimistic given that health care facilities have improved security around controlled drugs, and many state licensing agencies have taken steps to improve communication across state lines. In the decade before Kwiatkowskis arrests, similar hepatitis C outbreaks had been traced to other hospital technicians in Texas, Colorado and Florida, and CDC officials said at the time that the Kwiatkowski case highlighted a problem that was a growing concern across the public health system. Even though other states didnt follow New Hampshires lead, the registry likely has deterred people like Kwiatkowski from coming to the state in the first place, said state Sen. Tom Sherman, D-Rye, who led the bipartisan effort to create the board. Sherman, a gastroenterologist who is running for governor, played a key role in discovering Kwiatkowskis misconduct when he and his colleagues noticed a cluster of hepatitis C cases among their patients and realized they all had been treated in Exeter Hospitals cardiac catherization lab. Hes now urging his fellow senators to consider the price of doing an experiment to see what happens if we get rid of the board. People died because of that outbreak, he said. This was a very carefully thought-out solution that has worked. To take it away now means we just dont learn from history. WASHINGTON (AP) A milestone Supreme Court confirmation that endured a flawed process. The collapse of a bipartisan compromise for more pandemic funds. The departure of a stalwart of the dwindling band of moderate House Republicans. Party-line fights on Capitol Hill are as old as the republic, and they routinely escalate as elections approach. Yet three events from a notable week illustrate how Congress' near- and long-term paths point toward intensifying partisanship. THE SENATE'S SUPREME COURT BATTLE Democrats rejoiced Thursday when the Senate by 53-47 confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black female justice. They crowed about a bipartisan stamp of approval from the trio of Republicans who supported it: Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitt Romney of Utah. Yet by historical standards, the three opposition party votes were paltry and underscored the recent trend of Supreme Court confirmations becoming loyalty tests on party ideology. That's a departure from a decades-long norm when senators might dislike a nominees judicial philosophy but defer to a president's pick, barring a disqualifying revelation. Murkowski said her support for Jackson was partly rejection of the corrosive politicization" of how both parties consider Supreme Court nominations, which "is growing worse and more detached from reality by the year. Republicans said they would treat Jackson respectfully, and many did. Their questions and criticisms of her were pointed and partisan, with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., saying the Senate views itself as a co-partner in this process with the president. Yet some potential 2024 GOP presidential contenders seemed to use Jacksons confirmation to woo hard-right support. Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Josh Hawley, R-Mo., misleadingly accused her of being unusually lenient on child pornography offenders. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., suggested she might have defended Nazis at the Nuremburg trials after World War II, before she was born. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Richard Durbin, D-Ill., said some Republicans went overboard, as far as Im concerned, to the extreme, reflecting the reality of politics on Capitol Hill. Cotton was fundamentally unfair, but that is his tradition, said Durbin. SUPREME COURT BATTLES PAST Senate approval of high court nominees by voice vote, without bothering to hold roll calls, was standard for most of the 20th century. Conservative Antonin Scalia sailed into the Supreme Court by 98-0 in 1986, while liberal Ruth Bader Ginsburg won 96-3 approval seven years later. There were bitter fights. Democrats blocked conservative Robert Borks nomination in 1987 and unsuccessfully opposed Clarence Thomas ascension in 1991 after he was accused of sexual harassment. Hard feelings intensified in early 2016. McConnell, then majority leader, blocked the Senate from even considering President Barack Obama's pick of Merrick Garland to replace the deceased Scalia. McConnell cited the presidential election nearly nine months away, infuriating Democrats. Donald Trump was elected and ultimately filled three vacancies over near-unanimous Democratic opposition. Democrats opposed Brett Kavanaugh after he was accused of sexually assaulting a woman decades earlier, which he denied. They voted solidly against Amy Coney Barrett after Trump and McConnell rushed through her nomination when a vacancy occurred just weeks before Election Day 2020, a sprint Democrats called hypocritical. COVID SPENDING FIGHT, TRANSFORMED Senators from both parties agreed to a $10 billion COVID-19 package Monday that President Joe Biden wants for more therapeutics, vaccines and tests. With BA.2, the new omicron variant, washing across the country, it seemed poised for congressional approval. Hours later, bargainers led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, seemed blindsided when their compromise was derailed. Republicans wanted to add an extension of an expiring crackdown on migrants crossing the Mexican border that Trump imposed in 2020, citing the pandemics public health threat. Many Republicans were skeptical that more COVID-19 money was necessary. But their demand for an immigration amendment transformed a fight over how much more to spend on a disease that's killed 980,000 people in the U.S. into a battle over border security, tailor-made for GOP political campaigns ahead. Immigration divides Democrats, and Republicans believe the issue can further solidify their chances of winning congressional control in Novembers elections. Playing defense, Schumer postponed debate on the COVID-19 bill. Democrats deserved some blame for being outmaneuvered. House Democrats shot down a $15 billion agreement in March, rejecting compromise budget savings to pay for it. And in glaringly tone-deaf political timing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced April 1, just as bargainers were completing their latest compromise, that the Trump-era immigration curbs would lapse May 23. That gave Republicans an irresistible political gift to pursue. A MODERATE'S FAREWELL Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., announced his retirement Tuesday. He's the fourth of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump last year to say they won't seek reelection. Upton attributed his departure to running in a new district, but that didn't stop Trump from proclaiming: "UPTON QUITS! 4 down and 6 to go. The House impeached Trump over his incitement of supporters who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, but the GOP-run Senate acquitted him. Now in his 18th term, Upton's departure subtracts another moderate from a GOP that's shifted rightward in recent years, particularly when it comes to showing fealty to Trump. The pro-business Upton, 68, was a driving force on one law spurring pharmaceutical development and has worked with Democrats on legislation affecting energy and the auto industry. His bipartisan work and affability placed him in the ever-smaller group of Republicans who draw Democrats' praise. To him, bipartisan and compromise are not forbidden words," said Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich. PARTY DIFFERENCES, THEN AND NOW Pitched battles are now habitual over bills financing federal agencies and extending the governments borrowing authority. When those disputes are resolved and federal shutdowns and defaults averted, lawmakers hail as triumphs what is their most rudimentary task keeping government functioning. Despite the divisions over COVID-19 money and Jackson, there has also been cooperation. Congress overwhelmingly voted Thursday to ban Russian oil and downgrade trade relations with that country following its invasion of Ukraine. Theres progress on bipartisan trade and technology legislation, and a bipartisan $1 trillion infrastructure measure became law last year. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MILFORD The city police chief and deputy chief need a raise, according to members of the Police Commission. Commission members, appearing before the Board of Aldermen budget public hearing Tuesday, called for the salaries of Police Chief Keith Mello and Deputy Chief Brian Rojee to get a bump, to bring the pairs pay in line with the average of other such positions across the state. The commission also is seeking to replace funds intended to hire four new police officers. The Board of Aldermen hosted the public hearing on the Board of Finances recommended 2022-23 budget of roughly $242 million a $20 million hike from the present fiscal year. The aldermen will hold their own budget workshops before holding a final vote. If approved, the mill rate would be set at 27.18, a decrease of 0.47 mills from this years budget. But Mayor Ben Blake has stated his plan is the mill rate will be adjusted down even further hopefully, he says, in the 26s before the 2022-23 budget is finalized. But the commission members at the hearing asked for the aldermen to increase next years budget proposal in order to give the chief and deputy chief a raise. Our request is simple, and its certainly humble, that will not bring any bank, but it will require 2/3rds majority of this board, said Police Commission Chair Richard Smith. Lets bring them to average for the state as a base salary. That would still be a bargain no matter how you look at it. Mello and Rojee presently earn $124,767 and $110,215, respectively. The average base of compensation in Connecticut for a police chief is $146,800 and deputy chief about $126,000, said Smith. We are lucky enough to have the best leadership team in the state, and the way we decide to recognize it is by paying them less than most all towns in Connecticut. We have talked about this many, many times, added Police Commission Vice Chair Samuel Bergami, Jr. We are in total compliance with each other and agree wholeheartedly that something has to be done here. Smith said it is well known throughout Connecticut that Milford is fortunate to have the most respected chief in the state. In addition to serving as a long-time police commissioner for the city, I am also president of the Police Commissioners Association in Connecticut, said David Chip Rubenstein. Throughout all my interactions with senior command staff members, elected positions, lobbyists, there is no one held in higher esteem than our Police Chief Mello. His name brings honor and respect, and hes grooming an excellent potential replacement. We need to focus on retaining these two exceptional individuals. Smith said leaders throughout Connecticut and beyond seek his guidance and knowledge, and the Connecticut legislature seeks Mello while crafting police-related legislation. Its hard to believe that our police chief and deputy chief are among the lowest paid in the State of Connecticut, said Smith. One of the arguments that Smith has heard is that Mello is receiving a pension in addition to his salary because he retired from a previous job. Should your compensation in your next job be reduced because you are drawing a pension? Of course not, that cant be a factor, he said. We dont pay into the pension for Chief Mello. We don't pay his healthcare benefits. We dont have that overhead. Hes also heard mention of gross salary and when people trade in or cash in vacation time. Those are incidentals. Those are not recurring base compensation, and often we are distracted by these numbers, said Smith. Ive heard that everybody is getting a (cost of living) increase. But everyone is getting that. Even other chiefs are getting that, so its relative. One of Smiths fears is losing both Mello and Rojee in what is a competitive market. Keep in mind that it would cost us probably, $225,000 a year to replace Chief Mello, said Smith. Youre not going to get a chief under $185,000 in this market. Add on pension and healthcare, and youre well over $200,000. Police Commissioner Bill Bevan asked the board to re-add the funds for four new police officers. The Police Department requested $254,720 for four new police officers. The mayors proposed budget has it at $0. The chief asked for four new police officers, and for whatever reason, it was not followed through. It didnt make it into the budget, said Alderman Anthony Giannattasio, adding that he would be offering an amendment when the time came to vote to add the four police officers. Board of Education Chair Susan Glennon said other than having a great reputation across the state, the police department has a strong relationship with the school system. It is a reflection of Chief Mellos support, responsiveness to the school district needs, Glennon said. It is a very important partnership that I would hate to see diminished if the leadership of the police department was to change. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MILFORD Police are investigating three purse thefts from Friday afternoon. The Milford Police Department said the thefts took place in the parking lots of Whole Foods and the Stop & Shop on East Town Road within minutes of each other. In the last purse theft, the suspect made physical contact with the victim while fleeing, police added. The suspect fled in a 2013 white Honda Accord with New Jersey plates. Police said the car has been reported stolen. While investigating these incidents, police are reminding residents to please be aware of your surroundings at all times, especially in the parking lots of stores on the Route One corridor. Police suggested residents lock their cars while pumping gas, scan the area and have their keys in hand while returning to their vehicles. Residents should also stay off their smartphones while walking through parking lots and never leave their vehicles running while unattended. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GREENWOOD, S.C. (AP) Youd think a celebrity had visited. Walking the halls and cafeteria of Eleanor S. Rice Elementary School during dismissal, Bea Carroll is inundated with waves, cheesy grins and requests for hugs from students. So many that a line of students wanting a hug forms when she walks through. She isnt a celebrity, though, shes Deputy Carroll, the school resource officer. Carroll is one of many officers who spend their days in local schools, interacting with students and teachers and acting as the first line of safety. Greenwood County School District 50 is currently seeking five more to join the ranks after receiving state funding to put an officer in every school. The district is working hand-in-hand with the Greenwood County Sheriffs Office to find applicants, but Natalie Talbert, district safety manager, said it has been difficult because the district and the sheriffs office want the right people for the job. School resource officers are employees of the sheriffs office stationed in schools. When youve got a good SRO, Talbert said, everybody wins. Because weve got that built-in corner of safety in place, in case something happens. Carroll has only been at Rice for a few months but has clearly made an impact on the students. As she walked through the hallway where bus riders waited, students asked for hugs or stopped her to tell her good news about their grades or behavior. One teacher urged Carroll to peek into a students agenda to see how well shed been doing. I told you you could do it, Carroll told the student. Another girl stopped her in the hallway to show her an arm full of beaded bracelets. She then insisted that Carroll have one, too. Before heading off for paperwork, Carroll made plans to speak with a few teachers, mentioning a recent shooting a few counties away. Being an SRO can be hard, Carroll said, but she thinks more people should apply to become one. Theres a lot that comes with the territory, but its also rewarding. She is passionate about being prepared for the worst through educating students and doing things such as active shooter drills. Carroll has been in law enforcement for about five years and said dealing with children is different from dealing with adults. Especially since a lot of times children can still be molded to do better even if their environment doesnt suggest so, she said. But with adults, its kind of like you have to work a little bit harder to break the cycle. While Carroll is fairly new to the role, Deputy Will Stroup has been at it for about a decade, spending nine years as SRO at Greenwood High and now working at Genesis Education Center. He previously worked in family court, which involved working with children and teenagers, and found he liked dealing with kids more than he did the adults. I think more than any other law enforcement, but you really can see a difference, he said about being an SRO. He mentioned that a lot of times, SROs see students just as much, if not more than, their parents. Being on uniformed patrol, you know you make a difference, he said, but you may go on a call, help someone out and never see them again. Thats not the case in schools, where officers are consistently present and can observe the difference they make in students. The number one commodity that we have for our future is the children, Stroup said, adding that protecting and getting to know students through his job is one of the most rewarding experiences hes had. Talbert said an important trait to have to be an SRO is good communication being able to talk to anyone. What I know for a fact is that you cannot fool students. They know whether or not youre sincere, she said. Talbert said previous law enforcement experience is preferred and encouraged anyone with an ultimate goal of being in a school setting to apply. But Ill also say this: Its not an easy job, she said. Its not a quick 9-to-5 job. It doesnt end with the end of the school day. Because when things happen, even when its after school, youre gonna have to work with that. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit This marks the second vacation Mr Buhari will embark on this year. President Muhammadu Buhari has embarked on another trip for three weeks i... This marks the second vacation Mr Buhari will embark on this year. President Muhammadu Buhari has embarked on another trip for three weeks in London. The president has been seeing his doctors for undisclosed medical grounds since he assumed office in 2015. His aides in a statement said he would return to the country after the vacation to commission some projects. For the umpteenth time, the National Grid has collapsed, plunging the nation into darkness. The fresh collapse sparked outrage among Niger... For the umpteenth time, the National Grid has collapsed, plunging the nation into darkness. The fresh collapse sparked outrage among Nigerians, particularly on Social Media. In a tweet, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) announced the development and urged Nigerians to be patient. Hello, please be informed that there has just been a national grid collapse causing an outage in our franchise areas. We apologise for the inconvenience caused and appeal that you bear with us while we await restoration from the TCN. We regret all inconvenience caused, AEDC tweeted. Also, the management of Kaduna Electricity in a statement signed by Abdulazeez Abdullahi, its head of Corporate Communication, said, it regrets to inform you that the current outage being experienced in our franchise states is due to a collapse of the national grid. The collapse occurred at about 18:29 pm this evening. It added that normal power supply shall be restored as soon as the grid is restored. The latest collapse, the third in less than a month, came despite assurances by the Federal Government that it has taken steps to address the problem. The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) who manages the grid had last month said it had developed an alternative ways of managing the grid. TCN had stated that its in-house engineers have deployed a stop-gap solution to improve grid monitoring and acquisition of data from remote stations (power stations and transmission substations) to the National Control Centre. This was achieved by utilizing the Internet of Things (IoT) solution, and Virtual Private Network (VPN) by using various Internet Service Providers (ISP). Meanwhile, some Nigerians on Twitter have expressed reservations over the grid collapse. A former Senator representing Kaduna Central in the 8th Senate, Shehu Sani, simply tweeted, The way our National Grid collapses these days is incredible. @novieverest said, Our National grid has collapsed again, while our National greed keeps rising. @Ade_Tosix wrote, National Grid collapse, they know all you can do is shout on Twitter. They know you cant protest. They know you will still sing their praises, they know you will still vote for APC, they know you not wise-uneducated. Tweeting via @UnlimitedEniola, one President Eniola Daniel, wrote: Again, national grid has collapsed. It has now collapsed 5 times in 2 months. Forget stable electricity till 2023. Leave Nigeria if you have the means. I am advising you. @novieverest, said, Our National grid has collapsed again, while our National greed keeps rising. I hope Tolu Ogunlesi is counting them for us? @Ade_Toxin, National Grid collapse, they know all you can do is shout on Twitter. They know you cant protest. They know you will still sing their praises, they know you will still vote for APC, they know you not wise-uneducated. James ILemona, also a Twitter user, wrote, National Grid is down again! Ive been here repeating over and over again why you need to go get your PVC. I hope you have a reason to now. Dont just get a PVC, go out to vote in 2023. Yes, your vote counts. President Muhammadu Buharis Personal Assistant on Digital and New Media, Bashir Ahmad, has reacted to reports that Buhari had embarked on a... President Muhammadu Buharis Personal Assistant on Digital and New Media, Bashir Ahmad, has reacted to reports that Buhari had embarked on a 20-day medical trip to London. Reports had emerged that the President left Nigeria on Saturday for London. It was alleged that he will be back to the country in three weeks. But reacting, Bashir on Twitter, described the report as fake news. He wrote, The news going round that President Muhammadu Buhari has embarked on a 20-day vacation trip to London is FAKE. BISHKEK, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyzstan has recorded seven deaths from COVID-19 over the past week, bringing the total fatalities to 2,973, the Republican Headquarters for Combating COVID-19 reported Monday. All of the victims were not vaccinated, the headquarters said. Meanwhile, 11 new COVID-19 cases were reported over the past 24 hours, taking the countrywide caseload to 200,742, while no new deaths were reported. Kyrgyzstan launched a nationwide vaccination campaign on March 29 last year after the arrival of China-donated vaccines. It is also inoculating its citizens with the Sputnik-V, Sputnik Light, Astra Zeneca, Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. A total of 1,464,607 people have been vaccinated in the country so far, and 1,207,802 of them have received both shots and 137,549 have received boosters. Japan has announced a total ban on Russian coal imports, amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kis... Japan has announced a total ban on Russian coal imports, amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, made this known on Friday at a news conference in Tokyo, in which he also announced the expulsion of eight Russian diplomats. Kishida insisted that Russia has committed unforgivable war crimes in Ukraine since the war between both neighbouring countries started in February this year. Russia has repeatedly violated international humanitarian law by killing civilians and attacking nuclear power plants. These are unforgivable war crimes, Kishida told reporters, according to the BBC. Japan stands together with Ukraine, Kishida added. Japan is the worlds third-largest importer of coal after India and China, while Russia accounts for 11 percent of Japans coal imports. The ban on Russia is coming the same day the Russian missile attack on Ukraines Kramatorsk train station killed dozens of civilians, including children. Former governor of Ekiti State, Chief Ayodele Fayose has denounced an ex-Senator, Dino Melaye as a political Hushpuppi who would take thre... Former governor of Ekiti State, Chief Ayodele Fayose has denounced an ex-Senator, Dino Melaye as a political Hushpuppi who would take three different positions on the same night. Fayose was reacting to a statement credited to the ex-Senator who represented Kogi West in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, when he said, mauling of Amala gained more publicity over the collection of the presidential nomination form, in a pretentious exhibition of dining with the masses. Recall Fayose had said in an interview on Channels Tv, Politics Today, flaying the duo of Atiku Abubakar and Bukola Saraki for leaving the PDP before the 2015 election. He said Jonathan, despite his flaws, we had supported him and some of our leaders didnt go to APC if some of them (who left the party) had become Presidents in Abuja would they come back? Will Atiku come back? Would Bukola Saraki have come back? When the journey was rough and bad, they ran back. Today, because our party is a party that tries to bring people together, we must not forget history.Today, Im glad they are challenging people jumping from one party to the other, those are the ideologies that are missing, he added. Dino Melaye was reacting to the interview and Fayose obtaining the PDPs presidential nomination forms, had said in an interview that has now gone viral that Nigeria is in dire straits at the moment. It is beyond the call of jesters in the corridors of elevated governance. Inebriated by several wraps of Amala in Abuja, former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, in his characteristic exuberance, directed indecent and indecorous attacks at two serious contenders for the presidential ticket of the PDP, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar and His Excellency Bukola Saraki. Incidentally, the mauling of Amala gained more publicity over the collection of the presidential nomination form, in a pretentious exhibition of dining with the masses. The issue before Nigerians now is not who can eat more, but who can produce food. That is why the attempt to tar the outstanding achievements of Atiku Abubakar as former Vice President and Bukola Saraki as former Senate President Fayose would be discounted as the belching perfidy of a presidential gambler. It is clear from the verbal missiles deployed by Fayose that he was simply de-marketing frontline aspirants in PDP as a counter-intuitive strategy to shore up the chances of his political godfather in APC. It is amazing that Fayose who could not manage and retain a PDP state now aspires to lead a behemoth structure like Nigeria. Today, Ekiti is stripped of all vestiges of PDP; no PDP Senator, no PDP House of Representatives member, no House of Assembly member, no Local Government Chairman, and not even a Councillor. He left Ekiti State worse than he met it. How could he fail in the state and expect promotion to the national? Fayose, however, vowed to restrain himself pending when those he said Melaye was representing would enter the fray. But his spokesman, Lere Olayinka said: No time to dignify any #Hushpuppi politician who is capable of sleeping on three different political beds in one night. If the man he is deceiving with his fake support speaks, we will respond accordingly. As for Fayose, Nigeria and its people must be rescued from this APC Calamity that political jester of Kogi teamed up with others to enthrone. That is a project to which he (Fayose) is totally committed, not rantings of a jester in the palace of politics. Watertown, NY (13601) Today Mostly clear skies this evening will give way to mostly cloudy skies overnight. Low 39F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mostly clear skies this evening will give way to mostly cloudy skies overnight. Low 39F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. SHANGHAI, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Distance never works for close hearts. A Lao young man who once studied in China's Shanghai has sent wishes for the city's fight against COVID-19 resurgence along with others. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Karen Carter Peterson, who is both a state senator from New Orleans and chair of the state Democratic Party, disclosed in an email Friday night that she has a gambling problem minutes after WWL-TV posted a news story reporting that she had violated a ban on entering Louisiana casinos. A Louisiana State Police trooper issued her a misdemeanor summons for violating a self-imposed ban when she gambled at LAuberge Casino in Baton Rouge last month, the station reported. A State Police spokesman confirmed that his agency issued the summons but declined to comment while the misdemeanor charge is under review by Hillar Moore III, the East Baton Rouge Parish district attorney. In her email, Peterson said she has suffered from a gambling addiction for years. It is a disease, she wrote. From time to time, I have relapsed; I have let myself down as well as family and friends who are near and dear to me. Peterson said she has struggled with the gambling problem for years. One effort to stop it came two years ago when she voluntarily entered a program that made it illegal for her to enter almost any Louisiana gambling establishment. Under this program, I consented to allowing any of these officials who see me in a gambling establishment to escort me out and to issue a summons, she wrote. Recently while experiencing challenging times, I violated my voluntary ban and was issued a summons. The program worked as it should. I certainly regret failing to uphold my agreement to avoid casinos. Peterson said she was going public with her gambling addiction because someone had leaked the State Police summons to a media outlet, presumably WWL-TV. Her visit to the casino came six days after she held a sold-out fundraiser in New Orleans that featured Stacey Abrams, who became a national figure in the Democratic Party after narrowly losing the governors race in Georgia last year. Celebrating a Bright Democratic Future, read the invitation to the event. Peterson, 49, is seeking a third and final term in the state Senate this year, after serving a decade in the state House. She was elected chair of the state Democratic Party in 2012, defeating former Congressman Buddy Leach, who had sought to retain the position. In 2017, she was named vice chair of civic engagement and voter participation for the Democratic National Committee, and she has spent considerable time out of Louisiana in that position. Peterson did not respond to a text message seeking comment Friday night. While vocal on the floor of the Legislature, she generally shuns reporters. The news of the misdemeanor summons and her gambling addiction is bound to raise questions about Petersons future, beginning with whether she ought to run for re-election and remain as the state party's chair during an election year. On Monday, the executive director of the state Democratic Party, Stephen Handwerk, who runs the party's day-to-day operations, had sent out an email condemning his counterpart in the state Republican Party, Andrew Bautsch, for getting arrested on allegations of trespass and battery against a police officer in a New Orleans hotel, hours after his marriage. A spokesman for Gov. John Bel Edwards said Friday night that Edwards had no comment on Peterson's situation. Peterson could also face ethical questions. While she had banned herself voluntarily from gambling establishments, she handled the major piece of gambling legislation before lawmakers last year. It would have extended the state license for Harrah's to operate the only land casino in New Orleans for another 30 years. The controversial measure died on the final day of the session, with the House and Senate deadlocked over competing measures. Peterson was the bill's lead sponsor in the Senate, testifying in favor of it and serving as one of the Senates three negotiators to try to hash out differences with the House version. In 2016, Peterson sponsored a bill approved by the Legislature that also was sought by Harrah's. It gave the casino company wider latitude to meet the minimum number of employees it is required to employ. In her email, Peterson asked for forgiveness. I am sorry for the hurt and embarrassment my actions have caused my family and friends, she wrote. My commitment to my recovery and using my self-care tools will only grow stronger as a result of this experience. Let there be no doubt, Breakaways R&B in the Marigny is air conditioned. Whatever we called our new place, we were going to add the words with air conditioning to the name, says chef Paul Artigues, who opened Breakaways R&B with his wife and partner Olivia in January. Thats because unlike his former restaurant Green Goddess, which occupied a small space on Exchange Alley the new place is indeed climate controlled. Green Goddess was completely weather dependent, he says. If it was over 85, raining or under 60 degrees, we werent doing any business. Breakaway's R&B What Breakways R&B Where 2529 Dauphine St., (504) 571-5179; breakawaysrb.com When Dinner and late-night Wed.-Mon. How Dine-in Check it out A mix of home-style favorites and creative dishes The Artigues opened Breakaways R&B in the corner bar and backroom kitchen space formerly home to Lost Love Lounge. The name is a nod to Irma Thomas 1964 song Break-A-Way, a song Artigues has covered in his other creative outlet as a drummer with longtime friend Lee LeRoy Williams, better known as Guitar Lightnin Lee. Artigues left a phone message for the Soul Queen of New Orleans to let her know his intent. She called me back, he says. I still cant believe I heard Hello, this is Irma, when I answered the phone. She gave us her blessing. The restaurants R&B moniker actually stands for restaurant and bar. The restaurant has a long bar, a few tables and a jukebox in the front room, and there's a back dining room leading to the kitchen. Artigues prepares a menu of home-style and new dishes with a few nods to Green Goddess, such as a Bibb lettuce wedge salad with avocado, pickled beets, hearts of palm, seasoned pecans and blue cheese. I didnt want to just move Green Goddess here, although in some ways that would have been easier, since we had so many long-time customers, he says. Artigues and Chris DeBarr opened Green Goddess in 2009, and it was known for its attention to vegetarian options and a haute cuisine approach. It was hurt by lack of traffic in the French Quarter during the pandemic, and Hurricane Ida pushed Artigues over the edge. Like its predecessor, Breakaways accommodates a late-night crowd, staying open until midnight on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays, and until 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The bar's signature is a small menu of snowball cocktails, including the Green Goblin made with absinthe, orange liqueur and lime over shaved ice. The Cafe Brulot snowball combines whiskey, chicory liqueur and cold brew. The menu is built around some of the hearty dishes Artigues remembers from his childhood, using family recipes for braised beef daube and red beans and rice with bacon and ham hock. A half pound of house-smoked ham and turkey fill a sandwich dressed with coleslaw, Creole mustard and mayo on sour dough, served with house-cut fries seasoned with garlic and herbs. Bar snacks include crawfish fritters and flash-fried vegetarian mushroom fritters served with remoulade. Artigues runs a scratch kitchen, making shrimp gumbo with a stock made from shells and heads and a Lenten green gumbo thats available year-round. A shrimp po-boy comes stuffed with a choice of fried or sauteed barbecue shrimp. For a vegetarian sandwich, theres a combination of sliced avocado, Muenster cheese and sprouts dressed with Blue Plate mayo and Zatarains Creole mustard on multigrain bread, and substitutions of vegan cheese and aioli make for a plant-based version. Red beans and rice also is available in a vegan version with tofu instead of chaurice sausage. Coconut bananas Foster features coconut (dairy-free) sorbet with rum, sugar, bruleed bananas, toasted pecans and salted caramel. Opening a new restaurant in an established neighborhood space is an undertaking, but Paul and Olivia are hopeful that the locals will get to know them and appreciate what they bring to the table. For music lovers who appreciate pre-digital jukeboxes, Breakaways is dynamite. Artigues curated it with help from Lefty Parker of Euclid Records in the Bywater. I was always a big fan of Circle Bar, the chef says. Lefty took pictures of their jukebox when they shut down. He picked a bunch of CDs for me, so its a great mix. The mix includes Curtis Mayfield, Dead Boys, Jerry Lee Lewis and Louis Prima. Music is important to both partners. Olivia Rochon grew up on Chestnut Street around the corner from members of the Neville family, who were fast friends. Food and music just go together in this town, she says. Hey Blake, The new Folgers coffee commercial featuring Trombone Shorty says the coffee is proudly roasted in our hometown of New Orleans. What is the companys history here? Dear reader, Although Folgers coffee has its roots in San Francisco, New Orleans has played a major role in its production since the 1960s. In the 1850s, company founder James Folger traveled from Massachusetts to California. He hoped to get rich from gold mining but instead partnered with a coffee roaster. By the end of the Civil War, Folger had taken over the company and renamed it J.A. Folger & Co. After more than 100 years in business, the company grew to one of the largest in the country. In the 1950s, it built a roasting facility in New Orleans, where shipping routes from Central America brought thousands of tons of raw coffee beans to the port each year. The local Folgers coffee roasting facility opened in 1960 on a 20-acre site on Old Gentilly Road in New Orleans East. It employs the latest equipment for roasting and packaging of coffee in one and two-pound cans, reported The States-Item in Feb. 1961. Green coffee is trucked to the new Folger plant directly from ships and the processed and packaged coffee is shipped by rail, truck or water to Folger warehouses. In 1963, Folgers was acquired by Procter & Gamble. The J.M. Smucker Company then acquired Folgers in 2008. Over time, Folgers consolidated its plants in San Francisco, Kansas City and other cities, moving workers to New Orleans and expanding its local facilities. The Old Gentilly plant is considered the largest of its kind in the world. In 1998, Folgers purchased a second plant on Chef Menteur Highway, which was formerly a Nestle facility. Today, the two Folgers sites employ more than 700 people and produce over 300 products for the companys brands, which include Folgers, Dunkin, Cafe Bustelo and Cafe Pilon. An 18-year-old from Metairie is accused of committing almost a dozen armed hold-ups over the course of three months, all reported within a half-mile of his apartment complex, authorities said. In almost all of the cases, the gunman approached drivers, ordered them out and sped off in their vehicles. In one case, a woman recovered her stolen Jeep only to have it stolen again deputies think by the man who took it the first time and kept the keys. Kentrell Warnsley was booked March 2 with 11 counts of armed robbery, possession of a stolen gun, auto theft, hit-and-run driving and resisting an officer, according to jail records. Warnsley, who was being held at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna, appeared via videoconference in Jefferson Parish Magistrate Court Friday morning for a preliminary exam in the case. The robberies occurred between Dec. 15 and March 2 in the central Metairie neighborhood bordered by the South Interstate Service Road, Cleary Avenue, West Napoleon Avenue and Pasadena Avenue, Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office Sgt. Justin Jerry testified. Warnsley lived with a relative in the Fox Run Apartments in the 3900 block of South I-10 Service Road, according to Jerry. He was arrested March 2 after the last robbery led to a car chase and standoff at his apartment complex. A search of the residence turned up stolen property that had been taken from various victims in the holdups, Jerry said. In most of the robberies, the assailant was described as a tall, thin male in his late teens or early 20s who wore a mask, a long-sleeved shirt/sweatshirt and was armed with a handgun that was equipped with an extended magazine, Jerry testified. Warnsley is accused of the following armed robberies and theft: Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Dec. 15 , intersection of Richland Avenue and Durand Street: 2015 Mazda stolen from a woman. , intersection of Richland Avenue and Durand Street: 2015 Mazda stolen from a woman. Jan. 4 , 2400 block of Richland Avenue: 2009 Honda CR-V stolen from a man, later recovered in the 2100 block of Pasadena Avenue in Metairie. , 2400 block of Richland Avenue: 2009 Honda CR-V stolen from a man, later recovered in the 2100 block of Pasadena Avenue in Metairie. Jan. 4 , 2100 block of Richland Avenue: 2019 Jeep Cherokee stolen from woman, later recovered in 4900 block of Bonita Drive in New Orleans. , 2100 block of Richland Avenue: 2019 Jeep Cherokee stolen from woman, later recovered in 4900 block of Bonita Drive in New Orleans. Jan. 8 , 4000 block of Durand Street: Kia Optima, stolen from man, later recovered in the 2800 block of Law Street in New Orleans. , 4000 block of Durand Street: Kia Optima, stolen from man, later recovered in the 2800 block of Law Street in New Orleans. Jan. 23 , 3900 block of S. I-10 Service Road: Purse stolen from a woman. , 3900 block of S. I-10 Service Road: Purse stolen from a woman. Jan. 27 , 2100 block of Richland Avenue: 2019 Jeep Cherokee taken in Jan. 4 robbery stolen, again. Authorities said they suspect robber still had key. , 2100 block of Richland Avenue: 2019 Jeep Cherokee taken in Jan. 4 robbery stolen, again. Authorities said they suspect robber still had key. Feb. 4 , 2400 Richland Avenue: 2012 BMW stolen from a woman. , 2400 Richland Avenue: 2012 BMW stolen from a woman. Feb. 15 , 2200 Cleary Avenue: 2013 Nissan Maxima stolen from a woman, later recovered in the 3900 block of the S. I-10 Service Road in Metairie. , 2200 Cleary Avenue: 2013 Nissan Maxima stolen from a woman, later recovered in the 3900 block of the S. I-10 Service Road in Metairie. Feb. 21 , 2100 Pasadena Avenue: Kia Optima stolen from a woman who was tackled and briefly dragged by the vehicle during the holdup. , 2100 Pasadena Avenue: Kia Optima stolen from a woman who was tackled and briefly dragged by the vehicle during the holdup. Feb. 22 , 4000 block of Durand Street: Wallet stolen from a vehicle during robbery that failed when victim ran away from gunman with key. , 4000 block of Durand Street: Wallet stolen from a vehicle during robbery that failed when victim ran away from gunman with key. Feb. 22 , 3900 St. I-10 Service Road: Unidentified type vehicle stolen from a woman minutes after failed Durand Street robbery. , 3900 St. I-10 Service Road: Unidentified type vehicle stolen from a woman minutes after failed Durand Street robbery. March 2, 2400 Richland Avenue: Unidentified type vehicle stolen from a man. Once detectives discovered a pattern in the locations and suspect descriptions, the Sheriff's Office flooded the area with law enforcement officers in an attempt to catch the suspect in the act, Jerry testified. Because of this, investigators were able to quickly respond to the March 2 holdup, leading to a car chase with the suspect, Jerry said. The driver crashed the vehicle less than a half-mile from the robbery scene but was able to escape. An investigator spotted a person matching the driver's description, later identified as Warnsley, who ran into the Fox Run Apartments, leading to an hourlong SWAT standoff before he surrendered, Jerry said. In addition to victims' driver's licenses and credit cards, investigators found a key belonging to a stolen Nissan Maxima, Jerry said. They also located a gun that matched an extended magazine left inside the vehicle wrecked in the chase. The gun had been reported stolen out of Slidell, Jerry said. A receipt left in one of the stolen vehicles led detectives to a McDonald's where investigators viewed drive-thru video of Warnsley behind the wheel of the stolen Nissan, Jerry said. Other receipts led them to stores where a person was seen wearing a distinctive sweatshirt and mask, items that were later recovered in Warnsley's apartment, according to authorities. Magistrate Commissioner Patricia Joyce ruled Friday that there was probable cause to hold Warnsley on the robbery charges. Warnsley was being held Friday evening on a $1.1 million bail. Yemeni people walk past the site of airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua) ADEN, Yemen, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Rashad Al-Alimi, head of Yemen's newly formed Presidential Leadership Council, vowed on Friday to work to end the country's devastating conflict and achieve permanent peace. On Thursday, Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi issued a republican decree delegating all his executive powers to the eight-member Presidential Leadership Council, and relieving his Vice President Ali Mohsin Al-Ahmar of his duties. "This council is a council of peace, not war, but it is also a council of defense, power, and unity, and its mission is to protect the nation's and citizens' sovereignty," Al-Alimi said in his first televised speech broadcast from Saudi Arabia. Following seven years of devastating internal conflict, Al-Alimi vowed to work along with other seven members of the Presidential Leadership Council to end the war and establish a comprehensive and urgent peace process. He also promised to prioritize the country's national interests and to work tirelessly to address all political, economic, social, and security challenges. Yemenis buy food ahead of Ramadan at a market in Sanaa, Yemen's capital, on March 31, 2022. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua) "We will work without exception or discrimination to meet Yemenis' demands," he said, urging Yemen's people to support the state institutions. Al-Alimi is a well-known Yemeni official who has been working as an advisor to Hadi since 2014 and held a number of government posts, including minister of the interior. The other seven members of the council include Aidarous Zubaidi, the chief of the pro-secession Southern Transitional Council, and Tariq Saleh, nephew of former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Hadi was elected to lead the turbulent Arab country on Feb. 25, 2012 following the handover of power by former President Saleh in accordance with the Gulf Initiative on Yemen. For the 11th time, musicians devoted to the region's musical heritage, gathered in Abita Springs to sing it and play it on the Busker Fest stage for fans who showed up with lawn chairs, sunscreen, dancing shoes and their own devotion to the unique music. The April 3 event, like all those before it, was a free concert festival established to preserve and present Louisiana's roots music. Sponsored by the Abita Springs Opry and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival & Foundation, the fest has steadily grown in popularity. Almost all the bands that have performed over the last decade have been Louisiana-based. This year's lineup included the Slick Skillet Serenaders, a jug band; Sister Street Aces, traditional honky-tonk country and Cajun; Ferd, originals rooted in Mississippi delta fiddle; Sunny Side Jazz Band, traditional New Orleans jazz; James McKlaskey & His Rhythm Band, traditional rhythm and blues; and Tuba Skinny, a world renowned bluesy jazz. Algiers logged its fourth homicide in 26 hours on Saturday when a man was shot and killed in the 2200 block of Westbend Parkway. Police said they learned of the latest violence at 12:14 p.m., and found the victim unresponsive in a parking lot. Authorities declarled him dead there. The New Orleans Police Department did not immediately release more details. On Saturday morning in Algiers, a man was found shot and killed in the 3700 block of Herschel Street. And on Friday, a 63-year-old man died after being shot multiple times at Lamarque and Sumner streets, and a woman was killed in a shooting in the 2200 block of Cobblestone Lane. "At this time, there is no indication that the incidents are linked or related in any way," police spokesperson Gary Scheets said of the four Algiers killings and a fifth homicide that occurred Friday night in New Orleans East. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up City Council member Freddie King III, whose district includes Algiers, said the Police Department must improve its recruiting and retention of officers and its response time in hopes of cutting the crime rate. "But more importantly, Ive stressed the need to connect with our youth to address the high school drop-out rate and offer real career opportunities," he said. "We need to continue to think outside of the box to offer real solutions to the problem." Police asked anyone with information on the crimes to call the homicide unit at (504) 658-5300 or Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans Inc. at (504) 822-1111. Katy Reckdahl contributed to this report. The New Orleans coroner released the identity of a man shot to death Wednesday night in St. Roch. Shaquille Cooper, 29, was fatally shot at around 8:36 p.m. in the 1800 block of Music Street. Emergency Medical Services took him to the hospital, but he died within half an hour. Police are investigating the shooting as a homicide. Drew Broach contributed to this report. An hour before they were set to pick up students to take them home on Thursday, three school buses disappeared from where they were parked in front of the Lycee Francais de la Nouvelle Orleans Johnson campus on Monroe Street in New Orleans. Around 2:15 p.m. Thursday, police responded to a report of an auto theft outside the school in the 1800 block of Monroe. But the theft turned out to be a case of repossession, said Aaron Looney, a spokesperson for the New Orleans Police Department. The Johnson campus serves 3rd through 7th grades, said Lycee Francais CEO Danielle Dufauchard said. The students werent dismissed until around 3:30 p.m., she said. With the buses missing, the school asked parents to pick up their children on Thursday afternoon. By Friday morning, the school had arranged for a different transportation company to take over the routes, Dufauchard said. Dufauchard directed further questions to the transportation company that operated the missing buses, Absolute Royal Transportation. The company did not return calls regarding the incident. Charter schools in New Orleans are responsible for providing transportation for students, each contracting with bus companies to provide the service. Lycee Francais is a charter school in New Orleans that offers French immersion curriculum. It is one of a handful of schools located in New Orleans that is authorized by the state rather than the district. A 19-year-old Slidell woman was killed late Friday morning when her car struck the rear of a tractor trailer and veered off Interstate 12 near Louisiana 1077, State Police Troop L said. Avery Natal was traveling eastbound on I-12 in the left lane at the same time as an eastbound tractor trailer in the right lane, according to a news release. For reasons still being investigated, Natal's car went into the right lane and hit the the rear of the trailer, then traveled off the roadway to the right and into the tree line. Natal was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the tractor trailer was not injured. Both were properly restrained and impairment is not suspected to have been a factor. Troy Carter and Karen Carter Peterson seemed to agree much more than not during a 30-minute televised debate this week. But when they did disagree, the two congressional candidates launched into personal attacks against each other. My opponent has been desperately spewing all sorts of lies, Carter said more than once during the debate Wednesday night, which aired on WDSU. When we talk about desperation, evidence to my right, Peterson said at one point, referring to Carters spot on the stage at Xavier University, which hosted the debate. Karen Carter Peterson steers slightly left of Troy Carter in first Louisiana congressional debate Karen Carter Peterson and Troy Carter didnt disagree broadly Friday during the first debate between the two candidates for an open congressio One key difference during the debate was that Peterson repeatedly called herself a bold and courageous leader, while Carter touted his ability to work with everyone to get things done, including Republicans. The two Democratic state senators from New Orleans are competing for the 2nd Congressional District seat in a special election Saturday. The district, which elected Cedric Richmond for a decade until his resignation in January, includes most of New Orleans and the West Bank of Jefferson Parish and snakes up the Mississippi River to north Baton Rouge. Carter led the March 20 primary with 36% of the vote to Petersons 23%. Since then, Peterson has pushed a strong progressive message, while Carter has aligned himself with more moderate Democrats and sought to win over the 16% of primary voters who backed Republican candidates. A look at Karen Carter Peterson's time in Louisiana Legislature: Issues she's supported, more In her 21 years as a member in the state House and Senate, Karen Carter Peterson has cast, literally, tens of thousands of votes on legislation. John Couvillon, a Baton Rouge-based pollster and demographer, is projecting a 14% turnout for the runoff election, compared to 18% for the primary. Wednesday night's debate was the second of three during the runoff. The last one will take place Thursday at 6:15 p.m. on WWL television. Peterson and Carter were political allies until this race got underway, and that could be seen in their answers to questions posed by host Travers Mackel and three Xavier students. They both said they want to allay misguided fears to get more people vaccinated against COVID-19. They both support raising the federal minimum wage, although Peterson wants to go as high as $20 per hour, while Carter has supported $15. They both want to help small businesses have better access to the Paycheck Protection Program that began under President Donald Trump and has continued under President Joe Biden. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Carter and Peterson both oppose enacting restrictions on the participation of transgender athletes in sports, and both oppose term limits on members of Congress. They both favor legalizing recreational marijuana and oppose lifting public mask mandates that Gov. John Bel Edwards has imposed in Louisiana. They both said they support the Medicare for All plan that calls for the government to take over the health care system, when asked to give a yes or no answer to the question. At other forums, Carter has explained that he supports allowing people to move to a government health care plan or stay with their existing private plan, an idea supported by Biden known as public option. Carter and Peterson both support removing the elevated Interstate 10 over Claiborne Avenue in New Orleans, but not until officials get input from local residents and business leaders. 'I'm no Trumper,' says Troy Carter in response to accusations from Karen Carter Peterson Karen Carter Peterson is seeking to tie Troy Carter to former President Donald Trump in the final 10 days of a special election that will send During Mackels lightning round of yes/no answers, the two differed on whether to extend Bidens moratorium on drilling for oil and gas on federal lands and waters. Peterson wants to continue it, while Carter said, its time to move on. Peterson said she supports comprehensive immigration reform when asked about the Mexican border crisis, while Carter less specifically called for treating people humanely and ensuring that they get vaccinated. Both mentioned big Washington political figures who have endorsed them: For Carter, it was Richmond, U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina and U.S. Hakeem Jeffries of New York. They recognize that in order to get things done, they need to send someone to Washington who can build bridges, not walls, [who] can establish relationships that mean something, not kick rocks because you dont get your way, not spew lies because youre losing, Carter said. Peterson cited an endorsement from U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, and said of Carter, I believe that its wrong for someone to stand with the oil companies while people in the River Parishes and Cancer Alley are dying of pollution, toxic waste from these companies. She was referring to Carters failure to return $19,150 in campaign contributions from companies that service the oil and gas industry, top executives from Entergy Corp. and a Chevron Corp. lobbyist. His failure to return the donations led the Oil Change USA group to remove him from its list of 3,200 candidates and officeholders who signed the No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge. Peterson has signed it. Peterson, in her closing statement, promised that I will never ever lie to you and said she will shake things up to get things done. Carter, in his closing statement, accused Peterson once again of consistently telling untruths and said, I promise that Ill always tell you the truth. Perhaps you were shocked to read that members of Louisiana State Police, according to their own expert, tortured Ronald Greene before murdering him. It took more than two years for the truth about Greene's death to emerge when police body camera videos were pried loose. Until then, cops claimed that Greene died after crashing a car into a tree. Gov. John Bel Edwards was told right away that Greene died after a violent struggle, although there was no public acknowledgment. Several of the same troopers had allegedly been involved when Ashton O'Dwyer was brutalized, albeit not fatally, in the makeshift jail at the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal after Katrina. No troopers were even investigated for that. If O'Dwyer had not been ignored, perhaps Greene would be alive today. O'Dwyer has been ignored ever since his widely reported attacks on the state and federal response after Katrina made him persona non grata, and so it continues, even though his experience could prove invaluable in exposing the full extent of the moral rot infecting our State Police force. Anyone wishing to read his statements to legislators had only to submit a written request, but there was a catch. Only those who were present at a committee hearing, or viewed it online, knew the statements existed. Why O'Dwyer survived his encounter with the cops, and Greene did not, is a matter of conjecture. But O'Dwyer is White and was at the time a prosperous Uptown New Orleans lawyer, whereas Greene, a Black man with a criminal record, led police on a high-speed chase after allegedly resisting arrest. O'Dwyer has come down in the world, and is now disbarred and bankrupt. So it is to some extent his own fault that he is a voice crying in the wilderness. His habit of directing obscene abuse in writing at high officials and judges was alone enough to put him beyond the pale. O'Dwyer certainly ruffled feathers when denouncing a sweetheart deal whereby U.S. District Judge Stanwood Duval appointed a lawyers' liaison committee, dominated by his pals, to sue for damages after Katrina. Duval found the Corps of Engineers responsible for the failure of the levees, so a payoff from the federal government in the billions was confidently expected. The lawyers on the plaintiffs' committee figured to make out like bandits to use an apt simile because they also had a deal to represent the state in its own claim against the feds. The appeals court put the kibosh on all that by ruling that the Corps was immune to lawsuits, which meant that the only money left on the table was a total of $21 million in insurance taken out by three local levee boards. That must have struck our bold lawyers as pitiful compared with the bonanza initially anticipated, but they were determined to uphold the standards of the bar, which is to say they hatched a plan to grab most of the $21 million for themselves and leave the actual victims with some $40 each. Duval approved the proposed settlement, but it was such an obvious ripoff that the appeals court threw it out, ordered a fairer payout formula. O'Dwyer may be a pariah, but he speaks more truth than, say, State Police. On what must have been the worst night of his long political career, U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona summoned his best self. Conceding the 2008 presidential election, McCain congratulated Barack Obama for being chosen to lead the country that we both love, and acknowledged the moments import to many of his fellow Americans. This is an historic election, McCain said, and I recognize the special significance it has for African-Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight. Is there any Republican in todays Senate who could muster such grace from defeat, and focus on something larger than winning or losing a particular political battle? After watching the experience of Ketanji Brown Jackson, who was confirmed last week as the first Black woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, very few candidates come to mind. Alaskas Lisa Murkowski and Maines Susan Collins are possibilities; both voted to confirm President Joe Bidens eminently qualified nominee, whose ascent will not shift the courts ideological balance. So is Mitt Romney of Utah, who also lost to Obama and has since reinvented himself as a relatively independent-minded senator. Romney backed Jackson and was caught on video applauding the 53-47 vote in her favor. It was something else captured in the same video, though, that left an impression. As Senate Democrats and exuberant guests celebrated the historic moment with obvious emotion, some of the few Republicans in the chamber quietly filed out rather than joining in. The word skulking comes to mind. McCains old protege, South Carolinas Lindsey Graham, wasnt on the floor in the first place; he neglected to wear a tie, and by Senate rules voted from the cloakroom to oppose Jackson, whom he labeled an activist judge after having voted to confirm her to an appeals court seat a year earlier. Thursdays vote, following a Judiciary Committee hearing process in which a number of GOP senators chose the low road, was just one more sign that our confirmation process has become so hopelessly politicized that the larger questions fade into the background. In this case, one of those questions was whether our elected leaders can, like McCain, embrace advances in inclusion even if their side doesnt win. A few words about Louisianas senators here. Both voted no on Jacksons nomination, making them part of the problem. John Kennedy, who serves on Judiciary, for once resisted the temptation to grandstand over fake concerns, leaving such bad behavior to the likes of Missouris Josh Hawley, who distorted Jacksons record on sentencing in child pornography cases. But true to form, Kennedy did weave a weird reference to cottage cheese into his vague, boilerplate criticism of her approach to the law. Bill Cassidy is the more interesting case. Currently considering a run for governor in which hed hope to attract bipartisan support, Cassidy opted to try to mend fences with fellow Republicans angry over his vote to convict former President Donald Trump for inciting the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Like Kennedy and Graham, he too fell back on rote GOP excuses to oppose. It so happens that there was a similar celebratory moment in the State Capitol recently, although the sides were flipped. In Baton Rouge late last month, it was Republicans who whooped and cheered as they pulled off the first successful override of a gubernatorial veto in decades. Different venue and different issue, but there was something similar: The Republican sides laser-like focus on politics, as if it could be separated from larger context of the countrys difficult racial history. State lawmakers cheered the survival of a congressional map that gives Republicans a 5-1 advantage by creating just one seat in which Black voters have a good shot at electing a candidate of their choice. This despite 2020 Census figures pegging the states Black population at around one in three, not one in six. Theres something real at stake for Republicans a U.S. House seat in a closely divided chamber but theres also something very real, and visceral, on the other side: the intent and spirit of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965, written to ensure fair and equal participation for historically disenfranchised voters. Thats why the everything-boils-down-to-politics approach, in both Washington and Baton Rouge, reopened old wounds. Even in these horribly divided times, some things should just matter more. Photo taken on March 30, 2022 shows individual plates in different sizes of the first complete set of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) iron armor unearthed from the tomb complex of Tuyuhun royal families in Wuwei City, northwest China's Gansu Province.(Xinhua/Lang Bingbing) LANZHOU, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Wei was the first member of the archaeological team to enter the burial room, and he was in for a pleasant surprise. On the coffin bed was a huge black-brown iron object that turned out to be the first complete set of Tang Dynasty (618-907) iron armor ever found in China. Zhang, 39, with the Gansu provincial institute of cultural relics and archaeology, has been researching the tomb complex of Tuyuhun royal families since 2019, and it was in that first year that he found the armor. Located in the city of Wuwei, northwest China's Gansu Province, the complex was included in the list of China's top 10 archaeological discoveries of 2021, announced in late March. The rare armor was among several finds that made the site so valuable to researchers. However, the discovery was only the first step in a long process that has yet to be completed. As of late March, the job of restoring and preserving this ancient object was entering its final phase, including the delicate work of desalination. It has been a long road, and it started with the question of how to remove the find from the tomb without damaging it. The armor, which was located next to the coffin, was severely rusted but well-preserved as a whole. Getting it out in one piece would be a tricky job. After some discussion, the team eventually decided to insert a large, thin wooden board beneath the armor, and carefully carry it out. The complete set of iron armor consists of more than 2,000 individual plates in different sizes and arrangements, and each piece needed to be analyzed and processed individually for historical information. The restoration process was complicated by the way the plates are strung, and the various textures and colors of the string material in different sections, Zhang noted. With no contemporaneous relics for comparison, the restoration team could only figure out how to string those fallen plates back to the armor by referring to historical documents and information on the murals. To ensure the restoration work went smoothly, the institute requested the assistance of Bai Rongjin, an expert in armor protection and research from the Institute of Archaeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Whenever researchers came to an important step, Bai, who is now 87 years old, would come to Gansu to guide the restoration work. Another area of complexity for the team was the difficult process of preserving iron relics. According to Zhang, iron-relic protection requires multiple steps, including rust removal, desalination, corrosion inhibition and sealing. The rarity of the find is due in part to the rules governing burial practices during that period of history. Liu Bingbing, associate research fellow with the institute, said, "It was generally not allowed to bury weapons and other military equipment without permission in the Tang Dynasty, and archaeologists had never unearthed any armor from Tang Dynasty tombs before." However, the owner of the armor was a Tang Dynasty general called Murong Zhi, a member of the Tuyuhun people, and this may have had a bearing on matters, said Liu. "The Tuyuhun people were accustomed to burying items used by the tomb owner during his lifetime, so we speculate that out of respect for ethnic conventions and his status as an imperial general, the royal court granted permission for weapons to be buried with him at the time," Liu said. The ancestors of the Tuyuhun people were from the southern region of northeast China, and their branches later moved westward, gradually establishing an independent kingdom and ultimately surrendering to the Tang authorities. "After that, most of their clansmen held high positions in the royal court of the Tang Dynasty," said Liu. Because of the noble status of Murong Zhi, the suit of armor is different from that of ordinary soldiers. For example, the armor has leather on the shoulders and a silk lining. Archaeologists also unearthed more than 800 pieces of textile, wooden lacquerware and other burial goods within the complex, including the earliest white wine found in China. However, the armor is considered of special significance to researchers. According to Liu Bingbing, historical documents describe various types of armor in the Tang Dynasty, but previous research on its specific shape has relied mainly on murals and unearthed figurines. "This discovery will provide a physical reference for the study of the production process and forms of armors in the Tang Dynasty," said Liu. For Zhang, bringing the general's armor back to life has been a true labor of love. "This restoration work will become a memory that I will never forget for the rest of my life," he said. Undated photo provided by the Gansu provincial institute of cultural relics and archaeology shows the first complete set of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) iron armor unearthed from the tomb complex of Tuyuhun royal families in Wuwei City, northwest China's Gansu Province.(Xinhua) A researcher desalts the first complete set of unearthed Tang Dynasty (618-907) iron armor while the other records the process in the laboratory of the Gansu provincial institute of cultural relics and archaeology in Lanzhou, northwest China's Gansu Province, March 30, 2022.(Xinhua/Lang Bingbing) NANJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai's neighboring province of Jiangsu had received 5,504 people transferred from Shanghai for quarantine by 6 p.m. Friday. Jiangsu will prepare a total of 30,000 quarantine rooms to aid the metropolis in its fight against its COVID-19 resurgence, according to the Jiangsu provincial COVID-19 prevention and control office. One or two designated professionals are stationed at each quarantine site to provide mental health services, and free psychological assistance services hotlines remain open 24 hours a day. Zhejiang, another province neighboring Shanghai, will also provide 30,000 rooms for people transferred from Shanghai. Shanghai reported 1,015 new locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases and 22,609 local asymptomatic cases on Friday. Xiaomi has begun offering the Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus 5G in Europe, starting at 379.90. Available in three memory configurations, the Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus 5G has a Dimensity 920 chipset and a 108 MP camera, among other features. 4 Reviews , News , CPU , GPU , Articles , Columns , Other "or" search relation. 3D Printing , 5G , Accessory , AI , Alder Lake , AMD , Android , Apple , ARM , Audio , Benchmark , Biotech , Business , Camera , Cannon Lake , Cezanne (Zen 3) , Charts , Chinese Tech , Chromebook , Coffee Lake , Comet Lake , Console , Convertible / 2-in-1 , Cryptocurrency , Cyberlaw , Deal , Desktop , E-Mobility , Education , Exclusive , Fail , Foldable , Gadget , Galaxy Note , Galaxy S , Gamecheck , Gaming , Geforce , Google Pixel , GPU , How To , Ice Lake , Intel , Intel Evo , Internet of Things (IoT) , iOS , iPad , iPad Pro , iPhone , Jasper Lake , Lakefield , Laptop , Launch , Leaks / Rumors , Linux / Unix , List , Lucienne (Zen 2) , MacBook , Mini PC , Monitor , MSI , OnePlus , Opinion , Phablet , Radeon , Raptor Lake , Renoir , Review Snippet , Rocket Lake , Ryzen (Zen) , Science , Security , Single-Board Computer (SBC) , Smart Home , Smartphone , Smartwatch , Software , Storage , Tablet , ThinkPad , Thunderbolt , Tiger Lake , Touchscreen , Ultrabook , Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR) , Wearable , Wi-Fi 7 , Windows , Workstation , XPS , Zen 3 (Vermeer) , Zen 4 Ticker Xiaomi has started selling the Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus 5G in Europe, also known as the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G. Revealed last week after being sold in China since October, the Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus 5G has a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 1080p resolution and a 120 Hz refresh rate, a MediaTek Dimensity 920 SoC and a 108 MP primary camera. Arguably, one of the handset's standout features is its 120 W charging capabilities. Supposedly, the Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus 5G can recharge its 4,500 mAh battery in just 15 minutes. Unfortunately, the Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus 5G ships with Android 11, which only guarantees it to Android 13, unlike the Xiaomi 12 series. We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. HAMMOND Students at Purdue University Northwest are researching insect flight, solar panel effectiveness, how nursing has changed amid the pandemic and many other subjects with professors and independently. One group is looking at how to track how insect flight works in hopes of gaining a better understanding of micro air vehicles that could be used in avalanches and caving incidents. Seniors Corrine Lawrence, Caleb Lopez and Yasmeen Jojo-Cunningham, all engineering majors, used photography and isopropyl alcohol on moth wings to observe what happens in the air when an insect moves. Lopez said it is difficult to see what an insect is doing due to their speed, and even now they are still in progress to understand in greater depth what is happening. These students were one of many groups to present their research during PNWs Days of Discovery, a two-day event Wednesday and Thursday. The event consisted of oral presentations, poster presentations and thesis awards. Sharing research findings is one of the most important parts of the process, Maja Marjanovic, director of research and sponsored programs at PNW, said, noting how it allows researchers to consider fresh outlooks and new questions. The thesis awards consisted of a three-minute thesis competition, where students had to explain their research to an unfamiliar audience quickly and concisely. The winner received $500. Marjanovic was one of the main organizers of the event. She said approximately 180 students and faculty presented their research through posters, oral presentations and the thesis competition. While other research events occur throughout the year at PNW, Days of Discovery is the largest in terms of scale. Any student or faculty member is able to apply to do a poster presentation, while the oral presentations spots are very limited and competitive. Marjanovic emphasized how important this type of event is for students and faculty, as it is an empowering and rewarding experience. There was also a keynote speaker Thursday titled One Book, One University. Mona Hanna-Attisha discussed her book What the Eyes Dont See, which discussed the research she did that exposed Flint, Michigans water crisis. Another student focused on why women do not report sexual assault and the idea of himpathy, meaning people are more sympathetic to men and do not want to ruin their lives. Delia Booker, a senior at PNW, worked with Professor Christabel Rogalin to analyze the time period of the Brett Kavanaugh issue and how many people came out to defend the Supreme Court justice despite a report of sexual assault. She analyzed a Twitter hashtag #WhyIDidntReport, and saw that many women were impacted by the increased sympathy toward Kavanaugh. They felt they wouldnt be believed and that nothing would be done, Booker said. One common theme among the research presented was issues created amid the pandemic. Faculty and students discussed issues such as nurse burnout, special education changes and elementary educators outlook. Professor David Pratt did research in spring 2021 that showed that elementary teachers with a higher growth mindset were less resistant to online and remote learning. Teachers, no matter their years of experience, saw differences in success with virtual teaching. The (higher growth teachers) saw failure as okay, while others were devastated, Pratt said. A full list of research and presentations can be found on PNWs website, along with information about the main speakers. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Indiana lawmakers are going to have to try harder if they really believe excess state revenue should be returned to Hoosier taxpayers. Data released Friday by the State Budget Agency show Indiana can cover the entire 2023 budget year cost of the highly touted tax cuts approved in March by the Republican-controlled General Assembly using just the state's extra revenue from February and March. Last month, Indiana took in $1.46 billion in revenue, including $732.8 million in sales tax receipts, and $537.2 million in individual income tax payments, data show. That total was $167.9 million, or 13%, more than anticipated by the state revenue forecast revised in December, as well as $224 million, or 18.1%, greater than the monthly revenue estimate used by state lawmakers in April 2021 as they crafted the two-year, $37.4 billion state spending plan. The March result follows a February that saw Indiana beat its revised monthly revenue expectations by $136.1 million, or 13.6%, giving Indiana $304 million in excess revenue in just the last two months. The nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency estimates the new tax cuts will cost Indiana $300.1 million during the state budget year that begins July 1. Applying the February and March excess to that expense still leaves Indiana with $1.2 billion in extra revenue for the current budget year before tallying the state's April, May and June receipts that typically outpace most other months. Indiana also is projected to end the current budget year June 30 with $5.1 billion in its budget reserve, or 28.9% of 2023 state spending, notwithstanding an extra deposit of $545.5 million in a teacher pension account and using another $545.5 million to provide Hoosiers an automatic taxpayer refund. Hoosiers should begin receiving their $125 automatic taxpayer refund payments later this month, or in early May, after the General Assembly last month approved Senate Enrolled Act 1 making all adults eligible for the payment, instead of only Hoosiers who pay income tax. The $125 payment isn't connected to the new tax cuts. But for most Hoosiers it will be more money than they'll get from the tax law House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, falsely claimed is "the largest tax cut in state history." The only tax savings Hoosiers will see this year is the elimination of the utility receipts tax beginning July 1. That's a 1.46% charge paid by both businesses and consumers on a portion of their electricity, natural gas, water, steam, sewage and telephone bills. The biggest savings generally will go to big businesses since they tend to be the biggest users of utility services. A Northwest Indiana resident paying $100 a month to NIPSCO for electricity and natural gas will see their bill drop by about $1. A $50 monthly phone bill may only go down a few pennies because of how different communications services are bundled and taxed. Hoosiers, in theory, will know how much less they're paying if they read the fine print at the bottom of their bills, even if they barely notice the reduction amid surging commodity prices driving up their overall utility costs. The General Assembly has mandated utility providers note on the two bills following repeal of the utility receipts tax in August and September, just ahead of the Nov. 8 general election exactly how much each customer has saved because House Enrolled Act 1002 was adopted by the Legislature. The other tax cut in the measure is a reduction in the individual income tax rate to 3.15%, from 3.23%, beginning Jan. 1, 2023. That change will shrink the total state income tax paid by a Hoosier worker earning $50,000 a year to $1,575, instead of $1,615, an annual savings of $40, or about $1.54 more money in each biweekly paycheck. Altogether, the legislation potentially drops the state income tax rate to 2.9% over a seven-year period so long as Indiana meets certain revenue and pension funding targets. If fully implemented, the annual income tax savings for a $50,000 a year worker would amount to $125 a year beginning in 2029. GOP lawmakers last month rejected a Democratic plan to drop both tax cuts in favor of pausing the collection of Indiana's 32 cents per gallon gasoline tax and the state's 7% sales tax on gasoline (approximately 22 cents per gallon) to immediately save Hoosiers money with fuel prices continuing to top $4 per gallon. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. An Indiana State Trooper suffered injuries after her car was smashed into while she was investigating a crash on Interstate 65. The crash took place at around 7 a.m. Saturday morning at the 260.4 mile-marker on I-65, which is near the Borman Expressway and the border of Hobart and Lake Station. Trooper Regen Smith was investigating a crash in which a vehicle was blocking the far-left lane about a mile north of Interstate 80. "Trooper Smith had her emergency lights activated and positioned her vehicle behind the crashed vehicle in the left lane to protect both the person in the crashed vehicle as well as to warn approaching motorists that the lane was blocked. The roadway was also icy from overnight rain/snow," ISP Public Information Officer Sgt. Glen Fifield said. "Preliminary investigation by Trooper Brandon Lankford shows that a black 2006 Lincoln truck was approaching the scene at a high rate of speed. As it did so, the driver quickly braked and lost control of his vehicle." The truck ended up rear-ending the police car, injuring the officer inside. She was taken to a hospital in downtown Gary. "The truck narrowly avoided the tow truck that was just arriving at the scene and instead struck the rear of Trooper Smiths police car," Fifield said. "Trooper Smith was seated in the vehicle at the time of the collision. She was transported to Northlake Hospital with complaint of pain, but non-life-threatening injuries." Rafael Montez, a 34-year-old Hobart resident, was driving the Lincoln. He refused medical treatment at the scene. Montez will be cited for several infractions, including failure to yield to a stationary emergency vehicle, speeding too fast for weather or road conditions and expired vehicle registration, Fifield said. Waffco Towing and Caruthers Towing assisted police at the scene. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. WHITING History is often told through the eyes of males. At the Whiting-Robertsdale Historical Society, it's the womens turn to be recognized. Visitors see not only womens fashions as they evolved throughout Whitings history but also see what 25 special women contributed to the citys history. Theyre not all perfect Whiting women, museum curator Gayle Kosalko said. Mary Maotivik had a colorful history. It was bars, shops, boarding houses for the most part in that part of Whiting, museum volunteer Rebecca Haynes said. Haynes and Kosalko worked together on the exhibit, which ends Sunday. She and her husband, both Polish, operated a saloon and lived upstairs. At the time, ethnic groups clashed, and a Hungarian group tried to take over their establishment. A gun battle ensued. The husband ran upstairs and sort of barricades himself in, Haynes said. She winds up killing three people, with two badly injured. Everyone says she was the one who fired the shots. One of the injured men, cigar maker Jacob Gladstone, survived because the bullet was stopped by a matchbox in his breast pocket. Maotiviks tale continues with a murder trial. Were trying not to sugarcoat it, Kosalko said. Another of the women honored is Mary Bercik, the first woman elected mayor in Indiana. The museum has campaign materials, including ashtrays with her name where cigarette butts would be jabbed to extinguish them. She succeeded her husband, William Bercik, who died of a heart attack on a fishing trip in Wisconsin, before being elected in 1959. Helen Kocan is another honoree. She was national president of the First Catholic Slovak Ladies Union of America for more than three decades. The organization sold low-cost life insurance to immigrant families and served as a social club for the women. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt asked her to meet Slovakias ambassador. The other honorees all have interesting stories as well. As small a population as Whiting has, there are a lot of women who have done prominent things, Haynes said. Narrowing the list wasnt easy. Women included in the exhibit represent different time periods and different life experiences. Theres a woman in here whos going to connect with them, Haynes said. The exhibit also includes a look at womens fashions and other aspects of their lives during the decades since Whiting was founded. Dresses, shoes, baby shoes, undergarments and cosmetics tell their story. Among Kosalkos favorites is the fox stole she played with as a child, moving the foxs jaws as she created dialogue for it. Haynes was intrigued by The Modern Method of Birth Control, a 1943 book that help revolutionize womens lives by giving them control over how many children they would bear. Kosalkos memories were prompted by a home permanent kit. They smelled horrible, they burned your skin, and then you had hair like a French poodle, she said. World War II had a dramatic influence on womens fashion. As women moved into jobs formerly held by women, they began wearing pants to protect themselves from loose clothing getting caught in industrial machinery. Other items on exhibit include a look at cleaning and cooking in the past. The space isnt very big, but we fill it with as much to exhibit as we can, Kosalko said. Sunday is the final day for the exhibit. The museum is open Sundays only, noon to 4 p.m. 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. HAMMOND Federal, state and Lake County municipal officials have reached an agreement to stop spilling raw sewage into area waterways. Griffith, Hammond and Highland are pledging to spend $185 million in coming years on new sewage collection and treatment infrastructure to clean up the Little Calumet River and Lake Michigan. The major improvement will be in the hands of the Hammond Sanitary District, which serves 170,000 customers in Hammond, Munster, Griffith and Highland. It will build a new treatment plant in south Hammond near the Little Calumet River in addition to making other sewage collection improvements at a cost of $100 million. Its a good deal, Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. said Thursday afternoon. "We have had sewage overflows since my father was mayor probably since the city was incorporated (in 1884)." Griffith will spend $15 million to install new sewer lines and pumps to transport its sewage to the new south Hammond plant. Griffith Town Council President Rick Ryfa said Thursday, Its the best possible solution to what has been years of work with the federal government. Highland will have to spend $70 million to reconstruct its sewage collection system. The water will eventually flow north into Hammonds treatment facilities through a gravity feed system, eliminating the need for costly lift station pumps. These improvements are designed to produce a fourfold increase in the capacity to treatment Griffith and Highlands dirty storm water. Highland Clerk-Treasurer Mark Herak said this pollution fix will be costly in the short term, but should result in cleaner waters and pave the way for future economic growth in north Lake County. Their comments came Thursday after attorneys for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management filed 143 pages of documents in U.S. District Court in Hammond. The EPA is formally suing Griffith and Highland for polluting the Little Calumet River in violation of federal Clean Water Act, which is 50 years old this year. The federal government also filed consent decrees signed this week by Griffith and Highland officials. Only last month, the Washington D.C-based Environmental Integrity Project declared Indiana had the most miles of sewage-tainted waterways in the country. All of the money and negotiations involving the new consent decrees are aimed at stopping periodic surges of sewage-tainted storm water into the Little Calumet River, which flows through Lake Station, Gary, Highland, Griffith, Munster, Hammond and south suburban Chicago. Heavy rains regularly overwhelm community sewage systems. The tainted waters spills into the Little Calumet as well as the nearby Grand Calumet River and ultimately Lake Michigan. McDermott said, When I was growing up, it used to happen a dozen times a year." The EPA and the state have been working on the problem since the early 1990s and issued administrative orders a decade ago demanding Hammond, Highland and Griffith stop the sewage overflows. Griffith and Highland dont have sewage treatment plants. They pump their sewage into the Hammond Sanitary Districts treatment facilities. Seven years ago, the EPA and the Hammond Sanitary District concluded an agreement to enlarge its water holding and treatment capacity to as much as 72 million gallons per day, at a cost of $55 million, to stop pollution spilling into the Grand Calumet River. Hammond attempted to raise its sewer rates at the time to make Griffith and Highland pay their share of the improvements. The two towns fought Hammond all the way to the Indiana Supreme Court, which ruled in 2015 that Hammond couldnt unilaterally tear up the long-time agreement covering each towns sewer rates. Herak said this week sewer rate increases will likely be announced this summer once a consultant calculates everyones fair share of the cost of the consent decrees. 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. WHITING The Whiting Police Department would like to tape a federal grant to buy surveillance cameras and another license plate reader. City Council President Chris Sarvanidis, D-At-large, said one of the instructions for the application process calls for official support from the City Council that happened earlier this week. "Additional cameras on major thoroughfares and the downtown business district will serve to provide continuous license plate reader coverage from the Indiana state line to the Borman Expressway as the Whiting Police Department works in conjunction with the Hammond and East Chicago Police Departments," Sarvanidis said. A license plate reader installed late last year at the intersection of 129th Street and Indianapolis Boulevard already paid dividends when it helped catch a suspect in a Gary murder when he passed through Whiting. The readers take pictures of license plates as vehicles pass by and that information is relayed to the police if there is a problem associated with that vehicle. Brian Lowry is in charge of the grant application for the city and said approximately $65,000 is being sought for a license plate reader and about $150,000 for cameras. The council is applying to U.S. Rep Frank J. Mrvan's office, Lowry said, and he'll then submit it to the Congressional Appropriations Committee. Whiting Police Chief John Sotello said if the grant is received, the plan would be for a license plate reader to be installed at 119th Street and Indianapolis Boulevard. He said cameras would be located from 119th Street and Indianapolis Boulevard going east to Front Street, as well as at Schrage Avenue and Indianapolis Boulevard and nearby city schools. Sotello said cameras on 119th Street would allow for better monitoring of special events such as the annual Pierogi Fest. "It will enhance public safety by keeping an eye on the business district, the school children, and it will assist in criminal investigations in a pretty profound way," Lowry said. 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. Avian Flu has been detected in a flock of commercial ducks located in Elkhart County. The flock of 4,679 ducks tested positive for the H5N1 avian influenza virus, Thursday. The results were confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory, and as of Friday the flock had been depopulated. BOAH staff are working to notify the owners of the 78 commercial flocks in the 10-kilometer control area that has been established around the Elkhart farm, Indiana State Board of Animal Health spokesperson Denise Derrer Spears said. Also known as bird flu, the disease was detected in North America in December of 2021. The H5N1 subtype, not known to cause human illness, was found at an exhibition farm on the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. By January of 2022, multiple wild bird species in the U.S. had also tested positive for the strain. The outbreak reached Indiana on Feb. 9, first confirmed at a commercial turkey farm in Dubois County. Since then Avian Flu has spread to six commercial turkey operations, in Dubois and Greene counties. According to the BOAH, a total of 171,224 commercial turkeys have tested positive. All of the affected commercial turkey populations have been depopulated and the control areas for Dubois and Greene counties have been lifted. The illness often spreads through migratory birds as they land in fields or ponds "and co-mingle with other birds," Derrer Spears explained. The BOAH is advising poultry producers limit their flock's contact with wild birds, keeping them in contained facilities when possible. The wild birds are the challenge because you really cant contain those, Derrer Spears said. Over 220 samples of wild birds have been submitted for laboratory testing, Derrer Spears said results are currently pending. Executive director of the Indiana Audubon Society Brad Bumgardner said it is uncommon for songbirds to be infected with the H5N1 subtype. Birds shed the virus through their droppings and nasal discharge. Experts say it can be spread through contaminated equipment, clothing, boots and vehicles carrying supplies. Research has shown that small birds that squeeze into zoo exhibits or buildings can also spread the flu, and that mice can even track it inside. To limit the spread, Derrer Spears said commercial poultry operations should keep "people traffic to a minimum," and that poultry workers should clean their shoes and clothing frequently. While the BOAH is not recommending home owners take down their bird feeders, increased cleaning is encouraged. Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo has closed its McCormick Bird House and moved all outdoor birds to "behind-the-scene spaces," according to Public Relations & Communications Coordinator Sabrina Cynova. The majority of the birds at the Washington Park Zoo in Michigan City are already kept in enclosures that prevent direct exposure to wildlife, but the birds "that do not have the proper coverage" have been moved inside Zoo Director Jamie LeBlanc-Huss said. No cases of human infections have been reported and there is no food safety risk associated with the outbreak. The BOAH has Indiana residents to report dead wildlife at in.gov/boah. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Dead Rabbit is multiplying. The cocktail bar and pub in Lower Manhattan has plans to open new branches in New Orleans and Austin, Texas, in 2023, with hopes to open other locations in the next five years. A sister bar, called Hazel and Apple, will open in Charleston, S.C., later this year. The Dead Rabbit opened on Water Street in 2013 as a backward-glancing cocktail emporium meant to evoke the drinking life of 19th-century New York. Its ambitious, two-pronged expansion represents a division of sorts for the bars two founders, Sean Muldoon and Jack McGarry, both natives of Belfast, Northern Ireland. Mr. McGarry, 33, will spearhead the growth of the Dead Rabbit brand, while Mr. Muldoon, 50, along with the Dead Rabbit beverage director Jillian Vose, 37, will move to Charleston in August to run Hazel and Apple. Ms. Vose has stepped down as the Dead Rabbits beverage director a new beverage director will be named soon and she will be a partner in the new Charleston bar. Mr. Muldoon will retain his shares in the Dead Rabbit, and that bars investors will have a stake in Hazel and Apple. The Charleston bar, with a name inspired by a William Butler Yeats poem, will be at 549 King Street. It will hold up to 270 people, with a pub room in front (the Hazel of the name), a seasonal cocktail bar in back (the Apple) and an outdoor bar. For nearly two years, Jassy StokesOliver crisscrossed the freeways of San Diego late at night, delivering food and dropping off riders as a gig driver for DoorDash, Lyft and Uber. She preferred working late because there was little traffic, and she never felt unsafe. Then two life-threatening situations hammered home the risks of the business. On a delivery trip last summer, her nephew Keshon, who also worked for DoorDash, was shot twice in the head by a passing driver. The 19-year-old survived, but the attacker has not been found. Just weeks later, as Ms. StokesOliver, 44, was trying to drop off cigarettes and a 12-pack of soda at a property for DoorDash, a man standing nearby followed her up to the door. As she bent down to leave the package, she saw out of the corner of her eye that he was holding a gun. She pulled out her phone to snap a picture, and he retreated. She hurried back to her car and sped off, with her 10-year-old son in the back seat. That was the last day I drove for DoorDash it just made me very uncomfortable, said Ms. StokesOliver, who later moved to Dubai. I realized were not safe. The Federal Reserve said on Thursday it had barred a former Goldman Sachs executive, Joseph Jiampietro, from working in the banking industry over a scandal that involved one of his subordinates obtaining leaked regulatory documents. Goldman Sachs paid a total of $86.3 million in penalties after the episode, which began in 2014 when Rohit Bansal, a junior employee, received confidential regulatory information from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, where he had previously worked. When Goldmans compliance department investigated the matter, it found private documents from the New York Fed on Mr. Jiampietros desk although he told authorities he never read them. Goldman fired Mr. Jiampietro and Mr. Bansal. Mr. Bansal and his source, Jason Gross, both pleaded guilty to stealing government property and were barred from the industry. It never hurts to try to get ahead of trash night. Strike up conversations with the doormen or porters at the large, upscale buildings. Ask them what time they generally put the bulk trash out. See if they might tip you off before a choice item heads to the curb. Separate the Wheat From the Chaff Theres a big difference between a Mads Caprani curved floor lamp and a knockoff arc from Target. You may be perfectly happy with the Target discard, but the thrill of the hunt is about finding those discarded diamonds. If you see something on the street and youre not sure of the quality, pull out your phone and do a quick search. Bronwyn Tarboton, an actor with a dumpster-diving TikTok account, @nyctrashtotreasures, uses Google Lens, taking a picture of her find and looking for matches to identify the brand and quality. That way you can see how much something is worth, how much things are selling for, said Ms. Tarboton, who supplements her income restoring and selling her finds. Jot down the dimension of open spaces in your apartment, so you dont come home with an oversized object. And keep a mood board on Pinterest of the colors, materials and styles youre aiming for, to help you visualize how the new find will look in your home. Check for quality. Dovetail joinery on the drawers is a sign of real craftsmanship. A heavy item is likely better quality and sturdier than a light one. Check to see if its wobbly, and if the legs are in good condition. (If the legs have been removed, count them to make sure theyre all there.) For upholstered sofas and chairs, look along the seams for dark spots telltale signs of bedbugs. And take a whiff before you lift. Think about the dog pee, Ms. Veazey said. Those Oath Keepers working with the government could help prosecutors with the sprawling seditious conspiracy case that was filed in January against the Oath Keepers founder, Stewart Rhodes, and 10 other members of the group. At a court hearing in Washington on Friday, a leader of a North Carolina chapter of the Proud Boys also announced that under a plea deal with the government, he would cooperate with the Justice Departments investigation. The Proud Boys leader, Charles Donohoe, was charged in a conspiracy case with five other Proud Boys, including the organizations former chairman, Enrique Tarrio. In court papers released after the hearing, Mr. Donohoe admitted that several leaders and members of the Proud Boys had discussed using force and violence to disrupt the certification of the 2020 election to show Congress that we the people were in charge. The papers also say that the Proud Boys were discussing storming the Capitol before going to Washington in January and that Mr. Donohoe believed the attack on the building would achieve the groups goal of stopping the government from carrying out the transfer of presidential power. One subject that Mr. Alexander might help prosecutors better understand is the bitter rivalries that often divided the small group of planners that put together pro-Trump events in Washington after the election. When he testified to the committee, Mr. Alexander told congressional investigators that he faulted poor planning by organizers like Amy Kremer and her daughter Kylie Kremer, who ran a group called Women for America First that helped set up Mr. Trumps event at the Ellipse. He said, for example, that leaders of the Ellipse event removed instructions from their program telling attendees exactly where to go and what to do after the gathering concluded. Mr. Alexander might also be able to shed light on some of the activities on Jan. 6 of a man he considers to be something of a mentor: Roger J. Stone Jr., a longtime adviser to Mr. Trump. Mr. Alexander said through his lawyer that in the run-up to Jan. 6 he spoke with Mr. Stone about logistics and the warring factions of organizers, and provided the House committee with all of his communications with Mr. Stone on the day of the Capitol attack. The Trump administration left office without providing the State Department with an accounting of the gifts former President Donald J. Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence and other White House officials received from foreign governments in 2020, the department disclosed late Friday. The department said that as a result, it could not fully account for the gifts officials received, the latest example to emerge in recent months of how the Trump administrations flouting of laws and norms about the day-to-day operations of government now makes it harder to determine whether anything improper took place. Its flagrant and it looks terrible, said Richard W. Painter, the former top ethics lawyer for George W. Bushs administration. Either it was really stupid or really corrupt. Under federal law, each government department and agency is legally required to submit a list to the State Department of gifts over $415 its officials received from foreign governments. The measure is intended to ensure that foreign governments do not gain undue influence over American officials. One moment, they were packed onto the platforms at the Kramatorsk train station, hundreds of women, children and old people, heeding the pleas of Ukrainian officials imploring them to flee ahead of a feared Russian onslaught. The next moment, death rained from the air. At least 50 people were killed and many more wounded in a missile assault on Friday morning that left bodies and luggage scattered on the ground and turned the Kramatorsk station into the site of another atrocity in the six-week-old war. There are just children! one woman cried in a video from the aftermath. The missile struck as officials in Kramatorsk and other cities in eastern Ukraine had been warning civilians to leave before Russian forces mount what is expected to be a major push into the region, where their troops have been regrouping after withdrawing from areas around Kyiv, the capital. The story behind Delia Ephrons latest book, Left on Tenth: A Second Chance at Life, began sweetly, like the romantic comedies Ephron wrote with her sister, Nora Ephron, the beloved author, director and screenwriter of Youve Got Mail and Sleepless in Seattle. But the delay that drew out Ephrons happy ending the sine qua non of the narrative trope that is the Marriage Plot was so catastrophic that if she had pitched the story to a studio executive, they would have turned it down as being too much, too over the top. Even for one of the four daughters of Phoebe and Henry Ephron, the tart-tongued screenwriting couple behind Carousel and Desk Set. The backdrop was terrible loss. In 2012, Nora Ephron died of leukemia, a death that shocked the world because she had kept her long illness a secret from everyone except a few friends and family members. Three years later, Delia Ephrons husband of more than three decades, Jerome Kass, a theater, film and television writer, died of prostate cancer. Nearly a year after that, Ephron wrote an essay for The New York Times about what happened when she disconnected his landline. It was a piquant sketch of contemporary life and widowhood involving hapless encounters with operators at telephone company call centers and the eye-crossing rage that wrestling with technology can elicit. The essay touched a nerve with many people, including Peter Rutter, a widower from San Francisco, who wrote an email to Ephron. He was a Jungian psychiatrist; he, too, had tilted with a phone company after his spouses death and, he added, he and Delia had met before. They had gone on a few dates a half-century earlier. Nora Ephron had fixed them up, he said, though Delia Ephron had no memory of their (chaste) encounters. In this way, email by email, Rutter wooed Ephron, and after a few weeks of potent correspondence, they met in person and their epistolary romance blossomed into the real thing. Eleanor Munro, who in an illuminating 1979 book profiled and interviewed dozens of women artists, probing for common threads in their works and their experiences trying to pursue the creative life in a society and art world that limited opportunities for them, died on April 1 at an assisted living center in Rye, N.H. She was 94. Her son, David Frankfurter, said the cause was complications of dementia. Ms. Munro had been writing frequently about art for The Atlantic, Partisan Review, The New York Times and other publications when she published Originals: American Women Artists in 1979. The book, full of extensive interviews with Georgia OKeeffe, Alice Neel, Joan Mitchell, Anne Truitt, Faith Ringgold and other important artists, stands as a rich historical resource, but Ms. Munro made it more than just a collection of profiles. In telling their stories, she examined how the climate for women artists had changed over the decades. And their struggles illuminated her own life. In a way, she told The Atlanta Constitution on 1979, the book was an autobiographical search for myself. She had been raised in an artistic household. Her father was a curator at the Cleveland Museum of Art, but that hadnt necessarily meant that she was encouraged creatively (a dynamic she explored in a 1988 book, Memoir of a Modernists Daughter). And she had seen her mother give up her dream of becoming a concert pianist in favor of a more traditional role as a homemaker and piano teacher. What do you think Mr. Putins endgame is at this point? Putin is a dictator. One of the great benefits of dictatorship is that he can steal as much money as he chooses. And he chooses to steal a lot. After a while, in a country where people sort of think theyre in a democracy, they start to see that theyre hungry and not being cared for in hospitals and their children arent being educated. They start getting angry, and they get angry at the guy in charge. And so every once in a while, the guy in charge has to do something to make people less angry at him. The purpose of these wars is that he was afraid of being overthrown. And so the best way to do that is to get everyone to rally around the leader. And so when youre talking about an endgame, there is no endgame. This is just him staying in power. As a longtime target of Mr. Putins and someone who I imagine has tried to better understand what motivates him what do you think he is thinking? The problem is that theres some psychological features that feed into this whole thing, which make it a particularly toxic brew. The world that he lives in is like a prison yard. This is a world where everybody is sort of eyeing each other up aggressively, and everybody has to show strength to each other. You know, the most powerful person in a yard has to be the most vicious person in order to keep their power. And so his idea was to just destroy Ukraine and then thump his chest and show everybody how powerful he is. But his misjudgment in how effectively the Ukrainians are fighting back has made him look stupid. And for a prison yard type of person, thats the worst thing that could ever happen. Do you think he understands that? Of course. Do you think everyone around him is a yes man? Its not just the people around him. Its also the people in the West. The Ukrainians have shown him huge disrespect by successfully fighting back. And so, for example, the war crimes that have been committed are not by accident. This is part of his thing. In an emergency room or specialized stroke center, patients undergo a brain scan to be sure their symptoms resulted from a minor stroke rather than from a condition that can mimic it, like a seizure or a migraine. Patients who have suffered minor strokes usually start taking two drugs, typically aspirin and clopidogrel, which prevent clotting. (Some may need other medications or a surgical procedure, like a stent placement.) After three weeks, when the highest risk for another stroke has passed, most continue with just one drug, usually a low-dose aspirin. Its easy, its cheap and its well tolerated, Dr. Johnston said. Twenty years ago, when Dr. Johnston led an early study of stroke risk after a T.I.A., 10.5 percent of patients suffered another stroke within three months; half of those occurred within the first two days. That rate has declined substantially, thanks to improved treatments for stroke, lower smoking rates and the widespread use of cholesterol and blood pressure drugs and blood thinners. Recent studies in The New England Journal of Medicine put the risk of a subsequent stroke, coronary syndrome or death after a T.I.A. at 6.4 percent in the first year and another 6.4 percent in years two through five. For neurologists, however, that is still high, given how devastating a major stroke can be. A name change for T.I.A.s might lead to quicker responses that further reduce the rate of subsequent stroke risk. Circumstances can arise when older people or their caregivers choose not to seek immediate medical help. In 2017, Maggie Flanagan was 88 and into her seventh year with Alzheimers disease when Therese Flanagan, her daughter and caregiver, suddenly noticed odd physical symptoms. On Friday, Commissioner Sewell said that gunfire erupted when brazen criminals standing near the school opened fire during a dispute. Diana Marrero, 54, said she had lived in an apartment on the same floor as Ms. Yambo and her family for several years in a building on East 156th Street in the Melrose neighborhood. She described Ms. Yambo as always serious. She used to say hi every day walking her dog down, Ms. Marrero said. She used to go to school and come back home. She wasnt a girl who used to be hanging out there or nothing. Hazel Cheeseboro, 15, described Ms. Yambo as a selfless and caring friend. She was really energetic, said Ms. Cheeseboro, who said she had known Ms. Yambo since elementary school. She was a happy person. She showed love and attention to you no matter what. She put you before herself. Ms. Yambo had attended University Prep High School, a charter school, which held an assembly and offered counseling services to its students on Saturday morning, said Tawana Houston, a school safety agent there. Her friends came, her family came, Ms. Houston said. They did have a little memorial. I know that because they had flowers. It was not immediately clear where the other two victims attended school. An impromptu memorial was also set up outside Tonys Mini Market near the site of Ms. Yambos death. Candles and flowers were piled on the pavement, and someone left a pink, heart-shaped balloon with a message written on it in marker: Sleep in heavenly peace, princess. During the deadliest months of the coronavirus pandemic, when many New Yorkers most needed their faith communities, houses of worship were either closed or operating with limits on attendance. The solace of grieving with family and friends, the comfort of the communal rituals of prayer and the joys of ceremonies celebrating births and weddings, were missing. The absence took a deep physical, spiritual and emotional toll not only on the faithful but also on clergy members who struggled to serve worshipers from afar. Congregants needs were unending. The ability of clergy to respond was at times limited by disease, distance and the number of hours in a day. Priests, rabbis, imams and ministers leaned on the teachings of their faiths to comfort their flocks, and themselves. They also employed modern technology, including Facebook Live and Zoom, to pray with congregants safely. This month, Ramadan, Easter Week and Passover overlap, and New Yorkers are gathering at their houses of worship, many for the first time in two years, now that many Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted. And although some houses of worship appear to be returning to a semblance of normalcy, conversations with clergy members revealed the profound ways in which the pandemic has altered their lives and their work. Dr. Dorry Segev, director of the Center for Surgical and Transplant Applied Research at New York University, notes we cant really compartmentalize the problem, thinking its only a risk for some. Thats because variants can incubate in the bodies of those who cannot fight off infection, and to those, we know, we are all potentially vulnerable. If a society catered to the whole population, then a decision to continue funding for free testing, vaccines and masks would be viewed more holistically. And if we dont want to push, at minimum, seven million Americans and their family members to consider avoiding flights and theaters and schools and trains, then we have to think creatively. In this scenario, we would have to be far more practical and far less political and also willing to experience some minor discomfort for the sake of others. What would it mean to actually confront this choice as a society? I asked Martha Nussbaum about her focus on society and vulnerability in her work. What she is calling for, she told me via email, is for a society that as a matter of basic justice and rights protects our vulnerability in many ways. This would mean expanding comprehensive health insurance and crime prevention and addressing discrimination and unsafe work environments. We ought at this moment to take stock of our nation, asking where we are and what we have achieved, and where we have failed, Dr. Nussbaum said. I keep thinking of failures of education, of empathy, of imagination. It is a time, Alice MacLachlan, a professor of philosophy at York University in Toronto, wrote to me, when we might also notice the carelessness, fear and arrogance that accompany our relationship to wellness and illness. Carelessness about how our choices affect others. Fear we might ourselves become unwell. Arrogance in our surety that we will never fall on that side of the ledger. In my life, I sometimes sense a distancing from others that ranges from pity a murmur of that poor family, theyve gone through so much to active avoidance. To be unwell is to be other. Woebegone. I am not you. The empathy gap gives general society a skewed idea of what it means to be or become vulnerable, and how close we all live to it. One of the tenets of ableism is that it combines the idea of strength with not being sick and that you let sickness happen to you if you are weak, said Steven Thrasher, an assistant professor at Northwestern University and the author of the forthcoming book The Viral Underclass: The Human Toll When Inequality and Disease Collide. And its a shame that this pandemic has not created a better sense that we are all vulnerable. I know everyone is fed up. I wonder whether it is unfair for me to insist others care. I am a special request. I am a problem. I like the rules. The more the world opens up, the more cornered I feel. I do not want us to return to isolation. Mr. Macrons combination of neoliberalism and authoritarianism has deepened inequality, diminished the welfare state, weakened democracy and aggravated the mistrust of politics, resulting in unprecedented abstention rates in regional elections, especially among the youth. Under the Fifth Republic, in place since 1958, it is a unique record. There is one domain in which Mr. Macron had raised more optimistic expectations: climate change. In 2018, Minister of Environment Nicolas Hulot detailed an ambitious plan to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 in accordance with the 2015 Paris Agreement. A year later, as it became clear that the administration was not complying with its objectives, the popular Mr. Hulot resigned in protest. A year later, Mr. Macron convened The Citizens Convention for the Climate to provide proposals to mitigate global warming, which he promised to follow. But his government abandoned some of the most significant ones and watered down others. Yet the most revealing sign of Mr. Macrons political drift to the right has been his placing the control of immigration, implicitly from the South, and the regulation of religion, tacitly Islam, at the center of his politics. On immigration, Mr. Macron has become ever more hard-line. In the past five years, the unprecedented repression of migrants and refugees at the border with Italy, in informal camps around Paris and above all in the so-called jungles of Calais, from where exiles try to reach Britain, has been denounced by human rights organizations. As incoming president of the European Union, he announced that after the drowning of 27 people in the English Channel in November, border policing by the European agency Frontex should be reinforced, disregarding the higher risk for migrants. Earlier in 2021, Mr. Macron had a bill voted on by his parliamentary majority against the alleged separatism of Muslims, who have been deemed a threat to republican values. Criticized by religious groups and advocacy groups as an attack of civil liberties, this law has already allowed the government to dissolve several nongovernmental organizations. The xenophobic and Islamophobic notes in Mr. Macrons policies may come as a surprise from a candidate whose constituency is mostly composed of middle- and upper-class voters as well as retirees for whom immigration and secularism rank far lower as priorities than purchasing power, the health system and the environment. But with the left candidate of La France Insoumise, Jean-Luc Melenchon, polling third in the first round, Mr. Macron appears to have assumed that he would win the presidential election on his right, against Republicains Valerie Pecresse, Reconquetes Eric Zemmour, and above all, Rassemblement Nationals Marine Le Pen, in second place, with a constituency attuned to her nationalist program. Its been done before. In 2002, Jacques Chirac adopted a similar approach in a runoff against Jean-Marie Le Pen. Ahead of the vote, Le Pen warned that voters always prefer the original to the copy. He was wrong, and lost by about 60 percent. In mid-March, when his daughter Marine was polling between 16 and 22 percent behind Mr. Macron in the second round of the election, it seemed like his prediction would continue to fall short. But now, when the difference between the candidates has plummeted to as little as 2 percent, it looks close to coming true. Now, heres where things get a little fishy. During the trial, the lawyer for the plaintiffs, former Attorney General Charles Lee, called on Madison to provide the commissions to the court or at least confirm their existence. He refused. He asked the (Jeffersonian) Republican-controlled Senate to provide a written record that Marbury and his co-plaintiffs had been confirmed. It refused. He called on the State Departments chief clerk to testify, but he had what Paul calls a convenient lapse of memory. Finally, Levi Lincoln admitted to having seen a stack of commissions sitting on his desk on the day he took office on an interim basis (March 4, 1801), but he could not recall whether he saw Marburys commission and could not say what had happened to the rest of the commissions either. There was only one person on the court who knew exactly what had happened, and that was Chief Justice John Marshall. But he was presiding over the trial and could not testify. And so it was his brother, James Marshall, who told the court, in a signed affidavit read by Lee, that he was called to the State Department and asked to deliver the commissions of the justices of the peace in Alexandria. Jamess testimony was the only evidence at trial that the commissions had in fact been issued. And, Paul argues, it was most likely a total fabrication. In this telling, James Marshall perjured himself, and John Marshall not only let him, but may have even asked him to. In his book, Paul argues that this was necessary, that Jefferson and his Republican Party were threatening the independence of the judiciary and that Marshall believed the ends justified the means. As Paul puts it, Jefferson and the Republicans had left Marshall no choice by refusing to respect the courts orders to provide proof that the commissions were signed and sealed. The lie bridged an evidentiary gap by establishing in court the existence of the commissions, which the whole world knew was true. Be that as it may, its still wild that the case appears to have turned on an act of perjury, facilitated by the chief justice, who then ruled in such a way as to assert and establish the authority of the court over the meaning of the Constitution. It should probably be said as well that in Pauls view, Marshall essentially fabricated the conflict at the heart of the case, which is whether the Supreme Court could issue a writ of mandamus commanding Madison to deliver Marburys commission. Under the Judiciary Act of 1789, which established the federal judiciary, the court could do just that. But according to Marshall, Article III of the Constitution did not grant the court original jurisdiction to issue writs of mandamus, meaning that part of the law was unconstitutional. In some European countries, parents can choose between sending their children to heavily subsidized day care or receiving a stipend from the government to take care of them at home. In most parts of America, parents of babies and toddlers have neither option. The United States is a global outlier among developed countries for its lack of government support for child care. Thats why its notable that New York State is on the cusp of expanding access to affordable child care. New York lawmakers on Saturday announced the approval of a budget that would help provide subsidies for families making up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level, around $83,000 for a family of four. With the average price of child care for an infant in New York sitting above $15,000 per year, such subsidies are urgently needed. But child care outside the home is only half of the equation, and the New York plan includes no public child care support targeted at families who choose to care for young children themselves. It gives the day care option, but not the option for parents to stay at home. As a queer American, and one who has been involved in the movement for L.G.B.T.Q. equality for over two decades now, I am not surprised by the way trans folks are continuously bullied, misunderstood and belittled. What does surprise me, a little, is that in response, so many others straight, cisgender and gay have rallied on our behalf. Standing up makes a difference. Back in 2020, on the same day that Ms. Rowling posted one of her screeds about trans folks eroding what it means to be a woman, the British actress Emma Watson (best known for playing Hermione in the Harry Potter film series) tweeted, I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are. That mattered. When the actor Don Cheadle wore a T-shirt that read, Protect trans kids on Saturday Night Live in 2019, that mattered. When Iowa Iowa! flew the trans flag at the State Capitol on the Transgender Day of Remembrance in 2019, that mattered. When members of Congress displayed the flag outside their offices for the International Transgender Day of Visibility, that mattered, too. I was especially grateful last year when Representative Marie Newman, Democrat of Illinois, put one up so that her neighbor across the hall, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, Republican of Georgia, had to look at it when she went to her office. Ms. Greene had criticized the Equality Act which would expand civil rights protections to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity by calling it a direct attack on Gods creation. I have a message for all those who would rather leave me out of the American story: I am not an attack on Gods creation. I am someone whom God has made, just like this. It may be that there is no room for me in your view of the world. But the world contains all sorts of miracles: the wombat and the seahorse and the night-blooming cereus. Surely there is room in the universe for all of these things, as strange to you as we might be. I have been writing for The New York Times Opinion page for 15 years now, since Halloween of 2007. Today, with equal measures of pride and fatigue, I step down from my post as contributing Opinion writer. I admit this makes me a little sad; there is so much more work to be done. But I know that as I near retirement age, Ill be grateful to be freed from the constant deadlines this column has demanded and to turn my energies to other projects, including a new novel coming this fall, Mad Honey, co-written with Jodi Picoult. We chose insulin because it looked doable, and there was a need, he told The Los Angeles Business Journal in 2021. At the time, diabetics were being treated with cow insulin because there was no source of human insulin. And cow insulin resulted in a high rate of allergic reactions. Starting in the mid-1970s, he and his team, working alongside scientists at Genentech, a Bay Area start-up, raced against two other groups one at Harvard and one at the University of California, San Francisco to be the first to perfect the process. They began by synthesizing somatostatin, a hormone only one-tenth the size of insulin, to try to prove that their idea worked. They soon hit a snag: Although the bacteria would produce the hormone, it would quickly degrade. Then Dr. Riggs realized that they could attach the somatostatin to a much larger protein while it was still in the bacteria and separate them later. Once they mastered somatostatin, in 1977, they needed only a year to do the same with insulin. In 1982, after a lengthy review and approval process, a commercial version, Humulin, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration. It was the first significant biotech product to receive the agencys approval. The discovery made Genentech, and Dr. Riggs, rich. But unlike many of his fellow biotech pioneers, he declined the opportunity to make even more money working in the for-profit sector; he was under contract to Genentech, but after that arrangement ended in 1984, he returned to City of Hope full time. He lived in the same house for 50 years and rarely sat for interviews. He gave most of his money away in the form of anonymous donations to City of Hope. His beneficence, to the tune of $210 million, was finally revealed last year, when he made an additional $100 million donation to the hospital. When chorus auditions began last December for the buzzy revival of Funny Girl on Broadway, many hopefuls struggled with the tap dance combination. Some, recalled a choreographer, stopped midway through, made prayer hands of gratitude and exited. If they came expecting simple eight-counts, they were confronted with a far more intricate, rhythmic Rubiks Cube, according to Jared Grimes, 38, the actor and professional tap dancer who plays the role of Eddie Ryan, mentor to the showgirl Fanny Brice, played by Beanie Feldstein. The mad scientist Mr. Grimess description behind the rigorous footwork was Ayodele Casel, a master tap dancer who will make her Broadway debut with a unique creative billing: tap choreographer. Its a credit that rarely, if ever, appears in the mainstream theater world. Ellenore Scott, known for her work on the Off Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors, is the shows choreographer, but Michael Mayer, the director of Funny Girl, knew she didnt specialize in tap. So he pitched the producers a screwy idea to enlist Ms. Casel, 46, a mentee of Savion Glover and Gregory Hines, to modernize the musicals tap numbers, like Act IIs military-themed Rat Tat Tat Tat. A fire chief in Nebraska was killed while responding to a wildfire that has burned nearly 30,000 acres in the south-central part of the state, destroying farms and prompting evacuations, officials said. The chief, Darren Krull of the Elwood Volunteer Fire Department, died on Thursday when the S.U.V. he was traveling in crashed into a water truck in zero-visibility conditions created by the smoke, the Nebraska State Patrol said in a statement. Mr. Krull, 54, was in the passenger seat of a Ford Expedition driven by Justin Norris, the Phelps County emergency manager. Mr. Norris, 40, was in stable condition at a hospital in Omaha on Friday. The water truck driver, Andries Van Aswegan, 28, was also responding to the fire and was not injured in the crash. The fire in Gosper and Furnas Counties was 30 percent contained on Saturday morning, according to Alyssa Sanders, coordinator for the State Emergency Response Commission. WASHINGTON President Biden was livid. He had been in office only two months and there was already a crisis at the southwest border. Thousands of migrant children were jammed into unsanitary Border Patrol stations. Republicans were accusing Mr. Biden of flinging open the borders. And his aides were blaming one another. Facing his bickering staff in the Oval Office that day in late March 2021, Mr. Biden grew so angry at their attempts to duck responsibility that he erupted. Who do I need to fire, he demanded, to fix this? Mr. Biden came into office promising to dismantle what he described as the inhumane immigration policies of President Donald J. Trump. But the episode, recounted by several people who attended or were briefed on the meeting, helps explain why that effort remains incomplete: For much of Mr. Bidens presidency so far, the White House has been divided by furious debates over how and whether to proceed in the face of a surge of migrants crossing the southwest border. Power has been restored to 90 percent of Puerto Rico, according to the islands power operator, though more than 200,000 residents remained without electricity on Saturday, three days after the outage began. Power for more than 1.2 million customers returned by Saturday afternoon, the islands power operator, Luma Energy, said. But in addition to the residents who were still waiting, many customers across the island who saw their power get turned back on were still experiencing service disruptions. Weve been encouraging all of our customers to conserve energy through the weekend, Wayne Stensby, the chief executive of Luma, said. Its in everyones interest that they be as careful with their energy as possible. Mr. Stensby added that the system would not be fully operational right away. The system is not back to its normal state yet and it likely wont be until later into the weekend, he said. From a distance, the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse looks like a real-estate investors dream. There are views of Oregons coast from the tower, perched on a rugged island a mile offshore. Most days, the solitude is broken only by the sound of crashing waves, and the seclusion by nesting birds and sea lions. After more than a century weathering storms, guiding ocean mariners, hosting wildlife and serving as a repository for cremated human remains, the lighthouse known in local legend as Terrible Tilly is being prepared for its next owners. But first, they will need $6.5 million, a unique vision and a way to get there. The island is a craggy basalt rock that juts up from water so rough that boats cannot dock. It can be reached only by helicopter, and even those sometimes have to circle until the sea lions have shuffled off the landing pad, said Mimi Morissette, director of Eternity at Sea, the Oregon-based company that owns and is selling the lighthouse. The building and lantern tower need gut renovations. Sea lions and pounding storms have busted through doors. Windows are boarded. Nesting birds have coated surfaces with droppings. Urns holding remains, including those of Ms. Morissettes parents, are stashed inside. Japan is stepping up its rhetoric and economic measures against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, furthering Moscows economic isolation and joining the United States and European nations in calling for investigations into accusations of war crimes. The country said on Friday that it would expel eight Russian diplomats, and announced a ban on Russian coal and restrictions on imports including timber, vodka and machinery. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida lambasted what he said were brutal and inhumane acts carried out by Russian forces in cities across Ukraine, including in the suburban town of Bucha near the capital, Kyiv. He accused them of having repeatedly violated international humanitarian law by attacking civilians and nuclear power plants, a sore point for Japan given its 2011 experience with nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi plant. We must hold Russia strictly accountable for these atrocities, he said, calling actions by Russian troops unforgivable war crimes. Japan supports an ongoing investigation by the International Criminal Court into accusations of Russian war crimes in Ukraine, he added, and would support an independent inquiry by the United Nations. At least 53 people have tested positive for the coronavirus since attending The Gridiron Club and Foundations annual dinner last Saturday in Washington, the groups president confirmed on Friday. The Gridiron Club dinner, an annual white-tie roast between journalists and presidential administrations, was held at the Renaissance Hotel. But a night of good-natured ribbing has devolved into an outbreak of cases among Washingtons elite, including members of Congress, members of the presidents cabinet and journalists. About 700 people were at the event, including the 628 guests seated in the ballroom, Gridiron organizers said. Attendees were required to show proof of vaccination but not a negative test result, and face masks were not required during the program. Among those who have publicly announced being infected with the virus after attending the dinner are Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo; Attorney General Merrick B. Garland; Valerie Biden Owens, the presidents sister; and Representative Adam B. Schiff of California. Research by Professor Somerville and a colleague revealed that after British Columbia imposed its tax, prices fell by just 3 to 5 percent in Vancouver neighborhoods that were popular with foreign buyers compared with neighborhoods such buyers avoided. In a paper published in 2020, Joshua C. Gordon, an adjunct professor in the School of Public Policy at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, found that demand from people outside of Canada has indeed made housing less affordable in Vancouver and Toronto, but not in a way the budgets sales ban will address. Many real estate purchases in those cities, he wrote, are made by residents or citizens of Canada acting on behalf of relatives or other people living overseas, who provide the money behind the deals. Whatever form the new ban takes, it will not block such transactions. What matters is not so much citizenship but rather the source of funds for real estate purchases, Mr. Gordon wrote. Details are scarce about how the federal ban will work. The Department of Finance told me that they will be available in the coming months. The budget says that recreational properties will be exempt, although it does not define them; it also exempts people in Canada on student visas that lead to permanent residency, and people temporarily living here for work. But given that real estate is a provincial responsibility, its unclear exactly how the federal government can regulate such sales. Gilles LeVasseur, who teaches constitutional law at the University of Ottawa, said that the regulations will most likely be created as part of the feds powers to create criminal law. But regardless of the means, he said, the rule will run afoul of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms by discriminating against people on the basis of nationality. While rights are not absolute, Professor LeVasseur said that it may be difficult for the government to justify such discrimination in court. Making a surprise visit to Ukraines capital, Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain on Saturday promised more military equipment and missiles to Ukraine, underscoring his countrys role as Europes most enthusiastic supporter of the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky. Britain will provide 120 armored vehicles as well as new anti-ship missile systems to the Ukrainian military, Downing Street said in a statement issued to coincide with the prime ministers meeting with Mr. Zelensky. That is in addition to 100 million, or about $130 million, worth of military equipment that Mr. Johnson pledged to Ukraine on Friday. Mr. Johnson and Mr. Zelensky praised each other at a news conference after their meeting for their cooperation since the Russian invasion, Reuters reported. The Ukrainian president called for a complete ban on Russian energy supplies, and increase the delivery of weapons to us. Mr. Johnson replied: Together with our partners, we are going to ratchet up the economic pressure and we will continue to intensify, week by week, the sanctions on Russia. He said those measures would include moving away from Russian fossil fuels. LVIV, Ukraine The explosion deafening, blinding collapsed the walls around them, and the moments afterwards felt like an eternity, waiting to hear my childs scream so I would know she was alive, Viktoria Dubovitskaya said. Maybe she will be without legs or arms, but just let her be alive. Ms. Dubovitskaya, interviewed last month at a shelter in Lviv, in western Ukraine, said she and her two young children were among the many civilians sheltering in Mariupols Drama Theater on March 16 when it was devastated by a Russian airstrike. A wall fell onto her 2-year-old daughter, Nastya, and in those horrific first moments, Ms. Dubovitskaya recalled, she did not know if the girl had survived. Finally, she heard it: Mama! Nastya screamed. A mattress that had been propped up against the wall fell against her daughter, cushioning the blows. Under the shattered masonry, Nastya was alive, but the place where they had taken refuge for 11 days, along with hundreds of others, was destroyed. The theater bombing in Mariupol, a port city in southern Ukraine, may have killed hundreds of people in a single strike and is one of the most prominent examples of the atrocities that Russia has inflicted in its invasion of Ukraine. Soon after that attack, President Biden labeled President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia a war criminal. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, women around Poland have been making trips to the Polish-Ukrainian border to offer rides to the multitudes of refugees seeking safe passage out of the country. Most of the more than four million people who have fled Ukraine are women and children, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. And because both groups are at high risk of exploitation and trafficking, the volunteer collective Women Take the Wheel is helping them make the journey. Feeling safe and secure is one of humans basic needs, said Ella Jarmulska, 38, an entrepreneur from a village on the outskirts of Warsaw who helped found the group and serves as one of the drivers. To provide them with some sense of security was as basic a reaction as giving water to a thirsty person, she said. Women Take the Wheel, an informal group with about 600 members, uses Facebook, WhatsApp and other messaging platforms to communicate and coordinate assistance. The amplified perils that women and children face are part of what motivated Ms. Jarmulska to issue an appeal for female drivers on Facebook after making her first trip to the border, near the town of Dorohusk. On that trip at the onset of the war, Ms. Jarmulska saw dozens of men standing by their cars outside the reception sites hastily erected centers for arriving refugees looking like bouncers at a club. As a woman, Ms. Jarmulska empathized with those arriving, alone or with children, after a difficult journey to a different country where the language is foreign and men, however well-intentioned, are offering rides, sometimes late at night. It can add to the trauma and state of fear, she said. What can I do to make it easier on them? Ms. Jarmulska asked herself that evening. The effort by Mr. Johnson to bolster Ukraine came as fears of a new Russian onslaught escalated. Despite its large army and considerable military might, Russia was unable to take Kyiv and now appears to be scrambling to retain dominance in Ukraines southeast, appointing a new commander for its offensive and withdrawing troops from the capital to an area where it has the advantage of support from local ethnic Russian separatists. Russian forces continue to attempt to regroup and redeploy units withdrawn from northeastern Ukraine to support an offensive in eastern Ukraine, but these units are unlikely to enable a Russian breakthrough and face poor morale, said a report from the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank. Even so, Russias air campaign and missiles continue to cause grave damage. A missile attack on a train station in the eastern city of Kramatorsk on Friday killed more than 50 people, including children, and injured many more who were heeding official warnings to flee. Moscow denied responsibility for the attack, but U.S. military officials and independent analysts in Washington said they believed Russian forces had launched the missiles. In a statement condemning the train station attack, the European Union said on Saturday that Russia was clearly culpable and that attempts to hide Russias responsibility for this and other crimes using disinformation and media manipulations are unacceptable. TEL AVIV The current surge in terrorist attacks in Israel has been framed by Palestinian parties and militant groups as a logical consequence of the entrenchment of Israels 55-year occupation of the West Bank, of Israels control over sensitive religious sites in Jerusalem, and of the dwindling commitment from some key Arab leaders to the creation of a Palestinian state. The attackers diverse backgrounds, however, have left both Palestinian and Israeli analysts and officials uncertain about the relationship between the attacks, the motivations of the attackers and the timing of their attacks. In the deadliest wave of violence since 2016, there have been four attacks in four Israeli cities since March 22, involving five Arab assailants who have killed 14 people, including two Arab police officers and two Ukrainians. But beyond their lethal outcomes, the four episodes do not fit easily within a simple narrative. The two most recent attacks in Tel Aviv and Bnei Brak were carried out by Palestinians from the occupied West Bank. While praised by several Palestinian movements, no group has formally claimed responsibility for them. Saudi Arabia will allow one million foreign and domestic Muslims to travel to the holy city of Mecca this year for the annual hajj pilgrimage in July, the countrys Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced Saturday. The pilgrims must be vaccinated against Covid-19, be under 65 and test negative for the virus within 72 hours of leaving for Saudi Arabia, the ministry said in a statement. The move is a significant step toward normalcy for an annual ritual that typically draws millions of believers to the kingdom. The hajj was severely restricted to just 1,000 domestic visitors in 2020, and to 60,000 of them last year. The number of pilgrims from each country will be capped based on quotas and other health considerations, according to the ministry. The kingdom began accepting pilgrims from abroad last August for a smaller pilgrimage that can take place any time of year, known as umrah. The federal government has run out of money to cover coronavirus vaccines, testing and treatment for uninsured Americans, but Congress has yet to approve more pandemic response funding. A bill that would allocate $10 billion for those purposes stalled on Tuesday when Senate Republicans refused to advance it without a vote to keep in place pandemic-era border restrictions that President Biden has moved to lift. Congress is now on a two-week break, so the stalemate means that final passage of aid that the Biden administration has said is urgently needed will slip until at least the last week of this month. The package will not include a proposed $5 billion for the global pandemic fight, which senators could not agree on. A federal fund established to reimburse doctors for care for uninsured Covid patients stopped accepting claims in late March. On Wednesday, it stopped reimbursing providers for vaccinating uninsured people. Without federal funding, major testing sites and laboratories like Quest Diagnostics are charging $100 or more for testing, and smaller services could shutter altogether, just as states are closing down mass testing sites. On Tuesday, Embry Health, a leading testing provider in Arizona, said it would suspend operations at 60 sites in the state and would no longer offer free tests for uninsured people. THE three longest serving members of the Tullamore Show and FBD National Livestock Show Executive have been honoured by their peers on their retirement after almost a century of joint service. Special presentations were made to Christy Maye, former PRO, George Gill, former Site Manager, Chairman and Assistant Chairman and Tommy Finlay, former Chairman of the Dairy Cattle section, at a meeting of the Show Executive in the Bridge House Hotel on Wednesday night last. Tributes were paid to the trio by the Chairman of the Show Executive, Joe Molloy who said they had given a lifelong commitment to the event since its revival in the early 1990s. He said that Honorary Life Membership of the Show Executive has been bestowed on all three. Their expertise and incredible work ethic has meant so much to the show, outlined Secretary and Operations Manager, Chelsey Cox. She added: Their dedication and commitment has been remarkable over many years. The enthusiasm and sheer hard work is unmeasurable. No matter how big the challenge was there was always a solution. Christy Maye was one of the founder members having been a successful businessman in Tullamore and Mullingar. He masterminded new ideas and saw them through to fruition. Christy held the position as PRO for many years and played a vital part in the shows success. George Gill joined the show in the very early stages and held many positions - Site Manager, Vice Chairman, Assistant Secretary and was elected Chairman in 2010. George was a great negotiator with an immense wealth of knowledge and his kind, endearing manner encouraged many volunteers along the way. Tommy Finlay, a keen exhibitor at various shows in Ireland for many years, was invited by one of the show's founder members to take over the Dairy Section. Tommys huge expertise and knowledge resulted in a very successful section which continues to grow. The Ballydaly man encouraged and mentored many over the years with his calm and pleasant manner. After an absence of due years due to Covid restrictions, this year's show takes place on Sunday, August 14 at the Butterfield Estate, Blueball. The closing date for trade stand applications is Friday, May 20. A man sentenced to five years in prison for arson, including three years suspended, was told by a judge that the fuel tank of a car he tried to burn could have exploded. Thankfully the blaze in the car was noted relatively early by members of the public who called the fire brigade, Judge Keenan Johnson said when he sentenced arsonist Fred Dolan. Had the fuel tank which was full exploded, there could have been serious injury and damage caused. Fifty-five-year-old father of three Mr Dolan had been found guilty following a jury trial of arson at Harbour Street, Tullamore on June 9, 2018. On the evening of that date he placed firelighters inside the back of a car belonging to David White and lit them before going into a nearby public house. The car, a 03 registered Mercedes, was valued at 1,500 but on the same day its owner had spent 700 getting new tyres and having it serviced. The man had also recently taxed it in advance of starting a new job the following Monday and some electrical tools in the boot were destroyed by the fire. When Mr White returned to his car some time after parking it he noticed it was missing and only learned of the arson attack when he was contacted by the gardai. Judge Johnson said presumably not knowing the motivation behind the attack was a cause for concern but the court now knew it was a random act of vandalism with no logical explanation. The judge said it appeared when the accused got intoxicated he had a fascination with fire as was evidenced by his prior convictions for arson. Mr Dolan denied the crime until the jury's guilty verdict but he now accepted he was responsible and indicated he had no recollection of his actions that night due to a combination of medication and drink. According to a probation report, Mr Dolan had a good work history and a good relationship with his three children but the break-up of his marriage and business difficulties in 2016 triggered a return to drinking and he also went into a form of depression and was on medication. He had spent a month in psychiatric care in Portlaoise in 2019 and it appeared his mental health had improved since. In evidence previously given, the accused said he had been sober for three years and did not intend to drink again. He said he had also been sober between 1999 and 2013. A psychiatric report confirmed he was not now suffering from any mental illness but the report's authors indicated he should never drink alcohol or other intoxicants. Mr Dolan has been in custody awaiting sentencing and was a model prisoner who said himself that he was making the best of a difficult situation in prison. Available for free, the Virtual Experience of Dale Chihuly: Glass in Bloom exhibition will allow visitors from all over the world.. PR Newswire Asia 13 Oct 2021 A lightly raced Canberra filly is eying off a metropolitan start or a trip to the Scone carnival early next month if she fires at Sundays feature Wagga meeting. "This will be a hard battle, we believe in this fight and our victory. We are ready to simultaneously fight and look for diplomatic.. Zee News 10 Apr 2022 Boris Johnson has traveled to the Ukrainian capital. US and UK officials have warned of increased Russian attacks in eastern Ukraine after a deadly train station strike. DW has the latest. The Jordanian monarch will receive surgery at a specialist hospital in Frankfurt after suffering a "herniated disc," the palace said. The king's pain increased in recent days, requiring "urgent" surgery. At least 52 people now dead after a rocket strike in eastern Ukraine as civilians tried to evacuate to safer parts of the country. German and British leaders expressed horror over the attack. 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. The United Nations is appealing for emergency funds for an operation to prevent an oil spilling in the Red Sea from a tanker moored off Yemen. African students who have fled the war in Ukraine say the racism they face is making a bad situation worse. DW's Tobore Ovuorie has kept in touch with several of them as they go about seeking refuge in Europe. Saudi Arabia will let up to 1 million people, including foreigners, join the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca this year. The US, meanwhile, warns against travel to China due to an ongoing wave. Follow DW for the latest. Firefighters searched for bodies in the debris of destroyed buildings in a town near Kyiv, which had been targeted by Russian airstrikes during its invasion of Ukraine. Pakistan's parliament began voting on a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday, ending a 13-hour impasse over the vote he is expected to lose. Pakistan's lawmakers have voted to remove Prime Minister Imran Khan from office in a vote of no confidence. The nuclear-armed Islamic nation has been in political turmoil for weeks. SpaceX launched three rich businessmen and their astronaut escort to the International Space Station on Friday for more than a week's stay, as Nasa joins Russia in hosting guests at the world's most expensive tourist destination.It's... Two Europeans who disappeared during a dive last week have been rescued by fishermen, Malaysian authorities said on Saturday, with the search operation now focused on finding a 14-year-old Dutch teen who remained missing.Alexia... President Cyril Ramaphosa told US President Joe Biden to "keep it up" after confirmation of the appointment of the first black woman as a Justice of the Supreme Court in that country. Newsy 04 Apr 2022 Watch VideoThe U.S. government on Monday seized a 254-foot yacht in Spain owned by an oligarch with close ties to Russian President.. Ukraine is still reeling from a missile attack at a crowded train station in the eastern part of the country. At least 50 people were killed in the attack and about 100 are injured. The US State Department said it could not compile a complete and accurate accounting of gifts received by Trump, Pence, and other officials in 2020. Ukrainian officials said more than 121,000 children had been forcibly deported to Russia by Putin's troops. NEW DELHI, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Scrap metal thieves in the eastern Indian state of Bihar stole an abandoned 60-feet steel bridge, officials said Saturday. The bridge, reportedly weighing 500 tonnes, was stolen from Amiyawar village in Rohtas district, about 119 km southwest of Patna, the capital city of Bihar. According to locals, heavy machines and gas cutters were used to chip off the steel frame of the bridge. Following the dismantling of the structure, the scrap was loaded onto vehicles. Arshad Kamal Shamshi, a junior engineer with the local irrigation department told the media that the thieves were pretending as mechanical department officials as villagers reported. According to Shamshi, his department has filed a case with the police over the theft. Reports said the dilapidated bridge was built on the Ara Canal in 1972 and villagers had stopped using it after a parallel concrete bridge was thrown open five years ago. This week, President Biden said Vladimir Putin has committed war crimes in Ukraine, but will the Russian president ever stand trial for such crimes? NPR's Scott Simon discusses in this week's essay. NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Radu Umbres, an anthropologist and university lecturer in Bucharest, about why so many Romanians have been surprised by the country's response to the refugee crisis. WASHINGTON The Council on American-Islamic Relations vowed on Thursday to sue Americas largest passenger rail network if Amtrak begins screening its travelers against the governments terrorist watchlist a program first revealed by the Hearst Television National Investigative Units reporting. If Amtrak starts using watchlist information to screen passengers, the Council on American-Islamic Relations will file a lawsuit to challenge it, Gadeir Abbas, senior litigation attorney at CAIR, said in an interview. Hearst Television He said the civil rights organization worries about watchlist mistakes, profiling of Muslim-Americans, and harassment by officers with the Transportation Security Administration. We hope that Amtrak and TSA will come to its senses, Abbas added, and rather than expand an ineffective, discriminatory program, do something useful with their time rather than harass innocent Muslim travelers as they go about their lives. Amtrak Rail Passenger Threat Assessment On Wednesday, the National Investigative Unit reported Amtrak has asked the TSA to start screening some of its passengers against the Terrorist Screening Database watchlist maintained by the Threat Screening Center. The goal is to find out if known or suspected terrorists have used Amtrak for transportation, according to a U.S. Department of Homeland Security privacy impact document obtained by Hearst Television. The program, part of the Amtrak Rail Passenger Threat Assessment which had not been previously reported, would compare personal passenger information from Amtrak to the government's watchlist. The Department of Homeland Security disclosed it may also later view a traveler's publicly available social media profiles to complete some searches. If the TSA finds any matches, the agency would then provide Amtrak with statistical and anonymized results that would not include passenger names, at least during the pilot program outlined in the Privacy Impact Assessment. Initially, the program would focus on several months of past travel on the Northeast Corridor Amtraks busiest and most profitable, the assessment said. Amtrak routes go through 46 of the 50 states. New York had the country's highest ridership with people getting on and off Amtrak trains in the state more than 13 million times in 2019, according to the latest figures from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The Albany-Rensselaer station was the ninth busiest nationwide with passengers entering and exiting Amtrak trains there more than 800,000 times that year. Capitol Hill reacts Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said in a statement Thursday, While we have for years advocated for a necessary and significant increase in rail and surface transportation security, an entirely new watchlist regime raises alarming questions about privacy and due process. TSA's plans to create this program without engaging Congress are extremely troubling." Congressman Troy Nehls (R-TX), who sits on the Houses Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials subcommittee, said in an interview on Capitol Hill, I think there should be a little bit more oversight from Congress by Amtrak before it rolls out the program. Hearst Television Rep. Nehls said he plans to soon introduce a bill to strengthen security on Amtrak, including enhanced baggage screening and identification, and does support the planned TSA screening of Amtrak passengers. I think it's a step in the right direction because anybody can jump on an Amtrak train, doesn't matter who you are, and you don't need to be identified, Nehls said. A fellow lawmaker on the same railroads panel, Rep. Jake Auchincloss, a Democrat from Massachusetts, said in an interview, that it is fully appropriate for TSA to maintain the security of public transportation. We do that at airports, on airlines, for example, and Americans deserve to feel safe when they're traveling, Auchincloss said. Hearst Television Calls to reverse course The 12-page document that lays out the screening program notes the 9/11 Commission report cautioned that while aviation remains a possible target, opportunities to do harm are as great, or greater, in maritime or surface transportation. Congress initially raised the possibility of a security watchlist program for Amtrak in 2007, and again in 2018 suggested a vetting system be considered. In 2020, just before the coronavirus pandemic began, Amtrak said it was assigning more police officers onboard its trains after a spike in crime. Both Amtrak and the TSA declined requests for an interview before the National Investigative Unit revealed the existence of the program. Amtrak did not respond to a detailed list of questions about it. On Thursday, after the initial reporting, Amtrak did not respond to another inquiry about the CAIR threat of a lawsuit and a TSA spokesperson said TSA does not comment on pending litigation. In a national statement issued hours after the initial story was published, the American Civil Liberties Union said the screening program raises significant civil liberties and rights concerns. Hina Shamsi, director of ACLUs National Security Project, added, People on the watchlist are disproportionately people of color or immigrants, and can be wrongly stigmatized as terrorism suspects with no notice of their placement on the list or a meaningful opportunity to challenge it. Amtraks request should be a non-starter and it needs to reverse course. In the privacy assessment for the Amtrak-initiated screening program, DHS acknowledges that mistakes and wrong matches are possible, acknowledging, there is a risk that limited information provided by Amtrak will result in inaccurate watchlist match results." Mark Albert is the chief national investigative correspondent for the Hearst Television National Investigative Unit, based in Washington D.C. April Chunko, Annie Klingenberg & Kevin Rothstein contributed to this report. Know of waste, fraud or abuse in government agencies? Have a confidential tip or inside information? Send information and documents to the National Investigative Unit at investigate@hearst.com. Volunteering is a great way for people to give back to their communities. Many people give back out of a desire to help others, but those same individuals may acknowledge that volunteering benefits themselves most of all. Various studies examining the benefits of volunteering on volunteers have been conducted in recent years. Seniors and retirees who volunteer often cite the sense of purpose that giving back provides. But it's not just adults who benefit from volunteering. In fact, a report from the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension noted that volunteerism promotes positive citizenship among youth, contributes to youths' identity development and increases their self-esteem. The authors of the report also note that volunteering helps youth develop empathy for others. Parents who want their children to reap the rewards of volunteering can try various strategies to help youngsters find an opportunity to lend a hand. * Utilize the internet. The internet is a great resource for aspiring volunteers. VolunteerMatch.org partners with more than 130,000 nonprofit organizations to help them find the volunteers they rely on to meet their missions. Volunteering opportunities listed on VolunteerMatch are broken into categories such as Animals, Arts & Culture and even Children & Youth, making this an ideal place for aspiring do-gooders to start their volunteering journey. * Speak with school officials. A childOs school is another great place to discover volunteering organizations. Extracurricular activities like school-sponsored clubs may organize volunteering excursions throughout the school year. Educators, including school principals, teachers and guidance counselors, also can help parents find the right volunteering opportunities for their children. * Speak with local church officials. Like schools, local churches often sponsor youth-based volunteering activities. Many churches encourage all youths to join in their efforts, including those who are not members of their congregations. * Speak with children. Parents can encourage youngsters to offer their input in regard to volunteering. Some youngsters may already have strong ideas on the types of volunteering activities that interest them. For example, avid surfers and nature enthusiasts may want to volunteer with their local parks system to help keep beaches and parks clean. The more enthusiastic children are about a volunteering opportunity, the more likely they are to stick with it for the long haul. Volunteering benefits young people in myriad ways, especially when kids find an opportunity they can be passionate about. All congregations of Jehovahs Witnesses across the world are being encouraged to begin holding in-person meetings during the week of April 1. We were so excited about the announcement, said lifelong Midland, Michigan resident Jeff Zienert, speaking for himself, his wife Krystal, and teenage sons Jackson and Trenton. Zienert has been attending meetings at the Kingdom Hall in Midland since childhood. Ive benefited in so many ways, he said, being reminded and encouraged to show love to others and how to practice Bible principles in my life. No matter what is going on in the world around me, or what I am dealing with personally, these meetings help keep me focused on whats important. For most of the last two years, buildings for worship have remained closed globally due to the risks associated with meeting in person. Jehovahs Witnesses in the U.S. also suspended their public ministry on March 20, 2020. Since that time, they have carried on their ministry through letters and phone calls while holding twice-weekly meetings in a virtual format. Average attendance at these meetings exceeded 1.5 million each week in the U.S., even though there are fewer than 1.3 million Jehovahs Witnesses in some 13,000 congregations. There is a collective shout of joy among Jehovahs Witnesses around the world right now, said Robert Hendriks, U.S. Spokesman for Jehovahs Witnesses. While we have prospered in many ways as individuals and congregations using technology to bring us together, nothing can adequately replace being together in person. We have longed for this moment for the better part of two years. The move back to in-person meetings coincides with two global events being held in all 120,000 congregations of Jehovahs Witnesses. The first is a special lecture scheduled in most congregations for April 10 entitled, Where Can You Find Real Hope? Additionally, the annual commemoration of the death of Jesus Christ will be held on April 15, the very day he sacrificed his life 1,989 years ago. Both of these gatherings will be held in person at local Kingdom Halls with live speakers. No collections are ever taken. The timing of resuming in-person meetings could not be better, said Hendriks. Bringing everyone back together for these special events will have a powerful effect on the worldwide congregation. Guidelines for holding hybrid meetings have been sent to all congregations in the United States. Over the past six months, many Kingdom Halls have been equipped with the required technology to hold a productive meeting that allows for in-person and remote attendees, all of whom can participate in the discussions. A pilot program was held in October and November in countries around the world to assess how this could be done most effectively. The lessons learned in these pilot meetings have helped form the plan for moving forward with reopening all Kingdom Halls, where the law permits. It has been heartwarming to see the peace and unity among Jehovahs Witnesses during this very divisive time, said Hendriks. We know resuming in-person meetings will bring us even closer together. Were anxious to see one another again. Zienert expressed gratitude for all that was made possible by videoconferencing for the past two years, but he is clearly eager for the scheduled return. Having our meetings on Zoom has been an amazing provision, he said, but there is just something special about being in a room together and talking face to face. Ive really missed that. The first Sunday back will definitely be a little emotional for all of us. As of now, Jehovahs Witnesses have no plans to resume their public ministry, though their alternative ministry continues. In fact, since the start of the pandemic through November 2021 in the U.S. alone, Jehovahs Witnesses spent more than 400 million hours in virtual Bible studies, writing letters of comfort to their neighbors and making phone calls. They have released 77 new language translations of the Bible and held two global virtual conventions in more than 500 languages. No time was wasted in the past two years, said Hendriks. Our congregants have been busy and productive helping each other and their neighbors through this most challenging time. Thats what love and unity are all about. For more information on Jehovahs Witnesses go to jw.org. 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. Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - The number of hungry people in the Sahel and West Africa has quadrupled over the last three years, currently reaching 41 million, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) reported on Friday Photo: (Photo : Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Americans who recently got their second COVID-19 booster shot could expect the third rollout by the fall of 2022, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said, in an exclusive with NJ Advance Media, that they are looking into the possibility of the third booster shot since the second booster's protection can wane by the fourth month of the injection. Walensky, however, does not have the full details of the third rollout just yet. However, she is certain that the CDC would want the public to be aware that they may still need another injection. The CDC director also broached the possibility that the next booster may not be the same as the ones used for the first and second rollout. Read Also: BA.2 Omicron Variant and Its Risks on Children: What Parents Must Not Ignore Second COVID-19 Booster Shot Approved In early April 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) quietly approved the second booster shot for those above 50 years old if their first booster has lapsed four months ago. This approval essentially extends the availability of the COVID-19 vaccines for older adults as well as younger people with compromised immunities. Following the FDA's move, the CDC also updated its official site to reflect that the recommended COVID-19 vaccine coverage is for two initial doses and two booster shots. The agency underscored that a second Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 booster could "increase protection levels for higher-risk individuals" based on the most recent data. Walensky also reiterated that boosters are most helpful for people 50 years old and above, especially if they have underlying medical issues as they remain at most risk against COVID-19. However, CNN described CDC's statement and website update as a "permissive recommendation" and not an official recommendation as many experts in the medical community are not yet clear on whether the second booster shot is necessary. In the same way, the experts are still debating on the third booster shot. Unlike European countries, American's booster drive has been lagging behind. Those who have gotten their first and second COVID-19 vaccine shots believe that booster doesn't work because of breakthrough infections. Some are also adopting a wait-and-see attitude even as the pandemic is still not over. CDC director clears up confusion on 2nd Covid boosters: For all the attention on the fourth dose, millions of eligible Americans haven't bothered to get their third. According to CDC data, the percentage of those eligible for the first booster has been stuck at around 47 percent. pic.twitter.com/JUM6nK5bym Dr. Jeff Rabinowitz (VoteBlueIn22) (@rxjef77) April 6, 2022 FDA to Hash Out America's COVID-19 Booster Plan Officials from the FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee are set to meet and discuss the country's COVID-19 booster plan before the Easter break to determine whether or not additional boosters, beyond the second dose, should still be given to the most vulnerable population. According to NBC News, the committee is hoping to come up with a framework that could answer America's long-term plans for the boosters, amid the presence of emerging COVID-19 variants. One FDA scientist said that this plan might look like the rollout of the flu vaccines, which are availed annually. Meanwhile, Pfizer and Moderna are reportedly working on updating their vaccines to target the newer strains. Related Article: New Study Reveals 4 Signs That You Might Get Long COVID Photo: (Photo : Mike Windle/Getty Images for iHeartMedia) Britney Spears' lawyer, Mathew Rosengart, went to court on Tuesday, April 5, to object to the pop star paying the attorneys' fees of her mother Lynne Spears. The objection comes five months after the controversial 13-year conservatorship of Spears ended. According to court documents that were obtained by Page Six, Rosengart made the argument that "there is no legal authority supporting the petition" that Lynne Spears filed in November 2021 requesting more than $660,000 in legal fees from the estate of her daughter, Britney. Rosengart said in the legal papers that Britney Spears has been her family's sole breadwinner for decades and the one supporting her entire family. Rosengart, a former federal prosecutor, then laid out in detail how Jamie Spears had a long history of financial management, which included a bankruptcy filing before her daughter's rise to fame. Jamie Spears received at least $6 million for his role as conservator Britney's father benefited greatly in his role as conservator which he started doing back in February 2008. According to Rosengart, Jamie received "more than $6 million" from Britney's estate as conservator until his suspension in September 2021. That allowed the 69-year-old to profit handsomely from Britney's very hard work. Rosengart said Lynne also took full advantage of her daughter's wealth, with the matriarch residing in a large, expansive house owned by Britney Spears in Kentwood, Louisiana for at least a decade. According to Rosengart, Britney has continuously and generously paid for her mother's property taxes, landscaping, utilities, telephone services, pool work, insurance, pest control, repairs and maintenance, with the total amount reaching approximately $1.7 million. Rolling Stone reported that Rosengart noted in his argument that Lynne Spears was only a third party in the conservatorship case of her daughter, so there is no legal basis for placing the 40-year-old Grammy winner "in the middle of it." Read Also: Camila Alves McConaughey Says Texas Life is Great And She Would Not Want it Any Other Way No decision made regarding Lynne Spears' legal fees Lynne filed a petition in November of last year, claiming that Britney had "enthusiastically agreed" to let her become an interested party. The 66-year-old said this was done to help end her daughter's nightmare and the crisis she was enduring under a conservatorship that the "Toxic" star described as "abusive." According to Lynne's counsel, they had rendered services including court appearances, phone calls, emails, preparation of documents, and meetings prior to the dissolution of Britney's conservatorship later that same month. Variety reported that Lynne's attorneys said that they were retained to help Britney Spears achieve independence from her conservator father James Spears." This is just the latest tussle between members of the Spears family. The "Crossroads" star has had a rocky relationship with her parents over the years due to their involvement in the court-ordered legal arrangement. A hearing regarding Lynne's request for attorneys' fees was scheduled on Wednesday afternoon with the judge making no decision regarding her legal fees. The next hearings are set to take place this coming July. Related Article: Amy Schumer Shares Parenting Tips She Gave to Hollywood Stars Jennifer Lawrence and Michael Cera Photo: (Photo : TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images) One issue that keeps many families mired in poverty in many areas in the state of New York is the lack of licensed child care. That is about to change with New York now having $70 million in grants to help people in the state start child care programs, especially in places that are considered child care deserts. According to WSKG, Syracuse and Onondaga County have both been deemed child care deserts because of the lack of child care options for families in those areas. Bettie Graham, who is the Executive Director of the Determination Center, a child care center on Syracuse's southside, wants that problem to be addressed, saying "Parents need to work in order to take care of their families and when they don't have anyone to take care of their kids, the kids are lacking." Lori Schakow, who is the executive director of Childcare Solutions of CNY, said that even before the COVID-19 pandemic, registered and licensed care was meeting just about a third of the need in the community in Onondaga County. That rate was only 15 percent for infants and toddlers and the COVID pandemic made those figures even worse. Child care programs look to get more staff with additional funding Schakow added that even for those that have been able to keep the programs open, many have had to close classrooms. The reason is not because they do not have children on their waiting lists, but because they cannot find staff. There is good news, though, for these beleaguered programs with the state of New York now having a Child Care Deserts grant program. Joshua Michael King, who is the regional business advisor at Child Care Solutions, said that it is important that as many people as possible try to access this fund. King added that it is a highly competitive grant process which awards points based on census tract data and an algorithm that was created by the state of New York. Read Also: Education Cannot Wait For Millions of Ukrainian Children Who Are Still in School Despite Russian Invasion Hochul pledges $7 billion in child care funding for NY families Graham is going to take advantage of this state funding, saying she will apply for the cash to help boost staffing at her daycare. Graham said it is really hard because they can't get staff and pay for staff because of the shortage of the money. According to Graham, this will help her get staff that is qualified and get children the services they need. The good news according to Schakow is that there has been a burst of applications for licensed child care businesses since the start of the new year. Schakow said the number of applications has tripled thus far this year. She added that about 25 percent of people who request an application follow through all the way and get a license. These new businesses will also be able to apply for the grant, which will help them build their programs. New York Governor Kathy Hochul also made a huge announcement on Thursday, with Chalkbeat reporting that she is pledging a historic $7 billion in child care funding for New York families. Related Article: Ukrainian Mom Writes Contact Details on Daughter's Body in Case Her Family is Killed During Invasion Photo: (Photo : Anastasia Vlasova/Getty Images) Anthea Marsh was desperate for some good news after she suffered a miscarriage. Marsh got just that when she fell pregnant again, with the expectant mother scheduling an eight-week appointment with her obstetrician to check on the status of her baby. That joy turned into horror minutes into the appointment, when the obstetrician discovered that Marsh's husband has been sick with CMV (Cytomegalovirus). Marsh told ABC her obstetrician's face dropped when she found out her husband's sickness. Anthea got herself tested immediately to find out if she also contracted the virus. Unfortunately for Marsh, she also tested positive for CMV, despite being asymptomatic. Upon learning that the couple conceived when Anthea's husband had CMV, doctors told them that their chances of having a healthy baby were very small. Marsh forced to terminate pregnancy because of CMV Armed with that knowledge, the Marshes decided to terminate the pregnancy. Anthea said that it was probably the hardest decision they have ever made as that pregnancy was coming after a miscarriage. Anthea said what was so difficult to understand was why she was never warned about CMV before, during her previous pregnancies, or even by their GP when they had discovered that her husband had been sick with the cytomegalovirus. Anthea said there was no talk of CMV being an issue for her. So what are the facts about CMV and why is it so dangerous for unborn babies of pregnant women. CMV has been described by Insight Plus as a silent virus as it can be passed on from person-to-person without their knowledge, with the transmission usually happening via a close contact. Young children apparently are the ones who are the most common sources of infection. The chances of contracting CMV are much higher if there is already a child in the family, or if the mother works with young kids. It affects around 83 percent of adults, most of whom remain asymptomatic, which was the case with Anthea. If a patient becomes symptomatic, though, CMV is felt like a cold or a flu. Once a person tests positive for CMV, the virus remains viable but usually dormant, or inactive, in the body. Read Also: Miracle Baby Jagger Scalzo Celebrates 1st Birthday After Removal of Large Facial Tumor Congenital CMV a major problem for newborn babies Pregnant women who catch CMV could pass the virus onto their unborn child, resulting in congenital CMV. It is the most common infectious cause of disability among newborn babies, despite affecting just 0.2 to 2.2 percent of births. While most of the babies born with CMV will not suffer from the disease, it can cause injury to the baby's brain in some cases, which can result in developmental delay, learning problems, and hearing loss. In serious cases, congenital CMV can cause infant death, stillbirth, or severe disabilities like profound hearing loss or cerebral palsy. According to CMV Australia, studies have shown that about six infants out of 1,000 live births will have congenital CMV infection. More than 400 babies each year are born in Australia with a life-long disability caused by CMV. Related Article: Court Favors Mom Accused of Child Neglect for Using Medical Marijuana While Pregnant KABUL, April 9 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan caretaker government has decided to extract crude oil from the Qashqari oil basin in the northern Sari Pul province to increase local products and create job opportunities, said a statement released here Saturday. The process began on Thursday after a ceremony and the first phase would see a daily production of 200 tons of crude oil, said the statement released by the Information and Culture department of Sari Pul province. Speaking at the ceremony, Acting Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar said that the income generated from the production would be collected to the country's central bank. The acting deputy prime minister, however, didn't say if the crude oil would be refined inside the country or sent abroad. This is the second major economic project inaugurated over the past month in the country. Earlier, Baradar inaugurated the construction of a 285 km-long water canal in northern Balkh province that could irrigate 550,000 hectares of land. Photo: (Photo : Getty images ) Last April 1, a Texas teacher caused what may be third-degree burns to a 12-year-old student after subjecting her students to a science experiment. She resigned after the incident. Last Tuesday, the Granbury Independent School District reported that a teacher in Granbury Middle School in Texas caused burn injuries to a boy. The school is located approximately 50 miles southwest of Fort Worth. The school officials have already turned the matter over to the law enforcement authorities for proper investigation. Officials are currently investigating this incident and will ultimately submit their findings to the Office of the District Attorney for review. A "Science Experiment" Gone Wrong Last Friday, the police responded to a call regarding an injury at the Granbury Middle School. The authorities said a female teacher aged 37 applied hand sanitizer on the hands of a 12-year-old male student and set the boy's hands-on fire. The hand sanitizer is a flammable solution, and the act was meant to be part of a science experiment. As a result, the boy suffered burns. According to a Newsweek report, parents said that the teacher asked her class if they like to "see something cool." According to the Granbury police, the teacher reportedly performed the said experiment many times during that day with her other students with no untoward incident. However, the student who was injured was not so lucky. The school district reported that the boy received medical care after the incident. Many of the students' parents reported not knowing that their children were playing with fire in their school. The boy's condition is still unknown and has not been divulged by officials. According to the school district communications director, Jeff Meador, the school cannot provide additional details because it is a personnel issue. He stressed that they need to follow federal requirements on student confidentiality. The teacher has since resigned from her job. Read Also: Getting Compensatory Education for Children with Disabilities Outrage from Parents According to CBS News, parents have been expressing differing opinions online. While some of them took the teacher's side, others have called the experiment inexcusable. Photos were posted online that showed the hands of the student having blisters that were caused by the fire. One video showed a student quickly extinguishing the fire from his hands, which were previously applied with flammable hand sanitizer. The fire was not supposed to burn the hands or cause pain. Unfortunately, according to some accounts, the student who was injured panicked. Angry parents expressed their criticisms regarding reports of the teacher's resignation. One parent said there was no excuse for putting a student in such danger. Another parent said that what the teacher did was not a science experiment and was stupid. Other parents, however, were more forgiving, saying that even if the teacher may not have exercised good judgment in experimenting, it was performed safely 99% of the time. They said that having the teacher lose her job is not the solution. According to officials, criminal charges may be filed against the former teacher. Related Article: Exhausted Working Parents: Tips on How Parents Can Get Recharged Photo: (Photo : LLUIS GENE/AFP via Getty Images) The New York Fertility Institute on the Upper East Side is facing a lawsuit against a couple from Massachusetts who had to terminate a pregnancy after learning that the clinic implanted the wrong embryo in July 2021. In the lawsuit, the Massachusetts couple, who was only named John and Jane Doe, also claimed that the fertility clinic tried to cover up their mistakes. According to Daily Mail, the couple has been married since 2010 and already have three children who were conceived naturally. However, their desire for a fourth child has been marred with fertility issues, so they went to the New York fertility clinic. The couple went through several egg retrieval and fertilization rounds until a viable embryo was produced. It raised their chances of having a baby girl. So, in July 2021, the fertility doctors transferred the embryo to the mother's fetus. Then in September, the mother had a Panorama test to detect any abnormalities in the baby's chromosome, but the results were inconclusive because her DNA did not match the parents. Read Also: Heartbroken Childless Couple Returns Adopted Daughter as Birth Parents Changed Minds Fertility Clinic Said Mom Had Rare Type of DNA The mother expressed her concerns to the fertility doctor who impregnated her, Dr. Khalid Sultan. He assured her that there could just be mistakes at the laboratory since she was the only implant procedure for that specific week in July. Another Panorama test result conducted in October yielded the same conclusion that the baby in the womb had no biological links to her parents. The couple decided to get an amniocenteses procedure at another hospital for further genetic testing and continued meeting with doctors or genetic counselors. The mom was four months pregnant when Sultan said they finally had an explanation for the inconclusive tests. Apparently, the mom had "mosaicism," or two sets of DNA, a genetic condition so rare that even top doctors cannot explain its complexities, per Yale Medicine. The couple claimed in the lawsuit that instead of owning up to their mistake, the fertility doctor alluded that the problem was with the mother. Sultan also insisted that what mattered was she was carrying a healthy baby. Deciding on the Abortion Before reaching the 24th week of her pregnancy, the couple decided to abort the baby because they could not bear the thought of carrying her to term and birthing her with the looming possibility that her biological parents might sue for custody. The abortion resulted in emotional trauma, bleeding, and painful lactation for weeks, per The Washington Post. In preparing the lawsuit, the couple learned that Dr. Michael Obasaju, who has been sued in 1998 for implanting the wrong embryo, was also working at the New York Fertility Institute. This bolstered their resolve to pursue the case, given Obasaju's history. The parents have also enlisted an embryologist to find their missing embryo. However, the fertility clinic has allegedly "stonewalled" the couple and refused to meet with the expert they hired. They have yet to file their response to the lawsuit. Related Article: Embryo Mix-Up: California Parents Raising the Wrong Baby Sue Fertility Clinic This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact the Parsons Sun office at (620) 421-2000 if you have any questions Oil prices rose on Thursday from a three-week low touched in the previous session after consuming nations announced a huge release of oil from emergency reserves, with worries over tight supply still clouding the market outlook. Brent crude futures climbed $1.48 or 1.5%, to $102.55 a barrel at 0442 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose $1.26, or 1.3%, to $97.49 a barrel. Both benchmarks plunged more than 5% in the previous session and hit their lowest closing levels since March 16. International Energy Agency member countries on Wednesday agreed to release 60 million barrels on top of a 180 million-barrel release announced by the United States last week to help drive down prices in a tight market following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. read more But analysts and traders said even with the emergency oil stocks release, supply remained tight. "The oil release from the IEA members reflects strong political determination against Russia oil over its invasion of Ukraine, but it's not enough to fill the actual supply shortage," a Shanghai-based oil trader said. State refiners in China, the world's top oil importer, are honouring existing Russian oil contracts but avoiding new ones despite steep discounts, heeding a call for caution by Beijing. "In addition to the enormous global reserves release, demand destruction and recession are currently the only price-lowering mechanism in a world devoid of inventory buffers," said Stephen Innes, managing director of SPI Asset Management. National Australia Bank analyst Baden Moore said the latest release plus the IEA's coordinated release announced on March 1 equates to 1 million barrels per day in extra supply from May to the end of 2022, which would cap prices in the near-term. "The additional supply reduces the near-term upside risk to the market and likely avoids the need for refinery cuts in the near term," Moore said in a note However, he added, "the need to restock reserves, expected in 2023, adds to the forward market tightness where the fundamental supply outlook remains unchanged, tilting the price risk to the upside." Stalled indirect talks between Iran and the United States on reviving a 2015 agreement on Tehran's nuclear program have further delayed the potential for sanctions on Iranian oil to be lifted, keeping the market tight. Political decisions are needed in Tehran and Washington to overcome remaining issues, negotiators say. 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 At least six people were killed and 15 others wounded after an explosion in a bar at the Katindo military camp in Goma, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The communication ministry tweeted on Thursday night that the number of the victims was provisional while correcting an earlier higher death toll announced by government spokesman Patrick Muyaya. Among the victims are a lieutenant colonel and his wife, a captain, the owner of the bar and her friend, as well as a 12-year-old teenager. The circumstances surrounding the blast are being investigated by local authorities. In late 2020, the government announced that the Katindo military camp would be relocated outside the city to reduce its proximity to Gomas population of two million people. This however is yet to be implemented. The DR Congo army is battling multiple rebel groups in the east but its not clear yet whether the explosion was the result of an attack. The North Kivu provincial military governor has called on people to be calm and avoid speculation pending investigations. 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 Hypocrisy is one of three systems that rules the world, President Paul Kagame said, while condemning powerful countries for their reaction to the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Mr Kagame said that powerful countries idly watched the genocide happen, and so have no lessons to teach anyone and accused them of covering up their responsibility by talking about justice and democracy. There are three systems that govern the world, one is called democracy, the other is called autocracy, the third in between - most powerful, very silent, effective - and that is hypocrisy, Mr Kagame said. At Kigali genocide memorial centre, while officiating the start of a remembrance period for the genocide, Mr Kagame, a former rebel leader, said his forces avoided killings in reprisals as they were taking power in the wake of the genocide. "Imagine those of us who were carrying arms - if [we] had allowed ourselves to pursue those who were killing our people, and also kill them," he said. "First of all, we would be right to do so. But we didnt, we spared them," he continued. A UN experts report has accused the rebels, and then the army, led by Mr Kagame of committing atrocities on ethnic Hutu refugees in DR Congo who fled after the genocidal regime was defeated. About 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were systematically killed in April 1994, after a plane carrying then-President Juvenal Habyarimana, and his counterpart Cyprien Ntaryamira of Burundi - both Hutus - was shot down, killing everyone on board. Mr Kagame's mostly Tutsi rebel group, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), had been accused of shooting down the plane, while a Rwandan-government commissioned report blamed Hutu extremists. The UN has dedicated 7 April an international day to reflect on the genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda. 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 On Friday, April 8, 2022; reports emerged that an Accra-bound British Airways aircraft had to make a U-turn and return to London due to some reasons. The issue took over social media with some persons concerned over the possible reason for the failure of the plane to land in Accra as scheduled. As the conversations evolved, some level of clarity has emerged over the possible cause of the incident. A BA document shared on social media by the National Democratic Congress Zita Benson indicates that the plane was unable to land due to airspace restrictions enroute to Accra. According to her, the document shared with passengers on the plane stated the plane was going to land in Malaga, Spain for refuelling before a final stop at Heathrow where arrangement had been made for them to spend the night. We are sorry that your flight to Accra today has had to be delayed overnight. As we are sure you were informed, due to airspace restrictions en-route to Accra, despite our best efforts to mitigate against any impact to your flight, we had to make a difficult decision to return to Heathrow and delay your flight overnight. We had to make a stop in Malaga so that we were able to fuel the aircraft before departing again for Heathrow. Any delay can be frustrating and we apologize for the inconvenience this has caused, parts of the statement read. The statement further announced that new departure date would be relayed to the passengers. Your new departure and check-in information will be communicated to you via SMS as soon as this has been arranged. Please ensure your contact details are up to date on BA.com/manage my booking. Zita, however, appears to have a reason which differs from the official position of British Airways. According to her, her sources at the Kotoka International Airport told her that the development was due to infamous power cuts to the airport. This is the excuse British Airways gave for their inability to land in Accra last night. My sources allegedly claimed dumsor, but this is official response from the Airline so we will go by that. Still, Ghana Airport Company, read John 3:16 and repent, she posted on Facebook. Her position was however contested by the Board Chairman of the Ghana Airport Company Limited, Paul Adom-Otchere who went wild with his rebuttal to the allegations by the NDC lawyer. Source: Ghanaweb 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 Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Minister of Food and Agriculture, says the ministry is confident the country will record a good crop yield this year despite the numerous global challenges, especially with fertilizer shortage. We are very confident. In spite of all what is happening to fertilizer shortages, rocketing fertilizer prices and fuel prices which is affecting prices, we are confident that we will record good yield, he assured. Prices of fertilizer on the world market are on record high since the turn of the year due to the rise in prices of raw materials such as ammonia, nitrogen, nitrates, phosphates and potash, the main components of fertilizer. Russia which accounts for around 14 per cent of global fertilizer exports, has suspended outgoing trade since its invasion of Ukraine in early February this year, exacerbating the situation. This, experts have warned, could have dire consequences on global food production and food security. Speaking in an interview with the media after the Agriculture Development Bank (ADB), presented a GH600,000 cash prize to Mr Mashud Muhammed, the 2021 National Best Farmer, in Accra, Dr Akoto said there was no need for the public to panic over food shortage hitting the country. He said the country's agriculture system was very robust and capable of producing enough to meet local demand as well as for export. He said, since the beginning of the year, the Ministry had received a lot of interest in the Governments flagship agriculture programme, the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ), from farmers, and this would increase food production as new entrants were rolled onto the initiative. Again, we are getting a lot of enquires for machinery. Farmers want to purchase tractors and other machinery, so, interest is very high. Where we may lose a bit on yield and therefore on grains, we are going to make it up in terms on acreages that new entrants into the PFJ are going to bring, so, there is no need for anybody to panic, he said. He added that: We have a very solid agriculture system which is going to make progress now and then and forever. The Minister also denied reports in sections of the media that the country was importing cassava from China to feed its factories. He said, even though the country imported lots of items from around the world, it was not importing cassava as the country had the capacity to produce enough to feed the factories. He urged the banks, especially commercial banks, to come on board, partner the ministry and farmers. Dr Akoto said it saddened him that, despite the advantages presented by the Government's PFJ programme, commercial banks had failed to take advantage of it and invest in the sector. While lauding the ADB for its unflinching support to the sector over the years, he appealed to management of the bank to increase its capital support to farmers to boost production. 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 BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday lashed out at the United States for prisoner abuse at "black sites," calling its "enhanced interrogation techniques" brutal and horrifying. The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has set up these black sites in many countries under the pretext of its "War on Terror." Alleged terrorists are secretly placed in arbitrary detention and confessions are extorted by torture, which has drawn widespread criticism from the international community, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told a regular press briefing. The Guardian reported that, according to a newly declassified report, a detainee at a secret CIA detention site in Afghanistan was used as a living prop to teach trainee interrogators, who lined up to take turns at knocking his head against a plywood wall and dousing him with ice-cold water. The torture has left him devastated both physically and mentally. "The notorious Guantanamo Bay, the Bagram prison in Afghanistan and the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq are caught up in prisoner abuse scandals, with the use of brutal and horrifying 'enhanced interrogation techniques,' including waterboarding and sleep deprivation," Zhao said. Zhao called the black sites "typical examples of the U.S. trampling on the rule of law and violating human rights." He said the report from the Costs of War Project of the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University released at the beginning of 2022 noted that, following the 9/11 attacks, the U.S. orchestrated a system of black sites in at least 54 countries and regions across the world. Over 100,000 people were detained at these sites, including Muslims, women and children. U.S. taxpayers are spending 540 million U.S. dollars a year just to detain prisoners at Guantanamo. "However, not a single U.S. official has so far been held to account for devising, authorizing or implementing the secret detention and torture program," Zhao said. He said the U.S. government has gone even further to cover up and deny its crimes against and violations of human rights. In 2020, after the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) noted that the U.S. forces and the CIA may have committed war crimes with prisoner abuse in Afghanistan, the U.S. leveled sanctions and imposed visa restrictions on several officials, including the chief prosecutor of the ICC. In 2021, after the UN Committee Against Torture said that the CIA black sites are rife with torture, the U.S. government refused to disclose relevant information, citing confidentiality. "Facts speak louder than words," Zhao said, noting that the U.S. black sites around the world fully indicate that the U.S. has no right to point a finger at any other country in the name of democracy and human rights. "What the U.S. should do is immediately abolish its black sites all over the world, earnestly reflect on its crimes, apologize to and compensate for the victims, and hold those who authorized and carried out torture accountable," Zhao said. The Western Regional Loyal Youth Wing of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) has appealed to the hierarchy of the party to as a matter of urgency address the turmoil ongoing in the party. They have also called for the reinstatement of the interdicted executives as efforts were being made to diversify the party, describing their interdiction as unconstitutional. The ongoing wrangling, according to them, had the tendency to put the party in dismay and make it unattractive to Ghanaians. This was contained in a statement issued and signed by Mr Shiabu Mohammed and Mr Annor Blay Yemi, Convenors of Osagyefo Youth Wing and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Takoradi. The statement described the interdicted executives, the First National Vice Chairman, Mr Onzy Nkrumah, the General Secretary, Nana Yaa Akyempim Jantuah and the National Youth Organiser, Osei Kofi Acquah, as prestigious and people who had played significant roles in the party. According to the statement, the CPP did not need litigation but rather proper accountability. We want to put on record that, Leaders inspire accountability through their ability to accept responsibility before they place blame and again accountability breeds responsibility, the statement said. We want the top hierarchy to know that we in the Western Region particularly Nzemaland suggest strongly that CPP that Kwame Nkrumah left is dear to our hearts, it added. The statement further added that It is very sad and as a party, if we continue this way, there will be nothing to write home about. We affirm that the CPP needs healthy news headlines, not the tribal prejudice that is pushing people to neglect to settle personal scores, it said. Look at the issue in Jomoro, a whole Founders constituency battling with constituency executive election for over five years. It is sad. And the so-called National Executives are deaf on it and fighting the angles in the party, it lamented. The statement further lamented how young promising members of the party were crossing carpets to join other political parties because of deceit and the fact that they needed sound minds to serve. 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 Deputy Lands and Natural Resources Minister, George Mireku Duker, has refuted allegations of him being in the company of some muscular men wielding guns in the Western Region. A statement issued by him indicated that a video is circulating around showing him with these men in his house but, according to him, he has no association whatsoever with any well-built men wielding guns other than his personal Police bodyguard. "I strongly condemn direct and indirect allegations with intent to suggest that I associated with well-built men with guns in a video circulating . . . I therefore call on the general public, to treat all those fake information in circulation with the contempt it deserves.'' Read full statement below: Your browser does not support iframes. 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 A leading member of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, has he and others will fight the long held notion that the party is not business-friendly. It is the believe that the NDC under the late president Rawlings collapsed businesses without due cause, which according to Dr Spio-Garbrah has been haunting the NDC over the years. The Chairman of the Business Development Committee of the NDC explained that it is the reason, he prevailed on the former National Chairman of the party, Dr. Kofi Portuphy to establish a Business Development Committee which he has chaired over the years. This is to interface with business people in the country to help change the narratives, he said. Many of the party supporters did not know, I chair such an important committee in the party. It is the reason many young people enter the university as Tertiary Education Institutions Network (TEIN) members and end up becoming Tertiary Education Confederacy (TESCON) members, he bemoaned. This is so because of the notion that there are no rich men in the NDC, he added. The former Minister for Trade and Industry said this at the launch of Ahotor Project by Dr. Kwabena Duffour, a former Finance Minister under late president John Evans Atta-Mills on Thursday, 7 April 2022, in the Ashaiman Constituency of the Greater Accra Region. He commended Dr. Duffour for changing the face of the NDC going into the 2024 general elections. He said urged others who have similar ideas like that of Dr Kwabena Duffour to bring it on board for the reorganization of the party. Dr. Duffour for his part reiterated that the NDC does not hate business people. We understand business better than they (New Patriotic Party) do, he said. It was under the late president Prof Mills in 2011 that Ghana attained a growth rate of 14.5 percent and it was the highest in the world, he recalled. He maintained that nobody can beat the NDC when it comes to the economic management of the country. Source: classfmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ashaiman was on Thursday reignated, following colossal crowd which poured out to witness the launch of the Phase One of a grassroots party empowerment and self-financing project dubbed the Ahot Project by a leading member of the party, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor. Party elders, the rank and file of the NDC including constituency and branch executives and supporters attended the launch of the project. The crowd flooded the streets of Ashaiman to showcase their love for the former Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), thereby, causing massive vehicular traffic for their party leader to easily travel through the municipality to the venue. Members of the NDC in Ashaiman proved that, indeed, the party love the former Finance Minister who is hoping to lead the party. Elated-looking people from all corners of the constituency were seen singing songs and dancing to the partys song to welcome Dr. Duffour. Speaking at the launch to formally begin the implementation of the project, the former Finance Minister told the party supporters that the project is an outcome of his stakeholder engagements with the rank and file of the NDC and his quest to bring a new approach to politics. He said The Ahot project launched today is a testament to the power of stakeholder engagement, and its credit rests on the rank and file of the party. All these years, you have held the fort for the party and borne the responsibility of catering to the needs of your many constituents. Late-night calls about a member rushed to the hospital, days when you struggle to pool funds for party mobilization and the numerous financial burdens which come with your leadership as constituency executives. He continued by paying tribute to the grassroots leadership of the NDC for their sacrifices to the party. Throughout these challenging times, you have risen to the occasion and sacrificed your own resources to support the welfare of members and activities of the party. Today, we celebrate you for these efforts and dedicate this project to you all for your diligence and commitment. Touching on the implementation plan at the launch of the Ahot Project, Dr. Duffour explained that the main aim of this flagship grassroots party support project is geared towards setting up all the 275 constituencies with micro-businesses in order to create the much needed but currently unavailable local cash flow for the day-to-day running of the NDC party at the grassroots level. He asked the grassroots leaders of the need to manage the project in line with the NDC partys basic principles. We are launching this initiative here in the Ashaiman constituency one of the strongholds of our party in the Greater Accra Region. In the next few weeks and months, we will extend this initiative to all 275 constituencies for everyone in our party to benefit from it. As I have already pointed out, a resourced party is a strong party. Revenue belongs at our grassroots, not the top, and we must build this party from the ground, upwards. This initiative is also a test of our highest ideals as a party probity, and accountability, Dr. Duffour said. He pointed out that the Ahot Project is under the management of constituency leadership, who will be accountable to their constituents for the proceeds of these businesses. The constituency business support project, according to Dr. Duffuor, will put a reliable support system in place to generate income for the smooth running of the party at the local level. He advised party members to engage in the new politics of ideas and reminded party members that it is important to think of creative ways to generate money for the NDC because, without money, it is not easy to run a political party or its campaigns to win elections. The truth is, politics is an expensive undertaking. No political party can remain competitive and relevant without being well resourced at all times. Another truth is that the core of our politics is our grassroots base. It is why matters of welfare, mobilization, and outreach must always be at the heart of our efforts in party management. He called the Ahot Project the new approach to politics, adding that This seed is being sown in the life of our party. It is a response to a call for aid in the spirit of building the NDC. May this represent our new approach to politics henceforth. In the face of challenges, let us engage to find solutions. At all times, may we be guided by the value of collaboration and its power to generate relevant solutions? That is what the Ahot Project represents and that is how we will rebuild our party together. The idea of Ahot which means relief in the Akan language, according to the Project Manager, Abass Osabutey, is the outcome of a business feasibility study commissioned by Dr. Duffuor and carried out by a technical team throughout the 275 constituencies in the country to identify the most feasible and sustainable business idea capable of financing NDC party activities at the local level. He explained that each constituency shall receive accessories, logistics, and equipment worth 30,000 Ghana cedis to enable the smooth implementation of the business project. This brings the total investment to 8,250,000 Ghana cedis. Abass Osabutey saidFor example, in our local settings, social events such as funerals, naming ceremonies, marriage ceremonies, durbars, political campaigns, and rallies are mostly outdoor activities. This places a high demand on plastic chairs, canopies, public address systems, power generators, podiums, mobile toilets, etc. Phase One of the project which starts from the Ashaiman constituency will cover 48 constituencies selected, based on constituencies with the highest voter population and those that are orphan constituencies. Abass Osabutey also said the project brings relief to overburdened party MPs and local executives who have supported local party activities for years at their personal expense. High profile members of the NDC including Ekwow Spio-Gabrah, former Education Minister, Fritz Baffour, former Information Minister, Horace Nii Ayi Ankrah, former Deputy Ambassador to China, Antwi Boasiako Sekyere, former Eastern Regional Minister and coordinator of Duffuor campaign among others were in attendance. Source: Daily Guide Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ghanaian actor and politician, John Dumelo has described politics as a calling. He told Nana Quasi-Wusu (PM) on Y 97.9 FM that one needs to be called before he or she can venture into politics. Politics is a calling, you have to be called before you can venture. It has a lot of demands and it is an experience no one gives you, he said. The defeated NDC parliamentary candidate revealed he always thinks about the progress of the people and the country. I think about the people, Ghana, and what to do to make the people feel better, John Dumelo stated. He added that he has not regretted spending his resources to vie for an MP-ship which did not end well for him. Source: www.zionfelix.net 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 Refugees walk after fleeing the war from neighbouring Ukraine at the border crossing in Medyka, southeastern Poland, Friday, April 8, 2022. The federal government has announced a number of measures to make it easier for Ukrainians fleeing the war with Russia to come to Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Sergei Grits Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, holds talks with Agni Sapkota, speaker of Nepal's House of Representatives, via video link at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 8, 2022. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Li Zhanshu on Friday held talks via video link with Agni Sapkota, speaker of Nepal's House of Representatives, calling for further enhancement of bilateral relations. Li, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said that China stands ready to work with Nepal to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries to benefit both the nations and their peoples. Li called on the two countries to further enhance political mutual trust, maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges and firmly support each other's core interests and major concerns. On deepening cooperation on COVID-19 response, and on medical and health issues, Li said China is willing to continue to provide aid within its capacity to help Nepal improve its conditions with regard to disease prevention and control, as well as health care. Li called on China and Nepal to jointly build the Belt and Road to a high quality standard, deepen cooperation on trade and investment, industrial parks, energy and electricity, ports and clearance. He called for the steady promotion of the trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network, and the expansion of communications in fields including tourism and culture. On cooperation in the multilateral sphere, Li said the two countries should jointly safeguard the UN-centered international system and the international order based on international law, actively support and participate in the Global Development Initiative, and promote the implementation of the UN's 2030 sustainable development agenda. Underscoring that China's friendly policies are open to all parties and people of Nepal, Li expressed the hope that the legislative bodies from China and Nepal will enhance friendly communication at different levels, share legislation and supervision experience in areas including education, rural revitalization and environmental protection. He also called for the timely approval, amendment and implementation of laws that are beneficial to the development of bilateral relations. Sapkota said Nepal is resolute on adhering to the one-China policy and won't allow any force to use Nepali territory to carry out any anti-China moves. Nepal is grateful for China's important aid in areas including the COVID-19 response. In addition, the Nepali parliament stands ready to work with the NPC to enhance friendly exchanges and promote further development of bilateral relations. Construction is officially underway on a new Charleston-area resort looking to draw in guests with its sea island setting. The Dunlin, named for a small brown shorebird native to the region, has broken ground at Kiawah River, a 2,000-acre master-planned community on Johns Island. The resort will have 91 keys 72 "cottage-style" guestrooms and suites and 19 villas and visitor amenities including a restaurant and a main lodge with a library lounge and a wraparound porch. It will be the only property in the Carolinas for luxury operator Auberge. CEO Craig Reid said he has high hopes for the project. At the groundbreaking ceremony April 1, Reid said his goal is to make The Dunlin the top luxury boutique resort on the East Coast. If it can pull that off, he said, it wouldn't be because it has the "biggest rooms or the most expensive chandeliers," but because it "has an authentic flavor that people seek out." Reid has said he'd count properties like the Forbes Five Star-rated Montage Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton near Hilton Head and the Sea Island Resort in coastal Georgia among The Dunlin's direct competitors. Site work for the resort was already underway before Friday's groundbreaking, and the commercial real estate services firm Newmark said last month that it arranged a $53 million construction loan for the project from West Virginia-based United Bank, which acquired Charleston's CresCom two years ago. The resort is expected to open in 2024. "The Dunlin is a testament to lenders' appetite for unique product offerings in an extremely competitive marketplace," Jordan Roeschlaub of Newmark had said in a statement. The Dunlin's total estimated cost hasn't been disclosed. Speaking to a crowd that included local tourism officials, project partners and homeowners in the Kiawah River community on Friday, Reid talked about the shift within the high-end hospitality market from luxury that's linked to a brand to luxury that's connected to a place. The Dunlin, he said, should be "emblematic" of the Lowcountry. Sign up for our real estate newsletter! Get the best of the Post and Courier's Real Estate news, handpicked and delivered to your inbox each Saturday. Email Sign Up! "We want it to be distinctly local," Reid said. The Dunlin is being built on Kiawah River's best site, said John Darby, CEO of The Beach Co., which along with Houston-based investment firm McNair Interests, owns the master-planned development. "We're putting our best foot forward," Darby said. The site is right on the waterfront and across from the community's Spring House, a pool and fitness center that's used by Kiawah River homeowners and will be available to future Dunlin guests. The resort itself will also have a private pool, plus a spa, two event spaces and a riverfront restaurant. Reid and Darby both said the resort would be high-end but laid-back. Reid used the term "barefoot luxury." "It's a luxury experience in your flip-flops and shorts," Darby said. In this case, Reid said, luxury includes access to nature. Kiawah River has 20 miles of shoreline, 20 miles of nature trails and a working farm. The resort itself is by the water, and its restaurant will have a large deck overlooking the Kiawah River. Architect Robert Glazier designed the resort. Amanda Lindroth, who has a home goods store on King Street in Charleston, is designing the interiors, which will have a "whimsical aesthetic." The resort itself will have a residential feel. Guests should feel like they're homeowners in the community, Reid said. Some Dunlin guests will be owners. The private villas Auberge is building will be available for purchase. A Charleston architectural firm that's designed everything from welcome seniors to senior seniors has settled into a new home and is now under new leadership for the third time in its 65-year history. Now at the helm of Liollio Architecture are principal architects Andy Clark, Jennifer Charzewski and Jay White. Each has been with the firm several years. They are taking over from longtime leaders Dinos and Cherie Liollio. The couple, both of them architects, aren't stepping away just yet, but will remain in supporting roles to help guide the company forward. With new leaders, its also in a new location. Liollio Architecture now occupies a 5,000-square-foot space with a terrace overlooking an amphitheater on the second floor of The Refinery, a three-story office and retail site on Meeting Street Road. For the past three-plus decades, the firm operated near Wappoo Creek on James Island. The new leaders, who were tapped for their new roles several years ago, say the transition has been seamless and the company's mission has not changed. "We believe that the best designs use local history and culture as a guide, Charzewski said. "Understanding a projects narrative through the eyes and stories of a community creates deep connections. It brings a spirit, clarity and sense of place to our work." Clark agreed, saying, "We carry a strong sense of social purpose as we serve our communities through design." White said every project, no matter the size or scale, starts with an open dialogue with the client to create a place that becomes a source of local pride. The firm, the recipient of several regional and national architectural accolades, was founded in 1956 in an office in Avondale by the late Demetrios Constantine Liollio, known to his friends and colleagues as "Jimmy." It eventually moved to a few different locations in West Ashley before settling on a site at 1812 Savannah Highway. In 1986, the company moved to James Island. In 1976, Dinos and Cherie Liollio joined the firm, and in 1982-83, he assumed leadership. Over the next 20 years, Cherie, Tommy Schimpf and Rick Bousquet made up the leadership roster. The latter two will remain with the firm until their retirement. Sign up for our real estate newsletter! Get the best of the Post and Courier's Real Estate news, handpicked and delivered to your inbox each Saturday. Email Sign Up! The Liollios are confident the reins are passing into capable hands. "We might only be able to imagine what Liollio's future designs might look and feel like in the years to come, but the work will start in the same way it has for decades: with conversation that leads to translation, and the eventual shaping of shared experiences into physical form," they said. Taking flight A Charleston aerospace firm's aircraft repair business soon will take flight under new owners. Boxell Aerospace is expected to part with its maintenance unit on April 15, after 16 years of operating in the Lowcountry. Flightcheck Commercial Aviation Services, of the Chicago suburb of Bensenville, plans to buy the division, said Lance Syner, Boxell's president and founder. A representative for the Illinois-based purchaser did not respond to a request for comment last week. Syner said Flightcheck will purchase all of the assets that support airline maintenance, including tooling, vehicles and leases. All 17 of Boxell's employees are being rehired by Flightcheck. Syner and a company vice president are staying with Boxell, which is now based in Lewisburg, W. Va. For more than a decade, Boxell provided maintenance to nearly 30 regional and legacy airlines and affiliates that served Charleston and Hilton Head as well as carriers in Savannah, Augusta and Brunswick, Ga. Started in 2006 at Charleston Executive Airport on Johns Island, Boxell first served smaller general aviation aircraft. In 2011, Syner sold the Johns Island operation to focus on commercial airline operations and moved to a leased space in a business park on Savage Road in West Ashley. In 2015, Boxell relocated to a new site on Fellowship Road between Dorchester Road and International Boulevard to be closer to the airport and Boeing Co.'s aircraft manufacturing operation, where Boxell also worked on cockpit seat repair for the 787 Dreamliner until 2018. Syner is moving the distribution facility for its air crew products, such as helmets and other items worn in the helicopter industry, to West Virginia by mid-summer. He also plans to sell the Fellowship Road structure. Flightcheck has operations in its home base as well as Las Vegas, Baltimore, Washington Dulles, Barbados and Rockford, Ill. BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- China's fixed-asset railway investment came in at 106.5 billion yuan (about 16.7 billion U.S. dollars) in the first quarter of this year, as the construction of more rail lines began during the period, data from China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. shows. The figure is an increase of 3.1 percent from one year earlier, the company said. During the period, a total of 447 kilometers of new rail lines were put into production, including 233 kilometers of high-speed tracks. China plans to launch new rail lines totaling 3,300 kilometers this year, according to the Ministry of Transport. By the end of last year, the operating length of China's high-speed railway network exceeded 40,000 kilometers. COLUMBIA At just 27 acres, a plan to turn privately owned Pine Island on Lake Murray into a state park would give it the title of smallest in South Carolina. Getting to the park, though, requires driving through residential neighborhoods in one of the fastest-growing areas of the Midlands, raising alarms with neighbors and posing challenges to its future operation. Less than 20 miles from downtown Columbia, the site currently serves as a private retreat for employees and guests of utility giant Dominion Energy, which manages the hydropower-generating lake. A settlement negotiated between the company and the state to help cover unpaid taxes on a failed nuclear power plant expansion would turn it over to the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism. Talks over the timing of the transfer are ongoing. When opened, the park with its boat ramp, shoreline picnic areas and conference center would add more public access to a lake popular with boaters and anglers that's marketed as the Jewel of South Carolina." But those living in a nearby highly developed residential area that has roughly 1,000 current and future homes worry about a stream of visitors adding traffic along a two-lane road that serves as the only way in and out of the park. With few details finalized, they think more public input should be gathered before changes are made. When it's a private island and your company owns it, you're going to know a lot of the people that are out there with you, said Rick Levitan, whose neighborhood is nearly next door to Pine Island and whose home overlooks it. Youre going to have a certain amount of ownership. Now all of a sudden, it's open to the world, Levitan added. That's a whole other ballgame. South Carolina has not opened a new state park in 20 years, State Parks Director Paul McCormack said, but the deal with Dominion could add three sites: Pine Island; 190 acres at Misty Lake in North Augusta; and 2,600-acre Ramsey Grove plantation on the Black River in Georgetown County. Pine Island, neighbors say, creates unique challenges not currently faced by the park system because it's located within the state's second-largest metropolitan area rather than the more rural locales of its other sites. McCormack argues the parks agency has experience in managing traffic at some of its busier 47 parks and historic sites. All four of the state's coastal parks Myrtle Beach State Park, Huntington Beach State Park near Murrells Inlet, Hunting Island State Park near Beaufort and Edisto Beach State Park along with a number of mountain sites reach capacity every weekend, he said, requiring control of traffic and parking. I'm confident in our ability to be a good neighbor, McCormack said about Pine Island. "We wont allow problems to go unresolved." Still, many residents, some of whom have lived near Pine Island for 30 years and have grown used to its members' only access, worry those past experiences and assurances from the state park system are not going to be enough to control demand from the general public, including the more than 136,000 people living in Columbia eager for lake access. For starters, the majority of state parks are above 1,000 acres in size. Pine Island is a fraction of that and has just 12 paved parking spots, along with a grass and gravel overflow lot, Levitan said. McCormack points to the agency's management of Jones Gap State Park in northern Greenville County, which, while larger in acreage, has just 37 parking spaces that visitors must reserve before they arrive. Parking attendants post on social media when there are openings. Jones Gap is also preparing to add an electronic sign 6 miles out from the entrance, along the nearby state highway, to show when it's at capacity and keep them from coming down the narrow road in. In addition to parking concerns, Pine Island neighbors point out that the state's other parks aren't in residential areas. It's not like you're driving to a state park out in the middle of nowhere, Levitan said of Pine Island. Roughly 800 homes and condos currently depend on the state road winding to the island site, with another 170 homes proposed for currently undeveloped land in the area. The narrow, 17-foot-wide causeway leading to the island could back up with vehicles towing watercraft waiting their turn to enter, blocking the way to a number of neighborhoods. McCormack acknowledges that the density of housing is greater around Lake Murray but there are other parks near developed areas. The entrance to Edisto Beach State Park, for example, also is along the only road leading into the barrier island of Edisto Beach in the Lowcountry. When the park hits capacity, he said, an attendant will be posted at the gate to keep cars from turning in. They also call in local law enforcement to direct traffic in emergency situations, stopping vehicles before they cross onto the island. Despite all this, Pine Island neighbors view the park proposal as a change in use, which they believe warrants traffic and environmental impact studies before its allowed to open to the public at large. Levitan said nearly 200 residents have banded together on the issue and are sending daily letters to Gov. Henry McMaster. The governor's office has not responded directly. "When people buy their homes, when people invest, they study the area. For some of these people, this is a retirement decision," Levitan said, one they may not have made had they known there was the possibility of a state park in their backyards. All have grown anxious as they wait for negotiations to be completed and plans to be formulated. McCormack said once his agency has control of the property it will begin holding public input sessions, both for the general public and more targeted ones for neighbors to provide feedback. So far, his team has only just been able to make site visits to the island in the last month. When they do gain control, he said his agency will not immediately move into developing more assets on the island, keeping it as day-use only for at least the first year. "Were not going to open the day we get the keys," he said. And with a number of docks for boats on the site, it could actually be an asset to those area residents without their own lakefront access, allowing them to rent out a space to keep their watercraft near their homes. While there won't be a full master planning session afforded to new parks, there will be surveys, public input and environmental reviews before any decisions are made to add amenities, like campsites. If neighbors had their druthers, the island would be sold and remain a private venue or be made into a nature preserve with an education center, not allowing for boating or camping. "The problem is we don't know what they're going to do," Levitan said. Kingstree, SC (29556) Today Partly to mostly cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 76F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later at night. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 52F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News N Augusta Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Over a hundred doctors, scholars and community members gathered online and in person at the Medical University of South Carolina for a lecture series on gun violence a public health and safety issue which has seen alarming spikes both across the U.S. and in the Palmetto State. The 28th Annual Thomas A. Pitts Lectureship in Medical Ethics saw its participants speak about the effects of gun violence, debate about Second Amendment rights and discuss violence intervention programs as an evidence-based solution. Sessions ran from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 8 and included several question-and-answer opportunities for audience members. South Carolina has the fifth-highest firearm homicide rate in the country. In 2020, 552 people were murdered 100 more killings than the previous year, driving the homicide rate to peaks unseen since the early 1990s. Locally, aggravated assaults involving firearms have been rising in Charleston and North Charleston since 2017. The lecture series opened with its keynote panel, which featured three MUSC professors and two community members who spoke about their experiences with gun violence. MUSC Professor R.J. Lambert discussed the post-traumatic stress disorder he developed after surviving the 1999 shooting while attending Columbine High School in Colorado. Lambert's sense of safety an essential human need was disrupted following the tragedy. It affected everything else in his life and persisted long after the shooting, despite the fact Lambert wasn't among the injured. "It's this disruption to feeling safe which explains how gun violence is so wide reaching to people who didn't even experience the actual violence, and also long lasting long after the gun violence is over," he said. Keith Smalls, whose 17-year-old son was gunned down in 2016 in North Charleston's Dorchester Waylyn neighborhood, also lists himself among the survivors of gun violence. He hopes to see fewer people who fit into the same category. We need more fighters, more accountable and responsible people in this society who are willing to stand up and fight with us as survivors of gun violence," Smalls said in his emotional presentation. "That is where we win this fight. Smalls, who also works as a violence intervention advocate with MUSC's Turning the Tide Violence Intervention Program, remains hopeful more bloodshed can be stopped. Gun violence is a completely preventable tragedy, he said. The discussion grew most contentious during the second session, when two professors and audience members debated the boundaries of the Second Amendment, or the right to bear arms an essential piece of the gun violence puzzle in South Carolina, where an open-carry law went into effect in August. Robert Cottroll, a George Washington University professor, identified himself as an "unabashed supporter" of the constitutional law for the purpose of self defense, but also as someone who is open to the idea of gun control. He argued the gun control movement seen for the last 50 years within the U.S. more closely resembles a "gun prohibition movement." There needs to be more open discussion about the Second Amendment among lawmakers, activists and the public, but a narrative of getting rid of all guns often hinders these efforts, Cottroll said. We could have these disagreements, but they would be motivated by honest disputes over the efficacy of different measures, and not by fears and hopes that proposed measures are subterfuges for prohibition," he said. Joseph Blocher, a Duke University professor, agreed with Cottroll's assessment about the need for better dialogue. Gun prohibition, in addition to being unconstitutional, is not politically or socially viable, he said. Blocher discussed why the U.S. government regulates guns: Lawmakers are focused on trying to save the tens of thousands of people each year who either die or are injured by gunshots. But courts have been slow to catch up with the fact that there are "psychic and community trauma that matter above and beyond the number of people who are physically harmed" from gunshot wounds, Blocher said. "If you're counting the number of victims of school shootings, and you stop at just those who've been hit by bullets, you've missed an enormous, enormous part of the problem," he said. Smalls offered a comment after the professors' presentations, pointing out the juxtaposition between victims of gun violence telling their stories, doctors who treat the wounded, and the conversations "about the laws and policies and court and red tape and racism." "I wonder, when does it have to get to a place where none of that matters and lives truly do matter?" he said. Blocher agreed, observing how in other areas of constitutional law, such as abortion, the Supreme Court justices "seem like they're really willing to see human dignity as a sovereign good that can't be measured." That doesn't seem to have happened yet when it comes to the Second Amendment, he said. Editorials represent the institutional view of the newspaper. They are written and edited by the editorial staff, which operates separately from the news department. Editorial writers are not involved in newsroom operations. I applaud the March 31 letter from the writer who complained about gas-powered leaf blowers. In addition to the horrendous harm to hearing and tranquility that they cause, their gas emissions are extraordinarily damaging to the environment. Certainly, they should be banned and replaced with the available alternative tools. Along the same lines, is there some reason we dont address the problem caused by people who insist on letting their car or truck engines idle for extended periods? When I walk the dog, I pass several idling vehicles. On a recent morning, a truck was idling on our street and, when I returned a half hour later, it was still parked with its engine running. I assumed that there was a good reason to let an engine idle, since it seemed so obvious that no one would do it otherwise. But I did a little research and discovered that, in addition to the disastrous environmental impact, allowing an engine to run does damage to a vehicle in several ways. And more often than not, letting vehicles idle with no occupants makes them prime targets for theft. Unfortunately, it is clear at this point that not enough will be done to avoid the cataclysmic effects of climate change. But we should all pitch in and do the small, commonsense things that could actually make a difference. This may at least buy ourselves a few more years. ROBERT ZISK Mount Pleasant Even the Bridge Run? On April 2, I participated in the Cooper River Bridge Run for the 10th time. The run was wonderful, the weather was beautiful, the views from the bridge were amazing and the scenery of both cities was great. We are lucky to live in such an amazing place. There was, however, a stark reminder of how everything we do now involves politics. Running down the bridge to turn onto Meeting Street, I saw political signs for Irv Condon, who is running for reelection as probate judge. Someone in the campaign should brush up on the law that says it illegal to place campaign signs in public rights of way. Plus, it was for an election seven months away. Lets keep the Bridge Run focused on the special place we all call home. JIM RICE Charleston Politics trumps ability It is a sad state of politics in our state when both of our U.S. senators vote against Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson. She repeatedly demonstrated calm and intelligent behavior in the face of rude questioning by Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. All of this in spite of her extraordinarily positive qualifications. Our senators seem to rely on vague and extremely political reasons for their actions. Sen. Lindsey Graham found her qualified a year ago for her elevation to the D.C. Court of Appeals. This behavior is, unfortunately, a consistent pattern from our representatives. JOHN BUTERA Seabrook Island Good riddance to shuffle A Sunday letter writer disagreed with a recent editorial that said the sophomore shuffle should be made permanent at The Citadel. The letter writer was correct: The sophomore shuffle is a bad idea. Young men and women go to The Citadel because of the special challenges it offers and, in no small part, to become a member of the community of graduates who recognize their shared experiences at a tough school. It is wrong to think The Citadel is nothing more than a version of the College of Charleston, except with uniforms and a curfew. The bonds that form during a cadets journey through The Citadel are lifelong and none is stronger than the one with your classmates, especially with classmates in your company. The sophomore shuffle effectively erases that special bond that attracts young men and women to The Citadel. Good riddance to a bad idea. WRAY LEMKE B Company Class of 1972 Mount Pleasant There have been contradictions about our local government's strategy on COVID-19 testing and limitations for those who have come in close cont Read more BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- China will continue promoting fiscal and financial cooperation among BRICS countries, according to Minister of Finance Liu Kun. Liu made the remarks at the First BRICS Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in 2022, which was held virtually on Friday. "In recent years, BRICS countries have maintained strong cooperation momentum and made important contributions to optimizing global economic governance and boosting the resumption and high-quality development of the global economy," Liu said. Amid sluggish global economic growth, a complicated global situation and hampered global development, Liu called on BRICS countries to shoulder their responsibilities and strengthen macro policy coordination to boost the global economy. China will take steps such as information sharing and conducting experience exchanges in infrastructure investment to deepen fiscal and financial cooperation between BRICS countries, Liu said. China will work with other member countries to achieve practical results in fiscal and financial cooperation to prepare for the 14th BRICS summit, which will be hosted by China this year. The meeting was co-chaired by Liu and China's central bank governor Yi Gang, and saw participation of finance ministers and central bank governors from other BRICS countries. BRICS is the acronym for an emerging-market bloc that groups Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. China chairs the BRICS this year. In its lead editorial this morning the Wall Street Journal turns its attention to President Obamas performance at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics/Atlantic Disinformation Conference this week. The editorial is headlined Barack Obama rewrites his Russia history. It opens this way: As somebody who grappled with the incursion into Crimea and the eastern portions of Ukraine, I have been encouraged by the European reaction [this time], Mr. Obama said at an event in Chicago. Because in 2014, I often had to drag them kicking and screaming to respond in ways that we would have wanted to see from those of us who describe ourselves as Western democracies. As for Mr. Putin, the former U.S. President purports to be surprised by the Russian leaders brutality. I dont know that the person I knew is the same as the person who is now leading this charge. He was always ruthless. You witnessed what he did in Chechnya, he had no qualms about crushing those whom he considered a threat. Thats not new. For him to bet the farm in this wayI would not have necessarily predicted from him five years ago. Mr. Obama managed to say all this with a straight face while speaking at an event about disinformation in politics. Isnt it ironic? Its a helluva lot more ironic than anything Alanis Morrisette came up with in the song of that title. Chicago Thinker co-founder and managing editor Evita Duffy homed in on the point this way: Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to attend a fire prevention speech delivered by an arsonist? Or perhaps a child safety seminar led by a pedophile? Well, thats exactly what it felt like Wednesday during the University of Chicagos Conference on Disinformation and Erosion of Democracy, featuring some of the greatest promulgators of disinformation and illiberalism in American history. Former President Barack Obama had the nerve to help open the event, although his administration famously spied on the Donald Trump campaign with a secret court warrant backed by the Hillary Clinton campaign-funded Christopher Steele dossier which, in an ironic twist, was the product of Russian disinformation. Democrats used this disinformation to repeatedly smear President Trump and undermine the integrity of the 2016 election. Former chief advisor to the Obama administration David Axelrod moderated two of Wednesdays discussions. To this day, Axelrod still has the gall to repeat the debunked Russian collusion hoax. He even repeated it Wednesday. Duffys excellent column adds this salient point: The speaker lineup makes things clear: the conference seeking to combat disinformation does just the opposite. It celebrates some of Americas biggest liars as they spread more lies. Duffy observes that Obama et al. long to control the means of knowledge. As she puts it, they want to suppress inconvenient information. Read the whole thing here. Obama peddled the revisionist history that is deconstructed in the Journal editorial in a keynote conversation with Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg late Wednesday afternoon. As the ladies and gentlemen of the Chicago Thinker exposed the new meaning of disinformation on offer at the conference, Goldberg did not take it well. What a cretin. They are to be congratulated for getting under his skin. The moment when a mainstay propaganda term loses all meaning and at the hands of college students, no less is a moment worth framing https://t.co/e5FGd8jQg8 Walter Kirn (@walterkirn) April 8, 2022 Scott has been writing about the strange case of the two men of Washington, D.C. who are under arrest, having purported to be high-level Department of Homeland Security agents. The men are Arian Taherzadeh and Haider Ali, which might give the politically incorrect some ideas. News reports indicate that they compromised four Secret Service agents, although my understanding is that this simply means that those agents accepted gifts from them. Somehow, Taherzadeh and Ali had plenty of money to throw around. The case took a small step forward today with the filing of a motion to hold the men in federal custody as flight risks. The motion begins: For years, Defendants Arian Taherzadeh and Haider Ali portrayed themselves as federal law enforcement agents involved in covert operations on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). They are not law enforcement agents, and they are not involved in sanctioned covert activities. Neither Defendant is even employed by the United States government. But their impersonation scheme was sufficiently realistic to convince other government employees, including law enforcement agents, of their false identities. They pretended to recruit other individuals to law enforcement and their fake operationincluding shooting a person with an air gunand leveraged their phony law enforcement status to ingratiate themselves to other law enforcement agents in sensitive positions. They compromised United States Secret Service (USSS) personnel involved in protective details and with access to the White House complex by lavishing gifts upon them, including rent-free living. And they procured, stored, and used all the tools of law enforcement and covert tradecraft: weaponry, including firearms, scopes, and brass knuckles; surveillance equipment, including a drone, antennae, hard drives, and hard drive copying equipment; tools to manufacture identities, including a machine to create Personal Identification Verification (PIV) cards and passport photographs; and tactical gear, including vests, gas masks, breach equipment, police lights, and various law enforcement insignia. Why did they do this, and on whose behalf? At this point, we have no idea. But here are a few things we do know. First, the men were well financed by someone. They had multiple units in a luxury D.C. apartment building: (1) Penthouse 5; (2) Apartment 708; (3) Apartment 608; (4) Apartment 509; and (5) Apartment 1361. And they had money to compromise the Secret Service. Second, they were heavily armed: [F]irearms and ammunition were seized. Specifically, a Glock 19 9mm handgun loaded with 17 rounds of ammunition, including one in the chamber, seven rounds of .308 caliber ammunition, and an ammunition box with over 35 rounds of handgun ammunition *** Law enforcement also seized firearm components typically used with long guns or assault rifles including, among other things: (1) a firearm barrel of an unknown caliber; (2) weapon stock attachments1; (3) foregrips2; (4) pistol grips; (5) a magazine cartridge; and (5) scope(s). In addition, law enforcement recovered a spotting scope, which can be used in a sniper/spotter team. *** law enforcement seized a Sig Sauer P229 with five fully loaded magazines, containing a total of 61 rounds. They had a lot of other stuff that law-abiding citizens dont usually consider to be necessary. I, personally, have gone through life without ever owning a set of brass knuckles: Law enforcement also recovered a rifle scope, tactical gear and storage equipment, clothing and patches with police insignias, handheld radios, a high-end drone, a gas mask, handcuffs, zip ties, breaching equipment, a cleaning kit for firearms, an ultraviolet flashlight, an RF-GS k18 which is used to locate hidden cameras, microphones and RF transmitters (e.g. vehicle trackers) computer server with two modules, an encrypted portable hard drive, antennas, and a firearms holster mounted and hidden under a desk. *** And they procured, stored, and used all the tools of law enforcement and covert tradecraft: weaponry, including firearms, scopes, and brass knuckles; surveillance equipment, including a drone, antennae, hard drives, and hard drive copying equipment; tools to manufacture identities, including a machine to create Personal Identification Verification (PIV) cards and passport photographs; and tactical gear, including vests, gas masks, breach equipment, police lights, and various law enforcement insignia. Third, it seems highly probable that these men were acting on behalf of a foreign power, most likely Iran. Alis expired passport contained several visas authorizing foreign travel. For instance, this passport contained two visas authorizing travel from the Islamic Republic of Iran. In addition, Alis passport contained two thirty-day visas from Pakistan and one visa for travel to Egypt. *** In addition, United States Customs and Border Protection records indcate that Ali traveled: (1) through/to Doha, Qatar6 in November of 2016 and returned approximately 13 days later; (2) through/to Doha, Qatar in May of 2019 and returned approximately 12 days later7; (3) through/to Doha, Qatar in July of 2019 and returned approximately 6 days later; (4) through/to Doha, Qatar in October of 2019 and returned approximately 9 days later, departing from Istanbul, Turkey.8 It strikes me that Mr. Taherzadeh and Mr. Ali are likely to take their place in a line of news stories with respect to which we never got to hear the punch line: the Pakistanis who handled tech services for the Democratic House caucus until their arrest; the Chinese spy who, for years, was Dianne Feinsteins driver; the Chinese spy Fang Fang who bedded Eric Swalwellthe life of a spy is not an easy one; and I suppose we should add the Chinese companies that slid millions of dollars to Joe Biden and his relatives. (Can I say it one more time? No one has ever bribed the unemployable crack addict Hunter Biden. Any money that wound up with him was a transaction cost.) Such stories are allowed to die a quiet death, because one of the requirements to be a reporter these days is a total lack of curiosity about anything that reflects poorly on the establishment in general, and the Democratic Party in particular. So, yeah, there is something happening with the two Washington, D.C. men. But what it is aint exactly clear, and likely never will be. Przepraszamy! Ogoszenie na stanowisku: Product Support Associate wygaso z dniem 2022-04-13 Ta propozycja bya zozona przez Thomson Reuters Mozliwe przyczyny wygasniecia ogoszenia to: propozycja zamieszczona przez pracodawce zostaa wycofana z naszych zasobow zleceniodawca zakonczy proces rekrutacji uzyskujac odpowiednia ilosc zgoszen ogoszeniodawca zmodyfikowa tresc zlecenia i jest ono dostepne pod innym adresem url dostawca tresci usuna ogoszenie z bazy danych zy adres WWW ogoszenia Jezeli poszukujesz pracy w branzy Informatyka / Telekomunikacja, zajrzyj tutaj: Praca Informatyka / Telekomunikacja Jezeli poszukujesz pracy na stanowisku Product Support Associate, zajrzyj tutaj: Praca Product Support Associate Jezeli poszukujesz pracy w miescie: Gdansk, zajrzyj tutaj: Praca Gdansk Pamietaj, ze mozesz takze rozpoczac poszukiwanie pracy od strony gownej, kliknij tutaj. Inne oferty, ktore mogy byc w kregu Twoich zainteresowan: Przepraszamy! Ogoszenie na stanowisku: Technical Support Analyst wygaso z dniem 2022-04-13 Ta propozycja bya zozona przez Thomson Reuters Mozliwe przyczyny wygasniecia oferty to: propozycja zamieszczona przez pracodawce zostaa usunieta z naszych zasobow firma zakonczya proces rekrutacji uzyskujac odpowiednia ilosc pracownikow rekruter zmodyfikowa tresc ogoszenia i jest ono dostepne pod innym adresem WWW dostawca tresci usuna ogoszenie z bazy danych zy adres url ogoszenia Jezeli poszukujesz pracy w branzy Informatyka / Telekomunikacja, zajrzyj tutaj: Praca Informatyka / Telekomunikacja Jezeli poszukujesz pracy na stanowisku Technical Support Analyst, zajrzyj tutaj: Praca Technical Support Analyst Jezeli poszukujesz pracy w miescie: Gdansk, zajrzyj tutaj: Praca Gdansk Pamietaj, ze mozesz takze rozpoczac poszukiwanie pracy od strony gownej, kliknij tutaj. Inne ogoszenia, ktore mogy byc w kregu Twoich zainteresowan: The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said it would begin payment of N65 rebate to exporters who sold their goods through the importers and exporters (I&E) window, at the end of the first quarter. CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele said this shortly after signing the Term Sheet between the Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria (InfraCorp) and the Independent Asset Managers, on Friday, in Lagos. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the apex bank had in February announced policies, plans and programmes for non-oil exports that would enable Nigeria earn 200 billion dollars in foreign exchange repatriation. The RT200 FX Programme, which stands for the Race to 200 billion dollars in FX Repatriation, is a set of policies for non-oil exports to enable Nigeria attain the goal of 200 billion dollars in FX repatriation. Mr Emefiele said, you will recall that we effectively started in March, but, I have said that by the latest, after the end of the quarter, we will issue cheques. We will make payments to all those who have exported, their proceeds have come in and they sold them through the I &E window to import goods and services into the country. So, the first set of payment for the rebate will be done by next week and we are actually making it public so that Nigerians can know. And so that they can also encourage other exporters to say that the era when you export and your rebate never comes in five years, that that era is gone, he said. The CBN governor expressed the banks determination to ensure the success of the initiative. He added that the kind of numbers that the apex bank got from the banks showed the policy was working very well. (NAN) One of the perennial irritants and outstanding issues between Nepal and India is the boundary dispute that has, for some time, caused major misunderstandings between Kathmandu and New Delhi. After the India-China war of 1962, India made some military deployments in Kalapani which was occupied by Nepal since the Sugauli Treaty (1816) between the East India Company and Nepal's then rulers. It was not known whether the decision was taken by the Nepal government or India sought permission from it to keep its military in Kalapani which has strategic importance because it is located between Nepal, India, and China. The Kalapani dispute resurfaced after India unveiled its new political map in the first week of November 2019 and Nepal protested the decision by sending a series of diplomatic notes to India calling for talks to resolve the issue. India then said that the matter will be taken up through diplomatic means. The issue exacerbated after Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually inaugurated a new 8-km long road in the Himalayas, via Lipulekh, which also Nepal claims as its own territory. The then K.P. Sharma Oli government protested the road extension and accused India of changing the status quo without prior consultations with Nepal. The road was to link India to Tibet and facilitate Indian pilgrims who wish to visit Mansarovar. Nepal had already protested the 2015 decision between India and China to expand the road via Lipulekh. India and China, during the China visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had decided to develop trade corridors via Lipulekh but the Nepal government had protested. The issue again resurfaced in 2020 after Rajnath Singh inaugurated the new road. Protesting India's unilateral decision to construct the road via Lipulekh, Nepal sent a couple of diplomatic notes to India and sought talks for a settlement. But India put off any such talks till the Covid pandemic raged. Following India's response, the Oli government unveiled a new political map of Nepal incorporating Kalapani and Lipulekh into its territory. Then, the two sides reached a "state of cartographic war". "The Government of Nepal has released a revised official map of Nepal today that includes parts of Indian territory, Anurag Srivastav, then spokesperson at India's Ministry of External Affairs had said, adding that "this unilateral act is not based on historical facts and evidence". The issue then went on to the back burner. However, during the recent visit of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to India, the boundary dispute resurfaced, after three years of hiatus, he raised the issue during the delegation-level talks with Modi. "Now the door has opened for further negotiations with India... the way our Prime Minister has taken up the matter with India, we hope soon there will be some progress," Buddhi Narayan Shrestha, a noted Nepali cartographer and former Director General at the Department of Survey, told IANS. After the delegation-level talks between Deuba and Modi on April 2 in Hyderabad House in New Delhi, the Nepalese Prime Minister said: "We discussed the boundary matters and I urged him (Modi) to resolve them through established mechanisms." Indian Foreign Secretaty Harsh Vardhan Shringla said that there was a general understanding on resolving the boundary issue. Addressing a press conference, he said that the issue was "briefly discussed". "There was a general understanding that both sides needed to address this in a responsible manner through discussions and dialogue in the spirit of our close and friendly relations. Politicisation of such issues needs to be avoided," he had said. But an Indian statement issued after the Deuba-Modi talks was, however, silent on the issue. To deal with the boundary row in Susta and Kalapani, Nepal and India have mechanisms at the Foreign Secretary and technical levels. There is also a separate Boundary Working Group (BWG) mandated to complete the boundary works along with Nepal and India except for Susta and Kalapani. Shreshtha said that with Deuba's visit, the door for bilateral talks has opened and it is better for both sides to revive the existing mechanism. "The Prime Ministers of Nepal and India in 2014 had set up a mechanism at the Foreign Secretary-level to deal and address the boundary dispute. They were told to get feedback and inputs from the technical level in order to resolve the dispute. Now the time has come for Nepal and India to revive the Foreign Secretary-level mechanism to settle and address the boundary dispute," he said. Relations between Nepal and India started to deteriorate in November 2019 after Delhi published a new map including Kalapani within its territory. As the dispute resurfaces, Shringla had travelled to Nepal in end November 2020 and then Foreign Minister Pradeep Gywali travelled to India in July 2021. But both visits could not defuse the tension. Again in January this year, a remark made by Indian Prime Minister Modi triggered a new ruckus in Nepal. Addressing an election rally in Haldwani of Uttarakhand, he announced that his government had extended a road to Lipulekh and that there were more plans to extend it further. Nepal's political parties took umbrage at Modi's statement, calling it uncalled for, and demanded that the Deuba government make a position and respond to India. Main opposition CPN-UML criticised the government for failing to take the issue up with India, while calls grew within the ruling alliance also to send a note to India objecting to Mod's statement. On January 16, Nepal's Communications and Information Technology Minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki said that the government is firm and clear about the fact that the Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura, and Kalapani region east of the Mahakali river is an integral part of Nepal. The Nepal government has been requesting the Indian government to stop unilateral construction/expansion of any road that goes via Nepali territory, he had said, adding that the "Nepal government is committed to resolving the border issues on the basis of historical treaties and agreements, facts, maps, and evidence through diplomatic channels as per the spirit of friendly relations between the two countries". The recent development between Nepal and India where both sides have shown their keenness to address the dispute is welcome but it takes some more time, say Nepali diplomats and officials. Nepal's Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka also said that Modi and Deuba have agreed to resolve and address the existing boundary dispute through the existing mechanism, dialogue and diplomacy. "During the talks, the two Prime Ministers also discussed boundary issues and the two leaders agreed to address such issues through the existing mechanism and through holding dialogue and diplomacy," he said. Khadka's statement assumes importance after Prime Minister Deuba publicly urged his Indian counterpart to resolve the boundary issue through the establishment of a bilateral mechanism. There is a realisation at least at the top political leadership that boundary disputes should be addressed and not be left in limbo for a long time, Dinesh Bhattarai, former Nepali Ambassador and former foreign policy adviser to two prime ministers told IANS. Since the Indian Foreign Secretary said that the issue should be addressed, it shows India has admitted and recognized the dispute, he added. "The issue has been brought to the table and both sides should sit and find an amicable solution. It may take some more time, we may require to sit many times, and probably it may take years for negotiations to resolve it but we must sit at the table. Both sides should not provoke the situation because it is a sensitive issue and should be dealt with by diplomatic means and mechanisms," said Bhattarai. The slave history museum in Calabar, which keeps relics of the transatlantic slave trade and modern-day slavery, needs help to save it from deteriorating. The Curator, Omawunmi Ofumaka, made the declaration in Calabar on Wednesday when she spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Nigeria has two slave history museums; one in Calabar and the other in Badagry. These museums, especially those in Calabar, keep relics of the slave trade and should be maintained and updated. People come into Calabar, and they dont know where to go, but when they come here, they are surprised that there is still a place like this. We have worked on the sound systems, air conditioners, and generator, which were all in poor working conditions before now, but a lot still needs to be done, she said. Mrs Ofumaka appealed to the Cross River Government, in particular, to assist the museum. National Museums and Monuments run museums, but it behooves states and individuals, as stakeholders, to assist museums and ensure that they are up and running the way they should. The Calabar museum, built by Mr Donald Duke, former governor of Cross River, should be preserved because it is one of the nations heritage, she added. The curator noted that Cross River used to do a lot in tourism, but the story today is that the museum had been closed, whereas it is open and running. Mrs Ofumaka said she had just sent a quotation to the National Museums and Monuments in Abuja and hoped that the museum would undergo renovation in a few months. Earlier, Cross River Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr Eric Anderson, told NAN that museums are run by the National Museum and Monuments Commission and are not the direct responsibility of the state. Mr Anderson stressed that while the state government could support the museum in Calabar, it could not be held responsible for its dangerous state. ALSO READ: Nigerian govt to construct palace museum for repatriated artefacts NAN reports that the Old Residency Museum, also in Calabar, has deteriorated over the years following a barricade of its entrance over security reasons. History The Slave History Museum is a museum in the Nigerian city of Calabar, which was a critical embarkation port of the African Slave Trade, about 200,000 Africans being sold as enslaved people from Calabar between 1662 and 1863. Established in 2007 and opened on 17 March 2011, the museum was established as a tourism initiative by the Cross River State and is directly managed by the Nigerian National Commission for Museums and Monuments. It is located at the site of a fifteenth-century slave-trading warehouse in Marina Beach. Major exhibits include: The Esuk Mba Slave Market in Akpabuyo describes a market where new captives from the hinterland (typically but not always prisoners of war) were sold into the slave-trading system and Chains and Shackles, which included artefacts of slavery such as various restraints. (NAN) Are you familiar with the unpopular saying, Lagos is not for the weak.? To survive in Lagos, you have to be bold, ambitious, and most importantly, street-smart. Only when you possess these characteristics can you survive in a city where random strangers yell at you for no reason, and everyone walks as though they are being pursued. While being street-smart can be applicable in every part of the world, making good use of it in Lagos would save you the chance of shedding tears, especially when you go to a famous market called Computer Village. Computer Village is a market located in Ikeja where people buy and sell assorted phones, laptops, computers, and accessories. Many people also visit the market, including those living outside Lagos, to repair gadgets and appliances. Computer village has a solution for every individuals tech need. However, besides being the go-to place for gadgets, Computer Village is widely known as the headquarters of scam artists, who eagerly search for their next prey. Over the years, we have seen and heard stories of people who went to the market with high hopes of getting a product, only to get scammed. Nobody, especially you, deserves to be blindsided. In this article, we list five schemes to be aware of when visiting the Computer Village. Switch and Bait This is an old technique. The con artist gives a phone to a potential customer to check out. If the customer likes it, they pay for the product. Then the seller asks them to return the phone for proper packaging. The seller then swaps the phone for a fake. Fake Naira notes Never buy a gadget from someone who does not own a shop. Many of those who offer to sell you a gadget at a ridiculous price do not have good intentions. ALSO READ: New computer village developer raises alarm over activities of miscreants Narrating his story, a social media user recalled how he was sold an iPhone for a very cheap amount by a man in the Computer Village. Then the man changed his mind and asked for the phone, offering to pay him back his money. The guy collected it, and it wasnt until he decided to count it that he realised that instead of wads of cash, he was given papers wrapped around a thousand-naira note. Stolen phones With the rate at which phones are stolen, always ask for receipt when you buy a phone. Lately, we have seen people getting arrested for possessing stolen phones. When interrogated, they argue that they did not steal it but bought it from a shop in the Computer Village. No matter how sleek or cheap a phone might be, if it doesnt have a receipt, dont buy it, especially if its a used phone. The pickpockets The Computer Village is a busy place, with different people. So when navigating through the crowd, keep a close eye on your valuables. And if you stop by a store to ask for a product, dont get too distracted. The trick is that once they notice you are distracted, either your purse or wallet gets snatched. On Friday, the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) dissociated itself from ODF FOUNDATION, a non-profit owned by actress Nkechi Blessings estranged lover, Opeyemi Falegan. SCAM ALERT.UNICEF Nigeria is aware of a fictitious donation drive to raise funds for UNICEF. Please be aware that all legitimate campaigns for donations are hosted on the UNICEF website and verified social media pages. Do not fall victim to this scam, the agency wrote on its official social media pages. https://www.instagram.com/p/CcFcuHjOoAY/ A quick check by PREMIUM TIMES on UNICEFs website showed that ODF Foundation is not listed as one of the humanitarian aid organisations partners agencies. Mr Falegun did not return calls nor respond to text messages by our reporter. The foundation, which says it is committed to empowering widows and uplifting the lives of the less privileged, is situated in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. Mr Falegan had initially announced a N54 million fundraiser. However, he was only able to raise N33,278 before UNICEF Nigeria issued the disclaimer on Friday. Mr Falegan, on his Instagram page, announced the donations ended on Friday, saying he was able to raise 61pounds for the people of Ukraine through UNICEF. He said: This (the funds) is for the people of Ukraine who passed through a lot of dysfunctional/ disheartening situations in recent times. https://www.instagram.com/p/CcF_BjWqpAG/ Background For the last two days, the actress has engaged in a war of words on social media that can be traced to a post of a notorious blogger who alleged she was having a secret affair with her boss, a real estate agent czar. Nkechi is the General Managing Director of Ojulowo Omoluabi Empire Holdings Limited. Currently, the real estate company has its head office in Abeokuta, Ogun state capital. As a result of the bloggers claim, the erstwhile lovers, in separate Instagram videos, have said they were never married. On Thursday, Falegan, in an Instagram interview, claimed that his former lover clung to him because of his philanthropic gesture evident through his foundation. When the actress was confronted with Falegans claims, she denied it. When we started our relationship, he told me that I should not have expectations meaning he doesnt have money, but he told me that he has enough to take care of himself and me. So, I said okay, because I wasnt even looking for a rich man because I am not lazy either, but I discovered he doesnt even have a job along the line. I always tell people, I can date anybody and together, we would build an empire. At first, he told me he was in the Royal Air Force, but I discovered it was all lies. He only bought the uniform and did a photoshoot with me. The United Nations Childrens Fund, (UNICEF), has said school children in Nigeria are facing a learning dilemma that must be addressed urgently. The chief of UNICEF field office in Kano, Rahama Farah, while speaking at a two day media dialogue on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Kano State, on Friday, said the country must achieve basic outcomes at the foundational level to address the learning crisis. Mr Farah said about 70 per cent of under 10-year-old school children in the country cannot understand a simple sentence in English or perform basic numeracy tasks. Represented by Elhadji Diop, officer-in-charge, UNICEF field office in Kano, he said improving learning outcomes is key to achieving basic learning. Mr Farah noted that Nigeria needs to do more to scale up foundational literacy and numeracy. According to the World Bank, Nigeria is experiencing learning poverty in which 70 per cent of 10 year-olds cannot understand a simple sentence or perform basic numeracy tasks. To address the challenges, achieving basic learning outcomes at the foundational level of education is key, he said. The dialogue was organised by UNICEF in collaboration with the Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB) of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture. It is aimed at promoting development of the knowledge, skills and understanding of the Nigerian child. Importance of education Mr Farah said education is the fundamental right of every child irrespective of their background. He said Nigeria is experiencing a learning crisis in which learning is not taking place, even for children in school. He said the UN agency is supporting Nigeria to improve fundamental literacy and numeracy through tailor-made, teaching learning practices, such as Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) and Reading and Numeracy Activities (RANA). He said the right of children is well-articulated in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) which guides the work of UNICEF in executing it mandate. In executing its mandate of promoting, protecting, advocating, and collaborating with partners for the realisation of the rights of children, UNICEF has been collaborating with the government of Nigeria to improve outcomes in the education sector. Progress is being made, yet much more needs to be done, he said. Achieving SDGs In his presentation, Chidi Ezinwa, a professor in the department of mass communication, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, said SDGs cannot be achieved until the rights of children are fulfilled. Mr Ezinwa said children are not objects who belong to their parents but individuals with their rights that should be protected at all cost. He said globally, 258 million children were reported to be out of school in 2018, an indication that the world may miss the SDG targets if action is not taken. Between the ages of 15- 49, 258 million children and youths were still out of school in 2018 while nearly one fifth of the global population is in that age group. One out of three children live in extreme poverty and 10 per cent of the world population still live in extreme poverty, struggling to fufill basic needs like health, education, and access to water and sanitation, he said. Mr Ezinwa said existence of poverty means denial of rights which is a major factor in denial of some childrens rights. He said poverty and gender inequality must be bridged as they were essential ingredients to the denial of children rights. One of the goals says no poverty, but when there is poverty, several rights are taken from children. Advertisements Children who are not going to school and those not receiving good health care are linked to poverty, he said. He noted that the SDGs and Child Rights Convention (CRC) serve as legal instruments to achieving the universal goals and intend to leave no one behind. In his remarks, UNICEF communication specialist, Geoffrey Njoku, said the SDGs cannot be achieved without focusing on childrens rights. Mr Njoku emphasised the need to refocus on creating a good learning environment to ensure children who are in school are able to read and write. He said the aim of the dialogue is to create awareness on reviving the nations education sector at the basic level. He explained that it is important to moderate the nations curriculum at the basic education level to enhance the learning skills of school children. He said teachers also need adequate training to be able to lead the childrens right. Investing in teachers During her presentation, UNICEF Education Specialist, Manar Ahmed, said the country must invest in teachers, both in time and financial resources in a bid to achieve the SDGs by 2030. Ms Ahmed said the government must also ensure action plans for improving teaching and learning under a conducive environment. She said that 27 per cent of teaching staff in Nigeria are unqualified to impact children. We need to do more in the structural approach of learning, community engagement in ensuring accountability. Structural approach is best for training of teachers, so on-the-job training as well as creating the right environment is important, she said. She reiterated that Nigeria is not lacking the right policy but the countrys staggering learning crisis is one of the lowest globally. Goal four of the SDGs is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education that promotes lifelong learning and all children by age 10 must know how to read and solve numeracy. It is not that Nigeria lacks the right policy but Nigeria is facing a staggering crisis with learning outcomes being one of the lowest, she said. She said that is why 70 per cent of the children in school are not achieving basic foundational skills. Several Nigerian cities including the Federal Capital Territory were thrown into darkness Friday after the national grid collapsed again. Electricity distribution companies announced the breakdown, the fifth this year after prolonged hours of outage experienced in some parts of the country. The Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company said, Dear Esteemed Customers, the management of Kaduna electric regrets to inform you that the current outage being experienced in our franchise states is due to a collapse of the national grid. The collapse occurred at about 18:29 pm this evening.Normal power supply shall be restored as soon as the grid is restored. We sincerely apologise for all inconveniences, the spokesperson of the company, Abdulazeez Abdullahi said. The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company confirmed the collapse on Twitter late Friday Night. Please be informed that there has just been a national grid collapse causing an outage in our franchise areas. We apologize for the inconvenience caused and appeal that you bear with us while we await restoration from the TCN. We regret all inconvenience caused, it said. The Jos Electricity Distribution Company said the collapse happened at 6:30 p.m. across its distributing states of Bauchi, Benue, Gombe and Plateau. Dear customers, there was a loss of supply as a result of the system collapse of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) about 6:30 p.m. across all our franchise states of Bauchi, Benue, Gombe and Plateau, it said. The Eko Electricity Distribution Company said, Dear Esteemed Customers, a planned outage has been scheduled by our TCN partners for Saturday, April 9, 2022 between 9am and 3pm. This is to enable the TCN crew repair a wounded conductor between Tower #9 and #10 on the Ajah/Alagbon 330kV Line. The private distribution companies directly supply electricity to consumers and so have the responsibility to let their customers know the reason(s) for the power blackout. PREMIUM TIMES reported that a similar grid collapse occurred twice in March 2022 at a time when the country was in a severe fuel crisis. The others happened in January and February this year. The Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, blamed the constant collapse on poor maintenance and shortage of gas. He, however, said the government had upgraded four power plants as part of efforts to improve the sector. Aside from the grid collapse, however, Nigerians witness insufficient electricity supply with millions of homes in darkness. This is because the nation generates less than 20 per cent of the electricity it needs and cant even transmit and effectively distribute the little it generates. The previous Goodluck Jonathan administration privatized the power sector with the claim it would make it efficient but that has yet to be the case. Governors of southern states elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have insisted that the party should zone its 2023 presidential ticket to the southern part of Nigeria for equity and fairness. The governors expressed their position on the issue of zoning while briefing journalists after their meeting on Friday night at Akwa-Ibom Governors Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja. The Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, speaking on behalf of the governors, said they had watched with keen interest developments in PDP regarding zoning, but they had no reason to change their earlier stand. Our position is that first, we are committed to the unity of our party and we have worked hard to make sure that this party remains a strong and viable vehicle to rescue Nigeria come 2023. Be that as it may, we want to draw your attention to the fact that we have agreed as Southern Governors in Lagos and also in Delta that this party has to respect the zoning principle as enshrined in our Constitution. And to that effect, we feel that the best thing to do is zone the presidency to the South, and we stand on that position. We have not seen any reason to change our position, because the party was founded on the basis of equity and justice. We also think that equity and justice are important pillars that will ultimately stabilise our politics towards our journey in rescuing Nigeria, Mr Ikpeazu said. Asked if the governors would reconsider their position if making the partys ticket open would allow PDP win in 2023, Mr Ikpeazu said you havent told me why zoning will not give us victory. Also fielding questions on speculations that the PDP zoning committee has already made the ticket open, Mr Ikpeazu said that the southern governors do not work on speculations. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the PDP zoning committee led by Governor Samuel Ortom has concluded its assignment and submitted its report to the National Executive Council of the party. Although the committee did not formally announce its decision, it is believed to have recommended an open field for all the presidential aspirants. The PDP currently has 14 presidential aspirants, who have all purchased their nomination forms, from the north and south of Nigeria. On arguments that the PDP ticket was made open because of the number of aspirants that had purchased forms or the need to retain the ticket in the north, Mr Ikpeazu said that the party must be firm in its decision and do whatever is seen to be true and fair. Let me tell you something, if you want to take a position of policy, you dont look at problems in their face and take decision. You take a decision and remain firm on that decision. We think that what this country is lacking today is our ability to dispense equity and justice. It may be difficult, it may be a bitter pill but we need to stand with the truth. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that at the meeting were governors of Enugu, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Abia and Oyo states. The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has declared his intention to contest for the office of the president in 2023. Mr Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State, made the declaration in his verified Facebook page. I stand before you today to declare my intention and submit my application to serve as your next President.#RiversAPC#. Mr Amaechis declaration has ended months of speculation that he plans to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023. Mr Amaechi joins former Lagos and Imo State governors Bola Tinubu and Rochas Okorocha, as well as other aspirants in the presidential race under the platform of the All Progressives Congress. Read Mr Amaechis full declaration statement below. Forward with Courage Fellow Nigerians, I stand before you today to declare my intention and submit my application to serve as your next President. I did not come to this decision lightly. I have served our nation for the last seven years as Minister of Transportation. For eight years before that, I served as Governor of Rivers State. In the preceding eight years before that, I was Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. These 23 years of service have equipped me not only with great experience in governance and public service but also compassion for the ordinary citizens of our dear country. After more than two decades in the public arena, I had wanted to go on holiday and spend more time with my family before charting a new course outside politics. But at 58, and a member of the generation born after independence who has seen the good, the bad and the ugly of Nigeria, I am compelled by the urgency of our present challenges to place my experience and proven capacity at the service of the nation at the highest level. THE DECLARATION Forward with Courage Fellow Nigerians, I stand before you today to declare my intention and submit my application to serve as your next President. #Amaechideclares THREAD Chibuike R. Amaechi (@ChibuikeAmaechi) April 9, 2022 Those who know me can testify that I have always been a straight talker. This trait has not always made me popular, but I speak truth with conviction. So, allow me to speak the truth here today. We are facing some very serious challenges as a country. These are problems of insecurity, challenges of greater accountability in governance, youth unemployment and the scourge of spiraling poverty. These problems are however not the exclusive preserve of Nigeria. We live in a troubled world. The reality we used to know has altered in nearly every nation. Climate change has brought about food scarcity in some places. Population explosion has produced unusual pressure on resources and supplies. Poverty has become a challenge all over the world especially in the developing world. The Covid crisis has placed unanticipated burdens on the budgets of nations and put pressure on available resources. Trans border crises have erupted in unusual places and placed the internal security of many nations under pressure. We are part of the Sahel, an area of the world that is subject to frequent terrorist attacks. Let us look at our current challenges as part and consequences of these global trends. I admit that Nigerias problems did not begin today. And they will not be solved overnight. But they are not beyond the capacity of our people to solve. Fortunately, that process has already started. There is an ancient proverb that a society grows great when old men plant trees under whose shade they know theyll never sit. The current administration under the able leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari has planted many such trees in Nigerias future. We have invested billions in infrastructure, human capital development and made reforms that will pay off over time in terms of socio-economic growth and stability. We have invested heavily in projects and initiatives that will secure a brighter, better future for Nigeria. I am proud to have been part of this success story. It has been an honour overseeing the Ministry of Transportation in reviving the moribund railways, and working tirelessly to create an integrated national transportation system that will positively impact our economy, trade, employment, business, and national cohesion. Have we achieved everything we set out to do? Off-course not. Could wehave done more? Undoubtedly, there is always room for improvement. On reflection, the notion of running for President would have been far beyond the imagination of the young lad running around the streets of Diobu or our small compound in Ubima. Not to talk of the young indigent student leader, mobilizing peers at the University of Port Harcourt. But my aspiration is not about fulfilling any personal ambition. I am contesting for office because I believe that it is my moral duty to give what I can in the service of my country. To sustain and intensify present efforts at solving our national problems, our democracy must ensure the emergence of a leadership that is equipped with broad experience in governance to ensure stability and continuity. To sustain our democracy and preserve our unity, we need a steady hand and a passion for success in a nation that remains united to pursue prosperity for all Nigerians. It is this combination of experience and patriotic passion that I bring to the table. I have been in the political arena for 23 years. I have served at every level of government local, state, and federal. I have served both as a political appointee and an elected official. I have served both as an executive as Governor of Rivers State and as a legislator as Speaker of the State House of Assembly. In these capacities, I did not just fill vacant posts. As a Speaker, I managed the legislative process in a difficult transition from military rule. As Governor, I defeated mercantile militancy and restored security. As a minister, I can modestly claim to have justified the trust of Nigerians. I do not come from a privileged background. I grew up poor. I understand how it feels to go without some meals in a day. I know the pain of lack and the agony of want. I know what it means to see your parents toil just to keep a roof over your familys head. I know what it is to feel the weight of expectation when you are are the only one in your family who enjoys the opportunity to attend university. Subsequently, I funded the education of my siblings to be university graduates as well. I know what it is to scrimp and save and struggle. In spite of all odds, I have journeyed to this point. I could not have come this far without my parents, Fidelis, and Mary, who sacrificed so much for me. I could not have come this far without the support of my siblings. I could not have come this far without the mentors, friends and sponsors who have believed in me. I could not have come this far without the precious wife of my youth and my best friend, Judith, and my children who mean everything to me. I could not have come this far without the support of Dr. Peter Odili and his wife. I could not have come this far without the support of Chief Rufus Ada-George. Neither could I have come this far without the support of President Muhammadu Buhari. Above all, I could not have come this far without the Grace of God. The next leg of my political journey will be tough. But I am excited to go out and engage with Nigerians from every walk of life. I am ready to go from Maiduguri to Makurdi, from Sokoto to Sagbama, from Yola to Oyo, from Badagry to Birnin Kebbi. To each town and village, I will have one message: Hope is around the corner. Advertisements I look forward to meeting you in your towns, villages, cities, campuses, and creeks. I want to hear your desires, needs and pains. I want to know what matters most to you. I want to listen and learn. I will be coming with one assurance: I will be welcome everywhere because the blood of every Nigerian flow in my veins. I shall be the president of all and every Nigerian. I believe that despite our cultural differences, we remain one people under God. We may speak different languages or worship in different ways, but we all want the same things a better life for our children, the ability to support our families, the freedom to live in peace without fear for our lives or properties. I have never been the type who folds his arms and complains about inadequacies I see around me. I have always jumped in with both feet to do whatever I can to help, to try and bring relief to those suffering, to work to make things right where I see wrong. If you elect me as your President, I promise to play my part to the best of my ability. Every day I will rise and go to work for you. I will never forget the fact that I am there to serve you. Today, I stand as an aspirant to the position of President because of that same passion for people; that same drive for results. More than ever before, I am burning with the zeal to make a decisive difference in the lives of allNigerians. No matter the darts and arrows that come my way, I will remain steadfast because the stakes are too high. We cannot afford to fail. We cannot afford to veer off-course. I pledge my heart, mind and soul to the task of building a Nigeria in which every child can go to school, every young person can find work or support to start a business, every citizen can travel safely around the country and sleep at night knowing that law and order prevails and every Nigerian feels included, heard, and respected. The road ahead will be long and arduous. But we go forward with faith. Forward with courage. Forward with compassion. Forward with hope. Forward with pride for who we are as a people and who we are yet to become. The future is bright because of YOU. God bless you and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. CHIBUIKE ROTIMI AMAECHI The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has formally joined the 2023 presidential race as he declared interest in battling for the ticket of the All Progressives Congress. Mr Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State, made the declaration at the thanksgiving service organised for him by the Rivers State chapter of APC, on Saturday in Port Harcourt. The declaration was attended by the former National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, a former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume (APC, Borno), former head of Nigerias maritime agency, NIMASA, Dakuku Peterside and others. With the official declaration, Mr Amaechi joins other APC aspirants that have officially declared their intention to battle for the presidential ticket of the ruling party. Those who declared their ambition earlier are APC leader and former Lagos governor, Bola Tinubu; Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State; Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State; former Abia governor and serving senator, Orji Kalu and former Imo governor and senator, Rochas Okorocha. It is being speculated that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and the Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele may join the race. All the aspirants except Mr Bello are from the southern part of the country. Although the APC is yet to zone the presidential slot to any part of the country, there are speculations that it would zone it to the South which comprises the South-west, South-east and South-south geo-political zones. The incumbent, President Muhammadu Buhari, who will conclude his second term in May 2023, is from the North-west zone. The other zones in the north are the North-east and North-central. Interestingly, Mr Amaechis political foe and predecessor, Governor Nyesom Wike, recently declared his intention to run for president on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Mr Wike served as chief of staff to Mr Amaechi while the latter was governor. They have since gone their separate ways and have often attacked each other. Swipe at Tinubu In his declaration speech entitled; Forward with Courage, Mr Amaechi, appeared to have taken a salvo at Mr Tinubu with the assertion that My aspiration is not about fulfilling any personal ambition. It would be recalled that Mr Tinubu, while declaring his plan to vie for the APC ticket earlier in the year, said running for the office is his life-long ambition. Plan to tackle Nigerias challenges The minister said he would have preferred to go on holiday with his wife and children, but at 58, he is compelled by the urgency of the challenges facing the country. Mr Amaechi, who has been in Mr Buharis cabinet since 2015, said Nigeria is faced with general insecurity, youth unemployment, challenges of accountability in governance and poverty. He added that the problem did not start today and will not stop overnight. We are facing some very serious challenges as a country. These are problems of insecurity, challenges of greater accountability in governance, youth unemployment and the scourge of spiralling poverty. These problems are however not the exclusive preserve of Nigeria. We live in a troubled world, he said. He also spoke about his work in reviving the railways. It has been an honour overseeing the Ministry of Transportation in reviving the moribund railways and working tirelessly to create an integrated national transportation system that will positively impact our economy, trade, employment, business, and national cohesion. Have we achieved everything we set out to do? Off-course not. Could we have done more? Undoubtedly, there is always room for improvement, he said. Although, recently, the minister was under scrutiny in the aftermath of the bombing of the train by bandits. After the attack, he had claimed that lives could have been saved if his colleagues in the Federal Executive Council had approved N3 billion for the surveillance project for the Kaduna-Abuja train track. Advertisements PREMIUM TIMES published a leaked memo, containing the reasons why FEC rejected the proposal. According to the report, Mr Amaechis surveillance project had too many red flags. Mr Amaechi talked about his experience in the past 23 years, as a legislator, governor and minister, saying occupying those offices has prepared him for the presidency. It is this combination of experience and patriotic passion that I bring to the table. I have been in the political arena for 23 years. I have served at every level of government local, state, and federal. I have served both as a political appointee and an elected official. I have served both as an executive as Governor of Rivers State and as a legislator as Speaker of the State House of Assembly. In these capacities, I did not just fill vacant posts. As a Speaker, I managed the legislative process in a difficult transition from military rule. As Governor, I defeated mercantile militancy and restored security. As a minister, I can modestly claim to have justified the trust of Nigerians. The APC is yet to commence the sale of their nomination forms. According to INEC timetable and schedule of activities, parties are expected to conduct their primaries to pick their candidates for the 2023 polls before June 3. A recent study by the World Health Organisation (WHO) suggests that the true number of COVID-19 infections in Africa could be as much as 97 times more than the official statistics. Since Africa saw its first case in Egypt in mid-February, 2020, there have been some 11,360,305 cases and over 250,000 deaths relatively few compared with other regions according to statistics from the African Centre for Disease Control COVID-19 dashboard. A report released Thursday by WHO suggested that some 800 million people could have already been infected in Africa by last September. This is at least two thirds of the people living on the continent with over 1.3 billion population. A report by Aljazeera said the global body suggested that the official statistics were likely only scratching the surface of the real extent of coronavirus infections in Africa. A new meta-analysis of standardised sero-prevalence study revealed that the true number of infections could be as much as 97 times higher than the number of confirmed reported cases, said WHO Africa boss, Matshidiso Moeti. This suggests that more than two-thirds of all Africans have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus, she added. The study According to the WHO report, about 150 studies published between January 2020 and December 2022 were analysed, indicating exposure to the virus jumped from just three per cent in June 2020 to 65 per cent by September 2021. In real terms, this means that in September 2021, rather than the reported 8.2 million cases, there were 800 million, said Ms Moeti. The global average of true infection numbers is believed to be 16 times higher than the number of confirmed reported cases, the study estimated. Almost 500 million infections have been recorded across the globe as of Saturday afternoon, data from worldometer.info showed. Over 6.2 million people have died from the pandemic. Poor testing WHO said the study built on previous ones and a consensus in the global health community that Africas poor testing regime for COVID-19 masks the true spread and severity of the disease on the continent. In the pandemics early days of 2020, a case modeling had suggested that cases on the continent could be much higher than what was being reported due to undetected infections. Africas relatively early successes in combating the spread of the virus were notable, and the number of cases has not risen as quickly as any other region in the world. But widespread under testing reported across the continent is undermining any progress made, health experts say. They believe cases could be going undetected even with the wide variations in testing policies across the 54 countries on the continent. Statistics from the Africa CDC shows that 103,710,049 tests have so far been conducted in a continent of over 1.3 billion people. Even so, there are huge discrepancies between countries. South Africa has conducted the most tests in Africa with more than 24 million of the countrys over 60 million population screened. Egypt, where Africas index case was detected has tested about 3.6 million of its over 105 million population. But Nigeria, the continents most-populous country with over 200 million people, has conducted only 5 million. No adverse impact despite poor testing Meanwhile, inspite of the poor testing figures in Africa, there is no clear evidence to show that undetected infections have led to adverse consequences on the continent compared to other regions of the world. Africa CDC boss, Ms Moeti, attributed the development to the fact that the majority of people in Africa appear to show no clear symptoms of the disease, making it difficult to attribute an ailing person to COVID-19. Several analyses have also suggested that Africas youthful population acted as a watershed against severe illness from the COVID-19. In Ghana, the WHO study established that young people were infected the most. Advertisements The Kogi government Friday directed the burial of the carcasses of some of the 20 poisoned cows discovered on Wednesday in Lokoja. The government also directed residents of Lokoja to stay off consumption of beef for seven days not to fall victim of some of the poisoned meat allegedly already in the market. What the government is able to bury today is a good number of the affected cows and not all of them, an official said. The Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kogi Command, Suleiman Mafara, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja. The Agro Rangers Unit of the command alongside the Department of Livestock and Vetenirary Services of the Ministry of Agriculture, as well as the Sanitation Board of the Ministry of Environment, have conducted a confirmatory test on the carcasses of the cows. The test result showed that the carcasses contained poisonous content and thereby inedible and not fit for human consumption. Consequently, the government is advising the residents of Kogi, particularly this within Lokoja, where the incident happened, to avoid consumption of cow meat in the next seven days, he advised. Mr Madara quickly assured the public that the officials of the command and other security operatives were doing everything possible to calm any form of tension that might arise from the unfortunate development. He said that the command had sent out surveillance teams who were still maintaining peace in the environment as well as combatant officers in the event of any threat of reprisal attack. Also speaking, Head, Agro Rangers Unit of the NSCDC State Command, Bayode Emmanuel, said that the butchers association in the markets was carried along in the whole process of the investigation and examination of the carcasses to the burial of the cows. Mr Emmanuel explained that the carcasses of the cows recovered were subjected to the prescribed standard of treatment before they were buried which was witnessed by all the relevant stakeholders. NAN reports that the Director of Veterinary Services, Kogi Ministry of Agriculture, Salau Tarawa, had on Thursday advised residents to shun cow meat for at least one week as the 20 cows might have ingested poisonous substances while grazing. (NAN) The Kano Fire Service has confirmed the death of a 14-year-old boy, Musa Sani, after drowning in an open water, popularly known as Rafin Mukugara, at Kumbagawa Village in Karaye Local Government Area. In a statement, the spokesperson of the Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Abdullahi, said the incident occurred on Friday in the morning. We received an emergency call from Karaye fire station at about 08:00 a.m. from one Abdulbaki Abubakar and we dispatched our rescue team to the scene at about 8:05 a.m., he said. He added that the victim was rescued unconscious and later confirmed dead. Mr Abdullahi said that his corpse was later handed over to village head of Karaye, Suraja Magaji. (NAN) The issues of post-oil and economic diversification received considerable attention in Nigeria after the 2014 commodity price crash, again during the 2016 economic crisis and more recently with the coronavirus pandemic influenced global crisis. Over that period, recognition of the dangers of Nigerias dependency on oil has led to several initiatives aimed at securing changes in government policy to address the problem. Here we examine Nigerias oil dependency within the context of emerging global and national imperatives to provide some initial recommendations to frame the Natural Resource Governance Institutes (NRGI) newly constituted Nigeria programme designed to focus on Nigerias Oil Dependency: Imagining a Future Beyond Oil. Nigerias oil dependency through the years Nigerias dependence on oil is deep-rooted. The country continues to suffer from the effects of the Dutch Disease which began when oil was discovered in the 1960s, having focused its efforts predominantly on its oil resources; the potential for greater returns from oil making other sectors less attractive. But, decades later, little has changed in Nigeria. Although the oil sector continues to deliver returns, these have depreciated over the years, hindering the success of Nigerias development aspirations; Vision 20:20, the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), often just out of reach as they continue to rely on the performance of the global oil market. How dependent is Nigeria on oil? Nigerias federal and state governments remain heavily dependent on oil revenues, relying on it to deliver public goods and the use of oil dollars to service debt and bolster the national currency. The oil sector, however, has not significantly improved the well-being of Nigerians. Non-oil sectors lead to vastly more employment opportunities than the oil sector and their economic activities contributed approximately 93 per cent of GDP in 2020. At the federal level, Nigerias dependence on oil almost crippled her economy catalyzing a negative GDP growth of 1.8 percent in 2020. The pandemic highlighted the potential losses to the Federation of the Federal governments more than 50% revenue dependence on oil, as the shutdown of global economic activities, onslaught of the pandemic and sharp declines in oil demand in 2020 left the government unable to meet its 2020 revenue projections. The federal government had to slash its budget by a more realistic 20 per cent, reducing its benchmark price and production projections from $57 per barrel to $30, and anticipated production volumes from 2.2 million barrels per day (mbpd) to 1.7 mbpd consecutively to accommodate new realities. Continued divestments by oil majors and their refocus to cleaner energy threatens Nigerias future ability to attain its revenue projections if they remain pegged against oil productions. Nigerias debt stock in 2020 stood at 31 per cent of GDP and continues to grow as it tries to bridge the shortfalls in oil revenues. Despite this stark reality, the 2022 federal government budget still reflects 31 per cent of expected federal government revenue generation from oil even as oil exports continue to supply 90 per cent of Nigerias foreign exchange and over half of federal government revenues. Continued dependence on oil revenues threatens the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians and social cohesion in the country. Meanwhile, almost all of Nigerias states depend on oil revenues, channeled from the Federation Account and Allocation Committee (FAAC), for more than 50 per cent of their fiscal needs. The most dependent are the oil-producing states, with Bayelsa State and Akwa Ibom State averaging 85 per cent of their fiscal dependence on oil revenues. Only Ogun State and Lagos State draw less than half of their revenues from the FAAC consistently. Oil-producing states risk being fiscally unviable without oil. These states must urgently find alternative sources of revenue beyond FAAC to build their fiscal resilience before oil demand peeks. Those residing in those states must ask for diversification of their states revenues, with a greater focus on revenues generated internally beyond oil. Ending dependency and preparing for a future beyond oil Nigeria currently is at a pivotal point in its history where decisions made now will weigh heavily on its economic survival. After previous financial crisesthe halving of Nigerias Stock Exchange All Share Index in 2008 and the 70 per cent commodity price crash in 2014Nigerias economy eventually rebounded as oil demand and price recovered. But this will no longer be the case if the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the International Energy Agency (IEA) and others are correct when suggesting that we will soon reach peak demand for oil. So, ahead of that eventuality, the government must make plans to replace the huge shares of government revenue and foreign exchange earnings for which it presently relies upon oil. The federal and state governments must make critical and strategic decisions carefully to position its economy for a future without oil. Oil will lose its value, so Nigeria must build its resilience in anticipation of that future, and take advantage of all the opportunities available in the African corridor, the growing green economy, technology, and non- sectors that speak to its unique advantages. Looking more closely at the federal governments short-term plans to maximize its oil and gas endowments, there are obvious challenges. Firstly, investments in frontier explorations as provided for in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) may pose some risks in locking in revenue that may not yield the desired returns. Gas as a transition fuel requires significant capital investments and as a fossil fuel is likely to eventually lose out on investments to greener alternatives. Gas takes a long time to bring profits and, if Nigeria is to transit using gas to industrialize and energize before attaining its COP 26 carbon neutrality plans by 2060, a clear plan and pathway for how it intends to transition to other energy options with trackable milestones is required. In addition, if natural gas exports are expected to supplement foreign exchange earnings from oil in the short-term, lower longer-term investments may mean that those gains wont last. Buffers need to be put in place to account for that or the growing investments made in cleaner fuels may put natural gas projects at risk of becoming stranded assetswith revenues sunk before realizing any value. It is critical that the Federal Government makes strategic spending decisions as oils role in meeting global energy demands continually declines over time. The executives branchs plan to dig deeper into fossil fuel investments by committing $1.5 billion to refurbishing historically unprofitable refineries, proposed investments in Dangote refinery, frontier exploration and sustaining fuel subsidies may put Nigerias future at risk if the alternative costs are not appropriately assessed. Even then, crude oil production to meet the governments ambition to ramp up production is threatened as majors like Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron and Total rebrand as green to reflect investor appetite and the global energy transition. These international oil companies have been selling Nigerian assets, which will likely continue as the energy transition accelerates. Importers of Nigerias petroleum products are also seeking greener options. The top five export destinations for Nigerias petroleum products (India, Spain, Netherlands, United States and China) have committed to achieving carbon neutrality between 2030 and 2050. This puts further strain on Nigerias short to medium term capacity to generate and sustain its foreign exchange earnings as oil demand falls. Oil producing regions will also be further strained as legacy environmental pollution and oil dependence induced economic and social challenges will remain if a just transition is not prioritized. Beyond oil, the federal government should accelerate revenue diversification through trade and domestic production, leveraging other sources of foreign exchange. Attracting foreign exchange earnings could be done by backing enablers that add greater value to local products, offering greater support to the manufacturing sector, developing Nigerias critical minerals in the mining sector to leverage the green economy, boosting regional trade through the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) 2020 are other ways to improve and leverage domestic production diversification for more jobs and economic growth, key goals of the Nigerian government. The Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning should devise a comprehensive and inclusive plan with concrete and measurable milestones in collaboration with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies that speaks to Nigerias context, and accounts for both risks and opportunities to reduce oil dependence. That plan must then be implemented collaboratively. Nigerians opinions must be sought on the best approach to wean the country off its dependency on oil. They must agree on a timeline and pace for reform, and identify priority areas of focus. During the upcoming 2023 electoral campaigns, presidential and gubernatorial candidates; especially oil producing states must be required by citizens to outline plans to build fiscal resilience away from oil dependence. Civil society, accountability actors and the public must sustain dialogue and make economic diversification a major theme in the 2023 electionson the campaign trail, in candidate commitments and party platforms. Nafi Chinery is the West Africa (Anglophone) regional manager at the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI). Tengi George Ikoli is a senior governance officer with NRGIs Nigeria programme. Gunmen have abducted the wife and daughter of Usman Bamaiyi, the Commissioner for Environment in Plateau. The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the victims were abducted in the early hours of Saturday at the commissioners residence in Gindiri, Mangu Local Government Area of the state. Ibrahim Chindo, a resident of the community, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Gindiri general area was under seige. Bandits and terrorists have continued to terrorise innocent citizens, with no sign of relief in sight. Everyone is scared here, he said. Ubah Ogaba, the Public Relations Officer of the Police Command in the state, confirmed the incident. He said that men of the command were already on the trail of the abductors to rescue the duo. (NAN) The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has signed a term sheet with the Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria (InfraCorp) and four independent asset managers to develop the countrys infrastructure. A term sheet is a nonbinding agreement outlining the basic terms and conditions under which an investment will be made. The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, disclosed that the deal was signed at the banks Lagos office on Friday. The four independent infrastructure asset managers are Sanlam InfraWorks; Africa Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM); AAA Consortium; and Chapel Hill Denham. InfraCorp was approved in February 2021 by President Muhammadu Buhari. It was established with a startup funding of N1 trillion for the construction of critical infrastructure projects to help accelerate growth in the country. Its funding is expected to grow to N15 trillion. Promoted by the CBN, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) InfraCorp is a privately-managed infrastructure and industrial vehicle that will harness opportunities for Nigerias infrastructure development by originating, structuring, executing and managing end-to-end bankable projects in that space. Mr Emefiele said the funding from the private sector and incentives from the public sector will get the country ready, willing and able to deliver the infrastructure that will be the foundation of Nigerias development for improved infrastructure. Let me emphasise that today is a very important day. We have worked now for almost 18 months, trying to put this together, he said. I am happy that we have reached the state where today we are signing the term sheets between InfraCorp and four assets managers, Naraimetrics quoted him as saying. He also said that he is confident that a substantial portion of the N15 Trillion funding required for the first phase of execution of InfraCorp, is available locally. And the projects will kick off in Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, Kaduna, Kano & second Niger Bridge. What is the purpose? The first phase of this financing is to raise N14 trillion debt plus N1 trillion equity which is being contributed by the CBN, AFC and NSIA upon signing the term sheets today. We will go straight into execution work because Nigeria very badly needs to develop its infrastructure. There are infrastructure deficit in the public and private sector and we will like to be seen that we play our part at this time to support the efforts of the government and that of the private sector to see to whatever can be done to develop the infrastructure of Nigeria. The corporation named Lazarus Angbazo, founding Chief Executive Officer and managing director. The All Progressives Congress (APC) spokesperson in Lagos State, Seye Oladejo, has declared his intention to contest for Mushin II Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. Mr Oladejo declared his intention on Saturday before some APC members, market leaders, artisans, friends, and associates at the Archbishop Aggey Memorial School, Ilasamaja, Mushin, Lagos. The former Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-governmental Relations in the state said his passion for public service and the need for qualitative service delivery to people were behind his ambition. Mr Oladejo, who is also a former Secretary and ex-Chairman of Mushin Local Government, promised to provide qualitative, discerning, visible, and result-oriented representation if elected. As a man who is passionate about public service, I am inspired by the courage and achievements of all the leaders who have charted the path of development for Mushin II Federal Constituency, he said. I have decided to challenge myself on what to do for my constituency, the state, and the country. For over two decades, I have proved beyond reasonable doubt that I am someone to be trusted with public office. I have shown accountability and transparency in service at local and state levels. Mr Oladejo noted that his experience in public communication and media relations made the party to elect him a publicity secretary in 2019. Now, I believe it is high time for me to yield to the clarion call of my constituents to represent Mushin II Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives come 2023. I will also leverage on the experience of the best hands in Mushin II Federal Constituency to provide the desired representation in every sense of the word to my constituents, he said. Mr Oladejo said that if elected, he would devote efforts to ensuring that the Federal Government recognised the 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). Speaking at the event, Olayinka Oladunjoye, a former Commissioner for Education in Lagos State, expressed support for Mr Oladejos candidacy. ALSO READ: APC inaugurates Lagos excos Mrs Oladunjoye said she was confident the aspirant would be a good representative of the people. Speaking on behalf of the Igbo community, Chris Ekwilo, said that Mr Oladejo carried the non-Yoruba-speaking residents along when he was the council boss. Similarly, Hussein Abdullahi, the Chairman of Arewa community in Mushin LGA, said the community was fully in support of Mr Oladejos aspiration. (NAN) The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Friday said it will invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate allegations of fraudulent practices by NAHCON through the Hajj Savings Scheme (HSS). NAHCON said an invitation will be formally forwarded to the EFCC to investigate the management of the pilgrims funds. PREMIUM TIMES understands that the commission was reacting to a media report alleging that NAHCON had been dipping its hands into the contributed HSS fund in a fraudulent manner. Based on several allegations, the House of Representatives directed NAHCON on Thursday to suspend the implementation of the savings scheme to allow proper investigation. Launched in October 2020, the HSS is a voluntary contributory scheme introduced by the hajj commission in collaboration with JAIZ bank to make it easy for intending pilgrims to save money and pay for hajj through installment payments. The lawmakers said the scheme lacked transparency and accountability, adding that, if the development is not tackled, it will lead to corruption in the system and disregard for the extant law. But NAHCON, in a statement signed by its Acting Director of Public Affairs, Fatima Usara, said it supports and welcomes investigation by the House Committee on Pilgrimage. It added that each subscriber to the scheme receives a monthly update on his/her deposits detailing whatever profit accrues to it. Pilgrims on the HSS monitor their accounts directly from their phones if they wish. For clarity, the commission said it had constantly given progress reports to State Welfare Boards on the performance of the scheme, the most recent being in March when the Commission released details of profit distribution to each of the state boards. Dividends were shared to the states with the details forwarded to them. Moreover, if the scheme lacked transparency, information on the customer base or funds gathered would not have been known to the public, NAHCON said. Responding to allegations that the commission is dipping its hand into the pilgrims fund, NAHCON stated that the HSS is safely under the custody of Jaiz Bank. For two years that Hajj did not take place, pilgrims Hajj fare deposits have been in the coffers of most State Pilgrims Welfare Boards/Agencies/Commissions against NAHCONs directives and against extant laws except Adamawa: that remitted N500 million; Bauchi, N327.5 million; Borno, N100 million; Edo, N124 million; Gombe, N350 million; Kogi, N26.6 million; Nasarawa, N252 million; Niger, N433 million; Osun: N150 million; Oyo: N200 million; Taraba: N400 million; Yobe: N400 million; and Armed Forces, N320 million. Equally, the remittances made by the aforementioned states totaling N3.58 billion were safely kept in the Central Bank of Nigeria until early this year when the amount was finally returned to the respective states, the commission said. Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State on Saturday swore in 20 commissioners with a charge for them to get ready for service. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that those sworn into office were cleared earlier by the State House of Assembly. Mr Soludo, who inaugurated the commissioners at the state executive council chamber, Government House, Awka, charged them to deliver optimal service to the people of Anambra. He said his administration would declare a state of emergency in all the sectors starting with security. All sectors will be given due attention beginning with security which we have already started doing something, he said. Mr Soludo said the assignment of portfolios to each of the new commissioners before the swearing-in was a clear departure to known tradition. He said the commissioners were selected based on their areas of specialisation. More than 22, 000 persons applied to serve, out of which more than 1, 000 indicated interest to serve as commissioners. It is from this list that we picked the 20 commissioners and another commissioner nominee yet to be cleared by the lawmakers because I submitted his name after the initial list was sent, Mr Soludo said. He said each of the commissioner would be given his election manifesto, Anambra Vision 2070, document and the report submitted by a transition committee before his handover. Each of you must study the three documents because the documents constitute the template best tagged social contract with more than 15 million residents of Anambra and our people in the Diaspora, he said. He appealed to the people of the state, especially the families and close relatives of the commissioners, to ensure that they did not place much demands on them as their services were more to the state. Responding on behalf of her colleagues, Sylvia Ifemeje, the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, thanked God and Mr Soludo for their appointments, adding that they would not disappoint the state. (NAN) The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has sent a petition against a judge handling a suit over the seizure of the passport of Willie Obiano, the immediate-past governor of Anambra State, who is under the commissions investigations. Disclosing this in a statement on Saturday, the anti-graft agency questioned the impartiality of Hyeladzira Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court in Awka, Anambra State, in issuing an order permitting the former governor to travel abroad in March. The commission said in the statement by its spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, that it had petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to seek Mr Nganjiwas withdrawal from the case. Mr Obiano who was placed on EFCCs watch list, last year, was arrested at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, few hours after he handed over as governor on March 17. PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Obiano who spent six nights in EFCC custody, was trying to board a flight to Houston in the U.S when he was arrested. The commission released him on March 23 with his passport seized from him as part of the bail conditions granted him. But his probe over money laundering which he allegedly committed while in office between 2014 and 2022 continues, EFCC said on Saturday. It turned out that Mr Obiano had obtained an order from Mr Nganjiwa to embark on a foreign trip by the time he was arrested at the Lagos airport few hours after his successor, Governor Charles Soludo, on March 17. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has kicked against an interim order made ex parte by the Awka Division of the Federal High Court presided over by Justice Hyeladzira A. Nganjiwa granting the former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano leave to travel abroad to the United States of America to attend to his medical appointment, on the grounds of denial of fair hearing, the anti-graft agencys statement read in part. Contradiction? The commission pointed out what appears to be a contradiction in the order issued by Mr Ngajiwa last month ahead of Mr Obianos handing over to enable him to travel abroad on health grounds. The statement stated, Available court documents indicate that Obiano had on March 11, 2022, ahead of his handover on March 17, 2022, filed a motion ex parte dated March 10, 2022 before Justice Nganjiwa praying among others, for an interim injunction stopping the EFCC from arresting or preventing him from travelling out of the country for his medical treatment. While the court in one breath ordered the applicant to put the commission on notice why interim preservatory order should not be granted, it went ahead to make an order that the commission should not obstruct, impede or prevent the applicant from travelling abroad to keep his medical appointment and adjourned till March 23. EFCC added that on March 31, Mr Obianos fundamental rights suit was served on it. It added that Mr Obiano followed this by filing another motion on notice on April 4. The fresh motion, according to Mr Uwujaren, put the commission on notice of Mr Obianos prayer for the release of his passport to enable him to travel abroad for his medical appointment. He said the court fixed April 6 for the hearing of the motion and gave instructions that proceedings would be conducted virtually via Zoom. Mr Uwujaren said the EFCC, ahead of the hearing, petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to seek the withdrawal of Mr Nganjiwa. As the grounds for the petition, the commission recalled that it had previously prosecuted Mr Nganjiwa on corruption charges in a case that truncated by the Court of Appeal. The appeal of whether the commission can proceed against Mr Nganjiwa is now pending at the Supreme Court. Ahead of the hearing, the Commission petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court asking that Justice Nganjiwa recuse himself from the fundamental rights action on the grounds that he is a party in the Commissions appeal at the Supreme Court in the corruption case, H. A. Nganjiwa VS. FRN, EFCC said. But despite the petition, the matter, according to the EFCC, came up on April 6, but Mr Nganjiwa was represented by another judge. But when the case was called, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba held the brief of his brother judge, who is bereaved. The case was subsequently adjourned, with instruction that counsel will be notified of the adjourned date, the statement said. Allegations Although details of the allegations against Mr Obiano are still sketchy, media reports have said the governor of Anambra State for two terms is being quizzed by EFCC detectives over alleged misappropriation of public funds, including N5 billion Sure-P and N37 billion security vote which was withdrawn in cash. Advertisements Part of the money was also said to have been diverted to fund political activities in the state. Obiano was arrested for alleged misappropriation of public funds, including, N5bn Sure-P and N 37 Billion security vote which was withdrawn in cash. Part of the funds was also allegedly diverted to finance political activities in the state, EFCCs spokesperson, Mr Uwujaren, was quoted as telling Punch. Mr Uwujaren did not give details of the ongoing investigations apart on Saturday, apart from stating that Mr Obiano was being investigated over alleged corruption and money laundering during his tenure as Anambra State governor from 2014 to 2022. EFCC chair, Mr Bawa, also said the commission would not disclose details of the ongoing investigation against Mr Obiano. I dont know what update you want me to give, because you have been accusing us of media trials, and you want me to say we are doing this and that. No, we (EFCC) would not do that. We would continue to do our investigation professionally as we have been doing, he said while fielding questions from reporters during an event in Abuja. The federal government said the collapse of the national grid on Friday was caused by vandalism on a transmission tower on the Odukpani Ikot Ekpene 330kV double circuit transmission line, leading to a loss of about 400MW of generation. Isa Sanusi, spokesperson to the Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, said this in a statement on Twitter on Saturday. This consequently led to a cascade of plants shut down across the country, he said. The affected power plant was recently upgraded alongside Okpai and Alam IV power plants, to contribute 400 megawatts of electricity to the national grid. Electricity companies on Friday notified their customers of the latest grid failure which threw many cities into darkness. Please be informed that there has just been a national grid collapse causing an outage in our franchise areas. We apologize for the inconvenience caused and appeal that you bear with us while we await restoration from the TCN. We regret all inconvenience caused, the AbujaElectricity Distribution Company said. Dear customers, there was a loss of supply as a result of the system collapse of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) about 6:30 p.m. across all our franchise states of Bauchi, Benue, Gombe and Plateau, Jos electricity distribution company said. The latest collapse is the fifth this year. The Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, had said poor maintenance and shortage of gas were the causes of the collapse. He said steps but had been mitigated by the Presidential Power Initiative to prevent future occurrence. While a detailed investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the recurring grid failure is currently ongoing by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and System Operator (the operator of the national grid), the process of restoring supply is ongoing with some sections of the national grid already energised and supply restored to consumers, Mr Sanusi said in the statement. He said the grid was being restored by the system operator as other on-grid power plants were dispatched to cover the lost generation capacity from the Calabar power plant owned by the Niger Power Holding Company Ltd. Two people died and three others sustained life-threatening injuries after an uncompleted one-storey building collapsed at Hotoro quarters behind Chula filling station in Kano. The two deceased, Aliyu Sulaiman (27) and Abdulganiyyu Sulaiman were students of a nearby Quranic school. Their teacher told PREMIUM TIMES the incident happened around 3:08 a.m. on Saturday while the deceased were sleeping under the collapsed structure. Efforts to reach the spokesperson of Kano State Fire Service. This is the second time a building is collapsing in a month. On March 17 the State Fire Service reported the death of one person and several persons injured after a three-storey building collapsed along Ahmadu Bello way in Kano State. It was gathered that the story building, which is under construction collapsed with several workers trapped within it. The state fire service would later disclose that only two workers were trapped in the building. The statement revealed that while one person was rescued alive, the other victim was found unconscious and later confirmed dead. A governorship aspirant in Rivers State, Dakuku Peterside, said the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must be voted out in the state in 2023 because, according to him, the people of the state have suffered enough in the hands of Governor Nyesom Wike. Mr Peterside, who is aspiring on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC), said his party has resolved to end the suffering of the people and reset the state to achieving her full potential. Our people have suffered enough in the hands of Wike and PDP but APC is set to end all of that and reset the state to achieving her full potential, Mr Peterside said at a thanksgiving service held at Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Saturday. That PDP must go in 2023 is our resolve, and working in harmony, we shall achieve that. Today is a statement in the partys resolve to terminate the directionless regime of Wike and his PDP and in turn entrench good governance and grow our beloved state. The former Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), who described the PDP governance in Rivers State as a sad breast-pocket said with the success of the event, the APC in the state was on the right path of recovery and victory. Mr Peterside said the agitation for freedom from Mr Wikes administration is everywhere across the state, adding that the (APC) is ready to mobilise the people to serve the governor the red card it deserves. The agitation is everywhere across the state for freedom from the current administration of Governor Nyesom Wike, which is the lowest for the state since its creation on May 27, 1967. Every Rivers citizen, including civil servants, traders, craftsmen , students and our statesmen, are tired of Wike and PDP and are in unison to see their end. APC in the state is ready to mobilise them, going forward, to serve this wicked government the red card it well deserves, he said. Amaechi Project is Nigerians Project Mr Peterside, who served as Commissioner for Works when the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, was the governor of Rivers State, described Mr Amaechi as the most fitting, competent, and pan-Nigerian to lead the country in 2023. Mr Amaechi at the event declared his aspiration to contest for the office of the president in the 2023 election. Mr Peterside described Mr Amaechis project as Nigerians project, and thanked the minister for accepting the call of Nigerians to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023. I commend Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for taking this critical decision to serve Nigerians in the highest office in the land. Heeding the call of Nigerians to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari is a call to courage, commitment and continuation of the current Administrations determination to develop the nation. I am convinced this Amaechi Project is Nigerians Project, he added. Mr Peterside, a former federal lawmaker, told the party faithful and guests at the stadium that the APC will win all elected offices in Rivers State in 2023. The transport company, Peace Mass Transit (PMT), says it is still reviewing the recent court judgement against the company which awarded N500, 000 to one of its passengers. PMT lost its legal battle with a passenger seeking the refund of N500,000 (about $1) he paid to the company for a scheduled trip in February, last year. The passenger, Patrick Chukwuma, had instituted the suit after the company reportedly refused to refund the money to him despite failing to undertake the trip. In his ruling on Thursday, Justice C. O. Ajah of the Enugu State High Court, set aside the no refund policy of the company. The court further ordered the defendant (PMT) to pay the sum of N500,000 as damages to the plaintiff (Mr Chukwuma). Reacting to the judgement, PMT in a statement by its general manager, Ifeanyi Enete, on Friday, said the company would decide on the next line of action as soon as the review of the court ruling was concluded by their lawyers. Mr Enete insisted that the company makes refunds to its customers in the event of unforeseen service failure, saying the company boasts of the best record and capacity of making alternative arrangements for passengers whenever vehicles break down in the course of journey. However, we dont rule out the possibility that some overzealous staff down the line, can sometimes constitute obstacles to realisation of our corporate policy of prompt, enjoyable and safer road transport service for our valued customers, he said. He expressed the companys readiness to invest in the re- training and reorientation of such staff to become better service delivery agents. Mr Enete also urged their customers to remain calm and continue to support the company in their efforts to provide them with better, safer and affordable travel facilities in the country. Legal expert reacts Commenting on the issue, Stanley Alieke, a legal practitioner based in Abuja, said the court ruling was in line with the provision of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act, 2018. According to him, section 120 of the Act provides that, a customer shall have the right to return any advance booking, reservations order for any goods or services subject to a reasonable charge for cancellation of the order or reservation by the supplier or service provider. The legal expert also highlighted other sections of the Act supporting the judgment to include, 104, 129 (1)(a) and (b) (iii). By the implication of this recent judgment, every seller, vendor, both online vendors, service provider, etc, who insist on the no refund of money after payment is engaging in an unlawful and illegal sales policy, Mr Alieke posted on a blog on Saturday. ZURICH, April 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Q2 of 2022 is showing continued volatility across all markets. The aftermath of the geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe is still felt, alongside mixed sentiment from investors. With that in mind, a new trading platform has recently been launched by the name of GMT Trading. According to the company's founders, this brand is supposed to tackle the challenges of the economic sphere with tools that are suited for the current trading reality. "We are excited to start operating our platform. We have been working night and day to get things running, and now we're ready to go," said Anthony Rich, GMT Trading's spokesperson. "We've established the ultimate package deal for clients who wish to explore the CFD trading world with the best means available in the market today." Well wrapped package deal GMT Trading has made it a top priority to provide an all-in-one platform, giving customers all the right tools and conditions, as well as the most widespread and accurate knowledge needed for making fast and well-informed trades. The purpose of creating this brokerage solution is to allow clients to get all their information from a certified source, and not have to rely on multiple sources for credible information. "We find it highly important that our clients get all they need in one place," Rich remarked. "That's why we provide varied types of tools and services. For example, on our platform, traders can learn about trading strategies from pros. They can also get real-time market information before they trade. We have all the major types of assets and instruments available - crypto, forex, shares, indices, and commodities - keeping in mind that clients deserve diversity." About GMT trading GMT Trading is a new brand established by highly experienced financial experts, with the aim to position traders in a standpoint where they're able to trade with confidence and a broad understanding of their actions. This would not be possible without the devoted customer support available 24/5, and the helpful learning tools. GMT Trading also encourages an all-in-one account to manage client funds, in order to make trading more organized and efficient. All these come hand-in-hand with impressive security technologies that give customers the peace of mind needed for better trading. SOURCE GMT Trading NEW ORLEANS, April 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until May 3, 2022 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against C3.ai, Inc. ("C3" or the "Company") (NYSE: AI), if they purchased the Company's securities between December 9, 2020 and February 15, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period") and/or purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's shares pursuant to the Company's December 2020 initial public offering (the "IPO"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Get Help C3 investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-ai/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options. About the Lawsuit C3 and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period and/or in the Registration Statement and Prospectus issued in conjunction with the initial public offering, violating federal securities laws. The alleged false and misleading statements and omissions include, but are not limited to, that: (i) the Company's partnership with Baker Hughes was deteriorating; (ii) the Company was employing a flawed accounting methodology to conceal the deterioration of its Baker Hughes partnership; (iii) the Company faced challenges in product adoption and significant salesforce turnover; (iv) the Company overstated, inter alia, the extent of its investment in technology, description of its customers, its total addressable market, the pace of its market growth, and the scale of alliances with its major business partners; and (v) as a result of the foregoing, the Company's statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. The case is The Reckstin Family Trust v. C3.Ai, Inc., et al., No. 22-cv-01413. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com. SOURCE ClaimsFiler NEW ORLEANS, April 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until April 25, 2022 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Gatos Silver, Inc. (NYSE: GATO), if they purchased the Company's securities between October 28, 2020 and January 25, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period") and/or purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's shares pursuant to the Company's October 2020 initial public offering (the "IPO"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado. Get Help Gatos Silver investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-gato or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options. About the Lawsuit Gatos Silver and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period and/or in the Registration Statement and Prospectus issued in conjunction with the initial public offering, violating federal securities laws. On January 25, 2022, post-market, the Company revealed "errors in the technical report entitled 'Los Gatos Project, Chihuahua, Mexico' with an effective date of July 1, 2020 . . . , as well as indications that there is an overestimation in the existing resource model" and that on a preliminary basis, the Company estimated a potential reduction of the metal content of its CLG's mineral reserve ranging from 30% to 50% of the metal content remaining after depletion. On this news, shares of Gatos Silver fell $7.02 per share, or approximately 68.9%, to close at $3.17 per share on January 26, 2022. The case is Bilinsky v. Gatos Silver, Inc., et al., No. 22-cv-453. About ClaimsFiler ClaimsFiler has a single mission: to serve as the information source to help retail investors recover their share of billions of dollars from securities class action settlements. At ClaimsFiler.com, investors can: (1) register for free to gain access to information and settlement websites for various securities class action cases so they can timely submit their own claims; (2) upload their portfolio transactional data to be notified about relevant securities cases in which they may have a financial interest; and (3) submit inquiries to the Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC law firm for free case evaluations. To learn more about ClaimsFiler, visit www.claimsfiler.com. SOURCE ClaimsFiler DALLAS, April 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ironside Human Resources ranked as No. 229 on this year's Financial Times' list for "The Americas' Fastest-Growing Companies 2022." The announcement was made public on April 5, on the Financial Times (FT) website, providing the ranking of 500 companies from various industries listed out by revenue metrics and data collected in 2021. This year marked the third year that FT hosted this prestigious list and Ironside HR's first time participating in this recognition. Ironside Human Resources was first established in the heart of Dallas, TX in July 2011. The vision was to design a healthcare staffing firm that would not only operate on a unique business model in comparison to its competitors but provide staffing solutions to a diversity of clients. The key to the individuality of Ironside Human Resources lies within their appreciation of diversity in all operations. Boasting a wide spectrum of client types, Ironside specializes in working with small and large facilities alike, catering solutions to each organization's unique needs. The range of staffing solutions Ironside provides consists of addressing both permanent and travel/contract sourcing needs for all types of healthcare professions. From CMAs to C-Suite Executives, Ironside HR has no limit to what they are capable of recruiting for in the medical field. The FT list recognizes more than just the 500 fastest growing American Companies but also provides a platform to showcase businesses that were not only able to survive the COVID pandemic but thrive. Ironside HR, as one of these elite companies, experienced more than 50% growth within their internal team and are set to double their current headquarters' square footage by May 2022. "We are beyond excited to have been selected as an honoree on this list alongside some of the most influential companies in the country. We have been fortunate enough to build an incredible team that has propelled us to the point where Financial Times is recognizing us for our financial growth. In addition, I would like to thank the Management team and the mentors that I have had come in the past year that have helped take Ironside HR to the next level." (Doug Carter, CEO of Ironside HR). The FT list featured a great blend of different industries including Retail, Automobile Manufacturing, and I.T. solutions as well as a mix of companies that are traded publicly and those that remain private. All participating companies were required to provide their revenue from 2017 to 2020 to compound their annual growth rate to calculate not only their eligibility but their ranking in comparison to other participants. The full FT list with the rankings of all 500 participating companies can be found on their website, or through clicking here to access the page directly. PRLog ID: www.prlog.org/12912619 SOURCE Ironside Human Resources Download the Sample Report Now! Key Potassium Citrate Sourcing and Procurement Report Highlights: 1. Market growth 2021-2025: USD 173.8 Million 2. Growth momentum & CAGR: Accelerate at a CAGR of 3.95% 3. Top Pricing Models: Volume-based pricing, and Spot pricing model 4. Key consumer countries: North America, Europe, and APAC 5. Supplier Selection Criteria: Business needs, Technical specifications, Operational requirements, Security compliance, Regulatory mandates, Legal requirements, Quality control, Change management procedures, Pricing models, Penalty clauses, SLA nuances, Acceptance criteria, and Evaluation criteria 6. Top Suppliers: Posy Pharmachem Pvt. Ltd., COFCO Biochemical (AnHui) Co. Ltd, and Dr. Paul Lohmann GmbH & Co. KGaA Know More About This Market: Request for a Free Sample Report Now! Insights into buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers: Several strategic and tactical negotiation levers are explained in the report to help buyers achieve the best prices for the Potassium Citrate market. The report also aids buyers with relevant Potassium Citrate pricing levels, pros, and cons of prevalent pricing models such as Unit-based pricing, and Bundled pricing, category management strategies and best practices to fulfil their category objectives. For more insights on buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers, www.spendedge.com/report/potassium-citrate-market-procurement-research-report Key Drivers and Trends Fueling Market Growth: The pressure from substitutes and a moderate level of threat from new entrants has resulted in the low bargaining power of suppliers. Price forecasts are beneficial in purchase planning, especially when supplemented by the constant monitoring of price influencing factors. Identify favorable opportunities in Potassium Citrate TCO (total cost of ownership). Expected changes in price forecast and factors driving the current and future price changes. Identify pricing models that offer the most rewarding opportunities. To know more about various other market drivers, trends and challenges. Download our free sample report Smart Procurement Starts Here SpendEdge's procurement intelligence platform is the go-to tool for companies looking to access latest procurement research insights and supplier data on an easy-to-use platform. STARTER PACK Get 6 Full Reports, View 800+ report samples, Pre-order upcoming reports, Pre-order upcoming reports. Subscribe Now for FREE Want to know about various other Subscription packs? Click here Get the Details That You Are Looking for: Buy our detailed market analysis report to uncover: Changing market landscape with yearly forecast till 2025. Analyze the market's competitive and vendor landscape. How much marketing budget to set aside for geographical market expansion? Understanding the most adopted procurement strategies by buyers across industries. Download the FREE sample Report Now! Table of Content Executive Summary Market Insights Category Pricing Insights Cost-saving Opportunities Best Practices Category Ecosystem Category Management Strategy Category Management Enablers Suppliers Selection Suppliers under Coverage US Market Insights Category scope Appendix About SpendEdge: SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions. Contacts SpendEdge Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340 https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us SOURCE SpendEdge DUBAI, UAE, April 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With the sharp rise in demand for residency permits and second citizenship in 2021, a great deal of focus has been given to the investment migration industry. This has invariably led to some notable changes to our leading global residency and citizenship programs in 2022. Montenegro Extends Its Citizenship Program The Montenegro Citizenship by Investment Program was launched in 2019 and was scheduled to end on December 31st, 2021. However, the Montenegrin Cabinet has taken the decision to extend the program for an additional year with changes implemented to the program's terms. Investors must provide the government with a bank guarantee of 50% of the investment. There won't be any new approvals of development projects during the period and investors need to buy real estate from the government's existing list of approved projects. The non-refundable contribution to the government has doubled on January 1st, 2022 . Citizenship applicants are now required to contribute 100,000 to the national budget and another 100,000 to the regional development fund. The investment structure for the government-approved real estate project will remain unchanged. The last-minute extension of the program was intended to ensure sufficient funding is available for all development projects to be completed by the end of 2022 due to the increase in applications during the pandemic. St Lucia Extends COVID-19 Relief Bond An extension of one year to the Special Covid-19 Relief Bond has been approved by the Cabinet of Ministers in St Lucia. It was introduced in May 2020 to raise additional government revenue during the pandemic and gives potential investors a chance to qualify for citizenship for themselves and their family members. Investors looking to obtain St Lucia citizenship under the non-interest bearing Relief Bonds option will be able to make a minimum investment of US$250,000 for a family up to four. This is a substantial decrease from the investment requirement of US$500,000 mandated for its original government bonds option. The bonds need to be held by the investor for 5 to 7 years and can be redeemed after the holding period. Sole applicant 5 years Applicant with 1 qualifying dependent 6 years Applicant with up to 4 qualifying dependents 7 years Originally set to expire by December 31st 2021, the COVID-19 Relief Bond option will remain eligible for applicants till December 31st 2022. St Kitts & Nevis Introduces Alternative Investment Option St Kitts and Nevis have introduced a third form of investment under the Citizenship by Investment Program called the Alternative Investment Option. The AIO gives investors the opportunity to invest in potential projects listed by the government or by private companies with access to financing. Once the project has been completed and operational for a certain period of time, it must be turned over to the Government. AIO is divided into two categories: Public Good Project Developer (PGPD) Projects fully funded by the PGPD with a minimum investment of US$175,000. After completion of the project, the government retains ownership of the asset . Private Enterprise Developer (PED) Projects built or funded by privately-owned companies with a minimum investment of US$200,000. Note: The limited-time offer on the affordable donation-based citizenship by investment for families up to four in St Kitts and Nevis expired on December 31st, 2021. From January 2022, the donation for a family of four will rise back up to US$195,000. Portugal's Golden Visa in 2022 Portugal's government has confirmed that the country's Golden Visa Program will be subject to several new changes, starting from January 1st 2022, to boost interest in the country's low-density areas. The income generated by the Golden Visa program has produced uneven growth in the metropolitan property market leading to new measures being implemented to diversify investments to the interior regions of the country. As a result of the new regulations, applicants who intend to invest in real estate for the Golden Visa program are no longer allowed to choose popular metropolitan areas like Lisbon and Porto as territories eligible to purchase residential and rehabilitation properties. Only the inland and low-density areas are eligible for investment. Commercial property investments will still qualify in any part of Portugal, and this includes the metropolitan locations as well. Book A Free Consultation Savory & Partners is a government-approved agency that specializes in High-Net-Worth individuals applying to any Citizenship by Investment program. We are a British Authorised Agent with decades of experience who has helped over 1100 families obtain a second citizenship. If you would like to apply or learn more about our citizenship or residency by investment program updates, then contact us today for a free online consultation and one of our agents will happily aid you in your inquiry. Savory & Partners is an accredited agent for multiple governments where citizenship by investment is offered. Founded in 1797, the agency has evolved from pharmaceuticals to family assets and legacy protection through second citizenship and residency. The company's professional, multinational staff is made up of expert advisors who have guided thousands of clients, including many North African investors, on their journey to find the most suitable CBI program for them. The Savory & Partners team will be happy to answer your enquiries in English, Arabic and French. For more information, please send an email to [email protected] . You can also call +971 04 430 1717 or send a WhatsApp message to +971 54 440 2955. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1738007/Savory_and_Partners_Logo.jpg SOURCE Savory & Partners BOSTON, April 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Boston Architectural College (BAC) announces the launching of its newest video venture, BAC Channel with Mahesh Daas. This ongoing program will offer a series of exclusive, insightful, and one-on-one conversations between President Mahesh Daas and thought leaders from around the design professions and related industries. President Daas, "While the number of his projects might be measurable, the impact of his influence is immeasurable." Tweet this Renowned international architect, urban planner, educator, and Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate Balkrishna Doshi. Pratik Gajjar.Image(c)Vastushilpa Foundation. Dr. Mahesh Daas, ACSA Distinguished Professor, serves as the eighth president of The Boston Architectural College (BAC). Each episode aligns with the BAC's critical mission to diversify the design professions through expanded access to excellence in design education. Another key program goal includes increasing awareness of the design discipline to advance design literacy within the public sphere. The BAC is honored to kick-off its inaugural episode of BAC Channel with Mahesh Daas by featuring Professor Balkrishna DoshiIndia's first and only Pritzker prize winning architect, educator, guru, and the BAC's 2021 honorary alumnus. As President Daas noted, "While the number of his projects might be measurable, the impact of his influence is immeasurable." In this first episode, which was filmed during the height of the global pandemic, Professor Doshi and President Daas speak candidly about his life and career spanning nine decades, discussing design education, theory, rituals, space, architecture as well as the immense impact on our global structures and society during a global pandemic. Watch this unique conversation during the inaugural launch of BAC Channel with Mahesh Daasexperience a candid discussion, and delve into the prodigious life of a leading architect, guru, and educator of our time, Professor Balkrishna Doshi. Stay tuned for more information on upcoming episodes of BAC Channel with Mahesh Daas by visiting our website. Dr. Mahesh Daas, ACSA Distinguished Professor, serves as the eighth president of The Boston Architectural College. President Daas is the author of two books, Leading with Aesthetics: The Transformational Leadership of President Charles M. Vest at M.I.T. (2015, 2019) as well as co-edited volume Towards A Robotic Architecture (2018). He also serves as the current Chancellor of the ACSA College of Distinguished Professors and on the editorial board of Construction Robotics Journal. Boston Magazine hailed "The BAC's Mahesh Daas is on a Mission to Reinvent Design Education." Founded in 1889, The Boston Architectural College (BAC) is an internationally recognized institution with a diverse student and alumni population representing more than 54 countries. Providing excellence in practice-integrated design education, the BAC was Ranked #1 for Best Graduate School for Earning Potential and #4 for Best Architecture School Offering Bachelor's Degrees in the U.S. in 2020 by GradReports. The BAC offers bachelor and graduate degrees in architecture, interior architecture, landscape architecture, design studies as well as offering continuing education certificates and courses. The BAC upholds the importance of inclusive admission, diversity, innovation, dedicated faculty, and the intrinsic value of both academic and experiential education. SOURCE Boston Architectural College Srinagar, April 9 : An encounter has started between terrorists and security forces at Sirhama area in South Kashmir's Anantnag district, officials said on Saturday. "Encounter has started at Sirhama area of Anantnag. Police and security forces are on the job," police said. The firefight between terrorists and security forces took place after a joint team of the police and the security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation on the basis of specific information about presence of terrorists. As the security forces zeroed in on the spot where terrorists were hiding they came under a heavy volume of fire that triggered the encounter. Washington, April 9 : The US has called on North Korea to refrain from further provocations and instead return to dialogue. Jalina Porter, principal deputy spokesperson for the State Department, made the remarks on Friday amid speculations that the North may be preparing to conduct its first nuclear test since September 2017, possibly next week when it will celebrate the 110th anniversary of the birthday of late founding leader Kim Il-sung, Yonhap news agency reported. "The Biden-Harris administration has no change in our policy and we continue to urge the DPRK to refrain from further destabilizing activities, and ... instead choose to engage in serious and sustained dialogue," she said, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The spokesperson was responding to a question whether there has been a change in the US' North Korea policy after Philip Goldberg, nominee for new US ambassador to South Korea, said the US must push for comprehensive, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation (CVID) of the North. The term, CVID, had often been used under previous US administrations, but with the letter C standing for complete, instead of comprehensive. Pyongyang had often strongly reacted to the term in the past, and the Joe Biden administration has been describing its objective as the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula instead since taking office early 2021. North Korea, however, remains unresponsive to US overtures, while being increasingly engaged in provocations. The country has staged 12 rounds of missile launches so far this year, including seven rounds in January alone that marked the largest number of missile tests it conducted in a single month. Recent reports said the North also appeared to be repairing underground tunnels at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, indicating a possible nuclear test down the road. United Nations, April 9 : Funding and timely action are critical to prevent a major oil spill from a decaying tanker anchored near Yemen's coastline, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen David Gressly has said in New York. Gressly on Friday described the FSO Safer off Yemen's Red Sea coast as "a time bomb" - which poses a threat, Xinhua news agency reported. The 45-year-old floating storage and offloading facility holds 1.1 million barrels of oil, or four times the amount of the Exxon Valdez - the tanker that caused one of the greatest environmental disasters in US history. It is at imminent risk of spilling a massive amount of oil due to leakages or an explosion. "If it were to happen, the spill would unleash a massive ecological and humanitarian catastrophe centered on a country already decimated by more than seven years of war," said Gressly. The FSO Safer has been moored some 4.8 nautical miles off the Ras Issa peninsula on Yemen's west coast for more than 30 years. Production, offloading and maintenance ceased in 2015 due to the conflict between a pro-government Saudi-led coalition and Houthi rebels, and the vessel is now beyond repair. Gressly warned that a significant spill would have devastating consequences for Yemen and beyond. Some 200,000 livelihoods in the already war and crisis-wracked country could be instantly wiped out, and families would be exposed to life-threatening toxins. A major oil spill would likely close, at least temporarily, the ports of Hodeidah and Saleef, he added, referring to critical entry points for food, fuel and supplies. The disaster would have a severe environmental impact on water, reefs and life-supporting mangroves. Saudi Arabia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Somalia are also at risk. Clean-up alone would cost $20 billion. "That does not count the cost of environmental damage across the Red Sea. Or the billions that could be lost due to disruptions to shipping through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which is also a passageway to the Suez Canal," Gressly told journalists. A UN-coordinated plan aims to address the threat, with an overall cost of around $80 million. Yemen's warring sides, which last week implemented a two-month ceasefire, have signaled their support, as have senior UN leaders and some countries on the Security Council. The plan has received the backing of the Yemeni government, based in Aden, while a memorandum of understanding has been signed with the de facto authorities in the capital, Sanaa, who control the area where the FSO Safer is located. The plan covers two tracks, which will run simultaneously. It calls for installing a long-term replacement for the decrepit tanker within an 18-month period, and an emergency operation to transfer the oil to a safe temporary vessel over four months, thus eliminating any immediate threat. Both the FSO Safer and the temporary vessel would remain in place until all the oil is transferred to the permanent replacement vessel. The FSO Safer would then be towed to a yard and sold for salvage. To raise the funds, a pledging conference in May, co-hosted by the Netherlands, is set to be announced shortly. Gressly will travel to Gulf capitals next week to discuss the plan and drum up financial support. He underlined the urgent need for funding, stressing that without it, the "time bomb" will continue to tick. "My particular concern is really we need to finish this operation by the end of September to avoid the turbulent winds that start in the latter part of the year... increasing the risk of a break-up, and also increasing the risk in conducting any operation," he said. The FSO Safer has not been inspected or maintained since 2015 and has been out of class since 2016, leading to serious concerns about its integrity. It is understood there is currently no oil leaking from the unit, but it is considered that the risk of an oil spill from the FSO Safer is increasing as its structure, equipment and operating systems continue to deteriorate, according to media reports. Washington, April 9 : The US and South Korea continue to adjust their joint defense capabilities to meet ever increasing threats from North Korea's advancing nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities, a Pentagon spokesperson has said. Department of Defense Press Secretary John Kirby on Friday also highlighted the importance of South Korea-US joint training exercises, Yonhap news agency reported. "All our training events are meant to improve our readiness," the spokesperson said when asked if a US-South Korea joint military exercise, set to be held later this month, was meant to send a strong signal to the North. "It's not about message sending. It's about readiness, and that's our commitment on the peninsula. That's our commitment to our South Korean allies," he added. The remarks come after the South Korean defense ministry said it will discuss with the US about the possible deployment of US strategic assets to South Korea amid North Korea's continued missile launches. Pyongyang staged 12 rounds of missile tests this year, including seven rounds in January alone that marked the largest number of missile launches it has conducted in a single month. They also come after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister, Kim Yo-jong, said the North may use nuclear weapons if attacked by South Korea or the US. "We are well aware of the North Koreans', their efforts to advance their nuclear ambitions, as well as to advance their ballistic missile capabilities," said Kirby. "We don't need to hear threats and threatening comments from North Korean leaders to understand the actual threat that Pyongyang represents to the peninsula and to the region. And that's why we are continuing to adjust our posture as needed, to adjust our intelligence gathering posture as needed, and certainly to adjust our training and readiness with our South Korean allies," he added. Srinagar, April 9 : A Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist has been killed in an ongoing encounter in South Kashmir's Kulgam district, police said on Saturday. The police said that a search is also continuing at the encounter site in Chakisamad area. Earlier, a joint team of the police and security forces cordoned off the area and launched a search operation on the basis of specific information about the 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. Meanwhile, another encounter is also ongoing in Anantnag district's Sirhama area . Moscow, April 9 : The Russian Foreign Ministry announced its decision to expel 45 Polish diplomats in response to the expulsion of the same number of Russian diplomats from Poland last month. In a statement on Friday night, the Ministry said it had summoned the Polish Ambassador and declared 45 employees of Poland's Embassy in Moscow and of Polish consulates in Irkutsk, Kaliningrad and St. Petersburg "personae non gratae" who must leave Russia by April 13, reports Xinhua news agency. On March 23, the Polish Foreign Ministry ordered 45 Russian diplomats to depart within five days as part of a coordinated action by Western countries to expel several hundreds diplomats in the wake of Moscow's invasion of Kiev. Also on Friday, Russia announced the expulsion of two Bulgarian diplomats in a retaliatory step after the Foreign Ministry in Sofia declared one Russian diplomat persona non grata and gave him 72 hours to leave the country. Finland has also announced it is expelling two Russian diplomats and discontinuing the visa of one other. Several other European Union countries have already taken similar measures this week. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Moscow, April 9 : The Bank of Russia has decided to cut the key rate by 300 basis points to 17 per cent per annum from April 11. "External conditions for the Russian economy are still challenging, considerably constraining economic activity. Financial stability risks are still present, but have ceased to increase for the time being, including owing to the adopted capital control measures," Xinhua news agency quoted the central bank as saying in a statement. According to the statement, the bank holds open the prospect of further key rate reduction at its upcoming meetings, and the next rate review meeting will be held on April 29. Russia drastically raised the key rate from 9.5 per cent to 20 per cent on February 28 to support financial and price stability and protect the savings of citizens from depreciation, just four days after it launched its war in Ukraine. The central bank decided to keep the key rate at 20 per cent at the rate review meeting on March 18. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Los Angeles, April 9 : Staff at Ukraine's top studio, Film.UA, didn't think much of the abandoned bomb shelter on site. A vestige from past conflicts, the sealed shelter remained unused next to the company's extensive wardrobe department for years. But at the outbreak of war, the space was hurriedly reopened to host at least 90 Ukrainians taking cover from Russian air raids, reports 'Variety'. Located on the outskirts of Kiev, Film.UA, one of the largest production players in Eastern Europe, had been celebrating the premiere of one of its major film projects, 'The Big Picnic', the night before Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24. "Some people had hangovers in the morning, and they woke up to the news of war," says Kateryna Vyshnevska, head of development and co-production for Film.UA. "Some of our colleagues went to work as normal, but then that was also weird because you come to work and realise, 'This is war'." Everything stopped that day. Projects filming in Film.UA's soundstages were put on hold, and work ground to a halt as the cold reality of a long-feared Russian invasion sunk in. According to 'Variety', initially, the plan was for the studio, an old, repurposed factory building, to become a shelter for Film.UA employees. "But then it just grew bigger than that because we have a saying in Ukraine now: Every Ukrainian is either a warrior or a volunteer. You can't just stand aside" says Vyshnevska. Almost immediately, the studio opened its doors to people from the surrounding Troyeschina district, many who were older, vulnerable and unable to easily evacuate to safer locations. The bomb shelter was quickly retrofitted as a refuge during air raids, and some of the wardrobe department's thousands of costumes were used for aid. The company's catering company set up kiosks and worked non-stop to feed everyone and deliver food parcels to those with limited mobility. At one point, almost 100 people, including a woman and her newborn baby were taking shelter at Film.UA. Vyshnevska recalls a "scary moment" when the team realised that the Ukrainian army's air defense unit, used to shoot down Russian missiles, had been stationed the next street over from the back of the studio. An old World War II bomber plane stationed in front of the studio as decoration during peace time was also a cause for concern. "It meant that, potentially, the area could become a target for the Russians," explains Vyshnevska. But, luckily, that never transpired, and Russian forces are now retreating from Kiev and surrounding areas. Vyshnevska herself had a narrow escape from the city. The executive, who splits her time between London and the Ukrainian capital, escaped on March 7 to the south, and then on to Moldova and eventually Romania. She has been travelling around Europe ever since, talking to industry at markets like Series Mania and MipTV and encouraging the film and TV community to continue working with Ukraine so that the local industry survives the war. All the while, she had been desperately trying to confirm the safety of her Mariupol-based mother. For 17 days, without any sort of communication, she didn't know whether she was dead or alive. Part of her building, and Vyshnevska's childhood home, no longer exists, having collapsed after three hits during intense fighting in the eastern Ukrainian city. But somehow, Vyshnevska's mother was evacuated, and is now in Lviv, waiting to cross the border into Poland. With support from London MP Tulip Siddiq, who played an integral role in securing the recent release of Iranian-British dual citizen Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe from Iran, Vyshnevska was able to get her mother a visa to come to the UK. She'll fly to Warsaw on Monday and help her make the journey to London. The rest of her time is spent rallying the industry for support, for assurances that it won't leave Ukraine behind. Although Russian troops are retreating from cities such as Kiev, the war continues. As Film.UA Group CEO Victoria Yarmoshchuk told MipTV delegates earlier this week, Ukraine doesn't need mercy, pity or condolences. What it needs are new projects, international co-operations and jobs for people in the creative sector. "On the first day of war, we realized that content is our weapon," said Yarmoshchuk. "Ukrainian stories are not local stories; they can be understood everywhere. The best thing the world can do right now is to collaborate with us." Representatives of Film.UA Group, Media Group Ukraine, 1+1 Media and StarLightMedia, once rivals for content and viewers, came together in Cannes during a "Stand with Ukrainian Content Industry" session, urging international players to notice their showrunners, producers and writers, ready to work right now. One key objective is organizing an industry fund that, ideally, would receive contributions from big companies such as Disney and Netflix. "This is to create jobs so that we can help ourselves, and so (displaced Ukrainians) in Europe and all over the world can go home," says Vyshnevska. The fund is still in early stages, but "we hope the streamers will contribute, because they have a responsibility as the most international players". Vyshnevska adds that although filming in Ukraine is now on hold, other work such as dubbing and localization is still possible. Film.UA staff were initially working from home, but are now back at the studio doing voiceover and dubbing work for all the channels as well as news outlets. A 20-person team stationed across Ukraine is also producing an animated series chronicling the history of the Ukrainian resistance. "We have no choice: We have to go back and do what we do," says Vyshnevska. "If channels start buying more Ukrainian content, it immediately helps. If they start doing animation or post-production work with Ukrainians, this will help. We have a plan of how we can go back to production, and the industry has to help." Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War London, April 9 : British Chancellor Rishi Sunak's wife Akshata Murty has said she will pay UK taxes on her overseas income, following a row over her non-domicile status, the BBC reported. She owns 700 million pounds in shares of the Indian IT giant Infosys, founded by her father, from which she received 11.6 million pounds in dividend income last year. As a non-domiciled (non-dom) UK resident she is not required by law to pay UK taxes on her overseas income. But she told the BBC she did not want to be a "distraction" for her husband. Her decision to change her tax arrangements follows accusations of hypocrisy against the Chancellor, with opposition parties saying Sunak's family is benefiting at a time when the cost of living is going up. The BBC estimates Murty would have avoided 2.1 million pounds a year in UK tax through her non-dom status. Murty said her tax arrangements had been "entirely legal", but added: "It has become clear that many do not feel it is compatible with my husband's role as Chancellor. "I understand and appreciate the British sense of fairness and I do not wish my tax status to be a distraction for my husband or to affect my family." Sunak has accused political opponents of "smearing" his wife to get at him. He has also said she is entitled to use the non-dom arrangement as she is an Indian citizen and plans to move back to her home country in the future to care for her parents. Murty will retain her Indian citizenship and her non-dom status which allows her family to avoid paying inheritance tax in the UK - which at current valuation could amount to 280 million pounds, the BBC reported. On Thursday, it emerged that she pays 30,000 pounds a year to maintain her non-dom status. In her statement, Murty also said she would now be paying UK tax "on all my worldwide income, including dividends and capital gains, wherever in the world that income arises". "I do this because I want to, not because the rules require me to. These new arrangements will begin immediately and will also be applied to the tax year just finished (2021-22)," she added. Opposition Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner said questions remained over Murty's tax arrangements, at a time when people were "feeling the pinch" of the cost of living crisis. "Once again, senior government ministers seem to be taking the public for fools," she told the BBC. Liberal Democrat's Treasury spokesperson Christine Jardine called on the Sunak household to backdate the taxes in full, adding: "Doing something just because you've been found out isn't good enough". New Delhi, April 9 : BJP president J.P. Nadda reached his home state of Himachal Pradesh on Saturday on a four-day visit, during which he will participate in various programmes and hold organisational meetings in view of the upcoming elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in BJP's parliamentary party meeting had advised all leaders to visit their home states and reach out to the general public. After the party's spectacular win in the Assembly elections in four states, Nadda, with the Himachal polls in mind, will try to know the mood of the people and take feedback from them on welfare schemes of the government. Nadda will also take feedback from the party's state unit and then hold a meeting with the high command in the national capital on the basis of which the saffron party will formulate a strategy for the polls in the state. On Saturday, Nadda's visit will start with a grand roadshow from Vidhan Sabha Chowk in Shimla to Peterhof. After that he will address a public gathering at around 11.10 a.m. On Sunday, Nadda will hold a press conference in Shimla and hold a booth meeting in Daseran. He will also meet party workers in Tutu, Darlaghat, Namhol, Bandla, Kothi, Chauk, Ghumani. On April 11, the BJP president will interact with party workers in Nichli Bhated - Mandir Shed, Salnoo, Mandrighat, Majhwar, Harlog, Hawan Panchayat Ghar, Talyana, Kuthera and Morsinghi. The next day, Nadda will visit AIIMS in Kothipura and inspect work going on there. Nadda will interact with party workers in Jhandutta, Kandaur, Ghagas and Raghunath Pura. New York, April 9 : President Joe Biden expects that when the top diplomatic and defence leaders of India and the US meet, Russias invasion of Ukraine and its impact on energy and food will be "a central" item in their discussions, according to his spokesperson Jen Psaki. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh are scheduled to meet on Monday with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin for their 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Washington under the cloud of differences over approaches to the Russian invasion. "President Biden believes our partnership with India is one of the most important relationships we have in the world," Psaki said at her briefing in Washington on Friday. Biden believes "both sides will continue our close consultations on the consequences of President Putin's brutal war against Ukraine and mitigating the impact by addressing energy and food prices", she said. "We expect that to be a central one," she stressed. The separate official announcements on the 2+2 issued by the State and Defence Departments in Washington and by the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi did not mention Ukraine being on the agenda and instead put the spotlight on the Indo-Pacific. Biden expects that Blinken and Lloyd "will continue driving forward our work with India and our shared goals in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world", Psaki said, recalling last month's virtual summit Biden had with Prime Ministers Narendra Modi of India, Scott Morrison of Australia and Fumio Kishida of Japan. The four countries make up the Quad, which focuses on security and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific providing the linchpin for US strategy in the region where China's aggressive posture is increasing. Regarding energy, Psaki said that the US, which provides 10 per cent of India's oil imports was ready to help it reduce the 1 to 2 per cent of the supplies it gets from Russia. She did not expand on mitigating the invasion's effect on food prices, which have risen sharply as wheat exports from the world's top exporter Russia and the fifth-largest exporter Ukraine have been disrupted. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization has warned that high prices and shortages of foodgrains could be a catastrophe for developing countries. The Quad's programme to provide Covid-19 vaccines to developing countries with India as its provider could be a model for a food relief effort. Although India is the world's second-largest wheat producer after China, its exports have been small, about 5.5 million tonnes last year, according to US Agriculture Department data. But India is sitting on a huge stockpile of wheat estimated at about 100 million tonnes, far more than a safety net buffer would require, and New Delhi could step in to provide foodgrains for a programme to help vulnerable nations. That would be a role reversal for India, which received emergency shipments of wheat from the US to avert mass starvation in the 1960s before it turned its agriculture around with US help. Washington's global policy focus is on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and on isolating Moscow. But India, which has an existential dependence on Russian arms, is not ready to join the US actions against Moscow. While strongly condemning the invasion, India has abstained from voting on UN resolutions against Russia, despite requests from the US. In the latest vote on Thursday to suspend Russia from the UN Human Rights Council, India abstained, but it was in defiance of Moscow's threat that it would consider abstentions "unfriendly" action that could impact bilateral relations. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed @arulouis) Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Los Angeles, April 9 : Best Actor Oscar winner Will Smith on Friday (U.S. Pacific Time) accepted the decision of the Board of Governors for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences to ban him from all Academy events, including the Oscars, for 10 years, reports 'Variety'. Smith, who resigned from the Academy last week, replied soon after in a statement, saying: "I accept and respect the Academy's decision." In a statement issued after its 54-member Board of Governors took the call, the Academy noted: "The 94th Oscars were meant to be a celebration of the many individuals in our community who did incredible work this past year; however, those moments were overshadowed by the unacceptable and harmful behaviour we saw Mr Smith exhibit on stage." Apologising for the way it came across as unprepared, the Academy said: "During our telecast, we did not adequately address the situation in the room. For this, we are sorry. This was an opportunity for us to set an example for our guests, viewers and our Academy family around the world, and we fell short -- unprepared for the unprecedented." The statement also hailed comedian Chris Rock, the recipient of Smith's infamous slap. It said: "We want to express our deep gratitude to Mr Rock for maintaining his composure under extraordinary circumstances. We also want to thank our hosts, nominees, presenters and winners for their poise and grace during our telecast." Reporting on the Academy's action, 'Variety' observed: "The organisation did not have too many other options to impose, especially with Smith's membership now no longer active following his resignation." It added: "His resignation and barring from future telecasts does not preclude him from being nominated or even winning future Academy Awards during that time." There have been calls from industry insiders and moviegoers for Smith's Oscar to be taken back, which the Academy has no legal authority to claim, 'Variety' noted. "To compare, convicted criminals Harvey Weinstein and director Roman Polanski still hold their Oscars following their expulsions," it added. Smith assaulted Rock after the comedian made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head. Pinkett Smith, also a Hollywood star, has spoken publicly about her struggles with hair loss due to the condition known as alopecia. Smith later apologised to Rock in an Instagram post the day after the incident. The Oscars have struggled with their messaging and fallout after the incident. Criticism was heated from Academy members and Hollywood industry professionals regarding the decision to allow the 'King Richard' actor and producer to accept his statuette and speak for several minutes uninterrupted. When the disciplinary proceedings were announced, the Academy said in a statement that Smith had refused to leave the ceremony, something multiple sources have refuted. Latest updates on Oscars 2022 -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Chennai, April 9 : The Tamil Nadu police have been put on high alert following intelligence inputs of a possible violence in the state over Union Minister Amit Shah's statement regarding Hindi to be made the communicative medium. Political leaders, including Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Congress state president M.K. Alagiri, had come out against Shah's statement. Security has been beefed up in several pockets of the state where the possibilities of eruption of violence are on the high. The preventive measure, according to a senior intelligence officer with the state police, comes after Dalit outfit Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and Dravidar Kazhagam(DK) based on the ideals of Tamil social reformer EV Ramaswami Periyar, called for protests across the state against the minister's statement. Founder leader of VCK and Member of Parliament, Thol Thirumavalavan while speaking to IANS said: "The statement of Union Home Minister Amit Shah is part of the fascist designs of the BJP and the people of Tamil Nadu will reject and defeat the imposition of Hindi language in the state." He said that the party would conduct protest marches across the state against this highly provocative statement from the Union Home minister. Thol Thirumavalavan said that the party executive committee has chalked out the protest programmes against the statement of the Union Home minister. Thol Thirumavalavan said: "Amit Shah and the BJP do not know the history of Tamil Nadu and the protests that had emanated in the state against imposing Hindi language. The imposition of a link language would create a wedge and divide the people of the country and BJP should refrain from doing this." He, however, did not elaborate on the protest march plans and the date of conducting the marches. Sources in the state intelligence told IANS that the state police are prepared for any spontaneous protests in certain pockets where the party is strong. Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) leader K. Veeramani also said that the organisation will conduct protest marches across Tamil Nadu against the arbitrary move of the Union government to impose Hindi on the people of Tamil Nadu. "The people of Tamil Nadu are already agitated over the Union Home minister's statement on imposing Hindi on our people. There will be stiff resistance from Tamil Nadu and we will line up the people of Tamil Nadu against this unilateral move of the Union government and Amit Shah," Veeramani said. He also asked Amit Shah to study the history of the long struggles undertaken by the Tamil people in earlier days against the imposition of Hindi. The protest marches, he said, would be conducted in a peaceful manner and called upon the Union Home Minister to apologise to the people of the country and not to create a wedge between the different states using such statements. Veeramani said that the protest marches will be conducted on Monday in various parts of Tamil Nadu against this move of the Union government. Chennai, April 9 : Oscar-winner and one of India's top music directors A R Rahman has tweeted a poster highlighting the significance of Tamil and what the language means to Tamilians. The tweet, which was posted late on Friday, is being seen as a strong response to Home Minister Amit Shah's recent statement on Hindi being an alternative to English. Amit Shah had remarked that people from different states should speak in Hindi with each other and that Hindi should be accepted as an alternative to English. The statement has sparked outrage in several states of the country, including Tamil Nadu. Rahman tweeted the poster of a woman holding a staff with the Tamil letter 'a' (lazha) on it. Interestingly, the letter is unique to Tamil language. The poster, titled 'Tamizhanangu', also had lines from a poem by revolutionary poet Bharathidasan. The line, "Inba Thamizh Engal Urimai Sempayirukku Vaer" (Delightful Tamil is the root of the staple crop of our rights). Thousands have liked the tweet that Rahman has put out with several other top writers, actors, journalists retweeting the tweet to voice their support for Rahman's statement. Hyderabad, April 9 : Elaborate security arrangements are being made for the Ram Navami Shobha Yatra here and in Telangana's Bhainsa, scheduled to take place on Sunday. With the Telangana High Court on Friday directing the police to permit Shobha Yatra in Bhainsa of Nirmal district, the police top brass were busy making security arrangements to ensure a peaceful procession. The High Court permitted the organisers with some riders. Justice Kanneganti Lalitha said that Shobha Yatra should be held between 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The organisers should follow the route decided by the police and also abide by the conditions imposed by them, the court maintained. The organisers had moved the High Court after the police denied them permission for the procession to pass through certain communally sensitive areas. The state government conveyed to the court that in view of the law and order situation, permission was not granted for the procession in certain areas. Bhainsa, about 260 km from Hyderabad, witnessed a series of communal clashes in recent years. Violence had rocked the town in March last year. Communal clashes were also reported twice in 2020. In 2008, nine people were killed in the riots that broke out during a religious procession. Police in both Hyderabad and Bhainsa were making tight security arrangements along the procession route. In addition with deployment of adequate forces, the police officials will also monitor the situation through CCTV cameras. This is to take additional precautionary measures in view of the ongoing holy month of Ramzan. Meanwhile, the High Court dismissed two writ petitions seeking permission for Shobha Yatra from Rasoolpura and Karwan areas in twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The court said that the police already permitted the yatra from Seetharambagh temple to Hanuman Vyayamshala School, Sultan Bazar and the petitioners can join this yatra instead of conducting proceedings independently. The procession starts from Seetarambagh temple in Mangalhat and proceed to Hanuman Vyayamshala School in Sultan Bazar via various places under Goshamahal and Sultan Bazar traffic police stations. Hyderabad Police Commissioner C.V. Anand said that one tributary procession is from Akashpuri Hanuman temple and will join the main procession at Gangabowli Junction. The procession will cover 6.5 km and conclude at Hanuman Vyayamshala at about 10 p.m. The police have imposed traffic restrictions at various points along the procession route. Kiev, April 9 : The number of civilians killed in the Russian strike on a train station in Ukraine's Kramatorsk has increased to 52, with 109 people injured, a top official announced on Saturday. In a social media post, Pavlo Kyrylenko, the military head in Donetsk region where Kramatorsk is located, confirmed the toll but warned that "these numbers will inevitably increase", Ukrayinska Pravda. On Friday, Russian troops from the occupied territories in the Luhansk region deployed a Tochka-U system to carry out the cluster shelling on the Kramatorsk railway station, where some 4,000 people were awaiting to be evacuated. The victims included five children. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned the attack, the BBC reported. Writing on Instagram shortly after the attack, he said: "Lacking the strength and courage to stand up to us on the battlefield, they are cynically destroying the civilian population. "This is an evil that has no limits. And if it is not punished, it will never stop." He added that there were no soldiers at the station. The US, European Union (EU) and UK have condemned the incident and have since announced additional military support for Ukraine. The EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told the BBC that the attack in Kramatorsk was another attempt to break morale, after Russian forces were unable to win by fighting the Ukrainian army. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, April 9 : Hindi cinema actor Sonam Kapoor and her husband Anand Ahuja's residence in the national capital was burgled in February and cash, jewellery and other valuable items worth Rs 2.4 crore were stolen, it was officially learnt on Saturday. Confirming the incident, Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi district) Amrutha Guguloth said a complaint was lodged two months back, on February 23, regarding theft at the residence of Harish Ahuja, the father-in-law of Sonam Kapoor, at Amrita Shergil Marg in Delhi. DCP Guguloth said the complainant had noticed about the robbery on February 11, however, reported the incident 12 days later on February 23 after which Delhi Police registered an FIR under section 381 (Theft by clerk or servant of property in possession of master) of the Indian Penal Code at the Tughlak Road police station and initiated an investigation into the case. The senior official informed that police teams have been formed to probe the incident which are currently examining the evidence. "The investigation is still underway," Guguloth added. Notably, the Bollywood diva Sonam and businessman Anand are expecting their first child and that their baby will arrive in fall. They tied the knot in 2018. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Los Angeles, April 9 : Netflix top executives Reed Hastings and Ted Sarandos saw their overall pay packages drop a bit in 2021 - but they still raked in tens of millions each. Hastings total compensation package for 2021 was worth $40.8 million, including $39.7 million in stock grants and $650,000 in salary, according to the company's 2022 proxy statement, filed Friday with the Securities and Exchange Commission. That's down 6 per cent from the year prior for the co-founder and co-CEO of Netflix, reports 'Variety'. Sarandos, who serves as co-CEO and chief content officer, earned $38.2 million last year, comprising $20 million in annual salary and $17.1 million in stock - a 2.7 per cent drop from 2020. For 2022, Sarandos is set to receive $40 million in compensation and Hastings stands to make $34.65 million. The Netflix board's compensation committee "determined not to make any changes to executive officers' allocatable compensation for 2021 as compared to 2020", aside from incorporating the value of each executive's stock option allowance. The company allows named executive officers to allocate how their compensation is split between cash and stock options. The allocatable comp last year for both Hastings and Sarandos was $34.65 million, with Hastings electing to receive 98 per cent of that in stock and Sarandos opting for 42 per cent in stock. Netflix's other senior execs also saw slight declines in their comp last year. CFO Spence Neumann earned $12.5 million in 2021 (including $6 million in salary), down 3 percent year over year, while Greg Peters, COO and chief product officer, pulled down $20.4 million (including $12 million in salary), a 2 percent decline. According to 'Variety', Chief legal officer David Hyman's pay package was $10.2 million, down 3 percent, and chief communications officer Rachel Whetstone earned $5.33 million, a small drop from $5.36 million in 2020. Since 2017, Netflix's executive compensation has comprised only two pay components, salary and stock options. "We do not use performance-based bonuses as we believe that they tend to incentivise specific, typically short-term focused behaviour rather than encourage long-term stockholder value creation," the company explains in the 2022 proxy. Gurugram, April 9 : After the country's first case of coronavirus variant XE was reported in Mumbai, the Gurugram district health department has issued directions for the private and government health facilities to monitor the newly reported Covid cases here. Although, no cases of the new variant have been reported yet, Gurugram Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Virender Yadav has issued an advisory to all the concerned officials and authorities about the new variant. The health officials said that the department has prepared an action plan to deal with the new variant. An intensive screening campaign will be run in crowded places and the private health facilities will have to update the department if they find any suspicious case of the new variant. The officials said that the new mutant may be more transmissible than any strain of Covid. "We have directed the private health facilities to keep a watch on patients who had foreign travel history and immediately inform the health department. Rapid antigen probe will be emphasised. Necessary directions have been issued to the concerned authorities," Yadav told IANS. All government and private hospitals have been instructed to take necessary steps to prevent Covid infections, Yadav added. On Friday, the city reported 61 new Covid cases which has increased the total number of active cases in Gurugram to 270. The health department said fewer people are now using face masks which is another reason for the rise in cases. On April 2, the Haryana government had lifted its mask mandate in public spaces and government offices. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Bengaluru, April 9 : Karnataka police have arrested seven persons in connection with the gang rape of a 16-year-old girl in Bengaluru, officials said on Saturday, adding that search is underway for another accused. According to the police, the main accused person had sexually assaulted the victim and made a video of the incident. After the assault he had threatened the victim that he would kill her if she chose to tell anyone about it. Later, he shared the video with his friends. Blackmailing the girl again that video would be made viral on social media, the main accused along with his seven friends gang raped her, the police said. The incident had taken place in the limits of Yelahanka police station in Bengaluru. The incident has come to light after the parents of the victim persuaded her to reveal what happened to her as she came home crying. The mother of the victim then lodged a complaint with Yelahanka police on April 5. New Delhi, April 9 : Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that despite being born in the centre of power, he has no greed or temptation for it. The Congress MP was speaking while launching a collection of essays edited by former IAS officer K. Raju at Jawahar Bhawan. "There are politicians who are constantly in search of power.... I was born in the centre of power but honestly, it does not interest me at all. On the contrary, I try to understand the people and the country. In the process, I came to know that India is the only country in the world where untouchability still exists. We need to break free from this regressive mindset," he said. Expressing his gratitude for the constant love that he received from the people, Gandhi said: "My country has loved me unconditionally for which I shall be indebted eternally. Definitely, there have been times when I have received brick bats as well which caused immense pain but deep within I know that my country wants to teach me, so I try to understand it." On people being targetted only because they belong to a particular caste or creed he said: "I have also seen times when mobs assaulted innocent people like animals with sticks and batons simply because they belonged to a different caste or religion. This is happening only with Dalits in the country." K. Raju in his new book "The Dalit Truth: The Battle for Realizing Ambedkar's Vision" has attempted to depict the Dalit voice. It depicts their fight against the mob of Dalit truth and the lies perpetrated by the caste system. This is the eighth volume of Penguin Random House India's 'Rethinking India' series. K. Raju, who is also the National Coordinator of Congress's SC, ST, OBC and All India Minority Departments, said: "This book is a companion for the truth seeker who seeks to demolish the caste architecture that engenders inequality and discrimination in society, maintains it." Mumbai, April 9 : Actress and television personality Malaika Arora has penned a long note on social media, a week after she met with a car accident. Malaika got into the car accident on April 2 near Mumbai, following which she was immediately taken to a hospital for treatment. She was then discharged a day after. She posted a picture on Instagram and thanked the doctors, friends and family members for being there for her. Malaika wrote: "The last few days and the events that unfolded have been quite unbelievable. Thinking about it in retrospect feels like a scene from a film and not something that actually happened. "Thankfully, immediately after the accident, I felt like I was enveloped with the care from so many guardian angels - be it my staff, the people who helped me reach the hospital, my family who stood by me throughout this ordeal and the amazing hospital staff. My doctors ensured my safety in the most caring way possible at every step. "They made me feel safe and secure instantly and I am so very grateful for that. And finally of course the love that came in from my friends, family, my team and my Insta fam was just so reassuring. Moments like these are not epiphanies but strong reminders that we must always offer gratitude to those - known and unknown - who shower you with love and good wishes at a time you need it the most. "A big heartfelt thank you to each and everyone of you for being there making sure I come out of this with renewed vigour." Malaika said that she is on her "road to recovery and I assure you, I'm a fighter and I'll be back before you know it". Malaika was returning home from a fashion event, about which she had even posted updates on her Instagram account, when her driver lost balance and her Range Rover bumped into three cars on the expressway. She was rushed to Navi Mumbai's Apollo Hospital, where she was said to be recovering well, although shaken by the incident, and was likely to be discharged on Sunday. Apparently, she was resting her head on a cushion, which softened the impact of the accident. The local police have registered an FIR and are investigating the matter. -- Syndicated from IANS Bhubaneswar, April 9 : A day after arresting water resources department assistant engineer Kartikeswar Raul on corruption charges, the Odisha vigilance on Saturday arrested his second wife following detection of additional Rs 1.4 crore cash from a small kutcha house in a slum of Bhubaneswar, officials said. According to the vigilance officials, Kalpana Pradhan, the second wife of Raul, was arrested for actively abetting the offence of the engineer and helping him conceal the illgotten money. She is being forwarded to the designated court on Saturday, they said. After arresting Raul on Friday, the vigilance officials interrogated Kalpana (second wife of Raul). During interrogation, she confessed to having concealed more cash, gold etc in her sister's house at Salia Sahi (a slum area of Bhubaneswar). Based on this input, a team of Odisha vigilance raided the one room house of Kalpana's sister early this morning and seized Rs 1.41 crore cash along with 360 gms gold and 1004 gms silver belonging to Raul. With this, the total cash seizure in this case has risen to Rs 3.41 crore, which is the highest ever cash seizure by Odisha vigilance in a case, informed the officials. Further, property documents indicating purchase of a triplex bungalow by Raul at Pokhariput in the capital city on cash payment of Rs 78.50 lakh were also recovered by the vigilance. The vigilance, which is conducting raids on the properties of the engineer and his family members since April 6, has so far detected cash of Rs 3.41 crore, gold weighing 940 grams, 1 kg silver, double-storeyed building, a three-bedroom flat, a two-bedroom flat at Khandagiri in Bhubaneswar and a double-storeyed building at his native village in Ganjam and a triplex bungalow at Pokhariput. Besides, five plots in Ganjam, two land plots in Bhubaneswar were also detected by the anti-corruption wing. Fixed deposits and insurance premiums to the tune of Rs 37.23 lakh and other expensive household articles were found in the possession of Raul. Mumbai, April 9 : 'Lock Upp' contestants Ali Merchant and Mandana Karimi were seen in a heated fight over food in the reality show. In the latest episode, Ali went to Payal Rohtagi complaining about three-four strands of hair in Anjali's breakfast that Mandana cooked. Mandana overheard this conversation and started yelling at Ali. She not only burst on Ali but was also seen shouting at Payal. It would be interesting to see how they will justify their fights in front of the host Kangana Ranaut. 'Lock Upp' is streaming live on ALTBalaji & MX Player. Chennai, April 9 : Seven-time National Award winning lyricist Vairamuthu on Saturday said that language was something that was based only on one's need and not on imposition. Taking to Twitter, Vairamuthu penned his thoughts on the issue in Tamil. The senior lyricist, who has penned over 7,500 songs and poems in his 40-year career, said that those Tamilians travelling to the north to live there could learn Hindi and those travelling from the North to the south, to live here could learn Tamil. Language, he pointed out, was something that was based only on need and not based on imposition. The poet and lyricist went on to point out that they had lost a lot, both land wise and lifestyle wise, due to the dominance of the northern language. Vairamuthu's observations come in the wake of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks that Hindi should be accepted as an alternative to English during a meeting of the parliamentary official language committee. The statement of the Home Minister has triggered concerns in southern states of the country. New Delhi, April 9 : Thanks to the successful negotiations between an Indian agency and the Canadian government, Indian banana and baby corn can now be exported there, officials said on Saturday. "The negotiations between National Plant Protection Organisations of India and Canada on market access for Indian Banana and Baby corn resulted in Canadian market access for these commodities. Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Manoj Ahuja held a meeting with Canadian High Commissioner Cameron MacKay on April 7 wherein this was cleared," an official said. Canada informed that export of fresh baby corn from India to Canada may begin from April 2022 after updation of directive D-95-28: Plant Protection Import and Domestic Movement Requirements for Corn and the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS). Further, based on the technical information provided for fresh bananas by India, Canada has approved its entry with immediate effect. "This decision of the government of Canada would immensely benefit the Indian farmers growing these crops and would also enhance India's export earnings," an official said. India is the largest producer of bananas accounting for over 25 per cent of global production. Government data showed that fruits and vegetables exports were up by 12 per cent to touch $1,676 million in 2021-22 against $1,492 million in 2020-21, while processed fruits and vegetables exports were up by 7 per cent to reach $1,202 million in 2021-22 against $1,120 million in the previous year. Mumbai, April 9 : The Maharashtra state GST Department has arrested a businessman for generating fake bills of Rs 102 crore to make bogus input tax credit claims of Rs 14 crore, an official said here on Saturday. The businessman, who is the proprietor of Cermix, was arrested on Thursday and a Mumbai Magistrate sent to custody for 14 days. According to the GST Department, the sleuths also managed to get 8 crore from suppliers connected with Cermix, which generated, availed and utilised fraudulent GST ITC of Rs 14 crore from the bogus invoices worth Rs 102 crore. The operation was jointly conducted by Assistant State Tax Commissioner Amol Suryawanshi with Deputy Commissioner Nilkanth S. Ghogare, and Joint Commissioner Rahul Dwivedi of Investigation-A. The GST Department has warned that it uses comprehensive network analytic tools, coordinates with other authorities to identify tax evaders and none would be spared for cheating the government. --IANS qn/vd A Chandigarh, April 9 : Punjab Police have registered an FIR against a Delhi BJP leader for allegedly sharing on his Twitter handle a "doctored video clip" of Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal. This is the third FIR against a BJP leader since the AAP formed government on March 16. The FIR was registered against Delhi BJP's media cell head Naveen Kumar Jindal in Mohali, near here. He has been booked on the complaint of advocate Gurbhej Singh, who alleged that Jindal shared a cropped video from the original footage of an interview given by Kejriwal to a TV channel and doctored the original content. The complainant said some words of the Delhi Chief Minister from the original interview were dropped, a police official said. An FIR was registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology Act. Kolkata, April 9 : Kolkata's G.D. Birla School, that had closed operations for an indefinite period on April 7 to ensure the "safety" of its students, on Saturday that it would reopen on Monday. However, only students whose fees have been cleared, will be allowed to enter the school premises and attend classes, it said. The new notice, signed by school Principal Sharmila Nath, seen attached to the school's gate in South Kolkata's Ranikuthi, said: "The school will re-open on Monday, 11/04/2022 for students who have cleared all the dues." The school's chief PRO, Subhash Mohanty also said that the school will reopen from Monday, but only for students, whose payments are cleared. On Thursday, a notice, signed by Vice Principal Atrayee Sengupta, was put up on the gate, stating: "In view of the present law and order situation caused by the agitation in and outside the school, we are forced to close down the school for the safety and protection of the students and teachers till further notice. Kindly bear with us." Recently, a section of the guardians had been agitating in front of the school premises, alleging that even though the insitution has reopened after a long closure due to Covid, the school authorities are not allowing students to attend classes on grounds of their unpaid fees during the pandemic. The Calcutta High Court was also moved. Meanwhile, similar allegations have been raised against some other private schools in the city. On Wednesday, the high court had barred the private school authorities from denying entry, promotion or withholding marksheets to students on grounds of pending fees. Kolkata's G.D. Birla school has been in the centre of controversy twice since 2017. On December 1, 2017 two physical education teachers -- Abhishek Roy and Md Mofizul -- were arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a four-year-old student of the school. At that time, it was revealed that the school authorities did not adhere to the CBSE recommendation of installing CCTVs within the school premises. In 2019 again, the school came to limelight following the unnatural death of a student at school. Beijing, April 9 : The US is afraid that ties among China, Russia, and India may further develop due to the Ukraine crisis, Chinese state media has said. As White House top economic adviser Brian Deese claimed that the consequences of New Delhi's "more explicit strategic alignment" with Moscow would be "significant and long-term", Global Times termed this an open threat by the US toward India on the latter's own business. "When it comes to the Ukraine crisis, the US is blatantly displaying its hegemonic mentality - either you are with the US, or against the US. This echoes exactly the same slogan of George W. Bush, made in the wake of the 9/11 attacks," said Zhao Gancheng, a research fellow at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies. The US is again telling the world: As a superpower, it has the right to define who you are. Even if India has not "aligned" with Russia, and has kept a relatively balanced position during the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the US does not buy it, Global Times reported. "Remaining neutral makes no sense to the US. What Washington wants from New Delhi is completely standing by the side of the US," Zhao said, the report said. Before Deese's remarks, the US has already warned India more than once against constructing alternate payment mechanisms with Russia or buying more oil from Russia. Yet the threats turned out to be in vain, as India benefits from its ties with Russia, which can't be substituted by the US, Global Times reported. Also, India's response mirrors an increasingly obvious trend - the US has underestimated the antipathy the rest of the world holds for it. Not only India, but the majority of the general public in China and Latin American countries and other developing world have not taken sides with the US in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, even if the US believes it is standing on the moral high ground, it added. Bidar : , April 9 (IANS) Making an oblique referrence to the social unrest situation prevailing in Karnataka, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said that "all are equal in the government's view and maintaining law and order in the state is our objective." The government has nothing to do with the campaign to ban the Wakf Board, he told media persons before heading to participate in a programme in Basavakalyan. Replying to a question on Sri Ram Sena founder Pramod Mutalik's call for a campaign to ban the Wakf Board, Bommai said: "People do practice their respective traditions. Government is being run in accordance with the laws. The government has nothing to do with these campaigns." "I am very happy to be in the land of Basavanna. I have come with hopes of comprehensive development of the region," he added. Earlier, CM Bommai announced that an anchor bank would be established within a month to meet the financial needs of the members of women's self-help groups in the state. It would herald a revolution in employment in the state, he said. Srinagar, April 9 : Two men were arrested in Srinagar for murdering their father and dumping his body in the Dal lake, police said on Saturday. Police said on information on Thursday that an unidentified dead body was lying in the Dal Lake near Akhoon Mohalla Foreshore Road, personnel from police station Nigeen swung into action, fished out the body and shifted it to the hospital for medico-legal formalities The deceased person was identified as Khurshid Ahmad Tota, resident of Elahibagh Soura in Srinagar. "After medical formalities, the dead body was handed over to its legal heirs. The preliminary medical report revealed marks on neck etc. Also, through investigation into other suspicious circumstances, it came to fore that the deceased has been murdered by unknown persons who then threw the body into the Dal Lake," police said. An FIR was registered and investigation was taken up. "Through circumstantial evidence, oral witnesses, CCTVs and technical analysis it came to fore that the deceased was killed by his family members at home on the evening of 5th April after some altercation and the body was kept at home for a day," police said. "On the evening of April 6, after proper planning, they shifted the body in a vehicle and threw it into the Dal lake to conceal the crime. Subsequently, the two sons of the deceased have been arrested and the vehicle used in the commission of crime has also been seized." Srinagar, April 9 : Two terrorist associates of proscribed terror outfit LeT have been arrested in J&K's Budgam district, officials said on Saturday. The Budgam police, along with army's 2 RR and CRPF, arrested the two from the orchard area of Rathsun Beerwah in Budgam. They have been identified as Wajid Yousuf Akhoon, resident of Rathsun Beerwah, and Mohammad Ashraf Sheikh, resident of Kawoosa Khalisa. Incriminating materials of proscribed terror outfit LeT, and arms and ammunition including a Chinese pistol, two pistol magazines, and 12 pistol rounds have been recovered from their possession. Police have registered a case and investigation has been initiated. San Francisco, April 9 : Google has dropped prices of its Fi unlimited phone plans and rates now start at $20 per month per line for four or more lines, compared to the previous starting price of $30 per month. At this new lower price, Simply Unlimited will continue to be Google's most affordable unlimited plan especially for families and groups. "We're also adding more high-speed data -- an increase from 22GB to 35GB," said Dhwani Shah, Product Manager, Google Fi. Google Fi service provides telephone calls, SMS and mobile broadband using cellular networks. The company is also including 5GB of hotspot tethering and adding unlimited calling within Canada and Mexico. The Unlimited Plus plan now starts at $40 per month per line for four or more lines, compared to the previous price of $45 per month. Under this plan, the company will provide 50GB data from the earlier 22GB per month, along with unlimited calling within Canada and Mexico at no extra cost. With Unlimited Plus, you'll use your data on up to four additional devices with data-only SIMs at no extra cost and 100GB of cloud storage with Google One, said Shah. You also get international calls to more than 50 destinations and international data abroad in over 200 destinations. The Flexible plan will be $17 per month per line for four lines for unlimited calls and text, plus $10 per GB for data at home and abroad, said the company. New Delhi, April 9 : Terming the move as "premature", the Delhi High Court has turned down a plea filed by an absconding Indian-origin Portuguese citizen, who is accused in a rape case in London in 2017. Petitioner Jose Inacio Cota had approached the court challenging the extradition proceedings against him. In the recently-passed order, Justice Asha Menon said: "It is clear from the submission made by counsel for the petitioner, that the pleas taken here are precisely those which can be raised before the court dealing with extradition proceedings. "It will be most inappropriate for this court, at this stage, to comment on these aspects, in a manner pre-empting the Extraditing Court from applying its mind independently. That could be prejudicial to either or both sides." Earlier, the petitioner's counsel had argued that there is a treaty between India and the UK, saying that the UK is bound to provide all the documents and evidence -- physical and electronic -- collected during the investigation against a person of Indian origin. This will include medical evidence, forensic evidence, CCTV footage, the audio recording of the interviews taken by the UK police, details of calls made to the UK police, formal police complaints, and a record of seizure of articles. However, counsel, appearing for the Centre, objected to the plea on the ground that the petitioner is not appearing in extradition proceedings before the lower court. It was pointed out that the petitioner is wanted in a rape case registered against him in London on May 28, 2017, and his extradition request has been filed by the UK authorities to face trial in the matter. The petition stated that the petitioner has been vexatiously roped into a false case in the UK, which is racially motivated and thus discriminatory and prejudicial toward the petitioner. Mumbai, April 9 : It's official. The first case of coronavirus variant Omicron XE has been detected in Mumbai, and confirmed by the NCDC, Delhi, officials said on Saturday. The infectee is a 67-year-old male who had travelled from Mumbai to Gujarat's Vadodara, where he suffered from mild fever on March 12. His samples were sent for genome sequencing tests and the results, which came out on Saturday, showed it to be Omicron XE. He was fully vaccinated with Covishied, is totally asymptomatic and stable, and now the process to trace his contacts is currently underway. The development comes three days after a major fiasco when a South African woman film costume designer was declared as Omicron XE infectee, but, later the Centre denied it. The Omicron XE variant is a combination of BA.1 and BA.2 strains of Omicron and is found to be responsible for enhanced viral transmission as per preliminary reports. The government has said there is no cause for worry as frequent changes in the genomic structure are part of the natural life course of viruses, but advised people to exercise all precautions. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Shimla, April 9 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda on Saturday said the Congress has compromised with the interests of Himachal Pradesh whereas the saffron party has not only safeguarded the interests but also provided developmental projects and incentives to the state. Speaking at the "Abhinandan Samaroh" here, his first visit after the BJP's victory in four states in the recently concluded Assembly polls, Nadda said this was not just his honour but a regard of every party worker who worked to strengthen the party's base in the country. He said the feat was possible due to the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who ensured that the country regains its lost pride and glory and every one can live with dignity and pride. He said it was the Prime Minister who ensured the weaker sections of society and those deprived of welfare benefits get their dues that ensured the BJP victory in four states. He said it was after 38 years that any government succeeded in repeating its government in Uttar Pradesh. Nadda, who belongs to Himachal Pradesh, said the Congress lost its security deposit in a stunning 389 of the 399 seats it contested in the just concluded Uttar Pradesh. It was for the first time that any government succeeded in repeating its government in Uttarakhand. Nadda said nine food parks of multinational companies have been established and the state has emerged as a pharmaceutical hub with 12 companies exporting products worldwide. He said the status of special category state was also restored by Prime Minister Modi and accepted various demands like restoring financial assistance for development projects in the ratio of 90:10. The BJP chief said on the completion of four-year tenure of the state government, Modi laid foundation stones and dedicated projects of Rs 11,500 crore. He said projects such as IIM and AIIMS were sanctioned to the state during the BJP's tenure in the Centre. Appreciating the efforts of the government headed by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, Nadda said 9.37 lakh farmers were being provided Rs 6,000 per year under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojna. He said Rs 194 crore were provided by the Union government for the Smart City Project for Shimla, whereas Rs 190 crore were provided by the state. Chief Minister Thakur said it was only the BJP where a common party worker could rise to the topmost position in the party, whereas all other political parties are headed by families. Thakur said the Prime Minister also consider Himachal Pradesh his second home and was always considerate towards the developmental demands of the state. The Chief Minister said the Union government has provided a special assistance of Rs 800 crore to the state so that the pace of development goes uninterrupted. Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Singh Thakur said by winning all the four states under the able leadership of Nadda would surely win in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh as well. He appreciated the efforts of the state in pioneering the country in achieving the target of cent per cent vaccination of the population in eligible age groups. New Delhi, April 9 : Cement prices are expected to be further raised on the back of high demand as well as rising raw material cost, said Motilal Oswal Financial Services (MOFSL). In March 2022, cement prices rose 2-3 per cent on a month-on-month (MoM) basis across regions despite some volume push, to meet the year-end targets. "We believe that exit cement prices in 4QFY22 were 3 per cent higher than the average realisation for the quarter," MOFSL said. "Our interaction with dealers suggests that non-trade cement prices in March 2022 rose by Rs 15-20 per bag in south and central, whereas the price increase was Rs 5-10 per bag in north, east, and west India." As per the MOFSL, cement companies are planning further price hikes to mitigate the impact of rising raw material costs. "The impact of the rise in coal and petcoke prices will reflect in energy costs from April 2022. There has been an increase in diesel prices in the last few days, which will lead to higher freight costs. "Companies have indicated a cumulative price increase of Rs 40-50 per bag across regions in April 2022." Besides, it said that dealers have indicated that cement demand improved in most markets in March 2022 after remaining sluggish in January-February 2022. "We believe that pan-India cement volumes were 3-5 per cent YoY higher in March 2022 after a decline of 6 per cent YoY during January-February 2022. "Few dealers believe that the expectations of cement price hikes in April 2022 led to a strong increase in dispatches at the end of March '22 and actual demand trends will be known by mid-April '22. However, most dealers believe that secondary sales too were strong in March 2022." MOFSL also expects industry volumes to fall by 2 per cent YoY in 4QFY22. "For FY22, we expect volume growth for the industry to be 8.7 per cent YoY." Fazilka : , April 9 (IANS) Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday held a series of meetings here to take stock of the important issues concerning the border district of Fazilka, which impacts on national security. The meeting was attended by senior officers of Central government agencies posted along the Pakistan border, including the BSF, the Intelligence Bureau, the Narcotics Control Bureau, the National Investigation Agency, the Military Intelligence of the Indian Army, besides senior officers of the state government. Major issues of the border district impacting national security were taken up and detailed discussions were held with all the agencies, an official statement said. Earlier, both the Governor and Chief Minister addressed a meeting with sarpanches and local residents. The Governor in his address called upon the people to be eyes and ears of border security forces. He said the past incidents of air-dropping of arms and ammunition into Punjab have necessitated all concerned to be on vigil. He said the security forces are doing their part but the local input and support could go a long way in checking the influx of contraband weapons and drugs into the state. He said it has been observed that in many cases the modus operandi for proliferation of firearms and weapons as well as consignments of drugs has been 'conceal and clear' wherein the cross-border smugglers using high-tech technology like drones to drop the consignment into the Indian territory. So. it is pertinent that the villagers should be careful of the antecedents of all the new entrants into the village and should be on guard against any attempt towards misuse of their innocence by the anti-national elements. He said the concept of security over the years has broadened. Along with traditional threats to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the state, the security now also envisages the non-traditional threat in the form of organised crime, illegal migration, arms and drug trafficking, etc. He said that the border districts are vulnerable to this menace of contraband arms smuggling. Therefore, it is the duty of the people to extend support to the Central security forces and the state police. The thrust in the Governor's address was also on the fact that all the agencies, central and state, should work together in tandem with regular exchange of intelligence and inputs. Bengaluru, April 9 : Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday challenged the Congress to submit information regarding the Bitcoin scandal, saying he has already responded in the Assembly on the issue. The Congress, in a fresh attack, criticised the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Karnataka over the Bitcon scandal, and questioned the role of Chief Minister Bommai on the matter. Replying to this, Bommai asked Congress General Secretary Randeep Surjewala -- who in a series of tweets slammed the BJP, to "submit information" regarding the scandal. "From my side, I have given reply to the issue in the Legislative Assembly itself, if he (Randeep Surjewala) has any information on the issue, let him submit. Tweeting is meaningless," he said. "What is the role and responsibility of the Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai? (who was then home minister in-charge) and others in the state government?" Surjewala sought to know in a tweet. Taking pot shots at the BJP's central leadership as well as CM Bommai, the Congress leader said: "The layers of Bitcoin scam are finally being unearthed. Let India's Home minister and Chief Minister Bommai answer." "Is FBI in India to investigate India's biggest #Bitcoin Scam Coverup under Karnataka BJP Govt? If so, release details of the investigation & suspects, including political people?" he tweeted. Priyank Kharge, Congress MLA from Karnataka, responding to Surjewala's tweet, said: "I believe the FBI is in Delhi to investigate the billion dollar Bitcoins scam. Like I said before, if the state investigates the matter, a lot of BJP's skeletons will tumble out of the layers of Bitcoins scam." "How many Bitcoins were stolen? And of what value? Who in Karnataka is involved? Were the stolen Bitcoins transferred from the wallet of the arranged hacker Sri Krishna?" Surjewala questioned. "Whether the 'Whale Alerts' reflecting the transfer of the 14,682 stolen Bitfinex Bitcoins valued at Rs 5,240 crore on the two dates, December 1, 2020 and April 14, 2021 when Sri Krishna was in custody -- has any correlation?" Surjewala sought to know. He further asked, "Why was Interpol not informed? Why did the BJP government wait for over 5 months up till April 24, 2021 to write to Interpol and that also after the release of Sri Krishna on April 17, 2021." He also questioned "why National Investigation Agency (NIA), Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) were not informed by the Karnataka BJP government?" The BJP high command "with difficulty" had managed to quell the voice of dissent against CM Bommai's leadership. A BJP leader said that at a time when the party is all set for cabinet expansion and getting ready for assembly elections 2023 under the leadership of CM Bommai, the allegations (by Congress) have triggered a debate over the leadership issue again. New Delhi, April 9 : #ConsciousEffort Design Show & Conclave annual design show, now in its fifth year, and has served as an active launch pad for conversations about the intersections of sustainability and environmental consciousness with fashion, retail, and lifestyle. Over the last few years, there has been a surge of interest in sustainable fashion as an industry with the potential to improve both the environment and social impact. Sustainable practises are being aggressively incorporated into the brand objectives of designers and fashion houses. Founded by Saachi Bahl, Founder of Saahra, the show aims to educate, engage, and empower people about sustainable fashion. Saahra is India's leading sustainability platform that connects e-commerce, advocacy, and sustainability. This year's #ConsciousEffort Design Show & Conclave promises to be another exciting event. In keeping with the world's shift toward more ethical trade practises, the Conclave serves as a springboard for showcasing conscious luxury brands in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle. The multifaceted event also brings together well-known faces from the worlds of design and social activism for panel discussions and dialogues that complement fashion, beauty, and lifestyle houses' showcases. The event has previously hosted celebrities such as Rahul Misra, Anju Modi, and Amit Aggarwal, among others. Saachi Bahl talks to IANSlife about the show: How do you define sustainable fashion? Bahl: Sustainable fashion is really about making in a mindful way and ensuring companies' production practices are ecologically bearable and socially equitable. Circularity is a brand ethos. It's about being conscious right from raw-material sourcing to rethinking excess/ waste and worker welfare in the value chains, and eventually designing keeping in mind the after-life of the product! Sustainable fashion isn't a definition to abide by - rather, it's a culture you adopt of both respect and responsibility. Respect for people, planet and profit and the responsibility of our race to create a greener and better world. Q: How can one become a participant in sustainable fashion both on the manufacturing side and from the purchasing point of view? Bahl: On the manufacturing side, I think companies need to rethink the way they are making. They need to evaluate how they are producing and what they can do to make their practices more sustainable. Even small steps such as using natural, biodegradable materials, recycled packaging, minimising the use of plastics and choosing responsible and certified supply chains can make a big difference. On the other hand, shoppers must recognise that the real power lies in their choice. I would tell consumers to buy less and buy better and there is no mantra better than the 3 golden R's - "Reduce, Repeat, Recycle"! Consumers interested in investing in sustainable fashion or learning more about the subject can also visit #ConsciousEffort - an event I host, on the 9th of April, 2022 at The Imperial, New Delhi from 10am-6pm. We have a curation of about 20 conscious labels you can shop from and attend panel discussions featuring eminent designers like Anita Dongre to learn more. Q: Having rebounded quickly after the pandemic fast fashion is here to stay, how can brands be more conscious of their role in perpetuating eco conscious choices? Bahl: I don't think sustainability is a fast fashion versus slow fashion phenomenon. For any real change, the industry as a whole including, fast fashion chains, slow fashion boutiques and couturiers - all need to collectively address the challenges with respect to climate and social justice. Each company and each industry will face its own challenge. For example, a denim manufacturer's challenges with respect to sustainability are very different from a sportswear brand! Companies need to evaluate their true impact and responsibilities. I believe we all need to do the best we can and when we know better, do better! The one-of-a-kind fashion summit will take place on April 9th, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at The Imperial, New Delhi. (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in) London, April 9 : With less than 24 hours to go before balloting begins in the first round of the French presidential election on 10 April, incumbent Emmanuel Macron, seeking a second term, was scrambling to unite voters against the challenge he is facing from the far-right. The threat to Macron has arisen from Marine Le Pen of the National Front narrowing the gap between them in opinion polls. The former has thus been frantically endeavouring to resurrect the republican front. The process will inevitably go to a second round of voting on April 24 to decide the winner. In his only electoral rally in the campaign on April 2, Macron appealed to "all those, from social democracy to Gaullism, including the ecologists, who have not yet joined us, to do so", the Le Monde newspaper reported. An opinion poll published by BFM TV on Thursday, quoted by Reuters, gave Macron 26 per cent support to Le Pen's 25 per cent in the first round in which there are 12 contestants altogether. The top two out of the dozen will proceed to a direct face-off in a second round of voting on April 24. It's Macron's hope and expectation that most of the other votes will transfer to him in the decisive phase. On Friday, the President, no-holds-barred, said: "She (Le Pen) lies to the people." He added the far-right was about "rejection of the (French) Republic", "anti-Semitism" and "xenophobia". Earlier he had warned against taking Le Pen's extremism lightly. "I hear that she is far right less often. 20 years ago, the media would say 'it's terrible'." Five years ago, Macron, a pro-European Union centrist, quite remarkably created a winning movement and political party En Marche within months to triumphantly occupy the Elysee Palace. He, though, refused to engage in public debates with the other candidates this time. In this vacuum, Le Pen emerged as apparently his main opponent. Now, that the President's camp perceives one should not take matters for granted, they have launched a last minute offensive. Le Monde commented, "some in the majority see this strategy of rediabolisation as a tired attempt to reactivate the 'old Pavlovian responses' against the far right. The other candidates in the election include Eric Zemmour, a former journalist, TV commentator and best-selling author with hard anti-Islam and anti-immigration views, Valerie Pecresse of the right-of-centre Republicans, known as Gaullists after its founder Charles de Gaulle, and Anne Hidalgo, a former mayor of Paris, of the Socialist Party, which is a shadow of its erstwhile self. Zemmour has sounded so extreme in his stance in course of electioneering, that this has made Le Pen look a moderate, thereby persuading a section of the traditional right to veer towards her. Her poll numbers suggest the biggest support ever in France nationally for a far right nominee. For the Indian government, Macron is a familiar figure, while Le Pen is an unknown entity, but whose rhetoric against non-whites over the years has not been particularly friendly. The sitting President also represents continuity. He was a minister in the socialist President Francoise Hollande's government, which was awarded the lucrative Rafale multi-role combat aircraft contract by Narendra Modi in 2015. With this deal now being scrutinised by a Parisian prosecutor, Macron has a stake in fighting any averse findings, which Le Pen would not. Washington, April 9 : After a journey of almost 21 hours in the world's first private space mission, Axiom Mission 1 (Ax-1) astronauts arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) on Saturday. Crew Dragon Endeavour docked to the orbital complex while the spacecraft were flying about 418 kms above the central Atlantic Ocean, NASA said in a statement. Dragon Endeavour's docking was delayed approximately 45 minutes as the space station teams, including mission controllers at NASA and SpaceX, worked to troubleshoot an issue preventing the crew members on station from receiving views from Dragon's centre line camera of the Harmony's modules docking port. "Mission teams worked to route video using a SpaceX ground station to the crew on the space station allowing Dragon to proceed with docking," said NASA. The Ax-1 crew members includes Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria of Spain and the US, Pilot Larry Connor of the US, and Mission Specialists Eytan Stibbe of Israel, and Mark Pathy of Canada. They lifted off on SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday. The crew was welcomed by Expedition 67 crew members, including NASA astronauts Marshburn, Raja Chari, and Kayla Barron, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Artemyev, Sergey Korsokov, and Denis Matveev. During their 10-day mission, the crew will spend eight days on the ISS conducting scientific research, outreach, and commercial activities. The crew has shared that they are bringing over 25 different scientific experiments to work on during their eight-day station stay. New Delhi, April 9 : The Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu and Bandhavgarh and Pench Tiger Reserves in Madhya Pradesh were on Saturday awarded the Conservation Assured Tiger Standards (CA|TS) international accreditation certificates. With this, the total number of tiger reserves to get CA|TS certification becomes 17 as on date, the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change announced. The certificates of accreditation were handed over to the officials from the three tiger reserves at Pakke Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh during the 20th National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) meeting being held on Saturday and Sunday there. In July 2021, 14 of India's tiger reserves were awarded this global accreditation. India has over 50 tiger reserves. The government had initiated this CATS standardisation process 10 years ago. Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav had insisted on NTCA meeting to be held outside Delhi - for the first time - in order to get first hand information about the reserve, local issues etc. "While promoting tiger reserves across the country, we need to ensure the livelihoods of the people dependent on forests," the Minister said and pressed on active involvement of locals for conservation and better development of forest area and tiger reserve. Yadav also released Standard Operating Procedure for Tiger Reintroduction and Supplementation in Wild', 'Forest Fire Audit Protocol for Tiger Reserves' and a technical manual 'Management Effectiveness Evaluation' (MEE) of Tiger Reserves in India prepared by the NTCA. India harbours about 70 per cent of the world's tiger population in the wild. Patna, April 9 : Two personal bodyguards of 'Bahubali' (strongman) Bihar MLA Reetlal Yadav were arrested from Patna's Danapur locality on Saturday for violations of the Arms Act, police said. "Police also seized two rifles, one pistol, and one revolver apart from 185 live cartridges from their possession. ASP, Danapur, Abhinav Dhiman, said: "The arrests of the two persons were made under the special drive to check arms licenses of individuals. A large number of people are obtaining arms licenses from Jammu and Kashmir and procuring weapons without registering it with Bihar Police. "Such a practice is illegal as it creates fear among common people of Bihar. The arrest of two persons was done on the same charge. When they were asked to present a valid arms license before police, they presented the license of Jammu and Kashmir. When we checked with the database of Bihar Police, it was not registered here." Earlier, three more persons were arrested from the bank of Ganga river near Nasriganj Ghat on Friday. They were also having arms licenses obtained from Jammu and Kashmir. Thiruvananthapuram, April 9 : For the CPI-M, its Party Congress is its ultimate event and on Saturday evening, its ongoing 23rd edition in Kerala hit a peak with the presence of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and more so with that of "estranged" Congress leader and former Union Minister K.V.Thomas, seated to the right of none other than Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The event was a seminar on Centre-State relations and the key speakers were Vijayan, Stalin and Thomas. Thomas, whose attendance could see him being booted out of the Congress as the top leadership and the state unit of the party had warned him against going, received a tumultuous welcome. The CPI-M saw his presence as a moral victory over the Congress, their principal opposition in the state, as Thomas arrived at the hometown of state Congress President K. Sudhakaran, who, on Friday only, remarked that he prays that Thomas won't turn up. Stalin, who had landed at the Kannur airport in the afternoon, was received by the top leadership of the CPI-M and when he arrived at the venue, it was to big applause and so was the case each time his name was called out. Vijayan, in his inaugural address, said in today's context. the topic of the seminar, Centre -State relations is very important and so is the presence of Stalin. "But above that is the presence of K.V.Thomas. We invited him as a Congress leader and even now he is one. There were talks that his nose would be cut out if he attends. He is present here as a Congress leader. What will happen tomorrow is a different matter and I am sure nothing is going to happen. All I will say is 'let us not speculate'," he said. Vijayan also took the opportunity to take a dig at the 18 Congress-led UDF MPs from Kerala, saying that "they are doing nothing in the Lok Sabha to put pressure on the Centre to fight for the genuine needs of our state". Stalin heaped praised on Vijayan and said he is a person with a difference when compared to other Chief Ministers and it was his responsibility to attend the seminar and decided to attend the moment Vijayan invited him. "It was a Communist government which was the first in the country to be ousted, while two times in Tamil Nadu, the DMK government was ousted," he said. When Thomas's name was called out to speak, it was greeted with a huge cheer. "I stand here with a lot of pride and with great happiness. When I see this huge audience, I feel I have made the right decision to come and I wish my colleagues in the Congress party also will understand. I am for development and there should be no opposition to it," he said. It remains to be seen how the Congress reacts. Kolkata, April 9 : Tension is brewing in Diamond Harbour area of West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district after civic volunteer, Barun Chakraborty and his friend, Malay Makal were found brutally murdered. The bodies of the two were recovered on Saturday morning from the warehouse in Maghrahat of a firm, Jane Alam & Company, involved in manufacturing various items using animal bones. Police sources said that first, the two were shot and after that to ensure their death their throats were slit with sharp weapons. Diamond Harbour's Superintendent of Police Abhijit Banerjee said that preliminary investigation has revealed that Jane Alam, the owner of the company from whose warehouse the bodies were recovered, took around Rs 80,000 from the dead person, assuring them to supply raw materials at rates cheaper than the markets. "However, neither did he supply those raw materials nor did he return money to Chakraborty and Makal. So, the two were putting pressure on Alam to either supply the raw materials or return the money. Preliminary investigation revealed that Alam asked to come to their factory to get back their money on Saturday morning. The two persons, one of whom is a civic volunteer, were killed. Alam is absconding," he said After the bodies were recovered there was tension in the locality and the local residents burnt down two vehicles owned by Alam's company. It is learnt that once Alam was also involved in illegal chit fund business. During the period when the police started massive arrests of chit fund associates, he went absconding but later returned and started the factory on producing various items from animal bones. In fact, he and his associates had frequent quarrels with the local people because of the bad smell emanating from his factory. Locals also alleged that since Alam had strong connections with ruling Trinamool Congress, no action as ever taken against him. Patna, April 9 : The clash between Bihar's ruling allies, the JD-U and the BJP, is intensifying with leaders of both parties taking potshots at each other over various issues. On Saturday, JD-U Parliamentary Board President Upendra Kushwaha, and party's national President Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh slammed the BJP during an event to celebrate the birth anniversary of Emperor Ashoka. Kushwaha said: "Nitish Kumar is our leader. Without him, we will not take part in any alliance in Bihar." He also hinted at "a big conspiracy going on in the country to finish reservation". "The silence of the BJP on caste based census is extremely dangerous. When I was the Union Minister, a big leader of the BJP agreed on conducting a caste based census in the country. Now, they have stepoed back from this issue. If a caste-based census would not happen in the country, the reservation will be finished. There is a big conspiracy going on the take away reservation in the country," he alleged. Kushwaha said that the birth anniversaries of great leaders should be celebrated here. "There is an ill practice going on to defame the image of great people of the country. They often give statements on it. They are trying to start a new tradition in the country which is absolutely wrong. "A litterateur of the country had compared Samrat Ashok with Aurangzeb and the BJP government rewarded him with a prestigious award. We objected it on that occasion and demanded from the government to withdraw the award. Interestingly, they have not taken back the award," Kushwaha said. Kushwaha further said that BJP is taking credit for demanding a national holiday on the birth anniversary of the legendary Emperor. "I want to tell BJP and Sushil Modi that we were demanded for the first time to declare a public holiday and it was implemented during the government of Mahagathbandhan (JD-U, RJD and Congress) in Bihar," he said. Lalan Singh said: "Nitish Kumar became the Chief Minister of state due to the support of people of Bihar and not due to the obligation of anyone. "He has been working for every section of Bihar in the last 17 years. He has given reservation to women and most backward class people in the state." Panaji, April 9 : Sudin Dhavalikar, a newly inducted minister and the first non-BJP MLA to be a part of the state cabinet headed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, on Saturday said he wants to be part of the BJP-led coalition government's vision for rebuilding temples destroyed during the Portuguese colonial era. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, when the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party leader was administered the oath to office, the former deputy Chief Minister also angled for the Archives and Archaeology ministry, which has been allocated Rs 20 crore specifically for the rebuilding of temples destroyed during the colonial era. "I had made a statement that three temples broken by the Portuguese have been rebuilt by the devotees and trustees. Wherever there is an empty place where these temples once were, that process should begin," Dhavalikar told reporters. "Some temples have been relocated. But the places in which the temples have been broken, if there are efforts to rebuild them then it is our duty to help such efforts. This is where there are no other structures at the site. It is our duty to upkeep what has been left by our ancestors," he further said. "The CM has made a provision of Rs 20 crore in his budget speech. As a Minister I would like to work on this," he also said. Sawant holds the Archives and Archaeology portfolio, but the chief minister is expected to allocate ministries to the three new ministers, including Dhavalikar, over the next few days. In his budget speech last month, the Chief Minister had said that restoration of such temples would help the state to bolster its tourism potential. "Our places of worship are symbols of our rich cultural heritage. At many places in Goa, we find several temples in dilapidated and neglected conditions. During the Portuguese regime, there was a systematic effort to destroy these cultural centres. Considering tourism development, we have made a provision of Rs 20 crore for reconstruction and restoration of these temples and sites," the Chief Minister had said in his budget speech. Several temples were destroyed in Goa by the Portuguese, who ruled Goa for a period of 451 years, until the region which was a part of the Portuguese Estado da India, was liberated by the Indian armed forces in 1961. Several Hindu deities were also secretly smuggled out of Goa by its followers to the neighbouring regions now in present day Karnataka and Maharashtra to escape religious persecution. New Delhi, April 9 : Delhi BJP spokesperson Naveen Kumar Jindal on Saturday claimed that Punjab Police personnel conducted a raid at his residence in the national capital in a bid to arrest him in a case that has been registered against him for allegedly tweeting an "edited video"of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. "Kejriwal has sent a private car bearing registration number PB 02 DQ 1204 to Punjab Police to arrest me. But I want to tell @ArvindKejriwal again today, that I'm not afraid of him. I will keep telling the truth to the public," Jindal wrote on Twitter. On April 6 at 9.43 p.m., the BJP spokesperson tweeted a video captioning it -- Eventually their truth came out. In the video, Kejriwal was allegedly heard saying: "Earlier, the money used to reach the Chief Minister... the whole system was made to facilitate the lower level people to take money.... The money collected from officers of all departments, police and revenue departments used to be sent to the top. Now, our Bhagwant maan takes money, I take money, Ministers take money and our MLAs also take money. There was a meeting of Tehsildars in Punjab, who have said that take money at the lower level and also send it to higher levels." Subsequently, an FIR was registered against Jindal on April 7 under sections 465 (Punishment for forgery), 469 (Forgery for purpose of harming reputation), 471 (Using as genuine a forged document or electronic record), 500 (Punishment for defamation), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 505(1)(b) (Statements conducing to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code and section 66 of the IT act at the SAS Nagar police station in Punjab. Jindal, while speaking to IANS, confirmed that he was not present in the house when four police personnel of Punjab Police landed at his residence here in the city. Meanwhile, Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta came into defence of his partyman and accused Kejriwal of misusing Punjab Police by sending it to the houses of those people who expose him and speak against him. He said Punjab Police is after BJP workers because they exposed the corruption of Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi, exposed the construction of Haj House in Dwarka, negligence during Corona pandemic, and exposed Rs 20 crore swimming pool being built at Kejriwal's house. New Delhi, April 9 : Several students and social activists were on Saturday detained while staging a protest outside the Uttar Pradesh Bhawan in the national capital demanding arrest of a Hindu seer, Bajrang Muni. The protest was called by All India Students Association (AISA), Campus Front of India, and Fraternity Movement, after which students in large numbers along with activists assembled outside the Uttar Pradesh Bhawan at Sardar Patel Marg in Chanakyapuri. The protesters raised slogans demanding arrest of Bajrang Muni, for allegedly making some objectionable remarks. "As the students continued to raise slogans outside the Uttar Pradesh Bhawan, they were stopped by the Delhi Police and later detained," AISA general secretary Prasenjit Kumar told IANS. The protesters were then taken to Mandir Marg Police station around 3.30 p.m. and later released at 7.15 p.m. in the evening, Kumar said. On April 2, an alleged hate speech by Bajrang Muni outside a mosque in Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur district went viral on social media, and later sparked an outrage. Six days later -- on April 8, the Sitapur police in Uttar Pradesh, in a statement on Twitter, said that a case under relevant sections has been registered and further steps are being taken on the basis of witnesses' statements. The 2-minute video containing the hate speech is said to have been recorded on April 2 when Bajrang Muni, who is the mahant of Maharshi Shri Lakshman Das Udasin Ashram in Khairabad town, was taking out a procession on the occasion of Navratri and Hindu New Year. Muni can be allegedly heard saying in the video that if any Hindu girl is teased by a man belonging to a particular community, he would himself rape a woman of that community. He also allegedly made some more objectionable remarks. Sitapur district Additional Superintendent of Police, North, Rajiv Dikshit, had said that legal action will be taken as per rules on the basis of the facts and evidence that surface during the probe. Port Elizabeth, April 9 : Despite a six-wicket haul from Bangladesh spinner Taijul Islam, South Africa posted a daunting first-innings total of 453 on the second day of their series-deciding second Test at St. George's Park on Saturday. However, Taijul's efforts went into vain as South Africa were in full control after reducing the visitors to 139 for 5 in their first innings by stumps on the second day. Mulder removed three left-hand batters, trapping them lbw in a similar fashion, while Olivier took the first and the fifth wickets to fall. Olivier had Mahmudul Hasan Joy caught at first slip for a duck in the first over. Mominul Haque continued his poor run in the Test series, when he was also trapped by Mulder and when Olivier removed Litton Das it completed four consecutive dismissals with startling similarities. For South Africa bowling all-rounder Keshav Maharaj was the top-scorer and smashed his career-best 95-ball 84 to help South Africa to a 453-run total. Maharaj, who starred in crucial stands of 80 and 38 with Wiaan Mulder and Simon Harmer was finally dismissed by Taijul in the second session. Taijul bagged his 10th Test five-wicket haul with Maharaj's wicket and also reached the landmark of 150 wickets in Tests. Taijul, playing his 35 Test, is the second-highest wicket-taker for Bangladesh in Tests after Shakib Al Hasan, who has 215 wickets in 59 matches. Taijul remained the standout performer for Bangladesh, finishing with figures of six for 135 in 50 overs that included 10 maidens. Bowling all-rounder Maharaj saw his aggressive knock come to an end when he was castled by a Taijul delivery after the right-hander tried to go for a big heave on the leg side. Maharaj has played aggressively since coming on to bat as he raced to fifty off just fifty deliveries before Lunch. Brief scores: South Africa 453 in 136.2 overs (Maharaj 84, Elgar 70, Bavuma 67, Petersen 64, Taijul 6-135, Khaled 3-100) lead Bangladesh 139 for 5 in 41 overs (Tamim 47, Mulder 3-15, Olivier 2-17) by 314 runs Islamabad, April 9 : Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has held an emergency meeting of the federal cabinet, the media reported. Pakistan Federal Science Minister Shibli Faraz told reporters that a "surprise" was discussed at the meeting, adding that the prime minister could go to the Parliament at any moment, Samaa TV reported. The federal minister said that the cabinet did not discuss mass resignations. Several key decisions were expected at the meeting which will review the prevailing situation in the country. Federal ministers Pevez Khattak, Asad Umar, Shireen Mazari and others arrived at the Prime Minister House for the meeting, which began shortly after 9 p.m. Imran Khan faces a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly, but the session has dragged on for several hours as the PTI attempted to file a petition against the Supreme Court ruling. The meeting may decide on filing a reference against the chief election commissioner (CEC) over his statement before the Supreme Court in which he said that general elections were not possible for the next seven months, Samaa TV reported. The reference, which will be sent to the Supreme Judicial Council, seeks the removal of the CEC over his failure to fulfill his constitutional obligations as the ECP is required to hold general elections within 90 days after the dissolution of assemblies. The reference, under Article 215 of the constitution, targets not only the CEC but two other members of the ECP. Kolkata, April 9 : The ongoing controversies surrounding the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) recruitment irregularities, and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the issue, is aggravating the internal feud within the ruling Trinamool Congress in the state. On Tuesday, Trinamool Congress' state general secretary and the party spokesman, Kunal Ghosh made a statement indirectly holding the party general secretary and erstwhile state education minister, Partha Chatterjee (currently the state commerce and industries minister), answerable for the WBSSC scam. On Saturday morning, a senior member in the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led cabinet, Firhad Hakim came forward in defence of Chatterjee, questioning the authority of Ghosh in raising such questions. "Kunal is a not a member of the state cabinet. Running the government is a joint-responsibility of all the cabinet members. I am also a member of the cabinet. I cannot speak about others. But this is not a matter just concerning Partha Chatterjee," state transport minister and the mayor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Hakim told the mediapersons. He also said that since running a department is a "mammoth affair", it is not always possible for the minister concerned to remain aware of every minute details. "I am the mayor of KMC. But it is not always possible for me to be aware which officer in the assessment department is resorting to immoral activities. Similarly, Partha Chatterjee has not connection with the WBSSC scam. There is a procedure of departmental enquiry which will be followed," Hakim said on Saturday. He also claimed that no Trinamool Congress minister is involved in any kind of corruption. "I am also a cabinet minister like Partha Chatterjee. So, if there is any scam on any department, the responsibility lies on all the members of the cabinet including me. We operate like a team and hence, cannot pass on the responsibility," Hakim said. On Friday evening, Ghosh gave a "clean chit" to the current state education minister, Bratya Basu but refused to express similar views about Chatterjee However, he made a surprising statement when media persons asked whether such irregularities could have taken place during Chatterjee's tenure. "This answer can be given by Partha Chatterjee only, who was the then Education Minister and also the party's General Secretary. I am unable to offer any comment on this," Ghosh said. However, on Saturday, Ghosh toned down on this issue. "My relationship with Chatterjee goes a long way. What Firhad Hakim has said is correct. I did not pass on the responsibility to anyone," Ghosh said on Saturday. Beijing, April 9 : US President Joe Biden has compared the Russian military campaign in Ukraine to the Chinese response to student protests in Tiananmen Square in 1989. During a recent visit to Warsaw, President Biden praised Ukrainians for showing "backbone" in their resistance against Russia, giving the example of "a 30-year-old woman standing there in front of a tank with a rifle". Elaborating on this remark, Biden said, "I mean, talk about what happened to Tiananmen Square. This is Tiananmen Square squared." Coming as it did in the run up to another anniversary of the month-long protests in the heart of Beijing in 1989, which culminated in their brutal dispersal by use of massive military and police force, Biden's remarks are a stark reminder of the need to commemorate the 1989 incidents with much greater focus. This analysis attempts to revisit the protests and capture some of the issues which underpinned and gave impetus to the students. The world's imagination was captured by the lone man who confronted a fleet of Chinese tanks at Tiananmen Square, just holding two shopping bags! This was on 5 June. However, the protests began much earlier in April and have a story to be told. The narrative of China in early 1989 was one of progress and sentiment of expression among the people for reform, both political and economic. A decade had passed after liberalisation and economic development which the people felt in better standards of living. There was much greater activism amongst the students for more jobs and better living conditions. By 1986-87, student-led protests and demonstrations demanding more individual rights and freedoms across China. This led to intra-party debate with the Communist Party of China (CPC) with Hu Yaobang taking a moderate line on how to deal with the student protests. Yaobang was forced to resign in January 1987 by the CPC angered by the idea that 'bourgeois liberalism' could take root in the Party. The party began the "anti-bourgeois liberalization campaign", aimed at Hu, political liberalization, and to stop the infiltration of western-inspired ideas. The campaign stopped student protests and restricted political activity, but Hu Yaobang remained popular among intellectuals, students, and Communist Party progressives. Two things are of relevance in the present discourse. When Hu died in mid-April 1989, the students came together to mourn him in Beijing. Notably, this phenomenon was replicated across several cities in China including Shanghai, Nanjing and Chengdu. For obvious reasons media attention remained on the gatherings in Beijing, the principal reason being that the Western media had gathered to cover the visit of Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev in mid-May 1989. That the students arose spontaneously could be seen in the sudden appearance of posters on university campuses eulogizing Hu with calls to honour his legacy. Within days, most posters were about broader political issues, such as corruption, democracy, and freedom of the press. The most significant aspect of the protest movement was that the students were joined by other social groups and sectors.Starting with the students, the protests witnessed participation of intellectuals, media, workers, and finally CPC cadres. This social uprising made its presence felt in several cities across China as mentioned earlier. The events of 1989 shocked the CPC as it revealed the disenchantment with the rule of the Party. The month-long protests culminated in a crackdown officially termed as the 'June Fourth incident'. Political turmoil between the spring and summer of 1989 is a more neutral phrase currently used by the Chinese to describe the events of the time and is a recognition that protests spanned both time and space. That hard power was used to crush the movement which was a natural outcome of the CPC's quest for internal Party stability and to ensure that popular discontent did not raise its head again. Any understanding of the character of the protests must refer to the student's response to the editorial in the People's Daily (26 April 1989). The editorial made public the Party's line on the protests that it should be dealt with strongly. This was the Deng Xiaoping line that now resonated throughout the CPC. Students were angry that they were being targeted by the State and felt that their demands were being brushed under the carpet. This set the ball rolling for many thousands of students from Beijing University to gather (27 April) at Tiananmen Square. It is noteworthy that for a short while, the Party showed its willingness to negotiate with the students, even though intra-party sentiment was increasingly moving in the direction of a hard-line position. Ultimately, over a month of hunger strikes and collective action took its toll on the CPC. With Mikhail Gorbachev landing in Beijing in mid-May 1989 for the Sino-Soviet Summit, the press also got the opportunity to cover more of the student protests. The crackdown by the Chinese state which began on the night of 3 June was decisive and swift. Martial law had been declared on 20 May and several PLA Divisions were moved by air and road into Beijing, showing the preparations already in hand to disperse the protestors. That process set off a chain reaction as more and more people joined the protestors. Several worked to prevent PLA troops from entering the city. More importantly, it was not all hunky dory for the PLA. Many commanders refused to join the operations and later reports surfaced of troops refusing to fire on the protesters. Maj. Gen. Xu Qinxian, leader of the 38th Group Army, informed his superiors that the protests were a political problem and should be settled through negotiations, not force.He was sacked, but the worry remained within the CPC of loyalty of the Army to the Party! Thus, revisiting the Tiananmen incident and protests of 1989 sends a clear signal that the events of that year were epochal for China. The impact of this was long-lasting and steps taken by Deng Xiaoping then to curb dissent and ensure complete Party control over the State and people. This is the crucial lesson that Xi Jinping has learnt from those events and has faithfully implemented these. History thus is not just a chronology of events but also a chronology of change. That is the crucial lesson for China watchers to learn from analysis of the Tiananmen Square incident and its aftermath. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Bhopal, April 10 : A district court in Madhya Pradesh has issued a notice to Bollywood actress-turned-politician Jaya Bachchan -- a Rajya Sabha MP, over a land deal issue. The notice was issued by a Bhopal district court on April 7, and she has been asked to appear before the court to submit her reply by April 30. The notice has been issued on the basis of a criminal case filed against Samajwadi Party MP Bachchan by Anuj Daga -- son of former BJP legislator Jitendra Daga, accusing her of cancelling a land sale deal, even after receiving a portion of the payment. Daga's lawyer Enosh George Carlo, talking to IANS on Saturday said that in the complaint, Jaya Bachhan has been accused of demanding a higher price than the agreed amount. According to Carlo, Daga was in an agreement to buy land by paying Rs 1 crore as advance to Jaya Bachchan. "The amount was deposited in Jaya Bachchan's account. However, after a few days, the money was returned to Anuj Daga's account. Later, they demanded a higher price than the negotiated amount -- Rs 2 crore per acre of land, and then broke the agreement." "When an offer is made under the Indian Contract Act, it is accepted. Once the consideration is paid, the contract is completed. The agreement between my party and Jaya Bachchan was done digitally, and Rs 1 crore was paid into the bank account as agreed under the agreement," the lawyer said. Carlo claimed that Bachchan has 5 acres of land in Sevania Gaur in Bhopal district that she had bought around 12 years ago. The lawyer said she had authorised Rajesh Hrishikesh Yadav to sell the land. "The court has accepted the suit for consideration, and a notice has been issued. The next hearing will be on April 30. Jaya Bachchan has been asked to present before the court," Daga's lawyer said. Patna, April 10 : Crime seems to getting uncontrollable in Bihar with criminals even regularly targeting public representatives with impunity. In the last seven months, since the run-up to the Panchayat polls, eight mukhiyas (village heads) were killed in several districts. The state government has taken measures to provide security to elected representatives but still they are being attacked fatally on a regular basis. The latest incident was reported from Saharsa district where Ranjit Shah, mukhiya of Khajuri Panchayat under Saur Bazar block, was gunned down on Friday evening. His supporters blocked the NH-107 for 18 hours but there have been no arrests so far. The murder of mukhiyas and other Panchayat representatives hstarted during the run-up to the Panchayat election held from September to November. In Patna's Pandarak area, unidentified assailants had gunned down Priya Ranjan Kumar alias Gore Lal soon after he was elected mukhiya in October. Niraj Kumar, mukhiya of Rampur Faridpur Panchayat in Patna, was also killed in similar fashion. Parmanand Tuddu, the Mukhiya of Azimpur Panchayat under Maoist-affected Darahara block of Munger district, was also killed soon after the election result announced in October 2021. Sukhal Mushar of Dhaniwata Panchayat under Thawe police station was killed in Gopalganj, as was Jayprakash Prasad of Darkha Panchayat in Jamui, Sanjay Singh of Babubandh Panchayat of Bhojpur, and Anita Devi of Kumaitha Panchayat in Bhagalpur. During police investigation, it appeared that in almost all cases that the murders took place due to election enmity with rival leaders who lost the Panchayat elections. Panchayati Raj Minister Samrat Chaudhary, keeping in view of the frequent murders, had introduced speedy trial of such cases followed by conviction within 6 months. He had also made a provision to provide arms licenses to public representatives in hassle-free manners so that they could protect themselves but such measures did not prevent the killings. Kolkata, April 10 : West Bengal unit of the BJP, during Union Home Minister Amit Shah's two-day visit to the state on April 16-17, will seek his advice on contesting the forthcoming elections for Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) in Darjeeling. On April 16, Shah will be in north Bengal, wherein the hill leaders of the party will meet him and seek his suggestions on GTA polls. A senior leader of the party on condition of anonymity told IANS that the party will seek the suggestion of Shah on whether the party would participate in the GTA elections and if yes whether the party would go alone or have any arrangement with other parties in the hills. He also said that most of BJP leaders from the hills including the party MP and MLAs from the hills are against contesting for the elections unless there is a permanent political solution on the issue of separate Gorkhaland state. Elections for the GTA are due for over five years and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, during her recent visit to Siliguri had said at that the GTA polls will be conducted soon. The Chief Minister also had a meeting with almost all the hill- based parties namely Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, Hamro Party, Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha and Jan Andolon Party, on this issue. However, leaders of BJP, Congress and Left Front were not present at the meeting. Another prominent party in the region - Gorkha National Liberation Front, which is an ally of BJP in the hills - was not invited in the meeting. Mamata, after the meeting, had said that all the hill parties want quick GTA polls. The BJP Lok Sabha member from Darjeeling, Raju Singh Bista confirmed that in- principal they are not much in favour of participating in the GTA polls. "GTA is an illegal administrative system through which Mamata Banerjee is indirectly wresting her control over the hills. So, what is the point in participating in GTA polls," Bista questioned. A couple of days back Gorkha National Liberation Front announced its decision of not participating in the GTA polls. On the same day, the BJP legislator from Darjeeling assembly constituency, Neeraj Zimba, launched a scathing attack against the Chief Minister. "The Chief Minister is spreading lies that most hill parties are in favour of early GTA elections. The fact is that most hill parties are against it," Zeemba said. Brander Group Inc. The team at Brander Group continues to grow, and we are demonstrating to the rest of the world the value we truly bring in terms of industry knowledge, client care and process management, stated Jake Brander, the President and Founder of Brande Group Inc. Brander Group Inc., the leading global provider of IPv4 address block sales, was ranked #5 overall on the The Financial Times list of Americas Fastest Growing Companies in 2022. The prestigious recognition is presented by The Financial Times and Statista Inc., which is on the leading providers of statistics and industry rankings. Out of the tens of millions of active companies in North America, only 500 firms had enough significant 3-year growth to be considered and added in the rankings. With an overall 25,000% 3-year increase statistic, Brander Group Inc. was also ranked the #1 firm in the Telecom industry and the #1 Firm in Arizona for overall growth. These rankings are no surprise after Brander Groups impressive performance in terms of new client acquisitions and new revenue growth totaling over $100,000,000 in 2021. We are thrilled once again to have achieved such a recognition for our growth and success in the telecom industry. The team at Brander Group continues to grow, and we are demonstrating to the rest of the world the value we truly bring in terms of industry knowledge, client care and process management, stated Jake Brander, the President and Founder of Brander Group Inc. Education is the tool for success. The Steinberg Law Firm is proud to assist students to obtain this tool, reach higher, achieve their goals and aspirations and make our community a better place. The Steinberg Law Firm is pleased to announce that their 2022 Scholarship Program is now open. This years program is offering a total of five, $1,000 scholarships to high school seniors, current college students, and current law school students who are residents of South Carolina. This scholarship program was built upon one of the firms core values, which is to give back to the community. The firm values higher education for students in South Carolina and wants to help students achieve higher education by providing financial assistance. The scholarship program has been running for five years now and this year the firm is excited to once again aid five students with their college tuition. Past scholarship recipients have attended Clemson University, University of South Carolina, College of Charleston, Charleston Southern, and Winthrop University just to name a few colleges and universities. Managing Partner of the Steinberg Law Firm, David Pearlman, explains the importance of the firms scholarship program, Education is the tool for success. The Steinberg Law Firm is proud to assist students to obtain this tool, reach higher, achieve their goals and aspirations and make our community a better place. Five students will be selected by the Steinberg Law Firm Scholarship Committee to receive a $1,000 scholarship. The winners will be selected based on their answers to an essay question, GPA, extracurricular activities, special honors and awards, and community involvement. The application deadline for all three scholarships available is April 30, 2022. To apply, check out the Scholarship Program page on the firm's website. The Steinberg Law Firm puts an emphasis on giving back to the community because that is what the firms founder, Irving Steinberg, stood for when he started the firm in 1927. He advocated for all people, regardless of their background and where they came from. Irving Steinberg wanted to give back to the community that so generously supported him and the firm in the beginning. The firm continues to uphold these original, founding values today and gives back to the community through this scholarship program and community involvement events throughout the Charleston Metro area. The firm is best known for helping injury victims who have been injured either on the job or due to the negligence of others. If you or a loved one has been injured, contact the Steinberg Law Firm personal injury or workers compensation attorneys today at (843) 720-2800. The firm has three offices located in Charleston, Goose Creek, and Summerville, and offers free consultations. The firm does not collect a fee unless they win your case. We are grateful to our health plan clients that have embraced a new way of addressing payment integrity and FWA challenges with our technology platform Pareo. ClarisHealth, the leading provider of a payment integrity and FWA technology platform for health plans, announced today it has been recognized as part of The Financial Times list of The Americas Fastest Growing Companies 2022. This prestigious award is presented by The Financial Times and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider. Out of the millions of active companies in North and South America, only 500 firms were awarded in the list. ClarisHealth is ecstatic to be recognized as one of The Americas Fastest Growing Companies 2022, ranking No. 251 with a CAGR of 50-percent between 2017 and 2020. "We are grateful to our health plan clients that have embraced a new way of addressing payment integrity and FWA challenges with our technology platform Pareo, says ClarisHealth CEO Jeff McNeese. Our rapid growth is due entirely to them, our shared commitment to rooting out the billions of dollars in wasted healthcare spending, and our fantastic staff that help us fulfill this mission every day. The FT The Americas Fastest Growing Companies, now in its third year, is comprised of the enterprises that contribute most heavily to economic growth. The full list of 500 companies was published online on April 5, 2022, and can currently be viewed on the FT website along with the full methodology of the ranking. This award caps a run of recognition ClarisHealth has received as a result of hypergrowth. Just this year, the company ranked as one of the top-ten Largest Healthcare IT Companies in Nashville, was honored on the Forbes list of Americas Best Startup Employers 2022, and ranked on the Inc. 5000 Regionals Southeast list as the fastest growing private company in Tennessee. About ClarisHealth ClarisHealth, an Inc. 5000 and Deloitte Technology Fast 500 company and recognized as a major contender in payment integrity by Everest Group, is the answer to the health plan industrys siloed solutions and traditional models for identification and overpayment recovery services. ClarisHealth provides health plans and payers with total visibility into payment integrity operations through its proprietary, A.I.-powered cost containment technology platform Pareo. Pareo enables health plans to maximize cost avoidance and recoveries at the most optimized cost for a 15x return on their software investment. For more information, please visit http://www.clarishealth.com. We are so grateful to Congressman Fitzpatrick for his support of this crucial legislation. . . to improve the health and quality of life of individuals and their families. . ., Olivia Hsu Friedman, DACM, L.Ac., ASA Chair and Mina Larson, M.S., MBA, CAE, NCCAOM CEO. H.R. 4803 would authorize the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to recognize qualified acupuncturists as healthcare providers. Medicare recognition would enable qualified acupuncturists to provide covered services to Medicare beneficiariesover 60-million Americans. We are so grateful to Congressman Fitzpatrick for his support of this crucial legislation that would enable qualified acupuncturists to improve the health and quality of life of individuals and their families. We also commend Molly Giammarco, Government Relations Director, and Federal Lobbyist for making this connection possible and ensuring that HR 4803 is supported by both Republicans and Democrat Members of Congress, stated Olivia Hsu Friedman, DACM, L.Ac., ASA Chair and Mina Larson, M.S., MBA, CAE, NCCAOM CEO. Through the hard work of our advocacy team and Pennsylvania resident and Acupuncturist Brenda Schaufele, L.Ac., L.OM, Diplomate NCCAOM, we were able to obtain support from Congressman Fitzpatricks Office earlier today. Acupuncture currently cannot provide services to Medicare beneficiaries without supervision, even though their training and scope of practice enable them to practice independently. This disrupts the acupuncture service-delivery model, as they cannot receive direct reimbursement for the services they provide to Medicare beneficiaries, who in turn, cannot readily access their services. Research demonstrates that acupuncture is effective in providing high-quality, personalized care that helps individuals manage painwithout opioids and invasive proceduresand embrace preventive and wellness care options. The ASA and the NCCAOM look forward to engaging more members of Congress and the profession in this effort. Media Contact: Olga Cox 202-381-1116 About the ASA The Mission of the https://www.asacu.org/American Society of Acupuncturists (ASA) is to promote the highest standards of professional practice for acupuncture and EAM in the United States, to benefit public health. Through strengthening the profession at the state level while promoting collaboration nationally and internationally, the ASA provides its members, the public, legislators, and regulators resources for ensuring the best expression of this ancient and modern medicine. About the NCCAOM The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) is a non-profit 501(6) organization established in 1982. The NCCAOM is the only national organization that validates entry-level competency in the practice of acupuncture and Oriental medicine through professional certification. The NCCAOM certification or a passing score on the NCCAOM certification examinations are documentation of competency for licensure as an acupuncturist by 45 states and the District of Columbia, which represents 98 percent of the states that regulate acupuncture. The National Commission for Certification Agencies accredits all NCCAOM-certification programs. To learn more about the NCCAOM, or about acupuncture and national-board certification, visit http://www.nccaom.org.To find an NCCAOM board-certified practitioner in your area, click on Find a Practitioner at http://www.nccaom.org. Join the Franklin County Visitors Bureau at the 11/30 Visitors Center for "The U.S. Constitution in the Words of Frederick Douglass" in a living history portrayal by Nathan Richardson on April 30. Frederick Douglass lived an amazing lifefrom chattel to Renaissance man. He was a freedom fighter, self-made man, orator, author, activist, abolitionist, suffragist, and public servant. Step back in time on Saturday, April 30 at 1 PM, as the Franklin County Visitors Bureau welcomes the public to a special portrayal of Frederick Douglass at the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center. The event, featuring The U.S. Constitution in the Words of Frederick Douglass, is inspired by the public talk Frederick Douglass gave in August 1859, just before meeting with John Brown to discuss Browns plans to raid the arsenal at Harpers Ferry. The April 30 presentation is offered at no charge and culminates the Franklin County Visitors Bureaus April celebration Spring into History. Author and storyteller Nathan M. Richardson will portray Frederick Douglass. Richardson visited the 11/30 Visitors Center in 2021 to bring Douglass to life in A Conversation with Frederick Douglass and John Brown. Frederick Douglass lived an amazing lifefrom chattel to Renaissance man. He was a freedom fighter, self-made man, orator, author, activist, abolitionist, suffragist, and public servant. Born enslaved in 1818 as Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, he changed his name to Frederick Douglass after escaping enslavement in 1837. He published his first book about his life called "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass" in 1845. Douglass toured America and Europe, speaking about his life and freedom. Support of Douglass grew. In December 1846 through the efforts of English and Irish advocates, Frederick Douglass was legally and totally free. On his return to America as a free man, he began printing and publishing "The North Star" and completed a second book "My Bondage and My Freedom" in 1855. He continued his relationship with John Brown and hearing Browns plan for the Raid at Harpers Ferry, tried to convince Brown it would not be successful. The raid did not succeed. Douglass continued to carry the message of abolition and freedom. He served as a consultant to President Lincoln, advocating for USCT (United States Colored Troops) and abolition of slavery throughout the war. He was confirmed by the Senate to serve as a U.S. Marshall from 1877 to 1881, continued his work writing, and was a strong advocate of suffrage until he passed away at 77 years old. Throughout his lifetime, Douglass had many experiences and opportunities to learn and evolve. With such experience comes a special perspective of the American Constitution. Register for this event here, or contact 866.646.8060. The Franklin County Visitors Bureau invites all to explore history, arts and architecture, recreation, natural beauty, fresh foods and the warm hospitality of communities like Chambersburg, Greencastle, Mercersburg, Shippensburg, and Waynesboro. Franklin County PA is located just north of the Mason Dixon Line and is an easy drive from Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. Plan a visit at ExploreFranklinCountyPA.com, contact 866.646.8060, or stop by the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center on the square in downtown Chambersburg. Local television industry is facing a harmful imbalance in relation with sharing of advertising budgets, but also with the parasitic practice on broadcasts from Russia and Romania. More than 70 percent of Moldova's TV advertising revenues go to television stations that broadcast television programs in our country from the Russian Federation, and some of that money is transferred directly to Moscow but not used for the development of the local television industry. This is the finding of the media expert Dumitru Tira, who states that the remaining 10 televisions that produce local audiovisual content have access to only a quarter of the money from advertising. This discrepancy deepened with the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, according to an investigation conducted by the chief editor of PRIME, Ana Butnariuc.Representatives of advertisment agencies admit that some clients have withdrawn their promotion campaigns form news channels or news blocks, claiming that they do not want to be associated with violence. The same companies continue to promote themselves on Russian television, which avoids informing in detail about Russia's invasion of the neighboring state. ANA BUTNARIUC, chief editor of PRIME: "Local television industry is dominated by Russian TV channels, which either have final beneficiaries in the Russian Federation or parasitize on programs rebroadcasted on Moscow's television. These televisions have multiplied like mushrooms after rain in direct proportion to the excessive tolerance of the authorities towards those who parasitize in the Moldovan audiovisual. Worse is that according to estimates by experts in the field, audiovisual parasites put most of their advertising money in their pockets, without spending it on generating local content and job creation on the Moldovan media market. And this state of affairs seriously affects the financial independence of the authentic Moldovan televisions, which make TV programs according to the interests of the Moldovan society." DUMITRU TIRA, media expert: "Practically, historically, in the last 10-15 years, in fact, the share of advertising that goes to the televisions broadcast from the Russian Federation reaches 70-75 percent annually. It varies from year to year, but the share is there, maybe I would even say it is between 70 and 80 percent. Some of that money is going to the Russian Federation as a retransmission fee. Out of this 70-75 percent is the cost of television which are reduced. They make up a third of the money raised. And 20-25-30 percent is allocated to the other televisions, which are mostly local TV channels and have no chance of developing at the appropriate annual budget capacity." ANA BUTNARIUC, chief editor of PRIME: "In other words, the sour cream from the TV advertising pot is collected not only with the spoon, but even with the ladle by those who parasitize with retransmissions, and the whey remains on the authentic televisions that produce programs for the Moldovan public. The study "Media market in the Republic of Moldova: realities and trends", recently launched by the Center for Independent Journalism shows that although TV channels have a share of 53 percent of the advertising market, the volume of this market registered fluctuations in the last year. " In 2013, the TV advertising market was worth a total of 14.8 million euros, this figure has decreased and reached 2019 in 14.5 million euros. And in 2020, when the economy was severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, budgets for the TV market were reduced to 14 million euros. Last year, the TV advertising market registered a slight increase, the investments amounting to 14.5 million euros, the Center for Independent Journalism study also shows. ANA BUTNARIUC, chief editor of PRIME: "And only a small slice of the advertising budget pie reaches the authentic Moldovan televisions. And if we take into account the estimates of the media expert Dumitru Tira regarding the distribution of the TV advertising budgets, it shows that 10-15 televisions that invest in local products have access to only 3.6 million euros from the advertising market, the remaining over 10 million euros are poured into Russian televisions, many of which ignore for years the obligation to invest in the realization of the local audiovisual product because the Moldovan state allows it. In these conditions of disloyal competition, the chances of the Moldovan television market to develop professionally and become financially sustainable and independent are extremely low." DUMITRU TIRA, media expert: "We, as a country, will never be able to develop or develop the local audiovisual as long as the media is not independent. The independence of the media actually means the advertising money that is collected by the media institutions. " We tried to find out from the advertising agencies that mediate the placement of advertising how they explain the fact that the advertising budgets are mainly directed to the televisions that have final beneficiaries from the Russian Federation or retransmit the television programs from Moscow, but only two representatives in the field agreed to discuss this sensitive topic. DOREL SAMOILA, CEO Publicis Media Agency: "These channels show the largest audiences. That is, people in Moldova follow the channels given in the largest volume. This largely explains why we have the largest volume of inventory purchased by the advertising companies on those stations. If we take the advertising market in Moldova, half of the volume of advertising inventory is purchased by the top 30 companies. Respectively, they look at the numbers. They look at the audience of the stations where they can find their audience the fastest, most efficiently meaning the cheapest." DIANA BOICO, founder of advertising agency "GROUP M": "For many, many years, since independence, the consumer has been accustomed to consuming Russian-language content, and the channels that have built their business on it have had the choice to buy content on a high price from the West or to invest in content that is consumed with great pleasure by our audience, but which is cheaper, from the East. And that's where this whole story comes from. " An analysis by TV8 revealed that the share of advertising on Russian TV stations in Moldova increased in the first three months of 2022 compared to the same period last year, and the largest fluctuations were reported in the advertising of Moldovan banks and international pharmaceutical companies. MARIANA RATA, journalist TV8: "How is it possible that during the war, when it is clear that the Russian Federation is an aggressor state, more than half of the publicity from Republic of Moldova will go to pro-Russian or even Russian channels. Here is the chart shown by our colleagues." Moreover, representatives of TV8, Jurnal TV and N4 complained that with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, some advertising clients had redirected their advertising campaigns from television stations that reflected in detail the war in the neighboring state on russian TV stations, who fail to report on the subject and continue to broadcast programs produced in Moscow. And this contrasts with the international trend of stopping business with Russian entities or those with ties to Russia. GHEORGHE GONTA, journalist N4: "These are the big international companies, the mother companies, which are based in the West, and the companies based here are, as Mr. Macovei said, ignoring everything and giving advertisment to certain channels that are federal, which are supported by the Kremlin." DOREL SAMOILA, CEO Publicis Media Agency: "I did not notice a specific increase in the share on those dates. For example, I would say that our customers ... Our fall at the end of february looks like minus 40-50 percent. What we negotiated and launched in January - February was purely bussiness, where we had better conditions to cover the audience, we work with all companies in Moldova." DIANA BOICO, founder of advertising agency "GROUP M": "We are where the audience is and the budgets are adjusted on the channels where the audience is. There have been no changes in strategies due to this conflict, so no budgets have been allocated from one channel to another. These things have been circulated now as well, because you have given me the right to an opinion, I can assure you that they have not been reallocated. " However, television channels that create local programs and which responded to the public interest in reporting in detail about the war in Ukraine were disadvantaged by some brand advertisers "brand safety" policies. DIANA BOICO, founder of advertising agency "GROUP M": "For example, there are a few steps: there are customers who have withdrawn their budgets from television, given the context and the fact that there is a lot of information about the war from all sides, on all channels. That was the most drastic withdrawal of the budget. There are customers who have paused their advertising activities until a resolution of this conflict is reached. They have not completely withdrawn their budgets from the market and intend to return to communication activities as soon as the intensity of the news about the war decreases.There are customers who have immediately expressed their desire to be removed from the news channels or from the blocks that are around the news in order not to be directly associated with the editorial politics of one or another channel. There are different measures, depending on the client. " Publika TV, Jurnal TV and TV8 have fallen victim to such business politics of some advertising clients, especially international ones. Some of them have protested against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but paradoxically prefer to promote themselves on television with final beneficiaries from the Russian Federation or which retransmit Moscow-funded television. DUMITRU MISIN, journalist Jurnal TV: "The component of this war, which affects our television channel, and not just that, because today all budgets reach these channels broadcasted from the Russian Federation. There are many producers who, through this way of operating, finance things, including Russian propaganda." And now the question: to what extent do such decisions and strategies correspond to the public interest in Moldovan society, where these companies sell goods or services and accumulate profit? DIANA BOICO, founder of advertising agency "GROUP M": "We live in the Republic of Moldova, Ana, we do not live in Russia, so any client makes the decision based on the market in which it operates. If we had lived in Russia, the situation would have been different. We live in the Republic of Moldova, country which is not involved in the conflict, the country in which the economy works, the country which consumes. Okay, consumption power is declining and we understand that, but it's still being consumed. And in this context, I repeat, any client chooses to place themselves where their audience is, regardless of the language of the content of this channel." The financial director of TV8 Vasile Gherman appealed to the morality of advertising clients and those who mediate the placement of advertising on TV. VASILE GHERMAN, financial director TV8: "In business, in order to have a favorable environment and in today's conditions, you must have conditions of peace, and to be able to function, continue to work, I think they should be called to morality, to analyze more broadly how those budgets are oriented and to whom they're going." Advertising agencies have other arguments. DIANA BOICO, founder of advertising agency "GROUP M": "But everyone is using the tools that they can and have, and as I told you before, what is happening in Ukraine is very, very tragic. If that would help somehow to solve this, I think that many would take such decision. But I think this call was opportunistic in my view, because they might think that they could get more budgets this way." ANA BUTNARIUC, chief editor of PRIME: "Each party has its own arguments, but it is certain that the Moldovan audiovisual is caught in a vicious circle of financial marginalization of television with local programs, compared to those that parasitize on retransmissions. It is no wonder that the audience of some local programs can be smaller than the audience of programs retransmitted from the Russian Federation, Romania, Ukraine or from other countries, in whose advertising markets tens of billions of euros are spent annually. And these money are invested in the quality of TV production. It is not fair at all for these foreign programs to compete with programs from Republic of Moldova, which represents a small market and generates much lower advertising budgets. " Media expert Dumitru Tira claims that on TV channels that broadcast from Russia or Romania, 75% of the advertising blocks are on the slots of the broadcasted programs. The director of the Electronic Press Association, APEL, considers that a solution to stop disloyal audiovisual competition would be a legislative initiative that would allow advertising to be broadcasted only in the blocks of programs made in the Republic of Moldova. In the June 2017 issue of the biannual analytical magazine "Mass-media", published by the Center for Independent Journalism, Ion Bunduchi launched the question how would a single legal provision clear and functional would revolutionize the field: each radio station may place commercial advertising only in the programs it produces with its own human and financial resources. The provision would have at least two beneficial effects: it would stimulate the local product and minimize the informational parasitism, the media expert pointed out five years ago in the article entitled "Local media: the opportunity for real change". DUMITRU TIRA, media expert: "Yes, it is an idea that has been planned for more than five years and attempts have been made, including for the 2018 Media Services Code, in the sense of obliging media or television institutions, in particular, to place advertising in the local product. The key is the development of the local product and only in this case will the local or national media institutions of the Republic of Moldova develop in some way and maybe we will finally get rid of these retransmissions." However, some advertisers believe that such an audiovisual revolution could lead to a temporary reduction in advertising budgets. DOREL SAMOILA, CEO Publicis Media Agency: "So when we limit the time and the shows in which an advertisement will be placed, this automatically means that the volume of the audience with which we can communicate through TV decreases. And then the interest towards television in general decreases. I'm not a journalist, and I'd probably be less able to make predictions about how quickly local content can be built to be the same quality as the content that will be gone when it's impossible to place advertisments, I really can't give you here any ideas or how I would look at this part." Surprisingly, there are other approaches in this area. For example, Diana Boico, the founder of a major group of advertisers, believes that Moldova's television content industry can only be developed if our country takes over the experience of Ukraine, which has banned the broadcasting of television programs from the Russian Federation, so all broadcasters from the jurisdiction of the Republic of Moldova to be placed on equal terms. DIANA BOICO, founder of advertising agency "GROUP M": "This could have happened 10 years ago, and 5 years ago, no matter who was, or is in government. In my opinion, it is very important to create a local product. In my opinion, it is very important to be able to be proud of the values that belong to us. And I give you a personal opinion, there was probably a mistake in the early 2000s that this market was left dominated by Russian-language content or Russian content, such as the example of our neighbors in Ukraine, who in 2004 banned the retransmission of all Russian channels, have made an effort to form the local media market, have invested in content creation, which, yes, at first may have been weaker than what you could buy in Russia or other regions, but the market has grown. Money has been invested in local production, money has been invested in increasing skills, money has been invested in creating jobs in the local media, and in recent years Ukrainian production has been of high quality." In order for local television to be able to develop, the retransmission of channels from other countries should be banned by law, whether it is about Russia or Romania? It is a topic that provokes controversy in TV studios, even after 30 years of independence of the Moldovan state. DUMITRU TIRA, media expert: "I think we need to have local programs. Those who want to broadcast, this is another type of business in the field of TV. You colect a group of 10-15 channels, go to cable operator X and tell him I want one leu per subscriber. They broadcast cable and IPTV, which today exceeds 80 percent of the country's coverage, and this will in no way violate anyone's right to access television in one language or another. " PETRU MACOVEI, executive director of the Independent Press Association: "It was a big mistake to allow retransmission at the beginning of our country's independence. But I am not in favor of a total ban on retransmission. I am convinced that countries that have signed the European Convention on Transfrontier Television should be allowed to broadcast. At the same time, I agree with Dumitru and I think that the conditions should be different for those who produce one hundred percent or a much larger proportion of the local product they invest in. And we have many TV channels, not many, a few televisions that make their product with their money compared to the televisions that make retransmission. It should be a margin of ... and in relation to state policies, such as advertising or other things. " The executive director of APEL Electronic Press Association, Ion Bunduchi, considers that, in general, the media needs atypical solutions, such as an atypical and specific economic agent, which, in a state governed by the rule of law, must provide public services. To get a social effect and at the same time have to sell audience points to get an economic effect. ION BUNDUCHI, executive director of the Electronic Press Association "APEL": "If the media only tends to profit then it limps the social goal and cannot achieve it. The market regulates many, but not all, it's also the case of the mass-media. The rules of the market economy cannot regulate so that the media can reach the social and profit goal. It is also the reason why some institutions fight only for profit. And then the chase for clicks, the chase for nonsense that brings popularity and audience, but does not reach its other goal, that's why we need state intervention, when it comes to the media, that's why we need state policies for development of the media, so that this field does not go only on the side of profit. " ANA BUTNARIUC, chief editor of PRIME: "While local television producers who make local programs do not even dream of making a profit and barely raise money for employees' salaries, the money in the Moldovan advertising market continues to bring a profit in the pockets of those who can rightly be called the diggers of the industry of the moldovan television. " ANA BUTNARIUC, chief editor of PRIME: "And that's because they never wanted to move from the status of a speculator of retransmitted TV content to that of an investor in domestic audiovisual. Even worse is that by retransmitting programs from other countries, the population of the Republic of Moldova is subjected to a transfusion of priorities, cultural values, social policies that are foreign to us, which is dangerous for national security. " In Bokurs The Lava Witch (Kensington, June), the police on Maui probe the murder of a woman amid reports that a band of witches was seen flying through the trees near where she was killed. What about Hawaii appealed to you as a mystery series setting? I wanted a setting that could become indelibly tied to my series in the same way that those picturesque English villages are ubiquitous to so many cozy mysteries. Hawaii, with its built-in polarities and self-contained island landscape, fulfilled my requirements. What are those polarities? Having had the immense good fortune to have traveled there frequently in a past role as a magazine editor, Id grown fascinated by how the reality of Hawaii differs from popular perceptions of it. Stunning and glorious, yesbut also given to extremes in everything from weather to social conditions. Many of the Hawaiians Ive worked with seem to live effortlessly in two worlds at once: the everyday, busy modern world, and a second one thats far more deeply and directly in touch with the realm of nature. What did you find that you didnt expect as you conducted research? Many shocking things: Hawaii had the nations highest rate of homelessness per capita, and almost double the national average for use of methamphetamine drugs. The population suffers from high rates of diabetes and heart disease, theres ridiculous traffic congestion, and major environmental concerns. Theres also an understandable undercurrent of resentment from many local people regarding land development. It has been eye-opening to hear local views on massive third homes belonging to mainlanders popping up when many locals are struggling financially. Tourism is a mixed bag in Hawaii. While it provides industry and income, it also means the building of additional resorts, time-shares, and tourist infrastructure that impacts the very way of life and atmosphere that makes Hawaii so appealing. Has your experience writing essays for boxes of Celestial Seasonings teas influenced your writing mystery fiction? All writing adds up and helps define voice. The essays were terrific fun to write. My brief was to imagine into words the kind of world each tea might be part of, and it was extraordinarily satisfying to create an entire tea-based story in the space of a single paragraph. The process of quickly setting a mood and backdrop, establishing story, creating an air of mystery, and bringing it all to a satisfying conclusion has turned out to be essential to the skills necessary for writing longer works. By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 04/08/2022 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. alum Maurissa Gunn has shared an update on the current status of her love-life following her split from her now ex-fiance Riley Christian "I want Bachelor Nation to know that I'm still looking for love. Love is the most important thing to me. I want a husband. Seriously, it sucks!" Maurissa, 25, told BachelorNation on Wednesday.Maurissa, who first competed on Peter Weber 's The Bachelor season in 2020 before getting engaged to Riley on 's seventh season in Summer 2021, said "it takes two to make" a relationship work, suggesting that Riley may not have done his part."It really sucks, coming out of an experience where you think everyone is looking for that. Especially when you think you found it, like a ring on your finger and everything," Maurissa lamented.Back in late February, Maurissa appeared to slam Riley by retweeting two of her pal's fiery Twitter posts that were seemingly aimed at Riley, 32.The Bachelor alum Deandra Kanu wrote, "I'm not an inherently messy person, but when I see things in real time and then see someone skew that perception for social media it's very scary.""It's not okay by any means to be the catalyst of your own demise and then go onto socials and ask for the publics sympathy," she added in a second tweet. "There are always two sides to a story."While Deandra didn't name Riley directly, her tweets came only one day after Riley posted a lengthy statement on Instagram about how he was trying to "heal" and bounce back from his breakup with Maurissa.Riley captioned a photo of himself in a blue suit on February 17, "It takes a while for me to heal, but I thank you all for your patience. This has not at all been an easy time.""This has been one of the most difficult times of my life, but as with everything I always do my best to move forward with hopeful and positive spirits. But you see, I was always taught by my pops that 'we bend but don't break.' But some very good people showed me otherwise."Riley proceeded to thank a good friend and his mother for their support as well as give his father a shout-out, saying how his dad would be proud of him for the man he is today.Back on February 9, Maurissa also spoke out about her difficult adjustment to single life."I'm back baby, and feeling better than ever. I know we're already in the month of February, but this year I have decided to focus on ME and put ME first," Maurissa wrote on Instagram."These last few months haven't been easy, but let me tell you today I feel amazing. Taking time to heal at my own pace was the best thing I could do. I would not be where I am without the amazing support system I have."She added, "Thank you to everyone who has helped me through, and a huge [shout-out] to @black.on_ for reminding me who the heck I was and believing in me to become the BEST version of myself. Let's see what this year has to offer!"Following weeks of breakup speculation, Riley and Maurissa confirmed their split in a joint statement on January 24, three months after their engagement aired during 's Season 7 finale."We have decided to go our separate ways. Never did we imagine this, but we've come to a point where we both need to work on ourselves," the couple said in a statement at the time."We've appreciated everyone's love and support so far throughout our journey," they continued, "and we just ask that you please respect our privacy as we navigate through this."Maurissa initially sparked the breakup rumors when she began slowly removing photos of Riley from her Instagram account, seemingly taking jabs at her ex-fiance.Maurissa also shared a video without her engagement ring and a cryptic quote that read, "All that glitters is not gold," which suggested Riley may not have been all that he was cracked up to be.The Bachelor alum Natasha Parker offered some insight on the breakup in late January given she's very close friends with Maurissa and the girls had appeared on 7 together last summer."[Maurissa] was just saying how there was so much that happened between them that they kind of just wanted to keep it between each other, which I totally get," Natasha, 33, said during the January 27 episode of her "Click Bait With Bachelor Nation" podcast.Natasha, however, suggested Maurissa had sacrificed a lot in order to be with Riley and so Maurissa was struggling in the relationship."I think that they just have very different lives, at least from my understanding of what she was saying," Natasha shared."She completely integrated into his life and I think that she kind of missed her family, she missed her friends."Maurissa, originally from a small town in Montana -- where her family still lives -- moved from Atlanta to New York to be with Riley after the show aired last year.Natasha noted how moving to New York "is not easy," adding, "It's a hard city, and if you're not used to it, [it's tough]."When comparing Riley and Maurissa to other couples from 's seventh season, Natasha pointed out how the engaged couple "jumped right in" to real life "as far as living together right away."Natasha's podcast co-host Joe Amabile and his fiancee, Serena Pitt , for example, took their time in deciding they wanted to move to New York City together after the show."But [Maurissa] went full throttle. She put her all in and it didn't work out. She told me she has no regrets, and I think that's a beautiful thing," Natasha noted.She added, "[Maurissa] did clarify they broke up a little while ago. The reason why they took so long to say something officially is because they wanted to both be sure that they wanted to go their separate ways."But The Bachelor alum Demi Burnett insisted in early February people don't know the real reasons why Maurissa and Riley broke up and appeared to suggest Riley may have been at fault for the split."Y'all got the Maurissa and Riley break up SO WRONG ," Demi tweeted on February 3.Demi claimed she was not after attention and was just trying to relay the truth about why Maurissa and Riley decided to end their engagement."I'm mad at the BS being portrayed!" Demi wrote on Twitter."I don't want to talk about it bc it's stressful and not my business to tell! BUT LOOK DEEPER LISTEN TO UR INTUITION."Neither Maurissa or Riley responded to Demi's tweets, but Maurissa noticeably "liked" both of them!Riley and Maurissa were anything but shy when it came to posting adorable photos of each other and gushing about their feelings on Instagram once they moved their romance into the real world last year.The couple celebrated Christmas together in December and subsequently uploaded images of them posing in front of the giant Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center.Maurissa sweetly wrote late last year, "All I want for Christmas is you," before deleting the photo with Riley on her Instagram.Additional signs pointing to a breakup fans noticed prior to Riley and Maurissa's split announcement was when Maurissa posted photos of herself making funny faces on January 7 and captioned the slideshow, "Don't worry, be happy."Maurissa also received chocolate-covered fruit from her friend Martha, whom she considers a sister, amid the breakup rumors, Us Weekly previously reported.Martha reportedly wrote on the card, "If you haven't heard this today, I'm proud [of you]. You're an amazing person."Maurissa replied on January 7, "Don't know what I would do without you sister."For Riley's part, he uploaded a video of himself working out in early January with a cryptic caption about getting "knocked down," which may have been a reference to a rocky romance with Maurissa."We ain't come this far just to come this far. Work hard, stay humble, but still let 'em know that you got it. No matter how many times we get knocked down we get back up. Giving it everything we got all 2022," Riley wrote at the time.Riley also tweeted, "Try not be stagnant when facing obstacles that are beyond your control. Just do what you can. That way, when things finally do fall into place, you'll be able to hit the ground running."While Maurissa wiped her Instagram almost clean of Riley before their split was made official, Riley chose to keep most of his pictures with Maurissa on his account until People confirmed the news in late January.Back in October 2021, Maurissa told People that she was planning to move to New York City to be with Riley and then have a "wedding and then some babies."When Maurissa accepted a pear-shaped diamond engagement ring from Riley on the beach in Mexico in Summer 2021, the pair became the franchise's first-ever Black couple to get engaged.Riley and Maurissa fell head over heels in love with each other in Paradise, but Riley was still a little unsure as to whether he was going to pop the question after the pair's overnight Fantasy Suite date.Riley assured People last year that it "was never a thought" to leave the resort alone but he had to take a moment or two to reflect on the idea of potentially making Maurissa his fiancee."[I thought to myself], 'This is everything that you've ever wanted -- having a fiancee and being able to start a family.' I knew where I was already leaning towards," Riley explained at the time."It's just like, 'This is a big decision, take some time to think about it. Okay, you thought about it.' It didn't take that long. 'And now, go propose and get your lady.'"Riley proceeded to call himself the "luckiest" man in the world to have Maurissa by his side.Prior to appearing on , Riley competed on Clare Crawley and Tayshia Adams ' edition of The Bachelorette in 2020.Interested in more The Bachelor news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group Porterville, CA (93257) Today Clear skies. Low around 55F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Clear skies. Low around 55F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Alex Jones is facing a new lawsuit in Texas over accusations that the Infowars host hid millions of dollars in assets after families of Sandy Hook victims began taking him to court. Relatives of some of the 20 children and six educators killed in the 2012 Newtown, Connecticut, massacre have already won defamation lawsuits against Jones after he said the shootings never happened. The new lawsuit, which was filed Wednesday, comes as trials are set for this year over how much he should pay. FAIRFIELD - The Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary announced recently that it has expanded its Senior Paw Project to support older pet owners in Bethlehem, Kent, Roxbury, Washington, Cornwall Bridge, Canaan, New Milford, Norfolk and Torrington. Honoring the bond between caregivers and their pets, the Senior Paw Project provides pet food, veterinary care assistance and foster/respite care to senior pet owners struggling to keep or care for their animals. The Senior Paw Project is a referral-based program, partnering with municipal housing authorities, non-profit senior housing providers, food pantries and veterinarians, according to a statement. Over the last three years, the program has provided ongoing support to more than 300 pets of older adults, provided over 325,000 pet food meals and now offers services to 24 towns in Connecticut. Jennifer Hubbard, Executive Director of the sanctuary, said she looks forward to reaching more towns. We are thrilled to be able to support the Litchfield County community in keeping the human-animal bond alive and well in this great town. No pet owner should have to choose between feeding themselves and their animal, or give up their pet due to financial hardship. Were honored to bring these services ... To deserving towns in Connecticut, she said. For many older pet owners living on fixed incomes, the financial needs of four-legged family members can compound emotional and physical stress for owners and pets alike, Hubbard said. Often these animals end up in shelters across the country, adding to the nearly 7 million animals relinquished every year. By taking away the economic barriers of owning a dog or cat, the Senior Paw Project prevents new animals from entering shelters while keeping furry companions together with their loving caregivers. To learn more about the Senior Paw Project, visit cvhfoundation.org or email info@cvhfoundation.org for more information. The Catherine Violet Hubbard Foundation is a Connecticut-based nonprofit organization working to promote compassion and healing through human-animal connection. The foundation was started in 2013 to commemorate and honor the life of Catherine Violet Hubbard, a six-year-old victim of the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy and a passionate animal lover who dreamt of someday working with and caring for them. In 2014, the Catherine Violet Hubbard Foundation was awarded over 34 acres of Connecticut state farmland by a unanimous vote from the Connecticut State House of Representatives and Senate, which would become home to the Catherine Violet Hubbard Sanctuary. The sanctuary pays tribute to Catherine and her spirit of kindness towards all living things by honoring the bond between humans, animals and the environment. Since its inception, the organization has raised over $6.5 million in funding, including grants from the ASPCA, private sector partners and thousands of individuals to support its breadth of programming, including a pollinator protection initiative providing critical shelter, sustenance and migration space for butterflies, hummingbirds, bees and other critical ecosystem pollinators, free community workshops around animal care and environmental protection, aid for seniors to keep and care for their pets and much more. Donations also support the sanctuarys ongoing construction of onsite facilities, including a vet intake center, learning barn and library. For more information on donating, programming and volunteer opportunities visit www.cvhfoundation.org. LAS VEGAS (AP) A 16-year-old high school student has been jailed in Las Vegas and will be prosecuted as an adult on sex assault and attempted murder charges following an after-school attack on a teacher, authorities said Friday. Las Vegas police said the female teacher was punched and choked into unconsciousness and the student fled the Eldorado High School campus before another school employee found the teacher and summoned police and medical help. The woman was treated for multiple injuries, police said. The student was arrested by school police several blocks from the campus that serves about 2,000 students several miles east of downtown Las Vegas. His name and the name of the teacher were not immediately made public. On Friday, school administrators issued a statement to parents calling the attack an isolated incident, and Clark County School District Superintendent Jesus Jara sent a message to employees calling safety our top priority. I am devastated, and the CCSD family hurts for the teacher assaulted at Eldorado High School, Jaras message said. Our hearts are heavy because of the violence committed against her, and we pray for her full recovery. But the violence was only the latest for the sprawling district, the nations fifth-largest with more than 300,000 students and more than 18,000 teachers at about 336 schools including more than 70 high schools in an area the size of New Jersey. The district began a weeklong spring break after classes were dismissed on Friday. On Wednesday, a 17-year-old boy was arrested after a loaded gun was found on the floor of a school bathroom at a northwest Las Vegas high school. On March 29, a campus police officer fired three gunshots at a moving car that had struck a girl amid a report of a fight in a parking lot at a downtown Las Vegas high school. Four teenage non-students were in the car. The driver and a passenger received minor wounds, and the girl struck by the car was not seriously hurt. A day earlier, a 36-year-old mother was arrested near a Henderson high school and accused of trying to kill two schoolgirls by driving her vehicle into them to prevent them from fighting her daughter after an on-campus dispute. Police said the injured girls had broken bones but were expected to recover. In early March, 11 people were arrested, including an adult who allegedly entered a southwest Las Vegas high school campus during several days of student fights, social media threats, classroom lockdowns and an unproved report of a gun. In February, video posted to the internet showed a female high school student attacking a girl who was seated at a desk, pummeling her with about 35 punches to the back and side of her head. Jara, who was abruptly fired by the school board in October and reinstated about three weeks later with no public explanation, issued a recent public plea for an end to violence. He blamed it on "the stress, anxieties and isolation of the (coronavirus) pandemic. Since schools began in August, campus police have reported 3,000 assaults and fights, and confiscated more than 25 guns, the school district police chief said. As I have said previously, Jara said in his message on Friday, violent acts, assaults, and bullying will not be tolerated ... and those who choose to engage in these activities will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. School police Lt. Bryan Zink said the teen arrested after Thursdays attack was taken to the Clark County jail and would face charges as an adult. Las Vegas police said he was booked on attempted murder, sexual assault, battery, kidnapping and robbery charges. It was not immediately clear when the teen would face a judge or if he had an attorney. The charges against him could put him in prison for the rest of his life. Las Vegas police said in a statement that investigators determined he entered the teachers classroom to talk about his grades. At some point, the (student) got violent and began punching the (teacher) and strangled her until she lost consciousness, the statement said. Donations have dried up after authorities targeted the centers founder, a deposed former lawmaker. The Nurture AIDS Center in Yangon, Myanmar, cares for children and adults with HIV, as well as orphans. But the center has had difficulty after its founder a National League for Democracy member - was targeted by the ruling junta and the manager arrested. (RFA photos) The Nurture AIDS Center (NAC) in Ward 11 of Yangons East Dagon township is a place of refuge for orphans and patients with HIV/AIDS in Myanmars commercial capital. The center cares for a total of 150 people 94 children and 66 adults and spends 400,000 kyats (U.S. $225) per day to provide them with food, medicine, and other necessities. But times have been tough for the NAC in the 14 months since the militarys Feb. 1, 2021 coup, with the economy devastated by a combination of factors including mismanagement, widespread unrest, Western sanctions and the COVID-19 pandemic. The center has also come under the scrutiny of the junta since its founder, a former lawmaker for the deposed National League for Democracy (NLD) named Phyu Phyu Thin, joined the shadow Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Committee of Representatives (CRPH) after the military takeover. Phyu Phyu Thin established the NAC in 2012 and had cared for the centers orphans and patients with the help of NLD youth volunteers but was forced to abandon her work and flee to an area under the control of an armed ethnic group to avoid arrest. She was stripped of her citizenship by the junta on March 7. Yar Zar, the man who assumed her duties at the NAC and is known by the residents there as Aba, was arrested by security forces on March 2 and is now facing charges of money laundering and terrorism. The junta froze the centers bank accounts in connection with the arrest. The volunteers who remain at the NAC told RFAs Myanmar Service that they now face regular harassment from the junta and the donors they rely on are afraid to be associated with the center. One volunteer named Aung Kyaw Lin said that as donations have dried up, the NAC now only has enough food and supplies left for slightly more than a week. This past week, we received some donations, but not much, he said. Right now, we can only afford to provide very basic meals, unless we receive aid. We used to be able to afford meat twice a week but can only do so once a week these days. Thae Thae, a resident of the NAC, said even the centers rice supplies are running low. We have been relying solely on donations to feed more than 100 people. But they come infrequently, he said. We need one bag of rice per day and around 100 bags for three months. We receive donations of one or two bags occasionally, and thats what we are living on. Thae Thae said the food shortage is seriously impacting the health those who rely on the center, as they include people ranging in age from two months to over sixty years old. We would have to close He expressed concern that the center could also be shut down because there is no longer anyone in charge. We saw the news that they arrested [Yar Zar], so many donors might be thinking that [junta] informers are watching the center and they might be arrested as well, he said. If the donations dont come, the center wont be able to survive anymore. We would have to close. But if these people are forced to live on the street, they wont have access to regular medicine, and without regular dosages, they will face an increased HIV viral load Their health will deteriorate severely. The residents of the NAC are mostly homeless or were abandoned by their families. The children who live there are being provided with opportunities that they would never have had on their own, including the chance to study English and a vocation under the tutelage of the NLD volunteers. Wai Yan Moe, a 13-year-old who is studying at the seventh-grade level at the NAC, told RFA he doesnt know what he will do if the center is forced to close. We are worried that Aba wont be back, and the center will be gone, he said. I have no other home and no place to go. I have only ever lived under Abas roof. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. Sources say raid was retribution for an attack by anti-junta paramilitaries. A joint force of junta troops and pro-military Pyu Saw Htee militiamen carried out a raid on a village in Myanmars Sagaing region Thursday, killing seven civilians and setting nearly half of the tracts homes on fire, according to sources from the area. A resident of Wetlet townships Ywar Nan village told RFAs Myanmar Service that six of the victims were young adults, while the seventh was a 70-year-old woman. The death toll is seven and 325 houses were burnt down, said the resident, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal. [The perpetrators] are stationed in [nearby] Sadaung village. There were so many of them. They suffered many casualties during a clash [with anti-junta fighters] at Nyaung Ngote-toe village, so they attacked our village in revenge and set the houses on fire. The resident said that only the identity of the 70-year-old victim could be confirmed because the other victims were badly burned or mutilated, although RFA was unable to independently confirm the information. A village of about 700 houses, Ywar Nan is home to more than 3,000 people. Nearly all the inhabitants fled to the nearby jungle during the attack, sources said. Another resident told RFA that the fires were started at around 6 a.m. at a house near a lake on the southern side of Ywar Nan. Even the monastery was burned, he said. The northern part is sparsely populated, and the houses are scattered here and there. People live mostly on the south side. Everything on the inhabited side is gone. Residents said that the fire killed all the villages chickens, pigs, goats and cattle, although the exact number was unclear. Photos provided to RFA of the aftermath of the attack appeared to show charred buildings, an elderly woman whose body had been badly burned, a young man whose throat was cut, and slaughtered livestock. A member of the anti-junta Peoples Defense Force (PDF) paramilitary group in Wetlet township confirmed to RFA that a day prior to the raid on Ywar Nan village his group had carried out an attack on junta troops and Pyu Saw Htee fighters stationed in nearby Nyaung Ngote Toe village. Many of them were wounded in the battle at Nyaung Ngote Toe, and so they went to Ywar Nan, chased the villagers out and set the village on fire, he said. They must have been furious because they suffered many casualties. They must have thought that residents of Ywar Nan did it, so they set it on fire. They shelled the village at about 1 a.m., before raiding it. The PDF fighter said that the joint junta force also set fire to 15 houses in Nyaung Ngote Toe. Wetlet townships Ywar Nan village, April 7, 2022. Credit: Citizen journalist No acknowledgement of crimes Myanmars military seized power in a Feb. 1, 2021, coup. Security forces have killed at least 1,700 civilians since then, mostly during peaceful anti-junta protests, according to Thailand-based rights group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. Meanwhile, the military has launched a series of scorched earth offensives against ethnic armed groups and PDF groups in the countrys remote border regions, where reports regularly emerge of acts of arson, looting, torture, rape and murder by junta troops. The junta initially responded to reports of civilian deaths during raids by saying that villages were targeted because they had offered haven to fighters with the PDF, which it has labeled a terrorist organization. As evidence of largescale killing and destruction mounts, however, it has shifted blame to the PDF itself. Junta Deputy Information Minister Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun told RFA on Thursday that the military was not involved in the arson attack on Ywar Nan village. There was no arson attack by the [military]. There is no reason to burn [the village] down. The culprits are the PDFs. They entered villages where local militias were formed by the people, attacked them, and set the area on fire when they left, he said. But whether the fires were started by the military or the PDFs, the government is responsible for rebuilding the villages. It is the government that avoids fighting. We must help those who are in trouble. Zaw Min Tun did not provide evidence of the PDFs responsibility for the attack or details about how the military plans to rebuild Ywar Nan and other villages that have been torched during raids. Kay Jay, a political activist in Wetlet township, told RFA that the military has never acknowledged any of the crimes committed by its troops. They have never admitted that any village was set on fire. The junta has never admitted that people were intentionally shot or set on fire, he said. The people have no faith in any of the juntas statements. According to Data for Myanmar, an independent research group, nearly 8,000 homes have been destroyed by the military and its supporters since the coup, some 5,000 of which were in Sagaing region. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English Joshua Lipes. Any country opposing the invasion of Ukraine will not support Vietnam, analyst says Displays show the results of voting on suspending Russia from United Nations Human Rights Council during an emergency special session of the U.N. General Assembly on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, New York, U.S. April 7, 2022. Vietnams vote against a U.S.-led resolution to remove Russia from the U.N. Human Rights Council on Thursday likely ends any hope Hanoi had to lead the body, one analyst told RFA. Cambodias abstention from voting, meanwhile, drew criticism from local rights groups who accused Phnom Penh of flip-flopping its position on Russias invasion of Ukraine. In all, 24 countries voted against booting Russia from the council, including Russia, China, North Korea, Iran and Syria. But after 93 countries voted yes, Moscow resigned its seat. Vietnams ambassador to the U.N., Dang Hoang Giang, said in remarks prior to the vote that Hanoi was concerned about the impact of the war on civilians. He said that the country was against all attacks on civilians that were in violation of international laws on humanitarianism and human rights. He also said that it was important to examine and crosscheck recent information publicly, with transparency and objectivity and with the cooperation of relevant parties. Vietnamplus was the only Vietnamese outlet that reported Giangs comments. Vietnamese state media made no mention of Vietnams vote in coverage of the resolution. Alienating vote Vietnam has publicly voiced its intention to run for chairmanship of the council for the 2023-2025 term, but experts told RFAs Vietnamese Service that Hanoi will now find it difficult to gain support from Western countries. I should say that Vietnam has shot itself in the foot, Carl Thayer of New South Wales University in Australia told RFA. Vietnam has always been proud of its prestige in the international circles as a commodity that made it important. Any country in the world that is now opposing Russian action are not going to support Vietnam, he said. Thayer noted that Vietnams profile among the international community had been on the rise, as it had twice been elected as a non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council. Now that smooth sailing is going to hit headwinds and if it continues to support boats like [Russia], Vietnam is going to find increasingly there will be a drop-off in support, Thayer said. He said that Hanoi may have been trying to demonstrate that dialogue and negotiation are more effective than measures to isolate Russia. But it would have been better to abstain from the vote, because now Vietnam has alienated the West and has little to gain by casting its lot with Russia. That country is never going to play a major role with Vietnam in coming years. In my opinion, it is going to be weakened and economically isolated as long as Putin remains in power. Isolation ineffective Cambodia did abstain from Thursdays vote with Ambassador Ke Sovann saying in a statement that Russias isolation will not help resolve the conflict in Ukraine, but will only make a bad situation worse. At a fragile time for world peace, security and stability, the engagement among the member states in all relevant United Nations bodies including the Human Rights Council is very important, he said. Phay Siphan, a spokesman for the Cambodian government, told RFAs Khmer Service that kicking Moscow out of the council will only allow the country to avoid its responsibility. But Ny Sokha, president of The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association, said the vote to remove Russia from the council is a stand against the death and destruction the countrys invasion of Ukraine has caused. We should not allow the country that abuses human rights in the U.N. Human Rights Council. As a member it needs to respect human rights, he said. Cambodias abstention from Thursdays vote is an example of flip-flopping in its response to the situation in Ukraine, said Ny Sokha, an apparent reference to Cambodias vote last month at the U.N. condemning the invasion. Political analyst Kim Sok said Cambodia voted for a resolution last month to condemn Russia as part of its efforts to convince the U.S. to attend a special summit with ASEAN while Phnom Penh chairs the regional bloc. Thursdays vote, in contrast, was an effort to appease China, he said. When China opposes, Hun Sen dares not to vote in favor, he said. Russian Threats Prior to Thursdays vote, Russia warned that votes in favor or abstentions would be seen as an unfriendly gesture and would have consequences in bilateral relations. Despite voting to remove Russia, the U.N. Human Rights Council remains an organization with a shaky reputation likened to an old boys club for dictators. Of its 47 member nations, only 15 are classified as free societies by rights watchdog Freedom House. The rest are either only partly free or not free, and include countries with poor human rights records like China, Eritrea, Somalia and Cuba. The U.S. left the council temporarily in 2018, calling the organization a mockery of human rights for not punishing rights abusers and for what then-ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley called bias against Israel. After Tuesdays vote, the Russian representative announced Russias decision to withdraw its membership from the council before the 2021-2023 term ends, and called the resolution an illegal and politically motivated move to punish a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council who was pursuing an independent domestic and foreign policy. Translated by Anna Vu and Samean Yun. Written in English by Eugene Whong. At least 50 Ukrainian civilians were evacuated from the besieged Azovstal steel plant amid the ruins of Mariupol, even as Russia continued to batter the strategic port city, Ukrainian officials said. "Today we were able to evacuate from Azovstal 50 women, children, and elderly people," Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said on May 6 on her Telegram channel. Vereshchuk added that, in the face of Russian attacks, the evacuation was extremely slowtomorrow morning we will continue the evacuation operation." Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the major developments on Russia's invasion, how Kyiv is fighting back, the plight of civilians, and Western reaction. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. The United Nations has scrambled to broker a deal to help evacuate some of the 200 civilians who are holed up along with an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters in the massive Azovstal steel plant, one of the largest in Europe. Ukrainian officials have accused Russian forces of disrupting an agreed evacuation process by firing on vehicles attempting to transport people out of the plant. Russia confirmed that some 50 people had been evacuated but did not comment on Ukrainian allegations of attacks on those leaving. Throughout the day, Russian forces continued their assault on the sprawling steel factory against the Ukrainian fighters holding out there. Ukraine's General Staff said in its daily assessment on May 6 that Russians were using aircraft as part of the renewed assault on the plant. "There are many wounded, but they are not surrendering," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on May 5 in his nightly video address. "They are holding their positions." Mariupol itself has been largely razed to the ground by weeks of street-to-street fighting and heavy bombardment. Azovstal has turned into a last stand for the Ukrainians troops struggling to prevent a complete Russian defeat of the city. Zelenskiy said that, if Russian forces killed civilians or troops who could otherwise be released, his government would no longer hold peace talks with Moscow. He said there was basically nothing left of the once-flourishing port city, only "this little turf, this little structure, the Azovstal steel mill, or what remains of it." The fight for Azovstal also comes amid speculation that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants a battlefield triumph that he can showcase on May 9 when Russia marks Victory Day -- the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany. "The renewed effort by Russia to secure Azovstal and complete the capture of Mariupol is likely linked to the upcoming 9 May Victory Day commemorations and Putin's desire to have a symbolic success in Ukraine," the British Defense Ministry said in its May 6 daily assessment. "This effort has come at personnel, equipment, and munitions cost to Russia. Whilst Ukrainian resistance continues in Azovstal, Russian losses will continue to build and frustrate their operational plans in southern Donbas," the ministry said. Losing Mariupol would deprive Ukraine of a vital port on the Sea of Azov. It would also give Russia the ability to establish a land corridor to the Crimean Peninsula and free up troops to fight elsewhere in the Donbas. The Ukrainians holed up in Azovstal's labyrinthine tunnels and industrial infrastructure have been posting videos and photographs to social media, appealing to the international community. Soldiers are "dying in agony" due to the lack of proper treatment, Captain Svyatoslav Palamar, deputy commander of the Azov Battalion, said in a video address on May 5. He pleaded for international help to evacuate the civilians and wounded fighters there. Andriy Yermak, a top adviser to Zelenskiy, said on May 6 that nearly 500 civilians had been evacuated from the city and the Azovstal plant as part of a United Nations-led effort. "The next stage of rescuing our people from Azovstal is under way at the moment. Information about the results will be provided later," Yermak said in a post on Telegram on May 6. Kyiv will "do everything to save all its civilians and military." The fighting comes as Russia continues its offensive in the eastern Donbas, an offensive that has proceeded slowly and without major advances, as Ukrainian forces have blocked Russian movements and even regained territory. Ukrainian forces have been increasingly equipped with heavy artillery and powerful anti-tank and antiaircraft weaponry supplied from NATO members. Germany, which has come under pressure at home and abroad to step up its equipment supplies, said on May 6 that it would supply seven self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine after reversing its policy not to send heavy armaments to war zones. Earlier, Berlin announced it would also be sending "Gepard" antiaircraft systems. The Donbas offensive came after a thwarted campaign by Russian forces north of Kyiv in the early weeks of the war. The withdrawal of Russian troops from places like Bucha, near Kyiv, has led to a cascade of reports from witnesses who say Russian units committed atrocities that could amount to war crimes. Rights watchdog Amnesty International said on May 6 there was compelling evidence that Russian troops had committed war crimes, including extrajudicial executions of civilians, when they occupied an area outside Ukraine's capital in February and March. Civilians also suffered abuses such as "reckless shootings and torture, the group said. Russian troops had committed a "host of apparent war crimes" in Bucha, including "numerous unlawful killings," most of them near the intersection of Yablunska and Vodoprovidna streets, the report found. With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and AP Over the last few years, President Vladimir Putin's government has carried out an increasingly relentless crackdown on dissent at home that has seen most independent media shut down or exiled, opposition political movements declared "extremist," and tens of thousands of disaffected Russians fleeing a country in which fear is on the rise. And on February 24, Putin launched a massive military invasion of neighboring Ukraine, seeking to justify the move by falsely claiming that the country was ruled by "Nazis and drug addicts" bent on genocide against ethnic Russians there. Many critics have suggested Russia's claims that Ukraine is a fascist state are best seen as a projection of the situation inside Russia itself. Rutgers University political scientist Alexander Motyl wrote in March about the label "fascist" that "Putin's brutal invasion of Ukraine suggests that a reconsideration of the term's applicability to Russia is definitely in order." However, leading scholars of historical fascism and authoritarian regimes told RFE/RL that, although Putin's Russia outwardly resembles fascist regimes in many ways, it is not a fascist state. And the distinctions between classical fascist dictatorship and Putin's system, they say, can shed light on how Russia is ruled today. 'The Nearest Analogue To Fascism' Russia under Putin "is clearly a closed and repressive dictatorship," said Sheri Berman, a professor of political science at Columbia University's Barnard College who studies populism and fascism. "But there are lots of different kinds of dictatorships, of which fascist...is just one." Stanley Payne, professor emeritus of history the University of Wisconsin and the author of numerous books on European fascism, said Putin's Russia "is not equivalent to the fascist regimes of World War II, but it forms the nearest analogue to fascism found in a major country since that time." Among the characteristics Putin's Russia manifests that mirror fascism are historical revanchism and the embrace of hypermasculine authority -- "the macho cult of Putin" -- said Maria Snegovaya, a postdoctoral fellow in political science at Virginia Tech and a visiting scholar at George Washington University's Institute for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies. In addition, like Adolf Hitler's Germany, Snegovaya said, Russia has experienced a version of "Weimar syndrome," a shorthand term for the sense of dislocation, isolation, and loss of status that Germany experienced after World War I and that Russia endured following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The further development of both countries was driven in part by the ability of leaders to manipulate a powerful mixture of anxiety, nostalgia, and resentment. "Anti-Westernism and revanchism have become more pronounced" over the last five years, Snegovaya said, and these ideas are "much more consistently promoted by the state" in the media, cultural affairs, and the schools. Roger Griffin, professor emeritus of modern history at Oxford Brookes University in Britain who studies the socio-historical and ideological dynamics of fascism, agrees that both Germany after World War I and Russia after the Soviet collapse experienced "humiliation and loss of identity." Revolution Or Reaction But historical fascism is a fundamentally revolutionary ideology, founded on the idea that the present system is decadent and bringing about the collapse of civilization, a collapse that forms an existential threat to the "nation" or "organic race," Griffin explained. "The core myth is that this organic culture needs to be reborn in a new order that cannot be democratic because democracy by definition is pluralistic," he added. Fascists seek to destroy the old system entirely and remake society. Fascism is "a revolutionary form of nationalism." Although Putin espouses a similar "core myth," he is a reactionary politician who is not trying to create a new order "but to recreate a modified version of the Soviet Union," Griffin said. He manipulates the trappings of the proto-democratic system he inherited -- "hollowing them out" but not rejecting them. Hitler, for example, engineered the adoption of the notorious Enabling Act of 1933 to give himself absolute dictatorial authority, including the authority to ignore the Weimar Constitution. Putin, on the other hand, rose to power in 1999 and 2000 largely riding on the anxiety of the Second Chechen War by pledging to defend and guarantee the Russian Constitution. When Putin's second presidential term ended in 2008, he steered Dmitry Medvedev into the highest office and became prime minister, simultaneously maintaining power and the fiction of a democratic Russia before returning to the Kremlin in 2012. When he needed to extend his power beyond the end of his current term in 2024, he engineered a vote on amending the constitution to "nullify" his first four terms and pave the way for two more. "The Putin regime...has been developed almost exclusively by the state in a traditionally Russian manner," historian Payne said. "It is not the product of any revolutionary movement or ideology -- fascist or otherwise. It has developed the characteristics of what some political analysts have called a 'mafia state,' though under centralized personal dictatorship." "The Putin regime is a centralized, right-wing, authoritarian dictatorship, much more reactionary than revolutionary," he said, adding that Russia's "weak economic and demographic base" seem like "more a declining than a rising power." By contrast, Andreas Umland, an analyst at the Stockholm Center for Eastern European Studies who studies comparative fascism, said in a recent interview with a Ukrainian YouTube channel that "fascist leaders want to create a new world order, a new empire, a new nation. They want the rebirth of their own nation through war, through imperialist expansion." Genuine fascists in Russia like the recently deceased Vladimir Zhirinovsky and self-styled philosopher Aleksandr Dugin, both of whom have been mere attributes of Putin's political system rather than central to it, "describe in their writings a completely new Russia" controlling parts of the world that were never under tsarist or Soviet domination, Umland added. "Most importantly," Snegovaya said, "[Putin's Russia] lacks a vision of the future. Russia complains about the existing international order and Russia's place in it, but it does not have any alternative vision." 'Alone At The End Of The Table' Another key difference between Putin's Russia and classical fascism is the lack of mass mobilization. Fascist regimes "came to power on the basis of a very large mass movement, a political party, a large number of associated -- what we would call today -- civil society organizations," said Barnard's Berman. "And that is just not the way that Putin came to power." "This is not a mass regime that came to power or operates on the basis of mass mobilization," she explained. "Like most dictatorships, Putin would rather his people be demobilized." Berman added that the image of a fascist dictator like Hitler or Italy's Benito Mussolini that sticks in the mind today is of "a leader in front of a mass audience of people who are in a kind of state of ecstasy" and who feel "a sort of direct connection to the leader." "This is not who Putin is," she concluded. "It is not just that he is not charismatic. I mean, the image that we have of him in our minds now, for better or worse, is him sitting alone at the end of the table." Payne offered a similar view, saying that radical, revolutionary dictatorships strive for mass mobilization. "A more conservative, right-wing, neo-traditionalist dictatorship is not interested in much mobilization, but in discouraging mobilization," he said. In Putin's Russia, "the mobilization capacity is not there," Snegovaya said, adding that Russian society is "extremely passive and atomized." Moreover, Russia is a post-totalitarian society that has "already had a very bad experience of mobilizing around big ideas." As a result, Russian society passively accepts Putin's revanchist ideas because they "feel good [and] nicely explain all the troubles people face." "But it is not a society that is willing to actively embrace these ideas," Snegovaya said. Mass events in Putin's Russia are typically carefully orchestrated with vulnerable state-sector workers filling the rows and trash bins filled with flags and banners as soon as the speeches are over. "Putin did not come up as a charismatic leader," Payne noted. "He came up as an apparatchik. He is a product of the Russian state, which has tried to turn him into a more charismatic figure. But he is not someone who has built a dynamic and charismatic movement in the fascist style at all." Payne added that he thinks Putin spoke out publicly against sending conscripts to fight in Ukraine because "he is so uncertain about his base of support." The experts who spoke with RFE/RL offered a variety of non-fascist models that shed light on Putin's Russia and are perhaps more useful, in part, because they entail less historical baggage. Oxford Brookes historian Griffin mentioned World War II-era Japan, saying that like Putin's Russia, it "emulated fascism in many ways, but was not fascist." Instead, it "weaponized" Japan's feudal traditions to pursue imperialist ambitions. He added that he continued to view Putin within the framework of "illiberal democracy," along with Hungary's Orban or India's Narendra Modi. "They don't seek to destroy the previous system, but they hollow it out and use it," he said. Berman compared Putin's Russia to Germany before World War I, which she described as a "weakened regime" that responded by promoting "an increasingly virulent form of nationalism" to instill in Germany the fear of domestic and foreign "enemies." "This is a pretty standard trick in a dictatorship's playbook," she said, because they need some way to justify themselves despite the lack of legitimacy that a democratic system or even an ideology like Soviet communism offers. However, Berman cautioned, resorting to that trick can be dangerous, as such nationalism can "overwhelm an existing politician or existing regime type." "That is how we moved from a conservative dictatorship in [pre-World War I] Germany through the Weimar interlude into laying the groundwork for the type of appeals and the type of mobilization that the Nazis had in Germany," she said. The best comparisons are found closer to home, Payne argues. Putin's political system is "more a revival of the creed of Tsar Nicholas I in the 19th century that emphasized 'Orthodoxy, autocracy, and nationality' than one resembling the revolutionary, modernizing regimes of Hitler and Mussolini." "Look at Nicholas I or Peter the Great or Ivan the Terrible," he said. "There is a long lineage of this stuff going way back in Russian history. You don't have to bother about someone like Hitler or Mussolini." "Mom, this is hell, I don't know if I'll come back home," Nikita Avrov, a 20-year-old Russian soldier, wrote in a text message to his mother on February 14 as he and more than 150,000 other troops massed along Russia's border with Ukraine in the lead-up to Moscow's invasion. That was the last time that Anastasia Avrova, his mother, heard from her son until she was told on April 2 by local authorities that Nikita was killed along with the rest of his tank crew at the end of March near Izyum, the scene of intense fighting in eastern Ukraine. A contract soldier originally from Luga, a city near St. Petersburg, Nikita's death notice is one of many now filtering down through Russia as news about the harsh reality of Moscow's six-week war in Ukraine begins to hit regular families. "Nothing is adding up in my head," Avrova told RFE/RL's North.Realities, who says that she was told to expect the arrival of her son's body within the next few days. Many ordinary Russians are still in the dark about the full scale of their military's losses in Ukraine -- and about the brutal tactics it is using against civilians -- since the February 24 invasion. The Russian authorities have tightly controlled information about military casualties inside the country. Precise public sentiment for the war is not known, but official polls show high support for the Kremlin's campaign. Still, the government remains wary about how information of the military's losses could alter public opinion and create blowback at home. Avrova says that it is still hard for her to discuss the death of Nikita and that she is still grappling with whether she sees the war as necessary or not, although she believes "if it wasn't needed, it probably wouldn't exist." Still, she adds, it is becoming difficult for her as news regularly comes in of young men like her son killed fighting in Ukraine. "I worry about each child as if it were my own when I see on the Internet that someone has died," she said. An Information Blackout The Kremlin has clamped down on the flow of information, targeting and outlawing many independent media outlets and human rights organizations, while Russia's state-run media echo false claims that the Ukrainian government is controlled by Nazis and that the brutal deaths of Ukrainian civilians, such as those in Bucha, are part of an elaborate hoax. Russian news coverage and public discussion about the war are also subject to strict censorship. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree declaring all military deaths a state secret in 2015 and the country criminalized statements discrediting the military in 2022. Ilgiz Akhiyarov, a native of Russia's Bashkortostan region whose brother Ilfat was killed fighting in Ukraine, works in the oil industry in Siberia and says that due to long work hours and a poor Internet connection at his work site, he only "realized that there was a war in Ukraine when my brother was killed there." Ilgiz told RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service that because his family and many others in his native region are Muslims, many of the bodies of fallen soldiers are being returned quickly in order to comply with Islamic burial customs that dictate that someone should be buried as soon as possible after the time of death. Ilfat was buried on April 3 in his home village of Durtyuli, north of the city of Ufa, and Ilgiz says that the sight of his brother in a zinc coffin made him physically ill. He says that he thought that war was something far removed from him and his family and that he worries about more casualties in Ukraine. Like many Russians, Ilgiz says he gets his news from state-run television channels and that he doesn't have time to browse the Internet or messaging platforms like Telegram to do his own research. "You need to finish what you started," Ilgiz said about the Russian military campaign in Ukraine. "So why did my brother and others die? It's not OK to stop halfway." A New Phase For a Brutal War After suffering heavy losses in the north of Ukraine and around Kyiv, Moscow is in the midst of reorienting its forces towards the south and east of Ukraine. With more intense fighting expected, continued grim news of casualties could have a large effect on support across the country for the war. While estimates point to a staggering overall Russian death toll, an exact figure remains elusive. Russia's Ministry of Defense has said that 1,351 troops have died so far in the fighting, while NATO estimates that Russia has lost between 7,000 to 15,000 troops during the war. Ukraine puts the Russian death toll at 18,600. Ukraine's Interior Ministry set up a website and Telegram channel where Russians can search photos of the dead and prisoners of war, or fill out an online form seeking information about family members. However, there's no guarantee that such measures could undermine support or break through the powerful information controls that are in place inside Russia. "Is everyone [in Ukraine] a Nazi? No, not all, but they are in the leadership," Ilgiz said. "The [Ukrainian] regime needs to be destroyed so that [ordinary people] don't suffer more damage." Thirty years ago this week, Bosnian Serb forces began their siege of Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina, after the Balkan country declared independence from Yugoslavia. The victims included about 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys killed in Srebrenica in 1995 by Bosnian Serbs, a massacre that led to the first convictions for genocide in Europe since the aftermath of World War II. Among other war crimes, Bosnians were systematically raped during the conflict. Three decades later, Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is generating allegations of war crimes, and the evidence is mounting. Tanya Domi is an adjunct professor at Columbia University who worked for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) mission in Bosnia in the 1990s. Dr. Laura Cohen is executive director of the Harriet and Kenneth Kupferberg Holocaust Center at Queensborough Community College-CUNY, also in New York, and did fieldwork in the Balkans related to genocide claims. In a joint interview with RFE/RL on April 6, Domi and Cohen discussed comparisons with Bosnia, the prospects for prosecutions, and the role of the Intentional Criminal Court (ICC) and the United Nations. RFE/RL: How will allegations of war crimes in Ukraine be pursued? Tanya Domi: The International Criminal Court is the court of jurisdiction. Everybody's calling for prosecution. However, ad hoc tribunals as established under Rwanda, and for the former Yugoslav tribunal -- those were adopted by the UN General Assembly, referred to the Security Council, and adopted and passed by the Security Council. In all likelihood, there is not going to be an ad hoc tribunal here because of the membership of Russia -- a P-5 [permanent, veto-wielding] member -- in the Security Council, as well as [that of] China. I'm sure China would more than likely veto an ad hoc tribunal in support of their friends in the Russian Federation. Therefore, this [matter] will yield to the ICC. The weakness of the ICC is that it does not have an enforcement mechanism where they could go out and arrest X person for X crimes. And that is a weakness. That court (the ICC) is going to need a lot of support, it's going to need increased funding to do investigations. There are reports right now that the prosecutor-general of Ukraine is in discussions with the ICC. They already are, in fact, sharing information, which is really important. And then there are also organizations within Ukraine, like the Center for Civil Liberties, and other NGOs like that, that probably will have information that should be shared with the prosecutor-general. RFE/RL: What can the court do if those accused of war crimes remain in Russia? Domi: So, there was an enforcement mechanism to the international war crimes tribunal for former Yugoslavia. There also was one for Rwanda. There is not an enforcement mechanism that currently exists with the ICC. It is seen as a major weakness in this court. So what will happen, I think, is there's going to have to be a lot of pressure brought to say, "We're going to bring you to justice, and we're going to put your name" -- probably this is a likely scenario -- "we're going to put your name on an arrest warrant, so you're not going to be able to travel to Spain for vacation," as an example. [The ICC is] going to need a lot of money because they have to hire investigators. And what's good about this court is there's no end date, and anybody who's charged with these crimes could face arrest at any point in their life. There is no statute of limitations to these charges. RFE/RL: How would this play out in reality? Domi: Here's how law enforcement is going to play an important role in Europe: [through] Europol and Interpol. When someone is put out for an arrest or let's say the prosecutor-general of Ukraine has determined that an actor in Russia has violated international law and the laws of Ukraine, then I imagine that the international community is going to support and put those people on an Interpol arrest list. And there's a lot of experience in Europe on this now as an outcome of the Syrian war. As a matter of fact, a Russian pilot who was engaged in broad bombing in Syria was captured in Ukraine in the recent weeks, and it's probably going to end up being prosecuted as a matter of fact. So, the ICC is the only game in town at the international level at this moment. RFE/RL: President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has accused Russia of not just war crimes and crimes against humanity, but genocide. What is the significance of that terminology? Dr. Laura Cohen: The genocide label makes it feel more urgent. But the crimes and the suffering going on are still war crimes and crimes against humanity. But we're paying more attention because the word genocide carries a very specific weight, and a lot of people also don't understand what crimes against humanity are, gruesome as it is. RFE/RL: You said genocide requires "intent." So, would the ICC go after the soldiers accused of carrying out such crimes or senior officials making policy? Domi: Intent starts at the highest level. So individual soldiers at the low level of where the crimes that are committed may or may not be charged, but they're more than likely going to be high figures, people who are generals, and political and military leaders are the ones who are going to be indicted for genocide. Cohen: When you look at Bosnia-Herzegovina, most low-level criminals, if they were charged at all, would be [tried] at the national court. So, the International Criminal Court is only ever interested in the highest levels. RFE/RL: Do the UN tribunals for Bosnia and Rwanda have any relevance for the ICC as regards any investigations in Ukraine? Domi: I think where Rwanda and the former Yugoslav war crimes tribunal are relevant is jurisprudence, international jurisprudence. It's the most recent international jurisprudence particularly on findings of genocide, and that would be something for the ICC to look at and take into consideration when they are charging. The jurisprudence that was produced in particular on sex crimes -- it is a landmark, a landmark, and it will apply. And I am here to say that I think I think that women and the prosecutor-general, they're going to pursue Russia on these rapes -- there's no question that they are, they're already organizing around it. RFE/RL: Wouldn't Russian leadership just ignore any indictment, so is there really any impact? Domi: I believe Mr. Putin will die a pariah. He is now a person who has committed crimes. And we know what happened with Ratko Mladic and [Radovan] Karadzic in Bosnia. They blew off the court and said, "Oh, so what?" And they were fugitives for over 10 years. And they were eventually brought to justice, and so was [Serbian President Slobodan] Milosevic. And he was the first head of state to ever be indicted for war crimes. Could Vladimir Putin be indicted? Yes. Will he likely face a court? I don't think so anytime soon. However, if the burden of defending or protecting these war criminals becomes so great, as we saw happen in the former Yugoslavia, that they eventually turned Milosevic over to the court because the pressure of protecting him or not turning him over became so great.... And there were efforts to entice the government to turn them over. "If you turn him over, we will, we will provide X, Y and Z to you." RFE/RL: What are your expectations for bring people to trial? Domi: This is really sad to say, but most victims [in Ukraine] will not have justice. And what Ukraine could do right now is to begin their investigation to document as many crimes as they can, through the Office of the Prosecutor-General [of Ukraine] and begin working openly with the ICC, as they are, to provide this information to the ICC to help them draw up...a list of charges. And it's going to take time, it's going to take a lot of time. KYIV -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has arrived in Kyiv in a surprise visit to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in what Downing Street called a "show of solidarity" as fears grow of a possible new Russian offensive in the east of Ukraine. Standing next to Zelenskiy at a joint news conference on April 9, Johnson said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had "permanently polluted" his reputation and that of Russia's with his actions in Ukraine, including deadly attacks on civilians in what many people are calling war crimes. "What Putin has done in places like Bucha and Irpin is war crimes that have permanently polluted his reputation and the reputation of his government," Johnson said. Earlier, Johnson's office had said that the prime minister was traveling to Kyiv "in a show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people" and that he would "discuss the U.K.'s long-term support to Ukraine." During his meetings, Downing Street said Johnson pledged to provide an additional 120 armored vehicles and new anti-ship missiles for Ukraine as he praised the performance of Kyiv's military and its civilian defenders. "It is because of President Zelenskiy's resolute leadership and the invincible heroism and courage of the Ukrainian people that Putin's monstrous aims are being thwarted," he said following his meeting with Zelenskiy, according to his office. "Ukraine has defied the odds and pushed back Russian forces from the gates of Kyiv, achieving the greatest feat of arms of the 21st century," Johnson said. Johnsons trip, which was not announced beforehand, is the most high-profile visit to Ukraine in a recent series of arrivals by European officials following the retreat of Russian forces from the region around the capital. Also on April 9, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer met with Zelenskiy in Kyiv, while the day before, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell arrived in the Ukrainian capital. Andriy Sybiha, an aide to the Ukrainian president, posted a photograph on Facebook of the two leaders sitting with each other, with Johnson wearing a dark suit and Zelenskiy in his traditional khaki overalls. "Boris Johnson's visit to Kyiv began with a tete-a-tete meeting with President Zelenskiy," Sybiha wrote. "Great Britain is a leader in defense support for Ukraine. Leader in the anti-war coalition. The leader in sanctions against the Russian aggressor." Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the major developments on Russia's invasion, how Kyiv is fighting back, the plight of civilians, and Western reaction. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. Johnson has taken a hard line against Russia since its February 24 unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and after reports of potential war crimes in deadly attacks on civilians by Moscow's forces. Russian forces have faced stronger-than-expected resistance from Ukrainian forces and civilians, forcing them to pull back from the Kyiv region. Experts say that Moscow is planning to focus its attack on the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine, where Russia or Kremlin-backed forces have held Ukrainian territory since 2014. On April 9, the governor of the Luhansk region, Serhiy Hayday, said more people needed to be evacuated from the eastern region, as shelling has increased in recent days and more Russian forces have been arriving. He said that some 30 percent of residents still remained in cities and villages across the region and had been asked to evacuate. "They [Russia] are amassing forces for an offensive and we see the number of shelling has increased," Hayday told Ukrainian TV. The United States said this week that Moscow probably plans to deploy tens of thousands of soldiers in eastern Ukraine. Russia was focusing its offensive, which included cruise missiles launched by its naval forces, on the eastern Donbas region, the British Defense Ministry said in a daily briefing on April 9. It said it expected air attacks would increase in the south and east as Russia seeks to establish a land bridge between Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014, and the Donbas but Ukrainian forces were thwarting the advance. Ukrainian officials said shelling had increased in the region in recent days as more Russian forces arrived. "The occupiers continue to prepare for the offensive in the east of our country in order to establish full control over the territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions," the General Staff of Ukraines armed forces said on April 9. Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said on April 9 that 10 humanitarian corridors had been agreed for the evacuation of people across the country, including for people to leave the southern besieged port of Mariupol by private transport. Meanwhile, Zelenskiy has demanded a tough global response to Russia after its forces fired a missile at a crowded train station, killing at least 52 people. In his nightly address late on April 8, Zelenskiy said the strike on the train station in Kramatorsk, where 4,000 people were trying to flee a looming Russian offensive in the east, amounted to another war crime. Russia denied it was responsible for the strike. Among those killed were five children, and dozens of people were severely injured. Photos taken after the attack showed corpses covered with tarpaulins, and the remnants of a rocket painted with the words "for the children" in Russian. World leaders condemned the attack. U.S. President Joe Biden reacted on Twitter, calling it "yet another horrific atrocity committed by Russia, striking civilians who were trying to evacuate and reach safety." The French government called it a "crime against humanity," and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson described it as "unconscionable." Train evacuations from Kramatorsk have been suspended due to the attack, Ukraine's state railway said on April 9, adding that evacuations from the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk continue from railway stations at Slovyansk, Pokrovsk, and Novozolotarivka. With reporting from AP, Reuters, and AFP San Elijo Vine & Tap Is the Neighborhood Restaurant and Bar Every Community Deserves Owner Chris Wood's chance opportunity to ditch the dish pit and work the front of house as a server proved pivotal in rewriting his own narrative At the historic Rancho Buena Vista Adobe, visitors can see a treasure trove of historical artifacts, photographs, artwork and classic rancho architecture. But its what they cant see that makes the Adobe a popular destination this Halloween night. Over the past eight years, paranormal researchers and tour groups have reported dozens of ghostly encounters and unexplained sounds and voices at the 166-year-old city-owned home. These experiences have included disembodied voices, ethereal apparitions of spectral women in period dress floating past doorways and through walls, the rustle of petticoats, the sounds of childrens voices, women singing, galloping horse hooves, strange smells, unexplained cold spots in rooms and the sensation of an invisible hand touching the head, hair or shoulder of passers-by. Many of these spooky goings-on have occurred during the Spirits of the Adobe tours, which take place at the adobe once a month. This months tours are at 7 and 9:30 p.m. Oct. 31. The cost is $25, which benefit the adobes maintenance fund. The tours are conducted by the San Diego Paranormal Research Society, which was co-founded in 2009 by Tierrasanta resident Nicole Strickland and Fallbrook resident Ali Schreiber. Advertisement Over the years, the longtime friends have volunteered their services conducting numerous paranormal investigations aboard the Queen Mary cruise ship in Long Beach, at Vistas Avo Playhouse, the Escondido Public Library and several private homes. But no property theyve ever researched has yielded more spiritual energy than the adobe. Strickland said she believes the historic rancho an 1836 Spanish land grant that passed through a dozen hands before the city bought it in 1989 could be a portal connecting the living and spirit worlds. Yet while spirit portals in horror movies usually admit murderous demons, Strickland said that if any portal exists at the adobe, it has only welcomed happy ghosts. With our research and intuition we would say theres energy here thats very peaceful and very contented, Strickland said. If there are earthbound energies here, this was a place they loved. 1 / 13 Exterior view of the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe at sundown. The historic property, owned by the city of Vista, will host two tours on Halloween night focused on the 1852 buildings haunted history. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune) 2 / 13 Paranormal researcher Nicole Strickland stands near a doorway to the master bedroom of the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe. She leads monthly tours of the adobe and has written a book about the hauntings of the historic dwelling. Many visitors have seen ghostly figures of men and women standing in or passing through doorways at the end of halls. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune) 3 / 13 Paranormal researcher Nicole Strickland in a childrens bedroom of the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe. Shes written a book about the hauntings of the historic dwelling. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune) 4 / 13 Detail view of a window and furniture in the main living room known as the Sala of the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune) 5 / 13 Late afternoon view of a childrens bedroom of the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe. This is the original adobe room built in 1852 and is known among staff and visitors as the stinky room because visitors associate it with the smell of horse manure and feed. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune) 6 / 13 View of the gathering room of the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe. Paranormal researchers heard the disembodied voice of a young boy. The cross shape in the wood shutters was actually a gun sight to deter horse thieves. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune) 7 / 13 A doll stands in a window of a childrens bedroom of the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune) 8 / 13 OA portrait of Chalmers Scott is displayed on a wall in the main bedroom of the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe. He owned the adobe from 1876 to 1891. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune) 9 / 13 View of the covered veranda and center courtyard at the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune) 10 / 13 View of a covered patio near the kitchen at the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe. A walled-off root cellar was situated underneath this walkway in the 1800s. Spirits on the property have said that men were kept captive in the root cellar. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune) 11 / 13 Paranormal researcher Nicole Strickland in the master bedroom of the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe. Shes written a book about the hauntings of the historic dwelling. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune) 12 / 13 Paranormal researcher Nicole Strickland stands in a childrens bedroom of the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe known as the Stinky Room. The 1852 one-room adobe was once used to house the stallion of Cave Couts Jr. Today, visitors can hear the whinny and gallop of horses and smell horse hay and manure. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune) 13 / 13 Paranormal researcher Nicole Strickland in the master bedroom of the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe. Shes written a book about the hauntings of the historic dwelling. (Charlie Neuman / San Diego Union-Tribune) Strickland is accustomed to skeptics and says shes skeptical too until she can assemble the facts and recordings to back up her theories. Still, she prefaces most of her statements with phrases like theres no proof, but . She had her first spiritual encounter at age 5 when she had a visit from an old man dressed in Gold Rush-era attire. When she was 21, she had a more profound and extended interaction with the ghost of her grandmother that eventually led her to shelve a career in counseling to focus on paranormal research and writing. I was born into the field with an innate passion for ghosts, hauntings and the spiritual realm, she said. I was always intuitive and an empath. In September, Strickland published Spirits of Rancho Buena Vista Adobe. Available in the adobes gift shop, its the seventh book shes written for Haunted America about paranormal activities in Southern California. In the 124-page book, she describes the many experiences she, Schreiber and others have had in virtually every room of the L-shaped adobe structure. Frank Rojano, a longtime city employee who has frequently worked on the adobe property, describes several spooky experiences in the book. In the early 2000s, he heard mysteriously slamming doors, saw a television turn itself on twice, and saw a painting inexplicably fly across a room and smash into a door. Strickland believes some of the adobes ghosts may be the spirits of women and men who lived and worked on the property in the late 1800s. The adobes most famous owner was Cave Johnson Couts, the Mexican War veteran who acquired the property in 1866 for ranching, but lived with his family three miles away at the Rancho Guajome Adobe. Strickland said Couts widow, Ysidora Dona Bandini de Couts, and five of her children may be among the spirits inhabiting the Rancho Buena Vista Adobe property. There have also been communications with a man named Juan (possibly Gonzalez) who worked for the Couts family in the 1800s. Its possible he was held prisoner in the adobes now-walled-off root cellar and might have been killed on the property. Theres a legend that an electrician installing electrical wiring in the adobes majordomo room in the 1920s discovered a skeleton hanging from a noose inside a wall that could have been that of Juan. Many of Strickland and Schreibers theories came from archival research, sightings and conversations recorded with the help of the equipment they use both in their private investigations and during the monthly tours. Disembodied voices, known as electronic voice phenomena or EVP, are captured via audio recorders, video cameras, a spirit box (which rapidly scans AM/FM radio signals for talking spirits) and the Ovilus X, a synthesizer that supposedly converts spiritual energy into recognizable words. They also use dowsing rods (L-shaped copper wires) to detect spiritual energy. Strickland said she knows many people doubt the scientific veracity of these devices, but most of the people who sign up for the two-hour tours are not among them. They arrive here open to the possibilities, she said. For information on paranormal tours coming up on Oct. 31, Nov. 9 and Dec. 21, call (760) 643-5275 or visit cityofvista.com/residents/rancho-buena-vista-adobe/spirits-of-the-adobe. Tours are limited to 10 people, ages 18 and up only. pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com A manager at BART failed to disclose ties to a construction management firm awarded a $40 million contract that the manager helped broker, the agencys inspector general found. In a report released Friday, BART Inspector General Harriet Richardson urged the agencys management to seek outside counsel on whether BART should void the remainder of the contract in light of the potential conflict of interest. According to Richardson, neither the manager nor the firm disclosed that the former used to be employed by the latter, and that the managers spouse and sibling still work at the firm. The lack of disclosure could force BART to void $27 million remaining in the contract and forego paying the firm $5.4 million in unpaid invoices for previous work. The BART managers relationships create a potential financial interest in the contract, which is against the law, Richardson said in a statement. Neither the manager nor the construction firm was identified in the inspector general report, though a Los Angeles Times report identified the latter as San Francisco engineering firm PGH Wong, which helped oversee BARTs expansion to north San Jose. The agency issued a stop-work order in February after it was first made aware of a potential conflict, the Times reported. The BART manager in question was the agreement manager for the contract awarded to PGH Wong in 2020, but did not disclose that the managers spouse worked at the firm or that part of the spouses annual compensation benefits from the firms contracts with BART, according to the report. The potential conflict of interest is partly the result of a lack of clear guidance and training for employees regarding conflict-of-interest disclosures, Richardson said. BARTs management agreed to implement most of the reports recommendations that included requiring training employees better and permanently reassigning work related to contracts with PGH Wong to another manager. Management resisted the request to use outside counsel. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. After an exhaustive review of the situation, management believes all agreements, work plans and invoicing with this firm are fair and reasonable, BART management said in its response. Management is of the opinion that no financial interest was realized by the employee or the firm. While the spouse has been removed from working on BART-related projects, the report urged BART to seek outside legal advice and proactively void the PGH Wong contract. The penalties for not voiding the contract could be even more punitive for the firm and BART if it is later confirmed that a violation of (state law) did indeed occur, the report said. Ricardo Cano is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ricardo.cano@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByRicardoCano Chris Carlson/AP A man died and a woman sustained major injuries after a vehicle traveled into oncoming traffic on Highway 92 near the Interstate 280 interchange in San Mateo County on Friday afternoon, prompting temporary closures of the roadway, authorities said. California Highway Patrol officials said that a 2017 red Honda Accord traveling eastbound on Highway 92, just west of Interstate 280, veered into westbound traffic and crashed head-on into a 2002 gray BMW at about 4:30 p.m. Its become a regularly occurring story line: Law enforcement agencies issue dire warnings, saying that officers have overdosed from an exposure to fentanyl, through the air, skin contact or even through administering CPR to someone experiencing an overdose, underscoring the dangers of the powerful synthetic opioid. Last month, the Orange County Sheriffs Office tweeted that three deputies became dizzy and were hospitalized after searching a vehicle they suspected contained fentanyl, punctuated by photographs of first responders in hazardous materials suits. The deputies suffered no serious injuries, the Sheriffs Office said. Before that, the San Diego Sheriffs Office shared a video of an officer seemingly overdosing just by coming into contact with the drug. In 2020, seven people, including four California Highway Patrol officers, were hospitalized after a potential fentanyl exposure on the Golden Gate Bridge. But medical experts for years have rebutted the idea that overdose through this kind of incidental exposure is even possible, saying that the misconception could dissuade first responders from giving lifesaving help to someone overdosing out of fear of exposure. So whats going on? Fentanyl is incredibly dangerous and deadly the opioid can be up to 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, and about 75% of overdose deaths in San Francisco involve the drug. Ingesting just two milligrams of the drug, the equivalent of a few grains of salt, can kill someone who hasnt built up a tolerance to it. But medical experts say that secondary exposure to the drug or skin contact isnt enough to overdose, or even be affected by the drug. The risk of clinically significant exposure to emergency responders is extremely low, said Dr. Kathy LeSaint, a medical toxicologist and assistant professor of emergency medicine at UCSF. Last month, six people, including five West Point cadets, reportedly overdosed after taking cocaine laced with fentanyl. But two said they overdosed going into cardiac arrest administering CPR to the others, rather than by voluntarily ingesting the opioid themselves. While she said she does not know the specific details of the West Point cadets incident, it seems unlikely to her, as an emergency medicine physician who has seen overdose patients receive CPR, that someone could become intoxicated that way. Its already in the patients body. Im a little bit stumped as to how one would get any type of intoxication just by simply doing CPR on a patient whos overdosed from fentanyl, she said. I never want to discount what law enforcement is doing because they have a very, very difficult job. Its very scary and anxiety-inducing just to be a first responder at the scene, she added. Theres lots going on there, it just doesnt seem like fentanyl intoxication. She also pointed to a 2017 joint statement from American College of Medical Toxicology and American Academy of Clinical Toxicology, which also said that the risk to emergency responders is extremely low, adding there have not been any known cases of first responders developing signs or symptoms consistent with opioid use after incidental contact with the drug. We know so much about fentanyl and the way it acts and how one could get enough in their body to cause an overdose, LeSaint said. The medical community has been saying for a number of years that the risk of clinically significant exposure to those in law enforcement and first responders is just so, so low. Still, many police officers and first responders genuinely think that they are in danger from exposure to fentanyl because of a lack of exposure to it as well as a history of misinformation on the topic, explained Brandon del Pozo, a former police officer and chief in New York and Vermont who is now a postdoctoral researcher in drug policy and addiction treatment at Rhode Islands Miriam Hospital and the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Because of policing culture as well as regular drug tests for officers, del Pozo said, very, very few officers have any genuine experience with fentanyl. he said. So in these viral videos, what youre watching is the very stressed out and panicked reaction of somebody who has, not surprisingly, no experience taking the drug. A 2021 study del Pozo wrote, found that 80% of law enforcement officials agreed with the statement first responders who encounter fentanyl are at great risk of overdose by touching it or inhaling it. Its good men and women reacting to the knowledge that they think theyre dying or watching someone die, he added. That fear, he explained, comes from a history of misinformation on the dangers of fentanyl coming from and amplified by credible, authoritative agencies. In 2016, as fentanyl was proliferating and deaths from the drug began increasing, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration put out a discredited and now-deleted news release titled Fentanyl Exposure Kills, which del Pozo pointed to as the source of much of the misinformation among first responders, adding that even he took it at face value when he was a police chief, given the DEAs authority. Just touching fentanyl or accidentally inhaling the substance during enforcement activity or field testing the substance can result in absorption through the skin and that is one of the biggest dangers with fentanyl, the statement said. The onset of adverse health effects, such as disorientation, coughing, sedation, respiratory distress or cardiac arrest is very rapid and profound, usually occurring within minutes of exposure. The DEA has since removed that warning and updated their guidance on fentanyl exposure for first responders, using the corrected understanding that fentanyl cannot kill through skin contact. But it still leaves open the possibility that accidentally inhaling fentanyl could be harmful and that officers should wear protective equipment, a recommendation the CDC echoes. Inhalation of airborne powder is most likely to lead to harmful effects, but is less likely to occur than skin contact, the updated document reads. Incidental skin contact may occur during daily activities but is not expected to lead to harmful effects if the contaminated skin is promptly washed off with water. But, airborne exposure is extremely rare the College of Medical Toxicology and Academy of Clinical Toxicology statement said that, even for people working in medical labs making fentanyl would need to breathe it in for more than three hours at the highest allowed concentration in the air to reach overdose levels. Fentanyl also does not spontaneously aerosolize, LeSaint said. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. If a law enforcement officer were to stand a foot away from fentanyl, even for 200 minutes, its unlikely that they would get intoxicated, she said. When police officers do search warrants on drug dens, we never find a pile of fentanyl on a table with dead people all around it, del Pozo added. We never find the gas masks and Tyvek suits. Still, the DEA and other may not want to dismiss airborne fentanyl as a concern despite its rarity in the odd case that an officer actually experiences harmful effects from the airborne drug, or any other contact with it, del Pozo said. I think that because its not impossible, nobody wants to denounce it and then be wrong, he said. If it ever does happen under extraordinary circumstances, no one wants to be caught with blood on their hands. On top of that, stories of officers seemingly overdosing from exposure ricochet across social media and news outlets, amplifying the misinformation and fear among both the first responders and the public, a group of researchers with the Northeastern University Health in Justice Action Lab wrote in a 2020 study. While being careful around fentanyl or other unknown substances is generally good, experts say fearing exposure to it is dangerous, especially in situations where moments of hesitation can prevent a first responder from saving a life. Time is of the essence when somebody is overdosing, del Pozo said. When people hesitate in their response because theyre worried about fentanyl exposure, it will cost lives. We certainly dont want to hamper any kind of help that somebody could get, LeSaint said, especially by people like law enforcement or first responders who actually have the skills to help them. The misinformation can be harmful to law enforcement and first responders as well, both del Pozo and the Northeastern researchers said, introducing an unnecessary fear into an already stressful job. It just stresses out cops. Cops understand, for example, a bullet could kill me, so I wear a bullet resistant vest ... but theres this tiny, tiny, practically invisible substance that can just cause me to die immediately without even knowing it, he said. Thats false, but if you believe it, thats extremely stressful. Professional responders report elevated levels of stress, vicarious trauma, and compassion fatigue, the Northeastern researchers wrote. Unfounded safety concerns can aggravate these occupational mental health challenges. While its good that the DEA and other organizations have removed their early misinformation on the subject, del Pozo said, they need to do more to re-educate officers who have come up believing that original information to be true. His research found that even a brief online training on the issue could help officers better understand that simple exposure wont kill them. Its got to be more than that, he said. It has to be the organizations that are so credible that they spread this misinformation being the ones to use that credibility to correct it. Danielle Echeverria is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: danielle.echeverria@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @DanielleEchev The San Francisco Elections Commission voted unanimously Friday not to remove the three volunteers it appointed to the citys nine-member Redistricting Task Force despite concerns from some advocacy groups over how the task force members have handled the redistricting process. Elections commissioners said they scheduled Fridays meeting just one day before the independent task force is supposed to approve a final draft map of supervisorial districts to hear from the three task force members they appointed last year and offer them an opportunity to address the criticism. They voted not to remove the task force members after hearing from them, their critics and city residents. Theres been no information to suggest that either our appointees or the task force at large have committed any misconduct that undermines the integrity of their work, Elections Commission President Lucy Bernholz said after several hours of public comment. We appreciate them and thank them for their service, and we move on. The last-minute move by the commissioners to consider removing the task force members was the latest point of controversy in San Franciscos redistricting process, which has seen contentious debate among supervisors, residents and advocacy groups who worry that existing draft maps could split certain neighborhoods between districts, undermining their residents ability to advocate for themselves and reshuffling the political power balance on the Board of Supervisors. Some advocates for removing the task force members had accused the task force of gerrymandering, or manipulating district boundaries to favor a particular political party or outcome. Those against the commissions decision to consider removing task force members had expressed concern, saying that the members removal would have been an affront on the democratic process. Some compared it to Republican efforts to change the results of the 2020 presidential election. The three task force members appointed by the Elections Commission Raynell Cooper, Chasel Lee and Ditka Reiner make up one-third of the independent task force. The Board of Supervisors appoints three members, and so does the mayor. Critics of the task force members included representatives from the League of Women Voters of San Francisco, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, the Asian Law Caucus and ACLU San Francisco. Fridays meeting was called after the commission received a joint letter Wednesday from leaders of the League of Women Voters of San Francisco and Asian Americans Advancing Justice in which they urged commissioners to speak to the task force members to reinforce to them their duty and obligations to give due weight to the public input of historically and systemically marginalized, vulnerable, and disadvantaged communities. The letter did not ask the commission to remove its appointees but recommended a special meeting as soon as possible regarding these urgent concerns. ACLU San Francisco sent a similar message to the commission Wednesday. Commenters during Fridays meeting who were in favor of the task members removal said that they were most upset by what they saw as a lack of transparency, especially after the task force held a vote on a draft map shortly before 3 a.m. Monday. Task force members said the vote was held at that time because it was after public testimony ended, and they acknowledged that it may have looked suspicious. Julia Marks, a staff attorney and manager for the voting rights program at the Asian Law Caucus, denounced the task force for not having enough live interpreters at recent community meetings, leaving some people who prefer to speak a language other than English out of the conversation. In Thursdays nine-hour meeting, she said, interpreters were available for only four hours. She added that the task force should be more explicit and transparent in explaining tradeoffs they make with regard to district boundaries, and that they ought to prioritize the needs of marginalized communities more. On Friday, task force members Cooper, Lee and Reiner staunchly and emotionally defended their process for developing drafts of district maps, including their outreach to San Franciscos districts and communities. Compromise and tradeoffs, they said, are necessary parts of the process, and they acknowledged that some city residents would naturally be disappointed with proposed district boundaries. They also said some of the criticism was misdirected, targeting issues that were out of their control. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. There are lots of people who feel that we didn't listen to them, but thats because we cant do everything that they want, Reiner told commissioners. Hard decisions have had to be made and we often made those decisions with heavy hearts, Lee said. We made those in the spirit of having a map that this city could either be proud of or that the city could work on for the next 10 years. The Rev. Arnold Townsend, the chair of the task force, backed the task force members who faced possible removal. He told commissioners that Cooper, Lee and Reiter are three of the hardest-working people on this task force. He said some of the criticism they have faced has been unfair task force members are not responsible for scheduling interpreters. Still, he said, he would press for interpreters to be available in any future meetings. To even consider removing (task force members), I can't believe it, he told commissioners as during the meetings public comment period. The Redistricting Task Force is supposed to approve a final draft map of supervisorial districts on Saturday so that it has enough time to notify the public of its last meeting on Wednesday. New boundaries need to be in place by April 15. Chronicle staff writer J.D. Morris contributed to this report. Andy Picon (he/him) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: andy.picon@hearst.com Twitter: @andpicon A 17-year-old girl was injured in a shooting in San Franciscos Hunters Point neighborhood on Friday afternoon, authorities said. Police officers from San Francisco polices Bayview Station responded to a report of a shooting at 12:46 p.m. in the 100 block of Kiska Road and found the teen, police told The Chronicle. The masked gunman fled from the scene, San Francisco police investigations Commander Raj Vaswani said on Twitter shortly before 2:45 p.m. Police officers rendered first-aid and called for medical personnel to respond to the scene, police said. The girl sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment, police said. No one had been arrested in connection with the shooting as of shortly after 8:30 p.m. Friday, police said. Anyone with information about this incident, including video and pictures, should call the Police Departments anonymous tip line at 415-575-4444. Callers can remain anonymous. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Tips can also be texted by texting a tip to TIP411 and beginning the text message with, SFPD. Lauren Hernandez (she/her) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByLHernandez It was a great day for Sunday in the park, so I made my way almost to the top of Bernal Hill. There were kids up there, and families, and dogs in the bright sunshine. The city and the bay spread out below, like one of those television shots in living color: beautiful San Francisco. The next day I had an errand to run, so I took a shortcut from 29th and Mission streets along Tiffany Avenue. Most people have never heard of Tiffany Avenue; its at the foot of Bernal Hill, a pleasant street only one block long, lined with stucco houses of 1939 vintage. Its nice, but nothing special. According to the Zillow real estate website, homes on Tiffany are worth $1.1 million for a condo to $2.3 million for top-of-the-line Tiffany. Up at the northern end that Monday, where Tiffany runs into Valencia Street, two people, a man and a woman, had set up a camp on the sidewalk in the shade of trees. It looked like they were there to stay. They had a big tent or awning, some kind of sleeping area and enough stuff to fill a pickup truck: a bike, plastic bags, stuff, clutter. Three people with yellow vests and clipboards, obviously some kind of city outreach team, were talking to the lady of the camp. When I came back after my errand, the city people were gone, but the camp was still there. The man and woman were talking to each other. I didnt listen. I did what most San Franciscans would do. I walked on by. None of my business. I was on Tiffany a couple of days later and the couple and their camp were gone. But a day after that a new man had built a cardboard shack on the million-dollar street. A tale of two cities. That same week there was an article in The Chronicle about a celebration at the new Sister Lillian Murphy Community, a 152-unit low-cost housing development in Mission Bay. The piece, written by my colleague J.K. Dineen, described the handsome new building with a lush second-story courtyard in a neighborhood of expensive apartments and condos. But the community is different: The tenants are poor. Some of them had been homeless, some lived in old residential hotels or with relatives. The building is owned by Mercy Housing, a nonprofit managed by the Catholic Sisters of Mercy. Its named for Sister Lillian Murphy, who for 27 years was CEO of Mercy Housing. On her watch Mercy Housing turned from a small nonprofit that owned a few units in Idaho and other places into a housing operation with 30,000 units with around 50,000 residents. She raised millions of dollars to support Mercy Housing. Political leaders in every city talk a lot about affordable housing. But Lillian Murphy did it. If she were CEO of a large for-profit corporation she would have commanded a big salary and been on the cover of Fortune magazine. But Sister Lillian was a nun who took the vow of poverty. Dineen quoted former Mercy Housing CEO Jane Graf: Lillian was a force of nature a woman of great stature and strong conviction. Graf described Mercy Housings mission: We didnt do this to build buildings or amass a real estate portfolio. It was to change the trajectory of peoples lives that were living in cyclical poverty. I asked Sister Pauline Borghello, who grew up with Lillian Murphy and was her friend for years, what drove her. She was always there for that other person. Amazing, isnt it? Sister Pauline said. She described Lillians work as her ministry. A ministry is what you are called to do, to respond to the needs of the people of God. Its a San Francisco story, really. Its the city that also has the drugs and despair of the Tenderloin and the street people who wrecked and looted a small bike shop on Market Street. Dineen, the reporter, wrote both about Sister Lillian and the bike shop in the same week. Two sides of the same city. Lillian Murphy was born and raised in the Mission District. San Francisco was a small city then and still is. Lillian went to St. Peters Catholic School at 24th and Alabama streets. I went there, too, but at a different time. I didnt know Lillian Murphy, but my younger sister, Alyce, was one of her pals. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Lillian was drawn to the life of the Sisters of Mercy, who ran the school. She liked what they did in the community. She wanted to help others, but not by herself working together was better. She wanted to be a teacher, but was assigned to work in the accounting department of St. Marys Hospital in San Francisco. Other hospital administrative jobs followed and she earned a masters degree in public health at UC Berkeley. She knew nothing about the housing industry when she was asked to replace Sister Mary Terese Tracy, who was retiring as CEO of Mercy Housing. That was in 1987. Mercy Housings staff consisted of six nuns and 20 employees. It was so small that for years she kept the checkbooks for every Mercy Housing property in her purse. When she retired, Mercy Housing was one of the largest nonprofit housing organizations in the country. There were a couple of reasons for her success: She was an excellent administrator and a master at human resources: She saw the potential in people, Sister Pauline said. She felt you should surround yourself with good people. She had good judgment. Sister Lillian was good at what she did. We want to be known for compassionate competence, she once said. Sister Lillian Murphy retired as CEO in 2014 at age 73. She died after a brief illness in the summer of 2019. People think of not-for-profit housing as a charity, she once said. Its not charity, its justice. The Sister Lillian Murphy complex is at 691 China Basin St., not far from the ballpark. Its part of her legacy. Carl Noltes columns appear in The Chronicles Sunday edition. Email: cnolte@sfchronicle.com Oakland Unified, like many Bay Area school districts, will not be able to pay its bills at some point in the next few years unless it addresses the fact that its spending more money than it gets each year and has relied on unpredictable windfalls to get by. This year, the East Bay district is fine. Next year, the citys public schools look fiscally solid as well. But three or four years out, when the $300 million the district got in federal and state pandemic recovery money runs out, theres a big question mark over its financial stability, depending on what officials do in the interim. Oakland Unifieds fate hangs in the balance, with an upcoming election for three school board seats, as well as a county superintendent race, likely to determine what happens next. In recent months, district leaders have taken dramatic steps to avoid plunging off a fiscal cliff, although the superintendent and school board have acknowledged in official budget projections that they still might not be able to pay future bills. Oakland schools have been here before, ultimately requiring a $100 million state bailout in 2002, which brought with it full state control of the district for several years. The fear now, state, county and local officials say, is that the district is on the same path again. When they cant pay their employees, they get taken over by the state, said Mike Fine, CEO of the Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team, which works with the states school districts on financial stability. Without any corrective action they would get to that place again. Addressing the districts current and long-term budget issues will require significant and painful choices that already include staffing cuts and school closures this year with more of both likely next year even as the district hopes to boost teacher and staff salaries. Complicating that process, however, is a belief among some, including at least one board member, that its all a bit of a budget ruse that the district has plenty of money and doesnt need to close schools or take dramatic action to stave off a state takeover. I know the district can pay its bills for the foreseeable future, said school board member Mike Hutchinson. We do not have declining enrollment. Our finances havent been this good in a very long time. Its a shell game, Hutchinson said, and the district is not in crisis. He believes the district is in the process of cleaning up the mess left by previous leadership and its a matter of making budget adjustments to address any issues. He is currently outnumbered on the board and among state and county officials in that view, with Alameda County Superintendent L.K. Monroe strongly urging the district to stay the course on $110 million in spending cuts and other budget actions to ensure fiscal solvency. They have taken action, which is a first step, she said. Were really going to be monitoring more closely to make sure there is follow-through. Overspending and using one-time funding sources to cover costs combined with the loss of 3,000 students amid the pandemic and ongoing declining enrollment have put the district on precarious financial footing for the future. Since 2015, enrollment has dropped by 4,703 students, which translates into an expected funding loss of more than $50 million each year out of a nearly $800 million budget. Recent budget cuts and other actions allowed county superintendent Monroe to restore the districts status as a going concern a few months after earlier pulling that designation, which means Oakland Unified was no longer at risk of financial collapse. Board member Hutchinson saw the reversal as evidence of a ploy to force the district to close schools, which the board majority did, voting in February to shutter or merge 11 schools in the next two years. Monroe said it was a sign of good faith that the district was moving in the right direction, though its not out of the woods. It must adhere to 17 conditions to maintain its good status. Her decision, however, does not take into account $63 million the district would need to spend to honor tentative labor agreements, including raises for teachers and other staff. It remains unclear whether the district can afford those, as well as future raises it hopes to offer. Monroes election challenger in June, Alysse Castro, said she doesnt see corruption or ill will at work, but also doesnt believe the district needs to close schools, a tactic she doesnt believe saves money. That said, School finance is legitimately complicated, she conceded, adding that she believes Monroe made the right decision to designate the district as being at risk before taking strong actions earlier this year. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Oakland Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell and her staff have warned the public that the district faces a rocky road ahead. The district gets more funding than 46 of the states 50 largest districts. At the same time, it has the most schools per student and the third most teachers per student, as well as the lowest average teacher salary, despite spending more on teacher salaries than 85% of those districts. It also has fewer central office staff and classified staff than the vast majority of those districts. Lower student/teacher ratios do not correlate with higher student performance in Oakland, officials said. Given its substantial cost, our current investment in maintaining many under-enrolled schools and low student/teacher ratios is overall not the most effective or efficient use of our limited resources, according to a January district analysis. Whether the district will continue down a path of school closures and cuts will hinge on what happens in November. Hutchinson has two years left on his term in District Five, but his residence shifted into District Four after redistricting. He is running against board President Gary Yee in that district this November. If he wins, he will start a new four-year term in District Four. If he loses, he can serve out the remainder of his current term. Its unclear whether incumbents Shanthi Gonzales and Aimee Eng, whose seats are also up for election in November, will run. Yee said it will be up to voters to decide who they believe this November. He supported the school mergers and closures, as well as other hard budget decisions, saying they were necessary to avoid future calamity. Theres a lot of people who wonder whether we need to do it or not and whether the county made a mistake, he said. Theres plenty of space for conspiracy in Oakland. Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker SANTIAGO, Chile Dozens of protesters gathered in front of the Russian embassy in Chiles capital of Santiago on Saturday to denounce the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Protesters unfurled a large banner featuring the colors of the Ukrainian flag. The group included Ukrainians living in Chile. Some protesters lay down on the ground and clutched stuffed animals to honor child victims of the war. A large banner read, Stand with Ukraine. We want to be united at this time with our children, with our families, said Alina Prus, a Ukrainian living in Chile. Several of us have our families who are now living the horror of what war means. Another protester, Daria Gryshko, said many Ukrainians living in Chile have family or friends living both there and in Russia. It is painful to see how families break up, how relationships break up, when opinions are divided within a family, she said. Because the people who live in Russia are exposed to a lot of propaganda, even when you show them video of what is happening now, they dont believe, because they dont come out from their TV. ___ KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR: Zelenskyy, in AP interview, says he seeks peace despite atrocities War Crimes Watch: A devastating walk through Buchas horror S&P downgrade indicates Russia headed for historic default Civilian evacuations continue in battle-scarred eastern Ukraine Intel: Putin may cite Ukraine war to meddle in US politics Go to https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine for more coverage ___ OTHER DEVELOPMENTS: BORODIANKA, Ukraine Firefighters continued searching Saturday for survivors or the dead in the debris of destroyed buildings in a northern Ukrainian town that was occupied for weeks by Russian forces. Residents of Borodianka expect to find dozens of victims under the rubble of the several buildings destroyed during fighting between Russian forces and Ukrainian troops. The town is about 75 kilometers (47 miles) northwest of the capital of Kyiv and had more than 12,000 residents. Russian troops occupied Borodianka while advancing towards Kyiv in an attempt to encircle it. They retreated during the last days of March following fierce fighting. The town is without electricity, natural gas or other services. A 77-year-old resident, Maria Vaselenko, said her daughter and son-in-laws bodies have been under rubble for 36 days because Russian soldiers would not allow residents to search for loved ones or their bodies. She said her two teenage grandchildren escaped to Poland but are now orphans. The Russians were shooting. And some people wanted to come and help, but they were shooting them, she told The Associated Press. They were putting explosives under dead people. ___ MARIUPOL, Ukraine -- Shelling by Russian forces of Ukraines key port of Mariupol on the Sea of Azov has collapsed several humanitarian corridors and made conditions seldom right for people to leave. It was not clear Saturday how many people remained trapped in the city, which had a prewar population of 430,000. Ukrainian officials have put the number at about 100,000, but earlier this week, British defense officials said 160,000 people remained trapped in the city. Ukrainian troops have refused to surrender the city, though much of it has been razed. Resident Sergey Petrov said Saturday that recently two shells struck around him in quick succession, but neither exploded upon landing. He was in his garage at the time and said his mother later told him, I was born again. A shell flew in and broke up into two parts but it did not explode, looks like it did not land on the detonator but on its side, he said. He added that when another shell flew in and hit the garage, I am in shock. I dont understand what is happening. I have a hole in my garage billowing smoke. I run away and leave everything. I come back in several hours and find another shell lying there, also unexploded. ___ ATHENS, Greece A Ukrainian soccer club on Saturday opened a series of charity games on a government-backed Global Tour for Peace wearing the names of heavily bombarded cities on its jerseys. The tour by the Shakhtar Donetsk club aims to raise money for Ukraines military in the war against Russia, and also help Ukrainian refugees displaced by the war. Its first game Saturday was a 1-0 loss to Greek league leader Olympiakos. Soccer clubs around Europe have been offering to play games against Ukrainian clubs and host youth players after soccer in the country was shut down when Russia invaded in February. Shakhtar already was displaced from its home of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine in 2014. Playing in the Athens area on Saturday, Shakhtar players replaced their names on the back of their jerseys with those of cities bombarded by Russian forces, including Mariupol. ___ BUCHA, Ukraine -- Civilians remaining in Bucha lined up Saturday for food donated by the local church in the battered Kyiv suburb where Ukrainian forces and journalists reported evidence of war crimes after Russian soldiers withdrew. With other civilians fleeing in the wake of Russias invasion, most of the people remaining in Bucha were elderly, poor or unable to leave loved ones. Russian troops withdrew more than a week ago. Volunteer Petro Denysyuk told The Associated Press that he and fellow church friends started providing food, with a wide array of basic foodstuffs and hot meals. We have gathered together with the youth from our church and prepared food for the needy, Denysyuk said. We prepared pilaf, boiled eggs, prepared meat, sausages, noodles. Ukrainian forces and journalists that went into Bucha saw bodies strewn in the streets, evidence of summary executions and the remains of people who could not have threatened soldiers. Russia has denied accusations of war crimes and accused Kyiv of staging them. ___ KYIV, Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the leaders of Britain and Austria for their visits to Kyiv on Saturday and pledges of further support. In his daily late-night video address to the nation, Zelenskyy also thanked European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for a global fundraising event that raised more than 10 billion euros ($11 billion) for Ukrainians who have had to flee their homes. Zelenskyy said democratic countries were united in working to stop the war. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer became the latest of several European rulers to meet Zelenskky in Kyiv. Because Russian aggression was not intended to be limited to Ukraine alone, to the destruction only of our freedom and our life, he said. The entire European project is a target for Russia. Zelenskyy repeated his call for a complete embargo on Russian oil and gas, calling them the sources of Russias self-confidence and impunity. But Ukraine does not have time to wait. Freedom does not have time to wait. When tyranny begins its aggression against everything that keeps the peace in Europe, action must be taken immediately, he said. He added: And an oil embargo must be the first step. Moreover, by all democratic states, the entire civilized world. Then Russia will feel it. Then it will be an argument for them to seek peace, to stop the senseless violence. ___ LVIV, Ukraine Eyewitness descriptions are coming from Kramatorsk, the town in eastern Ukraine where a missile hit a train station packed with evacuees on Friday. The Sydorenko family could have been among the 52 dead and more than 100 wounded, but their taxi didnt show and they had to wait for another one. They finally arrived for the 11 a.m. evacuation train just three minutes after the explosion. Ivan Sydorenko says there were around 2,000 people inside the station and on the platforms when the missile hit. He says they got out of their taxi in a scene of burning cars, burning pieces of the missile and people fleeing for their lives. Ivan managed to escape by bus and then train with his wife and daughter, eventually reaching the relative safety of Lviv in western Ukraine. The Sydorenkos are just one of thousands of families clamoring to leave eastern Ukraine ahead of an expected Russian onslaught there. Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said 10 evacuation corridors were planned for Saturday, and other stations were open for trains full of refugees. Russia meanwhile has denied responsibility, accusing Ukraines military of firing on the station to try to turn blame for civilian slayings on Moscow. ___ KYIV, Ukraine Panicked residents of eastern Ukraine boarded buses or looked for other ways to leave Saturday, a day after a missile strike killed at least 52 people and wounded more than 100 at a train station. The attack in in Kramatorsk left the city with no trains running and came with thousands of people seeking to leave. Ukrainian authorities have called on civilians to get out ahead of an imminent, stepped-up offensive by Russian forces in the east. Residents on Saturday feared the kind of unrelenting assaults and occupations by Russian invaders that brought food shortages, demolished buildings and death to other cities elsewhere in Ukraine. It was terrifying. The horror, the horror, one resident told British broadcaster Sky, recalling Fridays attack on the train station. Heaven forbid, to live through this again. No, I dont want to. Western military analysts said an arc of territory in eastern Ukraine was under Russian control. It was from Kharkiv Ukraines second-largest city in the north to Kherson in the south. But Ukrainian counterattacks are threatening Russian control of Kherson, according to the Western assessments, and Ukrainian forces are repelling Russian assaults elsewhere in the Donbas region in the southeast. ___ WASHINGTON U.S. intelligence officials predict Russian President Vladimir Putin may use U.S. support for Ukraine as justification for a new campaign to interfere in American politics. Intelligence officials tell The Associated Press that they have yet to find any evidence that Putin has authorized measures like the ones Russia undertook in the last two elections to support former President Donald Trump. Several people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive findings said it remains unclear which candidates Russia might try to promote next. Trump has repeatedly assailed U.S. intelligence officials and claimed that investigations of Russian influence on his campaigns to be political vendettas. In Ukraine and elsewhere, Russia has been accused of trying to spread disinformation, amplifying pro-Kremlin voices in the West and using cyberattacks to disrupt governments. Top U.S. intelligence officials are still working on plans for a new Foreign Malign Influence Center, authorized by Congress, that will focus on foreign influence campaigns by Russia, China and other adversaries. ___ KYIV, Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told The Associated Press on Saturday that he is committed to seeking peace despite Russian attacks on civilians that have stunned the world. He said no one wants to negotiate with people who tortured their nation as a man, as a father, I understand this very well. But he said we dont want to lose opportunities, if we have them, for a diplomatic solution. Zelenskyy said hes confident Ukrainians would accept peace despite the horrors they have witnessed in the war. But meanwhile, Russian troops are regrouping for an expected surge in fighting in eastern Ukraine, including the besieged port city of Mariupol that Ukrainian defenders are battling to retain. So Zelenskyy renewed his plea for countries to send more weapons. He says they have to fight for life -- not for dust when there is nothing and no people. Thats why it is important to stop this war. ___ KYIV, Ukraine U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, promising so much support that his nation might never be bullied again. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Johnsons surprise visit included a pledge of 120 armored vehicles and new anti-ship missile systems, part of another 100 million pounds ($130 million) of high-grade military equipment. Johnson also confirmed an additional $500 million in World Bank lending, taking Britains total loan guarantee up to $1 billion. Johnson said Ukraine defied the odds pushing Russian forces from the gates of Kyiv, achieving the greatest feat of arms of the 21st century. The prime minister credits Zelenskyys resolute leadership and the invincible heroism and courage of the Ukrainian people for thwarting what he calls the monstrous aims of Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Johnson says Britain and its partners are going to ratchet up the economic pressure ... not just freezing assets in banks and sanctioning oligarchs but moving away from use of Russian hydrocarbons. Johnson also described a vision for a future Ukraine so fortified and protected by the equipment, technology and know-how of Britain and its partners that it can never be threatened in the same way again. In the meantime, Johnson said, there is a huge amount to do to make sure that Ukraine is successful, that Ukraine wins and that Putin must fail. - MILAN An Italian government source said Italian Premier Mario Draghi is traveling to Algeria on Monday to sign a deal for more gas. Italy has been urgently looking for alternatives to natural gas from Russia since its invasion of Ukraine. Russia is Italys biggest supplier, representing 40% of total imports. Italys foreign minister has traveled to Algeria as well as Azerbaijan, Qatar, Congo, Angola and Mozambique to secure more deals. Algeria is Italys second-largest supplier of natural gas, which is the main source of the nations electricity, providing some 21 billion cubic meters of gas via the Trans-Mediterranean pipeline. Italian energy company ENI has operated in Algeria for 40 years. ENI announced a significant oil and gas discovery in Algeria last month and said it would work with Algerian partner Sonatrach to fast-track its development for the third quarter of this year. Italy business reporter Colleen Barry. ___ Julian Lennon has explained why he decided to sing his fathers song Imagine for the first time publicly. Hes posted on social media that he always said he would only sing the song if it was the End of the World. He says its the right song to sing now because the War on Ukraine is an unimaginable tragedy, and he felt compelled to respond in the most significant way he could. The son of John Lennon says murderous violence in Ukraine is forcing millions of innocent families to leave the comfort of their homes. He says the lyrics reflect our collective desire for peace worldwide, and within this song, were transported to a space, where love and togetherness become our reality, if but for a moment in time. Lennon joined celebrities around the world calling on world leaders to do more to support refugees in the Stand Up For Ukraine campaign. ___ BOSTON -- The International Monetary Fund has created an account to give donor countries a secure way to funnel financial assistance directly to war-ravaged Ukraine. The multilateral lender said in a statement Friday that its launching the account at the request of several member countries. The goal is to help Ukraine meet its payment obligations and help stabilize its economy using loans or grants from pooled resources. The IMF says Canada has proposed routing up to 1 billion Canadian dollars ($795 million) to Ukraine through the new account. Two weeks after Russias Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, the IMF approved a $1.4 billion emergency loan to Ukraine. ___ BOSTON -- S&P Global Ratings has downgraded its assessment of Russias ability to repay foreign debt, signaling increased prospects that Moscow will soon default on such loans for the first time in more than a century. The credit ratings agency issued the downgrade to selective default Friday night after Russia arranged to make foreign bond payments in rubles last week when they were due in dollars. It said it didnt expect Russia to be able to convert the rubles into dollars within a 30-day grace period. S&P said it believes sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine are likely to increase, impeding its willingness and ability to honor its obligations to foreign debtholders. The Kremlin has signaled its willing to pay its debts but warned it would do so in rubles if its overseas accounts in foreign currencies remain frozen. ___ WARSAW, Poland The head of the European Unions executive branch says 10.1 billion euros ($11 billion) have been raised globally in a fundraising event for Ukraine and people who have fled the country invaded by Russia. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was joined at the event in Warsaw by Polish President Andrzej Duda and -- remotely -- by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. At the end of the 90-minute event, a smiling von der Leyen said the donations will go to help refugees, both outside and inside Ukraine. We will continue providing support. And once the bombs have stopped falling, we will help the people of Ukraine rebuild their country, von der Leyen said. Saturdays pledging event was held in Warsaw because more than 2.5 million of the 4.4 million people who have fled Ukraine since Russias invasion began Feb. 24 have entered Poland. Many have stayed, though some have moved on to other countries. The event aimed to prompt political leaders and global celebrities to provide funding and other donations for the people of Ukraine. It ended with Julian Lennon singing his father John Lennons peace song Imagine. ___ MOSCOW -- YouTube has banned the channel of Russias lower house of parliament, the State Duma, prompting government officials to renew longtime threats against the platform. The Duma TV channel reported the ban on the messaging app Telegram, noting that it had 145,000 subscribers and over 100,000 million total views. In comments to the Russian news agency Interfax, Google didnt give an exact reason for the move, but said the company follows all applicable sanction and trade compliance laws. Russias state communications watchdog Roskomnadzor demanded that YouTube unblock the channel. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Saturday that the service has handed itself a sentence and urged its users to download content, transfer it onto Russian platforms. And fast. State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin called the move against the parliaments YouTube channel another proof of violations of the rights and freedoms of citizens by Washington. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate San Franciscos latest effort to draw new boundaries for its city supervisor districts has been roiled by accusations of political bias, particularly from progressives who are alarmed by what they view as a moderate power grab. In short, critics of the citys nine-member Redistricting Task Force have claimed that certain maps it has considered including proposals to put the Tenderloin and South of Market neighborhoods into different districts would needlessly splinter some of the most left-leaning strongholds and dilute their political influence. Defenders of the task force have stressed that its members have to balance a range of difficult variables, including first and foremost the need to make districts similarly sized in population while trying to keep neighborhoods and communities with shared interests together as much as possible. They also say the task force has no choice but to overhaul boundaries, given where San Francisco has and hasnt built new housing over the last decade. Its impossible to do this in a way that pleases everybody, Jason McDaniel, an associate political science professor at San Francisco State University, said of the redistricting process. McDaniel saw nothing to justify claims of gerrymandering pushed by some supervisors and activists. Instead, he pointed to San Franciscos uneven development patterns that require the task force to make major adjustments to districts on the east and southeast side of the city. The reason why is because of all the population change, McDaniel said of the district boundary shakeup. Where have we put most of the new housing? Its in the districts where a lot of the population has grown in the last 10 years. Mike Chen, a volunteer organizer with the pro-housing group SF YIMBY, made similar points in a Chronicle op-ed this week, writing that unbalanced district populations had occurred because five decades of housing policy have channeled population growth away from western neighborhoods and toward the eastern ones. The task forces aim is to try to get each district as close as possible to a target population of nearly 80,000 people. Currently, District 6 which includes the Tenderloin and SoMa is furthest from that goal, exceeding it by about 30% due to a series of housing developments built between the 2010 and 2020 censuses. Similarly, District 10 which includes Bayview-Hunters Point, Potrero Hill and the Dogpatch is about 9% above the target population. Nobody disputes the fact that Districts 6 and 10 grew, and that they have to shrink in population and that a lot of the lines have to be adjusted. This is just a fact, said progressive District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin. But the task force went too far in responding to those population changes, Peskin said, noting that the group has considered changing the boundaries of District 5 so much that more than half of those who currently live there would be moved into a different district. He saw such an extreme change as evidence of attempted gerrymandering. This is not about progressive versus moderate, Peskin said. This is about the fundamentals of representative electoral democracy. One of Peskins staffers, Lee Hepner, saw validation to progressive concerns about the task force in a Wednesday email that he shared on Twitter and with the Chronicle. Hello moderate San Franciscans, read the message. For the 1st time in the 40 years that Ive lived in the City, there is a large coordinated centrist/moderate movement to take on Progressive power. The message, which appeared to be from housing developer Nick Podell, went on to reference his involvement with a group backing the recall of District Attorney Chesa Boudin. Podell could not be reached for comment Friday. The author then indicated he wanted to see more moderate candidates elected to the Board of Supervisors, which is currently dominated by progressives. And he saw the Redistricting Task Force comprised of nine volunteers who redraw the citys 11 supervisor districts to account for the last 10 years of population growth as an opportunity. We are in the final week of the Redistricting process and it is going better than I could have ever dreamed, the message said, referencing a draft map that he thought would flip multiple districts to benefit moderates over progressives. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Its not clear exactly how many people received the email. Hepner cited the message as evidence of partisan gerrymandering referring to intentional manipulation of district lines to favor certain politicians or parties and the definition of voter suppression. Drama surrounding the redistricting process escalated to its highest point this week as the task force prepared to approve a final draft map Saturday and officially put new boundaries in place before April 15. Various progressive groups and residents outraged at the way their neighborhoods might be moved into different districts spoke out in a flood of public comments and rallies. Then, the San Francisco Elections Commission moved to consider removing its three appointees to the Redistricting Task Force which prompted a backlash of its own, including from Mayor London Breed and some supervisors. Several observers said the process was uglier and more political than in the recent past and one expert said some of the troubles sprung from how the task was conducted. David Ho, a San Francisco political consultant, blamed the task forces troubles partly on what he saw as very erratic leadership throughout City Hall that failed to ensure the process launched smoothly. The task forces nine members are appointed in equal numbers by the mayor, Board of Supervisors and elections commission. The Redistricting Task Force should not be about politics and labels and progressive versus moderate ideology, Ho said. It sounds like this process has been overly politicized. This should be about data and numbers and respect for traditional neighborhood boundaries. ... This whole process has been a mess. J.D. Morris is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jd.morris@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @thejdmorris Anurupa Ganguly loved living in Brooklyn. She loved its diversity, restaurants, culture and walkability. When she felt pulled back to her home state of California, she zeroed in on San Franciscos Mission District as a similar neighborhood. It was similar except for the housing options. In New York City, shed moved a few times, often finding a new unit the same weekend she started looking. In the Mission, vacancies were incredibly sparse and expensive. But she and her husband managed to rent a small one-bedroom apartment at 1188 Valencia St. in February 2021 for $3,900 a month plus $400 for utilities and a storage unit. Like many San Franciscans, theyre now hooked. Unlike many San Franciscans, they plan to stick around when they have kids. Weve really fallen in love with our home here and the community here and the work we do here, said Ganguly, 36. Gangulys new life, though, wouldnt be possible if then-Supervisor David Campos had gotten his way back in 2015 because her home probably wouldnt exist. The building with about 50 residences, including six below-market-rate units, is home to a diverse mix of people, many of them families living in larger units with children. But the development would have been significantly delayed, if it had been built at all, if Campos proposed 18-month halt on construction of market-rate housing in the Mission with an option to extend it to 30 months had passed muster at the board or ballot box. Even Campos himself now acknowledges the moratorium was not a good idea. Thats a central point made in a new report examining Campos housing record and another looking at the record of his state Assembly opponent, Supervisor Matt Haney by a UC Berkeley associate professor of political science and avowed YIMBY who wants to see more housing built all over the city. And who, for the record, is voting for Haney. Lea Suzuki / Felix Uribe / The San Francisco Chronicle / Special to The Chronicle David Broockman, working in his spare time, has taken on the mind-numbing task of plumbing planning documents, watching government meetings and filing public records requests to analyze the housing records of San Franciscos leaders, one by one. (You may recall his first report on Supervisor Dean Preston, whom he called the worst offender when it comes to halting housing on a board with several candidates for the title.) Broockman plans more deep dives into the housing track records of the supervisors up for re-election in November. As the Assembly race nears its April 19 finish line, housing or San Franciscos lack thereof has become a primary focus. Its obvious that the city and state, both grappling with a major housing shortage and affordability crisis, need more places for people of all income levels to live. Its also obvious that the Board of Supervisors hasnt done nearly enough to approve that housing, and that the city makes it far too hard and expensive to build the units that do manage to get approved. Clearly, our housing crisis isnt the fault of any one elected official, but emanates from an overall desire by too many residents and their leaders to freeze certain San Francisco neighborhoods in amber, pretend the basic laws of supply and demand dont exist, and continue to see their own home values skyrocket. Still, its crucial to look at individual leaders track records and hold them to account. As Broockman explained, For any individual project, there are often excuses that sound reasonable, but its only by zooming out that you get a sense of the overall pattern. Campos served as the supervisor of District Nine, which includes the Mission, the Portola and Bernal Heights, from late 2008 to early 2017. Broockman calculates that Campos got a paltry average of 157 residences built in the Mission per year, including just 32 subsidized units. That was fewer than one a week despite his repeatedly talking about the need for buildings with 100% affordable housing. To be sure, Brookman is not a neutral political observer here, and Campos dismissed his report as poorly done, biased and narrow in scope. He argued that it left out his focus on keeping people in their homes, taking actions like banning no-fault evictions of teachers and families during the school year, and regulating Airbnb to prevent homes from becoming short-term vacation rentals. But to really tackle our housing crisis, officials need to focus both on tenant protections and building more housing at all levels. Broockman argues that second part is where Campos fell down on the job. The report concluded that between rejecting specific projects and rebuffing legislative proposals, Campos effectively opposed the creation of units capable of housing 6,058 people during his time in office, including subsidized homes for an estimated 3,930 lower-income people. In 2016, for example, Campos wrote a letter to the Planning Commission opposing the development of 2675 Folsom St., an abandoned warehouse, saying it would damage the vibrancy of the Missions Latino Cultural District centered on 24th Street. Broockman calculates that the proposed project would have housed 227 people, including 45 low-income residents, but after various plans fell through, it remains an abandoned warehouse. Much of the tally of homes effectively opposed by Campos stemmed from his proposed moratorium on new market-rate construction, which would have killed or delayed several developments that now exist, including 1188 Valencia, that either include affordable housing on site or came with fees to pay for it elsewhere. In an interview, Campos said his position on the moratorium has changed, and he wouldnt propose such an idea if he were supervisor now. He said hes glad 1188 Valencia got built and that more people like Ganguly have homes. He pointed out that Haney, then a school board member, also supported the moratorium, and he accused Haney of morphing into a YIMBY as soon as he decided to run for Assembly because he needed developer money to fund his campaign. Broockman found that Haney saw 2,255 housing units approved in his district per year during his time on the board. (Thats one every four hours! the report reads.) That included 372 subsidized units per year. (Thats more than one per day!) Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Haneys District Six, which includes the Tenderloin, Civic Center and South of Market, has long been one of the few areas of the city in which the supervisors approve new housing in big numbers, a fact thats been true for decades and for which Haney doesnt deserve full credit. Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle Voters are looking for someone who wants to build more housing, who wants to challenge bureaucracy, who wants to actually fight for progress, not just fight to stop everything, Haney told me. Haney said he would absolutely not support a moratorium if it were proposed now and said tweeting support as a school board member is not the same as coming up with the idea as a supervisor. Its clear both mens positions on housing have evolved at least somewhat just as its clear theres no love lost between them. Haney dismissed Campos as having a terrible record on housing, including affordable housing. Campos ripped Haney as being a show-horse, not a workhorse whose shift to the YIMBY camp is politically convenient. Regardless, its good that the citys leaders are realizing if very slowly that building more housing, including market-rate homes, is essential. Ganguly certainly thinks so. She admitted to being a little frustrated by all the construction around her residence in Brooklyn, but said she realized that enabled more people to find a home they loved. Like she has. I want the Mission to be an affordable place to live, she said. I just dont think building less is going to get us there. She founded a startup that creates virtual experiences for children to learn math and science through real-world problems. One experience revolves around how to construct apartment buildings that pencil out financially. Students learn that building more apartments makes rents cheaper. Its really interesting to see kids go, Oh my gosh, I had no idea! she said. Sounds like she should take her lesson to City Hall. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Heather Knight appears Sundays and Wednesdays. Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hknightsf The heat wave that billowed across the Bay Area this week broke records in multiple locations across the region, according to the National Weather Service. Sweltering temperatures on Thursday in Oakland, San Jose, Santa Rosa and Gilroy all surpassed their previous records for April 7, according to the weather agency. Temperatures in Oakland reached 89 degrees, breaking its former record of 87 degrees in 1989. In Santa Rosa, temperatures reached 92, up from 90 in 1989. San Jose saw a high of 94 up from a high of 93 in 1989 and Gilroy saw a high of 97, up from 94 in 1989. High-temperature records were also broken in Southern California. Oxnard reached 99 degrees (up from 92 degrees); Long Beach reached 100 degrees (up from 93), and LAX reached 95 degrees (up from 93 degrees). And in Santa Barbara, temperatures reached 92 degrees, up from 91 in 1989. Temperatures Friday afternoon were 5-10 degrees cooler across the interior of the Bay Area and as much as 20 degrees cooler along the coast compared to Thursdays record-breaking figures. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. And even though there is some rainfall predicted for Monday across the Bay Area, weather officials issued an early season red flag warning for the weekend for the Sacramento Valley area, which has dried out quicker than usual this year. The warning, which would be the earliest springtime red flag warning for the region, is in effect from 5 a.m. Saturday to 5 p.m. Sunday due to unseasonably dry fuels, gusty winds, and low humidity, making fire spread a particular concern. Annie Vainshtein (she/her) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: avainshtein@sfchronicle.com * This is to inform all the buyers that this article is not aimed to convey any advice or decision. All the decisions and purchases made via this article will completely fall on the buyers decision. We do not take any guarantee nor claim anything. It is advisable that one should do their own due diligence before making any purchase. Please consult your primary care provider before starting any new supplement, to ensure if they are right for you. Happy buying. **Delta 8 products are not legal across all US states but only in selected 32 states. Check the legality of the Delta 8 products in your state before buying the products. (Ad) If you want to get high, but cannabis is not legal in your state, consider trying delta-8 gummies. These delicious, affordable, and reliable gummies can be purchased on the internet and shipped to your home. Delta-8 gummies will come in handy when you need a bit of relaxation at the end of the day. These gummies are also excellent for people who have trouble sleeping at night or contend with aches and pains. They are also helpful in melting away anxiety. If these best Delta-8 gummies sound like something you might enjoy, keep reading to learn where to find them. Top 5 Delta-8 Gummies In The Market 1) Exhale Wellness - Overall Best Delta-8 THC Gummies & Hemp Gummies; Editors Choice 2) BudPop - Top Delta-8 Brand for THC Edibles & Chewables 3) HollyweedCBD - Full-Spectrum Delta-8 Gummy Edibles Online 4) DiamondCBD - Fruit-Flavored Delta-8 THC Gummy Products 5) 3Chi - Most Potent Delta-8 Edibles & THC Gummies for Sale Here are the detailed reviews for our top picks: #1. Exhale Wellness - Overall Best Delta-8 THC Gummies & Hemp Gummies; Editors Choice Exhale Wellness uses top-notch hemp and cannabinoids you cant live without from the cannabis plant to make the best Delta-8 gummies around. The brand is becoming a favorite among people new to Delta-8 and veteran cannabis users alike, thanks to its high quality and laser focus on what hemp can do for our well-being. The company puts a lot of effort into researching and using the latest processing techniques, which they apply to make their incredible products. If you need top-shelf Delta-8 products, including gummies, then Exhale Wellness should be your first stop. They are number one on our list, and you will soon see why. Features The team behind Exhale Wellness includes cannabis lovers, researchers, and farmers. These people have decades of combined experience. They originally worked in the field of organic food but decided it was time for a change. Taking what they learned from organic food, they moved into cannabis, and the rest is history. They now sell a huge variety of potent Delta-8 and CBD items for everyones wellness and enjoyment. There are many reasons why we have chosen Exhale Wellness as our top choice. For starters, the team that leads the brand has plenty of experience in various fields related to wellness. Secondly, this brand has created a name for itself over the years, first serving the people of Los Angeles (where they are based) and then shipping all over the country. Lastly, the Delta-8 THC gummies they sell are perfect whether you are looking to simply laugh and enjoy yourself at the end of the day, diminish physical aches and pains, or alleviate anxiety. In addition, they are likely to help your mood and clear your mind. The Delta-8 THC gummies Exhale Wellness offers are delightfully flavored. You will enjoy such flavors as pineapple, grape, orange, and apple, plus others. You never know which you'll get next when you crack open the jar. These gummies are made of Colorado hemp, and are vegan and organic. Pros The gummies are highly potent They use all-natural ingredients No gelatin is used, so they are vegan 30-day money-back guarantee Free shipping on all orders Cons These gummies are only shipped to the USA What Customers Thought There is plenty of positive feedback left for Exhale Wellness. You can tell by these reviews that the company is making strides in the Delta-8 world, offering buyers the best in potency and taste, not to mention reliability. Everything is lab-tested, much to the satisfaction of customers. Customers also report alleviation of anxiety, pain, and trouble sleeping. Plus, buyers were also impressed with the high level of customer service the brand offered and their money-back guarantee. Visit the Official Website of Exhale Wellness #2. BudPop - Top Delta 8 Brand For THC Edibles & Chewables What if there was a gummy that could help you alleviate your aches and pains, boost your appetite, and relieve your stress, and it could be shipped to your doorstep? What if we told you the gummy, the jar, and the hemp used to make it were all made in the USA, and the gummy was also lab-tested for quality? Youve got it! You simply have to go over to BudPop and buy yourself they're spectacular gummies (after you read this review, of course). This company is new on the scene, having debuted in 2021. But we have watched them grow, and they have become a fan favorite. The owners are young, love Delta-8 and hemp, and want to get everyone in on the action. They know hemp can do great things for your wellness, and they want to share it. All of their goods are lab-tested for quality, and reports are available right on the company website. Features Even though they are a new company, BudPop is on its way to being number one. We made them number two only because they didn't have the selection that Exhale doesit has nothing to do with the quality or trustworthiness of the product. The team behind Budpop partners with Nevada farmers growing fine hemp to make their goods. They started out by selling just three products: Delta-8 gummies, vape carts, and flowers. Their product selection has since expanded. But their gummies are perfect for first-time or new users because there are just three flavors to choose from. Enjoy Blue Raspberry or Strawberry Gelato flavor: you can't go wrong. Recently they added Watermelon Zkittles as well, so try that flavor out. Each of the gummies is perfectly portioned and includes 25 mg of Delta-8 THC. There are 25 gummies in each jar, so feel free to use them as you like or share with friends if youre feeling generous. Just a single gummy every 6 hours is all you need. The gummies are potent, and you will love the body high. They are compliant with federal regulations, and have no more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC or less. Just store them in a cool, dry place to maintain their freshness. Pros 25 mg Delta-8 THC in every gummy Federally compliant gummies Lab test results are readily available on the website USA-grown hemp Cons They only allow customers to return unused/unopened products. What Customers Thought Customers just loved the great service they got from BudPop. They felt the gummies were strong, plus they noted their great flavor. In addition, they loved how the gummies made them feel: people talked about having aches and pains go away. They also talked about falling asleep easier. All in all, customers love their BudPop gummies, and you will too. You can even get 20% off your first order. Visit the Official Website of BudPop #3. HollyweedCBD - Full-Spectrum Delta-8 Gummy Edibles Online These gummies from Hollyweed might make you feel like a movie star. While we cannot promise you a starring role or an Academy Award, we can almost guarantee you will feel incredible chewing these. This is an edible brand you are sure to love, and you can trust them for quality products, too. You can choose cube shapes or fruit flavors, both of which are incredible and effective. There are many delicious flavors to enjoy, such as apple, grape, strawberry, and pineapple, among others. The cube gummies are flavored with elderberry and guava, which are unique and delightful. The gummies are made with just the right amount of Delta-8, at 25 mg each. They come 30 to a pack and, at maximum, can take up to two hours to kick in. So go low, go slow, and relax! Features These Delta-8 gummies by Hollyweed are trusted and loved by customers everywhere. You can have them shipped anywhere so long as it is legal. They are a delightful and delicious way to bring yourself some much-needed relief. So, whether your goal is to fall asleep, alleviate aches and pains, or just get creative, Delta-8 gummies by Hollyweed may help. It offers you an incredible body high, and the euphoria you will feel will have you returning again and again. Another awesome aspect of these treats is how easily you can take them with you anywhere. They are easy to dose as well, offering 25 mg in every treat. Additionally, Hollyweed Delta-8 THC gummies are organic, vegan, and free of contaminants, as evidenced by the lab reports on the site. Another thing we loved about the Delta-8 THC gummies is that they contain Spirulina, a supplement which can help out our immune systems and offers helpful vitamins such as B6, E, and C. Pros Great for vegans Completely organic gummies Delicious texture and taste Money-back guarantee in place for your satisfaction Cons Hollyweed Delta-8 THC gummies are not sold in stores What Customers Thought Customers thoroughly enjoyed their Delta-8 THC gummies, citing their potency and delicious flavors. The gummies are made of the best-quality hemp. Customers loved how the Delta-8 THC gummies helped reduce their muscle soreness, alleviated stress, and helped them fall asleep more easily. Users also enjoyed the choice between cubes or fruit-shaped gummies. You are sure to be happy with either option. Visit the Official Website of Hollyweed CBD #4. Diamond CBD - Fruit-Flavored Delta-8 THC Gummy Products For a delicious and exciting combo of Delta-8 THC and gummy flavors you can't do without, you have to get to know Diamond CBD. These gummies offer great flavor and a body high you'll find helpful on the toughest of days or just when it's time to chill out and kick off your shoes. Their prices are fair, and their staff is highly knowledgeable about their items. Best of all, you can access this awesome shop right from the comfort of home and get their items delivered to you. The company is easy to contact if you have questions. Knowledgeable staff members are available to answer any questions you think up. They understand that Delta-8 THC is a relatively new cannabinoid, and people naturally have questions. Feel free to contact them. They have a team of great budtenders, chemists, doctors, and scientists. They utilize the CO 2 extraction methodthe cleanest there isto get that awesome hemp and turn it into your favorite Delta-8 THC gummies. The hemp is non-GMO. Features The gummies are a delicious way to enjoy a pleasant buzz. The high you get is going to be mild but quite enjoyable. You will feel like having some snacks, listening to music, or hanging out and doing nothing. Or you may get a creative spark and feel motivated to get things done, whether it is cleaning your home or getting caught up on work. Just remember not to drive or operate heavy machinery while using gummies. Beyond the awesome buzz from these great Delta-8 THC gummies, you will love the inclusion of CBD. These gummies are best for those that need relaxation. The Delta-8 THC gummies are made with USA-grown hemp. The gummies are loaded with full-spectrum hemp, so you can enjoy the entourage effect that much easier. Dont worry if you want to try different flavorsthey offer a Rainbow Pack, which buyers love. But they also offer single-flavor jars if you like to keep it simple. You are going to love shopping with Diamond CBD. Yes, their website is quite exuberant, but dont let that fool you- these folks are knowledgeable about hemp and the products made with it. And the company has a 30-day return policy in place, so you can buy with confidence. This is a leading CBD maker that has branched into Delta-8. The organic hemp and sustainable manufacturing methods make these a great choice whether you are new or experienced with Delta-8. Pros Plenty of tasty flavors in each jar to enjoy, such as mango, blueberry, and others CO 2 extraction method means no solvents extraction method means no solvents Lab tests are readily available Non-GMO hemp 30-day returns policy Cons Free shipping is only offered if your order is over $99 What Customers Thought Customers thoroughly enjoyed the Chill Plus gummies offered by Diamond CBD. They loved how the gummies helped them feel relaxed, chilled out, and clear-headed. Some folks used them just to enjoy the feeling; others used them for pain relief. But, regardless of purpose behind using them, all buyers loved the fair prices and great taste. Visit the Official Website of Diamond CBD #5. 3Chi - Most Potent Delta-8 Edibles & THC Gummies For Sale Thanks to its commitment to customer satisfaction, best practices in manufacturing, and quality ingredients, 3Chi is a favorite among hemp enthusiasts. In addition, this is a highly popular Delta-8 THC gummy brand. The company utilizes minor cannabinoids to make it happen. They sell their gummies in packages of 8 or 16, and each chewy treat packs 25 mg of Delta-8 THC. 3Chis varied and versatile production measures have enabled them to create goods that are awesome, whether you are taking them for fun or to get some relief. Their mix of CBC and CBN is great, as it gets you more of the benefits associated with these cannabinoids. Aside from the benefits associated with these Delta-8 THC gummies, you can be sure the flavor will be on point as well. This is the first company we have seen to offer blackberry gummiestalk about delicious and unique! Features The person behind the magic at 3Chi's enterprise is a biochemist, who came to the company with years of experience working with hemp. It shows, especially in what customers have to say. Customers often discuss the company's reliability, quality, and of course, compliance with all federal regulations. The company takes safety seriously. They make sure all products are tested using third-party labs to ensure that no pesticides, heavy metals, or other contaminants are in their products. In addition, every product sold at 3Chi contains 0.3% delta-9 THC or less, so it remains compliant with the 2018 Farm Bill. Their gummies are fast-acting and can take anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes to kick in. The high should last about 6 hours, but this will depend on your tolerance, body size/weight, and other unique characteristics. Aside from the tasty Black Raspberry variety we mentioned, they offer a delicious and soft watermelon chew to enjoy. You can purchase these gummies online or in stores. Online is best because you can read about the products, ask questions, and of course, check out customer reviews. And shopping using the 3Chi site is a pleasure. They carefully describe each product, so it almost feels like you are in the store holding it. The site is set up well, and you will find what you need in seconds. The only bone we had to pick was that there was no email or phone number, just a contact form for questions or concerns. That being said, we love 3Chi. Their goods ship quickly, their customer service is friendly, and their gummies are trustworthy and effective. In addition, the gummies sold are gluten-free and vegan. Try them out. Pros Two great flavors of gummies to enjoy Unique blackberry flavor offered Organic hemp Lab tests are readily available to view Fair prices Cons 3Chi does not offer international shipping What Customers Thought Customers praised 3Chi for their affordable and effective gummies; some stated they only need half a chew. They loved the flavors. Customers note that using these gummies has them feeling relaxed and euphoric. In addition, they note how well it helps them sleep, and some customers wish that the effects would last longer. Visit the Official Website of 3Chi How We Made the List of Delta-8 THC Hemp Edibles Head over to any site dedicated to Delta-8 THC products, and they will inform you that their stuff is top-tier. However, that's not always true. So, we decided to put these companies to the test by making our own set of criteria. We stacked gummy brands against our criteria and crossed them off the list if they didn't meet all our requirements. So, the last five standing are what you see on our list today. Third-Party Lab Tests Every brand included on todays list is backed by third-party laboratory tests that let you know it is a trustworthy, effective, and clean product. You can enjoy these products knowing you arent ingesting anything tainted by pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, or other contaminants. To be on our list, a brand had to have recent third-party lab results readily available for customers to read. Customer Opinions & Thoughts Perhaps the most important factor in our purchasing decision process is what others think about it. Everyone reads reviews before buying something online, even if it's just a mundane item. Delta-8 THC gummies are no different. The people who bought and used the products are the best source of knowledge about whether or not its any good. So, we read reviews to see what the clientele had to say about the flavor, potency, and experience they got from the gummies. We checked to see what others were saying about how the gummies made them feel. We made sure customers were happy with the relaxation, relief, and euphoria the gummies purported to bring. If customers were satisfied, we gave the product a spot on the list. Terps Included Terpenes are sometimes called "terps" by users experienced with hemp. Terpenes are what make your plants smell fantastic and offer you the aromas you want. This is true for all plants, not just hemp! So, next time you smell a rose, its the terpenes doing it for you. Terpenes can affect our bodies and change the way we experience Delta-8 THC gummies. So, we made sure to include gummies that had lots of them so that buyers could enjoy all the benefits hemp can offer. Be sure to learn how to read those third-party lab tests so you can familiarize yourself with the terpene profiles of the Delta-8 THC gummies you enjoy. How Its Made How your hemp gummies are made is important. We wanted to make sure we were listing only trustworthy and effective Delta 8-THC gummies. Therefore, we took care to ensure that USA-grown hemp was used in making the chews. We then made sure organic farming practices were employed to grow the hemp. We considered the extraction methods for the gummies as well. CO 2 extraction is best, as it uses no solvents and leaves behind a more pure product. Pricing Everyone deserves to get relief, but nobody should be paying copious amounts of money for it. On the other hand, if things are too cheaply made, they are likely not safe or of good quality. So, we chose products that most everyone can afford, but not stuff that was so cheap we questioned its integrity. The products for sale here are fair for what youre getting, and there are even coupon offers available on some of the sites. Buying Guide: Delta-8 Gummies & Edibles If you dont know what to look for when it comes to purchasing Delta-8 THC gummies, we have you covered. This guide is perfect if youre setting out to buy your first packet of chews. Feel free to save it and come back to it anytime you need pointers on what makes an excellent Delta-8 THC gummy. Ingredients Ingredients are probably the most important thing to look for when purchasing Delta-8 THC gummies. You certainly do not want to consume gummies that are loaded with ingredients that you dont want. For instance, vegans dont eat gelatin. Some folks only want organic, clean foods with no artificial flavors or colors. Some people cannot have sugar, which many of these gummies contain. So, read over the labels carefully and make sure you're OK with what's in there. Drug Test? Hold Off. You can still buy the Delta-8 THC, but do not take it until AFTER your drug screening is complete. This stuff is similar to Delta-9 and could register on your drug test. Although Delta-8 THC is federally legal, some jobs/organizations may not agree with its usage. So, be sure to review your employer's guidelines about its usage and go from there. THC Within Some folks love Delta-9; others are getting away from it. This may be due to paranoia or anxiety while using the gummies. Make sure to read the laboratory tests carefully for the gummies you have your eye on. This can help you ensure there is less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC inside. If you are in a physical shop, scan the bottles QR code with your mobile device to learn about how the product was tested in terms of Delta-9 THC. You should also make sure the gummies contain 0.3% Delta-9 or less, as this is a requirement of the 2018 Farm Bill. Purpose for Buying If you want to purchase Delta-8 THC gummies because they get you high, offer anxiety relief, or help you catch a snooze, make sure youre buying a dose that can do just what you want it to do. People with severe aches and pains may need a highly potent gummy, such as a 50 mg dose. On the other hand, if you just want a nice buzz, a simple 10-25 mg dose is likely going to be fine. It all depends on your tolerance. The best thing to do is make an appointment with your physician to discuss the usage of Delta-8 THC gummies. They can offer advice about usage and ensure it will not interact with other meds you have to take. Look at the Price Tag Our team has seen Delta-8 THC in unusual spotsgas stations and gift stores, for instance. These are not the best places to buy your Delta-8, even if the price is low. The quality probably is not there. Cheap Delta-8 is a no-go. And, if they do not have independent lab testing results available, do not buy them. You are better off buying a more expensive product that has recent lab results, positive customer reviews, and a website you can refer back to. Make Sure It Is Legal Unfortunately, some states do not want people using Delta-8. If you are not sure about your states stance, you can check here to review the law for your state. You can also use your favorite search engine to look up your state and countys laws about Delta-8. Dose Appropriately Take it low and slowthats the way to deal with edibles. Every person is different. There is no right or wrong dosage/mg of edibles for one person. The effects will also vary. When it comes to Delta-8 THC gummies, users note many effects depending on their tolerance, body size, body composition, and personal statuses, such as if they have eaten that day or not. Your job will be to find the dosage that makes you feel good but not so high that youre uncomfortable. Start small. Take half a gummy at first. See what it feels like. Some people will feel fantastic and require nothing more. Others will find that they need a whole one. Starting low and increasing dosage over time will show you just what amount is right for you and keep you feeling comfortable. Write down how much you take so you can keep track of how you feel. FAQs Regarding Delta-8 THC Q1. What Are Some Side Effects of Taking Delta 8 Gummies? Most people report a feeling of euphoria, pain relief, a feeling of hunger/the desire to snack, and relief from anxiety. However, your body may experience some side effects, such as rapid heart rate, slower reaction times, low blood pressure, and red eyes, among others. As a result, you should use the gummies only as directed and talk to your physician before using them. Q2. How Long Until the Gummies Take Effect? It can take anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes for a Delta-8 THC gummy to take effect. Therefore, the peak of your high may not occur until 2 to 4 hours after you ingested it. The length of the high also varies depending on the gummy's potency and the ingredients that went into it. Make sure to read the package directions carefully or email the company and inquire about how long it could last. Q3. Are These Gummies Safe to Take? Delta-8 is not regulated by any government body. However, the companies on our list have experience in the hemp/cannabis industry or bring long experience from related industries to their business (BudPop, for example). All companies here feature products backed by third-party lab tests that ensure no harmful chemicals or contaminants are contained within. However, it is highly recommended that you speak with your doctor before using Delta-8 THC gummies. Concluding - Top Delta-8 Gummies to Buy In 2022 The best Delta-8 gummies around arent hard to find: theyre right here on this list. While this cannabinoid has been around for a while, its just now emerging as a way for people to relax, alleviate their anxieties and physical pains, and improve their mood. This is the best way to enjoy a pleasant high without having to deal with harmful smoke, the odors that come with it, and the stress on your lungs. So, go get yourself a jar today. *This article is provided by an advertiser. Statements made are not meant to offer medical advice nor to diagnose any condition. Any studies cited here may be preliminary, and may or may not be peer reviewed, and may or may not have sufficient participants to be statistically relevant. Anecdotal accounts should not be taken as scientific results. Products discussed in this article are not designed to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease. The FDA does not evaluate dietary supplements. Consult your doctor about possible interactions, allergies, and if you are considering using a natural and/or dietary supplements for any condition. Individual results will vary. SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) Two people have died and a third person is hospitalized in stable condition after a drive-by shooting early Saturday morning in downtown Spokane, Washington. The Spokane Police Department said the shooting occurred 1:30 a.m. near Luckys Pub. BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) Three Bismarck adults have pleaded not guilty to felony child endangerment-related charges in the February death of a 5-year-old boy whose body was found with multiple injuries. Russell James, 36, entered his plea in court Friday after Serenity Foots, 19, did so earlier in the week. Rolanda Doyle, 40, waived her right to a preliminary hearing Thursday and pleaded not guilty, court records show. All three have trials scheduled for Aug. 2. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) Alabama lawmakers have passed a resolution supporting creation of a health registry for veterans who served at the Army's defunct Fort McClellan and were exposed to toxins. Once the home of chemical weapons training and other activities, McClellan was located in Anniston for eight decades before it closed in 1999. The Department of Veterans Affairs doesn't assume that soldiers have health problems from working there, and it doesn't have a database to document problems. JACKSON, Miss. (AP) Pulitzer Prize winning author Alice Walker has been tapped to speak at this year's Mississippi Book Festival. This year marks the 40th anniversary release of Walker's acclaimed novel, The Color Purple. It was first published in 1982 and won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction the following year. We are thrilled to have Alice Walker back in the city where she once lived and the place where her daughter was born, said the event's executive director, Ellen Daniels. Her appearance will be a homecoming of sorts for her and we are honored that book lovers and festival-goers will have the opportunity to share in that moment. After two years of hosting the festival virtually, the free festival returns to the state capitol grounds in Jackson on Saturday, Aug. 20. After the past two years, we are all looking forward to being back together in person to celebrate literature at this years festival, Daniels said. Organizers plan to announce other attending authors soon. Relative calm in a state of war prevails in places no longer under attack in Ukraine, where firefighters dig through apartment buildings leveled by Russian missiles. Here, at least, help has arrived, with volunteers ladling steaming spoonfuls of rice, lamb and carrots into bowls for residents who endured near-starvation for weeks before a hasty Russian retreat. A boy searches for his cat. Another plays cards. One man warms himself by a fire as another walks with his bicycle. An elderly lady waves from a van, as if she's going on a church trip. Diane Miller/Getty Images POINT REYES, Calif. (AP) The U.S. Coast Guard was responding Saturday to a cargo ship adrift off the Northern California coast, authorities said. The ship Wan Hai 176 experienced engine problems Friday afternoon while about 12 miles (19 km) off Point Reyes in Marin County, the Coast Guard said in a statement. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LONDON (AP) U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer on Saturday joined the stream of European leaders showing their support for Ukraine by traveling to the nations capital for face-to-face meetings with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Johnsons surprise visit included a pledge of new military assistance, including 120 armored vehicles and new anti-ship missile systems. This came a day after he promised to send an additional 100 million pounds ($130 million) of high-grade military equipment to Ukraine, saying Britain wanted to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression. Johnson also confirmed further economic support, guaranteeing an additional $500 million in World Bank lending to Ukraine, taking Britain's total loan guarantee to up to $1 billion. Today I met my friend President @ZelenskyyUa in Kyiv as a show of our unwavering support for the people of Ukraine,'' Johnson said on Twitter. Were setting out a new package of financial & military aid which is a testament of our commitment to his countrys struggle against Russias barbaric campaign.'' The head of Ukraine's presidential office, Andriy Yermak, said the conversation was rich and constructive, but offered no details. An image of the two leaders meeting was posted online by the Ukrainian Embassy in London with the headline: Surprise, and a winking smiley face. The package of military aid Britain announced Friday includes more Starstreak anti-aircraft missiles, another 800 anti-tank missiles and precision munitions capable of lingering in the sky until directed to their target. Ukraine has defied the odds and pushed back Russian forces from the gates of Kyiv, achieving the greatest feat of arms of the 21st century, Johnson said in a statement. It is because of President Zelenskyys resolute leadership and the invincible heroism and courage of the Ukrainian people that Putins monstrous aims are being thwarted.'' As Zelenskyy makes a continuous round of virtual appearances to drum up support from lawmakers around the world, an increasing number of European leaders have decided the time is right to travel to Ukraines capital, Kyiv, for in-person talks. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was in Kyiv on Friday, following earlier visits from the Czech, Polish and Slovenian prime ministers. Nehammer met with Zelenskyy earlier Saturday and pledged that the EU would continue to ratchet up sanctions against Russia until the war stops. As long as people are dying, every sanction is still insufficient, he said, adding that Austrian embassy staff will return to Kyiv from western Ukraine. Von der Leyen, who heads the European Unions executive branch, travelled to Warsaw on Saturday to lead a fundraising event for Ukraine. She was joined by Polish President Andrzej Duda, with Zelenskyy and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appearing by video link. At the end of the 90-minute meeting, von der Leyen said 10.1 billion euros ($11 billion) had been raised for Ukrainian refugees. The event was held in Warsaw because more than 2.5 million of the 4.4 million people who have fled Ukraine since Russias invasion began Feb. 24 have entered Poland. Many have stayed, though some have moved on to other countries. Convened jointly by von der Leyen and Trudeau, the event sought to attract pledges from governments, global celebrities and average citizens. It ended with Julian Lennon singing his father John Lennons peace song Imagine," which he said is the first time he did so publicly. Julian Lennon posted on social media that he always said he would only sing the song if it was the end of the world. He says its the right song to sing now because the war on Ukraine is an unimaginable tragedy, and he felt compelled to respond in the most significant way that he could. ___ Associated Press Writers Colleen Barry in Milan, Geir Moulson in Berlin and Monika Scislowska in Warsaw contributed. ___ Follow all AP stories on the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine. WASHINGTON (AP) A government watchdog has found a substantial likelihood the federal Bureau of Prisons committed wrongdoing when it ignored complaints and failed to address asbestos and mold contamination at a federal womens prison in California that has already been under scrutiny for rampant sexual abuse of inmates. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel now wants Attorney General Merrick Garland to step in to investigate the allegations after multiple whistleblower complaints were filed earlier this year. The office detailed its findings in a letter this past week and has asked Garland to submit a report within 60 days. The whistleblower complaints, filed by union officials at the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, California, alleged that senior Bureau of Prisons officials had failed to act to resolve the allegations of workplace contamination. The union had repeatedly complained that correctional officers and other prison workers and inmates were being exposed to potentially hazardous mold and asbestos but says those concerns were ignored. Managements failure to address unsafe and dangerous working conditions at FCI Dublin has put the health and safety of both employees and inmates at considerable risk, Dublin union president Edward Canales said. We look forward to the outcome of this investigation, which we hope will result in the unsafe conditions being remedied and appropriate disciplinary actions being taken against the managers who failed to act. The Justice Department has already been investigating serious misconduct at Dublin, where five employees including the former warden have been charged with sexually abusing inmates. An Associated Press investigation this year revealed a pattern of sexual misconduct and detailed a toxic culture that enabled it to continue for years. After the APs investigation was published, whistleblowers at the prison said they were being attacked for speaking up. The Bureau of Prisons launched a task force of 18 senior executives who visited the prison in March to assess the conditions there and work to reform the facility. The agencys director, Michael Carvajal, also visited the prison. The Justice Department said Saturday it had received the letter and appreciates OSCs responsiveness to these concerns. It said the Bureau of Prisons was addressing concerns raised by staff at Dublin and working to ensure that all facilities are operating under safe, healthy conditions. In a statement, the Bureau of Prisons said its staff members perform weekly fire, safety and sanitation inspections and staff members are encouraged to report unsafe or unhealth conditions to their supervisors. It said anyone who believes that such a condition exists could report it to the warden, other prison system officials or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. All safety concerns reported by staff at Dublin are being addressed, Bureau of Prisons spokesman Emery Nelson said in a statement. The Office of Special Counsel said that while it found a substantial likelihood of wrongdoing based on the complaint that was filed, the referral to Garland does not constitute its final determination. The case remains open until the agency submits its final report, which is then forwarded to President Joe Biden and Congress. ___ Sisak reported from New York. On Twitter, follow Balsamo at twitter.com/mikebalsamo1 and Sisak at twitter.com/mikesisak and send confidential tips by visiting https://www.ap.org/tips Joe Cavaretta/AP ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) There have been more than 200 instances of public school districts in Florida banning books since last July, the third highest number of incidents of any state in the U.S., according to a report from an advocacy group for writing professionals. PEN America said in the report this week that Florida had 204 instances of book banning in seven school districts between July 2021 and March 2022. Only Texas and Pennsylvania had higher numbers. HEMET, Calif. (AP) A 3-year-old girl is recovering after being attacked by a dog at a Southern California home used as a day care center, officials said. The girl suffered bite wounds to her face, arms and stomach area and received 180 stitches after the attack April 2 in Hemet, said Riverside County Department of Animal Services Lt. Lesley Huennekens. PADUCAH, Ky. (AP) A Kentucky sailor was buried with full military honors at a cemetery in Paducah, fulfilling his family's wishes to bring his remains home after his death during the attack at Pearl Harbor. Members of a Navy Honor Guard on Friday carried Hal Jake Allison's flag-draped casket to his gravesite, where he was buried next to his parents, The Paducah Sun reported. His descendants from across the nation gathered at the western Kentucky cemetery. LOS ANGELES (AP) A deputy with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department has been arrested on suspicion of child sex abuse, authorities said. The 51-year-old deputy could face charges including lewd or lascivious acts and committing oral copulation with a child under the age of 14, the department said in a news release late Friday. NEWARK, N.J. (AP) A man has been sentenced to 375 years in jail in the 2016 slayings of three people, including two children, in New Jerseys largest city that authorities said apparently stemmed from his anger over a Facebook post. Jurors in Essex County deliberated for less than two hours last month before convicting 31-year-old Jeremy Arrington of three counts of murder and attempted murder as well as burglary, criminal restraint and weapons charges. Judge Ronald Wigler on Friday imposed three consecutive life terms in the slayings as well as consecutive sentences on other counts, telling the defendant that he had committed perhaps the most horrific, heinous, cruel, and depraved murders this county has ever seen. Prosecutors said Arrington entered a Newark home in November 2016, tied up people inside and stabbed them with kitchen knives, killing 8-year-old Aerial Little Whitehurst and 11-year-old Al-Jahon Whitehurst, then shot and killed 23-year-old college student Syasia McBurroughs, who was visiting the family. A 29-year-old woman, a 13-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl were wounded. Prosecutors said a young girl with autism was able to escape and called for help from a closet, allowing police to respond before more lives were lost. Authorities said Arrington was apparently angry that one of the victims had reposted a Facebook alert from police naming him as a suspect in an earlier shooting and sexual assault. In addition to the three life terms, the judge imposed consecutive 50-year sentences for each of the three attempted murder convictions, prosecutors said. A life term under New Jersey law is 75 years, and a defendant must serve 63 years and nine months before being eligible for parole. Under the law, prosecutors said, Arrington would not be eligible for parole before serving 281 years of his 375-year sentence. Arrington, who did not take the stand at his trial, read a short statement at Friday sentencing hearing apologizing to the families. He described his actions as craziness and uncalled for and said he would switch places with the victims if he could, NJ.com reported. The defense tried to use an insanity defense at trial but that was rejected by the judge because the defense lawyer was unable to find an expert witness to testify that Arrington couldnt be held criminally liable for his actions due to his mental state, NJ.com reported. DECATUR, Ill. (AP) A man convicted of shooting at a Decatur police officer last year, setting off a police pursuit and standoff, has been sentenced to 50 years in prison. A Macon County judge sentenced Marcus D. Boykin, 40, on Friday to 50 years for his attempted murder conviction and another 36 years for various weapons offenses and other charges. Those sentences will run concurrently with Boykin's 50-year prison term. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) Republican Gov. Larry Hogan's veto of a measure to expand access to abortion in Maryland was overridden on Saturday by the General Assembly, which is controlled by Democrats. The state will end a restriction that only physicians can provide abortions. The new law will enable nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and physician assistants to provide them with training. It creates an abortion care training program and requires $3.5 million in state funding annually. It also requires most insurance plans to cover abortions without cost. Del. Emily Shetty said she was supporting the measure on the House floor as a mother who had experienced a high-risk pregnancy. She also described being a sexual assault survivor in college and the difficulties she experienced with the weight of what had happened after that incident. And thankfully, the incident did not result in pregnancy but had it, it would have drastically changed my life if I had not been able to access the care that I needed at that time," Shetty, a Democrat, said. Hogan wrote in his veto letter that the legislation "endangers the health and lives of women by allowing non-physicians to perform abortions. The measure comes at a time when the conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court is weighing whether to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that banned states from outlawing abortion. If they do, at least 26 states are likely to either ban abortion outright or severely limit access, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research and policy organization that supports abortion rights. In this context, its very important that we keep in mind that the strategies that this bill is using is ensuring that people can access the care that they need, when they need it, no matter what happens with the rest of the country no matter what happens with the Supreme Court, said Del. Ariana Kelly, a Democrat who was the lead sponsor of the bill, said. Republican lawmakers criticized the provision allocating $3.5 million of taxpayer money annually to pay for the training. Del. Haven Shoemaker, the House minority whip, described the bill as "the most radical expansion of abortion in Maryland's history in a state that already has some of the most liberal abortion laws in the country. Madam speaker, this bill is too extreme, even for Maryland," Shoemaker, a Republican, said, referring to House Speaker Adrienne Jones, a Democrat. Kelly said the measure is modernizing the choice the state's voters made in 1992, when they approved the right to abortion in a statewide vote with 62% of voters supporting it. It is making sure that people have access to care, particularly people of color, particularly low-income people, particularly rural people, Kelly said. "We know that physician-only restrictions exacerbate health inequalities, and we are trying to reduce health inequalities in the state of Maryland with this bill. The measure takes effect July 1. The insurance provisions apply to all policies, contracts, and health benefit plans issued, delivered, or renewed in the state on or after Jan. 1. ANNAPOLIS., Md. (AP) Maryland lawmakers voted to override Gov. Larry Hogan's vetoes on Saturday of measures to create a paid family leave insurance program, expand access to abortion in the state and other bills. Here's a look at measures the Democratic-led General Assembly enacted into law over the Republican governor's vetoes: ABORTION Maryland will end a restriction that only physicians perform abortions, enabling nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and physician assistants with training to perform them. The state also will require private insurance plans, except those with legal exemptions, to cover abortions without cost-sharing or deductibles. The bill takes effect on July 1. Insurance provisions apply to all policies, contracts, and health benefit plans issued, delivered, or renewed in the state on or after Jan. 1, 2023. PAID FAMILY LEAVE Maryland workers will be able to take up to 12 weeks of partially paid leave to deal with such family issues as having a baby, caring for a sick relative or dealing with a military deployment. Up to 24 weeks could be taken in some cases, such as when someone who took 12 weeks due to an illness has a child later. JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM A law enforcement officer will be prohibited from conducting custodial interrogation of a child, unless the child has consulted with an attorney. GUN SHOPS-SECURITY Firearms dealers will be required to have certain security measures in place at stores. HEALTH OFFICERS REMOVAL County health officers will be entitled to written notice about removal from their positions as well as the opportunity to request a hearing. PREVAILING WAGE A state labor department official will be able to issue a stop-work order for a work site where the official determines a contractor may have violated prevailing wage requirements. MARC TRAIN The Maryland Transit Administration will be required to make investments in programs to advance the Maryland Area Regional Commuter Cornerstone Plan and other MARC improvements. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING Public defenders will be able to participate in collective bargaining. Maryland Transit Administration Police sergeants and supervisors can also participate in collective bargaining. MOUNT VERNON, Iowa (AP) Students will convert a school bus into an elementary classroom in Mount Vernon as a part of a state grant supporting STEM education. The Mount Vernon Community School District is one of 38 districts to receive up to $40,000 each in state grants under the STEM BEST HD program. The Business Engaging Students and Teachers program focuses on high-demand skills in science, technology, engineering and math and was supported by an appropriation from the Iowa Legislature. This award is by far the biggest project weve ever done, said Susannah Maddock, Mount Vernon K-12 extended learning program teacher. Its a little daunting, but Im excited to get started. The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports students will gain experience in advanced manufacturing activities from demolition to design, to building and outfitting the bus with technology, to be complete by August 2023. There is a shortage of classroom space in the district, especially in the elementary school, Maddock said. There are no open classrooms, and right now we have a few specials teachers such as music, art and extended learning program operating off of mobile carts because they dont have a dedicated classroom. Maddock said the converted school bus will be a few steps up from a portable classroom, which are ugly and clunky modular buildings installed temporarily at schools to provide additional classroom space. Nobody likes a portable, Maddock said. Converting school buses into houses is the newest trend in downsizing in to a tiny home. Maddock thought if people can live in a school bus, why cant it be converted in to a classroom? In her research, she found other schools across the United States doing similar projects and was inspired. District officials are looking for a school bus thats been decommissioned or retired from another school district. These can usually be purchased for an unbelievably cheap price, Maddock said. High school students in industrial arts classes and Iowa Jobs for Americas Graduates will contribute to building the classroom. The exact role students will play still is being developed by teachers. The first step will be demolishing the inside of the bus. The bus seats will be ripped out, new flooring put in and new lighting added. The converted bus will not be mobile. Counters will be added and flexible seating options incorporated, including a cozy corner with soft seating, Maddock said. Maddock hopes there will be enough room for students to be able to work on the bus floor if they want to. One of the biggest challenges is finding a way to heat and cool the bus, Maddock said. Its probably going to be a similar system to what we have in a classroom, a wall-mount unit you would see in like a hotel, she said. Solar panels will be installed to the roof of the bus to decrease the cost of heating and cooling the classroom and powering the technology inside. A deck will be built on to the bus as an outdoor learning space. A school bus holds 65 students when seated. Were not going to pack them in like that, Maddock said. At most, 25 students would be using the classroom space at one time, she said. The school bus will be a classroom for students in the extended learning program, which serves gifted and high-ability students. Students are recommended for the program by their teachers. It might be they have strong engineering or reading or writing skills, Maddock said. So I take them to build that skill for a short period of time. About 180 students in third through eighth grades are in the extended learning program, for which Maddock is the only teacher. Kris Perreault Construction, Nelson Electric and Rabe Solar have all committed to working with the students and district on the school bus project. The ineptitude displayed by the Russian military in its initial attempt to overrun Ukraine has astounded military professionals. The world's second most powerful army has bungled almost every move since the first hours of the invasion. Now, seven weeks into a war that Russia as well as the West had expected would last only days, the Ukrainians have the momentum. They have forced the Russians to make a humiliating retreat from the north of the country and stalled or reversed Russian advances on most other fronts. As Russia refocuses its energies on capturing Ukraine's eastern region, the crucial question will be whether its military can redress the mistakes of the early assault. Here are nine of the most important mistakes identified by military experts. 1. Misjudging the Ukrainians The biggest mistake of all was to underestimate the will and the capacity of the Ukrainians to resist. Russia had planned for a swift and easy victory, expecting its troops to be greeted as liberators. Instead, the Ukrainians fought back ferociously, aided by weaponry from the West. And it wasn't just the army that fought back. Ordinary civilians also seized the initiative to thwart Russian advances, such as those in the farming town of Voznesensk who picked up hunting rifles and hurled bricks to help halt Russian soldiers along the southern coast. Many of the setbacks Russia encountered sprung from this initial miscalculation - but not all. 2. Not preparing their troops Testimonies of captured Russian soldiers suggest many troops had not been told they would be invading Ukraine. Some said they were told they were participating in a military exercise, others that they were being sent just to the eastern Donbas region. That meant they were psychologically unprepared to be shot at and blown up, as happened almost instantly, which took an immediate toll on troops' morale, noted Jack Watling of the London-based Royal United Services Institute. The enormity of the casualties Russia subsequently suffered has only exacerbated the low morale, he said. NATO put the number of Russian dead at 15,000 over two weeks ago, more than in the Soviet Union's decade-long war in Afghanistan. Ukrainian officials say they have collected 7,000 Russian corpses from the battlefield, though Russia maintains it has lost only 1,351 soldiers. 3. Invading without enough supplies - or the right supplies Russian units seemed wholly unprepared for the conditions and circumstances they encountered. Units expecting to roll unopposed into Kyiv and other cities brought just two weeks of supplies and those quickly ran out. Videos quickly emerged showing Russian soldiers stranded on roadsides next to their vehicles because they had no fuel and hungry soldiers looting stores and stealing chickens. Surprisingly, those troops also lacked some of the key tools of modern warfare, such as night vision equipment, said John Spencer, who chairs the Urban Warfare Studies program at the Madison Policy Forum. Ukrainians have such equipment and were able to control the night, launching attacks and ambushes under cover of darkness against an enemy unable to see them. Russia may not even have enough regular weapons to equip all the forces it is sending into battle. Some newly drafted soldiers on the eastern front have been issued rifles first developed in the 19th century and out of production for decades, according to witnesses quoted in a Reuters report. 4. Not recognizing their poor logistics Military experts describe a massive logistical failure: When troops ran out of food and other supplies after the initial plan went wrong, their superiors had no plans for resupply. Tanks stalled, and the poorly maintained trucks that were then sent lost tires or broke down, contributing to the infamous 40-mile convoy-turned-traffic jam. "Amateurs talk strategy, professionals talk logistics" is an oft-repeated cliche in military circles - and one that the Russians appear not to have heeded. 5. Failing to take out Ukraine's air defenses Military experts had expected a Russian bombing campaign to take out Ukrainian air defense systems, bases and planes before troops would be sent across the border. Instead, the troops surged in without air support. Perhaps this also can be explained by commanders' initial miscalculation that they would encounter little resistance. But it confounds military observers that the Ukrainian Air Force is still flying, seven weeks on. 6. Attacking on too many fronts The largest force assembled in Europe since World War II proved too small to fight - let alone hold - the vast arc of territory that Russia attempted to seize. The initial invasion was launched on four fronts: the north toward Kyiv; the northeast toward Kharkiv; the east and the south from the annexed peninsula of Crimea. Once the first push ran into resistance, the troops found themselves strung out along the country's borders, stretching already inadequate supply lines. According to the "force ratio" rule used by military tacticians, an invading force needs 20 soldiers for every 100,000 of a country's population. For a country the size of Ukraine, that calculation means 880,000 troops, as Michael Clarke, a visiting professor in the war studies department at King's College London, told the Times of London. The United States invaded Iraq with a force ratio of 7, going up against a far less capable army than that of Ukraine. Russia assaulted Ukraine with a force ratio of 4. 7. Using unsecured communications Astonishingly, the Russians embarked on a major war using cellphones and old-fashioned radios to communicate. The Ukrainians were able to intercept messages regarding Russian movements on the battlefield and lie in wait for them with ambushes. At least some of the seven generals killed on the battlefield died because the Ukrainians intercepted messages about their locations, according to a Western official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive subjects. So accessible are Russian military communications that amateur radio enthusiasts have been listening in and streaming them. 8. Proceeding without clear lines of command Russia's highly centralized military does not empower troops on the ground to make decisions or issue orders, experts say. Troops that quickly ran into difficulty were unable to shift gears to adjust to their new circumstances because they had to await orders from superiors in Moscow (over unsecured lines, as just noted). Unlike U.S. and other Western militaries, the Russian military does not have noncommissioned officers. Troops are left floundering when their original orders don't pan out, retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, a former commander of the U.S. Army in Europe, told CNN. 9. Failing to have a Plan B The Russians clearly weren't prepared for a scenario in which they encountered resistance. When they did, they had apparently made no backup plan. Instead, troops pressed ahead as originally ordered, driving into ambushes and steadily getting killed by the Ukrainians. Armored convoys were dispatched without infantry support, making them easy targets for Ukrainians armed with portable antitank weapons such as the U.S.-supplied Javelins. Overall, the entire plan was poorly conceived from the outset, from the size of the force to its preparedness and its ability to adapt to changing circumstances, military experts say. "The incompetence in planning, command, control and communication is staggering," Hertling said in a tweet. GREENVILLE, Ala. (AP) The reward has been increased in an effort to solve two 2021 murders in Alabama's Butler County. The bodies of Devante Ladalvin Section and Isiah Ryhem Maxwell, both 28, were found in a burned vehicle in a field on June 2. Investigators determined the two Conecuh County men had been murdered. Both were last seen alive the night before the vehicle was found. BEIJING (AP) A series of deaths at a hospital for elderly patients in Shanghai is underscoring the dangerous consequences of China's stubborn pursuit of a zero-COVID approach amid an escalating outbreak in the city of 26 million people. Multiple patients have died at the Shanghai Donghai Elderly Care hospital, relatives of patients told The Associated Press. They say their loved ones werent properly cared for after caretakers who came into contact with the virus were taken away to be quarantined, in adherence to the strict pandemic regulations, depleting the hospital of staff. Family members have taken to social media to plea for help and answers and are demanding to see surveillance video from inside the facility after getting little to no information from the hospital. The conditions and deaths at the hospital are a sharp rebuke of China's strategy of sticking to a zero-COVID policy as it deals with the outbreak in Shanghai in which most of the infected people don't have symptoms. With a focus on forcing positive cases and close contacts into designated collective quarantine facilities, the costs of zero-COVID may be outweighing the risk of getting sick. On Saturday, Shanghai Vice Mayor Zong Ming said the lockdown could soon be lifted or eased in communities that report no positive cases within 14 days, after another round of citywide COVID-19 testing. Shen Peiming, 71, was one such casualty of harsh measures. She died Sunday morning at the hospital, without any relatives by her side. A family member said they have been calling the hospital non-stop to find out the circumstances of Shen's death, but have not gotten a clear answer. How many times have there been lockdowns since 2020? They still don't have experience managing this?" the family member said. All they know is her doctor and nurses had not been there to care for Shen, who was partially paralyzed after a stroke. Her last nursing assistant had been quarantined for being a close contact of a positive case, the relative said, speaking on condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution. An unfamiliar worker called to inform them of her death. Later, the hospital said it was due to a chest infection. The hospital had a COVID-19 outbreak, the family heard from orderlies, but Shen had tested negative as of last week. Shanghai authorities have reported no deaths from this outbreak, but questions have been raised about the reliability of the data. A city health official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic, said that the criteria for confirming cases and deaths are very strict and susceptible to political meddling. It is unclear how many patients have died at the hospital, and whether any died of COVID-19. Families say they are talking with other families whose relatives have also died. An article from Chinese news outlet Caixin describing the deaths and infections was taken down shortly after it was published, apparently targeted by censors. Calls to the main office of Donghai Elderly Care went unanswered. The Shanghai government did not respond to a faxed request for comment. Most experts agree that Chinas zero-COVID approach was highly successful in keeping deaths to a minimum when there were limited drugs or vaccines. But now that shots are widely available in China, and with the advent of the omicron variant, many say the government should abandon the policy and focus medical resources on the elderly and vulnerable instead. Instead, Shanghai has locked down its 26 million people and carried out repeated mass testing to tackle an outbreak driven by the highly contagious omicron BA.2 variant. On Saturday, the city reported more than 23,000 new local cases, of which only 1,015 had symptoms. If youre asymptomatic, whats going to hurt you? said Ray Yip, the founding director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control office in China, who maintains close ties with Chinese health officials. The only people who get sick are those with diabetes, obesity, chronic disease, old people. Protect those people. You can protect them. A low vaccination rate among the elderly, though, remains a concern. Only 62% of Shanghai residents over 60 have been vaccinated, according to the latest data available. Some experts support the strict approach, saying China needs to raise that rate before it can safely live with the virus. The U.S. guidelines for asymptomatic cases, as in the U.K., are that individuals isolate at home for five days. In Shanghai, workers are rushing to set up massive temporary facilities in exhibition halls and elsewhere to try to house everyone who tests positive. The citywide lockdown has disrupted daily life and the economy. Many residents, trapped in their apartment buildings, are scrambling to buy food through apps and place bulk orders with neighbors. Some in quarantine have posted videos showing chaotic scenes of people rushing to get food and a lack of clean toilets. Others have posted pleas for relatives who need medicine urgently. The U.S. said Friday that it is allowing the voluntary departure of non-essential personnel and family members from its consulate in Shanghai because of the situation. The government has trumpeted its success in curbing COVID-19, touting it as evidence of the superiority of Chinas governing system especially compared to Western democracies, where deaths have far exceeded China's. That narrative, experts said, is making it difficult for Beijing to switch tactics. They bragged too hard to their own people about how wonderful they are, and now theyve painted themselves into a corner, said Yip. The only way they can control Shanghai now is to repeat what they did in Wuhan. The 11 million residents of Wuhan were locked down for more than two months at the start of the pandemic in 2020. Shanghai's lockdown is an abrupt about-face from just a month ago, when some Chinese health experts publicly suggested softening pandemic control measures. The citys economic importance and advanced health care system left officials reluctant to impose strict measures and confident about combating any outbreaks. Further, Chinese leader Xi Jinping ordered that ongoing outbreaks in China be controlled at minimum cost in mid-March, emphasizing Beijings desire to protect the economy while curbing the virus. Shanghai took targeted steps, locking down individual office buildings, shopping centers and neighborhoods for 48 hours at a time but otherwise allowing life to go on as usual. With the soft measures, the city's case count rose. The outbreak spilled over to at least 71 other cities, according to a notice posted by Guangxi province in southern China, and pressure grew for harsher measures. On March 28, the city started an eight-day lockdown in two phases, which has since evolved into a citywide one with no end in sight. There is no time to waste, Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan said on a visit to the city last weekend, according to a government statement. We need to move forward faster and harder to provide strong support for the elimination of cases in society. The actions sent nurses and doctors into quarantine, causing conditions to worsen at Donghai Elderly Care. Chen Jielei said the outbreak at the hospital infected her unvaccinated, partially paralyzed 81-year-old mother. Because staff members also fell ill, her mother wasnt served meals on time and her sheets were unchanged for days. After a few days, a replacement worker started taking care of her. A college professor who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was afraid of retribution, said his family wasn't notified for more than a day after his 82-year-old father died on March 31. His last contact was on March 28 with a nursing assistant who called to warn there were positive cases and they could no longer take care of his father. In those three days, what happened to my father? What kind of mistreatment did he suffer? he asked. His fathers condition had been stable on March 28 when he spoke with the nursing assistant. Shen had lived on and off in the hospital for three years after her stroke. Family members visited every week. But visits were banned in early March as the COVID-19 outbreak spread through Shanghai, the relative said. They were not worried initially because the hospital had always been very responsive and they were in contact with the nursing assistants who took care of Shen. But one orderly warned on March 26 there were positive cases and many of Donghais staff were being quarantined. The hospital hired temporary nursing assistants, but many did not have healthcare experience, one nursing assistant said. The woman, who gave only her last name of Zhang, said an employment agency told her it was a cleaning job. They said your work is just to clean, you wont even have to wear a protective suit. But what they said was completely different from what I had to do, she said. Shen needed to be assisted with eating through a tube by having her food blended into a liquid. She also had a tube in her throat that had to be disinfected each day. In the past, if there was an issue, theyd always call me. This time, there wasnt even a voice message, and she died so suddenly, the relative said. Now the hospital is asking the families to sign a form to cremate the deceased. Shen's relative said the family will refuse until they get a clear answer. The hospital sent an apology letter Wednesday to some of the families. The AP has viewed a copy. Because of the outbreak's emergency, and many of the seniors had not been vaccinated, this caused those with severe underlying illness and weak health to die, it said. While Chinese government researchers have begun exploring ways to end zero COVID, the government continues to punish officials with large outbreaks on their turfs. The space for discussion is now eliminated, said Yanzhong Huang, a public health expert at the Council for Foreign Relations in the U.S. The message is loud and clear: zero-COVID, no exceptions. ___ Wu reported from Taipei, Taiwan. Associated Press video producer Olivia Zhang in Beijing and researcher Chen Si in Shanghai contributed to this report. SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) Washingtons wolf population grew in 2021 for the 13th consecutive year, showing a 16% increase from the previous year, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife said Saturday. As of Dec. 31, 2021, the department said there were 206 wolves in 33 packs in Washington. Nineteen of these were successful breeding pairs. This is up from 178 wolves in 29 packs and 16 breeding pairs in the 2020 count. Washingtons wolves continue to progress toward recovery, with four new packs documented in four different counties of the state in 2021, Fish and Wildlife Director Kelly Susewind said in a news release. This is a minimum count, so the actual number of wolves in Washington is higher, the agency said. Since the department's first wolf survey in 2008, the states wolf population has grown by an average of 25% per year. Four new packs formed in 2021, including the Columbia Pack in Columbia County, the Keller Ridge Pack in Ferry County, the Dominion Pack in Stevens County, and the Shady Pass Pack in Chelan County. The Naneum Pack was not located during the survey and was removed from the tally, the agency said. Wolves were wiped out in Washington in the early decades of the last century. But the animals began to move back into the state earlier this century from Canada and Idaho. The return of the animals has sparked numerous conflicts with ranchers, especially in northeastern Washington state where most of the wolves live. Eight of the wolf packs were involved in known livestock depredations last year, the agency said. Six of the eight were involved in two or fewer events each. As a result of depredations, two wolves from the Columbia Pack were killed in 2021, one by the department and one by a landowner with a permit to lethally remove a wolf, the agency said. Although wolf-livestock interactions have remained consistent, we recorded the lowest number of livestock depredation incidents in the state since 2017 and removed the fewest wolves in response to conflict since 2015, said the department's wolf policy lead, Julia Smith. Were committed to promoting the proactive use of non-lethal deterrents to minimize wolf-livestock conflict," Smith said. Since 1980, gray wolves have been listed under state law as endangered throughout Washington. In January 2021, wolves were delisted from federal Endangered Species Act protection and the department resumed statewide management of the species. But this February, wolves were federally relisted in the western two-thirds of the state and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service once again took the lead role in their recovery in those areas. The University of Maryland is working with an international aid group to temporarily house 25 Afghan refugees on its College Park campus, officials said Tuesday. The families, each with at least seven members, will start settling on campus over the next few weeks and stay for up to one year, officials said. Among the arrivals are people granted humanitarian parole who were evacuated through Operation Allies Welcome a Biden administration effort to resettle Afghans who worked alongside U.S. personnel and those who face persecution in Afghanistan because of their work as interpreters, drivers or cultural advisers. The University of Maryland is part of a global community, and when we have the opportunity to support humanity, we embrace it, Darryll J. Pines, the universitys president, said in a statement. We look forward to providing on-campus housing and being good neighbors to Afghan families. They are U.S. allies who have braved a terrifying situation, and we are happy that we can offer them a welcoming community as they seek permanent housing. University officials declined to say where exactly the families would stay, citing safety concerns. The arriving families include infants and teens, officials said. The university this week provided a welcome meal for the Afghans and provided them with staples such as beans and cooking oil, officials said. The schools library system is assembling a collection of bilingual books to deliver to the families, along with snacks, toys and kitchen items. U-Md. is hosting evacuees through a partnership with the International Rescue Committee, a humanitarian aid group. The organization will help the families find permanent housing, employment, education, counseling and social services. Thousands of Afghans have arrived in the Washington region since August, when the United States pulled the last of its troops from Afghanistan and the countrys government fell to the Taliban. But in the months after the Afghans arrival, overwhelmed resettlement groups have struggled to find many of the families permanent and affordable housing. The aid group faced criticism this year after several Afghan families under the organizations care said they had spent months in a hotel outside Baltimore. Some families complained that the organization had been unable to find them permanent housing in safe neighborhoods, according to community activists. The organization in January said it had doubled its staff in Baltimore to keep up with the demand for services. As Afghans continue to settle throughout the region, U-Md. officials said they are planning to welcome additional refugees. Public education is really about public good, said Patty Perillo, the schools vice president for student affairs. We are creating the model here at Maryland. We are developing the structure and systems for others to carry forward, helping many more refugees in need. Elsewhere in the country, other campuses have also extended support for evacuees. Eastern Michigan University shared plans in December to host about a dozen refugee families in its campus apartments. The University of Tulsa announced that it would offer two scholarships to Afghan students. The development in College Park comes as the United States prepares to welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees who have been displaced by the Russian invasion. Perillo said the campus is looking into ways of providing assistance to Ukrainian students and scholars. U-Md. enrolls 4,274 international students, most of whom are from China and India, according to fall 2021 campus data. Ukraine and Afghanistan each have fewer than 20 students on campus. LAS VEGAS (AP) Nevada's largest university is going smoke-free, going beyond the state's existing law against smoking in most indoor public places by expanding it to include outdoor areas. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas policy announced Friday and taking effect Aug. 15 in time for the fall 2022 semester also applies to vaping. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BUCHA, Ukraine (AP) There is a body in the basement of the abandoned yellow home at the end of the street near the railroad tracks. The man is young, pale, a dried trickle of blood by his mouth, shot to death and left in the dark, and no one knows why the Russians brought him there, to a home that wasnt his. There is a pile of toys near the stairs to the basement. Plastic clothespins sway on an empty line under a cold, gray sky. They are all thats left of normal on this blackened end of the street in Bucha, where tank treads lay stripped from charred vehicles, civilian cars are crushed, and ammunition boxes are stacked beside empty Russian military rations and liquor bottles. The man in the basement is almost an afterthought, one more body in a town where death is abundant, but satisfactory explanations for it are not. A resident, Mykola Babak, points out the man after pondering the scene in a small courtyard nearby. Three men lay there. One is missing an eye. On an old carpet near one body, someone has placed a handful of yellow flowers. A dog paces by a wheelbarrow around the corner, agitated. The wheelbarrow holds the body of another dog. It has been shot, too. ___ This story is part of an ongoing investigation from The Associated Press and Frontline that includes the War Crimes Watch Ukraine interactive experience and an upcoming documentary. ___ Babak stands, a cigarette in one hand, a plastic bag of cat food in the other. Im very calm today, he says. I shaved for the first time. At the beginning of their monthlong occupation of Bucha, he said, the Russians kept pretty much to themselves, focused on forward progress. When that stalled they went house to house looking for young men, sometimes taking documents and phones. Ukrainian resistance seemed to wear on them. The Russians seemed angrier, more impulsive. Sometimes they seemed drunk. The first time they visited Babak, they were polite. But when they returned on his birthday, March 28, they screamed at him and his brother-in-law. They put a grenade to the brother-in-laws armpit and threatened to pull the pin. They took an AK-47 and fired near Babaks feet. Lets kill him, one of them said, but another Russian told them to leave it and go. Before they left, the Russians asked him an excellent question: Why are you still here? Like many who stayed in Bucha, Babak is older -- 61. It was not as easy to leave. He thought he would be spared. And yet, in the end, the stressed-out Russians accused him of being a saboteur. He spent a month under occupation without electricity, without running water, cooking over a fire. He was not prepared for this war. Maybe the Russians werent either. Around 6 p.m. on March 31, and Babak remembers this clearly, the Russians jumped into their vehicles and left, so quickly that they abandoned the bodies of their companions. On this street we were fine, Mykola says, taking stock of the occupation. In Bucha, everything is relative. They werent shooting anyone who stepped out of their house. On the next street, they did. ___ Walking through Bucha, The Associated Press encountered two dozen witnesses of the Russian occupation. Almost everyone said they saw a body, sometimes several more. Civilians were killed, mostly men, sometimes picked off at random. Many, including the elderly, say they themselves were threatened. The question that survivors, investigators and the world would like to answer is why. Ukraine has seen the horrors of Mariupol, Kharkiv, Chernihiv and nearby Irpin. But the images from this town an hours drive from Kyiv have seared themselves into global consciousness like no other. Mayor Anatoliy Fedoruk said the count of dead civilians was 320 as of Wednesday. Vladyslav Minchenko is an artist who helps to collect the bodies. It certainly appears to be very, very deliberate. But its difficult to know what more motivation was behind this, a senior U.S. defense official said this week, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the military assessment. The residents of Bucha, as they venture out of cold homes and basements, offer theories. Some believe the Russians werent ready for an extended fight or had especially undisciplined fighters among them. Some believe the house-to-house targeting of younger men was a hunt for those who had fought the Russians in recent years in separatist-held eastern Ukraine and had been given housing in the town. By the end, any shred of discipline broke down. Grenades were tossed into basements, bodies thrown into wells. Women in their 70s were told not to stick their heads out of their houses or theyd be killed. If you leave home, Ill obey the order, and you know what the order is. Ill burn your house, Tetyana Petrovskaya recalls one soldier telling her. At first, the Russians behaved, says 63-year-old Nataliya Aleksandrova. They said they had come for three days. Then they got hungry. They got cold. They started to loot. They shot TV screens for no reason. They feared there were spies among the Ukrainians. Aleksandrova says her nephew was detained on March 7 after being spotted filming destroyed tanks with his phone. Four days later, he was found in a basement, shot in the ear. Days later, thinking the Russians were gone, Aleksandrova and a neighbor slipped out to shutter nearby homes and protect them from looting. The Russians caught them and took them to a basement. They asked us, Which type of death do you prefer, slow or fast? Grenade or gun? They were given 30 seconds to decide. Suddenly the soldiers were called away, leaving Aleksandrova and her neighbor shaken but alive. The Russians became desperate when it became clear they wouldnt be able to move on Kyiv, says Sergei Radetskiy. The soldiers were just thinking about how to loot and get out. They needed to kill someone, he says. And killing civilians is very easy. ___ Associated Press journalists Rodrigo Abd, Oleksandr Stashevskyi, Felipe Dana and Vadim Ghirda in Bucha and Lolita Baldor in Washington contributed. ___ Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine 12:00 | Huamanga (Ayacucho region), Apr. 9. Huamanga Province Mayor Yuri Gutierrez affirmed that some 20,000 tourists are expected during this religious celebration, which is one of the most important events in Peru and is recognized on a global scale. "We are making all public spaces available for those coming to Huamanga, ensuring all safety and protocols are met to conduct all the processions as part of this observance," he said. The provincial authority affirmed that everyone is getting ready for these holidays, including the brotherhoods that organize each procession, as well as all public institutions, which work together to provide in the best possible way an adequate tourist offer that satisfies all visitors. In an interview with Andina news agency, Gutierrez underscored that there is an atmosphere of great expectation and that tourism services have been improved; there are better restaurants and hotels, as well as many lodging houses in order to make it easier for tourists to travel. The mayor remarked that the municipality is conducting trainings for hotels and restaurants for them to provide quality services and permanent information, through tourist offices not only at the provincial municipality, but also at the Tourism Police and at the Exports and Tourism Promotion Board (Promperu). He stated that the municipality has identified the rooming houses where lodging is provided to ensure that quality services will be provided, although a new verification is underway anyway since properties may have changed hands, so corresponding verification is necessary. (END) JCB/MAO/RMB People in Huamanga, the capital of Ayacucho region , are preparing to celebrate Holy Week with great expectation so as to express their religious fervor after two years of delivering activities virtually using digital platforms due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Publicado: 9/4/2022 SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) A South Dakota woman has been sentenced to probation and ordered to pay more than $20,000 restitution after defrauding multiple government agencies of pandemic-related jobless funds. Marietta Ravnass, 52, of Miller, was convicted of money laundering in January. By Ugur Dursun Bay City News Foundation Book lovers of the Bay Area, rejoice -- the 8th annual Bay Area Book Festival, in partnership with the San Francisco Chronicle, announced its lineup of speakers and events on Friday. Following two years of virtual programming because of the coronavirus pandemic, Northern California's biggest literary festival will return to its Downtown Berkeley grounds for an in-person celebration of literature on May 7 and 8. This year, the festival will be offering 70 indoor programs and 27 programs on the outdoor stages at Berkeley's Civic Center Park from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day. For those who are outside of the Bay Area or who otherwise cannot physically be there, virtual passes to access livestreams of the in-person events are available for purchase on the festival website, along with the regular admission tickets and weekend passes for attendees in Berkeley. Author Kim Stanley Robinson, heralded as one of the greatest living science-fiction writers, will showcase his upcoming new book, "The High Sierra: A Love Story," in a multimedia presentation with photography and video footage. Similarly, famed author and cultural critic Rebecca Solnit will discuss her latest book "Orwell's Roses," which asserts that true justice and equity require resources not only for the body, but also for the mind and soul. With support from the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria and the Canadian Consulate General of San Francisco/Silicon Valley, the festival will offer a wider range of discussions about Native American issues, stories and characters this year. The program will be kicked off by naturalist, writer and illustrator Obi Kaufmann, who authored the bestselling "California Field Atlas," and Greg Sarris, chairman of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria and author of the forthcoming memoir "Becoming Story: A Journey Among Seasons, Places, Trees and Ancestors," with a conversation about the past, present and future of California and Indigenous practices for protecting its natural treasures. The festival program also includes speaker events featuring the likes of Jasmine Guillory, the Oakland-based author of the New York Times bestselling novel "The Proposal"; Grant Faulkner, the founder of the National Novel Writing Month (commonly known as NaNoWriMo); Booker Prize winner Jokha Alharthi, who is the first Omani woman whose literary work has been translated into English; as well as National Book Award finalists Hanif Abdurraqib and Douglas Kearney, who will turn all preexisting notions of poetry upside down to uncover hidden meaning; among many other brilliant writers in conversation with journalists from the Chronicle. The festival additionally promises to deliver events geared toward drawing in younger audiences, with programming extending to children, teens and young adults. Bestselling authors Dhonielle Clayton ("The Belles") and E. Lockhart ("We Were Liars") will engage readers in a conversation about suspense fiction, while a young adult romance panel featuring authors Casey McQuiston ("Red, White & Royal Blue") and Suzanne Park ("The Perfect Escape") will dive into diverse love stories. Alphabet Rockers, Oakland's two-time Grammy-nominated hip-hop children's music collective, will present a dynamic reading of their first published book "You Are Not Alone." The 2022 Bay Area Book Festival takes place 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 7 and 8 at various locations in Downtown Berkeley. The outdoor book fair is free, while tickets to the indoor literary programs are $15 for a weekend pass and $12 for a single event. Tickets to stream individual events online are $5 each. To view the full weekend schedule, learn more about the speakers and COVID-19 precautions and purchase tickets, visit the festival website at http://baybookfest.org. Copyright 2022 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area. Copyright 2022 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. IN SUMMARY Lawmakers advance a California gun control bill to allow citizens to sue manufacturers and distributors over illegal and "ghost" weapons. By Emily Hoeven CalMatters As Democratic elected officials rush to toughen gun laws in the wake of Sunday's mass shooting in Sacramento that left six dead and 12 injured, Republicans are accusing them of refusing to acknowledge the role their own policies have played in rising rates of gun violence. On Tuesday, a key legislative committee voted 8-1 to advance a bill -- sponsored by Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta -- that co-opts the structure of Texas' abortion ban by giving private citizens the right to sue manufacturers, sellers and distributors of illegal assault weapons, "ghost" guns and certain other firearms and to collect at least $10,000 in civil damages per weapon. State Sen. Bob Hertzberg, the Van Nuys Democrat who authored the bill, noted "it may not be the perfect solution" -- among other things, it would be invalidated if the U.S. Supreme Court were to strike down the Texas law -- but said California should "use every tool available to try and reduce this extraordinary and horrible epidemic of gun violence." The bill progressed the same day that Sacramento police arrested Smiley Martin -- one of three suspects taken into custody in connection with the mass shooting -- on charges including possession of a stolen handgun converted into a fully automatic weapon. Martin, his brother Dandrae Martin, and Daviyonne Dawson were all charged with possessing a firearm despite being prohibited from having one. Dawson was released Tuesday after posting $500,000 bail. Also Tuesday, a stunning Sacramento Bee report found that Smiley Martin in February won early release from a 10-year prison sentence for domestic violence and assault with great bodily injury. The ruling from the Board of Parole Hearings -- part of the Newsom administration -- came despite strong opposition from Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert's office, which warned the board that "if he is released early, he will continue to break the law." That will likely add fuel to what's expected to be an already intense attorney general race: Schubert, a Republican-turned-independent, is one of Bonta's main challengers for the role of California's top cop. She's also one of 44 district attorneys suing the Newsom administration over proposed rule changes that she says could result in the early release of thousands of violent offenders. Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher of Yuba City: Smiley Martin "was a violent felon with a long rap sheet who should have been in prison. If he was, this tragedy might have been avoided. If this violence a few blocks from the Capitol doesn't serve as a wake-up call to the policymakers in this building, I don't know what will." Copyright 2022 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area. Copyright 2022 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. WFO CORPUS CHRISTI Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, April 10, 2022 _____ FIRE WEATHER WATCH URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Corpus Christi TX 231 PM CDT Sat Apr 9 2022 ...Critical Fire Danger Conditions Possible Saturday Afternoon and Early Evening for South Texas... .Strong southerly winds of 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph and very low relative humidity from 15 to 35 percent will lead to elevated to critical fire danger conditions on today for all of South Texas, including the islands. Transport winds will also be out of the south at 20 to 30 mph with a mixing height of 2- 4 kft over the Coastal Bend to over 5 kft over the inland Coastal Plains, Brush Country, and Rio Grande Plains. Moisture conditions are expected to improve east to west in the evening. Relative humidity values are not expected to exceed 30 percent for the west until late this evening. Very strong winds are expected tomorrow with gusts 25 to 35 mph for inland counties of South Texas. RH values become low to moderate and this combination could result in another day or critical fire danger conditions, thus a fire weather watch is in effect for the Brush Country and Rio Grande Plains. ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS AND VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY ACROSS SOUTH TEXAS... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING FOR VERY STRONG WINDS AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES FOR THE BRUSH COUNTRY AND RIO GRANDE PLAINS... The National Weather Service in Corpus Christi has issued a Fire Weather Watch, which is in effect from Sunday afternoon through Sunday evening. * AFFECTED AREA...La Salle...McMullen...Live Oak...Bee...Webb... Duval...Jim Wells. * TIMING...Today from 12 PM until 10 PM CDT. * WIND...South to Southeast at 20 to 25 mph with gusts to 35 mph. * HUMIDITY...Minimum values from 15 to 35 percent. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now....or will shortly. A combination of strong winds...low relative humidity...and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. Residents are urged to exercise care with respect to all outdoor activities that could inadvertently cause wildfires. Report wildfires quickly to the nearest fire department or law enforcement office. A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible Red Flag Warnings. * AFFECTED AREA...Goliad...Victoria...Inland Kleberg...Inland Nueces...Inland San Patricio...Coastal Aransas...Inland Refugio...Inland Calhoun...Coastal Kleberg...Coastal Nueces... Coastal San Patricio...Aransas Islands...Coastal Refugio... Coastal Calhoun...Kleberg Islands...Nueces Islands...Calhoun Islands. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WFO NORMAN Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Saturday, April 9, 2022 _____ RED FLAG WARNING URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Norman OK 302 AM CDT Sat Apr 9 2022 ...CRITICAL TO EXTREME FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS EXPECTED... ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR STRONG SOUTHWEST WINDS, VERY WARM TEMPERATURES, AND LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES FOR WESTERN OKLAHOMA AND NORTHERN TEXAS... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING FOR GUSTY WEST TO SOUTHWEST WINDS, HOT TEMPERATURES, AND VERY LOW HUMIDITIES FOR WESTERN NORTH TEXAS AND FAR SOUTHWEST OKLAHOMA... The National Weather Service in Norman has issued a Fire Weather Watch for western north Texas and far southwest Oklahoma, which is in effect from Sunday morning through Sunday evening. * TIMING...Red Flag Warning noon to 9 PM today. Fire Weather Watch 11 AM to 9 PM Sunday. * WINDS...Southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph today, slightly lighter gusts on Sunday. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 7 percent each day. * TEMPERATURES...Middle to upper 80s today, lower to middle 90s on Saturday. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures will contribute to extreme fire behavior. A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible Red Flag Warnings. ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 10 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR FOR STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS AND VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY ACROSS SOUTH TEXAS... * AFFECTED AREA...La Salle...McMullen...Live Oak...Bee... Goliad...Victoria...Webb...Duval...Jim Wells...Inland Kleberg...Inland Nueces...Inland San Patricio...Coastal Aransas...InlandRefugio...Inland Calhoun...Coastal Kleberg... Coastal Nueces...Coastal San Patricio...Coastal Refugio... Coastal Calhoun. * TIMING...Today from 12 PM until 10 PM CDT. * WIND...South to Southeast at 20 to 25 mph with gusts to 35 mph. * HUMIDITY...Minimum values from 15 to 35 percent. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended. are either occurring now....or will shortly. A combination of strong winds...low relative humidity...and warm temperatures can Residents are urged to exercise care with respect to all outdoor activities that could inadvertently cause wildfires. Report wildfires quickly to the nearest fire department or law enforcement office. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather illustrative photo Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long yesterday had a phone conversation with Dr. Takeshi Kasai, Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the Western Pacific region. At the phone call, Dr. Takeshi Kasai expressed his impression of Vietnam's efforts and achievements in general in the care and protection of people's health. Minister Nguyen Thanh Long and Dr. Takeshi Kasai also discussed the prevention of the Covid-19 epidemic, with special priority given to children's vaccinations, focusing on providing information and strengthening propaganda about the vaccination benefits. On the same day, a signing ceremony was held on Friday to mark the completion of the delivery of 3.5 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines and 3.85 million single-use syringes. The signing ceremony took place virtually between the Ministry of Health of Vietnam represented by Vice Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan, and the Ministry of Commerce of China represented by Vice Minister of Commerce Qian Keming. On the evening of April 8, the Ministry of Health announced 39,334 new infection cases and 60,609 recoveries bringing the number of cured patients to more than 8.4 million; however, the country recorded 35 more deaths in 23 provinces. Up to now, the total number of deaths relating to Covid-19 in Vietnam is 42,768, accounting for 0.4 percent of the total number of infections. Medical workers in the country have so far injected more than 208.2 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. By staff writers Translated by Anh Quan At the forum The Minister said this at the sixth Vietnam International Conference and Exhibition on Control and Automation (VCCA) with the theme Automation in the National Digital Transformation Program: Smart and Innovative held by the Vietnam Automation Association (VAA) and the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNUHCM) yesterday. He said that out of 99 high technology products that were given the top priority for development by the State, 20 were in the field of automation, he said, adding that in the list of 107 high-tech products, whose development investment is encouraged, including 30 being involved in the automation sector. At the opening session, Dr. Nguyen Quan, former Minister of Science and Technology cum Chairman of the Vietnam Automation Association, said that this year's conference has the largest scale ever with 138 scientific reports from research institutes, universities and businesses. A conference's scientific forum comprises five sessions on smart cities, digital transformation in production, smart agriculture, renewable energy, and start-ups and innovation. Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat said that the conference has clearly formed a prestigious scientific forum in the field of control and automation. However, the Vietnam Automation Association needs to further strengthen the connection and technology transfer from advanced technology suppliers in the world to promote applications in the field of control and automation. The Vietnam Automation Association should cooperate with the Ministry of Science and Technology to promote support for Vietnamese organizations and businesses in the field of automation to conduct research, application, technology improvement and digital transformation towards green and clean through national science and technology programs. The conference took place on April 8 and 9 with three main activities including scientific conference, international exhibition, and business forum in order to connect and effectively exploit the link between managers, scientists and businesspersons. Attending the conference were Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Phan Van Mai and many scientists. By Ba Tan Translated by Anh Quan Page Content The Israeli Privacy Protection Authority has published a statement for public comment regarding the legality of employers using technology that monitors the location of employees, such as GPS applications on company phones or devices in company vehicles. In most cases, these monitoring systems are used in relation to employees where the employer has difficulty keeping track of their work hours and location due to the nature of their jobs, such as: Drivers. Couriers. Sales agents. Employees whose permanent workplace is not at the employer's premises. According to the statement, the use of monitoring systems in combination with additional information held by employers may lead to an invasion of employee privacy. Thus, it will be possible to deduce highly sensitive details from the data, such as the employee's financial status and health, which are confidential in accordance with the Privacy Protection Act. Privacy Protection Authority's Statement According to the statement, an employer should use a monitoring system only in the absence of any other reasonable alternative that does not collect location data. In addition, the employer will be allowed to use a monitoring system only where it has a legitimate and essential purpose for the workplace. Further, it will be difficult for the employer to justify collecting location data outside the employee's work hours. Possible solutions to these limitations include: A system that tracks the employee's presence only at geographical landmarks, rather than monitoring their entire journey. Allowing employees to notify the need to deal with a personal matter during work hours and, therefore, to stop being monitored. Encrypting the data so that the employer can see the monitoring data only at pre-defined events, such as a complaint about an employee who did not arrive at the location where their presence was required. According to the statement, to fulfill the proportionality requirement, the employer must set specific purposes in advance for which the information will be collected. The employer must be transparent with the employees and clearly inform them about the relevant policy on the use of the collected data. In addition, the employer must obtain specific consent from the employee to collect the monitoring data. An employee's consent to install a theft detection device in the vehicle is not the same as consent to collect data about their location at any time during work hours. Therefore, the statement requires that the employer explains to the employees: The purposes of using the data. The times during which it will be collected. How long it will be kept. The officials who are authorized to access it. Also, the employer should refrain from collecting monitoring data outside work hours as this can lead to the disclosure of personal information about the employee and their family members. The information must be properly secured as well. Practical Implications Employers typically provide a company vehicle to employees whose work requires regular travel, such as field sales agents. In the vehicle, the employer may install a system for collecting location data in order to, for example, prevent theft or respond to a customer's claim that a service was not received. In the absence of an attendance report, employers may find themselves with limited options to defend themselves from claims demanding overtime hours. This is because the Israeli Working Hours and Rest Act requires employers to ensure that employees report attendance, and the courts tend to take a narrow view of circumstances that fall outside of this obligation, especially in light of the sophistication of the technology available. Further, when seeking to use data from monitoring systems, compliance with the rules of the use of such systems is necessary to prevent the courts from nullifying the information on the ground that it violates the employee's right to privacy. For example, if a field sales agent, whose attendance is not recorded, seeks to sue their employer under the Working Hours and Rest Act for overtime pay or special compensation for working during weekly rest periods, according to the statement, the employers will be able to defend against such a claim by using the location data that was collected through the company vehicle, but only if they first received consent from the employee. After all, by using the vehicle data the employer can easily establish when employee worked and when they dealt with personal matters. Previous rulings in such cases have recognized the legitimacy of employers using technology to monitor employees in roles that require regular travel, to the extent that collecting location data of vehicles during work hours does not infringe on privacy. Since the publication of the statement, the Privacy Protection Authority has not published any official guidelines. It is expected that the courts will adopt the principles of the directive and the relevant limits to the use of monitoring systems. Naama Ratzam is an attorney with Efrat Deutsch & Co. in Tel Aviv, Israel. 2022 Efrat Deutsch & Co. All rights reserved. Reposted with permission of Lexology. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! ?? El #Minsa a traves de #Cenares recibio 576 810 dosis de vacunas del laboratorio Pfizer al pais, con el objetivo de continuar el proceso de vacunacion contra la #COVID19 a los mayores de 12 anos.??? Conoce mas aqui ?? https://t.co/VACrqkr7PR The COVID nurse After two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, infectious diseases nurse Regina Spadavecchia feels drained and fatigued, and is considering leaving nursing altogether. Ms Spadavecchia, the Westmead Hospital branch delegate for the NSW Nurses & Midwives Union, said her ward was devoted entirely to COVID-19 during the Delta and Omicron waves, until recently. Regina Spadavecchia is a COVID nurse and union delegate at Westmead Hospital. Credit:Flavio Brancaleone This meant a lot more work for the nurses because it shut out most of the HealthShare jobs. We had to empty bins, do the menus for the patient, bring their meals in and out, bring the laundry skips in and out, and get our own PPE because they wouldnt deliver PPE to the ward, she said. We had to do everything. Ms Spadavecchia said the hardest thing was looking after people who needed more care than she could give them. Wed have to escalate them to ICU because they started requiring extra oxygen and having trouble breathing, but ICU got so full that we couldnt actually send the patients up - some of them were waiting nine hours before they got to ICU, she said. The paramedic For Kieran Egan, Sydneys Delta wave in 2021 was the hardest time of his life. Mr Egan, a delegate with the Health Services Union and paramedic with NSW Ambulance in south-west Sydney, saw first-hand the effects of COVID-19 on his community. It was incredibly demoralising to be seeing people in the same condition over and over again; people who are incredibly unwell and struggling to breathe, but are young and otherwise fit and healthy, Mr Egan said. Paramedic Kieran Egan is a delegate with the Health Services Union. Credit:Flavio Brancaleone It was incredibly, emotionally hard; Ive never broken down in my job apart from working during that time, and everyone else was struggling with it too. From the very beginning of the pandemic, paramedics had extra work in decontaminating the ambulance between every patient, as well as heightened anxiety. But that was nothing compared with when Delta hit in 2021. We could end up stuck with a person with COVID during Delta when the hospitals had all their surgical wards converted to COVID wards, and they were absolutely full, Mr Egan said. In one case, he worked five or six hours overtime after taking care of one COVID patient for seven or eight hours. The crew was directed away from Liverpool Hospital, which was 10 minutes away, to Westmead Hospital, where they waited for five hours and had an X-ray, before finally being sent to North Shore Hospital. Mr Egan said the main problem this year had been staff shortages, as other paramedics either contract COVID-19 or are furloughed due to close contacts. We feel the community has moved on from COVID, but were still dealing with it as a healthcare sector, he said. The other day we had a lot of COVID jobs and one of them was a six-year-old girl who had a febrile convulsion [a seizure induced by fever], so its still out there and still dangerous, it just feels like no one wants to talk about it. The radiographer When asked to sum up the past two years as a radiographer at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Trisha Hann has one word: hectic. Ms Hann, a Health Services Union delegate, said radiographers were understaffed even before the pandemic because of a rising demand for imaging such as X-rays and ultrasounds. The impact of the pandemic was immediate. Radiographer at RPA and HSU delegate Trisha Hann. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone Basically we had to treat pretty much every patient that comes through the emergency department as potentially having COVID, Ms Hann said. What meant for us was, instead of bringing patients to our department and performing procedures like we normally do, we were going to them in the emergency department with our mobile equipment, which just completely changed our workflow and made everything take twice or three times as long. Ms Hann said double shifts became common, or someone on an 8am to 4pm shift might be rostered on to also work midnight to 8am. If you say no, the problem is youre not just saying no to your manager, youre also saying no to the people wholl be working and struggling without you, she said. We all feel that we owe it to our colleagues and the patients. Earlier in the pandemic, staff shortages arose because of strict rules about close contacts. Now it was because the virus was so widespread. The mental health nurse While the wider community had people stockpiling food and panic-buying toilet paper, the equivalent in hospitals was for PPE. Mental health nurse Nicholas Howson. Credit:Dean Sewell Nicholas Howson, a mental health nurse and the Cumberland Hospital branch delegate for the NSW Nurses & Midwives Union, said at the beginning of the pandemic there was a shortage and that led to panic usage or rainy-day stockpiling. There was a time when people were literally given two masks a day and told you have to make these last because theyre too expensive, he said. Mr Howson said the mental health hospital was operating at full capacity, and he knew from the hospitals in his network there was unmet demand, with many emergency departments facing a surge in self-harm and mental health presentations. Loading The biggest problem was patients who would normally come in for a two-week stay would end up staying six or eight weeks because it was so difficult to organise accommodation and Centrelink payments, and patients with COVID-19 could not be released into the community if they had nowhere to isolate. He said staff also found it disheartening that management would chastise staff for raising safety concerns, saying they had filled out the wrong form and leaving an overall impression they were trying to stop a record of events that endanger patients. You manage, and you manage, and its fine until its not, Mr Howson said. But when its not fine in a healthcare setting, something generally goes very terribly wrong. Someone gets hurt. Someone dies. The number of pregnant women wanting to deliver in a natural birth centre more than doubled in the five years to 2020, but an increasing proportion were redirected back to hospital delivery wards. In a trend that predates the COVID-19 pandemic, the most recent annual NSW Mothers & Babies report shows the proportion of women who planned to use a birth centre and actually did so declined from 86 per cent in 2016 to just over 50 per cent in 2020. A NSW Health spokesperson said the birth centres attached to public hospitals provide women with a low-risk pregnancy a home-like setting and midwifery continuity of care. Elly Baxter with her son Kit, 10 months, who was booked into the RPA birth centre but later transferred to hospital. Credit:Flavio Brancaleone Some women may plan to birth in a birth centre, but complications may arise during pregnancy and labour which need more clinical management and so a more clinical birthing unit is the safest option, the spokesperson said. Captains of the new Manly ferries have been warned not to sail directly into waves near the entrance to Sydney Harbour in heavy swells in case their vessels become airborne, a leaked internal memo has revealed. The advice was to masters of the second generation Emerald-class ferries, which are at the centre of a fierce debate over whether they can handle large swells as well as the larger Freshwater vessels they are designed to replace on the Manly-Circular Quay route. A second generation Emerald-class ferry undergoes testing near the entrance to Sydney Harbour in early March. The document by ferry operator Transdev warns masters that trials in early March showed that the new Emerald-class ferries became airborne, resulting in tunnel slamming, when the vessels sailed directly into waves or on a 45-degree angle to them at about 10 knots. This can be detrimental to the vessels integrity and the safety and comfort of the crew and passengers, it states. Princess Anne listened to stories from farmers of drought and flood as she officially opened this years Sydney Royal Easter Show. While the rides and show bags are usually the main attraction at the Sydney Showground at Olympic Park, it was the Princess Royal who drew a crowd just hours after jetting into the country to begin her tour of Australia and Papua New Guinea, joined by her husband Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence for her five-day trip. Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, The Princess Royal views stands at the Bicentennial Sydney Royal Easter Show. Credit:Mark Metcalfe The last two years have been really hard on the agricultural industry, the cancellations have been disappointing, she said during the shows opening ceremony. Its wonderful to celebrate rural traditions and the Australian way of life. A senior weightlifting coach who sued an alleged sexual harassment victim for defamation has been reinstated as the head of Powerlifting Australia after the sporting body said its investigation of the matter could not substantiate the claims against him. The organisations own investigation into the allegations, conducted by a former Victoria Police detective, did not involve the woman who made the allegations. Robert Wilks and Dori Qu. Credit: Robert Wilks, 68, stood down as CEO of Powerlifting Australia in August 2021 after The Sunday Age revealed that he had taken legal action against an athlete who had made claims he had pressured her into sex. The organisations entire board, aside from Mr Wilks, was replaced in the aftermath, as lifters and gyms cancelled accreditation and memberships over the bodys handling of the complaint by 22-year-old athlete Dori Qu. The federal election has been called for May 21, starting a six-week campaign pitched as a battle between Labors pledge to deliver a better future and the Liberal message that its a choice between a strong economy and a Labor opposition that would weaken it. Scott Morrison held a short press conference where he answered a few reporters questions and evaded others before visiting Nowra on his first stop of the campaign. This election is a choice between a government that you know and that has been delivering and a Labor opposition that you dont, the PM said. Prime Minister Scott Morrison during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra on Sunday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen We are dealing with a world that is less stable than at any other time since the second World War.. I believe there are many, many opportunities there to be seized from the strong position weve put ourselves in as a country as we emerge ... from this pandemic. Now is not the time to risk that. The Opposition Leader travelled to Tasmania for his first day on the hustings and appealed to voters sense of optimism and desire for a better future. Mr Albanese held a long press conference where took questions from all the reporters that attended. Leader of the Australian Labor Party, Anthony Albanese in Sydney on, April 10, 2022. Credit:Rhett Wyman Labors plan is centred on more secure jobs, stronger Medicare, cheaper childcare [and] making our future here, he said. If I have the honour of serving as your prime minister, I can promise you this: I will lead with integrity and I will treat you with respect. I will restore faith in our political system by getting rid of the waste and rorts, and establishing a strong anti-corruption commission. I wont go missing when the going gets tough. Several independent candidates also formally launched their campaigns today with large crowds gathering to show their support. It was a warm autumn day when Sydneysiders awoke on the morning of May 18, 2019, and prepared to head to the polls to vote in the federal election. The city was in the grip of an unusual dry, warm spell and there was a hint of smoke in the air the Rural Fire Service was working on a hazard reduction burn in the Blue Mountains that would come to blanket the city in a dangerous haze later that week. Voters didnt know it as they lined up to cast their ballots but the smell of smoke would linger in their nostrils for weeks over the coming spring and summer, as the state burned and the city choked. Voters cast their ballots in Sydney at the last federal election on May 18, 2019. Credit:David Gray/Bloomberg They had no idea either that a new virus would cause havoc in Wuhan, China, about the same time as those fires and that the newly elected government would close the nations border in response, hand out billions of dollars in support to keep the economy afloat and oversee a dramatic shift in the way Australians lived. With Prime Minister Scott Morrison poised to call the next election at any moment, possibly today, it is imperative Australians use the next few weeks to inform themselves about the candidates on their ballot papers, and the policies they will be supporting, because who knows what decisions the next federal government will be asked to make on our behalf. The past three exhausting years have brought home to us all the true power of a vote. People in flood-affected areas of NSW and Queensland are angrier with the federal government than with state politicians or even insurance companies over its response to the natural disasters. A third of those in affected regions said they thought the federal governments response had gone badly, the exclusive Resolve Political Monitor conducted for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age finds. Gloria Grande lost her home of 60 years in the recent flood in Coraki, northern NSW. Credit:Elise Derwin This was higher than the proportion who thought the NSW and Queensland governments (19 per cent) or insurance companies (18 per cent) had handled things poorly. However, slightly more people said the federal government had responded well (38 per cent) while almost another third were undecided. A cute-as-a-button Victorian terrace house in Carlton North sold under the hammer for $1.371 million at auction on Saturday after competition from five bidders four of them young, first-home buying couples. Known as Rosemont, the three-bedder at 102 Newry Street, Carlton North, was snapped up by one of the couples looking to move back to Melbourne after years of living and working overseas and interstate. The terrace is cute as a button. Credit:Nelson Alexander Bidding opened at $1.2 million, the bottom of the asking price range of $1.2 million to $1.3 million, and a flurry of offers followed. It came down to two first-time buyers making $1000 and $2000 advances to try to knock the other out. A Boeing 757 cargo jet operated by DHL broke in two after skidding off the runway at Juan Santamaria International airport in Costa Rica. The crew reported hydraulic problems with the 22-year-old aircraft after takeoff and made an emergency landing, according to a statement on Friday, Costa Rica time, from DHL. The two pilots escaped without serious injury and the company has launched an investigation to determine what happened, the company said. A cargo jet that spun off lays broken on the runway of the Juan Santamaria International Airport in Alajuela, Costa Rica. Credit:AP The US National Transportation Safety Board will assist in the investigation under an international treaty allowing participation by the country where the plane was manufactured. An NTSB investigator and technical experts from Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration will be travelling to Costa Rica, NTSB spokesman Peter Knudson said. Lviv: Britains defence ministry said on Saturday that Russian forces were targeting civilians, a day after a missile attack on a train station crowded with women, children and the elderly killed at least 52 people, according to Ukrainian officials. Russia was focusing its offensive, which included cruise missiles launched by its naval forces, on the eastern Donbas region, the British ministry said in a daily briefing. A cow stands by the destroyed military vehicles and damaged houses in Andriivka, Ukraine. Credit:Getty It said it expected air attacks would increase in the south and east as Russia seeks to establish a land bridge between Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014, and the Donbas but Ukrainian forces were thwarting the advance. Ukrainian officials said shelling had increased in the region in recent days as more Russian forces arrived. Your browser does not support the video tag. YEREVAN, APRIL 9, ARMENPRESS. The signing of the agreement on economic cooperation between the governments of Armenia and Slovakia was held in the Armenian Ministry of Economy on April 8. The document was signed by Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan and Ambassador of Slovakia to Armenia Miroslav Hacek. The agreement envisages development of mutually beneficial cooperation and diversification in all economic areas of mutual interest. It enables to develop and deepen long-term economic relations between the two countries based on equality and mutual benefit in such areas as industry, tourism, energy, agriculture, small and medium enterprises, transport and infrastructure, environment protection, information and communication technologies, etc. The document also envisages creating an inter-governmental commission. Before the signing of the document, the Minister of Economy and the Ambassador of Slovakia held a meeting discussing the development prospects of the commercial ties. Vahan Kerobyan said Armenia highly values the development of the relations with Slovakia and stated that its the time to take steps to put the existing potential in the bilateral relations on practical grounds. The minister also presented the current priorities of Armenias economy. The Ambassador in turn proposed to view EU member state Slovakia as a European hub, through which Armenia will be able to strengthen its economic ties with other European countries. The foreign diplomat said Slovakia views Armenia as a country with a great development potential, with highly qualified human resource, highlighting the unprecedented rapid development of Armenia in IT sector as a prospective field. As a direction for cooperation, the Ambassador also highlighted the agriculture sector which, he said, could be interesting for the Slovak businessmen. In this context, Miroslav Hacek informed that the visit of the Foreign Minister of Slovakia to Armenia is expected soon, accompanied by a group of businessmen for establishing cooperation opportunities in Armenia. The Ambassador also said that Armenias good economic relations with Iran make it more attractive for Slovakia. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GREENWICH Due to complaints that it would not do enough to reduce highway noise in local neighborhoods, the state has pulled the plug for now on a $205 million project to improve Interstate 95 in Greenwich, Gov. Ned Lamont and First Selectman Fred Camillo announced. The major project on the busy commuter corridor sometimes called the gateway to New England had been slated to begin this fall from Exit 2 near the New York state border to Exit 6 in Stamford. The roadwork in Greenwich was expected to take three to four years to complete. The grassroots efforts of our residents, along with the collaboration of our legislative delegation and Department of Public Works, were successful, Camillo said in a statement Thursday. We were able to show the state that there was a need for a more comprehensive plan to mitigate the noise generated by highway traffic, which has a negative impact on our residents and environment. Lamont, who lives in Greenwich, said he will direct the state Department of Transportation to revisit the project scope to provide a more comprehensive solution. The goal of the project along the 6-mile stretch was to enhance safety and road conditions, with better lighting and new pavement, barriers and signs as well to refurbish 20 bridges and underpasses, according to the DOT. It also called for reconfiguring Exit 3 of southbound I-95 into central Greenwich, a perennial site of backups and accidents. Despite support for upgrading the infrastructure and solving problems with traffic tie-ups, many residents complained that the roadwork would not address the issue of noise pollution coming from I-95. Camillo told Greenwich Time that the delay is a very positive development and would allow for changes in the I-95 project. DOT will revisit the scope of the project, said Josh Morgan, communications manager for DOT, at the governors direction. In the interim, we will commence a pavement rehabilitation project this year to extend the life of the roadway until a more comprehensive project can be undertaken. Morgan said. Planning and rescoping for such a comprehensive project could take two to three years to complete, which must be followed by formal planning and design activities. This will follow all federal public involvement requirements, as do all DOT projects. Residents complaints about noise from I-95 have grown in recent years, leading to the formation of the advocacy group Neighborhood Citizens Against I-95 Noise. In January, the groups president Greg Piccininno told Greenwich Time that it had measured as much as a 10 to 15 decibel increase over the last 20 years from I-95. For those living near the highway, the noise was comparable to the sound a 737 makes while cruising, he said, based on a noise study paid for by the group. Our voices were heard, he said Thursday. The group hopes this delay will allow the state to add more noise mitigation efforts to the project, Piccininno said, perhaps with federal funding. We are happy (the DOT) will bring a more comprehensive plan, which takes into account the health and well-being of our community, he said. We await a plan that creates an attractive gateway to Connecticut that includes noise abatement. We will reach out to the DOT to offer any assistance necessary. The state could have ignored the residents, Piccininno said, and gone ahead with the project, subjecting Greenwich to four years of construction and traffic issues with all of us still being left with what we already had in terms of noise. Quality of life Camillo also pledged to allocate $500,000 in each of the municipal budgets for 2023-24 and 2024-25 for noise-reduction efforts. If the funding moves forward, he said the town would work on solutions with the state. In a statement, Camillo thanked Lamont and DOT Commissioner Joseph Giulietti for understanding the impact this project would have on our neighborhoods and our residents quality of life. State Rep. Stephen Meskers, D-150, said he was incredibly grateful that Lamont had listened to the concerns of the Greenwich community. He cited efforts by both the Riverside Neighborhood Association and Byram Neighborhood Association. Im happy that going forward the project is going to include both the appropriate landscaping and noise abatement technology, like sound barriers and quiet pavement technology and quiet joints, Meskers said. I think what we want in the gateway to New England is a project that we can all be proud of. State Sen. Ryan Fazio, R-36, also supported delaying the planned work. Our Greenwich community is being heard. It has been a team effort led by concerned and community-minded residents, Fazio said. I thank the governor and DOT for taking this step, and kudos to First Selectman Camillo, Greenwich DPW and my legislative colleagues for all speaking with one voice. It is encouraging to see the positive results when we unite and speak out on important quality-of-life issues. Delay in work Lamont acknowledged that this decision delays making the needed improvements on I-95. It is unfortunate that a more timely solution could not be found to move this project forward in the near term, he said in a letter to Camillo. However, I feel strongly that a more comprehensive review of the project scope will result in a project that better meets the needs of the I-95 users as well as the surrounding community. Meskers said he understood the need for improvements on I-95, but he said it is most important to get the project done correctly. This is basically 75 years in the making, he said of the debate over I-95. This is a fundamental rebuild of the infrastructure. We want it done right once and for all. kborsuk@greenwichtime.com YEREVAN, APRIL 9, ARMENPRESS. Irans trade with the members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) stood at $5.643 billion in the last fiscal years 12months (March 21, 2022-Mar. 21), registering a 66% growth compared with the corresponding period of last year, the spokesman of Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) said, IRNA reports. Russia with $583.658 million topped the list of Irans export destinations in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), followed by Armenia with $302.343 million, Kazakhstan with $188.866 million, Kyrgyzstan with $78.900 million and Belarus with $16.813 million, the spokesman said. The EAEU member states exported $4.472 billion worth of goods to Iran during the same period, registering a 90% YOY rise. NEW HAVEN A University of New Haven student was killed early Saturday after a car in which he was a passenger crashed into a tree, according to officials. The passenger, identified as 21-year-old Raymond Rolle of West Haven, was taken to Yale New Haven Hospital, where he died from his injuries, the New Haven Police Department said. In a statement on Saturday, the University of New Haven Dean of Students Ophelie Rowe-Allen shared the heartbreaking news with the rest of the university community. Please join me in extending our heartfelt condolences to Raymonds parents, his family, friends, and classmates, Rowe-Allen said. The fatal accident took place on Congress Avenue between College and Liberty streets. Police were called to that area around 3:30 a.m., where they found a black Chevrolet Cruze crashed into a tree. The New Haven Fire Department responded and removed the driver, a 26-year-old West Haven man, and Rolle from the car, police said. Emergency medical personnel then took the driver to Bridgeport Hospital with life-threatening injuries. He is listed in stable condition, police said Saturday afternoon. While police did not identify the driver, the UNH statement indicated that another student, Kenu Adderley, was also involved in the crash and is currently hospitalized. The university has made grief counseling available through the Counseling and Psychological Services Office. Students can reach out to that department to make appointments or by calling 203-932-7333. Rowe-Allen said she has made herself available to staff and students this weekend by calling 203-932-7176 or via email at DeanOfStudents@newhaven.edu. Further support is available for faculty and staff members in need. According to the statement, Rolle, a computer engineering major set to graduate this year, was an active member of the Universitys TEDx Club. He was originally from the Bahamas before moving to West Haven to attend school. Details for an on-campus memorial service will be announced soon, Rowe-Allen said. The New Haven Police Departments Crash Team is continuing to investigate the incident. Any witnesses who may not have spoken yet to police are asked to contact the department at 203-946-6316. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-866-888-TIPS (8477) or by texting NHPD plus the tip to 274637 (CRIMES). STAMFORD Ever since a new high school block schedule was announced in January, many teachers have criticized the school district for a perceived lack of involving them in the decision. This week, that claim was before the Stamford Board of Education as a grievance filed by the Stamford Education Association teachers union. A three-person committee of board members was charged with deciding its fate. After about a half hour of deliberations Thursday, the committee voted to deny the grievance by a final tally of 2-1. Member Becky Hamman supported the SEAs filing; members Jackie Heftman, the president of the board, and Andy George, chair of the Labor Committee, voted against accepting the grievance. The SEA now has the option to go to arbitration, but it is unclear if that will happen. Calls to union president Diane Phanos were not immediately returned. The grievance, which was filed earlier this year, claimed that Amy Beldotti, associate superintendent for teaching and learning, violated a board policy by not involving teachers in the decision to move to the districts preferred block schedule, known as the hybrid four-by-four model. If accepted, the grievance requested that any alleged violations of the policy cease, and that a committee of teachers elected by their building peers be convened. In the complaint, SEA representative Guy Semon argued that Beldotti violated a policy that states the board will encourage employee participation in decision-making about curriculum (and) operational issues. Semon referred to comments made by Beldotti during a Board of Education meeting in January, when she said a decision regarding block scheduling was made by administrators once they decided a consensus among teachers on the perfect schedule was unlikely. We needed to rip off the proverbial Band-Aid, make a decision and then now come together with our teacher leaders, our department heads, teachers of every course, to figure out the details and the logistics, she said, during that meeting. In a February written response to the grievance, Beldotti said the policy referred to in the grievance does not require central office and building administrators to include teachers in decisions not related to policy. Master scheduling decisions in our high schools do not fall under the purview of BOE policy. During the Thursday hearing, Semon argued that the spirit of the policy calls for staff to be involved in decision making. If you want teachers to be involved, I think this is a big mistake in your policy, he said. If in fact the policy isnt written the way you wanted it, it should have been changed. Also during the hearing, Chris Soules, the director of human resources for Stamford Public Schools, argued that the policy is irrelevant to SEAs case because it concerns participation on broad board policies. And since the board did not set policy concerning block scheduling, it does not apply. But even if the policy did apply, Soules said, there would not be a violation, since teachers had been involved in conversations regarding block scheduling for years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, a fact SEA members have conceded. The issue of block scheduling has been a topic of conversation and planning for several years, Soules said. Soules said the only reason the decision to move to a new schedule was delayed until this year was because of COVID-19. I really think that the way to frame this was there was a delay in making the decision and implementing a block schedule, but the participation had already happened at that point, he said. After the vote, Heftman said the grievance was denied on the grounds that the policy in question did not apply. However, she said the policy would be referred to the boards Policy Committee for possible expansion. The board committee recognizes and believes in the importance of participatory management, she said. Teachers have argued that while they were part of the process pre-COVID, the decision to move to the hybrid model in January came entirely from central office without teacher input. Sharon Quinn, the local representative for the Connecticut Education Association, said the teachers felt blindsided when they found out the decision to begin block scheduling next school year had been made. The teachers ... felt undervalued and they really felt disrespected. In the end, whether you deem it is a violation of your policy or not, theres a problem that needs to be addressed and we hope that going forward, teachers input will not just be heard but actually considered, Quinn said, during the hearing. The block scheduling saga has led to votes of no confidence in schools Superintendent Tamu Lucero and Beldotti from tenured staff at both Westhill High School and the Academy of Information Technology and Engineering, the districts only magnet high school and a building that already uses a version of block scheduling different from that proposed for the other two high schools. At Westhill, two-thirds of tenured teachers signed the vote of no confidence, while 82 percent of AITE tenured staff did the same. The districts other high school, Stamford High School, has not taken that step. Teacher Suzanne Rixon, the SEA representative for Stamford High, said thats not because teachers arent concerned about the districts planned block schedule. Stamford High teachers tend to take a quieter approach to trying to get things resolved, she said, adding that while educators at the school were not planning a vote of no confidence, an internal survey done by teachers found that 60 percent of educators at the school were against the districts hybrid model. During the grievance hearing, Hamman asked Beldotti for her reaction to the votes of no confidence. The associate superintendent said she never directly received any information about the votes. Ive never seen the actual votes on no confidence. I read about them in the newspaper, Beldotti said. Im going to move forward with the work that needs to happen to meet the needs of our students. ignacio.laguarda@stamfordadvocate.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 1 of 5 Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 5 of 5 Scene The Cottage, owned by celebrated chef Brian Lewis, has opened at 49 Greenwich Ave. After a yearlong buildout, The Cottages second outpost joins Lewis original concept in Westport and his Japanese-inspired OKO restaurants in Westport and Rye, N.Y. Working alongside Lewis at his Greenwich location is executive chef Christian Wilki; director of hospitality Ralph Leon; sous chef Gianfranco Oliver; and bar manager James Lucchesi. Lewis, the founding executive chef of The Bedford Post Inn owned by actor Richard Gere in Bedford, N.Y., has made appearances on The Martha Stewart Show, the Today show and Fox & Friends. He also was a winner on Beat Bobby Flay, as well as a semifinalist for the James Beard Award for best chef in the Northeast. The restaurant is open Tuesdays to Saturdays for dinner and will expand to offer lunch, Sunday brunch and Sunday dinner, as well as a full takeout menu later this spring. For more info, visit www.thecottage.kitchen or call 203-769-1220. Out there A new season of Play With Your Food starts Thursday from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Greenwich Arts Council, 299 Greenwich Ave. The one-act plays will be followed by a talk-back with the professional cast of actors and the director. A boxed lunch catered by popular local restaurants is included in the $60 ticket and can be enjoyed there or taken to go. Proof of vaccination and masks are mandatory for all performances. For tickets and more info, go to www.greenwichartscouncil.org. WASHINGTON - To party or not to party? That is the question. Washington got a crash course in risk-reward ratios after a spate of boldface names tested positive for the coronavirus this week. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. got it. D.C. Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser got it. Attorney General Merrick Garland, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine all announced they got it after attending the exclusive Gridiron Club dinner on April 2. But none of this has slowed down the juggernaut that is the city's elite social scene. After two years at home, the power brokers of the nation's capital are determined to get back to the serious business of having fun. The calculation: The rewards, at least for the vaccinated and boosted, outweigh the possible risk of catching the milder variants of the disease. And so 450 people packed into the National Gallery of Art for Thursday's opening of "Afro-Atlantic Histories," a groundbreaking exhibition of Black art and artists at the city's most prestigious art museum. Vice President Kamala Harris celebrated during the day after presiding over the landmark confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, and then at night by touring the show and addressing the crowd. "A lot of history is being made today," said Harris with a broad smile. "Tonight is exceptional because it is unlike any other in the National Gallery's history." The exhibit, she added, is "so extraordinarily significant and important. It tells the story of our shared past but also our shared future." "It's one of the few things in the last two years we haven't thought about canceling," said NGA Director Kaywin Feldman, who pointed out that was the gallery's first big event since March 2020. "We're moving forward and excited about it. It's been a long, long two years." For many people at the party, this was a "can't-miss" event. Museum officials and donors selected to meet directly with Harris were tested beforehand, but the requirements for the rest of the guests to show proof of vaccination and wear masks while not eating or drinking did not appear to be enforced. NGA Chairman David Rubenstein said he had been "tested twice today and so I know I'm OK. And I was just vaccinated with my fourth booster shot today. I try to be careful, but there's no guarantees in life." Rubenstein skipped the Gridiron dinner for the Duke-University of North Carolina NCAA semifinal game in New Orleans. His beloved Duke fell short ("It's unfortunate but we lost. That's life. On to the next thing.") but he was still thankful: "I was supposed to go to Gridiron. I'm glad I didn't go because everyone got sick." While the post-Gridiron cases created a stir, it's impossible to know which asymptomatic guests walked into the dinner with the virus and who walked out with it - the "brought it or caught it" question. Proof of vaccination was required, but guests closely mingled for hours in close quarters without masks. That being said, no one is sure how much the dinner itself is to blame. Other attendees who tested positive include Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Jamal Simmons, communications director for Harris. The president's sister, Valerie Biden Owens, was also a guest and had to promote her new book virtually after she tested positive Wednesday. (The White House said she had not been in close contact with her brother.) As of Friday afternoon, more than 50 attendees had tested positive - roughly 8% of the guests. Pelosi, who was not at the dinner, announced Thursday she tested positive, two days after joining President Joe Biden and former president Barack Obama at the White House to celebrate record enrollment in Obamacare. Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock also announced he was positive this week. It would be unfair to say Washington is blase about contracting the coronavirus - this is still a pandemic, after all. But the mind-set has shifted, and for the vaccinated a positive test is unlikely to result in a serious illness. The desire to get back to normal - the fundraisers, the dinners, the schmoozing - has trumped the fear most people felt in the early days of the crisis. The past month has seen a resumption of the kind of events held all the time in D.C. before the pandemic. Biden attended the annual gala of the Ireland Funds, although early in the evening Ireland's prime minister received notice of a positive test and had to leave. The Gridiron dinner - filled with administration officials, members of Congress, and media and business elite - welcomed 630 people. Local caterers say they're not getting any cancellations for upcoming parties. Just this week, philanthropist Adrienne Arsht celebrated her 80th birthday party at her home for 150 of her closest friends. It was held under a huge tent; no testing required because all guests had been vaccinated. Former Commerce secretary Wilbur Ross had a small dinner to mark the unveiling of his official portrait. British Ambassador Karen Pierce hosted a dinner at her residence for the White House Historical Association to honor its exhibit on the queen's visits to Washington. As Pierce likes to say: "Diplomacy is a contact sport." While, of course, following the appropriate CDC guidance and regulations of the District of Columbia. As with so many things in life, it comes down to how much someone wants to show up. For many at the NGA opening, there was little debate. "A lot of people were not going to miss it," said deputy director Eric Motley. "The historic nature of this particular moment at the National Gallery kind of transcended a lot of concerns and anxieties about what to go to and what not to go, even in light of Gridiron." Personally, Motley said he still wears masks and decides to attend parties based on the size and guests list. "If it's a very large event that exceeds a couple hundred people, I tend not to go," he said. "If I do go, I surround myself with people I know. That helps. But it's like the flu - anyone can get this ever-evolving covid. I take the risks knowing that the experience is going to be fulfilling and meaningful." Which brings us to the upcoming White House Correspondents' Association dinner, the glittery annual celebration of the press, the presidency and the idea that we really can all get along. President Donald Trump spurned the event every year he was in office; Biden has not formally announced his plans but is expected to resume the tradition of good-natured presidential roasting and toasting; Trevor Noah, who just hosted the Grammys, is the celebrity speaker. Which may be why WHCA President Steven Portnoy was adamant this week that the show will go on. To lower the chances that the 2,500 person dinner will become a superspreader event, the organization is requiring that every guest show proof of a negative coronavirus test taken the day of the April 30 dinner. The WHCA is not requiring proof of vaccination on the theory that most of the most of the people attending are already vaccinated and boosted. The protocols for the ancillary events are not yet clear, but the before- and after-parties are traditionally packed - the combination of free booze and celebrity sighting has always proved to be irresistible. The dinner is still two weeks away. Congress just left Washington for the Easter recess; the BA.2 subvariant of omicron continues to rapidly spread throughout the country. There's no telling which A-list name will be next. One person who won't be there is Rubenstein. "It's jammed packed," he said. "That one is always too crowded. I think they can live without me." Cedric Ballay, CEO of PFNonwovens, felt compelled in his visit to the Hazleton area this week to mention the war in Ukraine, a subject on the minds of many people in the past weeks and now, months. We firmly condemn the aggression thats on that country. The suffering was certainly not necessary and seems from another time, Ballay said. Its kind of sad and enraging and unfortunately, its real, he said, noting that several operators from Czech Republic are in Hazleton assisting with a new line being added at the companys Humboldt Industrial Park facility. The crisis abroad is close to them, he said. Our thoughts are really with the people who are suffering from this today, Ballay said. We admire those who are fighting so bravely and will continue to support where we can. PFNonwovens continues to collect funds to help the people of Ukraine and is matching donations collected, he said. We thank you for your solidarity, Ballay said. Kelly Monitz The UK has canceled the export restrictions on defense products to Turkey. The statement came from Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, adding that Canada is also considering easing this ban, news.am informs. April 9, 2022, 13:16 UK cancels export restrictions on defense products to Turkey, Canada could follow suit STEPANAKERT, APRIL 9, ARTSAKHPRESS: Cavusoglu stated about this at a press conference in Brussels, where he took part in a meeting of NATO foreign ministers, reported Yeni Safak daily of Turkey. The Turkish FM added he had spoken with UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss. "Great Britain has lifted the export restrictions; we are satisfied with that," said Cavusoglu, noting that one of the issues of concern is the purchase of the engines of the Turkish-made fifth-generation TAI TF-X fighter jets. The Guardian had reported earlier that the UK suspended the issuance of licenses to arms exports to Turkey in October 2019. The TAI TF-X program, which is highly dependent on foreign technologies, was launched after Turkey was dropped out of the American F-35 fighter jet program due to its purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense missile systems. This page requires Javascript. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. NUGL, Inc. Kaya LLC, a vertically integrated cannabis company and Wellness Ecosystem will create tremendous synergy with the core print and digital media assets of NUGL, Inc. Based in Jamaica, Kaya is the first medicinal Ganja Herb House in the Caribbean. Access to capital markets will enable Kaya to accelerate growth and enhance its unique Wellness Ecosystem offering. Completion of the Transaction is anticipated to occur on or before March 30, 2022, and the company will be renamed Kaya Group, Inc. LOS ANGELES, March 14, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NUGL Inc. (NUGL) (US OTC: NUGL), a search directory and multimedia platform for the cannabis industry, announced today it has entered into of a definitive acquisition agreement to acquire the outstanding shares and economic interests of Saint Ann, Jamaica based Kaya LLC (Kaya), which includes Jamaica Ganja Corporation, Island Kaya Group Limited, Kaya Extracts Ltd., The Herb Company Limited, Island Kaya Tours Ltd., Island Kaya Spa Ltd., and Irish Rover Limited, subject to certain conditions and applicable shareholder and corporate approvals (the Transaction). Kaya is a vertically integrated cannabis company licensed to cultivate, process, distribute, and retail medical cannabis in Jamaica through its affiliate Island Kaya. Immediately following the Transaction, NUGL, Inc. is expected to change its name to Kaya Group Inc. Kaya is the first medical cannabis brand from the Caribbean, as well as one of Jamaicas leading, vertically integrated medical cannabis companies. Kaya's diverse operations include a licensed cultivation facility, processing facility, 3 retail herb houses, and one ganja franchise in Punta Del Este, Uruguay. Kaya was the first to open a medical cannabis location in Jamaica in March 2018 and has established itself as a leading supplier and supporter of medical cannabis throughout the Caribbean. Kaya's holistic, wellness-focused ecosystem was created to teach its visitors about the history of Ganja in Jamaica and show them how its grown, while enjoying it in a social setting. Kaya's locations offer locally grown herbs and straight-from-the-farm extracts, world-renowned cuisine, juices at its cafe, and a tourist-friendly pizza restaurant. Patients can bring their own medical licenses from their home country or visit a doctor on Kaya's premises. Story continues Our shared vision of continued investment into our core markets, while we focus on launching the brand in International markets with their core media assets in print and digital, makes this a complimentary fit for both companies, said Bali Vaswani, Chairman and CEO of Kaya. Benefits of the Transaction Access to capital markets will enable Kaya to accelerate growth and enhance its unique Wellness Ecosystem offering into international markets. Strong operating team in one of the most regulated medical markets with a strong track record since 2015. Curate local media for NUGL platform utilizing Kayas award-winning retail stores for content which have already hosted live concerts with some of the most talented reggae artist including Popcaan Vanquish Acoustic Show, Kymani Marley, Beenie Man, David Rodigan, Chronixx, Keznamdi, Jesse Royal, Jah9, Lila Ike, Protoje, and Toots and The Maytals. Definitive Agreement Pursuant to the terms of the Definitive Agreement, the Transaction is proposed to be completed by way of a share exchange. Approximately 816,482,051 NUGL Shares will be issued to Kaya shareholders in the aggregate. After giving effect to the Transaction, the Combined Company is expected to have approximately 868,482,051 shares issued and outstanding (non-diluted). Consistent with the regulations of the Cannabis Licensing Authority (Jamaica) (the CLA), following closing of the Transaction, NUGL will hold 49% of the voting equity of the Kaya Group, and hold 100% of the economic interests in the Kaya Group pursuant to a shareholders agreement. The NUGL Shares to be issued to Kaya Shareholders will be restricted securities subject to a holding period pursuant to applicable securities laws. Completion of the Transaction is anticipated to occur on or before March 30, 2022 (or such other date as may be agreed by the parties), subject to the fulfillment of certain customary closing conditions, including requisite shareholder approvals for the Transaction and receipt of applicable regulatory approvals, including the approval of the CLA. CJ Melone, CEO of NUGL Inc., stated The completion of the merger between NUGL and Kaya will create amazing opportunities in the global cannabis sector. I am honored to have been offered and accepted the Chief Operating Officer position for the group so we can build out the brand in key markets where we already have established partnerships. This will provide us with operating cash flow and additional financial resources so we can continue to offer long term strategic value to our shareholders. I could not be more excited with the expansion opportunities which have already been identified. Capital Raise Prior to the transaction NUGL filed a Regulation A Offering circular that has been qualified by the US Securities and Exchange Commission seeking to raise a maximum of $20 million. This capital raise will fund the joint growth strategy into the respective countries of operation for Kaya Group and NUGL Inc. The 2022 budget includes and is not limited to the USA, Jamaica, Caribbean, and Uruguay with plans to expand NUGLs global technology and media launch as well as Kayas cannabis products entering the US market, debuting in California. Aaron Raub, Partner & Portfolio Manager of Ambria Capital that is working on financing with NUGL and Kaya said, Its been a pleasure working with both firms and seeing the value they have brought to the cannabis industry over the years and I want to congratulate both respective teams on bringing this acquisition together. The synergies between the two companies will create global opportunities for massive growth with a focus in the Caribbean and US markets. As an investor, Ambria is excited to collaborate and support the company as they evaluate opportunities and expand their footprint. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the disclosure document 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. Cautionary statements This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the proposal to complete the Transaction and associated transactions, including statements regarding the terms and conditions of the Transaction. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements depending on, among other things, the risks that the parties will not proceed with the Transaction, and that the Transaction will not be successfully completed for any reason (including the failure to obtain the required approvals or clearances from regulatory authorities). The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release. NUGL and Kaya undertake no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third-parties in respect of the NUGL, Kaya, their securities, or their respective financial or operating results (as applicable). Completion of the transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, Kaya 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 disclosure document 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. About Kaya Group Kaya is Jamaicas leading vertically-integrated medical cannabis company with diverse operations headquartered in Ocho Rios, which includes a licensed cultivation facility with over 40 genetics, a processing facility, three retail dispensaries, and conditional licenses to transport and operate therapeutic wellness spas. The Kaya Group was the first to open a medical cannabis retail location in Jamaica in March 2018 and has since established itself as a leading supplier and exporter of medical cannabis throughout the Caribbean, Australia and South America through its ganja franchise with Quantum Ventures in Punta Del Este, Uruguay. For more information on Kaya please visit www.kayaherbhouse.com . For more information and updates, visit one of the links below. NUGL TV: NUGL TV NUGL Magazine: NUGL Magazine Instagram - NUGL Instagram Facebook - NUGL Facebook Twitter - NUGL Twitter LinkedIn - NUGL LinkedIn YouTube - NUGL YouTube Join our Newsletter - Join NUGL's Newsletter For Media and Investor Relations, please contact: David L. Kugelman (866) 692-6847 Toll Free - U.S. & Canada (404) 281-8556 Mobile and WhatsApp dk@atlcp.com Skype: kugsusa Blog Archive Apr 2010 (22) May 2010 (25) Jun 2010 (8) Jul 2010 (12) Aug 2010 (18) Sep 2010 (19) Oct 2010 (29) Nov 2010 (30) Dec 2010 (18) Jan 2011 (13) Feb 2011 (21) Mar 2011 (23) Apr 2011 (19) May 2011 (31) Jun 2011 (36) Jul 2011 (46) Aug 2011 (26) Sep 2011 (12) Oct 2011 (15) Nov 2011 (17) Dec 2011 (7) Jan 2012 (18) Feb 2012 (4) Mar 2012 (12) Apr 2012 (18) May 2012 (10) Jun 2012 (21) Jul 2012 (8) Aug 2012 (15) Sep 2012 (7) Oct 2012 (17) Nov 2012 (20) Dec 2012 (10) Jan 2013 (58) Feb 2013 (59) Mar 2013 (60) Apr 2013 (98) May 2013 (135) Jun 2013 (204) Jul 2013 (293) Aug 2013 (351) Sep 2013 (363) Oct 2013 (348) Nov 2013 (374) Dec 2013 (442) Jan 2014 (547) Feb 2014 (476) Mar 2014 (526) Apr 2014 (527) May 2014 (471) Jun 2014 (408) Jul 2014 (472) Aug 2014 (522) Sep 2014 (443) Oct 2014 (472) Nov 2014 (497) Dec 2014 (536) Jan 2015 (539) Feb 2015 (520) Mar 2015 (582) Apr 2015 (658) May 2015 (679) Jun 2015 (673) Jul 2015 (728) Aug 2015 (803) Sep 2015 (923) Oct 2015 (924) Nov 2015 (802) Dec 2015 (791) Jan 2016 (782) Feb 2016 (835) Mar 2016 (929) Apr 2016 (866) May 2016 (947) Jun 2016 (1044) Jul 2016 (882) Aug 2016 (1035) Sep 2016 (967) Oct 2016 (918) Nov 2016 (854) Dec 2016 (885) Jan 2017 (879) Feb 2017 (777) Mar 2017 (896) Apr 2017 (872) May 2017 (850) Jun 2017 (851) Jul 2017 (971) Aug 2017 (1040) Sep 2017 (998) Oct 2017 (1144) Nov 2017 (1046) Dec 2017 (838) Jan 2018 (873) Feb 2018 (769) Mar 2018 (885) Apr 2018 (808) May 2018 (827) Jun 2018 (820) Jul 2018 (840) Aug 2018 (854) Sep 2018 (844) Oct 2018 (851) Nov 2018 (870) Dec 2018 (912) Jan 2019 (919) Feb 2019 (827) Mar 2019 (957) Apr 2019 (913) May 2019 (1007) Jun 2019 (935) Jul 2019 (950) Aug 2019 (936) Sep 2019 (910) Oct 2019 (920) Nov 2019 (874) Dec 2019 (908) Jan 2020 (941) Feb 2020 (849) Mar 2020 (898) Apr 2020 (848) May 2020 (822) Jun 2020 (789) Jul 2020 (819) Aug 2020 (858) Sep 2020 (841) Oct 2020 (873) Nov 2020 (812) Dec 2020 (780) Jan 2021 (765) Feb 2021 (716) Mar 2021 (819) Apr 2021 (805) May 2021 (815) Jun 2021 (824) Jul 2021 (830) Aug 2021 (832) Sep 2021 (791) Oct 2021 (754) Nov 2021 (683) Dec 2021 (693) Jan 2022 (694) Feb 2022 (654) Mar 2022 (740) Apr 2022 (745) May 2022 (138) This weekend, assistant conductor Stephanie Childress directs the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in music by Jean Sibelius, Antonin Dvorak and the contemporary American Jessie Montgomery. Childress conducting is clear and expressive, with her high level of energy communicated to orchestra and audience alike. And the audience reaction befits her display of talent, with the Montgomery and Dvorak pieces receiving standing ovations and shouts of approval. Friday evenings concert began with Sibelius tone poem En saga op. 9 from 1892, revised in 1902. There is no specific story to this saga, but with its range of feelings variously modern, dark, mysterious, exotic, powerful and even heroic, it describes the atmosphere of a Nordic legend. A quiet ending may have prevented it from receiving a standing ovation, but clarinetist Ryan Toher and cellist Danny Lee were given solo bows by Childress. Dvoraks Symphony No. 9, From the New World, was written one year after the Sibelius piece and is among the best known of all orchestral literature. Written while Dvorak was employed at the National Conservatory of Music of America, it has been described as a postcard to Dvoraks native Bohemia, the extent to which it reflects American music being a subject of opinion. Whether the poignant English horn solo in the second movement is the African American spiritual Goin Home or composed by Dvorak, it was played beautifully by Cally Banham. Childress, conducting from memory, kept her tempos perky and her directions vivid, powerful and energetic. Longer-than-usual pauses between movements allowed the mood of one to make way for the next. Montgomery is a New York composer and violinist whose works have been performed by the SLSO twice already this season. Her music reflects influences of classical and vernacular together with improvisation, language and social justice. Her Rounds for Solo Piano and String Orchestra was written specifically for Awadagin Pratt, who appeared as soloist, and was co-commissioned by the SLSO. The music draws inspiration from St. Louis native T.S. Eliots poem Four Quartets and is described by the composer as a rondo within a rondo within a rondo. In some of the rush of notes, the music bore resemblance to minimalism and even impressionism, and Pratts performance was powerful while also balanced with the strings. The music is tonal, sometimes bluesy, sometimes a perpetual rush and substantial enough to be considered a concerto. Pratt performed from a tablet computer controlled by a foot pedal and at one point was called on to strum strings inside the piano, while the orchestra demonstrated techniques best known to a violinist composer. Montgomery was in attendance to hear her music performed and enjoy the standing ovation. New World Symphony When 8 p.m. April 9, 3 p.m. April 10 Where Powell Hall, 718 North Grand Boulevard How much $15-$117; proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative test required More info 314-534-1700; slso.org Editor's note: An earlier version of this review incorrectly identified solo clarinetist Ryan Toher, a late substitution. ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and lawmakers were poised Friday to use the state's $220 billion budget to make it easier for judges to incarcerate certain people awaiting trial. The Democratic-led Senate and Assembly began taking votes Thursday and Friday on parts of the spending plan, which contains a cornucopia of policy initiatives, including pay bumps for health care and home care workers, and suspending the states gas tax through December because of high fuel prices. Lawmakers were expected to continue debating and voting on budget bills late Friday and likely into Saturday. Hochul, a Democrat, is expected to sign the bills. Some left-leaning Democratic lawmakers voted against parts of the spending plan, and chastised Hochul for pushing a big subsidy for the Buffalo Bills billionaire owners and trying to roll back bail reform: We cannot legislate based on reactionary scare tactics, State Sen. Julia Salazar said. Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, a Republican, said Democrats tweak to the bail law wouldnt do anything to address crime. Dont be fooled: this is political window dressing to create the illusion of solving the problem, he said. Hochul said she doesnt want to undo a landmark 2019 bail law that did away with pretrial incarceration for people accused of most nonviolent offenses. But she has faced pressure from centrist Democrats and Republicans who want legislative action in response to a rise in violent crime during the COVID-19 pandemic. The budget released Friday would follow through with Hochul's proposal to give judges more power to jail people who were repeatedly ticketed for minor theft or property damage offenses. Judges would have to release people if the court determines the alleged theft is negligible and not in furtherance of other criminal activity. The budget bill doesn't include more sweeping measures proposed by Hochul: She pitched a dangerousness provision that would have put defendants into a bail or jail category while allowing judges to consider a defendants criminal history and potential for more harm. Still, criminal justice advocates say the legislation will lead to more poor and minority New Yorkers being held behind bars while awaiting trial. Bail-setting in gun cases has actually increased in the last year, and the same is true for so-called repeat offenders, said Scott Levy, the managing director of policy with the Bronx Defenders, a legal services organization. Judges already have broad discretion to set bail in most cases where a person is rearrested. New York is also set to add more firearm possession crimes to the list of offenses that could land people who can't afford bail behind bars. All told, the changes could lead to about 4,500 more people a year newly exposed to bail, jail or other consequences, according to Zoe Towns, vice president for criminal justice reform at FWD.us, an advocacy organization. The budget deal would also expand Kendra's Law, which gives the state the power to order mental health treatment for people perceived to be a threat to themselves or others. New York passed that law on a trial basis in 1999, when 32-year-old Kendra Webdale was pushed in front of a subway train by a man living with untreated schizophrenia. The law is set to expire June 30, but the budget would extend that expiration to 2027. If the budget passes, courts could order people to undergo more assisted outpatient treatment if a physician determines their mental illness symptoms substantially increased, and if those symptoms interfere with a major life activity. That provision would apply to people who finished court-ordered treatment within the last six months. Harvey Rosenthal, CEO of the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services, said the bill's language is way too broad and is part of officials' efforts to equate violence with mental illness. It's a complete violation of rights, and our lawyers will sue and I'm confident we will win, he said. Associated Press writer Michael R. Sisak contributed to this report Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. NEW YORK (AP) Three teenage children walking home from school Friday were shot, one fatally, when a gunman started firing during a street corner dispute in the Bronx, police said. The shooting was the latest episode of headline-grabbing violence in New York City amid a rise in violent crime during the COVID-19 pandemic. The girl killed in the gunfire was 16 years old, police said. Another 16-year-old girl was hit in the leg. A 17-year-old boy was wounded in the buttocks. Both are expected to survive. Police said many details were still under investigation, but that the gunfire appeared to start after two people were gesturing at each other across an intersection. The children who were shot were walking by on the sidewalk. We believe that they are coming from school, that they were headed home, Deputy Police Chief Timothy McCormack told reporters at a brief news conference. The shooting happened at 1:40 p.m. outside of the South Bronx Educational Campus, which is home to two schools, Mott Haven Village Prep and University Heights Secondary School. The Department of Education said two of the teens went to Mott Haven. The third teen went to University Prep Charter High School, a short distance away. Police were examining security camera video, which recorded the gunfire, to try and identify the shooter. Mayor Eric Adams has made fighting crime a priority since taking office Jan. 1. Homicides are down slightly from this time last year, but gun violence overall remains at levels not seen in a decade. On Friday, he tweeted, We lost a 16 year old baby in the Bronx today. We pray for this young girl, for her family, and for the other two victims in the hospital. Its a tragedy. Its unacceptable. Its why we cant abandon our streets to gun violence." New York City saw shootings drop to modern-era lows from 2012 to 2019, but that progress was partly erased during the pandemic and social unrest of the past two years. Violence still remains at levels far below the city's nadir in the 1990s or even in the decade after the Sept. 11 terror attacks. Police on Friday announced arrests in a stray-bullet shooting death in the Bronx from earlier in the week. Juana Esperanza Soriano De-Perdomo, 61, was killed Monday night when she was hit in the back by gunfire from a dispute between two groups of men, police said. Two men have been arrested, and are facing charges including murder and manslaughter. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. U.S. Sen. Rand Paul has promised to wage a vigorous review into the origins of the coronavirus if Republicans retake the Senate and he lands a committee chairmanship. Paul spoke to supporters at a campaign rally Saturday in Kentucky. The libertarian-leaning Republican is seeking a third term this year in Kentucky. He says hes in line to assume a committee chairmanship if the GOP wins Senate control after the November election. With that power, he promised to get to the bottom of where this virus came from. U.S. intelligence agencies remain divided on the origins of COVID-19 but believe Chinas leaders didnt know about the virus before the start of the pandemic. BOALSBURG, Pa. (AP) Voters are digesting a newly hostile Democratic primary race for Pennsylvania's open U.S. Senate seat as the top candidates came together Saturday, face to face, for the first time since Conor Lamb first attacked rival John Fetterman in earnest. Fetterman, Pennsylvania's lieutenant governor, has been on the defensive, after a week of attacks by Lamb and a third candidate, Malcolm Kenyatta, as well as by a super PAC supporting Lamb that is running a TV ad statewide accusing Fetterman of being extreme. Neither Lamb nor Kenyatta made any reference to Fetterman in their remarks to a crowd of about 200 Penn State-area Democrats in a hotel ballroom just outside State College. Fetterman, however, told the crowd he would only run a positive campaign. My commitment to you is that if youve entrusted any of your resources to our campaign, not one dollar of that will ever be weaponized against a fellow Democrat," Fetterman said. If you wanted to harm a Democrat, you can write a check to the RNC. Theyre much better at it and theyre much more efficient at it." With just over five weeks until the May 17 primary, Democrats are jockeying for the nomination to try to succeed retiring Republican Sen. Pat Toomey in perhaps the party's best chance nationally to pick up a seat in the closely divided Senate. The national party has not gotten involved in Pennsylvania's primary race this year after doing so twice before in 2010 and 2016 in a bid to beat Toomey. Saturday's crowd of Democrats a blue dot around Penn State's main campus in a sea of Republican-dominated central Pennsylvania was a blend of voters who have settled on either Fetterman, Lamb or Kenyatta, and some who are undecided or leaning. Many have seen the TV ad or read about criticism of Fetterman over a 2013 incident when, shotgun in hand, he confronted someone who he believed to be involved with gunfire on a street nearby Fettermans home in Braddock. Lamb and Kenyatta raised the issue again at a Muhlenberg College forum last Sunday that Fetterman didnt attend. Lamb criticized Fetterman in other ways, including calling him a flip-flopper because Fetterman changed his position on natural gas drilling in recent years. On Friday, Kenyatta confronted Fetterman at an online forum hosted by a progressive group over the 2013 incident, calling it a type of vigilante justice. Fetterman countered that he made a split second decision in the interest of public safety. At Saturday's event, nobody who decided to support Fetterman or is thinking about supporting him said the attacks were affecting their decision making. Lydia Vanderbergh, who works for Penn State's Sustainability Institute, said she is deciding between Lamb and Fetterman, seeing them as the most electable Democrats in Novembers election. Her questions for them are about moving on from planet-warming fossil fuels in the age of climate change Pennsylvania is the nations No. 2 natural gas producer and what they are doing to reach out to voters in rural Pennsylvania. Some are concerned about what the attacks will mean for Fetterman's prospects in November. Patty Stephens, who serves on her municipal board, has long supported Kenyatta, but worried that should Fetterman win the primary, he is carrying a lot of baggage that will be weaponized against him by Republicans. Steven Smith, a retired professor of piano at Penn State, is leaning toward supporting Fetterman, and worries about the attacks. But, he said, it's probably better to deal with it now, instead of in the general election campaign, to give people a chance to come to grips with it. A Franklin & Marshall College poll in February found that Fetterman appeared to have an early lead in the Democratic primary, but many voters were undecided. Saturday was the first time that Fetterman and Lamb have crossed paths after Lamb changed the tone of the race barely a week ago by attacking Fetterman on Twitter over the 2013 incident. Attendees on Saturday didn't view Fetterman as extreme, or even as liberal as Kenyatta. Smith said he viewed Lamb and Fetterman as having basically the same positions, and is leaning toward Fetterman as the best candidate to win back blue-collar voters that Democrats have lost. Peter Buck, a Kenyatta supporter who works at Penn State's Sustainability Institute, said he expects Democrats will move on after the primary, because we have a Democracy to save and a climate to save, and we as Democrats know that. Follow Marc Levy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/timelywriter. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. MOLINE ACRES St. Louis County police are investigating the fatal shooting of a 38-year-old man Thursday afternoon in Moline Acres. Moline Acres police said they were called to the 9700 block of Lanier Drive around 4:45 p.m. Thursday for a report of a shooting. They found Eric Harris suffering from a gunshot wound. Harris was taken to a hospital, where he later died. Police said he lived in the same block where the shooting occurred, adding that initial findings indicate it involved a "domestic altercation." Moline Acres police have asked for assistance from the St. Louis County Police Department, which is now leading the investigation. Additional information was not available Friday afternoon. As a society, we have become more conscious of animal welfare, whether its cracking down on dog fighting and puppy mills or improving conditions for creatures in circuses and zoos. New York has a chance to lead in this drive with state legislation prohibiting the sale of cosmetics that have been tested on animals. Its a grim reality. For too long, companies focused on beauty have subjected rabbits, mice, and more to painful tests for products. Often, those animals lives quickly become disposable when the testing is done. It doesnt have to be this way. The federal government and researchers alike have for years supported development of alternative testing methodologies that dont use animals and crucially those technologies and strategies have improved. They include computer modeling and the usage of tissues or cells that can provide the information needed to check product safety. Advocates say these tests can even be more useful for the actual matter at hand: Is a product fit for a human, not an animal? Yet thousands of animals around the world continue to be subjected to outdated, ugly techniques sometimes hundreds of animals for a single product ingredient. The legislation currently pending in Albany, long advocated for by State Sen. Phil Boyle of Bay Shore, smartly focuses on cosmetics alone not, for example, on medical testing. The bill includes reasonable exceptions, such as not preventing manufacturers from reviewing data resulting from animal testing. Much of the personal care industry, once an obstacle on this issue, has been getting on the right side of history with animal testing, and some of the major beauty companies such as CoverGirl and Hourglass have already committed to be cruelty-free and not submit animals to these tortures. Science has moved far beyond the ungainly, often bloody experiments and procedures of the 20th century. We are now far more conscious of the ecological and moral dimensions of animal mistreatment, from factory farming to cat declawing. Theres no excuse to delay on what has become a bipartisan, consensus issue. Take another leap for animal welfare now. Newsday Gov. Kathy Hochuls proposed fixes to the states disastrous criminal-justice laws were far from enough to assure an end to New Yorks crime wave. Yet lawmakers this week have been working to weaken them further still. Well be blunt: If the fixes included in the final budget turn out to be yet another Albany charade that only gestures at real change, voters should hold one person most responsible Hochul. The signs so far arent good. The state Senates considering a watered-down version of Hochuls watered-down ask, and the Assemblys still balking at even that. Mayor Eric Adams has made crime-fighting a top priority, but without wholesale repairs from Albany to both the Raise the Age and no-bail laws, its a not just an uphill battle, but an up-cliff one. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins both tools of the pro-criminal radical left have been most resistant to changes. But govs have vast power over the Legislature; those with sufficient skill (and motivation) have forced its leaders to accept their top priorities. So the buck stops with Hochul. Ideally, Albany would scrap its reforms and start from scratch. Under the no bail law, offenders are repeatedly freed soon after arrest. Isaac Man of Steal Rodriguez was nabbed 57 times through October last year alone. Last weekend, Adams said the NYPDs anti-gun unit made 100 collars since launching last month, and nearly 70% of those arrested had a criminal record. New Yorkers plainly want crime rolled back: A poll this week found a whopping 59% say their lives would be better outside the city, with a majority blaming crime. Dozens, including the widow of a slain cop, rallied at Heasties Bronx office Tuesday to demand fixes. If Hochul fails to get meaningful change and tries to put lipstick on a pig in a bid to fool voters, Adams must not blanche from shaming her. New Yorkers are relying on him. New York Post Gov. Kathy Hochul made her case last month in a guest essay in the New York Daily News for changes to the states 2019 bail reform. She made a good case. The governor is trying to convince legislative Democrats that change is needed. Shes not talking about a repeal of the 2019 bail reform shes talking about fixing the issues everyone can see but that many legislative Democrats refuse to acknowledge. Police charging someone two or three times or more while the person is out on pre-trial release is a problem. Hochul has heard the pleas from police officers and district attorneys that judges should be able to set bail for such repeat offenders. The governor wants to allow judges to set bail in all felony cases involving illegal guns and for violent crimes involving guns, making it possible for judges to set more restrictive pretrial conditions. Those decisions are currently based on giving someone charged with a violent crime or a crime involving guns the least restrictive conditions necessary to make sure the person returns to court while Hochul wants to use a similar method to the one judges already use for domestic violence cases. Hochul makes a convincing argument for changes to the states bail statutes. Democrats in the legislature, on the other hand, have yet to make a decent argument to keep the status quo. In our opinion, the changes Hochul articulated in her guest essay should become law. Most Republicans would agree they are a step in the right direction, even if too many of Hochuls fellow Democrats disagree. Dunkirk Evening Observer JACKSON COUNTY, Mo. Prosecutors announced Friday that they wont seek to retry a Kansas City man after the Missouri Supreme Court overturned his conviction because the case is tainted from all directions. The Jackson County prosecutors office said in a statement that there is insufficient evidence to prove that Keith Carnes fatally shot a rival drug dealer, 24-year-old Larry White, in 2003 in a Kansas City parking garage. The announcement came just three days after the Missouri Supreme Court set aside Carnes first-degree murder and armed criminal action convictions, ordering him to be released from prison within 30 days unless prosecutors move to retry him. His released is expected to come Monday, supporters said Saturday. Carnes, 51, has been in prison since 2006. One issue in the state high courts deliberations was that a special master who reviewed the case found that Kansas City police did not give Carnes original defense team a report from a confidential informant that might have led to his exoneration. Also, two witnesses who identified Carnes as the killer recanted their testimony in 2014, saying they had been pressured by police and Jackson County prosecutors. Another witness also said police had intimidated him when they interviewed him about the night of the killing. He said White had an argument with another drug dealer not Carnes and warned the other man not to come back to his property shortly before the killing. But in a twist to the case, one of the witnesses testified last year that her original testimony was correct and said she had recanted because of threats from Carnes supporters. Eyewitness testimony is thrown into question with recantations, including a recantation of a recantation, the prosecutors office said in the statement. We also do not have physical evidence to corroborate certain eyewitness accounts. The statement was highly critical of Carnes supporters, alleging witnesses were pressured to recant or change their testimony. In short, the evidence today in Carnes case is tainted from all directions, the statement said. The statement stressed that the 2003 homicide remains under investigation, adding that witnesses indicated that there was a second person present when White was killed. The statement said law enforcement would like that persons identity. We will continue to fight for justice for Mr. White and this community, the statement said, adding that the family continues to believe Carnes was one of the killers. Meanwhile, lawyers for Carnes mobilized to push for his immediate release from prison. Carnes attorneys protested the unjust, undue, and unconstitutional delay of his release despite Jackson Countys dismissal of charges against him, they wrote in a Friday letter to the warden of the Texas County correctional facility where Carnes is held. Advocates said Saturday that once court paperwork was processed, Carnes would be released, likely on Monday. They blamed the delay on some miscommunication, said Michelle Smith, the director of community engagement and outreach for Missourians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. Bryce Gray of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report. ST. LOUIS A gunman shot and wounded a man and woman shortly after robbing them near Dover Street and Pennsylvania Avenue in south St. Louis on Friday night, police said. The shooting about 7:50 p.m. left the man, 53, and woman, 35, at a hospital Saturday in critical condition. Police responding to a shooting call found the woman shot at the scene. The man, who had been shot in the arm, said the two had been sitting in a parked vehicle when they were approached by a gunman who opened the car door and demanded money, according to police. After giving the gunman money, they were ordered to drive away, police said. The gunman fired shots at the car, striking both the man and woman. Editor's note: This report has been updated with new information from police. ST. LOUIS Residents lined up one after another for two hours Saturday to tell a panel of St. Louis aldermen what they hope to see done with $249 million in federal pandemic aid. The town hall at the OFallon Park Recreation YMCA Complex on West Florissant Avenue drew a crowd of more than 50 people, mostly longtime residents and nonprofit leaders from north St. Louis. They called for funding for expanded after-school and job training programs, support for community cleanups of alleys and roads, a continuation of rental and mortgage aid along with restoration of abandoned and blighted buildings. Many residents said they just wanted to see comprehensive investment in north St. Louis to match development in whiter, more affluent parts of the city, expressing frustration over long-standing disparities. The same things youre doing in the Central West End, we need over here, said Yolanda Owens, 54. You dont need us to fill this out, Owens added, raising a copy of a paper survey asking attendees for their priorities. You know what we need. The town hall was the first of two events hosted by members of the Board of Aldermens Housing, Urban Development and Zoning Committee. The committee will hold a second town hall seeking public input on the funds at 10 a.m. April 23 at St. Stephen Protomartyr Catholic Church, 3949 Wilmington Avenue. Lashonda Gibson, owner of Lovies Ice Cream and Eatery at 7954 North Broadway, said Saturday that she wanted to see support for minority-owned small businesses. She asked for speed bumps on Broadway, more public lighting and upgrades to the sidewalks. Gibson, 43, said she recently opened her business in north St. Louis because she wanted to give back to the community. But businesses like hers need support, she said. We need a system of repairs, anything, because were doing this for the community, Gibson said. I can take this business anywhere ... but I choose to do it in the heart of Baden, where Im from. NorthSide Community Housing President Michael Burns suggested the city give more financial support to affordable housing projects and fund educational classes designed to help north city residents become first-time homeowners. And Kenneth McClamb, with the Ark of Safety Center ministry, told aldermen he wanted to see greater support for substance abuse treatment and prevention and mental health services. When we say no man left behind, were talking about people right here in our communities, McClamb said. Mayor Tishaura O. Jones administration also is seeking public comment on what priorities residents have for using the money and has launched a digital survey to rank what they see as the citys biggest needs. The city has received more than 2,000 responses so far, said Nick Dunne, a spokesman for Jones. The survey can be found online. A paper copy of the survey was also available at the town hall Saturday. Options include aid to households facing financial hardship, transforming neighborhoods in disinvested areas, general economic empowerment, children and youth, public health, improving city services and improving city infrastructure. Residents can prioritize possible uses of the money within each category and suggest other ideas that arent already listed in the survey. Of the citys first-year $249 million ARPA allocation, nearly $123 million was appropriated last summer for various programs and $17.3 million was put in the regular city budget for the current fiscal year. The Board of Aldermen has also given preliminary approval to spend $69.5 million of the initial allotment on capital improvements. That money will be added to revenue from a $50 million bond issue that was approved by St. Louis voters this month. Also pending is a plan to spend $37 million from the initial ARPA allocation to aid businesses and projects along 10 major north St. Louis streets, and $2 million to bring city facilities in line with Americans With Disabilities Act standards. 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. KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Civilian evacuations moved forward in patches of battle-scarred eastern Ukraine on Saturday, a day after a missile strike killed at least 52 people and wounded more than 100 at a train station where thousands clamored to leave before an expected Russian onslaught. In the wake of the attack in Kramatorsk, several European leaders made efforts to show solidarity with Ukraine, with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson visiting Kyiv the capital city that Russia failed to capture and where troops retreated days ago. Johnson met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a surprise visit in which he pledged new military assistance, including 120 armored vehicles and new anti-ship missile systems. Zelenskyy noted the increased support in an Associated Press interview, but expressed frustration when asked if weapons and other equipment Ukraine has received from the West is sufficient to shift the war's outcome. Not yet, he said, switching to English for emphasis. Of course its not enough. Zelenskyy later thanked Johnson and Nehammer during his nightly video address to the nation. He also thanked the European Commission president and the Canadian prime minister for a global fundraising event that raised more than 10 billion euros ($11 billion) for Ukrainians who have had to flee their homes. He added that democratic countries are united in working to stop the war. Because Russian aggression was not intended to be limited to Ukraine alone. ... The entire European project is a target for Russia. Zelenskyy repeated his call for a complete embargo on Russian oil and gas, which he called the sources of Moscow's self-confidence and impunity. More than six weeks after the invasion began, Russia has pulled its troops from the northern part of the country, around Kyiv, and refocused on the Donbas region in the east. Western military analysts said an arc of territory in eastern Ukraine was under Russian control, from Kharkiv Ukraines second-largest city in the north to Kherson in the south. But counterattacks are threatening Russian control of Kherson, according to the Western assessments, and Ukrainian forces are repelling Russian assaults elsewhere in the Donbas. Ukrainian authorities have called on civilians to get out ahead of an imminent, stepped-up offensive by Russian forces in the east. With trains not running out of Kramatorsk on Saturday, panicked residents boarded buses or looked for other ways to leave, fearing the kind of unrelenting assaults and occupations by Russian invaders that brought food shortages, demolished buildings and death to other cities. It was terrifying. The horror, the horror," one resident told British broadcaster Sky, recalling Friday's attack on the train station. "Heaven forbid, to live through this again. No, I dont want to. Ukraines state railway company said residents of Kramatorsk and other parts of the Donbas could flee through other train stations. Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said 10 evacuation corridors were planned for Saturday. Zelenskyy called the train station attack the latest example of war crimes by Russian forces and said it should motivate the West to do more to help his country defend itself. Russia denied responsibility and accused Ukraines military of firing on the station to turn blame for civilian casualties on Moscow. A Russian Defense Ministry spokesman detailed the missiles trajectory and Ukrainian troop positions to bolster the argument. Major Gen. Igor Konashenkov alleged Ukraines security services were preparing a cynical staged media operation in Irpin, another town near Kyiv, intended to attribute civilian casualties to Russian forces falsely, he said and to stage the slaying of a fake Russian intelligence team that intended to kill witnesses. The claims could not be independently verified. Western experts and Ukrainian authorities insisted that Russia attacked the station. Remnants of the rocket had the words For the children in Russian painted on it. The phrasing seemed to suggest the missile was sent to avenge the loss or subjugation of children, although its exact meaning remained unclear. Ukrainian authorities have worked to identify victims and document possible war crimes in the country's north. The mayor of Bucha, a town near Kyiv where graphic evidence of civilian slayings emerged after Russian forces withdrew, said search teams were still finding bodies of people shot at close range in yards, parks and city squares. Workers unearthed 67 bodies Friday from a mass grave near a church, according to Ukraine's prosecutor general. Russia has falsely claimed that the scenes in Bucha were staged. Ukrainian and Western officials have repeatedly accused Russian forces of committing atrocities. A total of 176 children have been killed, while 324 more have been wounded, the Prosecutor Generals Office said Saturday. Speaking to AP inside the heavily guarded presidential office complex in Kyiv, Zelenskyy said he is committed to negotiating a diplomatic end to the war even though Russia has tortured Ukraine. He also acknowledged that peace likely will not come quickly. Talks so far have not included Russian President Vladimir Putin or other top officials. We have to fight, but fight for life. You cant fight for dust when there is nothing and no people. Thats why it is important to stop this war, he said. Ukrainian authorities have said they expect to find more mass killings once they reach the southern port city of Mariupol, which is also in the Donbas and has been subjected to a monthlong blockade and intense fighting. As journalists who had been largely absent from the city began to trickle back in, new images emerged of the devastation from an airstrike on a theater last month that reportedly killed hundreds of civilians seeking shelter. Military analysts had predicted for weeks that Russia would succeed in taking Mariupol but said Ukrainian defenders were still putting up a fight. The city's location on the Sea of Azov is critical to establishing a land bridge from the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia seized from Ukraine eight years ago. Many civilians now trying to evacuate are accustomed to living in or near a war zone because Moscow-backed rebels have been fighting Ukrainian forces since 2014 in the Donbas, a mostly Russian-speaking, industrial region. Ukrainian officials have pleaded with Western powers almost daily to send more arms and further punish Moscow with sanctions, including the exclusion of Russian banks from the global financial system and a total EU embargo on Russian gas and oil. Nehammer said during his visit to Kyiv that he expects more EU sanctions against Russia, but he defended his countrys opposition so far to cutting off deliveries of Russian gas. A package of sanctions imposed this week wont be the last one, the chancellor said, acknowledging that as long as people are dying, every sanction is still insufficient. Austria is militarily neutral and not a member of NATO. Johnson's visit came a day after the U.K. pledged an additional 100 million pounds ($130 million) in high-grade military equipment to Ukraine. Johnson also confirmed further economic support, guaranteeing an additional $500 million in World Bank lending to Ukraine, taking Britains total loan guarantee to up to $1 billion. Anna reported from Bucha, Ukraine. Robert Burns in Washington, Jill Lawless and Danica Kirka in London 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 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. SANTIAGO, Chile Dozens of protesters gathered in front of the Russian embassy in Chiles capital of Santiago on Saturday to denounce the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Protesters unfurled a large banner featuring the colors of the Ukrainian flag. The group included Ukrainians living in Chile. Some protesters lay down on the ground and clutched stuffed animals to honor child victims of the war. A large banner read, Stand with Ukraine. We want to be united at this time with our children, with our families, said Alina Prus, a Ukrainian living in Chile. Several of us have our families who are now living the horror of what war means. Another protester, Daria Gryshko, said many Ukrainians living in Chile have family or friends living both there and in Russia. It is painful to see how families break up, how relationships break up, when opinions are divided within a family, she said. Because the people who live in Russia are exposed to a lot of propaganda, even when you show them video of what is happening now, they dont believe, because they dont come out from their TV. KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR: Zelenskyy, in AP interview, says he seeks peace despite atrocities War Crimes Watch: A devastating walk through Buchas horror S&P downgrade indicates Russia headed for historic default Civilian evacuations continue in battle-scarred eastern Ukraine Intel: Putin may cite Ukraine war to meddle in US politics Go to https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine for more coverage OTHER DEVELOPMENTS: BORODIANKA, Ukraine Firefighters continued searching Saturday for survivors or the dead in the debris of destroyed buildings in a northern Ukrainian town that was occupied for weeks by Russian forces. Residents of Borodianka expect to find dozens of victims under the rubble of the several buildings destroyed during fighting between Russian forces and Ukrainian troops. The town is about 75 kilometers (47 miles) northwest of the capital of Kyiv and had more than 12,000 residents. Russian troops occupied Borodianka while advancing towards Kyiv in an attempt to encircle it. They retreated during the last days of March following fierce fighting. The town is without electricity, natural gas or other services. A 77-year-old resident, Maria Vaselenko, said her daughter and son-in-laws bodies have been under rubble for 36 days because Russian soldiers would not allow residents to search for loved ones or their bodies. She said her two teenage grandchildren escaped to Poland but are now orphans. The Russians were shooting. And some people wanted to come and help, but they were shooting them, she told The Associated Press. They were putting explosives under dead people. MARIUPOL, Ukraine -- Shelling by Russian forces of Ukraines key port of Mariupol on the Sea of Azov has collapsed several humanitarian corridors and made conditions seldom right for people to leave. It was not clear Saturday how many people remained trapped in the city, which had a prewar population of 430,000. Ukrainian officials have put the number at about 100,000, but earlier this week, British defense officials said 160,000 people remained trapped in the city. Ukrainian troops have refused to surrender the city, though much of it has been razed. Resident Sergey Petrov said Saturday that recently two shells struck around him in quick succession, but neither exploded upon landing. He was in his garage at the time and said his mother later told him, I was born again. A shell flew in and broke up into two parts but it did not explode, looks like it did not land on the detonator but on its side, he said. He added that when another shell flew in and hit the garage, I am in shock. I dont understand what is happening. I have a hole in my garage billowing smoke. I run away and leave everything. I come back in several hours and find another shell lying there, also unexploded. ATHENS, Greece A Ukrainian soccer club on Saturday opened a series of charity games on a government-backed Global Tour for Peace wearing the names of heavily bombarded cities on its jerseys. The tour by the Shakhtar Donetsk club aims to raise money for Ukraines military in the war against Russia, and also help Ukrainian refugees displaced by the war. Its first game Saturday was a 1-0 loss to Greek league leader Olympiakos. Soccer clubs around Europe have been offering to play games against Ukrainian clubs and host youth players after soccer in the country was shut down when Russia invaded in February. Shakhtar already was displaced from its home of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine in 2014. Playing in the Athens area on Saturday, Shakhtar players replaced their names on the back of their jerseys with those of cities bombarded by Russian forces, including Mariupol. BUCHA, Ukraine -- Civilians remaining in Bucha lined up Saturday for food donated by the local church in the battered Kyiv suburb where Ukrainian forces and journalists reported evidence of war crimes after Russian soldiers withdrew. With other civilians fleeing in the wake of Russias invasion, most of the people remaining in Bucha were elderly, poor or unable to leave loved ones. Russian troops withdrew more than a week ago. Volunteer Petro Denysyuk told The Associated Press that he and fellow church friends started providing food, with a wide array of basic foodstuffs and hot meals. We have gathered together with the youth from our church and prepared food for the needy, Denysyuk said. We prepared pilaf, boiled eggs, prepared meat, sausages, noodles. Ukrainian forces and journalists that went into Bucha saw bodies strewn in the streets, evidence of summary executions and the remains of people who could not have threatened soldiers. Russia has denied accusations of war crimes and accused Kyiv of staging them. KYIV, Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the leaders of Britain and Austria for their visits to Kyiv on Saturday and pledges of further support. In his daily late-night video address to the nation, Zelenskyy also thanked European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for a global fundraising event that raised more than 10 billion euros ($11 billion) for Ukrainians who have had to flee their homes. Zelenskyy said democratic countries were united in working to stop the war. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer became the latest of several European rulers to meet Zelenskky in Kyiv. Because Russian aggression was not intended to be limited to Ukraine alone, to the destruction only of our freedom and our life, he said. The entire European project is a target for Russia. Zelenskyy repeated his call for a complete embargo on Russian oil and gas, calling them the sources of Russias self-confidence and impunity. But Ukraine does not have time to wait. Freedom does not have time to wait. When tyranny begins its aggression against everything that keeps the peace in Europe, action must be taken immediately, he said. He added: And an oil embargo must be the first step. Moreover, by all democratic states, the entire civilized world. Then Russia will feel it. Then it will be an argument for them to seek peace, to stop the senseless violence. LVIV, Ukraine Eyewitness descriptions are coming from Kramatorsk, the town in eastern Ukraine where a missile hit a train station packed with evacuees on Friday. The Sydorenko family could have been among the 52 dead and more than 100 wounded, but their taxi didnt show and they had to wait for another one. They finally arrived for the 11 a.m. evacuation train just three minutes after the explosion. Ivan Sydorenko says there were around 2,000 people inside the station and on the platforms when the missile hit. He says they got out of their taxi in a scene of burning cars, burning pieces of the missile and people fleeing for their lives. Ivan managed to escape by bus and then train with his wife and daughter, eventually reaching the relative safety of Lviv in western Ukraine. The Sydorenkos are just one of thousands of families clamoring to leave eastern Ukraine ahead of an expected Russian onslaught there. Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said 10 evacuation corridors were planned for Saturday, and other stations were open for trains full of refugees. Russia meanwhile has denied responsibility, accusing Ukraines military of firing on the station to try to turn blame for civilian slayings on Moscow. KYIV, Ukraine Panicked residents of eastern Ukraine boarded buses or looked for other ways to leave Saturday, a day after a missile strike killed at least 52 people and wounded more than 100 at a train station. The attack in in Kramatorsk left the city with no trains running and came with thousands of people seeking to leave. Ukrainian authorities have called on civilians to get out ahead of an imminent, stepped-up offensive by Russian forces in the east. Residents on Saturday feared the kind of unrelenting assaults and occupations by Russian invaders that brought food shortages, demolished buildings and death to other cities elsewhere in Ukraine. It was terrifying. The horror, the horror, one resident told British broadcaster Sky, recalling Fridays attack on the train station. Heaven forbid, to live through this again. No, I dont want to. Western military analysts said an arc of territory in eastern Ukraine was under Russian control. It was from Kharkiv Ukraines second-largest city in the north to Kherson in the south. But Ukrainian counterattacks are threatening Russian control of Kherson, according to the Western assessments, and Ukrainian forces are repelling Russian assaults elsewhere in the Donbas region in the southeast. WASHINGTON U.S. intelligence officials predict Russian President Vladimir Putin may use U.S. support for Ukraine as justification for a new campaign to interfere in American politics. Intelligence officials tell The Associated Press that they have yet to find any evidence that Putin has authorized measures like the ones Russia undertook in the last two elections to support former President Donald Trump. Several people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive findings said it remains unclear which candidates Russia might try to promote next. Trump has repeatedly assailed U.S. intelligence officials and claimed that investigations of Russian influence on his campaigns to be political vendettas. In Ukraine and elsewhere, Russia has been accused of trying to spread disinformation, amplifying pro-Kremlin voices in the West and using cyberattacks to disrupt governments. Top U.S. intelligence officials are still working on plans for a new Foreign Malign Influence Center, authorized by Congress, that will focus on foreign influence campaigns by Russia, China and other adversaries. KYIV, Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told The Associated Press on Saturday that he is committed to seeking peace despite Russian attacks on civilians that have stunned the world. He said no one wants to negotiate with people who tortured their nation as a man, as a father, I understand this very well. But he said we dont want to lose opportunities, if we have them, for a diplomatic solution. Zelenskyy said hes confident Ukrainians would accept peace despite the horrors they have witnessed in the war. But meanwhile, Russian troops are regrouping for an expected surge in fighting in eastern Ukraine, including the besieged port city of Mariupol that Ukrainian defenders are battling to retain. So Zelenskyy renewed his plea for countries to send more weapons. He says they have to fight for life -- not for dust when there is nothing and no people. Thats why it is important to stop this war. KYIV, Ukraine U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, promising so much support that his nation might never be bullied again. Johnsons surprise visit included a pledge of 120 armored vehicles and new anti-ship missile systems, part of another 100 million pounds ($130 million) of high-grade military equipment. Johnson also confirmed an additional $500 million in World Bank lending, taking Britains total loan guarantee up to $1 billion. Johnson said Ukraine defied the odds pushing Russian forces from the gates of Kyiv, achieving the greatest feat of arms of the 21st century. The prime minister credits Zelenskyys resolute leadership and the invincible heroism and courage of the Ukrainian people for thwarting what he calls the monstrous aims of Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Johnson says Britain and its partners are going to ratchet up the economic pressure ... not just freezing assets in banks and sanctioning oligarchs but moving away from use of Russian hydrocarbons. Johnson also described a vision for a future Ukraine so fortified and protected by the equipment, technology and know-how of Britain and its partners that it can never be threatened in the same way again. In the meantime, Johnson said, there is a huge amount to do to make sure that Ukraine is successful, that Ukraine wins and that Putin must fail. - MILAN An Italian government source said Italian Premier Mario Draghi is traveling to Algeria on Monday to sign a deal for more gas. Italy has been urgently looking for alternatives to natural gas from Russia since its invasion of Ukraine. Russia is Italys biggest supplier, representing 40% of total imports. Italys foreign minister has traveled to Algeria as well as Azerbaijan, Qatar, Congo, Angola and Mozambique to secure more deals. Algeria is Italys second-largest supplier of natural gas, which is the main source of the nations electricity, providing some 21 billion cubic meters of gas via the Trans-Mediterranean pipeline. Italian energy company ENI has operated in Algeria for 40 years. ENI announced a significant oil and gas discovery in Algeria last month and said it would work with Algerian partner Sonatrach to fast-track its development for the third quarter of this year. Italy business reporter Colleen Barry. Julian Lennon has explained why he decided to sing his fathers song Imagine for the first time publicly. Hes posted on social media that he always said he would only sing the song if it was the End of the World. He says its the right song to sing now because the War on Ukraine is an unimaginable tragedy, and he felt compelled to respond in the most significant way he could. The son of John Lennon says murderous violence in Ukraine is forcing millions of innocent families to leave the comfort of their homes. He says the lyrics reflect our collective desire for peace worldwide, and within this song, were transported to a space, where love and togetherness become our reality, if but for a moment in time. Lennon joined celebrities around the world calling on world leaders to do more to support refugees in the Stand Up For Ukraine campaign. BOSTON -- The International Monetary Fund has created an account to give donor countries a secure way to funnel financial assistance directly to war-ravaged Ukraine. The multilateral lender said in a statement Friday that its launching the account at the request of several member countries. The goal is to help Ukraine meet its payment obligations and help stabilize its economy using loans or grants from pooled resources. The IMF says Canada has proposed routing up to 1 billion Canadian dollars ($795 million) to Ukraine through the new account. Two weeks after Russias Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, the IMF approved a $1.4 billion emergency loan to Ukraine. BOSTON -- S&P Global Ratings has downgraded its assessment of Russias ability to repay foreign debt, signaling increased prospects that Moscow will soon default on such loans for the first time in more than a century. The credit ratings agency issued the downgrade to selective default Friday night after Russia arranged to make foreign bond payments in rubles last week when they were due in dollars. It said it didnt expect Russia to be able to convert the rubles into dollars within a 30-day grace period. S&P said it believes sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine are likely to increase, impeding its willingness and ability to honor its obligations to foreign debtholders. The Kremlin has signaled its willing to pay its debts but warned it would do so in rubles if its overseas accounts in foreign currencies remain frozen. WARSAW, Poland The head of the European Unions executive branch says 10.1 billion euros ($11 billion) have been raised globally in a fundraising event for Ukraine and people who have fled the country invaded by Russia. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was joined at the event in Warsaw by Polish President Andrzej Duda and -- remotely -- by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. At the end of the 90-minute event, a smiling von der Leyen said the donations will go to help refugees, both outside and inside Ukraine. We will continue providing support. And once the bombs have stopped falling, we will help the people of Ukraine rebuild their country, von der Leyen said. Saturdays pledging event was held in Warsaw because more than 2.5 million of the 4.4 million people who have fled Ukraine since Russias invasion began Feb. 24 have entered Poland. Many have stayed, though some have moved on to other countries. The event aimed to prompt political leaders and global celebrities to provide funding and other donations for the people of Ukraine. It ended with Julian Lennon singing his father John Lennons peace song Imagine. MOSCOW -- YouTube has banned the channel of Russias lower house of parliament, the State Duma, prompting government officials to renew longtime threats against the platform. The Duma TV channel reported the ban on the messaging app Telegram, noting that it had 145,000 subscribers and over 100,000 million total views. In comments to the Russian news agency Interfax, Google didnt give an exact reason for the move, but said the company follows all applicable sanction and trade compliance laws. Russias state communications watchdog Roskomnadzor demanded that YouTube unblock the channel. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Saturday that the service has handed itself a sentence and urged its users to download content, transfer it onto Russian platforms. And fast. State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin called the move against the parliaments YouTube channel another proof of violations of the rights and freedoms of citizens by Washington. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. I did not know who I was going to vote for [U.S. senator] in the Missouri GOP primary until it seemed to me the liberals started their negative campaign against Attorney General Eric Schmitt. Then I knew he was the best conservative candidate. My wife and I will be voting for him. Regarding Ben Fredericksons column Shildt reopens Cardinals wounds one week from opening day (April 1): On the one hand, former Manager Mike Shildt was fired after managing the Cardinals to three straight playoffs, a 17-game winning streak and coming within one run of knocking the Dodgers out of the playoffs, a team that won 16 more regular season games than the Cardinals. The stated reason for the firing was for philosophical differences, not the teams on-field performance. But that is not enough. There is an unnecessarily hurtful and harmful reference to a toxic environment, possibly diminishing Shildts future as a manager with other teams. On the other hand, Albert Pujols was rehired and reported to spring training on the day his wife Deidre underwent brain surgery (Cardinals notebook: Pujols, on day he is named an opening-day starter, says hell file for divorce April 4). But Pujols told ESPN that he would not be here if his wifes situation was life-threatening. And during her recovery without her spouse of 22 years nearby, he announced hes divorcing her. Not a word from the Cardinals front office. Through victory and defeat, highs and lows, good times and bad, the Cardinals organization has been first rate, a model for others, a class act. Now, however, one wonders whatever happened to class? Fred Shectman Pittsboro, North Carolina There may be serious diplomatic, economic and military tensions between the United States and Russia because of Russian invading Ukraine in February, but off planet, on the ISS (International Space Station) cooperation between Russia and the United States continues as before. The latest crew capsule to return to earth carried two Russians (Anton Shkaplerov and Pyotr Dubrov) and one American; Mark Vande Hei, who had been on the ISS for 355 days. The Soyuz capsule landed as usual, in Central Asia (Kazakhstan) and the flowing day was flown back to the United States aboard a NASA aircraft. Roscosmos has long provided regular deliveries of supplies and transport of crew to and from the ISS. Russia uses its Soyuz SLV (Satellite Launch Vehicles) to put the Russian cargo and passenger capsules into orbit where the final stage of the SLV maneuvers to dock at the ISS to deliver or cargo or passengers. Russia and the United States are the major suppliers of new components to the ISS and use their own SLVs to get these components into orbit. Despite the tension between Russia and the other nations responsible for operating the ISS, Russia is maintaining its scheduled duties up there. The latest (March 18) Soyuz crew capsule to arrive at the ISS carried three Russians, all wearing yellow and blue (the colors of the Ukrainian flag) flight suits. Russia insisted this had nothing to do with the Ukraine fighting. These three Russians will serve on the ISS for about 30 weeks as part of the seven people who operate the ISS. Most Roscosmos personnel support continued participation in maintaining the ISS until its retirement in 2031. Some Roscosmos personnel also oppose the invasion of Ukraine but expressing that opposition openly is now a felony in Russia and at least 15,000 Russians have been arrested for demonstrating their opposition. The Russian ISS crew members went with their governments explanation that the colors of the flight suits were a coincidence. Russia is still threatening to end its participation in the ISS program but so far has not gone beyond threats. Dmitry Rogozin, the current head of Roscosmos, is making the most noise about abandoning the ISS if some of the sanctions are not lifted. Rogozin is a close associate of Russian leader Vlaidmir Putin and has presided over Roscosmos since 2018. Rogozin has not made much of a difference even though he expressed admiration for the American firm SpaceX and its founder Elon Musk. That changed after the invasion of Ukraine when Musk ordered SpaceX to use its Starlink satellite Internet communications system to support the Ukrainian resistance to the Russians. Suddenly Rogozin declared SpaceX and Musk an enemy of Russia. Rogozin did not mention that SpaceX had replaced crucial Russian support for SpaceX and made Russian threats to leave the ISS pointless, which is what Russia is becoming despite, or because of, efforts to restore the Russian empire. With SpaceX now sending up cargo and crew capsules regularly, the Russian Soyuz no longer has a monopoly on cargo and passenger traffic. Northrup Grumman also has cargo capsules in service. During the 355 days that Mark Vande Hei spent on the ISS, fifteen cargo or crew capsules visited. These included five crew capsules (three Soyuz and two SpaceX) as well as eight cargo capsules (three Russian and five American, including two from Northrop Grumman). While the Soyuz capsule carries three people, the SpaceX capsule carries four in greater comfort and safety. The next Crew Capsule to arrive at the ISS on April 13th will be a SpaceX Dragon-2 which has been in regular use since 2021. Crew and cargo capsules return with passengers or, for cargo capsules, garbage and other cargo returning to earth. At that point the ISS will have been continually inhabited since 2000, with the crew of seven normally spending six months up there. Astronaut Vande Hei remained up there for two tours as an experiment to see how longer periods in weightlessness affected humans. The record stay in orbit was by a Russian cosmonaut who spent 455 days aboard the Russian Mir space station in 1994-95. This was the last of eight Russian space stations and the one that remained occupied the longest (4,594 days). The 130-ton Mir was brought down in 2001 after Russia joined the fifteen-nation ISS consortium. The 420-ton ISS has been in orbit since 1998 and occupied for over 11,000 days. The only other active space station is the 23-ton Chinese Tiangong that went up in 2021 and has been occupied for nearly a year by three to six people at a time. Minutes after an attack left at least 52 people dead at a train station in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, on Friday, Washington Post reporters saw near the scene the remains of a missile, with the words "for the children" scrawled on its side, in Russian. The apparent revenge message appeared to refer to the Kremlin's claims about the security of Russian speakers in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region after years of conflict. Russia has cited defense of the Donbas, and of Russia, as a reason for the invasion. The words sent a chilling message. But they are not the first to be written on bombs or missiles used in war. Here is some of the history. - Attacks targeting the Islamic State: In December 2014, 27-year-old Jordanian pilot Moath al-Kasasbeh crashed during a mission in Syria, and his whereabouts were unknown for weeks. On Feb. 3, 2015, the Islamic State released a video that showed him being burned alive inside a cage. Jordan launched airstrikes in response. Members of the Jordanian military wrote messages on some of the bombs and missiles. "The host will be defeated and they will turn their backs and flee. From a brave Jordanian woman to you, Baghdadi," one soldier wrote to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi on the side of a bomb, according to the Wall Street Journal. British service members also wrote on bombs during campaigns against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. A photo of a bomb with the words "Love from Manchester" scribbled on it began to circulate on social media on May 25, 2017. Although the veracity of the photo was in doubt at first, Britain's Royal Air Force confirmed the image was real. The missile was said to be mounted on a plane at Royal Air Force base in Cyprus for an airstrike against an ISIS target. Three days earlier, a suicide bomber had detonated an explosive device at an Ariana Grande concert in the Manchester Arena, killing 22 people and injuring at least 59, many of them teenagers. ISIS later claimed responsibility for the attack. - Allied forces in World War II: Two soldiers, identified as Technical Sergeant William E. Thomas and Pfc. Joseph Jackson, were photographed with artillery shells with the words "Easter eggs for Hitler" and "Happy Easter Adolph" written on them, on March 10,1945 - one day before Easter - according to the U.S. National Archives. Exactly where the Department of Defense photo was taken remains unclear. Black artillery units, and Black soldiers in other units, served in the Allied fight to retake France and topple Hitler's Third Reich in Germany. The United States did not racially integrate its military until after World War II. British forces also wrote message on munitions. In a photo taken by a Royal Navy photographer, a man identified as Bob Cotcher, of Chelsea, could be seen having written "Tirpitz it's yours" on a 1,600-pound bomb in chalk before an attack in Alten Fjord, Norway, on April 3, 1944. Tirpitz was an infamous, 52,000-ton German battleship, the sister ship of the Bismarck. Dubbed "The Beast" by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, at the time it was the heaviest ship ever built by a European navy. The Tirpitz was sunk on Nov. 12 of that year as the result of a British air raid as part of Operation Catechism in the Norwegian city of Troms. More than a thousand German sailors lost their lives. ___ The Washington Post's Mary Ilyushina contributed to this report. LOS ANGELESSplash NFT Marketplace will have its brand ambassadors Sunny Lane, Sara Jay and Katie Morgan appearing in NFT form at Creativos "Vogue" event on Saturday night as part of Miami Bitcoin, underway this week at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Presented by Cash App and dubbed "the biggest Bitcoin event in the world," the expo is drawing thousands of cryptocurrency fans from around the world to hear announcements from over 75 companies as well as speakers like Peter Theil, Serena Williams, El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming and many others. The conference is slated to end with the world's first and largest Bitcoin Music Festival headlined by Logic and featuring Deadmau5, Run the Jewels, Steve Aoki, CL and others. Im so excited to be part of this historic crypto event, said Lane, who will also be personally attending the event. Its beyond my wildest dreams for all of us to be seen at the biggest Bitcoin event of in the world. This kind of exposure is unprecedented, especially for adult stars and creators. Lane, Jay and Morgan will be on display in NFT form for the Madonna-inspired collaboration, sponsored by Terra Rossa, Myosin and PreSaga. The Splash art was created by famed NFT artist Junkyard Chef, an ATL creative with a growing following. To watch the Creativo Vogue promotional trailer, click here. For more updates, Lane, Jay and Morgan are on Twitter @SunnyLane, @SaraJayXXX and @theKatiemorgan. Junkyard Chef can be found in Instagram @thejunkyardchef. For more information on Bitcoin 2022, visit b.tc/conference. For more information on Splash NFT Marketplace, visit splash.fun. FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii The Army has concluded there would be no significant environmental impacts in the lease renewal it seeks for 23,000 acres of state-owned land in a live-fire training range on Hawaiis Big Island. The Army on Friday issued a draft environmental impact statement aimed at lease renewal for land within the Pohakuloa Training Area, a 132,000-acre site of mostly federally owned land. The Army is seeking comment on the environmental statement over the next 60 days, with two meetings scheduled on the Big Island later this month. The state of Hawaii granted the Army a 65-year lease in 1964 for the 23,000 acres. The Army wants to renew that lease ahead of its expiration in 2029. The renewal, however, faces opposition from local activists who claim the Army has not properly maintained the state land as required under the lease and argue more broadly that the U.S. militarys footprint covers too much of the state. A Hawaiian judge in 2018 ruled that state officials had failed to ensure the Army maintained the range and protected Hawaiian cultural interests as required in the lease in a lawsuit filed by Native Hawaii cultural practitioners. An online petition calling on Hawaiis governor and the board of the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources to not renew the lease had more than 9,500 signatures as of Friday. The Army maintains that Pohakuloa Training Area and, specifically, the 23,000 acres of leased land are crucial to the nations security. The geographical location of Hawaii is a strategic one for national defense and rapid deployment of military forces, and the island plays a key role within the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility to help achieve U.S. national security objectives and protect national interests, the draft statement states. PTA is the only Army Major Training Area in Hawaii, making it the Armys primary ground maneuver tactical training area supporting home-station, joint, and multinational training in the State. The draft statement considers several other alternatives to fully leasing the 23,000 acres, including leasing 19,700 acres or 10,100 acres. Under a no-action alternative the Army would not lease any of the state land. The state land, however, is central in the training area and provides access to major portions of the range. Due to the lack of access within the State-owned land, the Army would have no land access to the impact area and training ranges south of the State-owned land, which would cease or severely limit Army activities in those areas, the draft states. It would also cut off the Armys access to federally owned utilities, such as a potable water facility and electrical substation, that are on the state-owned land, the draft states. The State-owned land entirely surrounds the 758-acre U.S. Government-owned parcel that houses the Cantonment and Bradshaw Army Airfield and provides access between the Cantonment and Bradshaw Army Airfield and two other U.S. Government-owned parcels, the draft states. The impact statement concludes that the no-action alternative would result in significant adverse impact regarding utilities, socioeconomics and biological resources. Leasing all or some of the state land would affect traditional and customary practices, the draft concluded, but categorized that as significant adverse impact but mitigable to less than significant. Public hearings are scheduled for 6-8 p.m. on April 25 at the Imiloa Astronomy Center and on April 26 at Waimea District Park on the Big Island. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a surprise visit to Kyiv on Saturday as several foreign allies announced they would reopen embassies in the capital - a diplomatic show of support as Russia named a new general to oversee its war in Ukraine. A Downing Street spokeswoman said the British leader traveled to Ukraine to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky in "a show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people." Johnson's visit followed a trip by European Union leaders to Ukraine on Friday. The visit came as Russia tapped Gen. Alexander Dvornikov to oversee the invasion, a senior U.S. official confirmed to The Washington Post. Dvornikov commanded Russian forces in Syria and will oversee a war effort plagued by significant casualties and poor logistics. Ukrainian officials vowed Saturday to continue running evacuation trains from hard-hit eastern Ukraine after a suspected Russian airstrike on a train station in Kramatorsk killed at least 52 people Friday. A Downing Street spokeswoman said Johsnon traveled to Ukraine to meet Zelensky in "a show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people." "They will discuss the U.K.'s long-term support to Ukraine, and the [prime minister] will set out a new package of financial and military aid," she said. The United Kingdom's embassy in Kyiv shared a photo on Twitter of Johnson and Zelensky on Saturday with the caption, "Surprise." The two leaders were pictured sitting across from one another at a conference table, with the British and Ukrainian flags in the background. The deputy head of the Ukrainian president's office, Andrij Sybiha, and Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to Ukraine's Interior Ministry, also posted the photo on Facebook with the same message, which said that Johnson's visit began with a meeting with Zelensky. The officials called Britain "a leader" in supporting Ukraine. Later Saturday, Zelensky shared photos to his Telegram channel of the two men meeting, shaking hands and standing in what appeared to be an outdoor courtyard. "The Prime Minister of Great Britain Boris Johnson is one of the most principled opponents of the Russian invasion, a leader in sanctions pressure on Russia and defense support for Ukraine. Welcome in Kyiv, my friend!" the caption said. In a Telegram post after the meeting, Andriy Yermak, head of the presidential office, called the conversation between Zelensky and Johnson "very full and constructive." Yermak said he is in regular contact with Johnson's national security adviser, Stephen Lovegrove, and with David Quarry, his foreign affairs adviser, "so the visit was not spontaneous." Yermak hinted that British support would yield results for Ukraine soon. "But I can already say, we will become even stronger," he said. Johnson traveled to Ukraine as Russia was preparing to invade. Oliver Dowden, chairman of the Conservative Party, told LBC Radio last month that the British prime minister was "desperate" to go to Ukraine and has a "real emotional connection" with the Ukrainian people. Zelensky has repeatedly praised Johnson, calling him "an example" for other world leaders. Johnson and Zelensky reportedly speak most days, and Britain moved to help Ukraine before other European countries. Johnson's trip to Ukraine came a day after he announced that the United Kingdom would provide an additional $130 million worth of weapons for Ukraine following the "unconscionable bombing" of fleeing Ukrainians at a train station in eastern Ukraine on Friday. The military equipment will include Starstreak antiaircraft missiles and 800 antitank missiles, Johnson said, as well as precision munitions and more helmets, body armor and night vision equipment. British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said armored vehicles would also be sent. British troops will train Ukrainians on how to use them in a neighboring country, the Times newspaper reported. Johnson's visit followed a trip by European Union leaders to Ukraine on Friday. Because Britain is no longer a member of the E.U., Johnson has made a coordinated but separate effort to show support for Ukraine. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer also visited Kyiv on Saturday and met with Zelensky, pledging to help alleviate the suffering of Ukrainians. The one-day trip by the Austrian leader was expected to include a visit the suburb of Bucha, where hundreds of civilians were found slain after Russian troops withdrew. Last month, the leaders of Poland, Slovenia and the Czech Republic made a bold joint visit to Ukraine's capital while it was under attack to pledge "unequivocal support" to Ukraine. Austria, which has remained neutral during the war, is providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine but not weapons. "It is important that within the framework of our neutrality we stand by Ukraine on a humanitarian level as well as politically," Nehammer said in a statement reported by Reuters ahead of his trip. "My visit to Kyiv and Bucha serves to show our solidarity with the Ukrainian population." Russia tapped Dvornikov, a veteran of its military operations in Syria, to oversee the war it is waging in Ukraine, according to a senior U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. Dvornikov, the commander of Russia's southern military district, is now charged with overseeing a war effort that has been haunted by poor logistics and major casualties. It marks the first time a single commander has taken control of the entire Ukraine operation, the senior U.S. official said Saturday. Moscow has been trying to bring some coherence to what military experts describe as a chaotically executed operation so far that has taken the lives of seven generals. The news of the appointment of Dvornikov was first reported by the BBC. The Pentagon said Friday that some Russian military units have been "almost completely devastated." NATO officials estimate that between 7,000 and 15,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in Ukraine, although the Pentagon has said it cannot independently verify those estimates. Russian forces are regrouping and are expected to intensify their shelling of eastern and southern Ukraine. In other developments, Ukraine is "ready to move fast" in its bid to join the European Union, a Ukrainian official said Saturday. Olga Stefanishyna, who serves as deputy prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration in the government of President Volodymyr Zelensky, made the comment a day after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with Zelensky in Kyiv and promised to accelerate the war-torn country's application process. "Russia will descend into economic, financial and technological decay, while Ukraine is marching towards the European future. This is what I see," von der Leyen said. She handed Zelensky a questionnaire and paperwork needed to start the application and predicted that it would "not as usual be a matter of years but I think a matter of weeks" to initiate the process of joining the bloc. Stefanishyna tweeted Saturday that Ukraine has "already done much preparatory work" and is "ready to move fast" on membership. She added that Ukraine expects to be granted "candidate status in June." That would mean it would join countries such as Albania and Turkey as candidates to become E.U. members, but negotiations would still be needed to determine Ukraine's ability to apply E.U. laws and standards nationally by the time of accession. Zelensky reiterated in a video address late Friday that full accession to the E.U. remains a "long-standing goal" for Ukraine. He said his government would provide answers to the questionnaire "very quickly, I think in a week," and then enter negotiations with the E.U. "in the next few months." - - - The Washington Post's Yeganeh Torbati and Dan Lamothe contributed to this report. LONDON (Tribune News Service) A senior British civil servant risked revealing the locations of elite U.K. and U.S. troops in Afghanistan after leaving secret documents at a bus stop, two months before the country fell to the Taliban. Angus Lapsley, 52, removed a bundle of at least 50 papers from the U.K. Ministry of Defense in June without properly logging them, including one marked Secret U.K. eyes only, according to The Times . The documents contained the exact number and locations of British special forces in Kabul, who were serving alongside U.S. counterparts. They also detailed Royal Navy activity in the Black Sea, close to the Crimean peninsula. A member of the public found the documents at a bus stop, where Lapsley dropped them while on his way to work. Though described by a source as soggy, the papers were subsequently handed to the BBC, which confirmed they were of a top-secret nature despite Lapsley initially denying this. The BBC said it had chosen not to publicize the story as doing so could endanger the security of British and other personnel in Afghanistan. Lapsley, who had been seconded to the Ministry of Defense, was sent back to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office while he was investigated. Despite the severity of the issue, which prompted a furious response from the U.S. government, Lapsley was not charged with breaching the Official Secrets Act. However, Lapsley saw a proposed move to become the UKs ambassador to NATO fall through as a result of the breach and had his security clearance revoked. The FCDO declined to tell The Times why Lapsley had not been charged, or if his security clearance had subsequently been restored. In 2008, Richard Jackson, another senior UK civil servant, left top-secret documents containing information on Al-Qaeda and Iraq on a train from London. The papers were also given to the BBC by a member of the public. Jackson was charged with breaching the Official Secrets Act and fined 2,500 ($3,254). An investigation into Lapsleys actions had independently confirmed what had happened, but there was no evidence of espionage, a UK government spokesperson said at the time of the incident. A Whitehall source added: The documents should not have been taken out of the building in this way and in this case. Col. Simon Diggins, a former military attache at the British Embassy in Kabul, told The Times: Special forces operations are regarded as very discreet, so for that information to be revealed, I would regard it to be a serious breach of security. Having the information in the public domain in such a careless way would be regarded as a serious security failure. ___ (c)2022 the Arab News (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) Visit the Arab News at www.arabnews.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany U.S. service members and their families in the Kaiserslautern military community were digging out Saturday morning from an April storm that dumped as much as 6.5 inches of heavy, wet snow in some villages overnight, knocking out power, downing trees, snarling roads and temporarily suspending flight operations on Ramstein Air Base. Snow started accumulating Friday evening and by 10 p.m., roads were slick with poor visibility due to blizzard-like conditions that included thunder and lightning, a rare weather phenomenon known as thundersnow. The storm left a trail of fallen trees and limbs on and off base. The storm cut off power to more than 33 communities in the area. Power was still out in some places as of Saturday afternoon, local police said. Air Force civil engineers were still assessing damage on Ramstein Air Base on Saturday morning after being out all night clearing snow from roads and the flightline, said Kelly Sanders, a spokeswoman for the 86th Airlift Wing. Crews had identified at least eight downed trees, some of which blocked roads or damaged fencing, she said. Flight line operations on Ramstein were suspended overnight due to the storm, she said. Two incoming aircraft were diverted for landing to Spangdahlem Air Base in southwestern Germany and Frankfurt. A fallen tree blocked the gate into the Vogelweh housing area Friday night but was removed by Saturday, Sanders said. The gate into Kapaun Air Station was blocked Saturday morning due to weather and debris, the 569th U.S. Forces Police Squadron said on its Facebook page. U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz said roads in the Baumholder area were slick and icy Saturday morning and advised soldiers and their families to use caution when driving, especially on secondary roads and rural areas. Road conditions on Kaiserslautern area bases were red overnight, signaling drivers to avoid going out if possible and to use extreme caution if driving. But by Saturday afternoon, local roads were largely in a green status after the much of the snow had been plowed or melted in temperatures nearing 50 degrees. In Kaiserslautern, city buses largely stopped running Friday evening, leaving diners and bargoers stranded in the city. By 11 p.m., many trains were canceled or delayed throughout the region, the service announced on Twitter. Traffic on the autobahn A6 in and around Kaiserslautern was at a standstill Saturday morning due to jackknifed trucks, and a fallen tree blocked a section of autobahn A63 near Sembach. Throughout the region, more than 50 accidents and more than 80 downed trees were recorded. Two people were slightly injured. Base and school events were canceled, including an Easter egg hunt on Ramstein. The egg hunt has been rescheduled for April 16. Ramstein and Kaiserslautern high schools had to pull out of a Department of Defense Education Activity track meet at Wiesbaden on Saturday due to the weather. The thrift store on Ramstein also closed Saturday. The storm elicited lots of comments on a local spouses page, with some describing driving Friday night in harrowing conditions. One person said it took seven hours to get to Kaiserslautern from Munich, noting her husband is from Michigan and had never seen that before. Just need a snownado to complete this craziness, someone else said. Stars and Stripes reporter Alexander Riedel contributed to this report. DALLAS (Tribune News Service) A Texas woman faces a murder charge after authorities say she performed a self-induced abortion. Lizelle Herrera, 26, was arrested Thursday in Rio Grande City, near the Texas-Mexico border. The Starr County Sheriffs Office told KVEO-TV that Herrera was taken into custody after authorities learned she intentionally and knowingly caused the death of an individual by self-induced abortion. Herrera was being held in the Starr County Jail, with bail set at $500,000, KVEO reported. It was unclear whether she has an attorney. The arrest comes after Texas Senate Bill 8, one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country, took effect in September. Also known as the Texas Heartbeat Act, the law restricts abortions after six weeks, when doctors can detect a heartbeat in an unborn fetus. The law does not set criminal penalties for such abortions; instead, anyone who aids or abets an abortion after the heartbeat can be detected can be sued for up to $10,000 plus legal fees. The law is being challenged in the court system. Abortions have fallen dramatically in Texas since September, state data shows, but researchers have found that more Texans have sought abortions outside the state. Interest in self-managed abortions also has risen in Texas since passage of the bill. The Food and Drug Administration removed some restrictions on abortion pills in December, including a requirement that the medicine be picked up in person. La Frontera Fund, a Rio Grande Valley-based abortion assistance fund, led a protest outside the Starr County jail Saturday morning. We would like for people to know that the legislation that Gov. [Greg] Abbott has put forth and tried to push in this state is making it so that innocent people are being harmed, Rockie Gonzalez, the groups founder and board chair, told Texas Public Radio. And we want people to know that this type of legislation impacts low-income people-of-color communities the most when state legislators put restrictions on our reproductive rights. While the details surrounding the arrest remain unclear, Gonzalez told the radio station her understanding was that Herrera was in the hospital and had a miscarriage and divulged some information to hospital staff, who then reported her to the police. We will not stop until shes released and we have justice for Lizelle, she said. State Rep. Julie Johnson, a Farmers Branch Democrat, shared news of the arrest on Twitter, encouraging Texans to register to vote in November. This should bother a whole lot of you, she said. In a response to that post, Cassandra Garcia Hernandez, a Democrat running to represent House District 70 in Collin County, agreed, adding that she plans to fight back in the voting booths. Stories like this make it a terrifying time to be a woman living in the state of Texas. But we are brave and worse we are madder than hell, Garcia Hernandez said. Saturday morning, Greg Casar, a former Austin City Council member running for the U.S. House as a Democrat, called the case a red alert here in Texas. Replace the laws and politicians so this never happens again, he wrote. 2022 The Dallas Morning News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. WASHINGTON The White House told federal agencies Thursday to hold off on reinstating a coronavirus vaccination mandate for millions of employees, hours after an appeals court rejected an earlier injunction that had blocked the executive order. In a message to agency officials, the White House cautioned that there are still procedural steps that need to take place to lift the injunction; at this time the district courts preliminary injunction remains in effect. Its not clear when the agencies might begin enforcing the mandate, which makes unvaccinated federal employees subject to discipline up to and including firing unless they qualify for an exemption on medical or religious grounds or have such a request under consideration. The most recent accounting from the administration, from early December, showed that about 93% of employees had been vaccinated and an additional 4% had either approved or pending requests for exemptions. The White Houses message came after a ruling by a divided panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit to restore President Joe Bidens executive order. The court majority held that the Civil Service Reform Act, the general body of laws governing the 2.1 million executive branch workers, requires that any challenge to the order must go through the governments internal appeals channels, and not directly into the courts. Under that law, the Merit Systems Protection Board - which acts much like an internal court system for federal employees - can order reinstatement and backpay to any nonexempt plaintiffs who are disciplined for refusing to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Employees also could ask a separate agency, the Office of Special Counsel, to bring a case before the merit board by arguing that the order violates civil service protections, it added. Administration officials hailed the decision. The courts decision is good news, an Office of Management and Budget spokesperson said Friday. Based on the prior implementation of the requirement for largest and most occupationally diverse workforce in the country, we know vaccination requirements save lives, protect our workforce, and strengthen our ability to serve the American people. The earlier injunction, which came in a lawsuit filed by a group called Feds for Medical Freedom, had barred agencies from taking disciplinary actions against vaccine holdouts and from continuing to process requests for exemptions. The injunction was applied nationwide, although it did not apply to mandates that individual agencies put in place for their own employees ahead of Bidens executive order last September - including one for medical personnel in the Department of Veterans Affairs. The lower courts late-January ruling came just as agencies were preparing to take disciplinary actions against employees not in compliance. In February a different panel of the appeals court, also in a divided opinion, had refused the administrations request to lift the injunction on an emergency basis. Dissenting from Thursdays ruling, Circuit Judge Rhesa Hawkins Barksdale wrote that employee appeal rights under the Civil Service Reform Act, or CSRA, apply only after an agency has taken a disciplinary action, and noted, Here, there is no agency action. Rather, the President is attempting to impose a sweeping mandate against the federal civilian workforce . . . the President seeks to require an entire class of employees to be vaccinated or be subject to an adverse action. Simply put, CSRA does not cover pre-enforcement employment actions, especially concerning 2.1 million federal civilian employees, he added. Bird flu officially arrived in Montana on Friday with the confirmation of flocks sickened by the virus that nationwide has resulted in 17 million domestic bird deaths. Tests from a small egg and broiler operation in Cascade County, as well as a backyard flock in Judith Basin County, returned positive Friday following two-lab confirmation, according to State Veterinarian Marty Zaluski. Avian influenza is a highly infectious illness that can be fatal in domestic flocks. The flu hasnt sickened humans since first being detected in February but has spread to 25 states and devastated bird operations. During that time the price of eggs has increased 52% as production has faltered. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, egg prices have increased to $2.88 per dozen, an increase of 52% since February when the first bird flu cases were detected. USDA also reported that demand for Easter eggs is already declining. The virus presents a risk to Montanas growing $38 million commercial egg industry that has increased in revenue sixfold over the past decade, according to USDA. Wild birds, particularly migrating waterfowl are primary spreaders of the virus and can appear healthy. Backyard chickens and domestic ducks that may mingle with wild birds in ponds or at feeding sites are a concern. Bird owners should know the symptoms and report suspected cases immediately, advised the Montana Department of Livestock. I cannot overemphasize the fact that are the risks. That contact with wild waterfowl is categorically the single biggest risk to domestic poultry, Zaluski said earlier this week. If you are raising chickens, or have other poultry around water or around waterfowl, that contact is your single biggest risk of transmission. The flocks that tested positive this week are quarantined and will have to be depopulated, according to the Department of Livestock. In chickens, symptoms include purple discoloration and swelling of the legs, wattles and eyelids. Ruffled feathers and open mouth breathing are also symptoms. North and South Dakota, and Wyoming preceded Montana in reported bird flu cases. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 4 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A new international clinical trial testing a molecule found in New Zealand blackcurrants may offer hope for thousands of Kiwis living with diabetes and associated metabolic disorders. According to latest data, an estimated 5 per cent of the New Zealand population is living with type 2 diabetes with this prevalence expected to increase to 7 per cent (430,000) people within the next two decades. Dr Jian Guan, an Auckland University scientist who is considered the worlds leading expert on cyclic Glycine-Proline (cGP) research, says cGPMax will be tested in an open-label trial among a group of diabetic participants living with a range of metabolic syndromes. The patient trial is now underway at a university affiliated hospital in China - using cGP derived from New Zealand blackcurrants at a Canterbury production facility. She says the aim of the trial is to establish the efficacy of the natural form of cGP on type 2 diabetes associated with dyslipidemia, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, retinopathy and kidney dysfunction. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of disorders resulting from poor metabolism, including hyperglycaemia, high blood pressure, poor insulin function and excessive LDL cholesterol. There is a strong correlation between poor metabolism, heart disease, cancer and premature death," says Dr Jian Guan. The trial, which is expected to be completed later this year, will investigate whether consumption of the natural form of cGP can improve blood pressure, cholesterol, and complications from diabetes including poor eye function and nerve damage.". Dr Guan who has studied cGP for over 30 years at Auckland University says feedback from those taking non-synthetic cGP as a supplement for brain health suggest it may assist with other conditions. While consumer use of concentrated cGP is still in its relative infancy, there are indications that it may offer hope to those living with a wide range of metabolic disorders. Among the feedback we have received from those taking the supplement include type 2 diabetics who suggest they have regained sensation in their feet after taking cGP as well as those with high blood pressure recording improvements in their systolic & diastolic measurements. Should the trial be successful, it is expected to create more export opportunities for the New Zealand made cGPMax supplement in Asian markets like China - where the populations of those with metabolic disorders has risen steadily over the past ten years, says Dr Guan Dr Guan says the discovery that South Island blackcurrants are uniquely rich in cGP has led to further research which is investigating other natural sources of the nutrient. cGP is a brain nutrient that normalises a hormone essential for overall body health and may play a wider role in improving circulation and creating new blood vessels than we previously understood, she says. New Zealand will release 483,000 barrels from its emergency oil stocks as part of additional action by International Energy Agency member countries in response to the ongoing global impact on energy security after Russias invasion of Ukraine. Last Saturday, the 31 members of the IEA agreed to take collective action to release an additional 120 million barrels of global emergency oil stocks to help offset the loss of Russian oil exports after sanctions were imposed on Russia following the invasion. The size of contributions to the stockdraw has now been determined by the IEA and New Zealand has committed slightly more than the amount requested by the IEA as our ticket contracts as released as a whole, says Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods. Our release is made up of around 184,000 barrels of crude oil held in Spain and close to 299,000 barrels of diesel held in the United Kingdom. This contribution follows on from our release of 369,000 barrels of crude oil last month as part of the initial collective action to release 62.7 million barrels held by IEA members. New Zealands membership of the IEA requires it to hold stocks equivalent to at least 90 days of net oil and imports. New Zealand buys emergency reserve stocks that are held offshore as part of this obligation and help to manage potential disruptions in the oil market. We released slightly more than our allocated share in response to the last collective action and we have done so again as we play out part to help stabilise world energy markets. There has been a great deal of volatility in global oil markets since the invasion and this further action, coupled with the United States move to release 180 million barrels of oil over the next six months, will help to provide some certainty to the market. Waikato We are looking for reliable staff to join our team of traffic controllers out on the roads around the Waikato. You will be... View or Apply on GoodWork.co.nz Long Covid sufferers and researchers are calling for urgent support and warning employers to start planning for the possibility that the virus could impact their workforce in ways they have not prepared for. Evidence is mounting that some people suffer debilitating symptoms long after they've contracted Covid-19. While one study here has received funding from the government, others have resorted to crowdfunding to fast-track answers patients desperately need. And financial support is lacking for those unable to work their usual hours. Daniel Lavender first got Covid-19 in 2020 while working overseas in Shanghai. He found out in an abrupt way through "a midnight phone call, with people banging on the door in hazmat suits, not speaking English and holding a translator up to me telling me that I had Covid, and I basically needed to get out of the country." After returning to New Zealand he was made redundant, leaving him looking for work while battling symptoms of Long Covid. "Just being incredibly tired, incredibly stressed. I'd have four instant coffees before I even feel partially alive in the morning..." His applications for ACC and the unemployment benefit were unsuccessful. Making things more complicated was the lack of a test for Long Covid, making it difficult for patients to be heard. "I tell them something and they just look at me starry-eyed and wait for me to finish what I'm saying. Whereas I'm telling them something and waiting for them to jump in and come up with a solution. You just give up telling people because no one knows." Dr Anna Brooks is part of a team of international researchers investigating Long Covid and says it's real. "We're calling on all health professionals and all employers to be understanding of this inability to have the magic blood test to tell you that you're experiencing this. "These symptoms are very real. It's not something a good night's sleep is going to cure. You can't wish those symptoms away." She says a scheme similar to the wage subsidy or isolation payment needs to be rolled out for Long Covid sufferers, or employers where full-time work may not be possible. "There's going to be huge demand for this. There's going to be a huge demand for employees to return to their job. "This does come back to a pandemic responsibility. How can we facilitate people getting back to work, and back to work safely?" The Ministry of Social Development says someone who has Long Covid may be able to apply for Jobseeker Support or Supported Living Payment but there are criteria to be eligible. ACC says to accept a work-related claim for Covid-19, it needs to be satisfied it came from workplace exposure and not community transmission. But Dr Brooks says proving you got Covid from your workplace could be near impossible, and many patients are facing pushback at the doctor's office to even get the ball rolling when it comes to support. "Being told that there's nothing wrong with you and there's nothing you can do... That's really distressing, because it perpetuates the ongoing problems by not being believed." But business is equally stumped when it comes to Long Covid. With workplaces to returning to more regular operations when the orange traffic light turns on, chief executive of Business NZ Kirk Hope says the employers will do what they can but there is a lack of guidance. "There isn't guidance around about Long Covid at the moment, but it's going to be something some employees and employers probably need to be mindful of. Particularly if you see people's sick leave balances dwindle as we get through Covid and when other forms of payment are removed. Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says they're still looking at the evidence. "We obviously keep all of that under review. There is some support available already, but the evidence there is still emerging." Marama Davidson Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone. But Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson wants to see more done. "We don't think it's fair that their lives should be made even worse because of something that is outside of their control. "We've been really clear we want to see more support for workers, absolutely, and things like having to use up their own sick leave first and their own holiday leave for Long Covid leave, we don't think is going to lead to long-term good outcomes for anybody." The Ministry of Health says they're establishing an advisory group on Long Covid, monitoring treatments and research gaps and updating evidence. But there is no indication on when there will be answers. In the meantime researchers like Dr Brooks are working as hard as they can with the funding they have. "We're used to applying for grants but it just takes too long in the context of urgency when so many people are needing answers now. "That's why we went crowdfunding because we're channelling the urgency of the patient voice. "However we do know that we've got strong leads on being able to develop diagnostic testing so that's an area that could get urgent funding." Louise Ternouth/RNZ A Billings woman was sentenced to 30 years in the Montana Womens Prison for her role in the robbery and murder of Dennis Gresham in April 2021, a crime that involved a high-speed chase and hours-long armed standoff with police. There were few dry eyes in Judge Donald Harris Yellowstone County District Courtroom on Friday as he explained his rationale for sentencing Kristy Chavez to 30 years in prison 10 years more than the 20 years county prosecutor Ed Zink had recommended as part of a plea deal. Chavez pleaded guilty in February after a plea deal reduced the charges against her to a single count of armed robbery. She had originally been charged with deliberate homicide by accountability for her participation in robbing and killing Gresham at a campground on the outskirts of Billings in the early morning hours of April 23, 2021. Gresham, of Sheridan, Wyoming, had been sleeping in his van when Chavez and Michael McClure approached and Chavez tried to talk her way into the van before the two forced their way in. According to Fridays proceedings, a struggle ensued and Gresham was beaten and shot multiple times. Both Chavez and McClure carried guns that morning, according to the judge. Chavezs weapon was found with hair and blood on its base a point Harris would bring up in refusing to accept Chavezs assertions that she was coerced and afraid for her life while participating in the crime. The judge also challenged her expression of remorse citing her refusal to give a statement detailing Gresham's final moments inside the van. Instead, Yellowstone County Sheriffs Detective Bethany Richter wove the narrative of that fatal morning for Harris. She told him how the couple drove to the Laurel Walmart after killing Gresham, and Chavez moved the van around the parking lot while McClure went into the store to steal a tarp. There were other moments the detective highlighted to show how Chavez could have fled, was not passively along for the ride, and was actively participating in covering it up. Chavez and McClure parked the van Greshams body still inside outside a hardware store in Laurel. The two then apparently went to sleep for a few hours before police were called. Bodycam footage from one of the two responding Laurel police officers shows McClure calm and collected talking to the officers, spelling his name and telling them he was just getting some sleep. He talked about rock climbing with the officer and by all accounts seemed perfectly normal. When police noticed Chavez inside and talked to her directly, she asked him calmly for $5 for gas. She makes no attempt to alert the cops to her circumstance. Seconds later, the two suspects pulled away in the van and later a police chase ensued. Chavez would be the only person in that van to survive the day. After McClure crashed on the West End of Billings, Chavez was chased down on foot and hit with a stun gun by police while McClure holed up in an empty home. After an hours-long standoff, McClure took his own life while tactical officers closed in on him. I do not believe for one moment that you were scared for your life, Harris told Chavez. He said she never tried to alert the authorities even when police were at the van and she never tried to help Gresham or comfort him as he was dying. Not only had she run away after the van crashed, she had to be tased to be subdued. These are not the actions of anybody whos terrified in a situation like this, whos afraid for their life, Harris said. These are the actions of somebody whos trying to escape. Victim's wife speaks Dennis Greshams wife, Megan, brought many in the courtroom to tears as she described how her children would grow up fatherless and her life was forever changed by Chavezs and McClures actions that day. She described a dutiful, loving husband, a cheerful man, active in his community, one interested in creating things and teaching his children. Ms. Chavez and Mr. McClure saw his big beautiful eyes and the two little car seats and shot him, she told the judge while crying. I dont think my husband ever committed a sin. She told her boys that two people had hurt their dad and he died, she recalled for the judge. She said she trusted the judge to do what was right and asked him to keep in mind that her husband was a beautiful person that was killed in the worst way. But Megan Gresham also asked the judge to have a little compassion and to consider Chavezs four children in sentencing her. Please keep in mind that Ms. Kristy Chavez also has children who love their mother and I care about them too, she said. Theyre also innocent victims in this loss and I think about them every day. As Gresham walked from the stand, she briefly brushed her fingers across Chavezs shoulder. Chavez hung her head and wept. Dennis Greshams parents were in the courtroom as well, but prosecutor Ed Zink read their statements into the record for them. They described the terrible weight of losing a child and the consequences for their family. Ronald Gresham, Denniss father, talked about losing the opportunity to ride motorcycles up the Pacific Coast with his son. They were actively planning the trip. He lamented the hole he felt when visiting his grandkids. He wanted the judge to sentence Chavez to the longest sentence possible. While reading from the statement from the victim's mother, Becky Gresham, Zink had to briefly stop to collect himself. She talked about needing therapy for the first time in her life. She described wanting to leave her work as a nurse caring for addiction patients after learning the horrible role meth played in her sons death and the disgust she felt toward it. When asked what she wanted from the sentencing, she replied: justice. But there really is no way to make this right or just, she said. She also wanted Chavez sentenced to the maximum allowed by law. Greshams two sisters also wrote statements to Harris. Chavezs attorney, Sarah Snow Kottke, asked the judge to consider a number of mitigating factors. Chavez had no felony criminal history and only minor misdemeanor charges despite her long struggle with addiction. Kottke pointed to the pre-sentencing investigations findings that Chavez had suffered horrible abuses as a child and a tumultuous upbringing. Kottke asked the judge to consider her addiction and the fact that it began at 15 years old when her guardian at the time began forcibly injecting her with meth. Chavez had tried numerous times to get treatment but none of those attempts could get her clean. But most of all, the defense argued, Chavez acted out of fear of McClure and the threats he had made to her numerous times that day. Kottke said Chavezs fear was so immense that she needed to be assured numerous times that McClure was dead and no longer able to hurt her. Chavez addresses victim's family Chavez spoke directly to the Gresham family. Through tears and sobs, she told the court she was sorry. She said she would trade places with Dennis Gresham if possible. I hope one day you guys will be at peace, she said. And I hope today you feel justice for everything going on. God bless you, was the last thing Chavez told the family. God bless you, baby, Megan Gresham replied. By all accounts Gresham's death was a devastating and immeasurable loss to the world, Harris told Chavez, "and you could have prevented it." He refused to believe her trauma and addiction caused her to commit the crime and instead he said she had a criminal mindset which allowed her to act in such a way. That mindset and her addiction make her a danger to the community, Harris said. "As long as you hide behind your addiction you will never be rehabilitated." "Ms. Chavez, this is not over," Harris said after sentencing her. "You have a chance to live a good life...This sentence does not deprive you of that chance...Dennis Gresham's life was precious and so is yours. But...you need a period of time to reflect. This community expects that a crime of this nature would be punished...But you have time and the ability to turn this around and I hope that you do so." Love 8 Funny 2 Wow 2 Sad 20 Angry 8 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 Ministry of Health is reporting 8,531 community cases, 635 hospitalisations and 11 deaths. There are 408 new community cases in Bay of Plenty and 165 in the Lakes District Health Board region. There are 27 people in hospitals in Bay of Plenty and nine in Lakes hospitals. Case numbers are continuing to decline, along with the seven-day rolling average. Today's seven-day average is 10,843, while last Saturday it was 13,804. Vaccination remains our best defence against Covid-19 and getting boosted is an important way people can protect themselves, their whanau and their friends from the virus, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson. The ministry is issuing a reminder that people aged 16 and 17 can now receive a free booster dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine at least six months after completion of their primary course. A booster, in addition to first and second doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, is the best defence against Omicron and severe illness. There is a much lower risk of being hospitalised if you are up to date with your vaccinations, which, for Omicron, includes a third or booster dose if eligible, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson. So, if you are due for a Covid-19 vaccination, whether it be a second dose or booster, please make an appointment today. Covid-19 deaths Today we are sadly reporting the deaths of 11 people with Covid-19, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson. The deaths being reported today include people who have died over the past 14 days. Delays to reporting can be associated with people dying with Covid-19, rather than from Covid-19, and Covid-19 being discovered only after they have died. These deaths take the total number of publicly reported deaths with Covid-19 to 477 and the seven-day rolling average of reported deaths is 14. Of the people whose deaths we are reporting today, four people were from the Auckland region, one from Waikato, one from the Lakes DHB area, one from Hawkes Bay, one from Whanganui, two from the Wellington region and one from Canterbury. Four were aged in their 60s, four in their 80s, and three over 90. Five were female and six were male. This is a very sad time for whanau and friends and our thoughts and condolences are with them. Out of respect, we will be making no further comment. Vaccinations administered in New Zealand Vaccines administered to date: 4,025,869 first doses; 3,975,794 second doses; 34,558 third primary doses; 2,598,888 booster doses: 259,919 paediatric first doses and 97,476 paediatric second doses Vaccines administered yesterday: 65 first doses; 163 second doses; 24 third primary doses; 2,257 booster doses; 91 paediatric first doses and 1,589 paediatric second doses People vaccinated All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,055,719 first dose (96.4%); 4,005,052 second dose (95.2%), 2,596,399 boosted (72.7% of those eligible) Maori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 520,621 first dose (91.2%); 503,437 second dose (88.2%), 231,014 boosted (57.3% of those eligible) Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 281,659 first dose (98.2%); 276,664 second dose (96.5%), 137,527 boosted (59.2% of those eligible) 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 257,676 first dose (54.1%); 95,296 second dose (20%) 5 to 11-year-olds - Maori: 40,545 first dose (35.1%); 10,757 second dose (9.3%) 5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 23,335 first dose (47.2%); 5,135 second dose (10.4%) Note that the number for People vaccinated differs slightly from Vaccines administered as it includes those that have been vaccinated overseas. Vaccination rates for all DHBs Northland DHB: first dose (90.1%); second dose (88%); boosted (69.5%) Auckland Metro DHB: first dose (97.2%); second dose (96.1%); boosted (71.3%) Waikato DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.6%); boosted (68.4%) Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.3%); boosted (67.7%) Lakes DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (91.4%); boosted (68.2%) MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (74%) Tairawhiti DHB: first dose (93.2%); second dose (90.9%); boosted (68.1%) Whanganui DHB: first dose (91.9%); second dose (90.4%); boosted (73.4%) Hawkes Bay DHB: first dose (97.1%); second dose (95.5%); boosted (71.9%) Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.6%); second dose (93.2%); boosted (69.9%) Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95%); boosted (74.7%) Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.5%); second dose (97.8%); boosted (81.1%) Hutt Valley DHB: first dose (96.6%); second dose (95.6%); boosted (76.8%) Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (75.2%) West Coast DHB: first dose (92.7%); second dose (91.2%); boosted (73.3%) Canterbury DHB: first dose (99.7%); second dose (98.8%); boosted (75.9%) South Canterbury DHB: first dose (94.8%); second dose (93.8%); boosted (76.3%) Southern DHB: first dose (98.5%); second dose (97.4%); boosted (74.8%) Partially and second doses percentages are for those 12+. Boosted percentages are for 18+ who have become eligible 3 months after having their second dose Percentages are based on 2020 HSU data - a health-specific population denominator. As the population continues to change over time, coverage rates can exceed 100%. Hospitalisations Cases in hospital: total number 635: Northland: 26; Waitemata: 96; Counties Manukau: 113; Auckland: 104; Waikato: 77; Bay of Plenty: 27; Lakes: 9; Tairawhiti: 4; Hawkes Bay: 15; Taranaki: 11; Whanganui: 9; MidCentral: 24; Wairarapa: 2; Hutt Valley: 15; Capital and Coast: 16; Nelson Marlborough: 11; Canterbury: 45; South Canterbury: 6; West Coast: 1; Southern: 24 *Average age of current hospitalisations: 58 Cases in ICU or HDU: 18 Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (35 cases / 11%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (7 cases / 2%); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (57 cases / 17%); Received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (72 cases / 22%); unknown (158 cases / 48%) *Please note the average age of current hospitalisations is for the Northern Region admissions only at this stage. This data is recorded and extracted from the same source as the vaccination status of patients in Northern Region hospitals. We are currently working on a data solution which would include the average age of current hospitalisations from additional DHBs. Cases Seven day rolling average of community cases: 10,843 Seven day rolling average (as at same day last week): 13,804 Number of new community cases: 8,531 Number of new community cases (PCR): 249 Number of new community cases (RAT): 8,282 Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (479), Auckland (1,456), Waikato (744), Bay of Plenty (408), Lakes (165), Hawkes Bay (356), MidCentral (425), Whanganui (206), Taranaki (312), Tairawhiti (80), Wairarapa (79), Capital and Coast (572), Hutt Valley (365), Nelson Marlborough (313), Canterbury (1,343), South Canterbury (162), Southern (991), West Coast (72), Unknown (3) Number of new cases identified at the border: 26 Number of active community cases (total): 75,871 (cases identified in the past 7 days and not yet classified as recovered) Confirmed cases (total): 758,888 Please note, the Ministry of Healths daily reported cases may differ slightly from those reported at a DHB or local public health unit level. This is because of different reporting cut off times and the assignment of cases between regions, for example when a case is tested outside their usual region of residence. Total numbers will always be the formal daily case tally as reported to the WHO. Tests Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. Yellowstone County has sold a lot of recreational marijuana. In fact, since it went on sale in January, the county has sold the most in the state. The Lee Montana State Bureau reported on Wednesday that Yellowstone County has had the highest sales statewide for combined cannabis and medical sales, and that in March alone the county accounted for $4.5 million of the $25.7 million total in statewide sales, about 18%. The apparent popularity and revenue source of recreational marijuana isn't lost on county leaders, but it doesn't move them either. Yellowstone County commissioners voted in December to take the question of whether to allow recreational marijuana businesses to operate within the county back to voters on the primary election ballot June 7, a decision they still stand behind. "I will allow the citizens to weigh in with their vote," said county commissioner John Ostlund. "It's a positive way to get a final answer," added county commissioner Denis Pitman. The question of lost tax revenue should voters reject recreational pot sales in June isn't really an issue for the commissioners; the money the county receives is fractional, Pitman said. "We don't know how that ends up looking," he said of the tax revenue. Voters in November approved a 3% sales tax on recreational marijuana sold in the county, which will be the only direct money the county will see from those sales. Of that 3%, the county is required to funnel roughly 40% to Billings, Laurel and Broadview, the county's incorporated communities. In hard numbers, Yellowstone County's 3% of the $4.5 million in recreational marijuana sold in March comes to $135,000. Once the municipalities' 40% is removed, the county is left with $54,000. More of a concern to the commissioners is finding their comfort with what residents want. While Montana voters in 2020 overwhelmingly approved legalizing recreational marijuana, the margin in Yellowstone County was more narrow 50.7% to 49.3% in favor, a difference of roughly 1,100 votes. That narrow margin has been a point of contention ever since, with opponents to recreational marijuana arguing that county residents didn't really know what they were voting for. The state law that formalized the marijuana voter initiative gave communities the authority to return to their voters once to ask whether to keep marijuana sales or ban them. In August the commissioners narrowly decided to let legalized pot sales state stand and not return to voters. And then in November they had a change of heart. Billings officials went to voters in November to ask whether recreational marijuana storefronts should be allowed within city limits. Voters rejected storefronts by a healthy margin, with 55% favoring of the ban. At the same time, voters approved the 3% recreational marijuana sales tax, something that left Pitman scratching his head. "Did they just want sales in the county," he asked. So in December, county commissioners decided they would take the question to county voters, sensing that maybe the mood had changed. Commissioners now see June's vote as the definitive answer as to what county residents want. "It'll certainly provide clarity," Pitman said. "Either way it shows us what direction we're headed." Love 0 Funny 3 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 24 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 95th annual Montana State University Billings Commencement Ceremony will take place Saturday, May 7 at 10 a.m. at MetraPark. Approximately 800 students will have the opportunity to participate in the commencement ceremony this spring. This includes graduates from fall 2021, summer 2022 and spring 2022. The public is invited to attend and celebrate students hard work and success. Commencement is the culmination of all the hard work and dedication our students have put in throughout their college career, said MSUB Chancellor Stefani Hicswa. Its a time dedicated to really acknowledge their accomplishments. We are excited to celebrate this milestone with our graduates. Keynote speaker will be MSU Billings student Amy Sexton, from Shepherd, who will be graduating with a 4.0 GPA with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Accounting option and with minors in mathematics and honors studies. Sexton is also currently serving her second and final term as the Montana University System Student Regent where she has been a strong advocate for student success. She was the first student to be selected as Student Regent from an MUS regional campus in over ten years. This spring, she was named Chair of the Two-Year and Community College Board of Regents Committee, which is a rare appointment for a student regent. Highlighting a few of Sextons impressive achievements, she is currently serving as the President of MSUBs Accounting Club, is the sole student representative on the Montana Society of CPAs Board, previously served in MSUBs student government, served on the Accounting and Financial Womens Alliance LEAP Council, was Co-Chair of the College of Business Advisory Board, and worked at MSUBs Academic Support Center as a supplemental economics instructor, while working and taking classes full-time, maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Sexton recently accepted a job as a Senior Accountant with a CPA firm in Chicago and starts in June. She will be studying for the CPA exam and hopes to get licensed within one year. Sexton will also be applying for a Marshall Scholarship in the hopes of studying economic history at The University of Oxford. Her contingency plan is to start an MBA program in the next 3-5 years. No tickets or RSVP are required to attend Commencement. The ceremony will be live streamed on the 95th Annual Commencement page on May 7. For more information about Commencement, contact registrar@msubillings.edu. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 goacom BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: San Jose USA, Panaji, Goa Posts: 75 Thanked: 208 Times Re: Impact of the Russia-Ukraine war Finally, the biggest trading blocks are China, Europe, USA and Japan. None of them will trade in Yuan and Rubles between then. China has around 15% share of world trade, but yet, only 1% of it is in Yuan. The trade between Russia and China is insignificant. Russia has a small economy that is the size of Italy. The Russian/Chinese apologists here may make a lot of noise about it, but it really is a non-event. Countries have been talking about replacing the dollar for decades. It is not happening anytime soon. Quote: download2live Originally Posted by Putin has committed the biggest mistake of all in US books: Trading resources bypassing USD !! Russian coal and oil paid for in yuan to start flowing to china "Russian coal and oil paid for in yuan is about to start flowing into China as the two countries try to maintain their energy trade in the face of growing international outrage over the invasion of Ukraine. Several Chinese firms used local currency to buy Russian coal in March, and the first cargoes will arrive this month, Chinese consultancy Fenwei Energy Information Service Co. said. These will be the first commodity shipments paid for in yuan since the U.S. and Europe penalized Russia and cut several of its banks off from the international financial system, according to traders. Sellers of Russian crude have also offered to give buyers in Asias largest economy the flexibility to pay in yuan. The first cargoes of the ESPO grade bought with the Chinese currency will be delivered to independent refiners in May, according to people familiar with the purchases. China has long bristled at the dollars dominance in global trade and the political leverage it gives the U.S. Efforts to chip away at the status quo are now being accelerated by Western steps to punish Russia for its war of aggression. Moscow is offering rupee-ruble payments to Indian oil buyers, while Saudi Arabia is in talks with Beijing to price some of its crude in yuan." This war will also have a bearing on USD dominance in international trade. As I said earlier, USD dominance is maintained by US. At any cost. How far will Biden go?Putin has committed the biggest mistake of all in US books: Trading resources bypassing USD !!"Russian coal and oil paid for in yuan is about to start flowing into China as the two countries try to maintain their energy trade in the face of growing international outrage over the invasion of Ukraine.Several Chinese firms used local currency to buy Russian coal in March, and the first cargoes will arrive this month, Chinese consultancy Fenwei Energy Information Service Co. said. These will be the first commodity shipments paid for in yuan since the U.S. and Europe penalized Russia and cut several of its banks off from the international financial system, according to traders.Sellers of Russian crude have also offered to give buyers in Asias largest economy the flexibility to pay in yuan. The first cargoes of the ESPO grade bought with the Chinese currency will be delivered to independent refiners in May, according to people familiar with the purchases.China has long bristled at the dollars dominance in global trade and the political leverage it gives the U.S. Efforts to chip away at the status quo are now being accelerated by Western steps to punish Russia for its war of aggression. Moscow is offering rupee-ruble payments to Indian oil buyers, while Saudi Arabia is in talks with Beijing to price some of its crude in yuan." The dollar dominance is not going to end anytime soon. If some have distrust of the Dollar (or its partner currencies like the Euro, Yen or Pound), they have even less trust of the Yuan or the Ruble. Would Russia accept Yuan from India, or would China accept Rupees from Russia, or Riyals from India? No. For all the problems with the US and the dollar, there are even more issues with the other said currencies as those countries have even more weaknesses. All of them have pseudo dictatorships, whose leaders are not bound by any laws and can change them on the whim without any debate. Some like Saudi and Russia have backward commodity based economies, the tide of which can change any time (they are having good times now... but wait for the next recession). India has a 4 billion dollar deficit with Russia and around a $70B with China. Will those countries hold that surplus in Rupees? Nope.Finally, the biggest trading blocks are China, Europe, USA and Japan. None of them will trade in Yuan and Rubles between then. China has around 15% share of world trade, but yet, only 1% of it is in Yuan. The trade between Russia and China is insignificant. Russia has a small economy that is the size of Italy. The Russian/Chinese apologists here may make a lot of noise about it, but it really is a non-event. Countries have been talking about replacing the dollar for decades. It is not happening anytime soon. On Apr. 8, Nissan Motor Company revealed its plans to bring laminated solid-state batteries to the market by 2028. The plan was revealed during a livestream, and the automaker said that they are currently working on a prototype production facility. Nissan Unveils Sold-State Batteries Plan The decision is part of Nissan's "Ambition 2030" strategy, which will now include plans to launch electric vehicles powered by its solid-state batteries in 2028, according to Ars Technica. Nissan has been the leading automaker in Japan since the 1930s and has become globally recognized behind other automakers like Datsun and Infiniti. The vehicle manufacturing company was one of the early promoters of electric vehicles with its Nissan LEAF, which was launched in 2010 and is currently one of the longest-running electric models in the United States. Also Read: Nissan Leaf App Disabled Over API Vulnerability That Allowed Hacking Despite the fact, the Nissan LEAP is still Nissan's only electric vehicle, at least until the new Ariya is launched, according to Electrek. In 2021, Nissan joined the United Nation's "Race to Zero" campaign aiming to be 100% electric by 2030 with a strategy that includes the launch of 15 electric vehicle models over the next eight years. The company called its own strategy for 100% electrification "Ambition 2030," which it outlined in the fall of 2021. At the time, Nissan revealed its plans for four new electric vehicle concepts, plus its plan to invest $17 billion in electrified technologies over the next five years, including funds allocated toward R&D for solid-state batteries. Following the news from the car company, it will start the production of solid-state batteries in Japan, and the Nissan EVs powered by solid-state batteries will be launched in 2028. How the Solid State Batteries Will Be Manufactured During a presentation of the plan at Yokohama, the automaker shared news of the prototype production facility that is located within the Nissan Research Center in Kanagawa Prefecture. The materials, manufacturing processes and the design for the prototype production of the solid-state batteries will be studied at the new production facility, according to Engadget. The data gathered will be used to create a pilot production line at the company's Yokohama Plant in 2024, with the goal of scaled manufacturing of solid-state batteries in-house by 2028. Nissan believes that its solid-state batteries can be reduced to $75 per kWh and down to $65 per kWh after the year 2028, putting electric vehicles at cost parity with ICE competitors. Kunio Nakaguro, the executive vice president in charge of Nissan's R&D, said during the announcement that the company has been a leader in electrification technology through their R&D activities, from molecular-level battery material research to the manufacturing of high-performance electric vehicles. Nakaguro added that their initiatives include city development using electric vehicles as storage batteries. The knowledge gained from their experience supports the development of all solid-state batteries and they've accumulated important elemental technologies. Going forward, Nissan's R&D and manufacturing divisions will continue to work together to utilize the prototype production facility and accelerate the application of solid-state batteries. Nissan believes that it can deliver electric vehicles powered by solid-state batteries in 2028 and they expect the cells to help it remain competitive in multiple car segments, including pickup trucks. Related Article: API Vulnerability In Nissan Leaf Electric Vehicles Leaves Them Prone To Hacking This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Sophie Webster 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. South Africa: President commits to fast-track change in Mangaung Lack of service delivery, corruption, inadequate housing and crime these are some of the challenges President Cyril Ramaphosa has committed government will address in Mangaung Metro, Free State. The First Citizen on Saturday led a Presidential Imbizo to engage Mangaung residents on the challenges they face daily. The imbizo was part of the District Development Model (DDM), which is being rolled out to improve the quality of life for citizens. We have heard your concerns and as government, we are going to address them, President Ramaphosa said during the community engagement at the Dr Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein. Cabinet this week approved an intervention by the national executive in the governance of Mangaung Metro, in terms of Section 139(7) of the Constitution. Following failure by the Free State provincial executive to implement a financial recovery plan in the metro, the municipality has now been placed under national intervention. In a statement on Friday, The Presidency said this intervention is directed at helping the metro to improve its finances and deliver on its mandate, and to return to sound governance and a better life for residents, the business community and other stakeholders. The President on Saturday assured that government is dealing with corrupt officials, and that services will be delivered to the people of Mangaung. Change is here and change is going to continue being present here, President Ramaphosa said. Keen to make their voices heard, residents sent over 3 000 WhatsApp messages to the Presidency. President Ramaphosa committed that Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele, and his staff will look at the concerns raised and respond to them. Residents speak out, officials commit to act Ezekiel Mphahlele, a Mangaung local who attended the imbizo, told SAnews he looks forward to government dealing with their long-standing concerns. I hope things are going change. The President is going to crack the whip and remove all the corrupt officials in our municipality, Mphahlele said. Another resident, Ephraim Lekalakala, wants corrupt officials removed because they only employ their friends and family members. We cant get employed because these officials want us to bribe them before they employ us, Lekalakala said. In his response to concerns about crime, Police Minister, Bheki Cele, assured the community that he will visit the area again in three weeks time. Cele said police will arrest criminals, regardless of their nationality. We arrest first then ask later where you come from, the Minister said. Water and Sanitation Minister, Senzo Mchunu, responded to concerns about blocked sewage pipes, saying his department will fix all worn out pipes. With regard to the provinces roads, Transport Minister, Fikile Mbalula, said his department has set aside R1.4 billion to fix the provinces roads. The Minister said the South African National Roads Agency has been asked to assist with fixing roads in the Free State. President Ramaphosa once again assured that his administration is dealing with corrupt officials in order to pave the way to efficient, timely service delivery. He said the imbizo must result in the resolution of the service delivery problems raised by the community. He thanked the community of Mangaung for participating in the imbizo. President Ramaphosa kick-started the imbizo by visiting the Vereeniging Interchange, following the extension of Vereeniging Avenue and the construction of a bridge over the railway line. This infrastructure project was initiated for spatial integration and to alleviate traffic congestion. From there, the President proceeded to Motheo TVET Artisans College, which is one of the four public Technical Vocational Education and Training [TVET] colleges in the Free State. It comprises six campuses, including a Centre for Entrepreneurship, Rapid Incubator and an artisan academy. At todays imbizo, the President was accompanied by the Premier of Free State, Sisi Ntombela, a delegation of Ministers, members of the provincial executive council and the Mayor of Mangaung. The visit to the Free State is the second Presidential Imbizo after President Ramaphosa visited Mahikeng, North West, in March. About the DDM Cabinet adopted the DDM in August 2019. It is an integrated planning model for cooperative governance, which seeks to be a new integrated, district-based, service delivery approach aimed at fast-tracking service delivery. It also seeks to ensure that municipalities are adequately supported and resourced to carry out their mandate. The model was approved by government structures, including Cabinet, to integrate service delivery that will be more practical, achievable, implementable, measurable and clearly aligned to the key priorities of the government. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2022-04-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Invent2Prevent, a U.S. State Department affiliate, has selected communication students from Montana State University Billings to participate in a national competition to develop, throughout this spring semester, their own dynamic products, tools, or initiatives to prevent targeted violence and terrorism. Students will explore solutions to decrease or prevent misinformation, intolerance, hate speech, and other community problems via public relations analysis and communications research. Each team will address a situation that affects the local community connected to targeted violence and terrorism. Students will conduct research where an in-depth analysis occurs upon establishing the connection. As a result of this analysis, students will suggest protective factors. The product, design, tool, or initiative will be submitted in a portfolio to EdVenture Partners, a McCain Institute partner. MSU Billings student Natasha Bucklin, who is currently working on the project, explains, "The Invent2Prevent project promotes strategic combating of national issues that our communities face. Our participation in this project will inform and hopefully prevent further formation of hate groups and promote the education of cultural diversity in our great state." "This project engages students in solving real-world problems that have plagued our country in recent years, including misinformation, domestic terrorism, and targeted violence, says communication professor Sarah Keller, Ph.D., who is overseeing the campaign. Keller adds that by working as a team with partners of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, students have an opportunity to find new channels for their careers and new avenues for their interests in making the world a better place. Students created a TikTok campaign with the tagline Kindness is Free and hashtag #KindnessMT which aims to promote the importance of small acts of kindness in the community. The Kindness is Free Campaign will conduct outreach to teens through social media to encourage community connections as a pathway to reduce violence. They are also promoting this campaign at local high schools. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 "The Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine has initiated the nationalization of 400 railcars owned by Russian and Belarusian companies," reported Railway Supply magazine. The military conflict between Ukraine and Russia has lasted 44 days without any sign of a permanent ceasefire. Below are the main events as they happen. Biden signs bills on tightening trade regime with Russia, Belarus, banning energy import US President Joe Biden signed bills, passed by the Congress earlier, on suspension of normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus and on prohibition of energy import from Russia over the situation in Ukraine, the White House press office said Friday. According to the press office, Biden signed both papers; previously, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki announced his intent to do so. Earlier in March, Biden already signed an order banning energy imports from Russia. The bill, passed by Congress, effectively turns the presidential order into law. Biden also previously announced US and NATO allies intent to abandon the normal trade relations with Russia. According to the US President, each of these nations intend to take steps to strip Russia of the most favored nation status. In the US, such status can be removed only under approval from the lawmakers. The suspension of this status will allow the US to set higher tariffs for Russian and Belarus than for all other WTO member states. This power will remain in effect until January 1, 2024. In the meantime, the US President would be able to restore normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus, should these countries cease what Washington considers aggressive actions against Ukraine, or under other conditions. Venezuela denounces that the media campaign against Russia could lead to war Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro The President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, denounced during a broadcast of the state channel Venezolana de Television that the West is promoting a media campaign against Russia that could lead to a third world war. "Today more than ever we are seeing a media dictatorship of the West against the world to justify an escalation that could lead to a disastrous war, to a third world war, the West is being alienated economically, politically, diplomatically and militarily to go to a great war against Russia," Maduro said. US authorities expand export restrictions for Russia and Belarus The US Administration made a decision to expand the export restrictions for Russia and Belarus, according to a notification published by the US Department of Commerce in the Federal Register Friday. "This rule expands license requirements for Russia and Belarus under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to all items on the Commerce Control List (CCL)," the document reads. The list, published on the US Department of Commerce website, includes hundreds of products, including pipe valves, fertilizers and bearings. Russia restores air service with 50 more states - Prime Minister Russia withdraws pandemic-related flight restrictions to 52 more countries, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced. The federal anti-Covid crisis center informed that Russia withdraws restrictions for regular and charter flights to the following countries: Algeria, Argentina, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Venezuela, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Israel, Indonesia, Jordan, Iraq, Kenya, China, North Korea, Costa Rica, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Mauritius, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Mozambique, Moldova, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Serbia, Syria, Thailand, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, Uruguay, Fiji, Philippines, Sir Lanka, Ethiopia, South Africa and Jamaica. While restrictions for some countries have already been lifted earlier, flights to these destinations were limited with quotas. Air service with the rest is being restored for the first time in two years. In early March, Russia also mutually lifted flight restrictions with Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Iran. Currently, flight restrictions have also been lifted with Belarus, Dominican Republic, Egypt, UAE, Turkey, Finland, Czech Republic, Switzerland, South Korea and Cuba. Over 133,000 people saved from Mariupol via humanitarian corridor - Russian defense ministry More than 133,200 people have been evacuated from Mariupol via a humanitarian corridor, including 758 in the past day alone, Mikhail Mizintsev, chief of Russias National Defense Management Center, said on Friday. "A total of 133,214 people have been saved from Mariupol via a humanitarian corridor in the easterly direction. During the past day, 758 people were saved from total lawlessness caused by Ukrainian nationalists in the city," he said. He noted that most of people who are forcibly kept by nationalists in Ukrainian cities are looking for any possibility to be evacuated to Russia. "Over the past day alone, the Russian side received 917 such requests," he said, adding that the database has 2,742,698 names and addresses from 2,126 settlements in Ukraine. More than 9,780 tonnes of humanitarian cargoes have already been delivered to Ukraine by the Russian side since early March, Mizintsev said. "Since March 2, a total of 9,780.3 tonnes of humanitarian cargoes have already been delivered to Ukraine by Russia. As many as 772 humanitarian operations have been conducted, including five during the past day in the Kherson region, and in the Donetsk and Lugansk Peoples Republics. As many as 259 tonnes of food products, clothes, medicines and articles of daily necessity were distributed among people," he said. According to Mizintsev, more than 9,500 temporary accommodation centers are operating in Russian regions. He also said that some 22,500 tonnes of humanitarian cargoes have been raised in Russia to be dispatched to Ukraine. Western countries, UN, ICRC do not react to torture, execution of Russian POWs The Western countries, the UN, the OSCE or the ICRC have not yet reacted to monstrous torture and cruel executions of Russian prisoners of war by the Ukrainian army, head of Russias National Defense Control Center Mikhail Mizintsev said. According to him, the issue of the condition of Russian captured servicemen is the most critical one nowadays. "The countries of the so-called civilized West, the United Nations, the OSCE, the International Committee of the Red Cross as well as other international human rights organizations, displaying complete indifference to humanitarian issues initiated by the Russian Federation, to date, have not reacted in any way to statements by the Russian side about monstrous torture and cruel executions of Russian prisoners of war," said Mizintsev, who heads Russias Joint Coordination Headquarters for Humanitarian Response in Ukraine. He noted that, given multiple facts of the gross violations of the Geneva Convention supported by documents which testify to the inhumane treatment of the Russian prisoners of war, Russia undertakes every effort to give the world real truthful information about the atrocities of the Kiev regime. "To this end, all reports on the crimes of the Ukrainian army and nationalist battalions are carefully documented and digests are sent to the international organizations, including the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the OSCE and the embassies of foreign countries," the military official emphasized. Ukraine nationalizes all Russian properties. On Friday, Ukraine's Prime Minister Denis Shmygal announced the nationalization of all Russian property in the country. He said that this measure will serve "to offset the cost of part of the losses that Russia is causing us." The nationalization process will be possible thanks to a law approved by the Parliament that breaks with the Ukrainian Constitution, which establishes that the forced expropriation of properties can only be applied on the condition of prior and full compensation of its value. Under the new law, however, Russian assets will be confiscated without compensation or the need for a court ruling. The nationalization only required the decision of the Security Council. "The Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine has initiated the nationalization of 400 railcars owned by Russian and Belarusian companies," reported Railway Supply magazine. Russia denies responsibility for the missile strike at the Kramatorsk railway station. According to According to the Russian military, the strike was carried out by a Ukrainian missile division from the Dobropillya area. "The Kyiv regime tried to prevent the mass departure of residents from the city in order to use them as a 'human shield' to defend the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as in many other settlements of Ukraine, the military department said, "as reported by Sputnik. SOS strong images!! UCRONAZlS now protected by the UN, carried out a TERR0RIST attack with Tochka-U missiles against the train station in Kramatorsk station, RP Donetsk, at least 30 civilians have DEAD and more than 100 were injured... Western media covers up and blames Russia. https://t.co/NJ6xIhMkwI Kuriakos (@Gal_5_14) April 8, 2022 Japan to impose fresh bans, asset freezes on Russia. On Friday, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced that his country will impose additional sanctions on Russia, banning imports of coal and vodka, freezing assets held by major lenders Sberbank and Alfa Bank while halting new investments. The five-point sanctions list is part of Japan's latest measures to add economic and diplomatic pressure on Russia. The Japanese government plans to expand the number of individuals subject to Japan's asset freezes from 400 to around 550. Japan will also expel eight Russians including diplomats. Attack on Kramatorsk train station leaves 39 dead. Donetsk Governor Pavlo Kirilenko announced that the attack on the Ukrainian train station in Kramatorsk, in eastern Ukraine, left at least 39 dead and 87 wounded. Apparently the station was attacked by Russian forces with "Tochka-U" missiles. Von der Leyen and Borrell arrive in Kyiv. On Friday, the European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen, the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Josep Borrell, and Slovakia's Prime Minister Eduard Heger arrived in Kyiv on a visit to see the situation first hand. They will meet with Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, and other top officials. They are also scheduled to visit Bucha City, where the bodies of civilians were found, some handcuffed and with signs of torture. The EU officials' trip comes after the approval on Thursday night of the fifth package of European sanctions against Russia, which includes a ban on importing Russian coal, an arms embargo on Russia, and the closure of high-tech exports to Russia. Prime Minister Heger will propose to Zelensky the departure of Ukrainian wheat by train through Kosice, a Slovak city near the Ukrainian and Hungarian borders. Lviv constructs container town for fleeing Ukrainians. On Friday, Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said that the city of Lviv started to construct a container town for people who fled conflict-affected areas in other parts of the country. After being completed, the settlement comprising 70 containers with furniture, electricity and heat would accommodate up to 350 people. At the end of the 1970s in the United States, a mysterious terrorist sends parcel bombs stuffed with explosives. The first two were aimed at university professors, the third targeted an airliner, while the fourth targeted the president of United Airlines. The packages were made up of homemade bombs which caused injuries, but no deaths. This is the first of four question-and-answer features on the candidates running for the School District 2 board of trustees. Each of the candidates in the four contested board districts were asked the same six questions with each response being limited to 100 words. The four features are running consecutively over four days. The election will be Tuesday, May 3, and mail ballots will be sent April 13. The close of late voter registration is May 2 at noon. School Board District 3 candidates Note: Board Chair Greta Besch Moen currently holds this seat but is not seeking re-election. Shannon Johnson Why are you running? To provide a voice to parents who should be allowed to get involved in their children's education and the decisions that affect them in schools. A larger representation of parents with children who actually attend school in the district occupying seats on the board would show balance in the voices that are involved in making decisions. I have two children currently attending SD2 and have for their entire school careers thus far, so the decisions being made by the board directly affect my children and my family. What changes would you make to district curriculum or policy? It is difficult to say what changes need to be made to curriculum or policy when it is generally not a transparent topic being discussed openly by the board. However, 1905 needs to be eliminated. The new Amplify math curriculum should not be allowed to be used with its activism anecdotes. Time limits are needed for presentations to the board during meetings. If the public is going to be timed and held strictly to that time, then so should anyone presenting their agenda item before the board as well. None of these exhibit the equity that they preach. What from your professional or personal background qualifies you to serve on the board? First and foremost, I am a parent. That alone should suffice as my qualification to serve on the board. There are no personal background requirements of the candidates running for a trustee position, other than to have lived in their district for one year. Elected positions are not based upon qualifications, but the impact a person can make for their community. I aim to be elected by my constituents because they know I have stepped up and proven with my actions that I have been indefatigably involved in the issues most important to our kids. What are your thoughts on school choice? I am in favor of school choice. However, this is more of a state issue at this time than it is a local issue, therefore, I do not find this to be relevant to this particular race for school board. What is the biggest issue currently facing School District 2? The biggest issue facing SD2 besides the growing concern of parents feeling that they are not being heard, is transparency in financial matters. It is not clear where the federal dollars went that were awarded due to the in-force masking policy that was executed. Another mill levy is being heavily advertised, but not explained to the public. This is a concern especially considering the millions of dollars that SD2 supposedly received, while now the community is being asked to produce more, without any justification. What do you think the district got right or wrong in how it handled the COVID pandemic? The school board claimed they were making decisions based upon the safety of the children in attendance. However, relinquishing their individual voices to one man to make a decision that not only affected 16,000 students, but their families too, is suspect. The fact that masks were being leveraged in order to receive federal dollars showed that the primary intention of the board was not, in fact, the safety of our students. The decision to mask our kids, which was made the day before school started for the year was also a misstep by the superintendent (via the board). Teresa Larsen Why are you running? It is time to put students first. I have clear eyes that allow me to see different perspectives and find solutions. I have a full heart and I care about the success of all students. I have found success in leading by building relationships of trust with families, teachers, and administrators through communication, honesty, and respect. Everywhere I go, people are willing to work hard alongside me and things get done. What changes would you make to district curriculum or policy? Students participated in the Fastbridge CBM reading testing this winter. The report released by Billings Public Schools indicates that of 1,177 second-grade students tested, 57% are unlikely or very unlikely to meet grade-level goals without supplemental instructional support. Students in grades K-3 are missing out on approximately 2.5 hours/week of instruction because they are released earlier than students in grades 4-12. One of the changes I want to make is to extend the school day for these early grades, reallocating funds if necessary, allowing more instructional time to build a stronger foundation for academic success. What from your professional or personal background qualifies you to serve on the board? My education and experience uniquely qualify me to serve on the board at this critical time in history. With my accounting degree and business ownership experience, I have learned skills in financial literacy, leadership, management, strategic planning, team building, and negotiating for positive, productive outcomes. As a graduate of Leadership Billings, a member of the Heights Neighborhood Task Force, the vice-president on the Yellowstone County Planning Board, and a volunteer with various non-profits in our area, I am well integrated in our community. For many years, I have been actively involved as a youth leader in my church. What are your thoughts on school choice? School choice is important because there is no one-size-fits-all approach to helping children thrive. Currently, my daughter attends Sunrise Montessori. We chose to enroll her there because the style of teaching and structure encourages her growth in a way that other school systems cannot. Others may not have opportunities to choose somewhere other than public schools. We need to put students first and together create outstanding schools. Choice creates competition. Competition creates innovation, community, and excellence. What is the biggest issue currently facing School District 2? The biggest issue facing School District 2 is groups and individuals who criticize instead of collaborate, who focus on differences instead of finding common ground, and who argue instead of engaging in respectful dialogue. This creates a negative culture that is toxic and causes organizational breakdown. Embracing our differences and working together, we will create a strong community and a bright future for our students. Collaboration builds a positive culture and allows us to overcome any issue, no matter the size. What do you think the district got right or wrong in how it handled the COVID pandemic? The district handled the COVID pandemic the best it could. Personnel acted quickly to move into virtual classrooms as soon as Gov. Bullock shut the schools down. Tablets were provided, meals were made available, teachers adjusted their lesson plans, and students were given flexibility with grades. Information was made readily available to the public online. Later, procedures were put in place to allow students to return to school if they chose. Some practices were difficult for my family, and I questioned the necessity and effectiveness of them, especially when I saw students wearing their masks improperly. Please visit www.vote4teresalarsen.squarespace.com to learn more about my story. Love 3 Funny 2 Wow 3 Sad 0 Angry 3 The YWCA of Billings broke ground Friday on a new shelter that will offer a safe harbor for victims of violence and abuse. The two-story, 24-hour secured Gateway Horizons Shelter will provide 25 studio apartments, laundry facilities, a food pantry, counseling and case management offices, along with the YWCAs 24/7 help lines where 4,775 callers were assisted in the last year. Construction of what will be YWCAs second Billings domestic violence shelter began earlier this week, said the program's CEO Merry Lee Olson. The project got its biggest push in January of 2021 with an unrestricted $1 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. For the past 25 years YWCA Billings has provided a safe place at its existing Gateway Shelter for people fleeing domestic abuse, sexual violence and human trafficking. The women and children who stay there receive multiple services, including shelter, legal services, counseling and support in finding housing at no charge. Gateway Shelter will be the only 24-hour/365 day per year secured facility in an 18,500-square-mile-area, and last year the people who came there for protection were from 22 of Montanas 56 counties, three American Indian reservations, and seven other states. The new shelter will increase YWCAs capacity by 300 percent. Over the life of the new shelter, thousands of women and children will be assisted with live-saving sheltering and life-changing wrap-around services. With our help, families can heal from the complex trauma of violence and poverty, Olson said. YWCA recently got its second big boost for the shelter with a $55,000 donation from Stockman Bank. We are proud to partner with the YWCA to help empower women and children and put them on a path living a life free of violence and poverty, said Wayne Nelson, the banks Billings market president. To date, YWCA has received and has awards pending $2.9 million toward the total project cost of $4 million, Olson said Friday. Other significant donors include the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, the MJ Murdock Charitable Trust, the Gianforte Family Foundation, Treacy Foundation; and organizations such as Neighbor-Works MT and Big Horn County. To fully fund the Gateway Horizons project YWCA still needs to raise $1.1 million. Supporters can donate at Venmo @ywcabillings; by calling YWCA Billings at 406-2526303; online at www.ywcabillings.org/donate/ or mailing contributions to YWCAGateway Horizons, 909 Wyoming Avenue, Billings, Montana 59101. Love 5 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 The LSU Opera will celebrate composer Philip Glass' 85th birthday with two free performances of his minimalist opera 'Orphee' on Friday and Sunday. Glass, seen in this 2014 photo, performs his 'La Belle et la Bete' (Beauty and the Beast) concert as part of the Budapest Spring Festival in the Palace of Arts in Budapest, Hungary. The thing Suzie Miller loves most about storytelling is the ability to interrogate the systems weve constructed as a society. And of course, she says, the biggest one of all of those is the legal system. Miller would know. The Sydney playwright spent years defending troubled youth in court before swapping a career in the law for one in the theatre. Miller is a special guest on the latest episode of Good Weekend Talks, where she discusses her hit legal drama Prima Facie, due to premiere shortly in Londons West End with Killing Eve star Jodie Comer in the lead. Prima Facie features a bright young barrister accustomed to defending those charged with sexual assault, who then becomes a victim herself. Its a story that I made up in my living room, and then suddenly its out there in the world, Miller says. Its the conversation I was always aching to have at law school and as a lawyer, and now suddenly, the conversation is bigger than me. Miller and her work are the subject of Good Weekends cover story this week, Second Act, by London-based freelance writer Jane Wheatley, who joins the podcast from Britain. The woman in Suzies play does go to court shes one of the few that gets through all the obstacles, says Wheatley. And then, of course, she has an absolutely horrible time because its such a ghastly process. Its adversarial. Fantastically complicated. A nonprofit organization is recognizing a group of North Dakota military veterans through a trip to Washington, D.C., that will include stops at several historic sites and war memorials. Western North Dakota Honor Flights inaugural flight will take 93 veterans and their escorts to the nations capital. With volunteers, medical staff and media, a total of 153 people will board a chartered airplane Sunday morning at the Bismarck Airport. The first Western North Dakota Honor Flight was planned for the fall of 2020 but was stalled by the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizers are eyeing another trip in October, according to organizer Marty Presler. We have about 200 on the waiting list, he said. Western North Dakota Honor Flight is the newest of 135 hubs in the Honor Flight Network, which has taken nearly 250,000 veterans to see the war memorials. There is no cost to the veterans. Funding comes from businesses, service organizations, fundraising events and private donations. The North Dakota vets will see the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery, and visit the Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the World War II Memorial. A private opening of the National Archives will enable them to view the original Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. A public welcome home reception will be held at the airport when the group returns at 8 p.m. Monday. People attending the reception should use the airports short-term parking and exit through the manned booths. Parking is free for the event. Reach Travis Svihovec at 701-250-8260 or Travis.Svihovec@bismarcktribune.com Love 2 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. Currawong Resources, which is drilling in the Wombat State Forest, is among many exploration companies probing the same ground that was mined more than a century ago, hoping for Victorias next eureka moment. These core samples will help to determine whether a new gold mine should proceed. Credit:Jason South The companys community relations adviser, Michael Robinson, says miners in the gold rush stopped partly because they lacked the equipment to clear the groundwater that often filled mines as they pushed deeper underground. Theres no particular reason to believe they stopped because they ran out of gold. The experience in other places is that these things do continue further and deeper, the trained geologist says. The only way to establish whether thats true or not is to drill holes underneath old [mine] workings. On a drizzly morning in the Wombat State Forest near Trentham, the rig rumbles inside a fenced area the size of a large suburban block. Robinson says the company is searching for large sections of quartz or other rocks that may conceal high-grade gold. In exceptional circumstances, extracting these slender core samples might even uncover visible traces of the metal itself. The Victorian gold rush began tapering off early in the 20th century. But the modern rush was triggered by the discovery of new sections of gold at the Fosterville Gold Mine, near Bendigo. The mine has produced 3.5 million ounces of gold in its 17 years of operation. People knew that there was gold left in the ground in Victoria, but what the Fosterville mine showed was there wasnt just gold there, Robinson says. There was a lot of it at a high grade that could be extremely profitable if a company could find it. The state government has now issued about 300 minerals exploration licences, the majority including gold, which cover much of Victoria. These licences provide exclusive rights to search for minerals in a specified area. Currawong Resources geologist Michael Robinson Credit:Jason South Robinson says it can take 10 years to establish a mine after gold is first discovered and the vast majority of explorations do not result in mining. Mines are expensive and risky ventures which require extensive environmental approvals and major financial backing. But with total Victorian gold sales surpassing $1.7 billion in the past financial year, exploration companies are steaming ahead. Robinson says preparing for exploration is a protracted process in itself and can require an archaeological survey if the site is close to a recognised heritage area. But exploration companies cared little for preserving gold rush history when he began conducting local surveys 30 years ago, Castlemaine-based consultant archaeologist David Bannear says. Now laws ban the disturbance of historically significant artefacts and Bannear has conducted more than 20 archaeological surveys for exploration companies in the last three years alone. These surveys have uncovered machinery and even everyday items from miners huts, including cutlery, bottles and tools. That informs where the company can put the drill rig, so they dont disturb any of that stuff. A veil of mystery hangs over the lives, discoveries and secrets held by gold miners, Heritage Victoria principal archaeologist Jeremy Smith says, especially for those who laboured in remote parts of the alps and Gippsland. This is a new frontier of historical exploration for Victoria, and well learn so much in the next few years about the lives and histories of the miners and communities that shaped Victorias gold rush, he says. Although Heritage Victoria has records of more than 2000 mining sites, many remain largely unexplored. New archaeological analyses help to fill those gaps. But some historians believe the damaging environmental legacy of the gold rush has been obscured by a romanticised view of the era. La Trobe University industrial archaeologist and environmental historian Professor Susan Lawrence says miners unearthed millions of tonnes of waste in the 1800s, some of it contaminated, which found its way into many Victorian river systems. It went on for 50 years, she says. All of that is still there in the Victorian landscape 150 years later because mining was not properly regulated. Lawrence says even today mines are sometimes left dormant, instead of being properly decommissioned, so that companies can avoid the cost of rehabilitating the sites. Were talking about devastation that will last for generations. What is that worth to us today? What price do we put on these places? she asks. Gold exploration is booming in Victoria. Credit:Jason South Industry figures, including Robinson, argue that mining companies are now bound by strict environmental regulations and must carry out extensive rehabilitation works after mining or exploration is complete. But Kirsty McDonald says her life has been upended by a mine. She lived comfortably in her Axedale home near Bendigo from 2014 until June 2020, when a ventilation shaft from the nearby Fosterville Gold Mine began emitting a low-frequency hum that left her sleep-deprived and nauseous. Its like a truck revving in your driveway, and it never goes away, she says. Fosterville is among five major gold mines in Victoria and its management wants to expand its operations as part of a plan to continue mining for at least another 10 years. McDonald fears this expansion will increase the disposal of waste from Fosterville, with gold mine refuse often containing high levels of toxic materials such as arsenic. She says the Campaspe River, which runs near the mine, is particularly vulnerable to the leaching of contaminated waste: Once its contaminated theres no going back. Fosterville Gold Mine general manager Lance Faulkner insists the company conducts regular inspections of its refuse disposal facilities in addition to environmental monitoring of air quality, groundwater and surface water. He says a reduction of fan speeds has also resulted in decreased low-frequency noise levels. Fosterville Gold Mine remains committed to being a responsible member of the local community, and our highest priority is the health and wellbeing of our people and neighbours, he says. High prices are helping to drive a modern gold rush in Victoria. Credit:Paul Jeffers Gold mines are delivering huge economic benefits for Victoria as they dig deeper and wider than ever before, says the Minerals Council of Australias Victorian executive director James Sorahan. The industry paid $48.2 million in gold royalties to the state government in 2020/21. But graphs can be made to rise sharply by magnifying the vertical scale. And this scale was so stretched that its zero had dropped through the floor and disappeared. In fact, the graph showed a modest increase from 13 million jobs to 13.26 million jobs a 2 per cent increase across the pandemic period. But the population also increased during that time by more than 210,000. So the jobs boost is welcome but unremarkable. Did this warrant a taxpayer-funded advertisement? What other numerical tricks are being employed to influence votes? Neil Wilkinson, Mont Albert They are not governing Peter Hartcher (Albaneses chief aide: Morrison, Comment, 9/4), puts it succinctly and brutally: The smartest thing Albanese did was not to get in the way of Morrisons failure. That said, there are still too many nervous Nellies out there who think the Labor leader should be loudly detailing his policies, despite them being on the public record already. Perhaps, after all, there is this time around, an alternative narrative: that is, the Australian public has stopped listening to Scott Morrison in the way that they famously turned their backs on the dreadful Billy McMahon decades ago. The Coalition is not governing. It has become a horror show of pork barrelling, internecine fighting and bereft of vision on the domestic and foreign policy front. Anthony Albanese should retain his restraint, and start, as Gough Whitlam did before the seminal 1972 election, talking about what my government will do on coming to office. It is indeed time for a change. Jon McMillan, Mount Eliza Perish the thought Im sure your correspondent was writing in jest when he said it would be a good thing if elections were held every six months if it leads to refugees being released from the detention hotels (Out of the blue, refugees are suddenly released, Letters, 9/4). A part of me agrees but another part shudders at the thought of politicians being in perpetual campaign mode. Now what about the Murugappan family? As we approach Easter, wouldnt it be charitable of the Immigration Minister, Alex Hawke, if he were to enable the family to return to Biloela? Surely he could do with some positive news/spin after all the recent negative publicity concerning NSW Liberal preselections. Kate McCaig, Surrey Hills The real disgrace Melbournes real disgrace (Letters, 8/4) is not the graffiti and rubbish on the sides of the freeways but the encouragement of Melbournes car culture at the expense of active transport that keeps you healthy and public electrified transport that is far more consistent with zero emissions. John Merory, Ivanhoe Hear my prayer The 19th-century philosopher Hegel said that reading the newspaper had become the morning prayer of realists. In the past few weeks my daily prayer has been replaced by daily suspense: Is the paper on my veranda? On the pavement? In my neighbours front yard? In the middle of the street, under the wheels of passing vehicles? Or nowhere at all? Will any higher authority ever grant me a regular delivery? Mirna Cicioni, Brunswick East Here, in the real world ... While politicians play campaign games (Road to victory, Insight, 9/4), voters endure the real-life conditions that the outcome of these games determines the terrifying effects of climate change, the inequality of wealth negatively affecting Australians of all ages, and the inequality of respect negatively affecting women and the elderly. Ruth Farr, Blackburn South Fix the date It is time to stop this nonsense over calling an election. Lets just set a date every four years and stop the political game playing. Andrew Lloyd, Clifton Hill Melbourne has lost more people during COVID than any other capital in Australia. Will the city ever recover? Decisions being taken in the next few months by both the state government and the various inner city local councils especially the City of Melbourne will determine the answer. Melbournes CBD is recovering but theres some way to go before the streets teem again during the day. Credit:Chris Hopkins Unless they all work together, there is significant risk that the intense competition, the struggle for survival, will only be about cannibalising the neighbours but with no net gain. Our urban configuration pre-COVID was hub and spoke the CBD attracted vast numbers of commuters from the fringe who made their way in and out each day. The traffic congestion and crowded public transport are a fading memory as so many anxious ex-commuters continue working at least some days from home. When Melburnians awoke on the morning of May 18, 2019 and prepared to vote in the federal election, further north, in Sydney, there was a hint of smoke in the air. The NSW Rural Fire Service was working on a hazard reduction burn in the Blue Mountains that would come to blanket the city in a dangerous haze later that week. Voters in both cities didnt know it as they lined up to cast their ballots, but the smell of smoke would linger in their nostrils for weeks that coming spring and summer as bushfires ravaged parts of Victoria and much of NSW. Voters cast their ballots in Sydney at the last federal election on May 18, 2019. Credit:David Gray/Bloomberg They had no idea either that a new virus would cause havoc in Wuhan, China, about the same time as those fires and that Australias then newly elected government would, in this term, close the nations border in response, hand out billions of dollars in support to keep the economy afloat and oversee a dramatic shift in the way Australians lived their day-to-day lives. With Prime Minister Scott Morrison poised to call the next election at any moment, possibly on Sunday, it is imperative Australians use the next few weeks to inform themselves about the candidates on their ballot papers and the policies they will be supporting, because who knows what decisions the next federal government will be asked to make on our behalf? The past three exhausting years have brought home to us all the true power of a vote. Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese have blitzed key seats and media markets in NSW, Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania over the past two months and largely ignored Victoria as the federal election looms. An analysis by The Sunday Age and The Sun-Herald of the two leaders media appearances including press conferences, radio and TV interviews and events staged for TV, so-called pic facs highlights which states the two major parties are targeting to hold and win seats in. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen While Labor enjoys a considerable lead over the Coalition in national polling such as the Resolve Political Monitor, strategists from both major parties believe the election will be decided in seat-by-seat marginal battles and their media strategies bear this out. Since the start of February, Mr Morrison has focused on his home state of New South Wales with 36 radio interviews, press conferences and pic facs. The Coalitions strategy for more than a year has been to target up to 10 marginal Labor seats in the state, though bitter factional infighting and late pre-selections have made this a more difficult task. Flight tracking of the three planes operated by the RAAF for the Prime Minister and government has been disabled, making it more difficult to track the Prime Ministers movements. Dr Allen holds her seat of Higgins in Melbournes inner south-east with a margin of 3.7 per cent and will be challenged by Labor, while Mr Zimmerman holds North Sydney with a margin of 9.4 per cent and faces a fight with independent Kylea Tink. Ms McQueen, who has courted controversy in the past, said Mr Morrison is travelling very well and that she was optimistic the Coalition could win marginal seats including Dobell, Paterson and Shortland and even Eden-Monaro in NSW, but she foreshadowed losses elsewhere. Hornsby Shire mayor and NSW Liberal Party president Philip Ruddock. Credit:Mick Tsikas There are seats that we will have to compensate for. I think Trent Zimmerman may be in a lot of trouble ... I think in Victoria Katie Allen will have problems too, but we will do well with regional areas in Victoria. She added that until Labor gets back in we havent got a chance in Warringah, referring to the once blue ribbon Liberal seat held by Tony Abbott who lost it to independent Zali Steggall in 2019, and acknowledged widespread anger within the NSW division. Certainly there are party members with grievances [about NSW preselections], I too have grievances. But at this particular time I urge all members to support their candidates, she said. Loading Mr Ruddock, who last week flagged the NSW branchs constitution would be reviewed after the election because of the bitter factional fight over preselections that ultimately was taken to the High Court, acknowledged the impact of the preselection delays on the coming election fight. I think its perfectly obvious that if you have the opportunity to be [campaigning] on the ground, if you are not particularly well known locally [as a candidate], that it may enhance your prospects of success, he said. Asked whether the factional infighting, public attacks on Mr Morrison including by Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, NSW state MP Catherine Cusack and former Liberal candidate Michael Towke and delays to preselecting candidates meant NSW no longer offered a pathway to victory, Mr Ruddock said: Ive never been a commentator on these sorts of issues, but I never say never. Loading Coalition strategists have targeted NSW as the state the federal Coalition is most likely to win seats in, with as many as 10 Labor-held seats in the partys sights since last year, while looking to firewall 23 of 30 seats it holds in Queensland and 11 of 16 in Western Australia (though one is being abolished in a redistribution). In Victoria, the government hopes to hold the ultra-marginal seat of Chisholm while some in the party believe Geelong-centred Corangamite and McEwen in outer suburban Melbourne, could be within striking distance because of disaffection with the Victorian state government. The Sun-Herald and The Sunday Age have spoken to 11 members of the parliamentary Liberal Party from across the country in the past week to gauge concern over whether the factional infighting has harmed the partys election chances. The MPs, who all asked not to be named so they could speak freely, were roughly evenly split between those who said the dispute would hurt their chances and those who believed it would be forgotten by polling day. One downbeat assessment from a NSW MP was that Mr Morrison was now very, very unpopular in Sydney and that Treasurer Josh Frydenberg was much more popular than the Prime Minister. The MP said Mr Frydenberg facing a fight to hold his Victorian seat of Kooyong from so-called teal independent Monique Ryan would be needed to sandbag inner-city seats such as Mr Zimmermans and Wentworth, held by Dave Sharma, from independents too. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen There were four consequences of the NSW factional war, the MP added: First, its harder to overcome Morrisons unpopularity. Second, it makes it harder to man booths [with volunteers]. Third, its harder to raise money and fourth is the Bob Hawke principle if you cant govern yourselves, you cant govern the country. The contrary view among MPs, though, is that while the High Court challenge to preselections and free-ranging character assessments had been damaging for the party, they were far from fatal. The factional stuff hasnt been helpful. People are perplexed by it, but it will be overtaken by issues in the campaign. I just dont think people will be raising it in six weeks time, the MP said. A third MP said that at the moment the election is a referendum about Morrison and we lose every day of the week if its about him. The sooner we can shift from that to him versus Albo or team versus team the better. To that end, the MP said Mr Frydenberg, campaign spokespeople and senior ministers Simon Birmingham and Anne Ruston (who is expected to replace Greg Hunt as Health Minister), Defence Minister Peter Dutton and Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews would have to be deployed in a campaign much less presidential compared to 2019. The government starts with a notional 76 seats at this election (assuming the return of Hughes from United Australia Party), which is the barest of majorities at a time when national polls are suggesting a sizeable swing against the government. In 2019 Mrs McIntosh won Lindsay from Labor with a decisive 6 per cent swing. The strong support for the Liberals there, and in other outer urban electorates, prompted party elder Alexander Downer to claim Prime Minister Scott Morrison had brought back the Howard battlers. Morrison travelled to the Lindsay electorate to campaign the day after Parliament rose following the federal budget, signalling its ongoing importance. But Labor MPs who now occupy other seats on Sydneys western fringe are sceptical about the relevance of the Howard battler label. Susan Templeman, who holds the ultra-marginal seat of Macquarie stretching from the Blue Mountains to the Hawkesbury, says the way people see themselves has moved on a bit over the past 25 years. There are absolutely a bunch of people who feel like theyre battling, but Im not sure theyre the same people termed Howard battlers 20 to 30 years ago, she says. Labor MP Mike Freelander, who has held Macarthur since its boundaries were redrawn in 2016, detests the Howard battler tag. Yes, some of that demographic did vote for John Howard. But they turned against him in the end. I dont think that demographic belongs to any particular party, he said. There has been far-reaching change in Sydneys west since the Coalition swept to power in 1996. Greater Sydney has added more than 1 million people since 2000 and the citys outer fringe has absorbed a significant share. That influx, driven by overseas migration, has redrawn electoral boundaries and altered the demographic character of many districts. In 2001, around 25 per cent of the population of Campbelltown council area (within Macarthur) were born overseas but by 2016 that had jumped to 38 per cent. The overseas-born population in the seats of Lindsay and Macquarie has also risen steadily since the turn of the century. Rishad Hassan of Claymore and his sons, Hamza 10 and Hudhayfah 6. Mr Hassan says political leaders in western Sydney must understand the regions complex cultural mix. Credit:Photo: Wolter Peeters, The Sydney Morning Herald. Rishad Hassan, who migrated to Australia from Bangladesh in 2000, built his family home in the Macarthur electorate a few years ago, purchasing an affordable block in Claymore, now known as Hillcroft Estate. The outer south-west suburb which was not heavily populated when he first moved there has since attracted young families and become a popular area for the Bangladeshi community. Im pleasantly surprised the way [Claymore] has developed over the last two years, says Hassan. A lot of working-class families moved in, attracted by the [land] grant, similar to me. Many are working in the city, 9-to-5 jobs. We are creating our own community of like-minded people. Loading But while the community is relatively new, some of their key concerns date back decades. Transportation options to the city are the most important thing, says Hassan. If we want to go to work in a corporate world, I dont think theres opportunity in this area. You have to go all the way to the city or the north shore. [We want the government to be] building opportunities here, where there are big offices, so our kids get some better opportunities in the future. Hassan believes its crucial political leaders appreciate the areas cultural complexities. We need someone who understands the migrant, cultural diversity that we have, and is able to cater to that. Stereotyping doesnt apply to us we have different needs and ways of looking at the word. Being able to understand that complex cultural mix is key. The economy of western Sydney has also transformed since the Howard years. In the mid-1990s, manufacturing accounted for about 14 per cent of the citys economic output, much of it from western Sydney, but that has now shrunk to about 5 per cent. The share of workers in the region employed in the service sector has grown steadily and there are higher levels of educational attainment. The latest census data shows more professionals were added in western Sydney region that any other occupation between 2006 and 2016. Western Sydney is increasingly a knowledge economy, so you wouldnt call them Howards battlers quite so much now, says social researcher Mark McCrindle. Phillip ONeill, Professor of Economic Geography at Western Sydney University, says the number of well-educated workers who live and work in outer Sydney has increased with the rapid population growth. A young professional with a degree in health, education or social services can actually live in a nice housing estate and work in the outer suburbs, he said. Many well-educated workers have also settled near major transport corridors in citys north-west because this provides access to major knowledge-employment hubs including the central business district, North Sydney and Macquarie Park. These trends challenge the battler stereotype ONeill says the income profile of western Sydney is now similar to Australia as a whole. If you took eastern Sydney off Sydney, western Sydney would look pretty much like Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth or Hobart, he says. Electoral politics is inevitably affected by such sweeping demographic and economic change. One example, says ONeill, is the way housing estates occupied by relatively well-educated, wealthy voters are pushing westward especially in Sydneys north-west. This is blurring the line between traditional Labor and the aspirational swinging voter, he said. Property values are another revealing marker of economic change. The median price of a detached home in Sydneys Outer west and Blue Mountains statistical region, which takes in the electorates of Lindsay and Macquarie, has reached $882,000 according to the latest Domain Group price data. Thats higher than the median house price in Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth or Hobart. Some suburbs on Sydneys far west and south-west have recently climbed into the $1m median house price category including Pitt Town, Harrington Park and Glenbrook. Freelander warns of new challenges. There used to be more jobs in areas that were relatively lower skilled, construction, manufacturing, he says. Many of those jobs have gone. A lot of my constituents are in the gig economy, personal care economy, and often have to travel long distances for work. Theyre finding it increasingly difficult to buy a house because of the rapid increase in housing values $1 million is the average house price in Campbelltown. If you said that to me five or 10 years ago, I would have said youre in a fantasy world. I think a lot of people are struggling to afford that, to buy or to rent. Loading Voters have a raft of different concerns to those topping the political agenda two decades ago, including climate change. Templeman thinks natural disasters that have ripped through her electorate since 2019, including the black summer bushfires, have deeply affected peoples sense of security and will play a role in the next election. A natural disaster completely changes your economic, financial future, she says. You have a rug pulled from under you. That sense of battling comes through to me here, these days, much more by our need to survive what the elements throw at us in this electorate. We have fires, we have floods, we have storms that do terrible damage. That creates a real uncertainty for people. It does actually feel, in the last couple of years when you put COVID on top of it all that our whole region has really battled to survive. Blue Mountains voter Alex Monnet says climate change policy will influence who she supports at the election Credit:Dean Sewell. Twenty-two-year-old Blue Mountains resident Alexandrine Monnet, who works in childcare and retail, says climate change policy will be driving her vote this year, and is important to many young people in the area. It really matters to me to have a government that cares about the future. It affects communities and small communities are ravaged by the floods that we are seeing and the bushfires of 2019, she says. I would say the mountains youth is little l liberal, pretty progressive and moved away from that Howard battler stereotype. But it still feels pretty split. Loading Western Sydneys big population and high concentration of marginal electorates make it an important battleground at every federal election. The region has around 10 per cent of the seats in federal parliament, which is more than South Australia or Tasmania. But Professor ONeill says the region has long defied simplistic political stereotypes like the Howard battler tag. When you get an urban area with over 2 million people, which is the population of western Sydney, youre going to have a very diverse set of political views, he says. ONeill believes heterogeneity now defines the region more than anything else. After delivering thousands of free meals to vulnerable Victorians stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to interstate flood victims, Victorias Sikh volunteers need a bigger kitchen. Volunteers in Melbournes south-eastern suburbs were already cooking 18,000 meals a year in 2019, when the Black Summer fires tore down the nations east coast, but ramped that up to a whopping 142,000 meals in 2020 during the pandemic. The Kaur family enjoys lunch at the Sikh Volunteers Australia appreciation awards. Credit:Chris Hopkins When the pandemic hit Victoria, we realised that this is a service which is required more than before, Sikh Volunteers Australia founder Jaswinder Singh told The Age. I remember the day. The charity known for stepping in during natural disasters cooked another 129,000 meals in 2021. Its volunteers have provided 11,600 meals so far this year, but they plan to cook many more once construction on a new kitchen and community centre is complete. French President Emmanuel Macron has warned his likely opponent in this months second round of the presidential election right-wing nationalist Marine Le Pen is playing on the fears of the public with a racist manifesto. In his last scheduled interview before the first-round presidential vote held on Sunday, French time, Macron conceded he had become distracted with Russias war in Ukraine and not campaigned hard enough domestically as polls show his lead over Le Pen who he defeated five years ago had almost evaporated. French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen. Credit:AP Le Pen has surged in polls in recent weeks, and is expected to face off in the second round against Macron, a centrist who had hoped he would woo some right-wing voters, in a repeat of the 2017 election. His re-election, which would be the first of any French president in 20 years, was predicted to be a foregone conclusion even two weeks ago, however his lead in the polls has narrowed within the margin of error in the week. Two North Dakota Army National Guardsmen saved migrants from drowning at the southern border last month. Spc. Luis Alvarado, of Bismarck, and Spc. Gracin Clem, of Dickinson, were conducting mobile surveillance camera operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection on March 22 when they observed five migrants attempting to cross the Rio Grande River, the National Guard said. The migrants were halfway across the river but struggled to stay above water due to strong currents and high winds. Alvarado, who is fluent in Spanish, tried to shout instructions on how to cross the river safely. He was unsuccessful in communicating with the migrants, and two of them went under the water while the rest continued to struggle. Clem and Alvarado had received nylon lifeline ropes that morning and tried to send them to the migrants, but the currents were too strong. Clem then swam a lifeline out to two of the migrants and rescued them while the other three crossed managed to cross the river. It wasnt an option to watch these people drown, he said. Alvarado and Clem are assigned to the North Dakota National Guards 957th Engineer Company and have served at the southwest border since the fall of 2021. These heroic actions demonstrate the unyielding commitment of our Guard members to preserve lives while in the service of our nation, said Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, North Dakota adjutant general. Our entire chain of command is extremely proud of the actions of all our soldiers. Reach Sam Nelson at 701-250-8264 or sam.nelson@bismarcktribune.com. Love 4 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 3 Here we are 250 years after the Founding Fathers declared that we the people were creating a government with the consent of the governed, still trying to define who we the people are. At first, we the people consisted of white property and asset owners who had a stake in society. After a bit, new forms of wealth occurred and the definition had to be broadened to permit people with different sources of income to vote. Then in the Andrew Jackson era, the floodgates were opened and every white person over the age of 21 was included in the electorate. It was a political move strategized by Jackson. Women speak out In 1848, the womens rights convention met at Seneca Falls, New York, and demanded action on a variety of grievances. It was a hastily called affair, with attendance from the area of around 200 delegates and well-wishers. After expressing opinions on various issues, the last issue considered was the right of women to vote. Some delegates thought it was too big a bite for the nation to chew and opposed the idea. It survived in the end, but it took 150 years of relentless fighting for women to win the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920. Womens suffrage was a persistent issue in the North Dakota 1889 Constitutional Convention. Before committees were even organized, a guest speaker, Henry Blackwell from Boston, was invited to address the delegates. He quoted the Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are equal and they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Then he asked: Is there anyone here that will doubt that a woman has the same right to secure the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as a man? That set the tone for the convention. But a majority of delegates doubted, so the women lost. In 1914, the Legislature put the issue of women suffrage on the ballot and it lost by a vote of 49,348 to 40,209. In 1920, the Legislature put the measure on the ballot again and it carried by a vote of 135,370 to 60,772. This change of heart did not come from enlightening the Germans and Scandinavians; the rest of the nation was already approving the Nineteenth Amendment and North Dakota wanted to join the parade even though it was a latecomer. Ignorant stay ignorant Around 1900, a group of national civic leaders was proposing that real democracy required universal suffrage and universal voting. It favored increased turnout and requiring people to vote. The North Dakota Constitution gave the Legislature authority to establish compulsory voting, but it was never given serious consideration. But democracy has an Achilles' heel -- many voters cast ballots in ignorance, relying on hearsay, rumor, heritage, misinformation or unfounded prejudices. In their ignorance, they often vote against their own best interests or fail to understand the impact of elections on national policy. Recognizing this weakness, a number of North Dakota newspapers are carrying an educational column on the U.S. Constitution by a learned, objective scholar. But it takes commitment and interest for subscribers to take advantage of learning basics about the Constitution. So the ignorant stay ignorant, some by choice and some by circumstances. There is now a movement to shrink democracy and backtrack to a time when elites controlled more of the process. So what do we need to do to bring the uninformed voter the information required to make intelligent decisions? Churchill once said that democracy was the worst form of government except all others that have been tried. We may need to be looking. Lloyd Omdahl is a political scientist and former North Dakota Democratic lieutenant governor. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Periodically, in what seems like a never-ending assault on our basic values and the rule of law, good news emerges. The good news now is the unanimous decision of a panel of three judges on an Ohio Court of Appeals, supporting a jury decision in favor of Gibson's Bakery in its case against Oberlin College. Gibson's Bakery sued Oberlin College for libel, intentional infliction of emotional distress and intentional interference with a business relationship, because of the school's involvement and support of student demonstrations accusing the bakery of racial profiling and discrimination. The decision is worthy of our attention because it shows just how troubling the situation is at our colleges and universities. As our nation leans increasingly to the left, as our most basic values -- now called conservative values -- are being pushed out the door, while they are displaced by the chaos of moral relativism, some bold individuals -- in this case, the proprietors of Gibson's Bakery in Oberlin, Ohio -- refuse to be intimidated and concede. And that refusal has paid off for the Gibson family and for all Americans who care about truth. Oberlin College now must pay $33 million in punitive damages and $11 million in compensatory damages to Gibson's Bakery. In brief, a Black student from Oberlin was chased down by the son of the store's proprietor when he saw him shoplift a bottle of wine. The student, and two of his friends who then got involved, were arrested by the police and all subsequently pleaded guilty. But the incident set off student demonstrations outside this mom and pop bakery, started by David Gibson's great-grandfather in 1885. The owners were branded racists, and flyers were handed out claiming that the store had a history of "racial profiling and discrimination." Hopefully, the lawsuit filed and won by the Gibson family will put a damper on the casual use of these horrible accusations. The snapshot we now have of the academic and social reality at Oberlin College, which has a reputation as one of the nation's premier liberal arts colleges, is deeply troubling. Oberlin is now on the line for millions of dollars in damages because its own school administrators are so self-absorbed in their own liberal dogma that they can no longer think clearly, honestly and objectively. The college maintains a website dedicated to the case, and now, even after they have experienced such a devastating defeat in court, they are still in denial about what happened. Particularly troubling is that the school administration refuses to accept that this case was not about the First Amendment but about their support of their own students to libel the Gibson family. Over the years, I have spoken at almost 300 colleges and universities, and I have watched and experienced these campuses taken over by dogma and left-wing activists. In a study published in 2020 by the National Association of Scholars, 12,372 college and university faculty were surveyed regarding political affiliation. Over the full sample, 8.4 were registered Democrat for each registered Republican. At Oberlin College, this ratio was 10.8 to 1. Given that over the whole American population, the ratio of those identifying as Democrat to Republican is about 1 to 1, we get a picture of the incredibly distorted reality that has captured higher education. In the last presidential election, former President Donald Trump won the vote of those with no college degree, 50% to 48%. However, he lost the vote of college graduates 43% to 55%. The nation is indebted to the Gibson family for refusing to be intimidated by left-wing dogmatists at Oberlin and for standing hard and fast for what is true. But despite this important victory, we remain with a big problem that young Americans are getting college degrees and learning how not to think. Star Parker is an author and president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education. Contact her at www.urbancure.org. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 95 Congressional Republicans Urge DOJ to Appoint Special Counsel to Probe Hunter Biden Rep. Tom Rice (R-S.C.) and 94 other Republicans in the House of Representatives on April 8 urged Attorney General Merrick Garland to appoint a special counsel to investigate President Joe Bidens son. The lawmakers say the probe should be shifted from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Delaware, which has been probing Hunter Biden since at least 2019. Prosecutors at the office have not publicly disclosed what they are investigating, but documents from the investigation and people who have testified to a grand jury say it includes looking into Hunter Bidens financial dealings with entities in China and other foreign countries. Rice and the lawmakers told Garland that it is increasingly clear that Hunter Biden took advantage of his fathers position as Vice President to develop business relationships with clients in Ukraine, China, and Kazakhstan and that emails from a laptop believed to have belonged to the younger Biden show he used a case gift from Burisma, a Ukrainian company on whose board he sat, to pay off personal tax liabilities. Additionally, evidence indicates Hunter Biden helped lobby for foreign groups despite not registering under the Foreign Agents Restoration Act, Garland was informed. Since Hunter Biden is the son of the president, and the Department of Justice is headed by an official appointed by Joe Biden, an outsider should be tapped to take over the investigation, the letter says. We believe that in the case of Hunter Biden a special counsel must be appointed to preserve the integrity of this investigation and any subsequent prosecution. A special counsel would also ensure there is no bias in the investigation or undue influence from the White House, the lawmakers said. Reps. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), and Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) were among the other signees. A lawyer who has represented Hunter Biden did not respond to a request for comment. The Department of Justice couldnt be reached. Garland has heeded calls not to replace David Weiss, the U.S. attorney for Delaware. All other U.S. attorneys appointed by former President Donald Trump left office in 2021 after being asked to do so by top Biden administration officials. Garland has also pledged to oversee an independent Department of Justice and make sure justice is applied equally, though critics say he hasnt followed through on the promises. Other Republicans have said previously that a special counsel should be put in place to investigate the younger Biden, though a small number have said they dont think a special counsel is the correct move. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), who has investigated Hunter Bidens dealings himself, recently said the way the probe headed by Special Counsel John Durham into the origins of the Trump-Russia narrative has unfolded is one of the reasons. If Garland does appoint a special counsel, I wont have any faith in him, Johnson said during an appearance on Fox News. The whole trend of your mind seemed to be towards big things, Andrew Carnegies childhood friend Tom David wrote him later in life. Carnegie rarely did anything small, especially once he amassed his fortune through steel. However, the captain of industry didnt have grand or affluent roots. Carnegie was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, on November 25, 1835. His fathers trade was weaving, but industrialization put William Carnegie out of work. Carnegies mother, Margaret, hoped her husband would have better luck finding a job in the United States. The family moved to Pittsburgh, where jobs were abundant, and they didnt face the same craft restrictions on skilled artisans that they had in Scotland. Andrew Carnegie (front row, fourth from left), his daughter, Margaret, and wife, Louise, at the corporations first board meeting, Nov. 10, 1911. (Public Domain) Railroads and Steel Though William Carnegie wouldnt have much more success earning money in the United States than he had in Scotland, his sons would profit enormously from the familys move. At age 13, Carnegie dropped out of school and began working. Though he missed Scotland, Carnegie recognized the great opportunity he had in America. If I had been in Dunfermline working at the loom it is very likely I would have been a poor weaver all my days, but here I can surely do something better than that, Carnegie wrote his uncle. Carnegie soon found a job as a messenger boy for the citys telegraph office. He worked his way up in the office, eventually catching the attention of Thomas Scott, who worked as a superintendent at the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Scott made him his private secretary and telegrapher in 1853. Six years later, Carnegie succeeded Scott, becoming the superintendent of the Pennsylvania Railroads Pittsburgh division. As Carnegie climbed the ladder, he made many profitable investments, including ones in the Keystone Bridge Company and Union Iron Mills. On his trips to Europe to sell securities for railroads and bridges, Carnegie met men whose companies produced steel and iron. He became increasingly convinced that the future would be made of metal. Carnegie resigned from his position with the railroad in 1865. By 187273, his focus narrowed to his new investments in the steel business. He founded the J. Edgar Thomson Steel Works, which would eventually become, with other sites, the Carnegie Steel Company. Carnegies steel company found success in part because of innovation. The steel plants used the Bessemer steelmaking process, which was the first method that enabled the mass production of steel. Throughout his time in the steel business, Carnegie made sure to employ the latest technological advancements in his plants. Conveyors at the abandoned historic Carrie Blast Furnace, one of Carnegies Pittsburgh steel mills. (Kristina/Adobe Stock) Though he was generous to his workers early on, in his later years with the company Carnegie wasnt a great friend of the workers in his factories or the unions who tried to organize at them. The Homestead strike, which turned violent, would remain a stain on Carnegies reputation. Although Carnegie remained very involved in his businesses, for the most part he managed them from New York, where he moved after resigning from his railroad position. Many said he accomplished as much in the few hours he worked each morning as most men did all day. However, as Carnegie continued to accumulate his fortune, he became increasingly convinced that the most important use for his money wouldnt be to leave it to his family but, instead, to give as much of it away in his life as possible. Rich men should be thankful for one inestimable boon. They have it in their power during their lives to busy themselves in organizing benefactions from which the masses of their fellows will derive lasting advantage, and thus dignify their own lives, Carnegie wrote. To give his fortune away, Carnegie needed it to be liquid. With this in mind, in 1901, Carnegie sold his shares in Carnegie Steel to J.P. Morgan. Mr. Carnegie, Morgan said upon reaching an agreement, I want to congratulate you on being the richest man in the world. Now retired, Carnegie could devote his time and considerable energy to giving away his fortune. Libraries and Philanthropy Whatever agencies for good may rise or fall in the future, it seems certain that the Free Library is destined to stand and become a never-ceasing foundation of good to all the inhabitants, Carnegie wrote. Carnegie donated a good deal of money to educational institutions and to churches for organs, but libraries were one of his favorite ways to give away money. While Carnegie is best known for his work in the steel industry, the U.S. public library system has much to thank him for as well. Carnegie Library of Washington, D.C. (JL IMAGES/Shutterstock) Carnegie used a library when he was young; it was one of the only ways he could continue his education after dropping out of school. He had installed libraries at some of the plants his company owned, recognizing that these institutions were especially important for the many people who didnt have money to purchase every book they wished to read. Carnegie gave 1,419 grants for 1,689 libraries in the United States and Puerto Rico, and he donated additional money for 660 libraries in Britain and Ireland and 125 in Canada. Other countries received library grants as well. The New York Public Library received one of Carnegies large donations. This money built 67 branch libraries. A study in 1996 found that 57 of the buildings remained, and 54 of those buildings still operated as libraries, nearly 100 years after Carnegies gift. As generous as money for a library was, Carnegie realized it would be unsustainable to fund the maintenance of the library after it was built. Instead, he simply paid for the building itself, then the town or city would fill the building with books and pay for its upkeep through taxes. After his gift to the New York Public Library received publicity, towns and cities from all over the world wrote to request funds for their own libraries. Carnegie largely let his secretary, James Bertram, decide which applications should be granted. This wasnt a complicated task since Carnegie instructed Bertram to make decisions based on the information the towns and cities sent, which included population and taxation information and whether they had any sort of library already. Applicants also needed to have a site owned by the town or city where the library could be built. Carnegie Library of Homestead, Pa., as seen from the E. 10th Street steps. Opened in 1898, it was funded by Andrew Carnegie. (Woodsnorthphoto/Shutterstock) At the dedication of a library in Washington, D.C., Carnegie declared that instead of being in the business of steel, he was now in the business of libraries. I am in the library manufacturing business and beg to be allowed to concentrate my time upon it until it is filled, he said. Carnegie continued to donate money for libraries, education, and peace causes until the end of his life. His fortune was so vast that he was unable to give it all away. He realized this and founded the Carnegie Corporation in 1911 to continue the work after he was gone. When Carnegie passed away in 1919, the man of steel left the rest of his fortune to the Carnegie Corporation, which continues to this day to fulfill the goal he set for it, to promote the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding. This article was originally published in American Essence magazine. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, leave the chamber after a vote on Capitol Hill in Wash., on May 10, 2017. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo, File) Alaska Man Gets 32 Months for Threatening to Kill Senators ANCHORAGE, AlaskaA rural Alaska man who threatened to assassinate both of Alaskas U.S. senators in a series of profane messages left at their congressional offices was sentenced Friday to 32 months in prison. Jay Allen Johnson was also fined $5,000, ordered to serve three years of supervised release after his prison sentence, and is barred by a protective order from contacting U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, their family, and staff members for three years. Nothing excuses this conduct, threatening our elected officials, an act that attacks our very system of governance, U.S. Attorney John E. Kuhn Jr. of the District of Alaska said in a statement. The erosion of civility in our political discourse will never justify threats or acts of violence. Johnsons actions must be punished, and the Department of Justice will always work to ensure our elected officials can serve without fear of harm. Johnson, who said he was too old and ill to carry out his threats, partially blamed his behavior on a mixture of pain medications and alcohol along with the isolation during the pandemic prevalent during the five-month span of 2021 when he left 17 threatening voicemails. Johnson, 65, of Delta Junction, pleaded guilty in January to two counts of threatening to kill a U.S. official in January. Sentencing was carried out at U.S. District Court in Fairbanks. The government sought a sentence of 37 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release along with the protective order. Johnson sought a 30-month term or supervised release. The defendants conduct is simply unacceptable in a democracy U.S. Assistant Attorney Ryan Tansey wrote in the governments sentencing memo filed before the sentencing hearing. As political violence and domestic extremism grow, violent intimidation of public officials must result in serious criminal consequences. In one message left at Murkowskis office, Johnson asked, .50 caliber shell you ever see what that does to a human head? Yeah, well. In another message to Murkowski, he said: I will find out all your properties, and I will burn everything you hope to have, and I will burn everything you hope to own. Johnson also blamed her for the undocumented workers who have come into the country. Your life is worth $5,000, thats all its worth, he said on message to Murkowskis office. And as you let in these terrorists, and assassins, guess what, Im going to use them. Im going to use them to come and assassinate your [expletive] [expletive]. In a message left for Sullivan, Johnson said he was tired of politicians destroying the country. He claimed he would get out his .50 caliber and start a GoFundMe page for the shells. And Im coming with a vengeance, [expletive], he said. Sadly, political violence of all stripes has become a clear and present danger to public safety and the functioning of our democracy, the government memo states. The defendants conduct showed his rejection of that democracy and his willingness to resort to repeated violent threats when duly elected representatives take actions with which he disagrees. Johnson, who has had six driving under the influence convictions, is not allowed to possess firearms because he is a felon. However, law enforcement seized seven unsecured firearms at his home when executing a search warrant. The defense said the weapons belonged to Johnsons wife, Catherine Pousson-Johnson. In October, when pleading that her husband be released from jail while the legal case proceeded, she was asked if she was aware if her husband was making threats against the two senators. Who hasnt? she replied. At the same hearing, she said, My husband is an old man, and he gets very angry listening to politics on the news. In the defenses sentencing memo, attorney Jason Weiner describes Johnson as being in poor health, suffering from osteoarthritis and other ailments. He has had a series of surgeries over the years, including twice on knees, back, and shoulder procedures. He has been prescribed pain medications. He has also been diagnosed with anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, the latter due to a turbulent childhood. Because of his health problems, he retired from working physical labor jobs at age 55, when his drinking began, the memo says. He takes full responsibility for his conduct and realizes that while he never intended to carry out the verbal threats, the senators did not know that, the memo says. Between the prescribed narcotics, pain, and self-medicating, Mr. Johnson was not himself, the memo says. If anything, Mr. Johnson could use supervision not continued incarceration, the defense memo says when asking the judge to consider three years of supervised release as an option instead of further incarceration. biographie de Matthew Gray Gubler Matthew Gray Gubler Birth : 09/03/1980 Voices Actors Directors Matthew Gray Gubler is an actor, director, illustrator, and former American model born March 9, 1980 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. He made his first film debut in La vie aquatique in 2004, as trainee n 1. He is best known for the role of Dr. Spencer Reid (a gifted) in the Criminal Minds series. Coincidentally, the character he embodies in the series was also born and raised in Las Vegas. Matthew was a model before being an actor, he was under contract with DNA Model Management, Tommy Hilfiger and many other designers. Before graduating from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, he had already made several films that were as well shot in Las Vegas as in New York. MGG directed and starred in a series of fake documentaries: Matthew Gray Gubler: The Unauthorized Documentary. He is the brother of fashion designer Laura Dahl. Her maternal grandparents, Laura Belle and Maxwell Kelch, founded the first Las Vegas radio station, Keno. Matthew had been dating actress Kat Dennings for about a year but they split up. Matthew is without doubt one of the funniest personalities of his generation. One can see for example in his videos The Unauthorized Documentary, where he parodies the behaviors of Hollywood actors. Anecdotes: He worked as a model for Marc Jacobs, Burberry or Louis Vuitton. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Aug. 23, 2021. (Rohan Thomson/Getty Images) Aussie PM Tipped to Call Election This Weekend Australians should know when they are heading to the ballot box by the end of the weekend. There are only two Saturdays left for an election to be held, May 14 or May 21, and any delays this weekend would mean MPs would need to return to Canberra this week. Labor Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said it was likely the election would be called this weekend because Prime Minister Scott Morrison didnt like the scrutiny of a sitting Parliament. This Prime Minister last year gave up on governing and said he was campaigning, Albanese said on Saturday. The Opposition Leader said Morrison was treating the election as a game and delaying it, to allow the use of taxpayer funds to spruik government spending and appoint mates to government boards. Albanese said Labor had a mountain to climb to win the looming election but had a plan for the future while the government was out of puff. If the prime minister does not visit the governor-general by this Sunday it will rule out the earlier May date, as a minimum of 33 days is required between calling an election and polling day. It will also mean MPs will have to return to Canberra for the week as the House of Representatives is due to sit. A program for the scheduled sitting was released on Friday afternoon but it is not expected to go ahead. Morrison has said his visit to Governor-General David Hurley is not far away. Electoral terms are for three years. The last election was on May 18 (2019) and the next election will be held about the same time, he told reporters on Friday. Youll know very soon. A potential hurdle delaying Morrison from calling the election was cleared on Friday afternoon when the High Court threw out a challenge to his pick of candidates for several NSW seats. Chief Justice Susan Kiefel said there were insufficient prospects of success to warrant leave for former Liberal member Matthew Camenzuli to challenge Morrisons intervention in the states local branches. By Maeve Bannister and Finbar OMallon Biden Thanks Republicans Who Helped Confirm Judge Jackson President Joe Biden during a conference on Judge Ketanji Brown Jacksons successful nomination to the Supreme Court thanked the three Republican senators who all but guaranteed her confirmation. After weeks of scrutiny and debate on her qualifications to serve on the nations highest court, the Senate on April 7 voted 5347 to approve her confirmation, putting her on track to be the nations first black female justice after Justice Stephen Breyer steps down at the end of the courts current term. All 50 Democrats voted in favor of the nominee and were joined by three Republicans: Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). The 47 other Republicans in the upper chamber opposed her confirmation. Biden presented the successful confirmation vote as a historic achievement that will [bend] the moral arc of the universe a little more toward justice. Yesterdaythis is not only a sunny day, Biden said in his opening remarks. I mean this from the bottom of my heart: This is going to let so much shinesun shine on so many young women. So many young black men. When I made the commitment to nominate a black woman to the Supreme Court, I could see this day. I literally could see this day because I thought about it for a long, long time. As Jill [Biden] will tell you, I wasnt going to run again. But when I decided to run, this was one of the first decisions I made. I could see it, I could see it as a day a hope, a day a promise a day of progress. A day when once again the moral arc of the universe, as [President Barack Obama] used to quote all the time, bends a little more toward justice. Later, Biden turned his attention to the three Republicans who voted for Jackson. I always believed that a bipartisan vote was possible, Biden said. I hope I dont get them in trouble, Biden joked. Senator Collins is a woman of integrity, Biden said. Senator Murkowski is the same way in Alaska and up for reelection. All three of the GOP senators, Biden continued, deserve enormous credit for setting aside partisanship and making a carefully considered judgment based on the judges character qualifications, independence. And I truly admire the respect, diligence, and hard work they demonstrated in the course of the process. The three GOP defections came as no surprise, as each of the three had already announced their intention to support her. On March 30, Sen. Collins became the first GOP lawmaker to announce that she would support Jacksons nomination. I have decided to support the confirmation of Judge Jackson to be a member of the Supreme Court, she told The New York Times. In recent years, senators on both sides of the aisle have gotten away from what I perceive to be the appropriate process for evaluating judicial nominees. In my view, the role under the Constitution assigned to the Senate is to look at the credentials, experience, and qualifications of the nominee. It is not to assess whether a nominee reflects the individual ideology of a senator or would vote exactly as an individual senator would want. There can be no question that she is qualified to be a Supreme Court justice. Collins was joined in quick succession by Murkowski and Romney, who have long been willing to vote against their party. After reviewing Judge Jacksons record and testimony, I have concluded that she is a well-qualified jurist and a person of honor, Romney said in a tweet. While I do not expect to agree with every decision she may make on the Court, I believe that she more than meets the standard of excellence and integrity. I congratulate Judge Jackson on her expected confirmation and look forward to her continued service to our nation. Murkowski explained her own defection in a statement: My support rests on Judge Jacksons qualifications, which no one questions; her demonstrated judicial independence; her demeanor and temperament; and the important perspective she would bring to the court as a replacement for Justice Breyer. The support of the trio all but guaranteed that Jacksons confirmation would overcome the 51-vote filibuster threshold. Other Republicans cited concerns that Jackson is soft on crime, and argued that her judicial philosophy, and how she would vote if sent to the Supreme Court, was too unclear for them to support her. On March 28, Republicans in the Judiciary Committee made a last-ditch effort to slow Jacksons confirmation by demanding a one-week hold on the committee vote, citing gaps in Jacksons record. However, they were not able to hold off the vote indefinitely under Senate rules. Despite some GOP hopes that swing-voting Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), the duo ultimately joined the rest of their party on April 7 in supporting her confirmation. Capitol Report (April 8): NASA Launches Businessmen into Space The White House celebrates Ketanji Brown Jacksons confirmation. She will become the first black woman to serve on the Supreme Court. Now that Jackson is headed to the Supreme Court, the reviews are coming in about her Senate hearing process. Was she treated as fairly as previous Justices? President Joe Bidens goal is to make half of all U.S. vehicles electric by 2030. How likely is it that, and we can reach that goal? And what needs to happen to make sure were doing so without relying on foreign adversaries? Although a no-fly zone is not happening, the United States took a major step to help Ukraine defend its air space. How much longer will the war in Ukraine last and what should the United States role be moving forward? As NATO leaders met to discuss their support for Ukraine, they recognized a new security threat on the horizon: communist China. Follow CapitolReport on social media: Twitter https://twitter.com/capitolreport Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CapitolReport/ Gettr https://gettr.com/user/capitolreport Former Quebec Premier Jean Charest formally launches his campaign for the Conservative leadership campaign at an event in Calgary, Alberta, on March 10, 2022. (Dave Chidley/The Canadian Press) Charest Claims Poilievres Support of Freedom Convoy Disqualifies Him for the Job of PM Poilievre says Charest 'repeats Liberal lies about truckers' Conservative leadership contender Jean Charest took aim at rival candidate Pierre Poilievre on April 8, saying the MPs support for the Freedom Convoy disqualifies him to be the next prime minister for Canada. In an interview on CTV Morning Live, Charest accused Poilievre of encouraging people breaking the laws due to his support for the truckers who protested in Ottawa for weeks against federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates. I have a competitor by the name of Mr. Poilievre who supported, as you know, the blockade, and if you want to be a leader in this country and a legislator, you cant make laws and break laws, he said. The former Quebec Liberal premier also accused Poilievre of sending the wrong message to Canadians in regards to law and order, during a separate interview with CTV News the same day. Laws are not a buffet table, if youre a legislator, from which you choose what you want or not to apply. Because what youre really saying to people is Im above the law, he said. You cant be a leader of a party and the chief legislator of the country, as prime minister, and support people breaking the laws. That disqualifies you. Poilievre, who represents the riding of Carleton in Ontario, has frequently spoken in support of the Freedom Convoy. In a tweet on Jan. 29, he commended the truckers he met as being peaceful, kind and patriotic. He responded to Charests accusations in the afternoon of April 8, posting a tweet that read: Jean Charest repeats Liberal lies about truckers. The tweet also included a political ad, claiming that Charest is a Liberal. Jean Charest is a Liberal. As liberal premier, he raised the sales tax by 2 percent. He brought in a carbon tax, and supported the billion dollar long-gun registry. He even said the Liberal party was our party. And while the Chinese government detained kidnapped Canadians, Charest was paid a consultant for Huawei on the Meng Wanzhou case, and helping it participate in Canadas 5G wireless networks, the ad claimed. The large convoy of trucks arrived in Ottawa on Jan. 29 to stage a protest against federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates for truckers travelling between Canada and the United States. It turned into a larger movement after many Canadians from across the country began joining in or voicing their support for ending various COVID-19 mandates and restrictions. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who refused to meet with the truckers himself or through representatives, invoked the Emergencies Act on Feb. 14 in response to the protests. The act granted police additional tools to clear away protesters who had parked their trucks in downtown Ottawa for weeks. At the same time, it gave the state additional powers such as freezing the protesters personal and corporate bank accounts without a court order and cancelling the insurance coverage for trucking companies linked to the protests. Federal Conservative leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre speaks at a rally in Ottawa on March 31, 2022. (Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press) Charest said if elected, he would introduce legislation that would make it a criminal offence to block critical infrastructure across the land and includes border crossings. That includes, whether energy infrastructure or otherwise, that says that if you block and you try to stop our economy from functioning, that the police will have the powers that they need to be able to fix the situation and to reestablish [the] border, and thats a very clear Conservative value. In an interview on Postmedias podcast Full Comment with Anthony Furey in February, Poilievre declared his continued support for the truckers, saying the approach taken by the federal government had exacerbated the situation. Im proud of the truckers and I stand with them. They have reached a breaking point after two years of massive government overreach of a prime minister who insults and degrades anyone who disagrees with his heavy-handed approach, he said. Lets be honest, if Canadians are being inconvenienced, or in any way suffering from these protests, it is because Justin Trudeau made these protests happen and his intransigence is keeping the protests going. Asked if the convoy had set precedence for anyone in the future to set up a blockade in Ottawa to get what they want, Poilievre said the critics were taking aim at the protesters instead of looking at what they were trying to convey. Are those people really saying we should keep in place an unscientific and nonsensical mandate just out of spite against protesters? he asked. Why dont we do the right thing, and at the same time put an end to the protests? Crowds of protesters demonstrate against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions in Ottawa on Feb. 12, 2022. (Jonathan Ren/The Epoch Times) Poilievre said he doesnt believe in infringing the freedom of one group for the benefit of another group. I encourage the truckers to follow the law, behave responsibly, dont inhibit the freedom of movement of other people, he said. But at the same time, the vast majority of truckers and their supporters have been peaceful, law-abiding, joyful, decent, patriotic people, despite the dishonest propaganda of the liberal press gallery on Parliament Hill. Shanghai is facing a food crisis as lockdown orders persist. Now, even billionaires are struggling to get what they need. At the same time, violence in the city breaks out. We reached out to local police for details, and got some unexpected answers. A Kansas professor was convicted over concealing ties to China while doing U.S. government-funded research. And a Chinese national gets sentenced to prison for stealing trade secrets from a U.S. agriculture company. A CDC expert from Shanghai admits the citys official health app reflects false virus test results. A recording of her phone call with a patients relative sheds light on whats happening behind the scenes. Topics in this episode: Shanghai Locals Struggling To Get Food Video: Man Beaten In Shanghai Amid Lockdown Docs: Ccp Uses Propaganda To Cope W/ Food Shortages Chinese National Sentenced For Secrets Theft Kansas Professor Convicted Of Concealing China Ties Nato: Must Include China In Defense Strategy Shanghai Cdc Expert Reveals Concealed Test Results Starving Shanghai Man Calls Police For Food, Aid Planeloads Of Soldiers Arrive In Shanghai Video: Women Speaks Out Online, Shouted At By Police French Embassy In China: Citizens In Shanghai Cant Vote In Frances Upcoming Election Robotic Dog Barks Covid-19 Lockdown Orders China Backing Off On Common Prosperity Have other topics you want us to cover? Drop us a line: chinainfocus@ntdtv.org And if youd like to buy us a coffee: https://donorbox.org/china-in-focus Subscribe to our newsletter for more first-hand news from China. For more news and videos, please visit us on Gettr and Twitter. Chinese Communist Party is Worlds Common Enemy: Victor Davis Hanson The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is a common enemy of the free world and would prefer Taiwan to be destroyed than remain independent, according to military historian Victor Davis Hanson. CCP leaders hoped that Russia would win the war in Ukraine, Hanson said during a recent interview with EpochTVs American Thought Leaders program, because it would vindicate the regimes own imperial ambitions. If the Chinese had a choice between an independent Taiwan or a destroyed Taiwan that they were responsible for, they would take the destroyed Taiwan, Hanson said. In other words, they say we own Taiwan, and we dont really care that it has been leveled.' Lets be clear, they want Russia to win, Hanson added. And they want Russia to establish the precedent that a strong nation can have an irredentist agenda, a fancy Italian word for taking back territory that has similar attributes to the motherland and reclaiming them this mystical empire. Hansons aside about irredentism was a reference to the fact that the communist regime claims that Taiwan is a breakaway province of China. CCP leader Xi Jinping has thus vowed to unite the island with the mainland and has refused to rule out the use of force to do so. Taiwan has been self-governed since 1949. The island has never been controlled by the CCP. Strategists and policymakers believe that China has been closely watching the Russian invasion of Ukraine with interest, seeking to learn from Russias victories and losses, and to augment its own invasion plans as necessary. U.S. intelligence leaders believe that the united front presented by the international community in leveraging sanctions on Russia unsettled CCP leadership whom, like Russian leadership, likely expected an easy war for Russia. That united Western front and the stark economic consequences imposed on Russia may have given the CCP pause with regard to its plans for Taiwan, but Hanson believes it also presented the CCP with an opportunity to profit from Russian isolation. He said that Chinese leaders were initially pro-Russian due to a belief that Ukraine would be easily absorbed, but can ultimately still benefit from the international outrage and sanctions by buying Russian goods and services at low prices and selling needed commodities at a steep premium, as the CCP has thus far refused to acknowledge international financial sanctions as legitimate. Thus, while the CCP may not have gained the blueprint for an invasion of Taiwan that it was seeking, Hanson believes the regime will still benefit through a wait-and-see approach. Now theyre thinking, wait a minute, Putin didnt tell us it was going to take a month and hes gonna lose 10 to 20,000 soldiers, Hanson said. So lets just wait a minute, lets say in principle, were for it. But lets see how this works out. Privately, theyre thinking as the Communist Party always does: What is in it for us in the most amoral, profitable terms? When asked if the CCP would ultimately abandon Russia if the latters myriad military blunders continued, Hanson expressed doubt, and said that the regime would find a way to spin the successes or failures of Russia to its own benefit. I think theyre gonna play it out, Hanson said. Theyre going to sit tight [and] theyre going to buy a lot of Russian oil. Theyre going to have a full-fledged enhanced commercial relationship [and] theyll probably have an increased military relationship. And theyre going to sit there and see who wins, and they hope Russia wins. To that end, Hanson said that Western leaders, and particularly American leaders, needed to understand the scope of the threat posed to the world by the CCP, and to work aggressively to prevent the Party from profiting more. He said that a spirited and muscular leadership in the United States was needed to prevent China from becoming ascendent on the global stage, and that strong and sound leadership would recognize that our common enemy, the worlds common enemy, is China. We cant [currently] get Australia and Japan and Taiwan and South Korea on the same page to check Chinese aggression, Hanson said. And China in that void is going to control all the major choke points of the world. He added that Chinas investments in key ports and choke points throughout the world, from the Suez and Panama canals to major deep water ports in Greece and Africa, would result ultimately in Chinese dominance over global trade and traffic. Western leadership had the material and technology necessary to defeat China in competition or conflict, he said, and pointed to the much larger per capita productivity of the United States. But, he added, current leadership seemed to lack the will or know-how to adequately curb the malign influence of the communist regime. We should tell China right now, they cant split us, were gonna have a uniform policy of sanctions against them if they try it, Hanson said. And [concerning an invasion of] Taiwan, were going to be tough on their trade [and] our military is going to be 10 times stronger than theirs. All of us have learned that we need to be energy independent, we need to be united, we need to be physically and materially and militarily strong armed forces, because we have a China on the horizon. We have to find a way to check Chinese power. Andrew Thornebrooke Reporter Follow Andrew Thornebrooke is a reporter for The Epoch Times covering China-related issues with a focus on defense, military affairs, and national security. He holds a master's in military history from Norwich University. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has called the states lawmakers back to Tallahassee for an April 19 to April 22 special session to forge consensus between competing congressional district maps. Photo from the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 24, 2022. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Democrats Slightly Better Off After Post-Census Congressional Redistricting With 397 of 435 congressional districts set for 2022 elections after U.S. Census reapportionment, a range of analyses show that heading into falls midterm elections, Democrats will benefit more than Republicans from the once-every-decade process. According to reviews and constantly updated trackers posted by Real Clear Politics, Politico, Fox News, and FiveThirtyEight, among others, neither party stands to make significant gains as a result of the reapportionment in securing the 218 seats necessary to hold the majority in Congress. Democrats now hold a 221209 advantage in the House with five vacancies. Varied analyses maintain that redistricting nationwide has thus far created eight to 11 more Democratic-leaning seats, two to six fewer Republican-leaning seats, and significantly fewer competitive districts. On April 7, Politicos redistricting tracker classified the mapped 397 congressional districts with 183 being strong Biden, 153 being strong Trump, and 61 being competitive districts. On April 4, FiveThirtyEights redistricting tracker indicated that there were 181 Democrat-leaning congressional districts, 182 Republican-leaning districts, and 34 highly competitive districts. Among the reasons for the increase in Democratic congressional districtswhich surprised many analystsare aggressive gerrymanders in several Democratic-controlled states, most notably New York. New York state lawmakers ignored a nonpartisan redistricting commissions maps and instead created a set that eliminated four of the eight congressional districts that leaned Republican. The legislatures map turned a 198 Democratic-majority congressional delegation into a 224 Democratic-dominant contingent. On March 30, New York Supreme Court Judge Patrick McAllister ordered state lawmakers to redraw their adopted legislative maps by April 11 or the court would appoint an independent body to do so. But on April 4, State Appellate Division Justice Stephen K. Lindley put a temporary hold on McAllisters ruling until an April 7 hearing on whether to extend the stay for the 2022 election cycle. On April 8, Lindley extended the stay until April 20, which is when oral arguments for the case will be heard by the Appellate Division. Legal actions against Republican attempts at gerrymandering have been more successful, with courts overturning proposed legislative and congressional district maps crafted by Republican-dominant legislatures in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. But much remains uncertain, including how the remaining 38 congressional district seats will be mapped in New Hampshire, Missouri, and Florida, the only three states that hadnt adopted post-2020 Census district areas as of April 7. New Hampshire Republican Gov. Chris Sununu and the states Republican-led legislature are expected to soon agree on competing maps for the states two congressional districts. While Missouris House and Senate Republicans cant agree on how to divvy up the states eight congressional districts, a compromise and adopted maps are anticipated soon. Because the candidate filing deadline for the states Aug. 2 primary was March 29, hopefuls for 2022 elections were allowed to proceed using 2010 boundaries. In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis has called the states lawmakers back to Tallahassee for an April 19 through April 22 special session to forge consensus between competing congressional district maps, one set approved by the legislature and the other favored by the governor. Florida has gained more than 2.7 million residents since the 2010 Census, boosting its population to 21.54 million, a 14.6 percent increase that left the state 171,561 residents shy of qualifying for a second additional seat. It was the first time since 1940 that Florida failed to add two seats in post-Census congressional district reapportionments. As the nations third-most-populous state, behind California and Texas and eclipsing New York, Florida will now have 28 congressional districts and 30 electoral votes under the U.S. Census Bureaus 2020 Apportion Results. Much of the contention between the governor and Republican statehouse leaders in redrawing the former 27 congressional districts into 28 districts involves the states Congressional District (CD) 5, which spans North Florida from Jacksonville to Tallahassee. Its now held by U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, a Democrat. CD 5 is Floridas only Democrat-controlled congressional district north of Orlando. DeSantiss proposed maps would eliminate CD 5 as now constituted and also reconfigure CD 10, a Central Florida district now held by U.S. Rep. Val Demings, a Democrat whos challenging Republican incumbent Marco Rubio for his U.S. Senate seat in November. Regardless of how Republicans resolve the differences in competing maps, one thing thats certain is that both maps will increase Republicans current 1611 congressional delegation advantage by at least two seats, with the 28-member delegation breaking down anywhere from 1711 to 199. Another thing thats certain in the new Florida congressional district will be the 15th Congressional District, which will span eastern Pasco and northern Hillsborough counties north of Tampa and west of Lakeland in central Florida. The district will be relatively purple and competitive, with Democrat Eddie Geller, a former stand-up comedian, likely to take on the winner of a Republican primary battle between state Rep. Jackie Toledo and former U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross. Ross served four terms in Congress representing Floridas former 15th District, which spanned much of Polk County, including the city of Lakeland, and parts of Hillsborough County. The former 15th District is now the 16th District under both the legislatures and DeSantiss maps. U.S. Rep. Scott Franklin, a Republican, won the district in 2020 and is strongly favored to win reelection in November. Rather than challenge Franklin for the district that he held from 2010 to 2018, Ross told The Epoch Times that he chose to run in the newly created district because there will not be an incumbent in the race. Under federal rules, a U.S. House representative doesnt have to live in a congressional district to represent it. Ross, who lives in Lakeland, said he would consider moving to the newly created district if elected. But he essentially has eight years of experience representing most of the district when it was part of the old 15th District, he said. It is not new territory to me. I suspect I know that district better than anyone, Ross said. He doesnt expect Toledo to make an issue of his residency during their campaigns leading up to the states Aug. 23 primaries. My current opponent doesnt live in what would be that district either, Ross said. A Los Angeles County Sheriff department vehicle is seen in Agua Dulce, California on June 1, 2021. (Patrick FallonA/AFP via Getty Images) Deputy, 3 Catalytic Converter Theft Suspects Injured in Crash VALENCIA, Calif.Three suspects suffered significant injuries on April 9 when their vehicle, allegedly containing stolen catalytic converters, crashed into a sheriffs SUV in Valencia, also injuring a deputy inside, authorities said. Paramedics took the deputy to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries, according to Lt. Brandon Barkley of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Departments Santa Clarita Valley station. Deputies were in pursuit of a vehicle that they believe contained stolen catalytic converters. The pursuit ended at 3:12 a.m. Saturday after the vehicle began moving erratically in the area of Lyons Avenue and the Golden State (5) Freeway, eventually leaving the surface streets, Barkley said. About 30 seconds later, according to the sheriffs watch commander, the Burbank Police Department put in a call for assistance regarding a pursuit. The same suspects we had initially pursued doubled back and crashed into the deputys SUV, he said. Three suspects were taken into custody and several catalytic converters were recovered. According to Barkley, all three suspects tried to flee on foot, but two were in too much pain and were apprehended immediately. He said the third suspect was located in a tree at a nearby house. Firefighters and paramedics were dispatched to the crash scene at 3:20 a.m., according to a Los Angeles County Fire Department dispatcher. Disturbing Pattern: Bomb Threats Made Against 16 Schools Over 2 Days, NC Sheriff Says By Hayley Fowler From The Charlotte Observer CHARLOTTE, N.C.State and local law enforcement officials in North Carolina are investigating after threatening calls about suspicious packages were made at 16 different high schools over a period of two days. The latest call resulted in students being evacuated from a high school and middle school in Western North Carolina on Thursday, April 7, the Henderson County Sheriffs Office said. Sheriff Lowell S. Griffin said deputies found a package similar to what was described in the call but no explosives. He said hes since been in contact with officials from the State Bureau of Investigation and N.C. Emergency Management. Weve learned that this event seems to be associated with a disturbing pattern of similar calls across the state, Lowell said during a news conference. Its my understanding that very similar situations have occurred at 16 different North Carolina high schools encompassing 13 different counties beginning on April 5. A representative from Emergency Management did not immediately respond to McClatchy News request for comment on April 7, but a spokesperson from SBI confirmed it is coordinating with our law enforcement partners and monitoring the situation. Griffin said the investigation may reach as far as Washington state and Florida, citing conversations he had with federal authorities. Henderson County Public Schools said it was notified about a suspicious package just before 8 a.m. ET and immediately began evacuating students and staff. The threat was made at North Henderson High School, which shares a campus with Apple Valley Middle School. By 9:30 a.m., district officials made the decision to cancel school and began dismissing students. Parents were allowed to reunite with their kids at Fruitland Baptist Bible College starting at 12:45 p.m. The Henderson County Sheriffs Office completed its search of the campus around the same time and cleared the area. Lowell said the package deputies found in a classroom was something thats not unlike you might find in any school, only they gave us some specifics that would make this package sound like it was potentially harmful. He wouldnt comment on the nature of the other threats to other schools but said the descriptions of other packages were very similar. We have strong reason to believe that this is directly connected to several other events that have happened across the state, the sheriff said. We basically have evidence to say this is directly connected. Officials have not determined whether the call was a hoax, and Lowell said the investigation is ongoing. But he said a call like thisreal or otherwisedisrupts a lot of lives and uses up a lot of resources. Although it may seem like a joke to someone, its far from it, he said. The sheriff did not confirm which incidents at other schools in North Carolina may be connected to the bomb threat at North Henderson. Students at Brevard High School in nearby Transylvania County had to shelter in place following reports of a bomb threat around the same time on Thursday, April 7, WLOS reported, and a similar threat was made at Tuscola High School in Haywood County on Wednesday, April 6. In Rockingham County, students had to evacuate Reidsville and Dalton McMichael High Schools following reports of a bomb threat on Tuesday, April 5, WGHP reported. The Rockingham County Sheriffs Office later determined neither threat was credible. 2022 The Charlotte Observer. Visit at charlotteobserver.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Fake Bot Students Enrolling in LA Community Colleges: Professor LOS ANGELESReports of fake bot studentscomputer programs that imitate or replace human users onlinecontinue to circulate in the Los Angeles Community College District with estimates of thousands of the accounts suspected of enrolling to receive financial aid or COVID-19 relief grants, according to Professor Kim Rich at Pierce College. Rich, who teaches Criminal Justice, has spent the last year investigating bot enrollment in the district by combing through class rosters and reaching out to administrators to what she says is a growing issue. Rich first began suspecting fake student enrollment, she said, when looking at the majors of students in her classes and noticed a third were anthropology majors, which she said is highly unusual. You wouldnt have one-third of your class from a major that was not your own, she said on EpochTVs California Insider program. Kim Rich on EpochTVs California Insider program . (Screenshot via The Epoch Times) According to Rich, the problem persists. When examining 609 enrollees for the colleges upcoming spring session classes, nearly half were such bot accounts, according to Rich. The enrollment numbers have been declining for quite some time, she said. But sudden spikes, she said, were one of the first signs of suspected bot activity. Other signs she noticed when evaluating her own classes included students submitting the same work completed by someone not enrolled in the class. Her concern was amplified after attempting to reach out to some of her studentsvia a commonly-used online platform called Canvasonly to not hear back. After some sleuthing, she said, she discovered some of the students were actually people who had died. She also said some accounts were managed by what appeared to be one person. Based on her research in the last year, Rich said she estimates there are anywhere between 10,000 to 15,000 bots enrolled in her district alone. Its costing U.S. taxpayers. Its costing students who cant get classes that need them, Rich said. According to state budget reports, California Community Colleges received $4.7 billion in COVID-19 federal relief funding with some students able to receive up to $5,000 per year. Rich said she believes her school isnt taking action because the district would lose millions in funding if her claims are true. If every single one of those students receive the average amount of financial aid, the amount is just astronomical, Rich said. Officials from Richs district, however, would not substantiate her claims. I cant even confirm that there are bots, Los Angeles Community College District spokesman William Boyer told The Epoch Times. He added that the district doesnt know if bots, in general, exist at all. But according to a 2021 memo, the states community colleges and their governing districts were alerted to the issue of malicious and bot-related enrollment by Valerie Lundy-Wagner, Vice Chancellor for Digital Innovation and Infrastructure for California Community Colleges. The memo indicated the systems website had found 20 percent of recent traffic on its main portal for online applications was malicious and bot-related. Regarding 2021 as well as Richs recent concerns, Boyer said all is under investigation and internal review. There is not much more I can share with you publicly about this, he said. This week, she said she also noticed new signs of bot enrollment with half of new student ID numbers issued in the district. According to Rich, the numbers were in perfect order alphabetically and numerically, something she believes is impossible unless done through a virus or bot program inserted into their enrollment system. We recently encountered a mysterious medieval manuscript during our current Harley cataloguing project. In the three centuries that it has been in the Harley collection, no one realised the true identity of the manuscript with the shelf-mark Harley MS 2874. Contributing to this may be the fact that its main contents start with a string of illegible and unpronounceable words: Cpnkxratkp malkgnprum spkrkxxm. The words Cpnkxratkp malkgnprum spkrkxxm written in red ink: Harley MS 2874, f. 1v What to make of these strange words? The fact that they are written in red ink suggests that they are part of a title. So what does this manuscript contain? When we turn to the old catalogue of the Harleian manuscripts published in the year 1808, we find the manuscript described as a fragmentary Breviarya common prayer book used in Christian liturgythat was written in the 14th century. The description of Harley MS 2874 in the old Catalogue of the Harleian Manuscripts (1808), II, p. 717 But the 1808 catalogue must be incorrect. The manuscript does not contain any texts that one expects to find in a Breviary. Instead, the illegible words appear to be a form of secret writing. They employ a known encryption method in which vowels are replaced with their successive letters in the alphabet. With this method and some knowledge of the Latin language in mind, the title can be deciphered as: Coniuratio malignorum spirituum. In English, this means: The Conjuration of Evil Spirits. The manuscript is clearly not a fragmentary Breviary, but a complete copy of an exorcism manual that claims to describe the rituals used to drive out demons from possessed persons in St Peters Basilica in the Vatican, Rome. An opening containing formulas for exorcising demons: I exorcise you unclean spirit (Exorziso te immunde spiritus): Harley MS 2874, ff. 5v-6r The Coniuratio malignorum spirituum survives in about 30 printed editions. All of these were published in Rome or Venice in the late 15th and early 16th century. Our Harley manuscript is almost certainly a handwritten copy of one of these printed books, and, based on its script, was copied around the year 1500. A woodcut print of a man exorcising demons from a printed copy of the Coniuratio malignorum spirituum (Rome: Stephan Plannck, about 1500): British Library, IA.18786 The Harley manuscript differs greatly from the printed versions in that it not only encrypts the texts title, but also encrypts or abbreviates any further references to the act of conjuring and invoking demons throughout the manuscript. For example, Coniuro te diabole (I conjure you Devil) has become Cpnkxrp tf dibbplf in code, or 9o te diabole in abbreviated form, and Memento lucifer (I hold Lucifer in mind) has become Mfmfntp lxckffr. Cpnkxrp tf dibbplf (Coniuro te diabole): Harley MS 2874, f. 21r 9o (Coniuro): Harley Ms 2874, f. 23r Mfmfntp lxckffr (Memento lucifer): Harley MS 2874, f. 10v Since none of the Italian versions contains secret writing, the Harley manuscript was almost certainly encrypted by the scribe who copied it. But why did they do this? For an answer to this question, we need to look into the scribes background. An important clue to their identity can be found on the manuscripts first page. This page is not part of the Coniuratio malignorum spirituum, but rather it contains a text in a different script that is both fragmentary and faded. With the aid of Ultraviolet light it can be identified as a royal pardon from King Henry VI to William Babington (d. 1453), who was abbot of the Benedictine abbey of Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk between 1446 and 1453. It may be the same pardon of debts owed to the Exchequer that Babington and his monastery are known to have received on 23 December 1451. Importantly, the royal pardon is not a later addition but original to Harley MS 2874. Whoever made the manuscript cut a fragment from the pardon and used the blank parchment on its reverse side for writing the first page of the exorcism manual. This suggests that the scribe was quite possibly a monk of Bury St Edmunds, and certainly based in England. Ultraviolet image of a royal pardon for William Babington and Bury St Edmunds: Harley MS 2874, f. 1r The English origin of the manuscript is significant because the historian Francis Young argues that there is no evidence for the popularity of Continental exorcism manuals in England at this time (A History of Exorcism in Catholic Christianity (2016), pp. 94-95). This means that the English scribe was probably unfamiliar with the genre of exorcism manuals. Perhaps this made them uneasy about the texts contents, contributing to their decision to encrypt key parts of the manual. Moreover, they might have been particularly concerned about how future owners could use the manuscript. As Francis Young (p. 103) points out, the Coniuratio malignorum spirituum could be readily used for illicit magical rituals in which communication with demons is sought not to exorcise them but to control and employ them for ones own purposes. Its repeated use of the term conjuration would have made the exorcism manual especially suitable for the dark arts, as in the instruction I conjure you devil and unclean spirit (Coniuro te diabole et spiritus immunde). The opening words of a conjuration in a printed copy of the Coniuratio malignorum spirituum (Rome: Stephan Plannck, about 1500): British Library, IA.18786 Conjurations are often found in magical texts that present formulas for invoking and commanding spirits. According to a 17th-century English magical treatise you should say the following: I conjure and constrain you to fulfil my will in everything faithfully without hurt of my body or soul and to be ready at my call as often as I shall call you. A conjuration for invoking and commanding spirits (England, 17th century): Sloane MS 3847, f. 120r In using secret writing, the scribe may have wanted to limit the number of readers of the manuscript to a select and trusted few, perhaps a circle of monks at Bury St Edmunds. If that was their intention, then they seem to have been successful. Since the manuscript was acquired for the Harleian Library on 17 May 1715, cataloguers have not identified its contents, preventing magical practitioners from using it ever since. This is just one of our many discoveries from the Harley cataloguing project. To read about some of the others, see our previous blogposts about a newly discovered manuscript from Byland Abbey and the lost miracles of St Wulfsige of Evesham. We will keep posting our findings, so keep a close eye on this blog! Clarck Drieshen Follow us on Twitter @BLMedieval Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto addresses a joint press conference with his French counterpart at the House of Estates in Helsinki, Finland, on March 31, 2022. (Emmi Korhonen/Lehtikuva/AFP via Getty Images) Finland Hit by Cyberattacks While Considering NATO Membership Finlands government websites faced cyberattacks amid reports that the Nordic nation is planning to join the NATO alliance, something that Russia has vehemently opposed. A denial-of-service attack was launched against the Foreign Ministrys external website on Friday, April 8, 2022, which began at about noon. The situation has returned to normal at around 1 p.m. The State Department has taken steps to curb the attack, along with service providers and the Cyber Security Center, Finlands foreign ministry said in a statement on April 8. Websites of the Defense Ministry and other government services were also affected in the attack. Just before the attack, Finland announced that a Russian aircraft was suspected to have violated its airspace off the coast of the Gulf of Finland near the city of Porvoo on April 8 morning. The suspected violation had lasted around three minutes and the Border Guard eventually initiated a preliminary investigation into the matter. Both events took place as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was giving an online speech to Finlands members of parliament. Finland has not officially blamed the Russian government for the cyberattacks. The events come as Finland is said to be considering joining NATO. Finland has usually remained neutral on the issue. However, Russias attack on Ukraine has forced the country to reconsider its position. Since the Feb. 24 invasion, public polls conducted by Finnish media outlets have shown that a majority of citizens seek to join the alliance. The parliament will discuss joining NATO within coming weeks, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said on Friday. She expects these discussions to be wrapped before midsummer. I think we will have very careful discussions, but we are also not taking any more time than we have to in this process, because the situation is, of course, very severe, she said. The possibility of Finland becoming a NATO member has been met with resistance from Moscow. After the Ukraine invasion, Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova warned during a press conference that both Finland and Sweden must not join NATO as this can have detrimental consequences and they might face military and political consequences. Finland has the longest border with Russia among nations in the European Union. It has previously fought two wars against the Soviet Union. In March, Finlands security service warned that Russia will increase its influence and spying operations against the country. Helsinki is also investigating multiple incidents of airspace violations committed by Russian civil aircraft last month. Meanwhile, Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson admitted in an interview with SVT in late March that she is open to a NATO membership for her country, since the Ukraine attack has changed the security situation. Foreign Affairs Minister Joly Heading to Indonesia, Vietnam to Expand Partnerships Canadas foreign affairs minister is travelling to Asia for meetings to expand partnerships and engage with nations as part of the governments forthcoming Canadian IndoPacific Strategy. Melanie Joly says she will visit Indonesia and Vietnam. She says in a release that the prosperity, security and wellbeing of Canadians will be increasingly linked to economic, social and political developments of the IndoPacific region. Joly is to meet in Jakarta with her Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi, with stakeholders on policy and regional security in the IndoPacific, and with feminist leaders supporting gender equality and womens empowerment. In Hanoi, Joly is to meet with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and other Vietnamese government officials to underscore Canada and Vietnams ties in the leadup to the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2023. She is also to visit the province of Thai Nguyen to meet with ethnic minority women and learn more about how Canadas development assistance is helping to strengthen womenled businesses. I look forward to visiting Indonesia and Vietnam to gain a better understanding of the region, to expand partnerships and to contribute successfully to a more secure, resilient, inclusive and sustainable IndoPacific for the benefit of all people, she said in a release. Joly will be travelling from Saturday to April 14. The award-winning movie Unsilenced is in select theaters across New Zealand starting March 31, 2022. (Linda Jiang/The Epoch Times) Former City Councilor: Powerful Film Unsilenced Should be Shown in China After watching the premiere of the award-winning film Unsilenced in Auckland, New Zealand on Mar. 31, Tony Brunt, former city councilor of New Zealands capital, Wellington, said it is a powerful film that should be shown in China. I wish that one day this powerful film can be shown in China, Brunt told Director Leon Lee at the Q&A panel following the screening. Tony Brunt (R), Luna Huang (C), and her father, Guohua Huang, (L) at the cinema in Auckland, New Zealand, on March 31, 2022 I believe our politicians need to be taking a much firmer line on Chinese human rights, Brunt told The Epoch Times, and while the Communist Party is sabotaging human rights, torturing, murdering, [and] imprisoning, they cannot participate as a civilized member of the world community, adding, it should be held to account. The film tells a true story of how a group of carefree friends, with promising futures at a top university in China, became outlaws risking their lives to expose the governments propaganda and lies when the relentless persecution of Falun Gong began in 1999. Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual practice with meditative exercises and moral principles based on truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. According to official estimates, there were 70 million to 100 million adherents in Chinamore than the number reported members of the ruling Communist Partywhen the persecution began. Millions have been detained in prisons, labor camps, and other facilities in China, with hundreds of thousands tortured while incarcerated, according to the Falun Dafa Information Center. Control is the paramount consideration for the Chinese Communist Party, Brunt stated. They were losing control to a spiritual organization, an organization that that revered truth, compassion, tolerance. Falun Gong, with those values, those spiritual and moral values, actually held out the opportunity for the redemption of China for the rescue of China, he said. According to the Falun Dafa Information Center, its one of the largest campaigns of religious persecution happening in the world over the past 20 plus years. Millions of innocent people in China have been fired from their jobs, expelled from school, jailed, tortured, or killed simply for practicing Falun Gong. Director Leon Lee told audience members at the Q&A panel that many actors have voiced concerns about repercussions on their personal safety or their professional development during the filming in Taiwan. For a Chinese speaking actor or a crew member in the film industry its not surpris[ing] that many people want to develop their career one day in China, said Lee. However, The very fact that this film couldnt be made in China but could be made in Taiwan demonstrates the value in democracy. Presbyterian Minister Stuart Vogel at a cinema in Auckland, New Zealand on March 31, 2022. (Zhang Huilin / The Epoch Times) Presbyterian minister Stuart Vogel, who also attended the premiere, told The Epoch Times that the film shows that in an atheist society which is totally materialistic, Falun Gong gives people a well coherent, well thought out, spirituality that they can practice, because it calms people. The screening was also attended by many Falun Gong practitioners living in New Zealand, some of whom had undergone persecution in China before moving to the island, who said they saw their experiences illustrated in Unsilenced. Luna Huang, a Falun Gong adherent, told The Epoch Times about her mother who experienced much the same treatment as the characters in the film, where her belief is her only crime. My dad was released after three years in the [labor] camps, [where he was] beaten, starved and tortured, but alive, Huang said. However Huangs mother passed away when Huang was two years old, as a result of the persecution. Lily Sun, Alice Sun and Michael Zhuang contributed to this report. After the tragic loss of her daughter, a foster mom and entrepreneur from Georgia became devoted to faith and doing good works for less fortunate young people. It was a redemption of sorts. Already a business owner, Linda Durrence, 51, alongside her husband, Mark, 56, in February opened a niche thrift boutique especially for kids in need. They named the store Blossom, after what occurred in the wake of their daughters tragic car accident in 2016; the couple welcomed two sisters, who were in foster care, to join their family and saw how the girls lives bloomed. The couple, from Glennville, had three other daughters, now all attending college; Linda was a youth leader at her local church in Tattnall County where they first met Princessa and Juanita, who sometimes visited the Durrences at their home. Linda learned that the sisters were set to be separated from each other (and their older sister also), for they couldnt find foster parents to take in all three. This caused Linda and her husband to take the first step. My girls were very upset and asked Mark and I to take them in, Linda told The Epoch Times. Mark and I prayed about it and agreed to take them in temporarily until they could transition to their grandmothers home in Florida. When the girls arrived at their home, the belongings they brought with them broke Lindas heart, which, in fact, impelled her to take the arrangement a step further. They came with a black trash bag that was maybe one quarter-full, said Linda. The clothes were old and tattered and didnt really fit them. They had one hairbrush and three toothbrushes and a trial sized toothpaste. We took them shopping the following weekend and make sure they had everything they needed and as much as Sara and Mattie had. The Durrences never received a dime from Department of Family and Children Services (DFACS) for caring for the siblings, Linda saidthats not why they took them in. Lindas connection with them grew stronger. Linda (2nd L) and her family. (Courtesy of Linda Durrence) They were so broken. Their mother was killed practically in front of them, the mom said, adding that, after DFACS removed them from their biological family, they were being starved and beaten among other things. She added, We fell in love with the girls right away. Linda was still coming to grips with the loss of her daughter Kristin, who died at age 27 while they were living in Brunswick. The mom saw in these sisters an opportunity to do things differentlyto follow what her Lord wanted of her. When we lost Kristin, we made up our minds to love always and without conditions, Linda shared. I was still quietly and secretly reeling from the grief of losing Kristin. When the girls came, I had no choice but to take the attention off myself. I dealt with some of the same behaviors I had wrongly handled with Kristin but this time, I responded with love and grace. Linda realized she needed them as much as they needed her. The girls expressed that they were tired of moving around and wanted to stay. After much prayer and pondering, she and her husband took the leap. She shared, I got home with a teary face and Mark asked me what was wrong, I said nothing. He said, Let me guess, you want to keep the girls. I shook my head yes, to which he responded, Honey, I knew this day would come. I knew you wouldnt let these girls go. With the girls grandmothers blessing, it was made official. That was in 2019. Late last year, the couple bought a stall in a shopping mall and launched Blossom, a donation-run boutique which provides free clothing, hygiene items, and other household goods for less fortunate childrenparticularly fostered or adopted kids in need. Today, Princessa is attending college while her sister Juanita finishes school. The siblings, alongside their new sisters, all work at Blossom on the side. Our community is on board 100 percent, Linda said. I love my town and county. We have been so blessed to receive some monetary donations and donated items from surrounding counties. She added, We have to consistently walk in love with everyone including the unsaved. Perhaps if we love first, they will be more trusting of us as disciples and be open to the gospel if we love always and consistently. Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Bright newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter As homicides rise in minority neighborhoods, mama bears say theyve had enough. Sylvia Bennett-Stone founded Voices of Black Mothers United under the Woodson Center to try to stop the cycle of black-on-black crimecrime that killed her daughter. Then, in America Q&A we ask: Do you think black-on-black crime is an issue that should get more attention? Next, Zanetia Henry shares about the incredible pain of losing a child to street violence, and why she feels fostering community unity is the only solution. Finally, in our second America Q&A, we asked people across the country, if someone close to you wanted to become a police officer, what would you say? Group Fighting Discriminatory Virginia School Admissions Policy Heads to Supreme Court A group of parents, students, and teachers fighting against an admissions policy that a judge says discriminated against Asian Americans asked the Supreme Court on April 8 to intervene. The updated policy at the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJ) removed standardized tests from the equation and added experience factors, which included attendance at a middle school deemed historically underrepresented at TJ. The policy led to a lower percentage of Asian-American students. In February, U.S. District Court Judge Claude Hilton, a Reagan appointee, concluded it is clear that Asian-American students are disproportionately harmed by the new system, which does not treat all applicants to TJ equally. He ordered the system abandoned. A federal appeals court, though, paused the block against the system while Fairfax County Public Schools appeals the ruling. In its emergency application to the Supreme Court, lawyers for Coalition for TJ said the appeals court gave short shrift to both the public interest in not enforcing unconstitutional policies and the interests of Asian-American students who will be forced to endure another year of harm. They asked the court to overturn the pause. Unless that happens, hundreds of Asian-American applicants to TJ, including children of coalition members, will be forced to compete for seats at TJ in a system intended to discriminate against them because of their race, the application stated. Later Friday, Chief Justice John Roberts, a George W. Bush appointee, ordered Fairfax County to respond to the filing by 5 p.m. on April 13. We are emboldened to see that Chief Justice John Roberts immediately requested a response from Fairfax County Public Schools. We are thrilled that he is taking our case as seriously as we do, Harry Jackson, a cofounder of Coalition for TJ and a plaintiff, told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement. Fairfax County did not respond to a request for comment. In its motion to block the district courts order, the school district said the order flies in the face of decades of Supreme Court and circuit-court precedent establishing that race-neutral measures adopted to promote diversity are presumptively permissible under the Equal Protection Clause. While the percentage of Asian Americans accepted under the system dropped, the racial groups share of offers exceeded their share of the applicant pool, officials said, arguing that a year-to-year comparison of the number of Asian Americans admitted cannot prove a disparate impact because each years pool is composed differently. In a split decision, two judges on a three-judge appeals court panel agreed. Circuit Judge Toby Heytens, a Biden appointee, said it is undisputed that the challenged admissions policy is race neutral since evaluators are not told the race of any of the applicants, which means, under court precedent, the policy is not constitutionally suspect unless plaintiffs can demonstrate that the policy was adopted with discriminatory intent. Circuit Judge Robert King, a Clinton appointee, agreed. Circuit Judge Allison Jones Rushing, a Trump appointee, dissented, citing a previous ruling that mere injuries, however substantial, including money, time, or energy, are not enough to approve a stay, or pause. Fairfax County had asserted it would take time and energy to design a new admissions policy. While designing and implementing a new admissions policy on a short timeline may be inconvenient, it is not irreparable, Rushing said. Nor is it unforeseen; since at least September of 2021, the Board has been on notice that it should be prepared with a new policy in the event of an adverse decision. This story is about coming to terms with the disgusting fact that we really are facing the bulldozer of the Great Reset and about working toward the quickest victory of humanity over the algorithm. It is about the big picture, history, tapping into our strength, and being inspired but the courage of our ancestors. The Lifeless Existence the Technocratic Swindlers Want to Impose on Us The life that the technocrats want to impose on us is lifeless. The marketing brochure makes it look like we are going to enjoy the comforts but really, this kind of life is more or less an endless lonely scream behind the glass! For a taste of living in a digitally controlled reality, please meet Thales Digital ID, the best companion of a very lonely young woman featured in the ad. Notably, the commercial starts with a reminder of a mandatory vaccination, how appropriate! And here is a scary 2019 bit from BBC about a kid who wants do to away with her body so that she can be data in a transhumanist world and live forever (what a cruel scam). Underneath It All, Its About the Soul I believe that the absurd, authoritarian condition that we are facing is a way of dealing with unresolved spiritual issues that our species has accumulated. Its an opportunity to expel our ghosts, heal our wounds, and go back to our roots. Since we cannot just close our eyes and pretend that the attempt at the abusive Great Reset isnt here full force, we might as well turn this situation of abuse into a way of remembering our strength, love, and clarity and tap into them all the way. And then work at it until we win! I believe that the key ingredients of eventually succeeding in the battle against transhumanism are doing everything from love in our own lives, being our absolute best, and leaving the rest to the universe. The neurotic principle that the technocrats are driven by is like a contagious ghost, it can jump person to person so not allowing it in our own lives is extremely powerful against technocracy. The mind of a technocrat is driven by the need for mechanical control, it comes from a broken spirit and a fear of everything natural and since the malady is at its root spiritual, I believe the answers are also spiritual, with practical answers and actions varying greatly from person to person, and no formula about it. There is no formula but this horrible situation is a major opportunity for us to come alive at last completely and fully alive. Unapologetically alive. Dance and sing and not give in to fear no matter what and do it with love. Nothing Is New Under the Sun What we are dealing with today is new and shocking to us because for many of us, it is perhaps the first time in our lives that we are dealing with abuses on such a massive scale but it is not new in the absolute sense, and many people had to do with similar and worse pressures and dangers in the past. For example, here is the story I wrote based on my own observations about the parallels between the COVID health response and the realities of the Soviet Union, called, On the Soviet Man and the Groundhog Day. Throughout the history of our species, abuses have been rampant, and tyrants and atrocities have been many. There have been many unjust wars, and pillage, and slavery, and serfdom, and religious reforms, and censorship, and forced sterilization. And even the government abuses of the COVID vaccination campaign are not original as they eerily repeat what happened during the vaccination campaign against smallpox which is kind of stunning. In the words of the author who goes by Midwestern Doctor: The original smallpox vaccine was an unusually harmful vaccination that was never tested before being adopted. It increased, rather than decreased smallpox outbreaks. As the danger and inefficacy became known, increasing public protest developed towards vaccination. Yet, as smallpox increased, governments around the world instead adopted more draconian mandatory vaccination policies. Eventually, one of the largest protests of the century occurred in 1885 in Leicester (an English city). Leicesters government was replaced, mandatory vaccination abolished, and public health measures rejected by the medical community were implemented. These measures were highly successful, and once adopted globally ended the smallpox epidemic, something most erroneously believe arose from vaccination. By the way, the story of smallpox vaccination is truly fascinating, I highly recommend you read the entire thing! Lies, Exposed. Delusions, Shattered The past two years brought to the surface lies and imbalances going back many, many years even centuries. Fear of nature and the ambition to conquer it from the position of mechanical control goes a long way back and it is hat ambition that seems to be driving the Davos crowd of today. The past two years have also exposed in a very rough manner the flimsy nature of many of our basic political assumptions! Up until 2020, we as modern day Americans had certain ideas about our rights and freedoms. Many of us have probably never expected to ever deal with todays level of absurdity, fraud, lawlessness, and abuse in our lifetimes, in our own country. Even I, being born and raised in Moscow, was convinced that the totalitarian trends have been left in the past and yet here we are And suddenly, we have to deal with cruel tyrants just like the people who had walked this Earth before us. And just like those who walked before us, we have to look into our hearts for courage and answers, and swim in the dark, and pray a lot, and give birth to a stronger version of ourselves in the process. Turns out, the history hasnt ended the moment we were born, and its our turn to be brave! When it comes specifically to COVID lies, I wrote about them in detail before in a story titled, Are We Living in a Dystopian Reality? When it comes to the lies that are centuries old, here is a great interview I did with Steven Newcomb about the Great Reset and the Doctrine of Domination. Perhaps, in the eyes of our highly perched masters, weve never been free. Perhaps, the only things that have palpably changed since 2020 are the length and the texture of our leashes and while it makes a major difference in the quality of our lives and it matters the underlying principle of domination has been built in the system all along. At least now that we see the leash and the yoke with clarity, we can start working toward the original freedom. The Source of Our Strength We now know that the real joy and the real power are in the strength of our spirits and in our connection to the people around us. We now know that many things that we have been taking for granted can disappear in a blink of an eye even the right to breathe like a free human being but love and strength remain, and it is from that place of love and strength that we need to push back. We now know that loving, sincere human beings protect us better than anything else in the world. I think that underneath it all, underneath all the crazy technology, the world is what is has always been. And we need to do what people have been doing for millions of years, namely figure out who we are and walk our path in dignity, solving challenges as they come at us. The Value of Patience and Faith I would like to make an unglamorous statement and propose that our best friends in this situation are patience and relying on the universe in a humble manner. I think that they are our best friends both spiritually and practically. Yes, we also need to do honest research, and yes, we also need to push back against abuse in every available way but I think all we do needs to be accompanied by patience and relying on the universe in a humble manner. The age of social media and promotional campaigns around instagrammable rebellion have given even the best of us a bit of an illusion that pushing back produces near-instantaneous results. The proximity of Twitter feeds makes it feel like we possess the same influencing power as the richest people in the world, like its enough for us to figure things out and recite our explanation out loud, and the world will say, Oh. Thank you for explaining the facts to us. Now we know, and well change our way! Of course, this never happens. In reality, we are up against a major bulldozer and thick collective and individual habits and egos. Even though social media may make everything feel accessible, which gives us an illusion of an equal footing with the richest people in the world by merely talking, we dont actually have an equal footing in the mechanical plane. I believe we possess a lot of power (and I genuinely believe that we will win in the end) but our pour lies in a different realm and works non-mechanically. In practical terms, we can make fun of Klaus Schwab and Bill Gates all day (and I do it all the time) but they and their masters are still going ahead with mandates, and Digital IDs, and programmable money, and so on. They are going ahead like a bulldozer. So having patience is not only good but necessary because we as we pray for the speediest victory for us, and as we work for it until we win we dont know the timeline. Stockdale Paradox Jim Stockdale was a United States Navy vice admiral and aviator who spent seven years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. Personally, I think that the Vietnam war, like most modern wars, was a shady one which makes the story complex. But the Stockdale paradox, as described by author Jim Collins, is stunning. Here is the story. At one point Jim Collins met up with Jim Stockdale, and he asked him how he prevailed while in prison. I never lost faith in the end of the story, he said, when I asked him. I never doubted not only that I would get out, but also that I would prevail in the end and turn the experience into the defining event of my life, which, in retrospect, I would not trade. I didnt say anything for many minutes, and we continued the slow walk toward the faculty club, Stockdale limping and arc-swinging his stiff leg that had never fully recovered from repeated torture. Finally, after about a hundred meters of silence, I asked, Who didnt make it out? Oh, thats easy, he said. The optimists. The optimists? I dont understand, I said, now completely confused, given what hed said a hundred meters earlier. The optimists. Oh, they were the ones who said, Were going to be out by Christmas. And Christmas would come, and Christmas would go. Then theyd say, Were going to be out by Easter. And Easter would come, and Easter would go. And then Thanksgiving, and then it would be Christmas again. And they died of a broken heart. Another long pause, and more walking. Then he turned to me and said, This is a very important lesson. You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end which you can never afford to lose with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be. To this day, I carry a mental image of Stockdale admonishing the optimists: Were not getting out by Christmas; deal with it! Dealing With Todays Pressures Has a Positive Side: It Helps Us Remember Who We Are In terms of both survival and pushing back against the abuse, each of us faces the need to figure it out from the inside. Some of us have made major changes and moved to another country or state, others are making appropriate adjustments where they are. Some are very public about pushing back, some are focused on private lives. There is no one-size-fits-all recipe for how to deal with the onslaught of the new normal but its very important to listen to ones heart and do what it says. In practical terms, its probably a very good time to learn how to be more self-sufficient (for example, I am considering starting to grow food in an urban setting). Its a perfect time to use cash a lot. Its a great time to invest into health, and maybe even to reasonably stock up on some foods (but without panic, panic never helps). But I think that of the most important thing might be establishing solid relationships with like-minded people and for most of us, this has been happening naturally in the course of the past two years since the conditions made peoples general inclinations more transparent than before, and kinship became more visible. Loving people provide the kind of security that we all need (always, but especially now). And the hope is that in the process of responding to these interesting times, we can get closer to figuring out who we are in this world, and why we are here. And one day we dont know when, but one day, this darkness will end, and we will laugh like children again. And well heal but well be stronger and wiser. I think thats the point. About the Author To find more of Tessa Lenas work, be sure to check out her bio, Tessa Fights Robots. Originally published April 9, 2022, on Mercola.com An ultrasound machine sits next to an exam table in an examination room at Whole Woman's Health of South Bend in South Bend, Ind., on June 19, 2019. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) Idaho Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks Abortion Ban Modeled Off Texas Law The Idaho Supreme Court has temporarily blocked the implementation of a new abortion law in the state that has an enforcement mechanism modeled on an abortion ban in Texas, enabling the law to be enforced through private citizens filing lawsuits against abortion providers. The abortion ban was signed into law on March 23, making Idaho the first state to enact legislation modeled after Texass ban. The measure bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, at about six weeks of pregnancy. It was scheduled to go into effect on April 22 before the latest order (pdf) from the states high court granted a stay in response to a lawsuit brought by Planned Parenthood. Per the order, the ban will be blocked temporarily, pending a final decision. The court has ordered both sides to file further briefs as it considers the case. Republican Gov. Brad Little had expressed concerns about whether the law, known as S.B. 1309, was constitutional when he signed the legislation. It would allow certain family membersthe father, the grandparent, a sibling, or an aunt or uncle of the unborn childto bring a civil lawsuit against the abortion provider for a minimum of $20,000 in damages, within four years after the alleged abortion. Rapists cant file a lawsuit under the law, but a rapists relatives could. While I support the pro-life policy in this legislation, I fear the novel civil enforcement mechanism will in short order be proven both unconstitutional and unwise, Little wrote in a letter on March 23 (pdf). Deputizing private citizens to levy hefty monetary fines on the exercise of a disfavored but judicially recognized constitutional right for the purpose of evading court review undermines our constitutional form of government and weakens our collective liberties. None of the rights we treasure are off limits, he added. How long before California, New York, and other states hostile to the First and Second Amendments use the same methods to target our religious freedoms and right to bear arms? Planned Parenthood said in its petition (pdf) on March 29 that the legislations enforcement mechanism and substance are blatantly unconstitutional, so much so that Idahos Attorney Generals Office released an opinion to this effect, and the Governor emphasized similar concerns upon signing. We are thrilled that abortion will remain accessible in the state for now, but our fight to ensure that Idahoans can fully access their constitutionally protected rights is far from over, Rebecca Gibron, interim CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawaii, Alaska, Indiana, and Kentucky, said in a statement after Fridays court action. Littles press secretary told the Idaho Capital Sun it does not comment on pending litigation. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Kentucky Governor Vetoes 15-Week Abortion Ban Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has vetoed a bill that would have banned abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The abortion ban has no exceptions for rape or incest. But it exempts in cases when the mothers life is at stake, or to avoid a serious risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman. The legislation, House Bill 3, is modeled after a Mississippi law that also bans abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The U.S. Supreme Court is due to rule by the end of June on the laws constitutionality. Currently, abortions are banned in Kentucky after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The Kentucky state legislature has the majority that can override Beshears veto. The state Republican Party sharply criticized Beshear for the veto. State GOP spokesperson Sean Southard said on Friday the governors veto was the latest action in his ideological war on the conservative values held by Kentuckians. Beshear, in his veto message (pdf), cites the lack of rape and incest exceptions as one of the reasons for his veto. He said the bill would make it harder for girls under 18 to end a pregnancy without notifying both parents. Under House Bill 3, a 12-year-old child that is raped and impregnated by her father would not have the option of a procedure without both the consent of her mother and without also notifying her rapisther fatherat least 48 hours prior to obtaining a procedure or by petitioning a circuit or district court for a hearing where this violated and hurt child would be judged as to her: credibility and demeanor as a witness; ability to accept responsibility; ability to assess both the current and future life-impacting consequences of, and alternatives to, the procedure; and ability to understand the medical risks of the procedure and to apply that understanding to her decision, Beshear wrote. Rape and incest are violent crimes. Victims of these crimes should have options, not be further scarred through a process that exposes them to more harm from their rapists or that treats them like offenders themselves, Beshear added. He also said the legislation is likely unconstitutional, adding, Similar statutes in Texas and Louisiana have been ruled unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court. The bill requires that women must be examined in person by a doctor before being dispensed abortion pills. About half of abortions performed in Kentucky are the result of medication as opposed to surgery. Specifically, House Bill 3 requires physicians performing nonsurgical procedures to maintain hospital admitting privileges in geographical proximity to the location where the procedure is performed, Beshear wrote in his veto letter. The Supreme Court has ruled such requirements unconstitutional as it makes it impossible for women, including a child who is a victim of rape or incest, to obtain a procedure in certain areas of the state. Beshear also said the legislation would require additional resources to create an electronic database to store and track a certification and complaint program, and establish additional public reporting requirements at an estimated initial cost of close to $1 million. However, there have been no funds appropriated to provide for this, which would result in underfunded essential programs. An agency is under no obligation to carry out an unfunded mandate. In the absence of an appropriation, these unfunded statutes may not be implemented, the governor wrote. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Law Reduced Prison Time for Man Tied to Sacramento Shooting SACRAMENTO, Calif.A suspect arrested in connection with last weekends mass shooting outside bars in Sacramento served less than half his 10-year sentence because of voter-approved changes to state law that lessened the punishment for his felony convictions and provided a chance for earlier release. Smiley Allen Martin was freed in February after serving time for punching a girlfriend, dragging her from her home by her hair, and whipping her with a belt, according to court and prison records. Those count as nonviolent offenses under California law, which considers only about two dozen crimes to be violent feloniessuch as murder, rape, arson, and kidnapping. Martin, 27, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and possession of a machine gun. He is among the 12 people wounded during Sundays shooting, which killed six others. Police have said the violence was a shootout between rival gangs in which at least five people fired weapons, including Martins brother, Dandrae Martin, who also was arrested. No one has yet been charged with homicide in the shooting. Dandrae Martin makes his first court appearance in Sacramento County Superior Court, in Sacramento, Calif., on April 5, 2022. (Rich Pedroncelli/AP Photo) Smiley Martin typically would have remained behind bars until at least May after serving a minimum of half his time for his previous arrest in 2017, but prison officials evidently used a very expansive approach to applying lockup time credits to his sentence, said Gregory Totten, chief executive officer of the California District Attorneys Association and a former Ventura County district attorney. Theyve been given very broad authority to early release folks and to give them additional credit and all kinds of considerations for purposes of reducing the length of sentence that somebody serves, Totten said. Corrections officials did not dispute that Martin was among thousands of inmates who received additional credits that sped up their releases under state law. But the officials said their policy prohibits disclosing what prison time credits Martin received. They cited credits through Proposition 57, the 2016 ballot measure that aimed to give most of the states felons a chance of earlier release. Credits were also broadly authorized in California to lower the prison population during the pandemic. Proposition 57 credits include good behavior while behind bars, though corrections officials declined to release Martins disciplinary report. Good conduct credit is supposed to be reserved for inmates who follow all the rules and complete their assigned duties. The state has implemented various credit-earning opportunities to incentivize good behavior and program participation for incarcerated individuals, including those created in furtherance of Proposition 57which was overwhelmingly approved by voters, state corrections spokesperson Vicky Waters said in a statement. Supporters of the credits, including former Gov. Jerry Brown, who pushed for Proposition 57, have said its important to give inmates a second chance. The opportunity for earlier release encourages inmates to participate in education and other rehabilitative programs and helps to reduce mass incarceration. The most recent reforms in California are seeking to change a culture that has been churning out recidivism problems for generations, said Will Matthews, spokesperson for the Californians for Safety and Justice group, which backed the changes. The question we need to be asking ourselves is, how are we engaging in behavior change? Under Proposition 57, credits are granted for completing rehabilitative or educational programs, self-help and volunteer public service activities, earning a high school diploma or higher education degree and performing a heroic act. Officials added credits during the coronavirus pandemic, including 12 weeks of credit that applied to most inmates. Martin was denied parole in May 2021 under Californias process for nonviolent offenders to get earlier parole, after a letter was sent from the Sacramento County District Attorneys Office. Prosecutors said they objected to his parole based on his lengthy criminal record and asserted that Martin clearly has little regard for human life and the law. Six months after he turned 18, Martin was caught in January 2013 with a rifle and two fully loaded 25-bullet magazines, prosecutors said. Months later, he pushed aside a Walmart clerk to steal computers worth $2,800, they said. In 2016, he was arrested as a parolee at large. And less than six months after that was the assault that sent him back to prison. Its not clear if Martin has an attorney who can comment on his behalf. Martin pleaded no contest and was sent to prison on charges of corporal injury and assault likely to cause great bodily injury in January 2018 under a plea deal in which prosecutors dismissed charges of kidnappingconsidered a violent felonyand intimidating a witness or victim. The sentencing judge awarded Martin 508 days of credits for time he spent in Sacramento County jail before his conviction, based on a California law that allows judges to double the actual time in jail, which in Martins case was 254 days. Martin also had a variety of additional post-sentencing credits, which corrections department spokesperson Dana Simas said were awarded for time served while awaiting transfer to state prison from county jail. Before Proposition 57, he would have qualified for 20 percent good time creditsmeaning he could reduce his time served by one-fifthbut corrections officials used their authority under the ballot measure to bump those to 50 percent. Pending regulations opposed by most of the states district attorneys would further increase good time credits to two-thirds of a sentence for such repeat offenders. Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, a Democrat who formerly led the state Senate, was among those upset when he learned of Martins record. If people have a history of committing violent acts, and they have not shown a propensity or willingness to change, I dont think they should be out on the streets, he said at an event where officials requested more than $3 billion from the state to expand crime prevention programs. Republican state Sen. Jim Nielsen, who once headed the state parole board, said good time credits are generally awarded automatically, without inmates having to do anything to earn them. It gives them enormous opportunity to free up beds, said Nielsen, an opponent of earlier releases. The state has relied on such efforts, particularly its powers under Proposition 57, to keep the prison population below the level required by a panel of federal judges who ruled that inmate crowding had led to unconstitutionally poor conditions. Martin was released to the supervision of the Sacramento County Probation Department in February. County probation officials wouldnt provide the terms, saying their records are not public documents. Without discussing Martins case, Karen Pank, executive director of the Chief Probation Officers of California association, said generally someone coming out of prison under the states Post Release Community Supervision program with an extensive and violent criminal history would likely have been treated on a high-risk caseload. That would subject the person to more intensive supervision, including a requirement to check in with a probation officer more frequently and in person, although individualized determinations on risks and needs would be made and treatment and services would continue to be offered. Pank said if there is evidence of a felon in possession of a firearm, that can be grounds for a violation, which may result in time in jail. However, its unlikely anyone from law enforcement could have acted in time even if they had seen the video. The big if is would they have known about it, said Totten. But in this case, it didnt matterit was so close to the time of the shooting. Authorities search area of the scene of a mass shooting with multiple deaths in Sacramento, Calif., on April 3, 2022. (Rich Pedroncelli/AP Photo) The minimum wage for home health care aides some of the lowest-paid caregivers in the state is in line to increase by $3 an hour over the next two years. Front-line health care workers making less than $125,000 a year would see a bonus of up to $3,000. And human services providers, such as Buffalo-based People Inc., are primed to get their first cost-of-living adjustment in a decade-plus, which will help boost wages for employees supporting those with developmental disabilities. Also, a pot of funds to fuel health care capital projects will be reloaded with $1.6 billion. Those are among the highlights of major health care provisions included within final bills introduced Friday as part of the 2022-23 New York State budget, expected to come in at around $220 billion. Many industry players and trade groups kept their comments to themselves Friday as they combed through hundreds of pages of paperwork. The state Assembly and Senate passed the health bill that included funding for human services providers, health care projects and a 1% Medicaid rate increase, but they hadn't yet voted as of 6 p.m. Friday on a separate bill that included home care wages and health care worker bonuses. "This budget makes significant investments to protect the well-being of New Yorkers, notably a meaningful pay raise for front-line home care workers and increased funding for safety-net hospitals," said George Gresham, president of a major labor union, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. "These priorities are necessary to strengthen a health care system and caregiver workforce that has been stretched to its limit in recent years." Home care workers A pay raise for home care aides was among the most watched of the health care budget issues. Advocates had called for home care aides to be paid 150% of the regional minimum wage. In Western New York, that would have meant a jump to $19.80 an hour. The increase will come in lower, it appears. The bill language calls for the minimum wage for a home care aide to increase by $2 an hour Oct. 1, followed by an additional $1 increase a year later on Oct. 1, 2023. NY budget includes $1.2B for health care worker bonuses, $7.4B for home care wage increases The initiatives, Gov. Kathy Hochul said, are geared toward bolstering the state's exhausted health care workforce, which continues to lose employees to retirement, resignations or higher-paid travel positions. That indicates a local home care aide making minimum wage would see an increase to $15.20 an hour later this year and then $16.20 a year later. In a news conference Thursday, Gov. Kathy Hochul indicated the combined wage increase would cost nearly $7.4 billion. Bonuses Hochul also said the state will spend $1.2 billion for health care worker bonuses, geared toward attracting and retaining employees. The formula detailed in bill language is complicated, but the bottom line is a wide swath of employees who provide "hands-on health or care services to individuals" and make less than $125,000 annually are primed to get bonus payments of up to $3,000 each. Employees who have worked an average of between 20 and 30 hours weekly "over the course of a vesting period" would get a $500 bonus. That bonus would be $1,000 for those at 30-35 hours a week, and $1,500 for those over 35 hours weekly. Employees can get bonuses for "no more than two vesting periods per employer," not to exceed a total of $3,000 each. That means eligible employees who get bonuses for two vesting periods will see somewhere between $1,000 and $3,000. A boost for human service providers The budget will provide a 5.4% cost-of-living adjustment to human services providers this fiscal year, amounting to about $500 million, according to the health budget bill. That will provide a boost to providers such as People Inc., the Buffalo-based health and human services agency that employs more than 4,000 people from Buffalo to Rochester. The cost-of-living adjustment has been a long time coming, said People Inc. President and CEO Rhonda Frederick. "We haven't had a cost-of-living adjustment in almost 11 years," she said. "Obviously, things have changed pretty significantly in 11 years, both on the staffing side and recruiting and retaining staff, as well as expenses to organizations." The Assembly, in its proposal last month, had pitched an even larger increase of 11%, but the health budget bill ultimately reflected Hochul's proposal unveiled in January of 5.4%. What the boost will do, most significantly, is allow providers such as People Inc. to offer more competitive wages to staff, in an effort to address workforce recruitment and retention issues. Frederick said about 90% of the agency's revenue is public money funneled through Albany, which has made it difficult to keep up with the costs of doing business. Still, People Inc. was able to announce in May that it was increasing its starting wage for employees providing direct support to people with disabilities to $15 an hour. The adjustment from the state should allow them to increase that further, which could reduce turnover in direct support professional roles where consistency and relationship building is a crucial part of the job. "This would so help people be able to stay here," said Frederick, who began her career at People Inc. in 1980 in an entry-level direct support position. "People come here, they love their job, they love what they do. But they have to be able to live, they have to be able to pay their rent and put food on the table. "We've got to recognize their value." Medicaid increase The health budget bill also includes a 1% across-the-board increase to Medicaid rates consistent with Hochul's proposal announced in January. Trade groups representing hospitals and nursing homes, such as LeadingAge New York and Healthcare Association of New York State, had called for a larger increase, arguing nursing homes, in particular, need a significant reimbursement to raise wages and compete for a limited supply of health care workers. NY nursing home staffing mandate takes effect. Trade group says it's 'impossible to comply with' The mandate, passed last year by the state Legislature and signed by then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo in an effort to address understaffing in nursing homes, was originally scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1, but it was delayed amid staffing challenges that worsened during the Omicron surge. They pushed that argument even harder after a long-awaited law requiring minimum staffing ratios in New York's nursing homes went into effect April 1. Health care capital funds The Legislature also agreed with Hochul in authorizing a fourth round of grants within the Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program, totaling $1.6 billion. The largest part of that is $750 million in grants for projects centered around "innovative, patient-centered models of care," increasing access to care, improving care quality and ensuring health care provider financial sustainability. At least $75 million of that $25 million each must to go community-based health care providers, mental health clinics and residential care or adult care facilities. Billions for health care construction tucked in Hochul's budget The governor's budget proposes making $1.6 billion available to fund capital improvements for health care facilities and nursing homes, as well as to build out ambulatory care infrastructure for struggling hospitals. Another major chunk: up to $200 million for grants to providers "for purposes of modernization of an emergency department of regional significance." The bill defines that as: a Level 1 trauma center with the highest volume in its region that has the capacity to separate patients with communicable disease, trauma or behavioral health issues from emergency department patients and also provides training in emergency and trauma care to residents from multiple regional hospitals. Lastly, a health care provider eligible for that pot of funds must serve a high proportion of Medicaid patients. Erie County Medical Center will be eligible based on that definition, hospital spokesperson Peter Cutler confirmed. Jon Harris can be reached at 716-849-3482 or jharris@buffnews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ByJonHarris. Buffalo Next Must-read local business coverage that exposes the trends, connects the dots and contextualizes the impact to Buffalo's economy. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada David Lametti speaks about repealing mandatory minimum sentences during a news conference, Dec. 7, 2021, in Ottawa. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press) Liberal Bill to Fight Racism by Repealing Minimum Sentences for Firearms Offences Is Affront to Victims, Says Tory MP Opposition MPs accused the government of being inconsistent in its pledge to fight gun violence during a House committee on Friday attended by the minister of justice, who defended a bill that seeks to eliminate mandatory minimum sentences for a number of firearms and all drugs-related offences. I can tell you from the testimony that weve heard from our deep consultations with witnesses, with communities, both rural and urban, and including with various victims groups, this bill could not be more breathtakingly out of touch, said Conservative MP Rob Moore during a meeting of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights on April 8 to discuss Bill C-5. This bill, quite frankly, flies in the face of those who are calling for safer streets and communities and is an affront to victims. Minister of Justice David Lametti said that the core aim of the bill is to address what his government considers systemic racism in the justice system. This bill fits within efforts made by our government to fight systemic racism and discrimination, Lametti said. Between 2007 and 2017, indigenous and black adults were more likely than other Canadians to be admitted to federal custody for an offence punishable by an MMP [mandatory minimum penalty], Lametti said. Bloc Quebecois MP Rheal Fortin raised doubts about the issue of systemic racism. Im not sure that systemic racism, in the sense that the government understands it, really exists, he said. I think that reducing sentences for some crimes in order to avoid that racialized people are sent to jail is a strange way of dealing with systemic racism. Fortin pressed Lametti about the offences to be repealed. Mr. Minister, armed robbery, is that serious? Fortin asked, adding to his question whether Lametti considers firing a weapon with intent a serious crime. Lametti said that there have been legal cases where firing a weapon was not serious, and cited a case where an individual had too many drinks and fired a shotgun into an empty barn and was sentenced to four years in jail. Bill C-5 A Department of Justice backgrounder on Bill C-5, which if passed would amend the Criminal Code and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, says that in 2020, 30 percent of federally incarcerated inmates were indigenous despite accounting for 5 percent of the Canadian adult population. And in 20182019, blacks represented 7 percent of the federal offender population while accounting for 3 percent of the Canadian population. Lametti said that the bill includes three categories of reform: the repealing of mandatory minimum penalties for all drug offences, some firearms offences, and one type of tobacco-related offence; allowing for greater use of conditional sentence orders (CSOs); and requiring police and prosecutors to consider other measures for simple possession of drugs such as diversion to addiction treatment programs. Among the offences for which the mandatory minimum penalties will be repealed are robbery with a firearm, extortion with a firearm, discharging a firearm with intent, and using a firearm in the commission of an offence. Lametti defended the bill, saying that the so-called tough-on-crime policy has so clearly failed in Canada and elsewhere, but that serious offences will always be punished seriously. Sentencing judges will always take the context and circumstances into account, and they will go towards the other end of the sentencing spectrum where it is merited. What were doing here is giving the flexibility back where theres some other contextual reason. That means that the best place for the victim, the best place for the person, the best place for the community, is not to incarcerate the person. US Model Lametti also mentioned travelling to Washington last month, where he met with what he called bipartisan groups working on criminal law reform. Those groups are the Brennan Centre for Justice, the Sentencing Project, and the Council on Criminal Justice. The message from all of them was that incarceration has failed, he said, mentioning how many states, both Democrat and Republican, have repealed mandatory minimum penalties because they simply do not work. Among the groups cited, the Council on Criminal Justice appears centrist in its positions, with the other two being left-of-centre and more aligned with Democratic Party policies, and are funded in part by left-wing billionaire George Soross Foundation to Promote Open Society. Soros is known to have backed financially a number of soft-on-crime district attorneys (DA) in the United States in cities that broke homicide records in 2021, notably Philadelphia. Philadelphias DAs website says that reducing incarcerations can make the city safer. DA Larry Krasners official approach has included not prosecuting certain drug or sex-related crimes, or to giver lower sentences for theft offences. At least three other cities that broke homicide records have DAs that reportedly received support from a Soros-backed entity: Raul Torres in Albuquerque (Bernalillo Country); Mike Schmidt in Portland (Multnomah County); and Jose Garza in Austin (Travis County). Cargo ships ply their trade in the Ukranian port city of Odessa on Dec. 8, 2004. (Uriel Sinai/Getty Images) RussiaUkraine War (April 9): Ukraine Bans All Imports From Russia The latest on the RussiaUkraine crisis, April 9. Click here for updates from April 8. Ukraine Bans All Imports From Russia Ukraine has banned all imports from Russia, one of its key trading partners before the war with annual imports valued at about $6 billion, and called on other countries to follow and impose harsher economic sanctions on Moscow. Today we officially announced a complete termination of trade in goods with the aggressor state, Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko wrote on her Facebook page on Saturday. From now on, no Russian Federations products will be able to be imported into the territory of our state. Since the start of Russias invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, exchange of goods and services between the two neighboring countries has been virtually non-existent, but Saturdays move makes the termination of imports a law. The enemys budget will not receive these funds, which will reduce its potential to finance the war, Svyrydenko said. Such a step of Ukraine can serve as an example for our Western partners and stimulate them to strengthen sanctions against Russia, including the implementation of the energy embargo and isolation of all Russian banks. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly called on the West to boycott Russian oil and other exports and halt exports to Russia over its military assault. ___ Zelenskyy Thanks Leaders of UK, Austria for Visits Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the leaders of Britain and Austria for their visits to Kyiv on Saturday and pledges of further support. In his daily late-night video address to the nation, Zelenskyy also thanked European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for a global fundraising event that raised more than 10 billion euros ($11 billion) for Ukrainians who have had to flee their homes. Zelenskyy said democratic countries were united in working to stop the war. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer became the latest of several European rulers to meet Zelenskyy in Kyiv. Zelenskyy repeated his call for a complete embargo on Russian oil and gas, calling them the sources of Russias self-confidence and impunity. ___ Leader of EU Nation Asked Ukraine for Evidence Bucha Massacre Wasnt Staged: Zelenskyy Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has revealed that an EU member states leader called into question Kyivs version of events surrounding the Bucha killings, asking for proof that the atrocities were not staged. Speaking to German newspaper Bild on Friday, Zelenskyy described how a leading EU politician asked him for evidence proving that the Bucha massacre had not been staged. The remark came after the Bild journalist asked what the worst thing he had heard in recent days was. When the interviewer probed further, asking whether it was the head of state of an EU nation, Zelenskyy replied in the affirmative, though he refused to name the official. Ukraine claims Russian troops committed atrocities against civilians in the town of Bucha, northwest of Kyiv, before retreating last week. Russia has rejected the accusations, and claims Kyiv manipulated evidence in what it calls a provocation. Commenting on Berlins support for Kyiv, the Ukrainian president lamented Germanys apparent lack of enthusiasm for tougher sanctions against Russia. Asked if he was prepared to sit down with Russian President Vladimir Putin and talk, Zelenskyy said, Today Ukraine has no way out other than to sit down at the negotiating table. He added that no one else in Russia has the power to stop this war, as Putin is the only one who decides when this war will end. ___ British Prime Minister Meets Ukraines Zelenskyy in Kyiv Britains Boris Johnson, one of Ukraines staunchest backers, flew to Kyiv on Saturday to pledge tighter sanctions on Russia and offer President Volodymyr Zelenskyy more defensive arms, a move the Ukrainian leader said others should follow. At a meeting shrouded in secrecy until Johnson appeared in the Ukrainian capital, the two leaders cemented the close ties they have nurtured since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. The move caps weeks of lobbying by Johnson to meet Zelenskyy. With both men standing at podiums in front of cameras, they praised each other for their cooperation since the Russian invasion, which Moscow calls a special operation to demilitarize and denazify its neighbor. Zelenskyy rejects the description, saying Russia is bent on destroying his country. We must put more and more pressure on the Russian Federation, work harder to help the people of Ukraine defend it against the Russian Federation, and step up sanctions, Zelenskyy said. Other democratic Western states should follow the example of Great Britain. Its time to impose a complete ban on Russian energy supplies, and increase the delivery of weapons to us. Johnson replied: Together with our partners, we are going to ratchet up the economic pressure and we will continue to intensify, week by week, the sanctions on Russia. He added that the measures would include moving away from the use of Russian hydrocarbons. _____ Two EU States May End Cooperation Over Ukraine Polish Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski, one of the top politicians of the Eastern European nation, said on Friday that cooperation with Hungary would not be possible unless Prime Minister Viktor Orban aligns himself with Kyiv. Prior to the conflict in Ukraine, Poland and Hungary were staunch allies. Kaczynski said in a radio interview that he has an unequivocally negative opinion of Orbans refusal to take a harder stance on Russia following the latters military offensive on Ukraine. When Orban says that he cannot see what happened in Bucha, he must be advised to see an eye doctor, Kaczynski said, referring to Orbans refusal to blame Russia for the killing of civilians in the Ukrainian town of Bucha. Russia has strongly rejected the allegations, claiming Ukrainian forces staged a crude and cynical provocation, and has demanded a U.N. investigation into the incident. ____ No More Bundeswehr Weapons for Ukraine: Defense Minister The German military can no longer supply Ukraine with weapons from its stockpiles, Germanys Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht has said. In an interview with Die Augsburger Allgemeine Zeitung published on Saturday, Lambrecht said that while we all have an obligation to support Ukraine in its courageous fight, in terms of supplies from the Bundeswehrs stockpiles Germany has in the meantime reached a limit. She explained that the German military had to be able to ensure the countrys own defense. But that doesnt mean we cant do more for Ukraine, Lambrecht stressed, suggesting that Kyiv could buy equipment it needed from German manufacturers directly. The minister pointed out that the German government was constantly coordinating with the authorities in Kyiv to facilitate such purchases. ____ Russia Stages War Games in Kaliningrad Enclave, Ifax Says Russia staged war games on Saturday in Kaliningradan enclave on the Baltic Sea sandwiched between Poland and LithuaniaInterfax news agency cited the Baltic Fleet Command as saying, days after a senior official warned European countries against any potential action against Kaliningrad. Up to 1,000 military personnel and more than 60 military equipment units were involved in the control checks, Interfax news quoted the Russian Baltic Fleet Commands press service as saying. Separately, 20 Su-27 fighters and Su-24 front-line naval aviation bombers conducted planned combat training overnight, simulating attacks on low-speed air and ground targets, command posts and military equipment in Kaliningrad, Interfax said. It did not give a reason for the exercises or say when they had been planned. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko warned European countries on Wednesday against any potential action against the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, saying this would be playing with fire. ____ Boris Johnson in Kyiv Pledging More Weapons UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has traveled to Ukraine to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in show of solidarity. The two leaders meeting Saturday will discuss the UKs long term support to Ukraine including a new package of financial and military aid, the prime ministers office said. The visit was not announced in advance. An image of the two leaders at a conference table was posted online by the Ukrainian Embassy in London. The deputy head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andrij Sybiha, said they were meeting in Kyiv. The visit comes a day after Johnson pledged another 100 million pounds ($130 million) in high grade military equipment to Ukraine, saying Britain wants to help Ukraine defend itself from continuing Russian assaults. Speaking Friday at a news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Johnson said he would give Ukraines military more Starstreak anti-aircraft missiles, another 800 anti-tank missiles and precision munitions capable of lingering in the sky until directed to their target. He also promised more helmets, night vision and body armor. The items were in addition to some 200,000 pieces of non-lethal military equipment from the UK that had already been promised. _____ Captured Russian Sailors Freed in Ukraine: Moscow Fourteen Russian sailors seized by Ukrainians on a cargo vessel in February have now been rescued, according to Tatyana Moskalkova, Russias top human rights official. The crew of the cargo ship Azov Concord has been freed and is being evacuated to safety by our troops, Moskalkova wrote on social media on Saturday. She said that the sailors were captured by the Ukrainians in the Azov Sea port of Mariupol on February 24, the day Russia launched its military campaign in Ukraine. The ship could not leave the port due to naval mines, she added. ____ YouTube Bans Russian Parliament Channel YouTube has banned the channel of Russias lower house of parliament, the State Duma, prompting government officials to renew longtime threats against the platform. The Duma TV channel reported the ban on the messaging app Telegram, noting that it had 145,000 subscribers. In comments to the Russian news agency Interfax, Google didnt give an exact reason for the move, but said the company follows all applicable sanction and trade compliance laws. Russias state communications watchdog Roskomnadzor demanded that YouTube unblock the channel. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Saturday that the service has handed itself a sentence and urged its users to download content, transfer it onto Russian platforms. And fast. State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin called the move against the parliaments YouTube channel another proof of violations of the rights and freedoms of citizens by Washington. _____ Russian People Face Drastically Inflated Food Prices Food prices have surged in Russia to levels exceeding the rate of food price inflation throughout the Western bloc, forcing Russians to spend an unusually high portion of their personal income on food as the country continues its war in Ukraine. In remarks to reporters from Reuters, the director of the United Nations food agencys Russian liaison said that Russian citizens were spending an average of 40 percent of their disposable income on food, which constitutes twice as high a share of proportional spending on food as prior to the invasion. According to data from the Russian government, food price inflation reached 18.75 percent by the beginning of April (compared to 7.5 percent for the European Union), as international sanctions have reduced the supply of familiar foodstuffs in the Russian Federation. Read the full article here _____ Russian Shares Footage of Evacuation in Mariupol The Russian Defence Ministry released video on Saturday showing the evacuation of civilians in the southern port city of Mariupol, which has been subjected to a monthlong blockade and intense fighting. Over 80 local residents, including 14 children, who were hiding in basements close to the contact line, were taken to a safe place by the Russian military and Donetsk Peoples Republic separatists, the ministry reported. This information could not be independently verified. _____ UK: Russian Naval Forces Firing Into Ukraine Britains Ministry of Defense says Russian naval forces are launching cruise missiles into Ukraine to support military operations in the eastern Donbass region and around the cities of Mariupol and Mykolaiv. In its Saturday morning briefing, the ministry said Russias air forces are expected to increase activity in the south and east of Ukraine to further support these operations. The ministry said these actions come as attempts to establish a land corridor between Crimea and Russian-controlled parts of the Donbass region continue to be thwarted by Ukrainian resistance. ______ RussiaUS military Confrontation Possible: Moscow Western countries, by pumping weapons into Ukraine, risk leading the United States and Russia onto the path of direct military confrontation, Moscows ambassador to Washington, Anatoly Antonov, said earlier this week. Since the launch of Russias military offensive in Ukraine, NATO countries and their allies have refrained from direct military involvement in the conflict, but have been actively providing Kyiv with weapons and ammunition. By doing so, the ambassador said in an interview with Newsweek, Western states are directly involved in the current events and are inciting further bloodshed. Antonov called these actions dangerous and provocative. They can lead the U.S. and the Russian Federation onto the path of direct military confrontation. Any supply of weapons and military equipment from the West, performed by transport convoys through the territory of Ukraine, is a legitimate military target for our Armed Forces. Antonov also said that a military exploration of Ukraine by NATO began long before the start of the Russian campaign in the neighboring country. In Antonovs words, Ukraine was flooded with Western weaponry while President Vladimir Zelenskyy announced Kyivs plans to acquire nuclear weapons. _____ Russia Accuses Ukraine of Barbarism The Russian Foreign Ministry has requested that the international community make an unbiased assessment of the actions of the Ukrainian forces and stop supplying them with weapons, as well as urge Kyiv to abandon unacceptable fighting methods. Earlier, Moscow accused the Ukrainians of being behind the attack that has claimed the lives of 50 people, including five children, according to the latest assessments provided by both sides. Western leaders have accepted Kyivs position that Russia is to blame. The Foreign Ministry has denounced the attack as a barbaric act of aggression and said that it only proves Russia had been right to launch its military operation to protect the two Donbass republics it had earlier recognized. The attack on Kramatorsk also closely resembles another missile strike that killed 17 people in the city of Donetsk in mid-March, it has added. ____ Austrian Leader Sees More Sanctions on Russia Austrias leader says he expects more European Union sanctions against Russia but is defending his countrys opposition so far to cutting off deliveries of Russian gas. Chancellor Karl Nehammer spoke Saturday after becoming the latest of several European leaders to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv. Nehammer said at a news conference that we will continue to ratchet up sanctions inside the European Union until the war stops and that a package of sanctions imposed this week wont be the last one. He acknowledged that as long as people are dying, every sanction is still insufficient. Austria, which gets most of its gas from Russia, is one of the countries that have been resisting a halt to deliveries. Questioned about that Saturday, Nehammer said that E.U. sanctions are becoming increasingly accurate but that sanctions are effective when they hit those they are directed against, and dont weaken those imposing sanctions against the one who is conducting war. Austria is militarily neutral and not a member of NATO. _____ Russia Bans Western NGOs Russia has ordered shut more than a dozen local branches of nonprofits, foundations, and other NGOs based in the West, saying they have violated Russian law. Among the organizations affected are Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the Carnegie Foundation for International Peace, and several German and Polish NGOs. The Justice Ministry in Moscow announced on Friday that it will be removing from the registry fifteen Russian branches of organizations based in the United States, UK, Germany, and Poland, citing identified violations of Russian law. Russias ban applies to branches of the UK-based Amnesty International Ltd, the U.S.-based Carnegie Foundation for International Peace, Human Rights Watch Inc., and the Institute for International Education. Russian branches of the Swiss-based Aga Khan Foundation and the Polish NGO Wspolnota Polska were likewise shuttered. Most of the banned NGOs are German, however, including the foundations named after Friedrich Naumann, Friedrich Ebert, Konrad Adenauer, Hanns Seidel, Heinrich Boell, and Rosa Luxemburgas well as the German Research Foundation offices in Russia. ____ Ukraine Urges Civilians to Flee as Rail Attack Toll Rises Ukraine on Saturday called on civilians in the eastern Luhansk region to flee after officials said more than 50 civilians trying to evacuate by rail from a neighboring region were killed in a missile attack. Air raid sirens rang out across much of the east of Ukraine on Saturday morning, officials said, as Luhansk Governor Serhiy Gaidai urged people in a televised address to leave as Russia was amassing forces for an offensive. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for a firm global response to Fridays missile attack on a train station crowded with women, children, and the elderly in Kramatorsk, in the Donetsk region. Russias defense ministry denied responsibility for the attack, saying in a statement the missiles that struck the station were used only by Ukraines military and that Russias armed forces had no targets assigned in Kramatorsk on Friday. All statements by the Ukrainian authorities on the attack were provocations, it said. The Kremlin said on Friday that what it calls a special operation to demilitarise and denazify Russias southern neighbor could end in the foreseeable future with its aims being achieved through work by the Russian military and peace negotiators. But NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, whose organization like Ukraine has dismissed Russias arguments as a pretext for an unprovoked invasion, claimed the war could last months or even years. The General Staff of Ukraines armed forces said Moscow was preparing for a thrust to try to gain full control of the eastern Donbass regions of Donetsk and Luhansk partly held by Moscow-backed separatists since 2014, after withdrawing forces from the Kyiv region. _____ Russia Says Coal Earmarked for Europe Can Be Redirected to Other Markets Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that coal was in high demand, and that Russian coal earmarked for Europe would be redirected to other markets if the E.U. refused it. The European Union on Friday formally adopted its fifth package of sanctions against Russia since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine, including bans on the import of coal, wood, chemicals, and other products. Coal is still a highly sought-after commodity. As consumption in Europe is abandoned, here there is a certain grace period, coal flows will be redirected to alternative markets, Peskov said. Russia exported a total of 223 million tonnes of coal last year, of which 48.7 million, or 22 percent, went to Europe, according to the Russian energy ministry. The decision by European countries to abandon Russian coal would backfire, Russian energy minister Nikolai Shulginov said on social media on Friday, as he expects a process to replace coal shipments from Moscow to take time and drive costs. ____ Russias Foreign Currency Rating Cut, Risk of Debt Default Looms Russias foreign currency payment rating has been downgraded after Moscow used rubles to make a dollar-denominated debt payment earlier in the week, a move that rating agency S&P Global said casts doubt on Russias ability or willingness to honor its obligations to foreign debtholders. S&P Global on Saturday cut Russias rating to selective default, saying in a statement that it understood that Russia had made coupon and principal payments on dollar-denominated Eurobonds on Monday. We currently dont expect that investors will be able to convert those ruble payments into dollars equivalent to the originally due amounts, or that the government will convert those payments within a 30-day grace period, the agency said. Read the full article here ____ Ex-Russian President Warns About World Order The unprecedented sanctions that Western nations have imposed on Russia since the start of its military offensive in Ukraine only further erode the existing system of international institutions and the authority of the U.N., former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned in a Telegram post on Friday. Initially, the word sanctions only applied to measures imposed by the U.N. Security Council, he argued, adding that everything Western nations call sanctions today is nothing but unilateral restrictions that are inadmissible under international law. This is nothing but infringement on the Russian Federations sovereign rights committed by certain nations and blocs, he said, calling the penalties illegal. The unprecedented scale of the restrictions placed on Moscow will only lead to the collapse of all international institutions and primarily the U.N., Medvedev, who is currently the deputy head of the Russian Security Council, warned. ____ More Evacuations Needed From Ukraines Luhansk as Shelling Increases: Governor More people need to evacuate from the Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine as more Russian forces have been arriving, Luhansk Governor Serhiy Gaidai said on Saturday. He said that some 30 percent of residents still remain in cities and villages across the region and have been asked to evacuate. They [Russia] are amassing forces for an offensive and we see the number of shelling has increased, Gaidai told public television. Ukraine has increasingly been warning that Russia plans intensified attacks in the countrys east and south after withdrawing its troops from areas to the north of the capital, Kyiv. The United States claimed this week that Moscow probably plans to deploy tens of thousands of soldiers in eastern Ukraine. Ukraines Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said that 10 humanitarian corridors have been agreed for the evacuation of people across the country, including for people to leave the southern besieged port of Mariupol by private transport. Multiple attempts to agree to safe passage for buses to take supplies to Mariupol and bring out civilians have failed, with each side blaming the other. The Russian defense ministry said on Saturday that it transported more than 80 residents from the left bank district of Mariupol on Friday, the Russian RIA news agency reported. All people were taken to safe places, RIA cited a statement from the ministry. Residents who suffered from shelling were provided with qualified medical help by Russian servicemen. Reuters could not immediately verify that. _____ Germany Could End Russian Oil Imports This Year: Scholz Germany could end Russian oil imports this year, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Friday (April 8), signaling the urgency driving Europes biggest economy to wean itself off energy from Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. Scholz was responding to a journalists question about whether he felt a sense of shame that E.U. countries were paying Russia billions of euros for fossil fuels. We are actively working to get independent from the import of [Russian] oil and we think that we will be able to make it during this year, Scholz said during a news conference in London with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The European Union this week approved new sanctions against Russia, including a ban on coal imports starting in August. Russian oil now accounts for 25 percent of German imports, down from 35 percent before the invasion, and gas imports have been cut to 40 percent from 55 percent. Russian hard coal imports were down to 25 percent from 50 percent before the invasion. A stoppage of Russian gas imports is tougher for Germany, which in the first quarter received 40 percent of deliveries from Russia. Germany wants to cut the share of Russian gas to 24 percent by this summer. But it could take until the summer of 2024 for Europes largest economy to end its reliance on Russian gas. We are actively working to get independent from the necessity of importing gas from Russia, Scholz said. ______ Ukraine Says 10 Humanitarian Corridors Agreed for Saturday Ten humanitarian corridors to evacuate people from Ukraines besieged regions have been agreed for Saturday, Ukraines Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said. The planned corridors include one for people evacuating by private transport from the city of Mariupol, Vereshchuk said. ___ Ukraine War Pushes Germany to Strengthen Its Bunker Infrastructure Germany has started working on strengthening its basement shelters as well as building up crisis stocks in case of war, the Welt am Sonntag newspaper reported on Saturday, citing the countrys interior minister. After decades of attrition of Germanys armed forces, Russias war in Ukraine has led to a major policy shift with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledging to increase defense spending and injecting 100 billion euros ($109 billion) into the army. The government is also looking into upgrading its public shelter systems and will increase spending on civil protection, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser told the newspaper. There are currently 599 public shelters in Germany. We will check whether we could upgrade more of such systems. In any case, the dismantling has stopped, Faeser said. Germany is working on new concepts for strengthening underground parking lots, subway stations, and basements to become possible shelters, she said, adding that the government has given the federal states 88 million euros to install new sirens. But as far as nationwide coverage is concerned, were not even close, Faeser added. The country will also build up crisis stocks with supplies including medical equipment, protective clothing, masks or medication, she said. ____ Russian Forces Destroy Ammo Depot at Ukrainian Air Base: Interfax Russian forces have destroyed an ammunition depot at the Myrhorod Air Base in central Ukraine, Interfax news agency reported on Saturday, quoting the Russian Defence Ministry. A Ukrainian air force MiG-29 fighter and a Mi-8 helicopter were also destroyed in the attack on the base in the Poltava region, ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said. ____ US Curbs Russian Access to Foreign Fertilizers and Valves The United States on Friday broadened its export curbs against Russia and Belarus, restricting access to imports of items such as fertilizer and pipe valves as it seeks to ratchet up pressure on Moscow and Minsk following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. President Joe Bidens administration also restricted flights of American-made aircraft that are owned, controlled or leased by Belarusians from flying into Belarus as part of the U.S. governments response to Belaruss actions in support of Russias aggressive conduct in Ukraine. The Commerce Department said it will begin requiring Russians and Belarusians to get a special license when seeking to obtain a host of goods from U.S. suppliers and pledged to deny those licenses. The goods include fertilizer, pipe valves, ball bearings and other parts, materials and chemicals. The administration said items made abroad with U.S. tools would also require a U.S. license, which the administration plans to deny. Actions in late February and March placed unprecedented controls on export of U.S. and foreign-made items destined for Russia or Belarus. Those measures, coordinated with over 30 other countries, restrict a broad swath of commodities, software, and technology. _____ EU Says Resuming Diplomatic Presence in Kyiv The European Union will resume its diplomatic presence in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, after temporarily moving it to Poland after Russias invasion of Ukraine, the bloc said on Friday. Matti Maasikas, head of the EU delegation in Ukraine, joined top EU officials visiting the country on Friday and will remain in Kyiv to reopen the delegation and assess conditions for staff to return, the blocs diplomatic service said. Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell said the move would enhance the blocs interactions with the Ukrainian government and help support Ukrainian citizens. The EUs delegation was evacuated from Kyiv to the Polish city Rzeszow shortly after Russias invasion. ____ Russia Relaxes Rules on Foreign Exchange Buying as Ruble Rallies Russia will relax temporary capital control measures aimed at limiting a drop in the ruble by allowing individuals to buy cash foreign currency and will also scrap commission for buying forex through brokerages, the central bank said on Friday. The ruble has rebounded on the Moscow Exchange from record lows in March to levels seen before Feb. 24, when Russia started what it calls a special military operation in Ukraine, as capital control measures suffocated demand for forex. The swift rebound in the ruble raised concerns about its economic and financial impact as analysts have warned that the volatile and strong ruble could pose a threat to Russian revenues from selling commodities abroad for foreign currency. The central bank said banks will be allowed to sell cash foreign currency to individuals from April 18 but only the notes they have received no earlier than on April 9. The central bank is also scrapping its requirement for banks to limit the gap between prices at which they offer to buy and sell foreign exchange. But it recommended banks sell forex to import-focused companies at a rate of no more than two rubles above the market rate. The central bank said individuals will be allowed to withdraw not only dollars but also euros from their accounts from April 11, but kept the maximum amount that can be withdrawn until Sept. 9 at the equivalent of $10,000. Nicholas Dolinger, Tom Ozimek, The Associated Press, and Reuters contributed to this report. Ex-Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng (C) arrives for his criminal trial, at the United States Courthouse in Brooklyn, New York, on Feb. 22, 2022. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters) Malaysian Ex-Goldman Sachs Banker Found Guilty in 1MDB Corruption Scandal A U.S. federal jury on April 8 found a former Malaysian Goldman Sachs banker guilty of bribery and conspiracy to launder billions of dollars embezzled from Malaysias sovereign wealth fund 1MDB. Roger Ng, 49, was convicted of all three counts in the case, including conspiring to violate U.S. anti-bribery laws through bribery and circumvention of Goldmans internal accounting controls, as well as conspiring to launder money. The Malaysian citizen is the only former Goldman Sachs employee on trial in the United States for the 1MDB corruption scandal. He faces up to 30 years in prison. Todays verdict is a resounding victory for justice and for the people of Malaysia who were the victims of this massive scheme that the defendant and his partners in crime carried out in a frenzy of greed to get rich by stealing millions of dollars from the 1MDB, U.S. attorney Breon Peace said. Ng, former managing director of Goldman Sachs, had pleaded not guilty to the charges. Over the eight-week federal trial, his lawyers argued that the funds were used for a legitimate business transaction. His lawyer, Marc Agnifilio, said that Ng may appeal, depending on the outcome of his post-trial motions and sentence. Agnifilio planned to convince Ng to waive extradition to face trial, saying that he would have a better chance of a fair trial in the United States than in Malaysia. According to the indictment, Ng, his former boss Tim Leissner, and fugitive Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho conspired to misappropriate more than $2.7 billion from 1MDB. The money was used for personal benefits and to bribe Malaysian and Abu Dhabi government officials to obtain lucrative business, which resulted in Goldman Sachs earning around $600 million in revenues. They also conspired to launder the embezzled money through the U.S. financial system by funding major Hollywood films such as The Wolf of Wall Street, and purchasing luxury residential real estate and artwork, among other things. Ng received $35 million for his role in the bribery and money laundering scheme, according to the U.S. Department of Justice statement. Leissner had pleaded guilty to similar charges in 2018 and agreed to forfeit $43.7 million. He testified that they agreed to tell banks a cover story that the $35 million was from a legitimate business venture between their wives. Ngs wife, Hwee Bin Lim, later testified that the business venture was legitimate and that she invested $6 million in the mid-2000s in a Chinese company owned by the family of Leissners then-wife, Judy Chan, and received $35 million in return. Agnifilio said in his closing argument that Leissner could not be trusted, claiming that Leissner falsely implicated Ng to obtain a lenient sentence. But the prosecutor said that Leissners testimony was backed up by other evidence. Malaysias former Prime Minister Najib Razak arrives in court in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Aug. 8, 2018. (Lai Seng Sin/Reuters) 1MDB is a Malaysian wealth fund established by former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak in 2009 to fund economic development projects. U.S. investigators alleged that at least $4.5 billion had been stolen from the fund and laundered by Najibs cronies, including some of the funds that Goldman Sachs helped raise. Najib was sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined RM210 million ($50 million) in July 2020 after being found guilty of transferring RM42 million ($9.9 million) from SRC International, a former unit of 1MDB, into his bank accounts. Low, who was suspected mastermind of the scheme, has maintained his innocence and remains at large. Malaysian authorities have revoked his passport, issued an arrest demand, and applied for an Interpol red alert against him. Goldman Sachs in 2020 agreed to pay more than $2.9 billion in penalties, including $600 million in profit from the 1MDB scandal. Reuters contributed to this report. Former Canadian Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific David Kilgour presents a revised report about continued murder of Falun Gong practitioners in China for their organs, as report co-author lawyer David Matas listens in the background, in Ottawa on Jan. 31, 2007. (The Epoch Times) Matas: David Kilgours Fierce Devotion to Principle and Deep Empathy for Rights Abuse Victims Will Endure Commentary I have known David Kilgour all my adult life. From the get-go, I could see that he had a friendly, outgoing, gregarious personality. David was an undergraduate at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg in the early 1960s the same time as I. He was a bit ahead of me, but as active in student affairs as I was, and then some. We were both by coincidence in Ottawa and then Paris at the same time in the late 60s, each pursuing our own work and studies. I attended his wedding in Edmonton in 1974 where he was then a prosecutor. Our casual contact changed dramatically in March 2006 when we began, on request from an NGO, a joint investigation into whether adherents of the spiritual-based practice Falun Gong were being killed in China for their organs to be sold to patients in need of transplants. From that time on, for the past 16 years, I had been in touch with David on an almost daily basis, often several times a day. (L-R) David Kilgour, David Matas, and Ethan Gutmann, authors of Bloody Harvest/The Slaughter: An Update, in London, England, on Nov. 25, 2014. (Simon Gross/The Epoch Times) The first version of our report, released in June 2006, concluded that the abuse in China of Falun Gong prisoners of conscience that we were asked to investigate was indeed happening. We realized that we could not just release the report and walk away from the issue to engage in our other activities, of which we had many. To keep the issue alive, we had to keep at it. And keep at it we did, with updates to our report, with the co-founding along with journalist Ethan Gutmann of an NGO on the issue (the International Coalition to End Transplant Abuse in China), and with a steady stream of trips to conferences, rallies, and hearings, and of statements, speeches, submissions, articles, internet postings, and email listserv messages. We became partners not just on this issue but on a variety of other human rights issues where we shared common causethe tyranny in Iran, the atrocities against the Uyghurs, the threats to Taiwan, the repression in Hong Kong, antisemitism driven by distorted attacks on Israel, and so on. By sharing the same concerns on so many issues in such depth for so long, I came to know David quite well. What I could see was that he was dedicated to principle without reservation. The principles he held were fiercely, intensely held personal beliefs. When he retired from Parliament after 27 years, he was then its longest-serving member. During that career, he was evicted from the Progressive Conservative Party for non-conformity, joined the Liberal Party, and then resigned in disagreement over their policies. Given his character, that was a fate foretold. His openness to others, as well as his independence of mind and commitment to principle, made him highly electable. That same independence made his climbing what British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli called the greasy pole impossible. The ability to go along to get along was not in his repertoire. (LR) International human rights lawyer David Matas, former justice minister Irwin Cotler, and former secretary of state for Asia-Pacific David Kilgour at the parliamentary international human rights subcommittee hearing in Ottawa on Nov. 3, 2016, where Matas and Kilgour provided a briefing on organ transplantation abuses in China. (The Epoch Times) Davids finest hours were those spent on human rights after he left Parliament. The issues surrounding human rights in general and China in particular brought out the best in him because they brought out the worst in others. Others might be prepared to trade off or water down principles for money or power, position or access. Others might be willing to accept promises for reality, telling instead of showing. Others might succumb to delusions of grandeur because perpetrators mouthed the words their interlocutors wanted to hear. But not David Kilgour. He distinguished himself by his bottomless well of support for victims, his inexhaustible rejection of hypocrisy, his interminable anguish at impunity. David died April 5. May he rest in peace, but I do not think he will. His spirit will always suffer from the atrocities of this planet. In spirit, his anger will continue to flare at, and his patience will again and again be tried by, the perpetual onslaught of perpetrators; his sympathy will persistently embrace the unending parade of victims, and his concerns for them will forever mount. All who have known David will miss him. Yet he will not be gone. His example will endure to remind us of the difference between indifference and empathy, between bafflegab and honesty, between giving way and standing firm, between doing well and doing good. He has not disappeared because he has become part of us. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Moderna Recalls 764,900 COVID-19 Vaccine Doses After Contamination Found The U.S. pharmaceutical and biotechnology company Moderna Inc. on Friday issued a recall in Europe involving 764,900 doses of its COVID-19 vaccine Spikevax after contaminants were discovered in a vial. The lot is being recalled due to a foreign body being found in one vial in the lot manufactured at the companys contract manufacturing site, ROVI, Moderna and Spains ROVI Pharma Industrial Services said in a joint statement. The drugmaker did not specify what kind of foreign substance was found and had recalled the whole lot out of an abundance of caution. The contamination was traced in just one vial of the batch and investigators do not believe the contamination posed a risk to other vials in the lot. Moderna conducted a cumulative search of its global safety database, and no safety concerns were reported in individuals who received the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine from this lot. To date, no safety or efficacy issues have been identified, according to the statement. The lots were distributed from Jan. 13 to Jan. 14 in Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. To date, more than 900 million doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine have been administered worldwide. Last year, Moderna had several lots of its COVID-19 vaccines recalled by Japanese authorities after an investigation found stainless steel contaminants in some vials. The recalled batches were manufactured by the same Spanish company, ROVI. Japans biggest drugmaker, Takeda Pharmaceutical, said in a statement the contamination was traced back to the production run by ROVI. The findings were discovered by an investigation carried out by the two companies, not the Japanese health ministry. Three men in Japan had fallen severely ill in August 2021 after being administered a second dose of the now-recalled COVID-19 vaccine and died shortly after. Takeda said in a statement at the time there is no evidence they are linked to the vaccine, Reuters reported. Stainless steel is routinely used in heart valves, joint replacements, and metal sutures and staples. As such, it is not expected that injection of the particles identified in these lots in Japan would result in increased medical risk, the company said. The first two deaths reported in the country linked to contaminated Moderna doses were two men, aged 30 and 38. They both died two days after receiving a second dose from a tainted batch of vaccines. The third case was a 49-year-old man, who also fell ill after receiving his second dose, and died the next day, the health ministry said, noting that his only known health issue was a buckwheat allergy. From NTD News Defendant Troy Driver appeared by video from the Lyon County jail during his arraignment at the Fernley Justice Court in Fernley, Nev., on April 8, 2022. (Jason Bean/The Reno Gazette-Journal via AP, Pool) No Bail for Suspect in Rural Nevada Kidnapping, Killing FERNLEY, Nev.A judge in rural Nevada decided Friday that a man accused of kidnapping and killing an 18-year-old woman last month will remain in jail without bail ahead of another court date on murder and other charges. Troy Driver, 41, appeared by video from the Lyon County jail in Fernley, where he has been held since his March 25 arrest on a kidnapping charge following the disappearance of Naomi Christine Irion. Irions body was found March 30 in a remote, high-desert grave in neighboring Churchill County. Prosecutors say Driver, a mining services worker living in Fallon, abducted Irion in her car from a Walmart parking lot in Fernley, fatally shot her and buried her body. Naomi Irion, 18, of Fernley, Nev., makes a purchase shortly before authorities say she disappeared before dawn, on March 12, 2022. (Lyon County Sheriffs Office via AP) Richard Davies, a Reno lawyer appointed as Drivers lead public defender, said Driver maintains his innocence but did not object to remaining in jail while Davies reviews evidence collected by authorities and conducts his own investigation. Davies said Driver appeared upbeat and positive when he met with him for about an hour on Thursday. He said its too soon to tell but he may seek a change-of-venue for the case based on the intense interest it has drawn in the small town of about 20,000 residents a 30-minute drive east of Reno. Certainly this is a terrible tragedy which has caused a ripple effect throughout the community, so that may affect the potential jury pool down the road, Davies told reporters outside court. Right now, everybody is jumping to conclusions, he said. But I want to urge everybody to be patient. Right now, there is very little evidence, very little information. We look forward to the getting the true story out, Davies said. Driver, who has a violent criminal history and served more than a decade in prison in California, also faces kidnapping, robbery, burglary and destruction of evidence charges. He could be indicted or face a preliminary hearing of evidence in a Fernley court to determine whether there is enough evidence for trial in state court. Justice of the Peace Lori Matheus set his next court date for May 10. Irion lived in Fernley with her brother, Casey Valley. He led the search for his sister after she left home before dawn March 12 to catch a bus from the Walmart parking lot to work at a Panasonic plant. Valley alerted sheriffs deputies that Irions was missing, spoke with the media and for more than two weeks organized multiple search parties joined by hundreds of people in remote high desert areas. He told reporters Friday that it was a relief that Driver would not be released from jail and said Irions parents and siblings were trying to cope with her death. Every day were trying to make sure we do whatever we need to do to make sure Naomi gets justice, Valley said. A celebration of her life is planned Sunday at a city park The town was founded more than a century ago along a manmade canal that was built in 1905 as part of the first irrigation project in the Westintended to help make the desert bloom and attract settlers. On Friday, ribbons were fluttering from sign posts along main street just off U.S. Interstate 80. A small makeshift memorial has popped up at a roadside pull-off with a sculpture where ribbons, pinwheels, stuffed animals, and flowers sit beneath an old flyer left over from the search for Irion when she was missing. The family of Naomi Irion attends the arraignment hearing for defendant Troy Driver at the Fernley Justice Court in Fernley, Nev., on April 8, 2022. (Jason Bean/The Reno Gazette-Journal via AP, Pool) Valley said family members slowly have been coming to grips with what happened and the reality shes not coming home. Every day it seems a little more real and thats hard, he said. But Naomi is not suffering. We need to take whatever peace we can get from that. By Scott Sonner P&O Ferry Released From Detention After Re-inspection A P&O ferry has been released from two-week detention following re-inspection, British maritime officials said on Friday. The European Causeway, which was released on Friday, had been detained in Larne, Northern Ireland, since March 25 after it was deemed unfit to sail due to failures on crew familiarisation, vessel documentation, and crew training. It was the first of two P&O ferries detained after the UKs Transport Secretary Grant Shapps ordered very detailed inspections of all P&O vessels following the companys abrupt dismissal and replacement of almost 800 seafarers. P&O Ferries, which was bought by Dubai-based logistics giant DP World in 2019, sparked outrage when it fired 786 UK-based seafarers without any prior notice on March 17 and later replaced them with cheaper agency workers, citing 100 million ($132 million) year-on-year loss. A second vessel, the Pride of Kent, was detained on March 28. P&O Ferries the Pride of Canterbury (L) and the Pride of Kent (R) moored at the Port of Dover in Kent, England, on March 29, 2022. (Gareth Fuller/PA Media) On Friday, a spokesperson for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said The European Causeway had been released following a reinspection of the ferry over the past two days. The reinspection took place at the request of P&O, the agency said. The spokesperson added that no further inspections of P&O Ferries were planned for the weekend. On April 1, the Insolvency Service confirmed it had commenced formal criminal and civil investigations into the circumstances surrounding the recent redundancies made by P&O Ferries. Cars wait to check in at the Port of Dover in Kent, England, on April 9, 2022. (Gareth Fuller/PA Media) Meanwhile, Britons travelling to France via the Channel Tunnel have been advised to bring food and drink as lengthy queues continue at the Port of Dover due to a shortage of ferries caused by the suspension of sailings by P&O Ferries. In a statement provided to the PA news agency, Kent Resilience Forum said Operation Brocka contingent trafficking system in case of cross-Channel disruption after Brexitwas ensuring that the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel received a constant supply of HGVs on Saturday. However, it added that tourist traffic to the same tunnels remained delayed due to diversions caused by the operation. PA Media contributed to this report. New York Police Commissioner Keechant Sewel (R) speaks during a news conference in New York on April 8, 2022, in this image taken from video provided by the NYPD. (NYPD via AP) Police: Teen Girl Killed, 2 Wounded in Bronx Shooting NEW YORKThree teenage children walking home from school Friday were shot, one fatally, when a gunman started firing during a street corner dispute in the Bronx, police said. The girl killed in the gunfire was 16 years old, police said. Another 16-year-old girl was hit in the leg. A 17-year-old boy was wounded in the buttocks. Both are expected to survive. Police said many details were still under investigation, but that the gunfire appeared to start after two people were gesturing at each other across an intersection. The children who were shot were walking by on the sidewalk. We believe that they are coming from school, that they were headed home, Deputy Police Chief Timothy McCormack told reporters at a brief news conference. The shooting happened at 1:40 p.m. outside of the South Bronx Educational Campus, which is home to two schools, Mott Haven Village Prep and University Heights Secondary School. The Department of Education said two of the teens went to Mott Haven. The third teen went to University Prep Charter High School, a short distance away. Police were examining security camera video, which recorded the gunfire, to try and identify the shooter. Police on Friday announced arrests in a stray-bullet shooting death in the Bronx from earlier in the week. Juana Esperanza Soriano De-Perdomo, 61, was killed Monday night when she was hit in the back by gunfire from a dispute between two groups of men, police said. Two men have been arrested, and are facing charges including murder and manslaughter. Robert Malone Says He Will Sue New York Times Unless It Corrects Defamatory Article The New York Times will face a lawsuit unless it corrects an article claiming Dr. Robert Malone has spread unfounded claims about the [COVID-19] vaccines and the virus and misrepresents his role in creating messenger RNA technology, the doctor and his lawyer say. The New York Times recently published a piece calling Malone the latest COVID misinformation star, written by a reporter who the paper hired to cover disinformation, or the purposeful spread of false information. Davey Alba, the reporter, acknowledges Malone performed some of the earliest experiments on messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, which was used to build the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. But the article questions Malones assertion that he invented the mRNA vaccines. In addition, Malone is accused of spreading misinformation about the virus and vaccines on conservative programs, with examples of the alleged actions including how Malone questions the severity of the coronavirus and has championed the use of hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin, two drugs that U.S. regulators say should not be used to treat COVID-19. Steven Biss, representing Malone, gave notice to the New York Times on April 6, informing lawyers for the paper that the article contains false and defamatory statements of fact of or concerning Dr. Malone, including the thinly supported headline. Biss and Malone say Alba, who now works for Bloomberg, declined an offer from Malone to show her evidence regarding his research and invention of the mRNA technology. She refused to view the information that we offered to provide to her, Malone told The Epoch Times. A review of the New York Times article found no mention of the patents on which Malone is named. Instead, it says Malone alleges to have invented the technology because he performed experiments on human cells at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego, and links to a study Malone co-authored about injecting RNA into mouse skeletal muscle. One of the studys co-authors, Dr. Gyula Acsadi, chief of pediatric Neurology at Connecticut Childrens Medical Center, was quoted as saying it was a totally false claim for Malone to say he invented mRNA vaccines. Malone says on his websites that he is the inventor of mRNA vaccines and the original inventor of mRNA vaccination as a technology but also says he did not invent the COVID-19 vaccines. In fact, I have very actively distanced myself from them, he wrote in a blog post. The facts are that I am a named inventor on the original nine issued U.S. patents, which describe the mRNA vaccine platform technology, Malone told The Epoch Times. The patents cover delivery mechanisms used in mRNA vaccines, among other things. Those patents were used aggressively to keep other companies from entering the technology area until they expired, Malone said. While Acsadi co-authored the paper, he is not listed on any of the patents. The New York Times building in New York City on Aug. 31, 2021. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Dr. Jon Wolff, named in the paper and the patents, is deceased. Dr. Philip Felgner, also named in the paper and the patents, told The Epoch Times in an email that There have been hundreds of scientists contributing to lipid nanoparticle and mRNA technology were experiencing today, for more than 50 years. Alba, the reporter, is also accused of searching for sources to quote on Twitter, as two of the three critics had previously criticized Malone on the social media website. Dr. Angela Rasmussen, for instance, called Malone in August 2021 a grifter and just another scammer. She was quoted in the New York Times article as saying guidance from health agencies changes over time because the guidance is only as reliable as the evidence behind it, and thus it should change when new evidence is obtained. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), among other health agencies, has repeatedly changed guidance during the pandemic, drawing growing distrust from Americans, according to surveys. Some leading health officials have admitted to misleading Americans on key pandemic-related matters. Dr. Anthony Fauci, for instance, has acknowledged he lied about the effectiveness of masks early in the pandemic because of concerns there would be a mask shortage if he was truthful. Malone has criticized Fauci and the CDC, telling The Epoch Times earlier this year, for instance, that the CDCs withholding of data on COVID-19 was an example of scientific fraud. Robert Malone is exploiting the fact that data-driven course correction is inherent to the scientific process to peddle disinformation, Rasmussen told the New York Times, referring to how Malone makes money from his blog. Its extraordinarily dishonest and morally bankrupt. Dr. Alastair McAlpine, another source critical of Malone, promoted the article on Twitter, alleging he and many others, presented with the false claim that Malone invented mRNA technology, had debunk[ed] the idea. Alba appears to have sought her sources by looking through Twitter to find detractors, which suggests intent to defame because she was biasing her sources to individuals that she knew were already defaming, Malone told The Epoch Times. The New York Times was told to publicly retract the statements alleged to be false and defamatory, issue a written apology, and provide compensation for the presumed and actual damages Malone has suffered. If the requested actions are not taken within 30 days within receipt of the notice, or if actions are taken but are deemed insufficient, Malone intends to take legal action, Biss told the paper. Malone confirmed that he will sue the paper in that scenario. Alba did not respond to requests for comment. She has shielded her Twitter page from view from all users except for those who follow her. A spokesperson for the New York Times told The Epoch Times in an email that the story was thoroughly researched and edited, and we are confident in the diligence of our reporting. The papers legal department is reviewing the legal notice and will respond to counsel after that review, the spokesperson added. One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts questions Therapeutic Goods Administration during Senate Estimates in Parliament House, in Canberra, Australia, on April 6, 2022. (Screenshot by The Epoch Times) Senator Questions Regulator Over Vaccine Safety as Boosters Expanded to 12-Year-Olds in Australia Australian children as young as 12 will soon be eligible to get a third COVID-19 jab following a decision by the medical regulator. Meanwhile, one senator has questioned the regulator over their approval process during a Senate Estimates hearing. In provisionally approving the Pfizer jab as a booster for the age group, a spokesperson from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) said the regulator had rigorously reviewed overseas vaccine data. Regulatory approval of the booster dose for this age group has also been granted in Israel, the United Kingdom, and the United States, he said. The TGA continues to work very closely with international regulators to align regulatory approaches, share information, and, where it speeds up evaluation, collaboratively review COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. Australians can be confident that the TGAs review process for this vaccine was rigorous and of the highest standard, he said. A COVID-19 vaccine is prepared at Sydney Road Family Medical Practice in Balgowlah in Sydney, Australia on January 10, 2022. (Jenny Evans/Getty Images) The Australian Technical Advisory Group is expected to give the final approval for the jab to be used as a booster for the age group within days. The TGA recommended on April 8 that 12- to 15-year-olds receive a third shot six months after their first two regardless of which approved vaccine theyd received as their primary course. The booster had previously been expanded to those 16 and over in January. The regulator said it will actively monitor the safety of the vaccine in all age groups both in Australia and overseas as a precaution and take action if concerns are identified. One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts questioned TGA officials during Senate Estimates about vaccine safety and injury. He suggested the regulator has been blindly accepting overseas data provided by pharmaceutical companies. Your office obtained de-identified clinical data, patient data from the COVID-19 vaccine trials. And did that data form your decision on the vaccine, or did you just accept what the manufacturer said? Roberts asked Dr. John Skerritt, the national manager of the TGA. Dr. John Skerritt appears before a Senate Estimates hearing at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on April 6, 2022. (Screenshot by The Epoch Times) So Senator, of a long established process is that we receive an aggregate submission looking at the analysis of a patient data, Skeritt responded. He added that in doing their review, clinicians and an advisory committee review the data and we do go back and ask a series of questions to the company, but of the global regulators, only the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), obtains individual patient data as a course of practise. So the answer is no? Roberts said. So we do not obtain individual patient regulator, Skerritt replied. Were simply not resolved to do so. In response to Roberts probing questions, Skerritt said the TGA spent many person months reviewing the data provided by Pfizer and other U.S. vaccine manufacturers but that there was no requirement to conduct clinical trial testing on their efficacy in Australia. If it were a requirement wed have far fewer medicines and vaccines on the market, Skerritt said. We look for trials done in comparable populations. So we assume a trial done on an American is [going to] be transferable to the Australian population. He also said that the batch testing done in Australia was to look at safety in an post market sense, testing the vaccines composition and to make sure there are no contaminants in them. The data from FDA and Safety comes from clinical trials that are being conducted globally. And I would add the same approach is accepted by all worlds major regulators, including Europe. So the European Medicines Agency, which regulates for European Union does not require trials to be done within Europe, Skeritt said. Roberts asked whether Skerritt was aware of major concerns about the FDAs processes and alleged conflicts of interest with pharmaceutical companies. In response, Skerritt emphasised that the TGA does not automatically accept all FDA decisions in the United States and instead makes independent sovereign evaluations of vaccines. He also noted that the regulator checks the composition of its advisory groups of experts for conflicts of interest, and promised to provide the Senate committee information on that process without naming the experts. As of April 8, almost 70 percent of Australias eligible population 16 and over had received a booster shot. Currently, fourth doses are being rolled out for the elderly and vulnerable, such as older Indigenous Australians, those in aged care and disability care, and the immunocompromised, ahead of winter. UNITED NATIONS, April 8 (Xinhua) -- A UN spokesperson said Friday that some 6 million people in Somalia are likely to face crisis or worse food insecurity from April to June this year. "The latest famine projections indicate that more than 6 million people are likely to face crisis or worse food insecurity from April through June of this year," Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told a regular briefing with journalists. The spokesman noted that Somalia now "faces a risk of famine in six areas" through June if the rainy season from April to June fails, as it is predicted; if food prices continue to rise; and if humanitarian assistance is not scaled up to reach the most vulnerable populations. However, as of April 7, the 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan, which calls for nearly 1.5 billion U.S. dollars to help 5.5 million men, women and children of the most vulnerable Somalis remained significantly underfunded, at just 4.4 percent. "The drought is worsening across the country. An estimated 4.9 million people across Somalia have been affected, including more than 719,000 internally displaced people. Acute food insecurity has increased significantly since the beginning of the year," he said. Dujarric said that livestock deaths and disease outbreaks are widespread, while up to 80 percent of the water sources in the country are drying up and the water levels of the Shabelle and Juba Rivers are below historic levels. On other fronts, he said that insecurity, conflicts, and unresolved political tensions continue to disrupt livelihoods, market access, and increase displacement, adding that humanitarian aid must be increased to prevent extreme food insecurity and malnutrition, including the risk of famine. Dujarric underscored that the current famine is happening against the backdrop of one of the most severe La Nina-induced droughts in recent memory in the Horn of Africa, following three poor back-to-back rainy seasons. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) A jury on Friday acquitted two men of all charges in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer but couldnt reach verdicts against the two alleged leaders, a stunning defeat for the government after a weekslong trial that centered on a remarkable FBI sting operation just before the 2020 election. Whitmer did not immediately comment on the outcome, though her chief of staff was critical, saying Americans are living through the normalization of political violence. The result was announced on the fifth day of deliberations, a few hours after the jury said it had been struggling to find unanimity on charges in the 10-count indictment. The judge told the panel to keep working, but jurors emerged again after lunch to say they still were deadlocked on some counts. Daniel Harris, 24, and Brandon Caserta, 33, were found not guilty of conspiracy. In addition, Harris was acquitted of charges related to explosives and a gun. The jury could not reach verdicts for Adam Fox, 38, and Barry Croft Jr., 46, which means the government can put them on trial again for two conspiracy charges. Croft also faces a separate explosives charge. They'll remain in custody. No juror spoke publicly about the mixed result. Obviously were disappointed with the outcome. ... We have two defendants that are awaiting trial and well get back to work on that, U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge said. Harris and Caserta embraced their lawyers when U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker said they were free after 18 months in jail awaiting trial. Family members moments earlier gasped and cried with joy when the verdicts were read. The arrests in Michigan came amid upheaval in the U.S. in 2020. The year had started with pandemic lockdowns then shifted to armed Capitol protests over COVID-19 restrictions ordered by Whitmer and other governors. By late May, anger over racial injustice and the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police erupted into demonstrations in cities nationwide. In a Grand Rapids courtroom, during 13 days of testimony, prosecutors offered evidence from undercover agents, a crucial informant and two men who pleaded guilty to the plot. Jurors also read and heard secretly recorded conversations, violent social media posts and chat messages. Ty Garbin, who pleaded guilty and is serving a six-year prison sentence, said the plan was to get Whitmer and cause enough chaos to trigger a civil war before the election , keeping Joe Biden from winning the presidency. Garbin and Kaleb Franks, who also pleaded guilty and testified for the government, were among the six who were arrested in October 2020 amid talk of raising $4,000 for an explosive to blow up a bridge and stymie any police response to a kidnapping, according to trial testimony. Prosecutors said the group was steeped in anti-government extremism and furious over Whitmers pandemic restrictions. There was evidence of a crudely built shoot house to practice going in and out of her vacation home, and a night ride by Croft, Fox and covert operatives to check the property. But defense lawyers portrayed the men as credulous weekend warriors, often stoned on marijuana and prone to big, wild talk. They said FBI agents and informants tricked and cajoled the men into targeting the governor. During closing arguments a week ago, Foxs attorney, Christopher Gibbons, said the plan was utter nonsense, and he pleaded with jurors to be the firewall against the government. Harris was the only defendant to testify in his own defense, repeatedly telling jurors absolutely not when asked if he had targeted the governor. I think what the FBI did is unconscionable," Caserta's attorney, Michael Hills, said outside court. "And I think the jury just sent them a message loud and clear that these tactics were not going to condone what theyve done here. He said Whitmer was never in any danger. Gibbons said the acquittals of Harris and Caserta demonstrated serious shortcomings in the government's case. Well be ready for another trial. ... Well eventually get what we wanted out of this, which is the truth and the justice I think Adam is entitled to, Gibbons said. Meanwhile, Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist said the outcome is disappointing. Whitmer's office released a tough reaction from the governor's chief of staff, JoAnne Huls. The plot to kidnap and kill a governor may seem like an anomaly. But we must be honest about what it really is: The result of violent, divisive rhetoric that is all too common across our country, Huls said. There must be accountability and consequences for those who commit heinous crimes. Without accountability, extremists will be emboldened. Deliberations resumed earlier Friday with a court employee handing jurors a large plastic bag containing pennies, known as evidence exhibit 291. The pennies were requested before jurors went home Thursday. Pennies taped to a commercial-grade firework were intended to act like shrapnel against Whitmer's security team, according to the government. The trial covered 20 days since March 8, including jury selection, evidence, final arguments and jury deliberations. Croft is from Bear, Delaware, while the others are from Michigan. Whitmer, a Democrat, wasn't a trial witness and didn't attend. She 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. A jury of six women and six men heard the case, as well as four alternates. Little is known about them. Citing privacy, Jonker ordered that they be only identified by numbers. Two jurors were dismissed during the trial because of illness. The jury pool was drawn from a 22-county region in western and northern Michigan that is largely rural, Republican and conservative. Several people were dismissed after saying they had strong feelings about Whitmer positive or negative or the government. Matthew Schneider, a former U.S. attorney in Detroit, believes prosecutors could have done a better job of learning about the backgrounds and personal views of some jurors who were called up near the end of the all-day selection process. The government had laid out its case. The jury didnt believe it, Schneider said of the verdict. Separately, authorities in state court are prosecuting eight men who are accused of aiding the group that was on trial in federal court. Find APs full coverage of the Whitmer kidnap plot trial at: https://apnews.com/hub/whitmer-kidnap-plot-trial White reported from Detroit. Associated Press reporters Sara Burnett in Chicago; David Eggert in Grand Rapids, Michigan; and Mike Householder in Detroit contributed to this report. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Lauren (R) and Gina (L) Davison attended Shen Yun with some of their children at Sydney's Lyric Theatre, in Sydney, Australia, on April 9, 2022. (NTD) SYDNEY, AustraliaLauren and Gina Davison were left with a sense of hope and of being part of a shared humanity across cultures and countries when the husband and wife experienced Shen Yun Performing Arts at Sydneys Lyric Theatre on April 9. Mrs. Davison waited two years to see the New York-based Shen Yun after being disappointed when the emergence of the pandemic cut short the productions 2020 tour. But she kept an eye out for new tour dates and snapped up her tickets when its 2022 Sydney run was announced. Its been worth the wait, she said, adding: I just love all of it. I love the blossom dance. Shen Yun is the worlds premier classical Chinese dance company, and along with folk dances and solo performances, the production depicts story-based pieces that tell tales from ancient times right up to modern-day China. Mr. Davison, who professed his love for the colours on display in each scene, was struck by a scene that he called water sleeves. I just thought it was very nice. [I] quite liked the flow, the rhythm, and the fluidity. I just thought it was very nice, he said. Shen Yun had a visual impact on Mr. Davison, who, despite having offices in China, wasnt as familiar with the countrys traditional culture as his wife. But nevertheless, he found the performance to be very exciting. Shen Yuns mission is to revive Chinas 5,000-year-old traditional culture after it came close to death under the tyranny of communism since the seizure of power by the Chinese communist regime in 1949. Shen Yun says its performance this year demonstrates China before communism. Mrs. Davison was uplifted by the messages conveyed in Shen Yuns performance: The peace. The opportunity for growth, divinity, strength, courage. I just loved all of it. It gives us hope. The husband and wife brought three of their eight children along, with Mrs. Davison saying she wanted to open their eyes to the culture and the experience of Shen Yun. Its given a message of hope, Mrs. Davison said. Were all one family, Mr. Davison chimed in, adding to what his wife said. Yes, were all one family. Everyone, Mrs. Davison agreed. Mr. Davison, who is the Asia-Pacific group financial controller for Reno Tip Top, a large company that supplies solutions to the resources and automotive industries, said that Shen Yun will open peoples eyes and give them a new perspective on China. I dont think people know a lot about China other than whats shown on TV or maybe what they hear on social media. But I think it will open their eyes to the culture, the history, in China, he said. Mr. Davison encouraged people who might not know about Shen Yun to go along and experience the performance. Go for it. Give it a go. Open your mind. Open your eyes. Give it a go, he said. Absolutely Divine Penelope and Sean Beveridge attend Shen Yun Performing Arts at Sydneys Lyric Theatre in Sydney, Australia, on April 9, 2022. (NTD) Penelope Beveridge, a nutritionist, who resonates with Chinas rich, ancient spiritual heritage, was struck by Shen Yuns depiction of life in modern-day China under the atheistic communist regime. Mrs. Beveridge was left feeling heartbroken by a scene in Shen Yun that depicts a Falun Dafa practitioner being killed for her organs in China. Heartbreaking. The story showed a 16-year-old girl whose organs were removed because she wanted to meditate. Thats wrong. Thats criminal. It should not be happening, she said. Along with myths and legends, Shen Yun presents story-based scenes of present-day life for Falun Dafa practitioners, who live by moral teachings based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance and practice simple meditative exercises. The group is persecuted in China. Its been going on for far too long, and with everything thats going on in the world at the moment, its very important people understand and have freedom of speech, that they have freedom of choice, and being able to practise what they believe in, Sean Beveridge said, of the persecution of Falun Dafa. Experiencing Shen Yun was special for Mr. and Mrs. Beveridge, who fondly remember coming across Falun Dafa in Sydneys Chinatown around 20 years ago. Shen Yun utilises a cutting-edge patented digital backdrop that allows audiences to see beyond the stage into the ancient wonders of China and even scenes in the heavens. Mr. Beveridge, an IT licence compliance manager, was in awe of how the production came together, saying he loved everything about it. The colours. I mean, the musics absolutely divine. And the timing of the back screen and everything about it is lovely, he said, referring to how Shen Yun dancers interact with the digital backdrop. Reporting by NTD, and Caden Pearson. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. Ontario MPP Christina Mitas (C) presents a congratulatory proclamation to the Shen Yun emcees at the Four Seasons Centre in Toronto, on April 8, 2022. (NTD) TORONTOOntario MPP Christina Mitas said she was moved to tears by one of Shen Yun Performing Arts dance pieces depicting the persecution of Falun Dafa adherents in communist China today. I thought that was very, very powerful, Ms. Mitas said. It was a very good balance of difficult things and beautiful things, she noted, referring to the suppression of the spiritual practice of Falun Dafa, also known as Falun Gong, and the peaceful resistance of its practitioners. The story-based dance is one of about 20 vignettes in the Shen Yun performance that takes the audience on a journey through Chinas 5,000 years of history and culture, from ancient times to the present. New York-based Shen Yun was founded in 2006 by a group of leading Chinese artists united by a mission to revive the traditional culture of China, which has been nearly all but destroyed under communist rule. The performing arts company presents classical Chinese dance and music, travelling the world visiting over 100 cities each year to stage its performances. This was the second time Ms. Mitas has seen Shen Yun. She previously attended a few years ago with Doug Ford, who is now the premier of Ontario. There was nothing that was the same. It was absolutely amazing. Its all-new, she said, referring to Shen Yuns entirely new programming every year. It was just breathtaking. Ms. Mitas said Shen Yun gives people a chance to get away from everything that is going on in the world but at the same time prompts them to reflect on the various themes presented in the dances, music, and storytelling, as every part of life, every facet of life, is something that weve seen here tonight. Many audience members have expressed how they found those themes, such as faith, compassion, courage, and hope, very relatable to their everyday lives and very uplifting. Theres something that we can learn [from the performance], she said. I think that more people should come out and see this show, so that they can connect the dots as well, and reflect on those things. Flying From Afar to See Shen Yun Kevin McGovern and Kim Rogers at the Shen Yun Performing Arts performance at the Four Seasons Centre in Toronto on April 8, 2022. (Omid Ghoreishi/The Epoch Times) Kevin McGovern and Kim Rogers flew from Moncton, New Brunswick, to Toronto, a distance of over 1,500 kilometres, just for the one night of April 8 in order to see Shen Yun. Its amazing, when they show the colors, the dance, the cultureincredible, said Mr. McGovern, who is a pilot, adding that the culture of China is deeper than you could ever imagine, so its something to be proud of. Ms. Rogers was equally impressed with the Shen Yun performance. I think its fantastic. The colors are just incredible, and the way that they move is phenomenal. Its absolutely wonderful, said Ms. Rogers, who works as a sales coordinator. Ive never been to anything like this in my entire life, and I will definitely come again. Ms. Rogers was amazed by Shen Yuns animated backdrops and the interaction between the dancers on stage and the images in the background scenery. It is absolutely incredible how they could do that, she said of the patented system and method for integrating a stage performance with its digital background. Mr. McGovern said hes been to many shows but Shen Yun is completely different from what hes seen before. If you live anywhere within driving distance [of a Shen Yun performance], youd be crazy not to come, he said. Reporting by NTD. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. The Ten Commandments (1956) has kept several generations of kids glued to the TV around Passover and Easter time, but Cecil B. DeMilles epic is rarely taken seriously. Seen on a small screen, faded, panned and scanned, interrupted by toothpaste commercials, it can look pretty corny. But a 2010 restoration revealed the film to be, for all its well-known flaws, as visually splendid as a medieval cathedral, created like a cathedral by a brilliant team of faith-inspired artists and craftsmen. Seen on a big screen or on Blu-ray, minus the toothpaste, the restored movie stakes a claim for itself as a major work of religious iconography, a populist Sistine Chapel. Cecil B. DeMille (18811959) began in the theater, acting and writing. He shot his first movie in a rented barn: The Squaw Man (1914). Fame and success came quickly. In 1922, he invited fans to write in with suggestions for his next picture. The surprise winner was 1923s The Ten Commandments. DeMille and his scenarist concocted a two-part story. The first hour dealt with Moses and the Exodus, followed by a cautionary tale about a modern atheist whose scorn for religion leads to tragedy. The movie was a hit. Cecil B. DeMille (R) directing his 1923 version of The Ten Commandments. (Cecil B. DeMille Foundation 2022) The set and extras from the 1923 DeMille production of The Ten Commandments. (Cecil B. DeMille Foundation 2022) Decades and many films later, although slammed by critics and snubbed at the Oscars, DeMille was still on top, according to Scott Eymans book Empire of Dreams. Bad reviews didnt stop his Samson and Delilah from becoming the highest-grossing movie of 1950. He followed it with an even bigger success: The Greatest Show on Earth, a backstage circus story. The cast included a young actor whod appeared in only one other film: Charlton Heston. Cecil B. DeMille holds a photograph of Charlton Heston looking at Michelangelos Moses. Hestons resemblance to the sculpture helped him win the role of Moses in The Ten Commandments. (Public Domain) His Own Remake In 1952, at an age when most directors have retired, DeMille was coming off two big hits. How could he top them? With an even bigger epic, of course: a remake of his own work The Ten Commandments. The idea made Paramount executives nervous. Even with DeMilles stellar track record, a new Bible film was risky, especially one without the sex appeal of Samson and Delilah. With the colossal spectacle audiences now expected from the director, and lots of special effects, the remake might cost more than anybody had ever spent on a movie. (Spoiler alert: It did.) In the 1923 version, the modern story was a letdown after the exciting Exodus scenes, so DeMille eliminated it. Since the Bible tells us nothing about Moses from his babyhood to age 30, the script added stories from other ancient Jewish and Christian sources. It also added a DeMille staple: Two men in love with the same woman. To make this work, Moses couldnt be cast as the earlier film had, as an elderly patriarch. He had to be young and virile: Charlton Heston. Anne Baxter as Nefretiri and Yul Brynner as Rameses in The Ten Commandments. (Public Domain) The films acting and writing are often called stilted, but its grand, historical scope demanded larger-than-life performances and dialog that wouldnt sound too modern. The movies forthright, declarative style, reinforced by Elmer Bernsteins powerful music, recalls the Victorian dramas of DeMilles youthwith all primary colors and no shades of gray. A shot with extras dressed in bright colors against the imposing set. (Cecil B. DeMille Foundation 2022) For the seductive princess Nefretiri (not to be confused with Nefertiti, who reigned a century earlier), DeMille wanted Audrey Hepburn, but her figure, perfect for Givenchy, was too slim to fill out the clinging gowns, so Anne Baxter got the part. She wasnt ideal either, not quite credible as a temptress and prone to chewing scenery, but shes not bad. Other roles went to Vincent Price, Yvonne De Carlo, Edward G. Robinson, and Judith Anderson. Scene Stealer Brynner as Rameses Hestons sonorous voice and stalwart demeanor served him well as Moses, the first of many historical heroes he would play on the screen, but its Yul Brynner as the pharaoh Rameses who really steals the movie. Rarely has an actor fit a part so perfectly. In ancient Egypt, nobles shaved their heads; Brynner already did. Though actually Russian, his exotic masculinity, piercing gaze, and indefinable accent are so right for Rameses that its hard to imagine another actor in the role. Brynner rocks his flashy outfits and glittering regalia as if born to wear them. Even his ripped physique is an asset, since Rameses is shirtless for much of the movie. Yul Brynner (center R) was perfect casting for the role of Egyptian pharaoh. (Cecil B. DeMille Foundation Copyright 2022) Back in 1927, H.B. Warner had played Jesus in DeMilles favorite of all his films, The King of Kings. By the 1950s, the actor was dying, forgotten in a nursing home. DeMille wanted him so badly to play the old blind man who cant walk but offers a tree to plant in the Promised Land, he sent an ambulance to pick him up. When Warner was too weak to finish his lines (taken from Psalm 22), DeMille let him say as much as he could: I am poured out like water. My strength is dried up to the dust of death, Eyman reports. It was Warners last role and one of many occasions when the director remembered and showed kindness to people who had worked for him, even decades before. In his career, DeMille peddled plenty of hokum, but for this film he insisted on historical accuracy. For three years, his team accumulated research that was later published as a book. No detail was overlooked. According to film scholar Katherine Orrison, blue-eyed cast members had to wear brown contact lenses. Even the scrap of cloth that proves Moses is the son of slaves was woven on authentic looms of the period using the same dyes and the pattern that represented the Levite tribe. Charlton Heston as Moses in a publicity shot for The Ten Commandments. (MovieStillsDB) Eye-Popping Visuals Visually, The Ten Commandments is magnificent. All of art history flows through its beautiful images. Every ornate costume, set, and prop contributes to DeMilles meticulous, pageant-like storytelling. Every scene, carefully composed in Technicolors gem-like hues, seems to evoke a Renaissance painting. The blue screen technique was used for this composite shot in The Ten Commandments. (Public Domain) When it comes to spectacle, DeMille outdid himself. The flight out of Egypt, the raising of the obelisk, the revelation on Mt. Sinai, and of course the parting of the Red Sea are unforgettable. The big scenes team with thousands of extras and animals. How did the director find so many actors on location in Egypt? President Nasser, remembering DeMilles respectful treatment of the Saracens in The Crusades (1935), put the entire Egyptian army at his disposal. Steven Spielberg called the movies Red Sea scene the greatest special effect in film history, reports Emanuel Levy on his website Cinema 24/7, but its marred by black lines (called fringing) around the picture elements. Granted, it was 1956, but that wasnt the problem. The premiere date was set, so there wasnt time to fix or even finish the effects, not even the lackluster burning bush that DeMille hated when he saw it. The Ten Commandments was DeMilles last, most expensive, and most successful production. He gave his heart and soul to it, and almost his life. Eyman explains that while filming the tremendous Exodus scene and inspecting a camera high atop a tower, the 74-year-old director suffered a massive heart attack. Told by his doctors to rest in bed for a month on oxygen, he replied: Forget it, gentlemen! He was back on the set the next morning. In a spoken prologue cut from the film on television, DeMille calls his movie the story of the birth of freedom. He asks, Are men the property of the state, or are they free souls under God? That indeed is the question. After 66 years, The Ten Commandments remains, perfectly imperfect, a testament to what Hollywood achieved and could achieve again, motivated by faith, freedom, and tradition. Voters exit after casting their ballots at a polling station setup in the fire department in a file photo. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Three-Way Primary Race for Alabamas Senate Seat The 2022 Alabama primaries will see three conservative candidates fight each other for an open Senate seat. Incumbents have an extremely high chance of reelection, so its likely that this years winner will be in Congress for a long time. Another potentially interesting race is in Alabamas Fifth Congressional District, where several Republican candidates face off for a House seat. With only one Democratic district, Alabama is one of Americas most conservative states. Primary results will likely only be a matter of determining which Republican goes to Congress. Alabamas aspiring congressmen tend to strongly support former President Donald Trump and his political agenda. Alabama Governors Race The Alabama governors race will most likely go to the current incumbent, Republican Gov. Kay Ivey. Ivey first became governor in 2016, after Gov. Robert Bentley was arrested and resigned from office for campaign finance violations. In 2018, voters reelected Ivey by a landslide with 59 percent of the vote to her opponents 40 percent. Iveys last term was marked by lower taxes, lower unemployment, and increased school funding. Despite Iveys popularity, eight other Republican candidates are challenging her for the primary. Advisers of former President Donald Trump told the Wall Street Journal that he wanted to replace Ivey with another candidate. Allegedly, Trump blamed Ivey when a state commission blocked him from holding a political rally at the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park. Although Trump hasnt endorsed Ivey, her commercials say the 2020 election was stolen from him. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, who faces a campaign for reelection this year, in Beauregard, Ala., on March 4, 2019. (Vasha Hunt/AP Photo) We have not and will not send absentee ballots to everyone and their brother, Ivey said in her ad. Another ad mentions Iveys work in fighting critical race theory and improving border security. It features Ivey sending a volley of bullets into a steel plate on a gun range. Ivey, a social conservative, is running on a platform including protection for the unborn from abortion, support for the Second Amendment, job creation, support for the police, and fighting government corruption. She has endorsements from Manufacture Alabama, the Alabama Farmers Federation, and business group the Progress PAC. Alabama Senate Race When Alabama Republican Sen. Richard Shelby announced that he would not run in 2022, he opened an intense competition for the seat he has held since 1986. Three Republican candidates lead the primary race for his seat. Its winner will likely also win the general election. The leading candidates are Republicans Katie Britt, Mo Brooks, and Michael Durant. Britt, president of the Business Council of Alabama, has a platform thats pro-life, pro-school choice, pro-fiscal responsibility, pro-border security, pro-Second Amendment, and pro-police. She also favors repealing and replacing Obamacare, fighting big tech companies, and using American energy sources. Her commercials focus on her Christian faith, her support for the Second Amendment, her support for pro-life issues, and her support for border security. Being pro-life and pro-Second Amendment doesnt make me radical. It makes me American, Britt said. Brooks, a Congressional representative, is campaigning to fight corruption in Washington, improve military technology, lower government spending, avoid armed foreign intervention, end Obamacare, protect the border, support the Second Amendment, and support pro-life issues. Brookss ads position him as a true conservative who opposes Republicans in name only, including Mitch McConnel and Katie Britt. In another ad, he claimed that he supported Trump in a war against McConnell for the heart and soul of the Republican Party. President Donald Trump on the White House South Lawn in Washington on Aug. 1, 2019. Losing Trumps endorsement has been challenging for Alabama senatorial candidate Mo Brooks, who based much of his campaign on his loyalty to Trump. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) But about two weeks ago, Trump withdrew Brookss endorsement. Mo Brooks of Alabama made a horrible mistake recently when he went woke and stated, referring to the 2020 Presidential Election Scam, Put that behind you, put that behind you, despite the fact that the Election was rife with fraud and irregularities, Trump said. Even so, Brooks still has endorsements from many pro-Trump conservative politicians, including Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. Rand Paul, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Army veteran Durants platform includes support for Trump, opposition to mask mandates, support for pro-life policies, support for the Second Amendment, support for border security, and opposition to the influence of big tech. Durants commercials highlight his faith and his military service. Durant was the sole survivor of the Black Hawk Down incident in Somalia, and was wounded in service of his country. Right now, Britt has raised $4.98 million, Durant has raised $4.3 million, and Brooks has raised $2.1 million. According to the most recent polls, Durant now leads the race with 33 percent of the Republican vote, Britt has 23 percent, and Brooks has 12 percent. About 26 percent of voters remain undecided. The same poll suggests that Trumps endorsement would likely impact the voting choice of most undecided voters. Durant has endorsements from Trump ally Michael Flynn, former opponent Jessica Taylor, and gun rights activist Ted Nugent. Britt has endorsements from the Alabama Restaurant and Hospitality Association, the Alabama Retail Association, the Farm PAC, and several other business groups. Trump has announced that he will likely endorse another candidate in the race. Since then, both Durant and Britt have competed for a Trump endorsement. Alabama House Races Alabama will likely send six Republican candidates and one Democrat to Congress. All the states congressional districts have incumbents except the Fifth Congressional District. Its current representative, Brooks, is running for Senate. In his place, he leaves a race between four main Republican candidates. Judging by funding, Dale Strong is leading the race with about $628,000 raised, followed by Casey Wardynski with about $415,000 raised, John Roberts with $142,000 raised, and Paul Sanford with $37,000 raised. According to a poll by the Alabama Farmers Federation, which endorses Strong, Strong is leading the race by about 20 percent, with candidate Paul Sanford at 7.3 percent, Wardynski at 6 percent, and Roberts at 4.7 percent. The poll said 40 percent of Republican primary voters are still undecided. Strong, a former paramedic and county commission chairman, is running as a pro-Trump conservative. He supports pro-life policy, the Second Amendment, cutting taxes and cutting spending, upholding police, and stopping illegal immigration. He has received endorsements from the Fraternal Order of Police, the Alabama Farmers Federation, and the League of Southeastern Credit Unions. Strongs ad highlights his service as a volunteer firefighter as well as his Christian and conservative beliefs. The ad condemns President Joe Biden and accuses him of kneeling to Antifa. Sanford, a restaurant owner who entered politics in 2008, supports pro-life policy, the Second Amendment, local control of schools, pro-business laws, modernization of American energy, cutting taxes and cutting spending, upholding police, and stopping illegal immigration. Sanford has endorsements from the Alabama Restaurant and Hospitality Association and pro-family group the Eagle Forum PAC. Sanford has not yet released any ads. Election workers count ballots in Philadelphia, Pa., on Nov. 4, 2020. Increasing election security is a common item on Alabama Republican platforms. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Wardynski, former assistant secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, will also likely prove an important candidate in the Fifth Congressional District race. He has an endorsement from Trump ally Michael Flynn. Wardynski supports Trumps America First Agenda, the Second Amendment, pro-life policies, less federal control over education, fighting cancel culture, increasing election safeguards, stopping illegal immigration, opposing Iranian nuclear weapons, and countering Chinas growing power. Wardynskis ads focus on his service to the Army and his work in strengthening border security. Roberts, an economic developer, may have the races third-best fundraising, but his website features no major endorsements. His campaign platform includes workforce development, educational opportunity, a balanced budget, pro-life policies, Second Amendment Support, border security, support for the police, bringing economic business back from China, increased mental health resources, increased election security, and opposition to big tech companies. His commercials emphasize his past success in creating economic development and state that he isnt a career politician. Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) in an interview with NTD's "Capitol Report" on April 1, 2022. (NTD/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) Trumps First Impeachment Shouldnt Have Ever Taken Place: Rep. Mullin Impeaching former President Donald Trump in 2019 was wrong and should be corrected, according to Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), who recently introduced a resolution to expunge Trumps first impeachment. The House impeached Trump for the first time on Dec. 18, 2019, alleging that Trump abused the power of his office by pressuring Ukraine to investigate a political rival, and that the president obstructed justice when Democrats began to investigate the matter. Trump has vehemently denied both allegations. On March 29, Mullin introduced a resolution (pdf), saying the impeachment was an unimaginable abuse of our Constitution. So what were doing with the resolution is just simply saying, Hey, listen, Congress made a mistake. We impeached a president under Article One, Section Two, that shouldnt have ever taken place, Mullin told NTDs Capitol Report program on April 1. Article One, Section Two of the Constitution gives the House the sole power of impeachment. Article Two, Section Four states that a president could be removed from office for treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. Mullin said neither high crimes nor misdemeanors took place in Trumps case. It was all about a phone call, Mullin said. It was alleged that he had handled a situation wanting [Ukrainian] President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy at the time to investigate the Bidens for what Hunter Biden was doing. President Joe Bidens son Hunter Biden made $50,000 a month for being on the board of Burisma Holdings, one of the largest private natural gas producers in Ukraine, from 2014 to 2019. In 2018, you had Biden go out and brag that he told then the president of Ukraine that if he didnt fire the investigator, that he was going to withhold military aid, said Mullin. Well, that was exactly what the Democrats were accusing Trump of doing in the phone call. But when the phone call transcript came out, that never happened. He just asked him to look into it. Trump released the transcript of the phone call on Nov. 15, 2019. The Senate later acquitted Trump of these charges on Feb. 5, 2020. Mullin, who is running to replace retiring Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), said the fact that Hunter Biden was getting roughly a million dollars a year from the Ukrainian oil company was concerning and a huge conflict of interest. Hunter Biden is being investigated by the U.S. Attorneys office in Delaware, which he has described as exploring potential tax crimes and which includes looking into records of transactions with a bank in China, according to a grand jury subpoena obtained by The Epoch Times. On March 28 and March 29, Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) released bank records showing payments were made to Hunter Biden from a Chinese Communist Party-linked company. Recently, The New York Times and The Washington Post, which vehemently denied the authenticity of Hunters laptop over a year ago, now admit the laptop is real. The laptop contained thousands of emails related to the first sons foreign business dealings. We got it wrong, Mullin said. The House messed up underneath the leadership of Speaker Pelosi and the Democrats who did this for political purposes. And were going to correct that for historys sake. The office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) hasnt responded to a request for comment. At the time of impeachment, Pelosi said Trumps action violated the Constitution and made impeachment necessary. It is a matter of fact that the president is an ongoing threat to our national security and the integrity of our electionsthe basis of our democracy, said Pelosi. On April 3, White House chief of staff Ron Klain said President Biden is confident his son Hunter didnt violate the law. Zachary Stieber contributed to this report. Harry Lee Follow Harry Lee is a New York-based reporter for The Epoch Times. Contact Harry at harry.lee@epochtimes.com A view shows a tugboat which found Norwegian diver, Kristine Grodem, off Mersing coast, in Johor, Malaysia, April 7, 2022. (Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency/Handout via Reuters) Two Foreign Divers Rescued After Reported Missing in Malaysia, Search Continues for Dutch Teen A French woman and a British man have been found safe two and a half days after they went missing while diving off the coast of Malaysia, but the mans teenage son is still missing, Malaysian police said on Saturday. Alexia Alexandra Molina, an 18-year-old French woman, and Adrian Peter Chesters, a 46-year-old Briton, were spotted by fishermen in the waters off Pengerang at around 1 a.m. on Saturday (1700 GMT on Friday), Mersing district police chief Cyril Edward Nuing said. Both victims are now in hospital for further treatment and both are reported to be in stable condition, he was quoted saying by Malaysias news agency BERNAMA. The fourth victim has still not been found and we are intensifying our search and rescue efforts, he added. Nuing said that the search for Chesters 14-year-old son, Nathan Renze Chesters, a Dutch citizen, will be expanded to Indonesian waters with the help of the Indonesian authorities. We believe there is a high likelihood that he is no longer in Malaysian waters based on the movement of sea currents, as well as the time and location where the other victims were found, he said. Singapores authorities have also been informed about the matter. The trio went missing along with their instructor on Wednesday during a diving training activity near Tokong Sanggol, an island off the coast of Mersing in Johor state. Norwegian diver Kristine Grodem (L) is transferred by a Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) helicopter to Mersing, Johor, Malaysia, on April 7, 2022. (Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency/Handout via Reuters) The Norwegian instructor, 35-year-old Kristine Grodem, was found safe on Thursday after drifting 30 nautical miles from the scene. She was admitted to the hospital in a stable condition. Grodem told police that all four divers surfaced about an hour into their dive but were unable to locate their boat, they were then separated by the strong currents. Their boat operator, who appears to be in his 20s, was detained after testing positive for drugs, according to Johor police chief Kamarul Zaman Mamat on Thursday. The man was initially summoned to give his statement about the incident, Kamarul said, adding that authorities will also conduct an investigation into the dive center. We will investigate in terms of their diving equipment, the dive center, and so on. A forensic team will be arriving. If there is misconduct and so on, we will investigate as well, he added. The search operation involved the deployment of 90 members and officers from various agencies, including 30 divers, 18 boats, and two helicopters, Malaysian news agency Malay Mail reported. In a handout photo issued by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Prime Minister Boris Johnson (L) meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 9, 2022. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via PA Media) UK to Send Armored Vehicles, Anti-Ship Missiles to Ukraine as Johnson Meets Zelenskyy in Kyiv British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on April 9 pledged new military and economic aid to Ukraine during a visit to Kyiv, where he met with Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The package includes 120 armored vehicles, new anti-ship missile systems, and an additional $500 million (385 million) in World Bank lending. Johnsons visit, which wasnt announced in advance, was first made public on Twitter by the Embassy of Ukraine to the UK. The account published a photo of the two leaders sitting at a desk, with the word Surprise. Surprise pic.twitter.com/AWa5RjYosD Embassy of Ukraine to the UK (@UkrEmbLondon) April 9, 2022 Johnson later wrote on Twitter that the meeting was a show of the UKs unwavering support for the people of Ukraine in the countrys struggle against Russias barbaric campaign. Today I met my friend President @ZelenskyyUa in Kyiv as a show of our unwavering support for the people of Ukraine. Were setting out a new package of financial & military aid which is a testament of our commitment to his countrys struggle against Russias barbaric campaign. pic.twitter.com/KNY0Nm6NQ3 Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) April 9, 2022 The new support package came a day after the UK pledged a 100 million ($130 million) defensive aid package, including over 800 more NLAW anti-tank missiles; additional Javelin anti-tank systems; additional loitering munitions; additional Starstreak air defence systems; and additional non-lethal aid including ballistic helmets, body armour, and night vision goggles. It also followed an appeal from the Ukrainians to Western nations to send more arms as they prepare for the expected Russian offensive in the east of the country, after Moscow pulled back its forces from around Kyiv. In a statement after his meeting with Zelenskyy, Johnson said Ukraine has defied the odds and pushed back Russian forces from the gates of Kyiv, achieving the greatest feat of arms of the 21st century. It is because of President Zelenskyys resolute leadership and the invincible heroism and courage of the Ukrainian people that [Russian President Vladimir] Putins monstrous aims are being thwarted, he said. Johnson said the UK stands unwaveringly with the Ukrainian people in the ongoing fight, adding, we are in it for the long run. We are stepping up our own military and economic support and convening a global alliance to bring this tragedy to an end, and ensure Ukraine survives and thrives as a free and sovereign nation, he said. Earlier, Zelenskyy called on the international community to hold to account Russian forces who carried out a missile strike on a crowded railway station, killing at least 52 people. The station at Kramatorsk was packed with women and children trying to flee west before the Russian advance arrives when the missile hit on April 8. All world efforts will be directed to establish every minute of who did what, who gave what orders, where the missile came from, who transported it, who gave the command, and how this strike was agreed, Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address. The Kremlin has denied responsibility for the attack, but Western officials believe it was probably a Russian Tochka-U missile, which NATO refers to as an SS-21, which was fired indiscriminately toward the town center. Johnsons visit comes the day after European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen was in the Ukrainian capital, and visited the town of Bucha, where civilians were reportedly raped and killed by occupying Russian troops. Last month, the prime ministers of Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia visited Kyiv in a show of support for the Ukrainians. PA Media contributed to this report. A 100-tonne Caterpillar truck descends to the bottom of the Sue E open-pit uranium mine at Areva Resources Canada's McClean Lake site in McClean Lake, Saskatchewan, in this file photo. (David Boily/AFP via Getty Images) Unsafe Levels of Uranium Present in American Public Drinking Water: University Study A study of public water systems serving 290 million people in the United States per year has found high concentrations of uranium. We estimated that 63.1 percent of CWS [community water systems] compliance monitoring records reported detectable concentrations of uranium, and that 2.1 percent of CWSs with available uranium data had 200011 average concentrations above the MCL [maximum contaminant levels], researchers at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health found, in the study published in The Lancet Planetary Health. Despite relatively frequent detections and relatively high concentrations compared with other metals in our study, uranium has been underappreciated in the literature as a public drinking water contaminant of concern. The studys objectives were to estimate metal concentrations among CWS across the country, identify sociodemographic subgroups serviced by CWS that reported high levels of metal concentrations, and characterize metal mixture profiles in CWSs nationwide. For the study, researchers looked at six-year review records of metals like uranium, arsenic, antimony, beryllium, barium, thallium, mercury, selenium, chromium, and cadmium compiled by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The review checked whether the average concentrations of these metals in the water exceeded the standards set by the EPA. The research team went through 13 million records from 139,000 public water systems that serve 290 million people per year. When comparing socioeconomic groups, researchers found that CWS serving semi-urban, Hispanic communities had the highest concentration of uranium and other metals like arsenic, chromium, selenium, and barium. The study pointed out that uranium, a naturally occurring radioactive metal, is an important risk factor for the development of chronic disease even at low concentrations. Previous studies have associated exposure to uranium with medical conditions like lung cancer, kidney damage, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Uranium becomes part of water by leaching from rocks and soil. In addition, releases by processing plants can also push uranium into water. Its toxic effects include inflammation of the kidneys and changes in the composition of urine. Uranium is also capable of decaying into other radioactive substances like radon, causing cancer among people who have been exposed to it for too long. Drinking water contaminated with uranium can also result in the deformity of bones and liver. The consistent association between high metal concentrations in CWS services among semi-urban, Hispanic communities is an indication that disparities in such concentrations are more due to the failure of regulatory policies rather than geology, Anne Nigra, one of the authors of the study, said in a post at the Columbia University website. Hispanic/Latino populations also tend to show increased mortality due to cardiovascular, kidney, and liver disease as well as diabetes. Additional regulatory policies, compliance enforcement, and improved infrastructure are therefore necessary to reduce disparities in CWS metal concentrations and protect communities served by public water systems with elevated metal concentrations, Nigra said. The research was conducted by Filippo Ravalli, Kathrin Schilling, Prof. Ana Navas-Acien, Anne E. Nigra from the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Yuanzhi Yu from the Department of Biostatistics, Benjamin C. Bostick and Steven N. Chillrud from the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, among others. It was funded by the U.S. National Institutes for Environmental Health Sciences, the U.S. National Institutes of Health Office of the Director, and the U.S. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. U.S. long range air defense systems Patriot (R) and British radar Giraffe AMB are displayed during Toburq Legacy 2017 air defence exercise in the military airfield near Siauliai, Lithuania, on July 20, 2017. (Ints Kalnins/Reuters) US to Replenish Slovakia With Patriot Air-Defense System After It Donates S-300 to Ukraine The United States will provide Slovakia with one Patriot air defense system after it transferred its S-300 air defense system to Ukraine. I want to thank the Slovakian government for providing an S-300 air defense system to Ukraine, President Joe Biden said on Friday in a statement. To enable this transfer and ensure the continued security of Slovakia, the United States will reposition a U.S. Patriot missile system to Slovakia. The Pentagon confirmed that Slovakia is supplying its S-300 air defense system to Ukraine. However, the deployment of the Patriot system is temporary and the two countries are still working on a permanent deployment arrangement. This is a temporary deployment of a Patriot battery as we continue to work with Slovakia on what long-term solutions make the most sense for Slovakia and were just not there yet, a senior defense official told reporters on Friday. The Pentagon official also confirmed that the United States is considering similar arrangements with other Eastern European countries. We continue to have conversations with allies and partners who have these kinds of long-range air defense systems, and I dont want to get ahead of that process, the official said. Its unclear if the United States is planning to simply replace the S-300 systems those countries have or is working on a similar plan as Slovakia, which will transfer more S-300 systems to Ukraine. Ukrainian soldiers rush to the Soviet-made S-300 anti-missile defense system during training, in Crimea, Ukraine, on July 2, 1995. (Valery Solovjev/AFP via Getty Images) Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, and the conflicts in Donbas between the Ukrainian military and Russia-backed separatists escalated into a war the same year. Both areas have been de facto occupied by Russia or separatists. The Kremlin said earlier that the Donbas is the main goal of the full-scale invasion ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, which the Kremlin called a special military operation. The United Nations said that as of April 7, 1,611 civilians have been killed and 2,227 injured in Ukraine since Russias invasion and over 4.4 million people have fled Ukraine. A service member of pro-Russian troops walks near an apartment building destroyed in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict in the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine, on March 28, 2022. (Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters) The Biden administrations move came after the Pentagon said the battles in Donbaswhich is located in the east of Ukrainewill be as fiery as a knife fight. A Pentagon official indicated that the United States is providing more Javelin anti-tank missiles into the battles in eastern Ukraine. One of the reasons why the president signed out another $100 million in Javelins just the other night was because we know how important the Javelins are going to be in this knife fight thats about to occuractually has been occurring in the Donbas, the official said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this week that his country is unlikely to take back the CrimeaDonbas corridor through military means. Ukrainian armed forces could lose thousands of soldiers if theyre ordered to take back Donbas and Crimea, he said on Tuesday. Our state needs a strong army. And if we want to lose the most powerful, most experienced people because I want it now, we must understand that [Russian armed forces] will return to us, and not in two or three years, but in the same month. All the military know and think about it, he elaborated. This is a very serious story. A map by the U.K. Ministry of Defense shows the troop locations of Russia and Ukraine as of April 9, 2022. (U.K. Ministry of Defense) Meanwhile, Zelenskyy said he will take a parallel dialogue approach. Ukraine has always said that it is ready for negotiations and will look for any ways to end the war, he said. I will tell you frankly: so far we are talking about a parallel dialogue as well. Chinese vice premier Sun Chunlan visited Shanghai in early April 2022 when the city was in COVID-19 lockdown. (Screenshot by The Epoch Times) Were Starving to Death: Shanghai Residents Under Lockdown Shout at Visiting Vice Premier When Sun Chunlan, a vice premier of the Chinese regime, recently visited Shanghai, where tens of millions were under COVID-19 lockdown, she was greeted by residents shouting from their apartment windows: Theres no food left! and Were starving to death! Sun was accompanied by a swarm of local officials, cameramen, several vans with black tinted windows, and police vehicles. Yet, the streets were empty. The residents could only view the envoy from their apartments. Some were brave enough to shout from their windows or balconies. Someone called out to the officials, Can you arrange some vegetables to be sent over? The officials, as seen in a video posted by residents in Jiading district, had no reaction whatsoever, as if they didnt hear anything. Sun, a former head of the United Front Work Department, was appointed vice premier in 2018. Out of the four vice premiers, she is the only female and the oldest. Since the pandemic began, shes been staging high-profile visits to COVID-stricken cities. This isnt the first time shes been shouted at. Shanghai Must Win the Battle Amid mass testing and draconian lockdowns, Sun went to Shanghai with a stern message from Beijing, Unswervingly adhere to the zero-COVID policy and win the battle against COVID as soon as possible! Since the pandemic began in 2020, Sun took on the unofficial role of COVID messenger delivering Beijings orders to cities around China. Sun Chunlan, Chinese regime vice premier and former head of the United Front Work Department. (Wang Zhao/AFP/Getty Images) She went to the northeastern province of Jilin in late March. In Jilin City, residents shouted from apartment buildings, We have no vegetables! In mid-December 2021, Sun visited Xian city, 12 million population, when it was in lockdown. Sun urged the municipal government to quickly reach zero cases. While in Xians Gaoxin district, Sun was greeted by residents calling loudly, I want to eat! Sun went to Wuhan in March 2020 after COVID broke out, and during her visit, residents called out Its fake, everythings fake! Afterward, the Wuhan residential neighborhood suffered the consequences. The entire neighborhood was put under complete lockdown, and nobody was allowed to enter or exit. Shanghai Lockdown Continues Shanghai has been under lockdown since April 1. On April 4, Sun ordered the municipal government to achieve zero COVID in society at large as soon as possible, excluding quarantine hospitals. According to recent online postings, the municipal government issued a notice saying the lockdown would continue until at least May 1. As for what would happen after May 1, the notice said it would be decided on May 1 whether to open up or continue the lockdown. Many neighborhoods in Shanghai are in a chaotic state. Some people cant get treatment. Theres a serious lack of food. Some elderly people have died in senior facilities without family members around. Babies are separated from their parents because their COVID-19 test results are different. Videos also show truckloads of food supplies stuck on the outskirts of the city, unable to reach those in need. There are also rotten vegetables and other foods sitting on the sidewalk, while at makeshift quarantine sites, one can see boxes of food piled up in trash dumps. Two Buffalo Police officers who knocked a 75-year-old protester to the ground, causing him to suffer a head injury during a 2020 protest and drawing national criticism, were cleared Friday of wrongdoing by an arbitrator. Arbitrator Jeffrey M. Selchick said he found that Officers Aaron Torgalski and Robert McCabe did not violate Police Department regulations and did not intend to injure Martin Gugino during the protest outside City Hall on June 4, 2020. Judge rules DA must turn over files for injured protester Martin Gugino's civil lawsuit U.S. Magistrate Judge Leslie G. Foschio said the DA's office must turn over documents and electronic files related to the case. He ruled, however, that the DA doesn't have to turn over recordings of police radio communications. Torgalski and McCabe testified before the arbitrator that they were trying to protect themselves and denied that they were trying to hurt Gugino during the protest. The officers use of physical force was absolutely legitimate, wrote Selchick, who added that, in his analysis, Gugino was definitely not an innocent bystander. The arbitrator said the officers testified that they were only trying to move Gugino out of their personal space and physically keep Gugino away from their weapons. Selchick said he based his findings on evidence presented during a three-day hearing in November, including a frame-by-frame analysis of a video taken by Buffalo radio reporter Michael Desmond, which went viral after the incident. There is no persuasive evidence, particularly when the Desmond video is reviewed in its various frames, that the Respondents sought to push or drive Gugino to the ground, Selchick wrote. He concluded Gugino appears to have lost his balance because he was holding objects in both hands, his advanced age or because he was surprised the officers used force to push him away. He noted that Torgalski testified that he was concerned that Gugino was getting close to his police firearm. The officer said he was also worried that he might catch the Covid-19 virus from Gugino. Something wasnt right and I dont know what this gentlemen is capable of, but something (was) off about the situation that makes you feel uneasy, the arbitrator quoted Torgalski as testifying. I steadied my right arm and attempted to get him out of my space and push him away. Any force on his part, Torgalski testified, was minimal, and he said did not know what caused Gugino to fall backwards. Selchick cleared the officers of departmental charges that accused them of improper use of force and acting in a manner that brought discredit to their department. The officers have been suspended since the confrontation with Gugino, but were put back on the city payroll 30 days after the incident. This is the right decision and an across-the-board victory for Buffalo Police officers, said Thomas H. Burton, attorney for the Buffalo Police Benevolent Association. This has been a long, arduous 22 months for two officers who were castigated by everyone from their governor to their county executive and district attorney. I spoke to them both and they are anxious to return to work. Aside from releasing a brief statement saying that Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia will reinstate the two officers to duty on Monday, city officials declined to comment on the ruling. A lawyer representing Gugino said the arbitrator's decision was not a surprise. We are not aware of any case where this arbitrator has ruled against on-duty police officers, so his ruling here on behalf of the police was not only expected by us, but was certainly expected by the union and city who selected and paid him. His decision has absolutely no bearing on the pending lawsuit," said attorney Melissa D. Wischerath, referring to Gugino's lawsuit against the city. Burton said he believes the arbitrator was persuaded to clear the officers by his close analysis of video evidence and also by Mr. Guginos refusal to testify at the hearing. Evidence from the hearing showed that they simply were trying to back him off, Burton said. If Mr. Gugino had simply moved away and left, none of this would have happened. Desmonds video, showing Gugino getting pushed to the ground, hitting his head on the pavement and bleeding profusely from his ear, drew millions of social media viewers and ignited criticism of the Buffalo Police from around the world. Gugino suffered a fractured skull in the incident that occurred as the Buffalo Police Department's Emergency Response Team cleared protesters from in front of City Hall after an 8 p.m. curfew. The curfew was imposed amid nightly protests against police violence in the wake of George Floyd's death in Minneapolis. The two officers were suspended from duty that night, and city officials later charged them with departmental violations that could have cost them their jobs. Two days after the incident, the officers were also charged with a crime, felony second-degree assault. No indictment for two Buffalo police officers charged for pushing 75-year-old protester Eight months after two Buffalo police officers were suspended and charged with felonies for pushing Martin Gugino to the ground in front of City Hall, a grand jury decided not to indict them. But a grand jury decided eight months later not to indict them on any charges. Gugino filed a lawsuit against Buffalo Police, which is still pending. Selchicks 41-page arbitration ruling affected only the departmental charges against the two officers. The Gugino incident created hard feelings between city police officers and city officials who sought to terminate the two officers. Fifty-seven officers resigned from the Emergency Response Team the citys riot control unit because they were upset over how McCabe and Torgalski were treated. In his ruling, Selchick said that Gugino had several verbal confrontations with other officers before he was knocked off his feet by McCabe and Torgalski. The two officers could have reasonably viewed Gugino as a suspect by virtue of his presence in Niagara Square past the announcement of the curfew, his failure to comply with the directive to move back, and his behavior as he deliberately walked in front of and stood close to McCabe and Torgalski, Selchick wrote. While Gugino might well have believed that he was engaged in some type of civil disobedience or, perhaps, acting out a role in some type of political theater, Gugino was definitely not an innocent bystander. One year later, Martin Gugino looks back and hopes he made a difference Martin Gugino had no idea that he would become the unwitting star of a viral video that rocketed around the world drawing millions of views and more attention to the question of what policing is supposed to be. In a Buffalo News interview one year after he was hurt, Gugino denied that he intended to spark any violent confrontation with police. He said he had gone downtown that night to protest what he considered to be an illegal curfew imposed by Mayor Byron Brown during Black Lives Matter protests. "The point was suppressing dissent ... a peaceful protest ... and you can't do that. So I went there to talk to the policemen," Gugino said. Gugino said he spent a month in the hospital being treated for a fractured skull. The Buffalo News: Good Morning, Buffalo The smart way to start your day. We sift through all the news to give you a concise, informative look at the top headlines and must-read stories every weekday. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. People walk past a sign reminding shoppers of the mask requirement while entering the Westfield Santa Anita shopping mall in Arcadia, Calif., on June 12, 2020. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images) Westfield to Sell Southern California Malls Commercial real estate giant Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield plans to sell off its U.S. locations, including several in Southern California, the corporation announced this week. The Paris-based company owns the upscale Westfield Century City in Los Angeles and 10 other centers including malls in Ventura, Topanga, and San Diego. The corporations U.S. portfolio was valued at $13 billion last year, Reuters reported. Its airport division also operates retail, dining, and other outlets throughout terminals at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Those locations are not expected to undergo any changes, according to an airport spokesman. Nothing has changed with [Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield] here at the airport, LAX spokesman Heath Montgomery told The Epoch Times. A spokesperson for Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield told The Epoch Times the plan was announced last year in company reports. We have made progress in our plans to radically reduce U.S. financial exposure, as announced, in the course of 2022 and 2023, the company reported in its 2021 earnings report (pdf). Chief Executive Jean-Marie Tritant told reporters last year the company assessed its options and would possibly sell all U.S. properties. The company reported strong 2021 sales in the United States, rebounding after the removal of all restrictions on in-person activities in the first quarter and a significant government stimulus package, according to the report. At the beginning of 2021, the companys recovery was driven by strong growth in luxury goods and jewelry, according to reports. Overall sales fully recovered in the second half of the year. Despite reporting strong sales, the group foreclosed on several smaller U.S. malls last year, including the Westfield Mall Palm Desert, Calif., in October. The small desert community located about two hours from Los Angeles was shocked when the Westfield name was stripped off the center without notice and the property entered foreclosure, according to local news reports. The Palm Desert property contained several smaller retail outlets and restaurants, including Macys, J.C. Penny, H&M, Express, and Dicks Sporting Goods. The mall remained open to the community and was renamed The Shops at Palm Desert a month later. The company also foreclosed on its Westfield Countryside and Citrus Park malls in Tampa, Fla., filing court documents indicating it owed $278 million on the two properties, according to a media report. In Sarasota, Fla., the company also foreclosed on Sarasota Square, owing $43.3 million under a loan agreement. The foreclosures allowed the company to write off $411 million in debt and netted the company a gain of $44 million, according to its yearly report. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak alongside his wife Akshata Murty attend a reception to celebrate the British Asian Trust at the British Museum in London on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ian West/PA Media) Wife of Finance Minister to Pay UK Tax on All Worldwide Income Following Controversy The Indian wife of the British finance minister said she will pay taxes on all her worldwide income in the UK after her financial arrangement came into the spotlight. Akshata Murty, the wife of Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, said on Friday evening that she made the decision because she didnt want her non-domiciled statuswhich exempts her from paying UK tax on foreign incometo be a distraction for her husband. Murty, the fashion-designer daughter of an Indian billionaire, confirmed she held non-dom status after the Independent revealed the arrangement on the day a national insurance hike hit millions of workers. It means the Indian national is only liable to pay UK tax on her British income, but not on foreign incomeunless it is brought into the UKuntil her residence in the UK reaches 15 years. Individuals can choose to give up their non-dom status and be considered British for tax purposes if they intend to permanently live in the UK. Earlier on Friday, Sunak told The Sun that Murty ultimately will want to return to India as her parents get older and that she had paid UK tax on every single penny that she earns in the UK and full taxes elsewhere on every penny that she earns internationally, for example in India. But Murty later put out a statement saying she decided to pay taxes in the UK for all her income as she didnt want her tax status, which was entirely legal, to be a distraction for her husband. I understand and appreciate the British sense of fairness and I do not wish my tax status to be a distraction for my husband or to affect my family, she said. For this reason, I will no longer be claiming the remittance basis for tax. Murty said it means she would now pay UK tax on an arising basis on all my worldwide income, including dividends and capital gains, wherever in the world that income arises. She also said she was doing this because she wanted to, not because it was required by the rules. These new arrangements will begin immediately and will also be applied to the tax year just finished, she added. The UKs Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak speaking at a press conference in Downing Street, London, on Feb. 3, 2022. (Justin Tallis/PA Media) Sunak has faced intense scrutiny following the disclosure earlier this week that Murty, who is thought to be worth hundreds of millions of pounds, held non-dom status. Earlier, a spokeswoman for Sunak released a statement confirming that the Chancellor kept his U.S. green card until October last year when he sought guidance ahead of his first U.S. trip in a government capacity. The U.S. inland revenue says anyone who has a green card is treated as a lawful permanent resident and is considered a U.S. tax resident for U.S. income tax purposes. The spokeswoman said Sunak continued to file U.S. tax returns, but specifically as a non-resident, in full compliance with the law, having obtained a green card when he lived and worked in the United States. Prime Minister Boris Johnson defended Sunak. When questioned about Murtys non-dom status at a press conference in Downing Street, Johnson said the chancellor has been doing an absolutely outstanding job and that he didnt think peoples families should be dragged into this. Commenting on Sunaks U.S. green card, Johnson said, As I understand it the chancellor has done absolutely everything he was required to do. The prime minister also denied allegations in media reports that his office had been briefing against Sunak, saying, If there are such briefings, they are not coming from us in No 10, and heaven knows where they are coming from. PA Media contributed to this report. A Bronx, N.Y., man admitted Thursday to his role in a scheme to steal checks across New Jersey and Connecticut, according to federal prosecutors. Alique Jordan Clarke, 21, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and conspiracy to receive and possess stolen mail, according to Philip Sellinger, the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey. Clarkes charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud carries a maximum prison sentence of 30 years as well as up to a $1 million fine. The conspiracy to receive and possess stolen mail has a maximum prison sentence of five years and up to a $250,000 fine, Sellinger said. Clarke is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 8. From February to November 2020, Clarke and two conspirators, identified as Nigel Lynch of Yonkers, N.Y. and Claude Burnett of the Bronx, N.Y., stole 294 checks totaling almost $1.3 million from residents in New Jersey and Connecticut, according to a criminal complaint filed in May 2021. Clarke, Lynch and Burnett would steal these checks from mailboxes, alter the stolen checks and deposit the checks into their own bank accounts. The trio would steal from the mailboxes using rental cars, the complaint states. Though most of the thefts took place in New Jersey, the three stole checks from Westport and Fairfield in August 2020, according to the complaint. On Aug. 12, 2020, one victim mailed a check near his Westport home. Video surveillance from a bank showed Clarke and Burnett depositing the altered check into an account and withdrawing funds, the complaint states. Two others mailed a check in a curbside mailbox near their Fairfield home that same day. The check was stolen and, on Aug. 18, was deposited into a bank account. Video footage from a bank in Fort Lee, N.J. showed Clarke, Lynch and Burnette depositing the stolen and altered check, according to the complaint. NORWALK Camille Legnani opened her Ivy League acceptance alone. Maria Fe Luque opened it in her puppy pajamas. Roja Yousuf barely finished reading hers before her parents were on the phone calling everyone. Katherine Romero opened one acceptance, then second, third and fourth. The four Norwalk seniors Feque from Norwalk High School; Legnani, Yousuf and Romero from Brien McMahon High School each received good news on March 31, known as Ivy Day when all eight Ivy League schools release admissions results to regular decision applicants. Legnani received admission to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Fe Luque and Yousuf are heading to Harvard University. Romero has this month to decide whether shell attend Harvard, Brown University, Columbia University or Yale University. She received full scholarships to three of the schools. I did not visit any schools before applying I think I would have gotten way more attached if I had toured beforehand, and I didnt want to get attached to a school and then be disappointed if the response was unfavorable, Romero said. Romeros dreams of attending an Ivy League college started at a very young age, telling friends and family that Princeton is my school. She admits now, I was a kid. I didnt know what Princeton was, obviously. In middle school, when she saw her older sister accepted to Harvard, she realized attending an Ivy League school was an achievable goal. Whatever school she chooses, Romero wants to study how people identify themselves whether its their ethnicity, race, gender, or sexuality and how that plays into society. In her own life, she feels those identifiers have determined her own trajectory sometimes without her consent. I think a lot of people look at my family and say were immigrants, and there are a lot of stereotypes surrounding that word. I try to do my best for my parents and the entirety of the immigrant community to show that we are good people, we are good citizens, and we can thrive in the U.S., said Romero, a first-generation American whose family is from Peru. Yousuf also had early aspirations of going to an Ivy League school, specifically Harvard where she visited with her parents when she was 4 years old. She doesnt remember the trip, but after a return visit in eighth grade, she grew more serious about where she wanted to go to college. I didnt do well in sixth grade. But all of a sudden, I thought, if Im supposed to be someone whos going to make up for what my family sacrificed for coming over here, I definitely need to get serious, Yousuf said. Around the same time, she was visiting family in Bangladesh and realized they lacked a good understanding of modern medicine. She eventually plans to go to medical school so she can gain enough knowledge to give her family proper advice on their medical needs. Yousuf said she is already training to become an emergency medical technician. Her goal after college is to work in emergency medicine. The whole idea is its going to be somebodys worst day when they walk into the emergency room one of the worst days in their lives and I would like to be the person who can make that day a little bit better, Yousuf said. Legnani will pursue a degree in political science as a Benjamin Franklin Scholar at UPenn, a distinction awarded to only the top 5 percent of incoming freshmen. She plans to attend law school and wants to further explore the impact of legislation on immigration, voting rights and the LGBTQ+ community. I want to actively work to prevent infringements on human rights, Legnani said, referencing how she saw federal policy decisions under the previous presidential administration not only affect marginalized groups across the country but in Norwalk, as well. Fe Luque put herself on the path to the Ivy League in ninth grade. Her parents always wanted her to make it far, which is why they brought her and Le Feques two older sisters to the United States in 2010 from their native Peru. Coming to Norwalk in first grade, Fe Luque didnt speak or understand a word of English. Opening her acceptance letter to Harvard, she immediately thought of every person who helped her along the way like her early ESL teachers and her tutor from Horizons at New Canaan Country School, who helped bring her up to grade level when she fell behind in middle school. I never got those basic skills that I missed in pre-K, kindergarten and even first grade because I was always a step behind trying to learn English while everyone already knew English and was moving on learning new things, Fe Luque said. I realized so many people were trying to push me and get me somewhere, so then I had to step in and do my part, too. A history enthusiast, Fe Luque plans to major in American Studies while also pursuing an interest in religious studies. As a high school freshman, she tried to sign up for multiple history courses not realizing she only had so much space in her schedule. Religion is everywhere, and it ties into history so much. With current conflicts and things in the past, it all ties back to religion, it all ties back to some belief, and I find that interesting, she said. All four teens said their parents and families were their greatest supporters and always pushed them to achieve their goals. And while Romero and Fe Luque drew inspiration from their older siblings who pursued a post-secondary education, Yousuf and Legnani know they have set the bar high for their younger sisters. My younger sisters are very upset with me. They said, Youre holding the standards too high, said Yousuf, who is the oldest of four girls. Norwalk High School will hold its joint graduation ceremony with P-TECH on June 17 at 6 p.m. Brien McMahon High School will celebrate its graduation on June 16 at 6 p.m. emily.morgan@hearstmediact.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WARSAW, Poland (AP) Anxious about the wellbeing of their Ukrainian refugees, city mayors across Poland are refusing the governments instructions to sound air raid alarm sirens Sunday as part of memorial observances for Poland's 2010 presidential plane crash. The right-wing central government wants the sirens to go off at 0641 GMT Sunday, the exact time the plane crashed in Russia 12 years ago, killing President Lech Kaczynski and 95 other prominent Poles. Kaczynski was the twin of Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who is the ruling Law and Justice party's leader and Polands key politician. But city mayors, who represent local governments, are refusing to do that, saying it will be an unnecessary trauma for people especially children who recently fled their homes at the sound of air raid sirens and headed to shelters to avoid Russian bombings since it attacked Ukraine on Feb. 24. More than 2.5 million refugees from Ukraine have sought security in neighboring Poland and are staying at special reception centers or with private people. Many need psychological assistance to deal with their trauma. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki insisted Saturday that the 2010 plane crash was a national tragedy and its victims merit every form of commemoration. He said text messages were being sent to refugees to explain that the sirens mean no danger. Amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Polish government is reviving its controversial allegation that the crash on April 10, 2010, which killed the president, the first lady and other leading political figures, was a Kremlin assassination plan. Sunday's observances are being given special attention. But local governments, often run by opposition politicians, say the use of air raid sirens for the anniversary is extremely irresponsible. The sirens also bring frightful associations to many Poles who either experienced World War II as small children or watched documentaries of the country's destruction during the war. We will not sound the sirens on the anniversary, said Rafal Bruski, mayor of the central city of Bydgoszcz. I have seen too many children terrified by war. Bruski said he has grown accustomed to many unwise decisions by the current right-wing government but there are limits to stupidity. ___ Follow all AP stories about developments in the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine. COLUMBUS, Miss. (AP) The first book in a four-part series written by a lifelong educator has been published. Pearlie I Dream: Peace in the Home is the first in a nonfiction series written by Starkville native Yvonne Bardwell Cox, current member of the Columbus Municipal School District Board of Trustees. The books main character, Pearlie, is named after Coxs grandmother, Pearl, but the characters personality and experiences are based on Coxs life. The author said the books are meant to be creative teaching and learning tools demonstrating family values and love. My books are written for children ages 3 and up, children with disabilities, at-risk children, parents, teachers, childcare professionals, etc. to recognize teachable moments and enhance hands-on reading experiences, Cox said. Each book in the series will share the thoughts that have stayed with me, and the many childhood memories embedded deep in my heart and mind. Cox said she always wanted to write a childrens book, but didnt find the time until 2020, when the pandemic started. It was a time for me to do some spiritual and physical healing. So, I wrote all the thoughts I had about the book, she said. Pearlie I Dream content is what the Lord has given me. As I was writing, I could really just see what I was writing. Once I started putting it together, it became a book about a special love and support given to me at a very young age. During Coxs childhood, she lived with her grandmother, mom, aunt, her three brothers and two cousins. We thought we had everything we needed, she said. (Our upbringing) taught us to believe in ourselves and who we wanted to be in life. The other books in the series have been written, Cox said, but are in various stages of the publication process. Cox said she hopes to get her books into every public library in the Golden Triangle and hopefully into schools. The book is currently available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other online bookstores. It includes illustrations for children to help them study facial expressions and learn about the story through the art. There also worksheets that feature activities related to the book. The book also contains a few pages of comprehensive questions for children to answer. When I wrote the book, I thought about how children learn to read. Some kids need to be read to, some need adults to read with them, and others can read independently, she said. After they read, we ask them to apply what they read. How do you feel? How do you think Pearlie feels? We look at keywords. Well bring up the word love and look at what it actually means, she continued. How you teach children from the beginning will determine how they develop a lifetime love of learning. The book series is a family affair. Coxs daughter-in-law, Stacie Johnson, is the illustrator, while her son, Michael Johnson, is the business manager. They put together the website and help Cox with other aspects of the books publication. She drew the pictures according to what I was saying, Cox said of Stacie Johnson. I told her what was going on and she drew it. (Children) will be able to look at the illustrations and listen to whats being read to them and know whats happening in the book. Cox is currently doing book-signings and other activities to promote her book. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority will host an online literary cafe April 23 in which Cox will discuss her book. Details can be found on the Pearlie I Dream website, pearlieidream.com . JERUSALEM (AP) Israeli troops on Saturday raided the hometown of a Palestinian who carried out a deadly shooting in Tel Aviv, sparking a gunbattle in the occupied West Bank that left at least one Palestinian militant dead, according to Israeli and Palestinian accounts. The arrest raid was the latest in a series of events that have escalated tensions during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Clashes and protests in Jerusalem last year helped spark an 11-day war with Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. In Saturday's raid, the Israeli military said it conducted what it described as a counterterrorism operation in and around the city of Jenin the area in the northern West Bank where the gunman in Thursday's attack had lived. It said troops were surveying the attacker's home to examine the potential demolition of the house. Israel often demolishes the homes of Palestinian attackers in a controversial practice that it says deters future attackers but which critics dismiss as collective punishment. The army said it also conducted an arrest operation on people suspected of militant activity. During the raids, it said soldiers came under fire. Troops fired back, killing one militant. The Islamic Jihad militant group identified the man as a member. The army said a second gunman was shot and wounded and taken away for medical treatment. It said the man's weapon was confiscated. Jenin is considered a stronghold of Palestinian militants. Israeli forces often come under fire when operating in the area. Even the Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the occupied West Bank and coordinates with Israel on security matters, appears to have little control. In Thursday's shooting, a Palestinian gunman opened fire in central Tel Aviv, killing three people. The attacker, identified as Raad Hazem, 28, of Jenin, was later killed by Israeli forces. It was the fourth deadly attack in Israel by Palestinians in three weeks and came at a time of heightened tensions around the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Two of those attacks were carried out by men from Jenin. Despite the violence, Israel has been taking steps to ease tensions, including the granting of thousands of work permits to residents of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and allowing thousands of Palestinians to enter Jerusalem for Ramadan prayers on Friday. But on Saturday, Israel announced further restrictions on Jenin and its residents. The measures included banning Arab residents of Israel from entering the city for shopping, halting entry permits to Israel held by Jenin's senior businessmen, and depriving Jenin residents from visiting relatives in Israel as part of Ramadan's goodwill gestures granted to West Bank Palestinians. The debate over bail reform has been one of the most contentious elements of Gov. Kathy Hochul's first budget negotiations as the state's top leader. Amid a jump in gun violence in cities from Buffalo to New York City, she sought to retool the landmark legislation that went into effect in 2020 that barred New York's judges from imposing bail on most misdemeanors and non-violent felonies. That meant people charged with such crimes were given appearance tickets or released on their own recognizance and remained free while awaiting trial. As bail debate persists, data shows few rearrested in Buffalo for violent felonies The News analyzed data from the state Office of Court Administration for 11,672 Buffalo City Court cases from Jan. 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021, the first 18 months the new bail rules were in effect. It's the most recent data available. Hochul's 10-point plan, which was discussed in mostly closed-door settings, would have added more crimes that would be eligible for bail and give judges more leeway in setting bail, as well as tightening laws pertaining to teenagers charged with gun possession, according to the New York Times, which obtained a memo about the plan. The latest version of the legislation doesn't go quite as far as Hochul had proposed. But it does for the first time in New York history give judges the ability to consider "danger" when it comes to releasing someone either on monetary bail or with conditions. "That is a big deal," Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn Jr. said, but he noted that it is only under limited circumstances. Deal reached on $220 billion New York budget. Here are the key items The State Legislature as of late Thursday afternoon hadn't begun voting on the numerous bills that make up the annual budget, though members hoped to wrap up that process by Friday. Right now in New York State, judges are only permitted to consider flight risk in determining bail the likelihood that a defendant will return to court for trial. Under the proposed changes, which are believed to have already been agreed on by all sides, a judge must also consider a defendant's use or possession of a gun and whether the charge involves allegations of causing "serious harm" to an individual or a group. That harm would also include theft or damage of property, but only if it was committed "in furtherance of other criminal activity," such as a theft during a burglary. Criminal justice reform advocates, who have hailed New York's bail reform laws as a great success, fought furiously against Hochul's rollbacks to the legislation. On Friday, as they combed through the proposed language, they expressed disappointment that Hochul isn't doing more to prevent crime through community-driven efforts. "She admits that bail reform is not the cause" of the rise in violence, said Tanvier Peart, Director of Policy Advancement for the Partnership for the Public Good, a Buffalo-based think tank. "But she is still going to go after it and justifying it because of the spike in crime. It's really disheartening. We had an opportunity to do something different. It's just disappointing that it's much of the same thing." NYS budget talks continue, with bail reform, tax breaks and Bills stadium still in discussion New York on Wednesday heads into its sixth day without a pact between the governor and the Legislature on a 2022-23 spending plan, though top legislative leaders such as Assembly Majority Leader Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes, D-Buffalo, remain optimistic. A Buffalo News analysis of arrests since the state's bail laws changed found that one of every five people arrested and released by a Buffalo City Court judge without having to post bail got rearrested, though few on violent felony charges. Out of 5,092 released without a judge setting any bail, 120 people were arrested on a violent felony charge while their first case remained open, according to The News' analysis. Slightly more than 1% were rearrested on a gun charge. The proposed changes include some tweaks to the list of crimes that would qualify for bail, namely possession of a gun while at a school. They also make some changes to gun trafficking laws, reducing the number of guns to what constitutes trafficking. However, such cases are generally handled by federal authorities. The negotiated version of Hochul's plan contains "significant portions of the governor's 10-point plan," Flynn said, but he said he's hoping to see more discussion in the future, particularly regarding cases involving gun crimes. "I think we need to have continued conversations going forward," he said. The new budget also includes additional funding for prosecutors to comply with laws related to "discovery" providing evidence to defense lawyers in a timely manner. Until 2020, district attorneys technically had until the day of the trial to reveal the evidence they had against defendants. Discovery rules, enacted at the same time as the changes to bail laws, set strict deadlines on when that evidence was turned over. Prosecutors across the state complained that they didn't have the staff or technology to meet the deadlines. The budget includes $40 million for prosecutors and another $25 million for technology infrastructure to handle the additional load. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The vice President, Prof.Yemi Osibanjo has explained that the inability of countries with galore of natural resources like Nigeria to achieve sustainable development is because of poor governance and weak institutional structures. Speaking at the 21st Meeting of the National Council on Development Plan (NCDP) in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, on Friday, the Vice President said lack of transparency and accountability are factors hindering the country's national development. He noted that the theme of the meeting, Good Governance and Institutional Capacity: Pathways to Sustainable National Development was apt as it was now expedient to develop the capacity of the country's institutions to properly implement its development plans. In his words; The question I am sure some of us ask ourselves is that why countries with huge natural and human resources still develop slowly and have greater number of poverty than other less endowed societies or countries without resources at all like South Korea and Singapore. Why do they still perform better than the resourceful country of the world? I think most of the surveys conducted show that there is lack of good governance and weak institutional capacity that largely account for the difference. Osibanjo added that the nation's economy was yet to fully recover from the surge of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russina-Ukrain war. He urged governments at all levels to put more synergy in tackling the challenges, while warning Nigerians to brace themselves for future onslaught on the economy. Lusaka, April 8, 2022 Malawian authorities should cease harassing journalist Gregory Gondwe, drop any attempt to force him to disclose his sources, and reform the countrys laws so they are not used to censor the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On March 30, the privately owned news website Platform for Investigative Journalism, where Gondwe works as the managing director, published an article alleging that the countrys attorney general had approved payments to a businessman for contracts that were previously cancelled due to alleged fraud. On Tuesday, April 5, police in the commercial capital, Blantyre, detained Gondwe for about six hours and demanded he reveal his sources for that article, according to news reports, a statement by the local chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa press freedom group, and the journalist and his colleague Golden Matonga, both of whom spoke to CPJ via messaging app. Police also searched the PIJs office and confiscated Gondwes cellphone and laptop, forced him to disclose his passwords, and then returned his devices the following day, according to the journalist. Malawian authorities must respect journalist Gregory Gondwes right to cover corruption allegations freely, stop harassing him and his family, and drop any attempt to force him to reveal his confidential sources, who he is ethically bound to protect, said Angela Quintal, CPJs Africa program coordinator, in New York. The police should cease all attempts to criminalize investigative journalism and whistleblowing, and authorities should overhaul laws that are an impediment to press freedom. After the March 30 article was published, Gondwe said that Attorney General Thabo Nyirenda had asked him to disclose his sources and, when the journalist refused, said he would get the information by other means. On Monday, police called Gondwes younger sister while she was traveling and told her to abandon her trip so they could question her; when his sister submitted to questioning, officers asked about Gondwes whereabouts, saying they wanted the journalist to lead them to a suspect in a crime, the journalist told CPJ. Gondwe said that when he called the police and asked how they acquired his sisters phone number, an officer said they had accessed their phone records, and reiterated that they wanted to speak with him about a criminal suspect. The following day, Gondwe met a group of police officers at PIJs office, he said. He told CPJ he offered to bring the officers inside the office, but they declined and brought him to a nearby car, introduced him to other police officers, and showed him a court sanctioned warrant to search the premises and confiscate electronic devices in pursuit of the source for that March 30 story. Gondwe told the police he would only speak to them in the presence of a lawyer; the officers proceeded to search the PIJs office and brought Gondwe to a local police station where he was held for about six hours, questioned in the presence of his lawyer, and then released without charge, he said. When police returned his devices the following day, Gondwe said he could see that some of his emails and WhatsApp messages had been read. I am not sure of how much information they mined from the confiscated gadgets. Even when I am in the process of replacing them, I really dont feel safe, he told CPJ. Gondwes lawyer, Joseph Lihoma, told CPJ by messaging app that his client had not been charged, but police were still investigating the case. The warrant for the April 5 search, which CPJ reviewed, states that Gondwe is accused of spamming, pertaining to the illegal transmission of information online, under Section 91 of the Electronic Transaction and Cyber Security Act of 2016, which carries a fine of 2 million Malawian kwacha (about US$2,500) or imprisonment of up to five years for convictions. Nyirenda told CPJ via messaging app that he had apologized for Gondwes detention and questioning, and that he had no idea police were going to detain the journalist and confiscate his devices. When asked about Gondwes claim that Nyirenda had threatened to find other means to disclose the journalists sources, Nyirenda said that was water under the bridge. In a statement, the Media Institute of Southern Africa also said that Nyirenda had apologized, and that he had committed to a government review of archaic laws that restricted media freedom. Nyirenda told CPJ that he did not have the power to make police drop their investigation into Gondwe, saying, All I can do as attorney general is to appeal to them to drop those investigations and allow the press to enjoy their freedom. Police spokesperson James Kadadzera said in statement that Gondwe had not been arrested but had been interviewed in connection to an ongoing investigation into that news article and other related issues. Kadadzera told CPJ via messaging app that he could not disclose further details about the case to avoid jeopardizing the legal process. He said he was unaware of Gondwes suspicions that his devices were tampered with while in police custody. Chief government spokesperson Gospel Kazako said the government would investigate the circumstances of Gondwes detention, according to reports. Onitsha, Eastern Nigeria, Sat 9th April 2022 : The Intl Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law has identified unguarded utterances, generalizations and lack of credible intelligence as fundamental threats capable of undermining the formative stability of the Government of Prof Charles Soludo in Anambra State. The person of Prof Charles Soludo may also need to work hard to wriggle himself out of over knowledge mastership syndrome. This, if not corrected or tamed now, may lead to the new Gov being left or isolated by people of good conscience especially the homeland democratic forces in the State. The homeland democratic forces in the State have since resolved to join hands with the new Gov to turn Anambra State positively around on condition that their constructive voices must be heard and acted upon when freely given. It is therefore a global elementary knowledge that sensitive security issues are not handled through unguarded public utterances and generalizations. It is also instructive to point out that the backbone of security and intelligence in the world lies on detection, thorough verification of the detected and their handling styles anchored on pre action muting on what has been detected and un-muting of same after what has been detected has been operated upon through intelligence and ICT powered operations. In Criminology, generalization, false labeling, criminalization and stigmatization of members of a general population or a particular group or associating them with acidic social deviances and violent crimes are the most undoing of any governing authority or policing organization. These are also totally forbidden in modern world of detective and investigative security and intelligence. In the Igbo System of ancient and oracular periods, no matter how wise or knowledgeable an elder is, he must not be invited to preside over a sensitive matter he knows nothing about and it is tantamount to killing him if he ventures into same. That is to say that he must seek to be fully briefed if he is to preside over it well and wisely. In the case of the ongoing formative stage of the Government of Charles Soludo, it is our finding that the Gov meant to govern the State well, but appeared to have chosen to start on riotous and loquacious path. In other words, Intersociety is not certainly sure that the new Gov was well briefed and armed with credible state actor intelligence. Intersociety has severally investigated and found that between 80% and 90% of the state actor security intelligence and investigative information on the state of insecurity in the Southeast are highly disputable and questionable and these have led to wanton waste of innocent lives and destruction of nonviolent properties by deployed armed state actors. For instance, in the Southeast, a predominant blue-collar or street crime friendly social setting, it is now the security and intelligence position of the state actors that the armed robberies and armed robbers, kidnappings and kidnappers, cultism and cultists, rituals and ritualists, murders and murderers, rapes and rapists, vandalisms and vandals, car-snatchings and car-snatchers as well as white-collar or cyber crimes and their criminals have all disappeared from the streets of the Southeast and replaced by ESN/IPOB terrorism and terrorists. This is to the extent that out of tribal hatred or ethnic profiling, every act of street criminality is blamed on ESN/IPOB. This is even when it is the informed position of the Lombroso and Sutherland or Chicago Schools of Criminology that the forefathers of Governments and other control systems including soldiering and policing organizations are social deviances and crimes or their deviants and criminals. In other words, without social deviances and crimes, there could not have been Governments and other control systems. In every blue-collar society, blue-collar or street crimes and criminals abound and in every white-collar or bureaucratic society, white-collar or pen and computer criminals abound. In the case of Anambra State, therefore, there is clear lack of credible state actor intelligence regarding the individual and group identities of citizens in crime in the State. In other words, in as much as some bush or forest hideouts are held by the armed wing of the mainstream Biafra agitators, motley of violent criminal persons and entities, who patronize street criminalities, also abound in an industrial scale. The State is also under invasion by several armed splinter groups claiming to be fighting for Biafra. Just last week, a solid and credible contact close to Intersocietyspotted a brown new Coaster bus marked Izzi Youth Movement possibly from Ebonyi State. The Coaster Bus was spotted along Obeledu-Oraeri-Igboukwu Road at about 7.30pm, fully loaded with young men and most likely armed with assault rifles, and on further independent trail and contacts, it was discovered that they are heading to a camp within the State. Survivors have also attested to the fact that they recently encountered some forest camped violent entities/persons In Nnewi South axis (i.e. Ukpor area) speaking Ebonyi dialects and got nearly killed when greeted them with All Hail Biafra/Nwachineke. There is also the likelihood of the presence of copycat and fifth columnists armed squads possibly oiled by clandestinely destructive state agents to engage in sundry violent crimes with intent to blame same on the mainstream Biafra agitators. We are also intelligently and independently not unaware of the fact that there are several urban based violent criminals that specialize in snatching exotic or flashy cars and smart phones and forced or criminal electronic transfer at gun points of several millions of naira. In Idemmili North axis, for instance, an independent detective recently told Intersociety that the boys go out in the morning with five cars and come back in the evening with fifteen flashy others. There is also legal difference between IPOB and ESN members. In the eyes of UN System, civilian person ancestrally found within the location of the Bight of Biafra in Nigeria including Gov Charles Soludo of Anambra State is a Biafran while anybody that is a member of the armed Eastern Security Network engaging in universally outlawed violent activities is deemed to be in conflict with intl and local criminal laws. However, the above is not to say that the armed members of the mainstream Biafra agitators are saint or free from all blames or insecurity and other unsafe conditions in Anambra State. They have also not been responsible for the violent criminal activities in the State. This is more so when patterns and trends of their violent self defense activities are trade-marked, such as the armed protest of 7th April 2022 at Nnewi North and Aguata Local Government Area. From our collected intelligence, the attacks had their trademarks and were said to be a protest through a barrel of gun against Soludo. The beloved new Gov Charles Soludo is hereby expertly advised not to rush IPOB matters to avoid plunging the State into another Imo State. Solution to IPOB matters is not short term soluble but likely going to require medium or long term solutions. From our findings, a litany of goodwill still abounds for the Gov to move the State forward developmentally and securely. The primary task before Gov Soludo is: clean the State especially Onitsha, Ogbaru, Idemmili North, Oyi, Awka, Ekwulobia, Ihiala and Nnewi; open up drainages and waterways ahead of this coming rainy season, stop open defecation at Onitsha Upper-Iweka to Niger Bridge axis, identify and rout out touts and criminal revenue agents wrecking havoc in Onitsha and environs, clear blocked drainages across the State of illegal structures, rehabilitate failed State roads and monitor the conducts, activities and movements of his newly confirmed Commissioners especially those in charge of Homeland (Security) Matters/Affairs and Finance; the reappointed mistakes of the Obiano Administration. Additionally and finally, the new Government of Soludo must go for fresh and sound intelligence so as to credibly ascertain the following: The number of violent crime armed groups and armed territorial self defense groups in the State and patterns and trends of their activities The groups among them that belong to street criminal entities and those that belong to violent self determination or self defense struggle Those among them that are deviants and constitute threat to street or urban persons and their properties The mission of the Ebonyi variant of the violently armed persons that are camping in several bushes and forests in the State Whether there are copycat or fifth columnists armed entities oiled by clandestinely destructive State or Jihadist agents The possible camping of private militias among the motley of armed persons in the State Those among the motley of violently armed persons responsible for incessancy of car snatching including the snatching of exotic/flashy cars from at least seven Catholic Reverend Fathers between Feb 15 and middle of Match 2022 around Ichida, Nnobi, Awka-Etiti, Igboukwu and Obeledu axis The Gov should also inform the citizens of the State the real target groups of the State Governments Amnesty and whether the Amnesty is meant for armed robbers, car snatchers, phone snatchers and criminal electronic money thieves, house breakers, arsonists, burglary offenders, kidnappers, cultists, rapists, ritualists, hired killers; or whether the Amnesty is meant for armed agitators alone Signed For: Intl Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law Emeka Umeagbalasi (Criminologist & Graduate of Security Studies) Board Chair Chinwe Umeche Esquire, LLB, BL Head, Democracy and Good Governance Obianuju Joy Igboeli Esquire, LLB, BL Head, Civil Liberties and Rule of Law Chidimma Udegbunam Esquire, LLB, BL Head, Campaign and Publicity Contacts: Phone/WhatsApp: +2348174090052 Email: [email protected] Website: https://intersociety-ng.org 52 dead in station bombing as civilians flee eastern Ukraine KAMATORSK, Ukraine: A missile strike on a train station in eastern Ukraine killed dozens on Friday (Apr 9), as civilians raced to evacuate, fearing a looming Russian offensive in the region. By AFP Saturday 9 April 2022, 09:42AM A Ukrainian policeman bends over bodies laid on the ground and covered with tarpaulin after a rocket attack killed at least 35 people on April 8, 2022 at a train station in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine, that was being used for civilian evacuations. Photo: AFP World leaders condemned the attack in Kramatorsk, the capital of Donetsk, with US President Joe Biden accusing Russia of being behind a horrific atrocity that the French condemned as a crime against humanity. At least 52 people including five children were killed, the regional government said, while President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported 300 wounded, saying the strike showed evil with no limits. Zelenskyy said the bombing had been reported in Russia before the missiles had even landed and called for a firm global reaction to this war crime and more weaponry to counter Moscows aggression. I am sure that the victory of Ukraine is just a matter of time and I will do everything to reduce this time, he added. AFP journalists saw the bodies of at least 30 people under plastic sheets next to the station, amid pools of blood and bags nearby packed with the remains of a large rocket. Body parts, broken glass and abandoned baggage lay scattered around the station and across the platform. Im looking for my husband. He was here. I cant reach him, a woman sobbed, holding her phone to her ear. Another woman in a state of shock told AFP: I saw people covered in blood entering the station and bodies everywhere on the ground. Russia denied being behind the bombing, which came with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Kyiv for talks with Zelenskyy and to visit the scene of civilian killings in the town of Bucha. Russia faces decay because of ever tougher sanctions and Ukraine had a European future, Von der Leyen said at a news conference with Zelenskyy. Six weeks into President Vladimir Putins invasion, Moscow has shifted its focus to eastern and southern Ukraine after stiff resistance ended plans to swiftly capture the capital Kyiv. Russian troops appear set on creating a long-sought land link between occupied Crimea and the Moscow-backed separatist statelets of Donetsk and Lugansk in Donbas, where civilians have been urged to flee heavy shelling laying waste to towns and complicating evacuation efforts. There is no secret the battle for Donbas will be decisive. What we have already experienced all this horror it can multiply, warned Lugansk regional governor Sergiy Gaiday. In the south, the Black Sea port city of Odessa girded for rocket attacks, imposing a weekend curfew. Residents and Ukrainian officials returning after a Russian withdrawal from an area near Kyiv were taking stock of the scale of the devastation. Bucha, where authorities say hundreds were killed some with their hands bound has become a byword for the brutality allegedly inflicted under Russian occupation. But Zelenskyy warned worse was being uncovered. They have started sorting through the ruins in Borodianka, northwest of Kyiv, he said in his nightly address. It is much more horrific there. There are even more victims of Russian occupiers. Conflict in the area has wrought massive destruction and bodies are only now being retrieved, with 27 recovered from two destroyed buildings, according to Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova. Fresh allegations emerged from Obukhovychi, northwest of Kyiv, where villagers told AFP they were used as human shields. Moscow has denied targeting civilians but growing evidence of atrocities has galvanised Ukraines allies in the EU, which has approved an embargo on Russian coal and the closure of its ports to Russian vessels. The bloc has frozen 30 billion (US$32.6 billion) in assets from blacklisted Russian and Belarusian individuals and companies, it said Friday. En route to Kyiv, Borrell told journalists the EU would supply 7.5 million to train Ukrainian prosecutors to investigate war crimes, which Russia is accused of committing. At the United Nations General Assembly, 93 nations voted Thursday to suspend Russia from the bodys human rights council prompting accusations from Moscow that the move was illegal and politically motivated. Russias lies are no match for the undeniable evidence of what is happening in Ukraine, Biden said, calling the invasion an outrage to our common humanity. Ukraine has welcomed new pressure on Moscow but it continues to push for harsher sanctions and more heavy weaponry. Either you help us now and Im speaking about days, not weeks or your help will come too late and many people will die, many civilians will lose their homes, many villages will be destroyed," Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said after meeting NATO foreign ministers in Brussels. Britain said Friday it was sending Ukraine more high-grade military equipment including Starstreak anti-aircraft missiles and 800 anti-tank missiles, while Slovakia said it had given Ukraine an S-300 air defence system. Katie L. Riford, the Wheatfield woman accused of taking her two children to New Mexico three years ago before a judge awarded custody to their father, has been given seven weeks to hire a lawyer. Riford, 37, was arrested March 2 in Albuquerque on charges of custodial interference and violating a Family Court order. Her ex-boyfriend, who lives in Massachusetts, wants to permanently cut her off from all contact with the children, now 11 and 4 years old. Friday, State Supreme Court Justice Deborah A. Haendiges, who is handling both matters in Niagara County Integrated Domestic Violence Court, adjourned the case to May 27 while Riford looks for counsel. Assistant Public Defender A. Joseph Catalano said his office is off the case because of a conflict of interest. Three of its attorneys formerly worked for the county Social Services Department and filed motions seeking access to Riford's kids while she was out of state. Haendiges also signed a temporary order barring Riford from contact with the kids, including through third parties. 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. Funding approved to help cover reduced Social Security contributions BANGKOK: A B4.5 billion budget has been approved to partially cover reduced contributions to the Social Security Fund (SSF) over the next three months. economics By National News Bureau of Thailand Saturday 9 April 2022, 09:30AM Image: NNT Government Spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said the Cabinet approved the funding on Tuesday (Apr 5) to help SSF subscribers from May to July 2022, reports state news agency NNT. This will allow subscribers to save more money in order to pay for other necessary expenses during the economic slowdown, said the report. Employees under Section 33 of the Social Security Act need to contribute 1% of their monthly income (capped at B15,000) to be covered by the welfare scheme, down from 5% previously. Former employees under Section 39 who continue to contribute to the SSF after leaving their jobs will see their payments reduced from 9% to 1.9% during the same time period. Workers under Section 40 will meanwhile have their monthly contributions reduced to B42-180. The fund will help offset reductions in the elderly fund portion of the contributions for the three-month period. For example, those insured under Section 33, whose overall monthly contributions will be lowered to 1%, will see their contributions increase to 2.95% as a result of the governments funding approval in the SSF. The B4.5bn funding will assist approximately 4.8 million SSF subscribers in alleviating their economic burden amid rising prices and the ongoing pandemic, the report noted. Nok Air, AirAsia launch direct flights to Phuket from Isan, Singapore PHUKET: The inaugural Nok Air direct flight from Ubon Ratchathani touched down in Phuket yesterday (Apr 8), as AirAsia announced the airline will relaunch direct flights from Singapore starting Tuesday (Apr 12). tourismtransporteconomics By The Phuket News Saturday 9 April 2022, 02:19PM AirAsia will resume direct flights to Phuket from Singapore from Tuesday (Apr 12). Photo: PR Phuket AirAsia will resume direct flights to Phuket from Singapore from Tuesday (Apr 12). Photo: PR Phuket Nok Air flight DD9100 landed at Phuket airport at 10:45am, with 171 passengers on board welcomed by airport staff at Gate 9 of the Domestic Terminal. The arrival marked the new Nok Air service operating one flight a week in each direction between Phuket and Ubon Ratchathani. The inbound Ubon Ratchathani-Phuket flight operates on Fridays, departing the Isan city at 8:45am. The return flight from Phuket to Ubon Ratchathani departs the island on Sundays at 3:45pm. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Ubon Ratchathani office praised the new flights for connecting two major provinces, one in the South and the other in the Northeast. The flights help support the travel needs of people to travel more conveniently and quickly, connecting the big cities, bringing them closer together, said the TAT Ubon Ratchathani office in its announcement. Meanwhile, AirAsia has announced that it will resume direct flights between Phuket and Singapore starting Tuesday (Apr 12), hoping to help revive the tourism industry and responding to the policy of opening the country. Arun Lilapanthisit, Manager of the Thai Air Asia branch at Phuket International Airport, announced yesterday that AirAsia will operate two flights a week, every Tuesday and Saturday, between Phuket and Singapore. The move is hoped to help tourism to the island during the Songkran holidays, Mr Aun said. Mr Aun noted that AirAsia had been operating flights to and from Phuket for 12 years, and was supporting the drive to boost tourism to the island by re-opening flights connecting the island with 12 destinations throughout the country. Currently, there are five direct flights from Phuket, and in total more than 19 flights per day, Mr Arun said. Direct flights to Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani and Chiang Mai have received a good response. During March there was an average passenger load of 78%, and advance reservations across all routes during Songkran is 80-90%, Mr Arun said. AirAsia is offering special promotion rates to help encourage tourists to take advantage of the flights during the Songkran holidays, Mr Aun added. Iit should be a good opportunity for AirAsia to play a part in stimulating the economy in Phuket. Meanwhile, AirAsia has also worked with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Singapore office to attract more tourists to come to Thailand, he noted. AirAsia currently offers the following flights operating out of Phuket International Airport: Domestic routes: Phuket - Don Mueang: up to 9 flights per day Phuket - Suvarnabhumi: 4 flights per day Phuket - Khon Kaen: 4 flights per week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday) Phuket - Udon Thani: 4 flights per week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday) Phuket - Chiang Mai: up to 2 flights per day International routes (starting Apr 12): Phuket - Singapore: 2 flights per week (Tuesday, Saturday) Phuket - Kuala Lumpur: 4 flights per week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday) operated by AirAsia, Malaysia flight code AK. For the year 2022, Thai AirAsia aims to carry 12.3 million passengers on all routes throughout the year with a fleet of 53 aircraft at the end of the year. We will gradually increase the number of routes and flight frequency, while Thai AirAsia remains fully committed to travel hygiene and safety standards, Mr Aun said. Phuket police launch Songkran crime blitz, ready for Seven Days road safety campaign PHUKET: Phuket police and other law-enforcement officers gathered at the Phuket Check Point in Tha Chatchai yesterday (Apr 8) for the launch of the annual Songkran crime-fighting campaign and to announce the Seven Days of Danger campaign for the Thai New Year, starting on Monday (Apr 11). By The Phuket News Saturday 9 April 2022, 12:06PM Leading the assembly of officers, numbering 420 personnel in total from all law-enforcement agencies in Phuket, was Pol Maj Gen Wanchai Ekaphonpitch, Deputy Commissioner of Region 8 Police. Joining Maj Gen Wanchai were other top-ranking police commanders as well as Phuket Vice Governor Anupap Rodkwan Yodrabam. Tha Chatchai Police Commander Col Sompong Boonrat explained to the assembly that the Royal Thai Police is to conduct a campaign to jointly prevent crime and prevent and reduce road accidents during the Songkran holidays. In the area of prevention and suppression, officers are scheduled to mobilise forces to clean up crime between April 8-17, 2022, with the aim of arresting persons involved in common crime, technology crime, suspects wanted on outstanding arrest warrants and all other offences in the area, Col Sompong said. For the prevention and reduction of road accidents, the campaign has been set for between April 11-17, 2022, Col Sompong continued. The Phuket Provincial Police is holding this ceremony to show our readiness and to build confidence in taking care of the safety of peoples lives and properties, including those of tourists, and [readiness] to cut down on the opportunity of criminal groups that may cause various acts of violence, he said. Phuketians helping displaced Ukrainians PHUKET: A number of Phuket-based families have pitched in to help displaced Ukrainians flee the devastation ravaging their country. Saturday 9 April 2022, 09:00AM From left: Warwick and Suzanne Downes with Serhii Sinchevskyi and Vika Artemenko at the Downes home on Coconut Island, off Phukets east coast. From their home in Layan, Hugo and Coco de la Baume were so disturbed by the images they saw coming out of Ukraine that they were determined to do something to help. Hugo contacted the Ukrainian Red Cross and made a financial donation, and they told him what they desperately needed was help housing refugees. So Coco went online and discovered the Facebook site Accommodation, Help & Shelter for Ukraine, but with visas being needed to travel to the US and the UK most of the fleeing Ukrainians were being housed in Europe and Scandinavia. The de la Baumes have a summer home in Spain. Initially, they thought it would be too far away, but they offered it up anyway. Coco has a large home, so she didnt want to just take one person or a couple, but she could take a family with pets or a small group. She ended up getting three women: two are good friends from Kyiv (Lena, a 56-year-old economics professor) and Elena (a 54-year-old translator), as well as Dacha, a 28-year-old petrol products trader they picked up along the way. Using the Accommodation, Help & Shelter for Ukraine site, the de la Baumes first connected with the trio as they crossed the Ukrainian-Slovakian border. The three women had filled up a Skoda with as many possessions as possible, five cats and a dog, and were hoping for the best. Elena even gave the keys to her apartment to a family fleeing the carnage in Chernihiv. The women were keen to go to Spain because they thought their chances of getting a job would be much greater in a place with fewer refugees. The drive from the Slovakian-Ukrainian border to Marbella, Spain, is 3,300km, too long for the three to be driving without a rest. So Coco offered her in-laws home in Provence, France, to break up the journey. Cocos mother-in-law, in her 80s, was skeptical at first, but once she met the three women, she insisted they stay for three nights as they were emotionally exhausted. Fully rested, the women then drove the final 1,500km to Cocos house in southern Spain on the Costa del Sol where a full fridge and housekeeper were expecting them. Coco also arranged for a Russian friend to help take them around and get acquainted with the Marbella area. They have been in Spain for close to a month now and Coco says they are welcome to stay until the de la Baumes return in mid-June. So how is it going so far? Dacha asked if she could read all the books in our library you know they are good people, if they are asking about your books, says Coco. Meanwhile, from their home on Coconut Island just off Phukets east coast, Warwick & Suzanne Downes sat transfixed at the images of Ukrainians fleeing the war zone and wanted to try and help. So Suzanne went online and through reading The New York Times found a website organised by Harvard University students called ukrainetakeshelter.com. The site is like a meet and match site for Ukrainian refugees and people who are stranded and those willing to house them. You put up your details of what you can do, how many people you can take, if you can take pets, etc., and misplaced Ukrainians search the posts and contact who they think would fit well with. A day after Suzanne posted her details, Serhii Sinchevskyi and Vika Artemenko saw her ad, contacted Suzanne and the next day she drove up to see them near Surin Beach, where they were staying in a small serviced apartment. Serhii and Vika come from Chernihiv City, the site of heavy fighting. The couple left for holiday in Phuket on Feb 13 and were supposed to fly back Mar 9. They were actually on Phi Phi Island when the invasion occurred, and made their way back to Phuket. They couldnt fly home now even if they wanted to as their local airport has been badly damaged in the fighting, and there is no running water or electricity in their home. Serhii says every second building in their town has been bombed. The Downes have not just taken Serhii and Vika into their home, but they have made them feel at home as well, having meals with them and taking them around Phuket, trying to take their mind off the devastation in their homeland where their parents are still living. Serhiis parents are still in Chernihiv District and Vikas are in western Ukraine. Serhii and Vika want to go back to Ukraine when the situation has improved. They are planning to fly to Warsaw in Poland, from where they will take a bus back into Ukraine. Serhii notes that if you would like to help Ukrainians in distress, this site is recommended: https://pnw.com.ua/en/ Holger Schwab and Helga Langer run Sea Bees Diving company, based out of Ao Chalong, and they have been in Thailand for 27 years. Shocked by the images of Ukrainians fleeing the war zone, they too wanted to see if they could provide any assistance. Holgers family comes from Oettingen, famous for its beer brewery, a small town of 6,000 people, 100km north of Munich. One of their tenants, Larissa, is Ukrainian and it was through her family that they came in contact with the family they are now housing, a grandmother, Larissas daughter and three granddaughters aged 10, 12 and 14. The Ukrainians arrived by train at the Munich train station where they were transported to Holgers home. Helga says the girls are already in school and the German government is providing health insurance and a work permit to the mother if needed and they are welcome to stay in Helgas home until late May or June when her family will head back to Europe. They have a lot of friends living nearby, who are all helpful to either drop off food or make sure that they are ok. These three families have stepped up and offered their homes to people in dire need. Scott Murray Scott Murray has been the Managing Editor at Dragon Art Media for more than 13 years. Dragon Art Media publishes the well-known magazine SEA Yachting. Two European divers rescued after disappearing in Malaysia MALAYSIA: A British man and French teenager were rescued Saturday (Apr 9) three days after going missing while diving in Malaysia, police said, as hopes faded for the mans son who is still unaccounted for. Saturday 9 April 2022, 05:18PM Malaysian police official Cyril Edward shows pictures of two rescued divers: French national Alexia Alexandra Molina (R) and Briton Adrian Peter Chesters. Photo: Mohd Rasfan / AFP The trio and their instructor got into trouble Wednesday after they surfaced from a dive near a southern island but could not find their boat. The Briton, 46-year-old Adrian Chesters, and Frenchwoman Alexia Molina, 18, were discovered by fishermen in the waters of neighboring Indonesia, picked up by marine police and taken back to Malaysia. They were found about 30 kilometers north of Indonesias Bintan Island having drifted some 130km from where they had been diving. The pair have been admitted to a Malaysian hospital in a stable condition, said local police chief Cyril Edward Nuing in the coastal town of Mersing, the base for search operations. The instructor, Norwegian woman Kristine Grodem, had already been rescued on Thursday in waters off southern Malaysia. Chesterss son, 14-year-old Nathen, who holds Dutch citizenship, remains missing and officials believe he has drifted into Indonesian waters. There is a high possibility that he is not in Malaysian waters, based on the flow of the current and the time and place where these two [Peters and Molina] were found, said Nuing. We decided to stop the search and rescue in Malaysian waters and we have informed Indonesian parties to continue [it]. Malaysian authorities remain on standby in case they need to resume the hunt, he added. In recent days, Malaysia had deployed helicopters, a plane, boats, divers and jet skiers to hunt over a large area. Authorities did not give details on how the rescued trio survived a long period drifting at sea, and said they have not yet been questioned in detail about their ordeal. Previously, officials had expressed hope the divers would be found alive as they had substantial experience and were well equipped, including with a diving buoy. They also said that light rains in recent days might help the divers survive by providing drinking water. On Thursday, the French teens mother Esther Molina said from Mersing that the family were hoping for the best. Shes a strong girl, shell kick ass. Grodem had been instructing the divers close to a small island, Tokong Sanggol, about 15km off Malaysias southeast coast, when the accident happened. After a dive lasting about 40 minutes, they surfaced but could not find their boat. They drifted together in strong currents, but ended up getting separated. The captain of the boat who took them to the dive site has been arrested after testing positive for drugs. The area where the accident happened is popular with foreign and domestic visitors resorts dot the coast and the islands. Diving accidents, while rare, do occasionally happen in Malaysia. In 2013, a British tourist died when she was struck by a passing boats propeller while diving off resort islands in the South China Sea. The tropical Southeast Asian nations borders reopened to foreign tourists on Apr 1 after a two-year coronavirus closure, and thousands of visitors have arrived. The head of a conservative student organization at the University at Buffalo says she was chased by a group of protesters and another group leader was punched and kicked after an event Thursday night featuring a national conservative figure hosted by the group on the university's North Campus. Therese Purcell, president of the UB chapter of Young Americans for Freedom, said she hid from the crowd in a men's bathroom while being pursued by demonstrators after a speech by Allen West, a former congressman and Tea Party figure, in the Student Union. The group's treasurer was punched and kicked after the event in front of Knox Hall, Purcell said. Both filed reports with University Police, Purcell said. Three separate harassment complaints were filed with police by three people and the university is investigating, a university spokesman said. Purcell said she was worried for her safety when she encountered angry protesters after the event and the group surrounded her. She began walking to her car when between 150 and 200 students started screaming at her and following her, she said. "They started to run after me and chase me," she said Friday in an interview. "I started to sprint in the opposite direction." She ran into a classroom building, and another member of her group pulled her into a men's bathroom, where she hid and called 911, she said. Police estimated the crowd of demonstrators at 75 people, a university spokesman said. The group's national parent organization on Thursday night posted a string of videos on Twitter showing the demonstrators after the event concluded. On Thursday before the 7 p.m. speech, the university said police were investigating "threatening anonymous social media posts directed at students protesting" West's speech. UB on Friday said it was conducting a "thorough review of events and activities leading up to, during and after" West's appearance. "These events do not define who we as a university are, nor do they define who we aspire to be," Barbara Ricotta, UBs dean of students, said in a written statement. "As a university community, we will continue to strive to be a place where all students can express themselves, be heard and live their lives in a welcoming and safe environment that values diversity and inclusion." Reach Aaron at abesecker[at]buffnews.com or 716-849-4602. 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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate CANBERRA, Australia The first of 20 Bushmaster armored vehicles has left Australia for Ukraine, one week after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy specifically requested the Australian-manufactured four-wheel drives. A Boeing C-17 Globemaster transport jet that can carry four Bushmasters left the east coast city of Brisbane for Europe on Friday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said. The 20 Bushmasters cost 50 million in Australian dollars, which is $37 million in U.S. dollars. The vehicles are in addition to $116 million in Australian dollars ($87 million in U.S. dollars) in military and humanitarian aid previously committed to Ukraine. Zelenskyy requested Bushmasters when he made a video address to the Australian Parliament on March 31. And as soon as he asked, we said yes, Morrison said. ___ KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR: Ukraine girds for renewed Russian offensive on eastern front Congress votes to suspend Russia trade status, enact oil ban Ukraine appeals to NATO for more weapons Russia is moving troops and focus toward the east, but that strategy carries risks as well U.N. General Assembly votes to suspend Russia from UN rights council Ukrainian refugees find quickest route into US goes through Mexico Seeing Bucha atrocities is turning point for media, viewers Russia makes debt payment in rubles, a move that could result in historic default Go to https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine for more coverage ___ OTHER DEVELOPMENTS: WASHINGTON The Biden administration on Thursday announced it is levying sanctions against Russias largest military shipbuilding and diamond mining companies. The move blocks their access to the U.S. financial system as the United States looks to exact more economic pain on President Vladimir Putin for the invasion of Ukraine. Alrosa is the worlds largest diamond mining company and accounts for about 90% of Russias diamond mining capacity, according to the U.S. Treasury Department. Alrosa generated over $4.2 billion in revenue in 2021. Diamonds are one of Russias top 10 non-energy exports by value. The State Department also said it was blacklisting the United Shipbuilding Corporation, as well as its subsidiaries and board members. The moves against the two-state owned companies come a day after the U.S. announced it was targeting the two adult daughters of President Vladimir Putin, two of Russias largest banks and banning new American investment in Russia. __ LVIV, Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday night that work has begun to dig through the rubble in Borodianka, another city northwest of Kyiv that was occupied by the Russians. He also said it is much scarier there, with even more victims of the Russian troops. In his daily nighttime video address to the nation Thursday, Zelenskyy said the Russians were preparing to shock the world in the same way by showing corpses in Mariupol and falsely claiming they were killed by the Ukrainian defenders. Meanwhile, Bucha Mayor Anatoliy Fedoruk said Thursday on Ukrainian television that investigators have found at least three sites of mass shootings of civilians during the Russian occupation. Fedoruk said hundreds have been killed and investigators are finding bodies in yards, parks and city squares. PHOENIX A Ukrainian diplomat pleaded for the United States to send weapons to his beleaguered nation in a speech to the Arizona Legislature on Thursday. Dmytro Kushneruk, Ukraines consul general in San Francisco, told Arizona lawmakers that Ukraine needs three things to repel Russian invaders and prevent more civilian deaths weapons, weapons and weapons. Kushneruk said its a war for the soul of humanity and time is of the essence as Russia regroups for an expected offensive on the Donbas region of Eastern Ukraine. According to Kushneruk, prompt American help will save civilian lives and he pleaded for people not to look away even as the war drags on. Kushneruk said Ukraine needs planes, anti-aircraft systems, heavy artillery, tanks, rockets systems and long-range missiles that can target Russian ships in the Black Sea. The speech continued the outreach by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys government to political and cultural institutions around the world. __ WASHINGTON President Joe Biden calls the United Nations vote Thursday to suspend Russia from the bodys Human Rights Council a meaningful step by the international community. He also said that it further demonstrates how Russian President Vladimir Putins war has made Russia an international pariah. The U.N. General Assembly voted Thursday to suspend Russia from the U.N.s leading human rights body over allegations of horrific rights violations by Russian soldiers in Ukraine. The vote on Thursday was 93-24 with 58 abstentions The United States and Ukraine have called Russias alleged rights violations tantamount to war crimes. In a statement, Biden said the images out of Bucha and other areas of Ukraine as Russian troops withdraw are horrifying and an outrage to our common humanity. BRUSSELS European Council president Charles Michel says the blocs top diplomat has proposed adding an additional 500 million euros ($544 million) to Ukraine under the European Peace Facility, the fund which has been used for the first time during the war to deliver defensive lethal weapons to a third country. The EU has previously agreed to spend 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) on military supplies for Ukrainian forces in an unprecedented step of collectively supplying weapons to a country under attack. EU countries and NATO have so far excluded the option of a direct military intervention in Ukraine. Once swiftly approved this will bring to 1.5 billion the EU support already provided for military equipment for Ukraine, Michel said in a message posted on Twitter in which he thanked EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell. The proposal needs to be approved by the 27 EU countries. The EU said the instrument should help Ukraine armed forces defend the countrys territorial integrity and sovereignty and protect the civilian population. __ The World Health Organization has verified more than 100 attacks on health care in Ukraine since the country was first invaded more than a month ago, the organizations top official said Thursday. At least 103 attacks on hospitals and other health-care facilities in the country, and at least 73 were killed and 51 injured in those incidents, said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking at a news conference in Washington, D.C. The toll includes medical workers as well as patients, he said. He praised the United States for supporting international health efforts in Ukraine, including the delivery of more 180 metric tons of medical supplies to hard-hit areas. We are outraged that attacks on health care (in Ukraine) continue, he said. ___ BRUSSELS European Union nations have approved new sanctions against Russia, including an EU embargo on coal imports in the wake of evidence of torture and killings emerging from war zones outside Kyiv. The ban on coal imports will be the first EU sanctions targeting Russias lucrative energy industry over its war in Ukraine, said an official on condition of anonymity because the official announcement had not yet been made. The EU ban on coal is estimated to be worth 4 billion euros ($4.4 billion) per year. In the meantime, the EU has already started working on additional sanctions, including on oil imports. Reported by Raf Casert. ___ PARIS -- The International Energy Agency says its member countries are releasing 60 million barrels of oil from their emergency reserves on top of previous U.S. pledges to take aim at energy prices that have soared since Russia invaded Ukraine. The Paris-based organization said Thursday that the new commitments made by its 31 member nations, which include the United States and much of Europe, amount to a total of 120 million barrels over six months. Its the largest release in the groups history. Half of that will come from the U.S. as part of the larger release from its strategic petroleum reserve that President Joe Biden announced last week. The IEA agreed last Friday to add to the amount of oil hitting the global market. It comes on top of the 62.7 million barrels that the agencys members said they would release last month to ease shortages. ___ WASHINGTON The U.S. Congress has overwhelmingly voted to suspend normal trade relations with Russia and ban the importation of its oil, ratcheting up the U.S. response to Russias invasion of Ukraine amid reports of atrocities. House action came Thursday after the Senate approved the two bills and the measures now go to President Joe Biden to be signed into law. Biden has already taken executive action to ban Russian oil, liquefied natural gas and coal to the United States. The legislation puts the effort into law. The bill to end normal trade relations with Russia paves the way for Biden to enact higher tariffs on various imports, such as certain steel and aluminum products, further weakening the Russian economy under President Vladimir Putin. It also ensures Belarus receives less favorable tariff treatment. The bills also provide the president with the authority to return normal tariff treatment for Russia as well as resume trade in Russian energy products subject to certain conditions. ___ LONDON - Polands President Andrzej Duda and U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson have discussed the need for ending imports of energy sources from Russia as a form of tough sanctions on Moscow for its brutal invasion of Ukraine. Following his talks with Johnson Thursday, Duda said they also analyzed a proposal for Europe to levy additional taxes on Russian gas, oil and coal until the imports are ended. The U.K. said it will stop importing Russian coal and oil by the end of this year and gas imports will cease soon after. Poland is to end Russian coal imports by May, gas by the years end and oil in 2023, possibly. Russia is not a credible partner and we should not assume that it will ever be, Duda told reporters. ___ NICOSIA, Cyprus - Ukraines president has asked Cypriot lawmakers to ratchet up pressure on Russia by shutting Cypriot ports to all Russian ships, and to stop granting Russian businessmen conveniences including Cypriot citizenship. Addressing the Cypriot Parliament Thursday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the east Mediterranean island nation for its humanitarian and financial aid and spoke of the destruction and death the Russian invasion has wrought. He warned that the killings of civilians that happened in the town of Bucha may be happening elsewhere. Zelenskyy also pleaded for backing from Cyprus in Ukraines bid to join the European Union. He said EU membership for Ukraine would help strengthen the 27-member bloc. ___ STOCKHOLM European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has urged European Union members to stay together and not decide unilaterally on imposing sanctions against Russia. We have been successful by being together. My plea is that we move forward together, von der Leyen said during a visit to Stockholm where she met with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson. The EU chief on Friday will travel to Kyiv to meet Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. On Saturday, she attends a pledging event in favor of Ukraine in Warsaw, Poland. ___ PODGORICA, Montenegro NATO-member Montenegro is joining a number of countries that expelled Russian diplomats over the past week. The foreign ministry said in a statement Thursday that the four diplomats have a week to leave the small Balkan nation. The decision is based on information provided by security authorities about the diplomats activities in Montenegro, the ministry said. No other details were immediately available. Montenegro last month expelled another Russian diplomat. Local media said at the time that he was believed to be an intelligence officer. Montenegro is not a member of the European Union but has joined Western sanctions against Moscow. ___ UNITED NATIONS -- The U.N. General Assembly has voted to suspend Russia from the U.N.s leading human rights body over allegations of horrific rights violations by Russian soldiers in Ukraine, which the United States and Ukraine have called tantamount to war crimes. Russia is the second country to have its membership rights stripped at the Human Rights Council, which was established in 2006. In 2011, the assembly suspended Libya when upheaval in the North African country brought down longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi. The vote on Thursday was 93-24 with 58 abstentions. That is significantly lower than votes on two resolutions the assembly adopted last month demanding an immediate cease-fire in Ukraine, withdrawal of all Russian troops and protection for civilians. Both resolutions were approved by at least 140 nations. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield launched the campaign to suspend Russia from its seat on the 47-member Human Rights Council in the wake of videos and photos of streets in the Ukrainian town of Bucha strewn with corpses of what appeared to be civilians after Russian soldiers retreated. The deaths have sparked global revulsion and calls for tougher sanctions on Russia, which has denied its troops were responsible. ___ WASHINGTON The U.S. moved Thursday to choke off U.S. exports to three Russian airlines as part of what officials described as an unprecedented enforcement action. The Commerce Department said the move would prevent the Russian national flag carrier Aeroflot, Utair and Azur Air from receiving items from the U.S., including parts to service their aircraft. The actions, known as temporary denial orders, do allow the Commerce Department to grant exceptions when the safety of a flight would be at risk. The orders extend for 180 days, though they can be renewed. The private sector has also taken its own action against Russian airlines in response to the war against Ukraine, with Delta Air Lines in February suspending its codesharing partnership with Russian national airline Aeroflot. ___ LONDON -- Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday announced plans to build more nuclear power plants, boost renewable energy production and further tap domestic oil and gas reserves to help the U.K. reduce its dependence on Russian energy following the invasion of Ukraine. Johnson announced the strategy three weeks after he said Western countries had made a terrible mistake in failing to wean themselves off Russian energy following Russian President Vladimir Putins 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. The goal is to build eight new nuclear reactors by 2050, tripling U.K. production of nuclear energy to 24 gigawatts, or a quarter of projected electricity demand. In addition, the strategy targets a 10-fold increase in production of electricity from offshore wind farms and an unspecified boost from onshore wind farms in a limited number of supportive communities. The government also announced a new round of licensing for oil and gas projects in the North Sea, saying these fuels would be key to U.K. energy security and as a transition to low-carbon renewable energy. Other elements include promoting solar power and increasing hydrogen production for use in fuel cells. ___ WARSAW, Poland A surgeon in Poland says a seriously wounded 13-year-old boy from Ukraine will require long, specialized treatment for the injuries he suffered in the early days of Russias invasion. Pediatric surgeon Professor Jan Godzinski, of the T. Marciniak hospital in Wroclaw said Thursday that a detailed diagnostic scan has been performed on the very serious injuries that Volodymyr, or Vova, has suffered to his back, spine and facial nerves. Vova was injured and his father was killed in late February when the car in which the family were trying to flee Ukraines capital of Kyiv was shelled by Russian forces. Doctors in Kyiv were able to save his life, and he was later transferred to Lviv, but he is now in a wheelchair due to the spine injuries and one side of his face is paralyzed. Some shrapnel particles in his body still need to be removed, Godzinski said. What moved me most was that he smiled when we told him we will be able to help him, Godzinski said on Polands private TVN24. ___ Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is calling for his country to be included in negotiations about ending the war in Ukraine. There can be no negotiations without the participation of Belarus, Lukashenko said at a meeting Thursday of his national security council. There can be no separate agreements behind the back of Belarus. Russia has launched missile attacks on Ukraine from Belarus and Russian troops invaded Ukraine from Belarus. There has been no confirmation of claims that Belarusian forces entered Ukraine. ___ ANKARA, Turkey Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says scenes that have emerged from the Ukrainian town of Bucha, which was recaptured from Russian forces, have cast a shadow over negotiations between Russia and Ukraine but says the sides must continue to talk under all circumstances. Speaking after a NATO foreign ministers meeting on Thursday, Cavusoglu said he told his Ukrainian counterpart that Turkey was prepared to host possible peace talks. The only way is diplomacy, he told Turkish journalists in Brussels. Turkey, which has maintained its close ties with both Moscow and Kyiv, has hosted a meeting between the two countries foreign ministers as well as talks between the two negotiating teams. The minister said Turkey was also talking with both Russia and Ukraine about the possible evacuation of civilians from the besieged city of Mariupol by sea. ___ BRUSSELS Ukraines foreign minister says hes cautiously optimistic that some NATO member countries will increase their weapons supplies to his country, helping it resist Russias invasion, but he urged swift decisions and action. Speaking Thursday after talks in Brussels with NATO foreign ministers, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba declined to say which countries would be providing equipment or what kind they would be, but he said the weapons must get to Ukraine quickly as Russia gears up for a new offensive in the eastern Donbas region. Kuleba said: Either you help us now, and Im speaking about days, not weeks, or your help will come too late. ___ HELSINKI Finland and Estonia say they are jointly planning to rent a floating liquefied natural gas, or LNG, terminal to ensure gas supply in the two countries in efforts to break energy dependence on neighboring Russia. Finnish Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintila and his Estonian counterpart Taavi Aas said in a statement Thursday that a movable off-shore LNG terminal would offer a quick solution in guaranteeing gas supply in the two European Union members separated by the Baltic Sea. Due to the war in Ukraine, we must prepare for possible interruptions of gas import through pipelines from Russia, Lintila said, adding that a floating LNG terminal is an efficient way to secure gas supply, including in industry. ___ BRUSSELS The Group of Seven major world powers are warning Russia they will keep ramping up sanctions until its troops leave Ukraine and that those responsible for alleged war crimes will be prosecuted. G7 foreign ministers vowed Thursday to sustain and increase pressure on Russia by imposing coordinated additional restrictive measures to effectively thwart Russian abilities to continue the aggression against Ukraine. Western nations have already slapped several rounds of sanctions on Russia, including on President Vladimir Putin, his family and associates, but have been reluctant to hit the countrys energy sector. The G7 ministers, meeting on the sidelines of NATO talks in Brussels, say they are taking further steps to expedite plans to reduce our reliance on Russian energy, and will work together to this end. Following allegations this week of war crimes in the city of Bucha, the ministers insist that those responsible for these heinous acts and atrocities, including any attacks targeting civilians and destruction of civilian infrastructure, will be held accountable and prosecuted. They also repeated warnings about the use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons, saying that any use by Russia of such a weapon would be unacceptable and result in severe consequences. ___ MOSCOW Russias top diplomat has accused Ukraine of derailing talks with Moscow by changing its negotiating stance. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Thursday that Ukraine had walked back its proposal that international guarantees of its security dont apply to Crimea. Russian annexed the Black Sea peninsula in 2014 and wants Ukraine to acknowledge Moscows sovereignty over it. Lavrov also accused Ukraine of modifying a provision in a draft deal it had submitted earlier that said that military drills on Ukrainian territory could be organized with the consent of all guarantor countries, including Russia. Lavrov added that Russia intends to continue the talks despite the Ukrainian provocations. There was no immediate response to his claims from the Ukrainian government. ___ Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says Russia intends to respond to U.S. sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putins daughters as it sees fit. Russia will definitely respond, and will do it as it sees fit, Peskov said Thursday. The U.S. on Wednesday announced that it is sanctioning Putins two adult daughters as part of a new batch of penalties on the countrys political and economic systems in retaliation for its alleged war crimes in Ukraine. Peskov told a conference call with reporters that the sanctions add to a completely frantic line of various restrictions and the fact that the restrictions target family members speaks for itself. ___ ATHENS, Greece Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country needs anti-aircraft defense systems, artillery systems, munitions and armored vehicles to hold Russias invasion at bay. The sooner Ukraine receives this help, the more lives we can save in Ukraine, Zelenskyy said in an address to Greek parliament Thursday. Zelenskyy emphasized the destruction wrought on the southern port city of Mariupol, home to a sizeable Greek-Ukrainian community, and urged Greece to help prevent the same fate befalling Odesa, another Ukrainian port city with deep ties to Greece. The Ukrainian president called for sanctions on all Russian banks and a ban on Russian ships from entering ports as a way of hindering Russias ability to finance the war. ___ This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate TOKYO (AP) Japan and the Philippines agreed Saturday to start talks toward a possible defense agreement that would allow closer cooperation between their militaries amid regional tensions with China and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi and their Philippine counterparts, Teodoro Locsin and Delfin Lorenzana, in their first so-called 2+2 security meeting agreed to begin formal discussions about a possible reciprocal access agreement a defense pact that would allow their troops to visit each others countries for training and to exchange defense equipment to increase interoperability and cooperation. Japan and the Philippines, both U.S. allies, have in recent years stepped up joint exercises and defense cooperation. In 2020, Tokyo and Manila agreed on the export of Japanese air radar systems to the Philippine military. On Saturday, the four ministers strongly opposed actions that may increase tensions in the East and South China seas and affirmed their commitment to a rules-based approach to resolving competing claims under international law. They also said Russia's aggression in Ukraine affects not only Europe but also Asia under the international order, which does not accept any unilateral change to internationally recognized borders by force. Though it was implicit that China was their main concern, they carefully avoided identifying that country by name. We agreed that it's timely to look into the possibility of further expanding our defense cooperation and activities" and to explore ways to conduct capacity and capability building activity to address issues of mutual concern, Lorenzana told a joint news conference after the talks. Kishi said the first 2+2 meeting marks the beginning of the two countries' efforts toward further deepening their security ties. In January, Japan signed a defense cooperation pact with Australia the first such agreement for Canberra other than with the United States, which is Japans only ally. Japan in recent years has significantly expanded security talks and joint drills with the U.S. and other partners that share its concerns about Chinas assertion of its territorial claims in the region, which is home some of the worlds busiest sea lanes. Japan is especially concerned about Chinese military and coast guard activity in the East China Sea near the Japanese-controlled Senkaku islands, which China also claims and calls Diaoyu. China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei have been locked in an increasingly tense territorial standoff in the busy waterway in the South China Sea for decades. Saturdays agreement between Japan and the Philippines came one day after Chinese President Xi Jinping told outgoing Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte that Beijing and Manila have handled their South China Sea disputes properly and that regional security cannot be achieved by strengthening military alliances, according to Chinas official Xinhua News Agency. Residents for Responsible Government, a Niagara County citizen group that opposes CWM Chemical Services' request for permission to dig a new hazardous waste landfill, has posted instructions on how to view the virtual siting board hearing on the issue. The Webex instructions are available at RRG-NY.com. The state Department of Environmental Conservation also has posted the same instructions on its website. The first round of the adjudicatory hearing begins at 10 a.m. Monday and may continue on Tuesday. The topic will be the economic and tax impact of CWM's proposal for a new landfill in Porter. The company's current landfill ran out of space in 2015. In future months, the board will hear testimony on the flow of groundwater beneath the Balmer Road site, as well as the risk of releasing radioactive dust during construction. The company's request is opposed by RRG, Niagara County, the Lewiston-Porter School District, the Town of Lewiston, the Village of Youngstown and former State Senate candidate Amy H. Witryol. The Buffalo News: Good Morning, Buffalo The smart way to start your day. We sift through all the news to give you a concise, informative look at the top headlines and must-read stories every weekday. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BEIJING (AP) China's largest city of Shanghai will soon begin lifting lockdown in communities that report no positive cases within 14 days after another round of COVID-19 testing, authorities said Saturday. The fresh round of testing comes as the city reported about 23,000 cases on Saturday, most of them asymptomatic. Large swathes of Shanghai, with a population of 26 million, have been under lockdown since March 28, leading to complaints from residents about shortages of food and basic necessities. Separately, Guangzhou authorities announced that the city northwest of Hong Kong would also begin mass testing its 18 million residents, according to central broadcaster CCTV. The city reported only two confirmed infections on Friday. Under the new measures, areas in Shanghai will be classified as precautionary, controlled on locked down, depending on the results of the latest round of testing, Shanghai Vice Mayor Zong Ming told a news conference. Residents in areas deemed to be precautionary with no infections within the last two weeks will be able to move around their district, although gatherings will still be restricted. Meanwhile, in controlled areas, residents can move around in their neighborhoods, which are smaller than districts, while locked down areas will require everyone to stay at home. During the news conference, Zong choked up with emotion, saying that she was moved by the efforts of residents and front-line workers. There is still a big gap from everyones expectations. We will do our best to improve it, she said. The city has built over 100 makeshift hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients with over 160,000 beds. But the harsh restrictions on movement have also tested residents' patience. Some have received government food packages containing meat and vegetables. Many, however, are struggling to obtain rice and other basics, with online vendors sold out and delivery services unable to keep up with demand. China is facing one of its worst local outbreaks since the pandemic began. It is one of the only countries sticking to a zero COVID policy, taking drastic measures such as lockdowns and mass testing to identify and isolate every single case. China is still closed to international travel, even as most of the world has sought ways to live with the virus. ALTON Each week award-winning photographer John Badman of The Telegraph captures images of the Riverbend. Here is a sampling of his photographs from this week. They also appear in the weekend issue of The Telegraph. WFO HOUSTON/GALVESTON Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Friday, April 8, 2022 _____ RED FLAG WARNING URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX 256 PM CDT Fri Apr 8 2022 ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT TODAY ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS UNTIL 7 PM... ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTHWESTERN PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS ON SATURDAY... .Gusty northwest will be weakening late this afternoon across the region as dry air continues to pass through the area. High pressure moves out into the Gulf tonight leading to south and southwest flow developing Saturday. Dry air over the region will be gradually replaced by slightly more moist and then through the afternoon hours more gusty winds develop over the northwestern portions of the area. ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR MODERATELY GUSTY DRY WINDS FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS... ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS CANCELLED FOR THE INLAND PORTIONS OF JACKSON AND MATAGORDA COUNTY WITH MOISTURE RETURNING SATURDAY... The National Weather Service in Houston/Galveston has cancelled the Fire Weather Watch on Saturday. The National Weather Service in Houston/Galveston has issued a Red Flag Warning, which remains in effect until 7 PM CDT today. * Dry and breezy conditions should be improving by early evening. Very low humidity of 10-15 percent late this afternoon should increasing quickly this evening as winds relax. * AFFECTED COUNTIES...Inland Jackson... Inland Matagorda... * WIND...Expect northwest 15 mph with gusts 25 mph this afternoon. * HUMIDITY...Minimum values 10 to 15 percent. * IMPACTS...any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now...or will shortly. A combination of strong winds...low relative humidity...and warm temperatures will create explosive fire growth potential. FOR DRY AND BREEZY CONDITIONS... ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM CDT SATURDAY FOR DRY SOUTHERLY WINDS FOR THE NORTHWESTERN PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS... The National Weather Service in Houston/Galveston has continued the Red Flag Warning through 7 pm today and issued a Red Flag Warning for Saturday. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. * A dry airmass over the region will be moving off to the east but not before giving the region one more day of dry and breezy conditions. Northwest winds of 15 mph with gusts of 25 mph this afternoon will be relaxing quickly this evening. Southerly winds return Saturday and get stronger and more gusty in the afternoon before the more moist air arrives. Afternoon relative humidity of 18 to 25 percent can be expected with winds of 15 to 20 mph and gusts near 25 mph. * AFFECTED COUNTIES... Madison...Walker...Burleson...Brazos... Washington...Grimes...Colorado...Austin...Waller. * HUMIDITY...Minimum values 10 to 15 percent today. Minimum values 18 to 25 percent Saturday. FOR DRY AND BREEZY CONDITIONS FOR THE SOUTHEASTERN PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS... * The dry airmass over the region will be moving off to the east helping to relax winds this evening and for moisture to increase tonight. But in the shorter term the northwest winds of 15 to 20 mph and gusty will prevail with the relative humidity hovering in the 10 to 18 percent range until around 7 pm before rising quickly. * AFFECTED COUNTIES... Montgomery...Inland Harris... Wharton...Fort Bend...Inland Jackson... Inland Matagorda...Inland Brazoria...Inland Galveston... Coastal Harris...Coastal Jackson...Coastal Matagorda...Coastal Brazoria...Coastal Galveston...Matagorda Islands...Brazoria Islands...Galveston Island. * WIND...Expect northwest 15 to 20 mph with gusts 25 mph. * HUMIDITY...Minimum values 10 to 18 percent. FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY FOR SOUTHEAST TEXAS, CENTRAL LOUISIANA, SOUTHERN LOUISIANA... * AFFECTED AREA...In all of central, south central, and southwestLouisiana, and southeast Texas...including Fire weather zones 027, 028, 029, 030, 031, 032, 033, 041, 042, 043, 044, 045, 052, 053, 054, 055, 073, 074, 180, 201, 215, 216, 259, 260, 261, 262. * WIND...Northwest winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 35 mph. * HUMIDITY...Afternoon humidity will range from 16 to 26 percent. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. are either occurring now, or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather IVY GOODMAN, Stonington, Girls, Lacrosse, Senior; Goodman scored 12 goals and had 13 assists in three games. Her seven assists in the Bears win over Waterford established a school record. She surpassed the 50-goal mark for the season in Stoningtons victory over Ledyard. DEAN PONS JR., Westerly, Baseball, Senior; Pons, a senior, struck out 14 batters in the Bulldogs five-inning win against Wheeler School/Rocky Hill. Pons had an assist on the remaining out, throwing out a runner on a groundout. Pons allowed just one hit and walked only two. KATIE PIERCE, Wheeler, Girls, Lacrosse, Sophomore; Pierce scored five goals and the Lions beat Griswold to earn their first victory of the season. Wheeler avenged an earlier loss to the Wolverines this season with the 15-4 victory. WEEKO THOMPSON, Chariho, Girls, Track Sophomore; Thompson, a sophomore, bettered her school record in the discus at the Classical Classic meet. She finished first in the event and also won the shot put. Vote View Results Gov. Kathy Hochul triumphantly unveiled the broad terms of a tentative state budget agreement Thursday afternoon in the State Capitol. There were two notable absences, however: Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the legislative leaders and fellow Democrats with whom the governor's office negotiated a new spending plan. Deal reached on $220 billion New York budget. Here are the key items The State Legislature as of late Thursday afternoon hadn't begun voting on the numerous bills that make up the annual budget, though members hoped to wrap up that process by Friday. In fact, State Sen. Liz Krueger, chair of the influential Finance Committee, later said the governor's announcement was premature. "I was quite surprised to learn there was a press conference, she told reporters. Why the disconnect? Hochul grapples with political pressure in stalled budget process The governor and legislative leaders are expected to resume hardball negotiations Monday over her $214 billion proposal as they face new deadlines to issue on-time paychecks for the state's legions of workers. Hochul, who took office in August, and legislative Democrats hashed out agreement on a $220 billion budget that raises spending by $8 billion over last year and by $4 billion over the governor's initial proposal. The Assembly and Senate were approving the final budget bills late Friday and Heastie in the afternoon issued a statement praising the spending plan. They took advantage of an influx of tax revenue and federal stimulus aid to raise spending or lower taxes across a wide range of categories. Key interest groups that typically would spend the final days of budget negotiations clamoring for more money, or griping about what they received, left Albany happy with the outcome. "Hochul's by far the luckiest governor in New York state history," said John Kaehny, executive director of the nonprofit Reinvent Albany. "If she was playing the slots, she would just get cherry, cherry, cherry." But Hochul, who must run for re-election in November, frustrated Legislature Democrats after introducing two contentious issues late during the process: criminal-justice reforms and $600 million in state aid for a new Buffalo Bills stadium. Wrestling within the party on those and other topics delayed final approval a week past the April 1 deadline. And some critics decried opaque budget negotiations, despite Hochul's promises to improve transparency. Hochul vowed to bring 'new era of transparency.' But budget talks have remained secretive, groups say Some observers say Hochul has remained particularly tight-lipped about some of her budget priorities, notably criminal justice reform and state funding for a new Buffalo Bills stadium. The governor's office insisted that Hochul has shared as much information as she can about the stadium pact. "This is as bad a budget procedure, and process, as any we've seen," said Susan Lerner, executive director of the public-interest group Common Cause/New York. The State Legislature approved approved a $220 billion state budget Saturday morning, nine days after the deadline for passing a budget. The Senate finished voting on spending bills before 5 a.m., and Assembly members cast their final votes shortly before 10 a.m. Hochul at Thursday's news conference touted a new, more collegial approach to state budget negotiations. "It has been a phenomenally collaborative process from Day One," she said. Bill Hammond, senior fellow for health policy at the Empire Center for Public Policy, a fiscally conservative think tank in Albany, said that while nearly every state budget sets a new record for spending, this is an unusual year because it is the most flush Ive ever seen state government. Knowing this, Hammond said, many groups approached legislators with a wish list. They had a lot of trouble saying 'no' this year, and that will come back to haunt them when this moment of having lots of money runs out, Hammond said, referring to budget changes that could lead to higher spending on Medicaid in years to come. Numerous interest groups such as the state's powerful teachers unions and construction unions whose members will build the new stadium in Orchard Park came away thrilled with the budget agreement, Kaehny said. A key theme of the final budget deal is areas where the interests of corporations and labor aligned, Kaehny said. The budget included $1.2 billion in bonuses for front-line health care workers, for example, a prospect that made health care unions happy and satisfied the owners of health care facilities who now face less pressure to raise wages. The budget authorizes the establishment of three downstate casinos, a boon for the union representing hotel and gaming industry workers. And it includes about $800 million in emergency Covid-19 rent relief. "Smart, smart politics, because that makes the renters happy," Kaehny said. "But who lobbied harder than the renters on that? The landlords." Where Hochul ran into trouble, observers said, was over the stadium funding and criminal-justice reforms. Approval of state aid for the Bills stadium a priority for the governor from Buffalo was never in doubt, but it perhaps generated more backlash than she anticipated. "It was not done with any input, any meaningful public comment or, frankly, comment from the Legislature," Lerner said. Ken Kruly, a local political blogger, said progressives and socialist Democrats from downstate raised the stadium deal as an issue. "I don't think it was every really in jeopardy," Kruly said. "I think they just had to smooth things out a little bit and put it together with the whole puzzle." A more serious concern for lawmakers, particularly downstate progressives, was Hochul's proposal to make changes to certain criminal-justice provisions, such as which crimes are eligible for bail. Hochul argued the changes are meant to improve the laws, not roll back previously enacted reforms. But liberals and non-profit groups aren't happy. "The governor was able to strong arm the legislature into accepting things that should never have been in the budget," Lerner said. "Such as bail reform, a highly complex issue that took the legislature over a year to come to a consensus on and that requires evidence-based revision, rather than knee-jerk, political fearmongering." Hochul made a political calculation in this budget that, Kaehny said, she has little to worry about in a Democratic primary against a challenger from the left. "The reality is that she did make the budget harder than it had to be for her," he said. "But her eye is on the general election. And, you know, crime is going up. And so she's trying to position herself against a Republican who's going to be more conservative." Kruly, who previously served in various finance positions, said Hochul could have used the powers of the state constitution to throw her weight around more than she did, such as attaching strings to budget extender bills. "She didn't hit them over the head with a 2-by-4," he said. "The collaboration seemed to come in bits and pieces. Not everybody is totally happy with everything, but that's how budgets happen." As a moderate Upstate Democrat, Hochul successfully achieved her main budget priorities and addressed some of the priorities also mentioned by her potential future challengers, Kruly said. Kruly said no matter how much elected leaders talk about a transparent process, that's largely unrealistic. "Instead of three guys in a room, it was two ladies and a guy in a room," he said. Kevin Hardwick, Erie County comptroller and a political science professor at Canisius College, said Hochul's biggest challenge was trying to wrangle an agreement out of members of her own party who control both the the Assembly and Senate. "You would think that makes things easier 'Well, they're Democrats' but that's not the case," he said. "I think that made it particularly difficult." Democrats are divided into smaller factions, ranging from moderate to far-left liberal. And Hochul has to rely on all of them to support her in her campaign for governor. "She had to walk a fine line," Hardwick said, adding, "All that being said, in the end, she got the job done." Buffalo Next reporter Jon Harris contributed to this report. The Buffalo News: Good Morning, Buffalo The smart way to start your day. We sift through all the news to give you a concise, informative look at the top headlines and must-read stories every weekday. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Stephen T. Watson News Staff Reporter I report on development, government, crime and schools in the northern Erie County suburbs. I grew up in the Town of Tonawanda and worked at the Post-Standard in Syracuse before joining The News in 2001. Email: swatson@buffnews.com Follow Stephen T. Watson 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 owner of two embattled 19th-century buildings in Buffalo's Cobblestone District on Friday filed for an emergency demolition for one of them, and Housing Court Judge Patrick M. Carney said he will render a decision on April 29. Attorneys for the City of Buffalo and Darryl Carr, the property owner, sparred over whether Housing Court has the power to authorize an emergency demolition of a property designated as a local landmark, a question Carney said he will address in his decision. Carney indicated the city hurt its case by not providing documentation to challenge the engineering report and other supporting material in Carr's motion claiming the building is in imminent danger. "I find myself, again, in the precarious position of one party putting all of their eggs in one basket, and if there's a hole in the basket, all the eggs break," Carney said. Judge grapples over fate of Cobblestone buildings: 'I'm begging for anybody to propose a solution' Next week, Housing Court Judge Patrick M. Carney will consider pending motions to either stabilize the buildings or order an emergency demolition. He indicated he's running out of patience, and the buildings are running out of time. Michael Perley, an attorney representing the city, said the emergency demolition of 110 South Park Ave. should go through the city's administrative demolition process, which includes a review by the advisory Buffalo Preservation Board. Perley said a court ruling in 2009 regarding the same Cobblestone properties vacated an emergency demolition order sought by Carr at the time. James Milbrand, the attorney for Carr, said Housing Court routinely approves demolitions sought by the City of Buffalo due to dangerous conditions. Both 110 and at 118 South Park Ave. have been in and out of Housing Court for years. Carr has long claimed the properties are unsafe and contaminated from foundries once used in the building. He has wanted to demolish them to make way for a development plan he calls Unity Tower at Cobblestone Place. It would include condominiums, hotel suites, retail and dining establishments. He has yet to present that plan before city licensing boards. Preservationists and the city say the buildings, while in bad shape, are historically significant and can and should be rehabilitated. The court session began with the attorneys going to the judge's chamber to discuss the case. When they emerged, Carney poured cold water on any chance of a breakthrough occurring. "For the record, we resolved absolutely nothing," Carney said. After the hearing, Fillmore Council Member Mitchell Nowakowski said he was asked by Carney to bring the parties together in an attempt to carve out a compromise. As hard as that may be, Nowakowski said, he feels some momentum from both sides. "We all will have to be fluid and open to some form of a remedy," Nowakowski said. Receivership called a promising tool for saving derelict historic properties "The receivership is a great idea for a city like Buffalo, where our housing stock is so old and there is so much worth preserving," Housing Court Judge Patrick M. Carney said. Jessie Fisher, executive director of Preservation Buffalo Niagara, expressed disappointment that the city had not taken the organization up on its offer to put the Cobblestone properties into receivership. Carney had asked the organization to come up with a stabilization plan, which was done after a structural engineer and contractor surveyed the properties. "We have done exactly what he has asked but are dependent on the city, whose case it is, to actually bring those things in front of the judge," Fisher said. Perley said he didn't go into court expecting a quick resolution of the case. "This is a complex problem, and the solution will be complex," he said. Milbrand said he thought the city blundered by not contesting his client's claims about the condition of the properties. "I've been doing this for 25 years," Milbrand said. "If I'm on the other side and somebody submits a motion and sworn testimony and expert reports and I don't, I expect to lose." Mark Sommer covers preservation, development, the waterfront, culture and more. He's also a former arts editor at The News. The Buffalo News: Good Morning, Buffalo The smart way to start your day. We sift through all the news to give you a concise, informative look at the top headlines and must-read stories every weekday. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Kingsport, TN (37660) Today Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. High near 60F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Overcast. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 49F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. WASHINGTON Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson will join a Supreme Court that is both more diverse than ever and more conservative than it's been since the 1930s. She's likely to be on the losing end of a bunch of important cases, including examinations of the role of race in college admissions and voting rights that the high court, with its 6-3 conservative majority, will take up next term. Jackson, 51, is the first Black woman confirmed to the Supreme Court following Thursday's 53-47 vote by the Senate. She won't join the court for several months, until Justice Stephen Breyer retires once the court wraps up its work for the summer including its verdict on whether to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling on abortion rights. When Jackson takes the bench as a justice for the first time, in October, she will be one of four women and two Black justices both high court firsts. And the nine-member court as a whole will be younger than it's been for nearly 30 years, when Breyer, now 83, came on board. Among the younger justices are three appointees of former President Donald Trump, and the court's historic diversity won't obscure its conservative tilt. In Breyer's final term, the conservative justices already have left their mark even before deciding major cases on abortion, guns, religion and climate change. By 5-4 or 6-3 votes, they allowed an unusual Texas law to remain in effect that bans abortions after roughly six weeks; stopped the Biden administration from requiring large employers to have a workforce that is vaccinated against COVID-19 or be masked and tested; and left in place redrawn Alabama congressional districts that a lower court with two Trump appointees found shortchanged Black voters in violation of federal law. Jackson's replacement of Breyer, for whom she once worked as a law clerk, won't alter that Supreme Court math. "She's just going to be swimming against the tide every day. That's a lot to take on," said Robin Walker Sterling, a Northwestern University law professor. But Jackson's presence could make a difference in the perspective she brings and how she expresses herself in her opinions, said Payvand Ahdout, a University of Virginia law professor. Jackson, who was raised in Miami, may see the high court's cases about race "from the lens of being a Black woman who grew up in the South. She has an opportunity early on to show how representation matters," Ahdout said. During her Senate confirmation hearings, Jackson pledged to sit out the court's consideration of Harvard's admissions program, since she is a member of its board of overseers. But the court could split off a second case involving a challenge to the University of North Carolina's admissions process, which might allow her to weigh in on the issue. APTOPIX Biden President Joe Biden and Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson watch as the senate votes on her confirmation Thursday from the Roos "Historically, the court goes to some length to try to get as much participation as possible. So I wouldn't be surprised to see the two dealt with separately," said Ahdout, who was a clerk to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg the last time the court dealt with race in college admissions, in 2016. Just seven justices took part in that case, because Justice Antonin Scalia died before it was decided and Justice Elena Kagan had been involved as a Justice Department official before joining the court. For now, Jackson might not have much to do. She remains a judge on the federal appeals court in Washington, but she stepped away from cases there when President Joe Biden nominated her to the Supreme Court in February and will continue to do so, a White House official said. That could reduce the number of times Jackson has to recuse herself from any of her old cases that later make their way to the Supreme Court. Breyer said in January that he would retire once his successor had been confirmed, but not before the end of the term. With a bare Senate majority, Democrats didn't want to risk waiting until the summer for confirmation hearings and a vote. That leaves Jackson in a situation that is "unprecedented in modern times," said Marin Levy, a Duke University law professor who studies the federal judiciary. Most new justices begin work a few days after they are confirmed, Levy said. Justice Brett Kavanaugh was sworn in to the court just a few hours after his tumultuous Senate vote. Jackson could spend time arranging for her clerks and other staff for the Supreme Court, and closing down her current office. But she won't have to find new housing or upend the lives of her husband and children. Her new workplace is less than a mile from the court of appeals. Ukraine on Saturday called on civilians in the eastern Luhansk region to flee from Russian shelling after officials said more than 50 civilians trying to evacuate by rail from a neighbouring region were killed in a missile attack. Air raid sirens rang out across much of the east of Ukraine on Saturday morning, officials said, as Luhansk Governor Serhiy Gaidai urged people in a televised address to leave as Russia was amassing forces for an offensive. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called for a firm global response to Fridays missile attack on a train station crowded with women, children and the elderly in Kramatorsk, in the Donetsk region. The city mayor, who estimated 4,000 people were gathered there at the time, said at least 52 died. Russias defence ministry denied responsibility for the attack, saying in a statement the missiles that struck the station were used only by Ukraines military and that Russias armed forces had no targets assigned in Kramatorsk on Friday. All statements by the Ukrainian authorities on the attack were provocations, it said. WAR COULD LAST YEARS Russias incursion, which has already lasted over six weeks, has forced more than 4 million people to flee abroad, killed or injured thousands, left a quarter of the population homeless, and turned cities into rubble. The Kremlin said on Friday that what it calls a special operation to demilitarise and denazify Russias southern neighbour could end in the foreseeable future with its aims being achieved through work by the Russian military and peace negotiators. But NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, whose organisation like Ukraine has dismissed Russias arguments as a pretext for an unprovoked invasion, warned the war could last months or even years. The General Staff of Ukraines armed forces said Moscow was preparing for a thrust to try to gain full control of the eastern Donbas regions of Donetsk and Luhansk partly held by Moscow-backed separatists since 2014, after withdrawing forces from the Kyiv region. The British Defence Ministry said in a briefing it expected air attacks to increase in the south and east as Russia seeks to establish a land bridge between Crimea which Moscow annexed in 2014 and the Donbas but Ukrainian forces were thwarting the advance. Ten humanitarian corridors to evacuate people from besieged regions have been agreed for Saturday, including one for people evacuating by private transport from the devastated southeastern port city of Mariupol, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said. Kramatorsk mayor Oleksander Honcharenko said he expected just 50,000-60,000 of his citys 220,000 population to remain within a week or two. CLUSTER MUNITIONS Regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said Kramatorsk station was hit on Friday by a Tochka U short-range ballistic missile containing cluster munitions, which explode in mid-air, spraying bomblets over a wider area. Cluster munitions are banned under a 2008 convention. Russia has not signed it but has previously denied using such armaments in Ukraine. Reuters was unable to verify the details of attack. In Washington, a senior defence official said the United States did not accept the Russian denial and believed Russian forces had fired a short-range ballistic missile in the train station attack. The European Union and Britain joined in condemnation of the incident which took place on the same day European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Kyiv to show solidarity and accelerate Ukraines membership process. INTERNATIONAL REVULSION Fridays attack added to a wave of international revulsion at the high level of civilian casualties following the discovery of hundreds of dead bodies in the town of Bucha near Kyiv after Russian soldiers withdrew. Russia has called allegations that its forces executed civilians there a monstrous forgery. Visiting the town on Friday as a forensics team began exhuming a mass grave in Bucha, von der Leyen said it had witnessed the unthinkable. She later handed Zelenskiy a questionnaire forming a starting point for the EU to decide on membership. The bloc also overcame some divisions to adopt new sanctions, including bans on the import of coal, wood, chemicals and other products alongside the freezing of EU assets belonging to Putins daughters and more oligarchs. Zelenskiy said in a video address the West must do more, including an energy embargo and cutting off all Russian banks from the global financial system. SOURCE: REUTERS Hes the brother of the late Joey Ramone, but Mickey Leigh also has a rich musical career of his own to boast of, as well as chops as writer. The longstanding musician-writer and his band, Mickey Leighs Mutated Music, have a new album out; Variants of Vibe, features lots of finger-snapping pop-punk tunes and a general spirit of joyous rebellion. Leigh is going strong at 67 and says he hopes to grab some gigs in the Hudson Valley region this spring to share his music with regional fans of punk rock. He spends lots of time at his home in West Shokan and says hes been coming to the region since he was a relatively wee lad, fronting bands like the Rattlers and STOP, or playing with the late and legendary music critic Lester Bangs in a band called Birdland. Leigh is also a published author whose book, I Slept with Joey Ramone: A Family Memoir, is being made into a film for Netflix and stars Saturday Night Lives Pete Davidson as Joey. My favorite place is . . . Well, its quite a big valley, and Ive been coming here my whole life even prior to having a house up here. That said, my favorite place is the one my mom searched the valley for and found in 2003: the little house on a mountaintop in West Shokan. I also like to go to the Boiceville Market. And I really like Steve Hellers Fabulous Furniture Store on Route 28. He makes things out of old 50s cars that look all futuristic. The thing you probably dont know about me is . . . I have webbed toes. Aside from that, my life is pretty much like an open book. I cant live without . . . Maple syrup! Who doesnt love maple syrup? Theres a place I go to near my house, High Point Mountain Maple Syrup. You can see the whole process, watch the guy make it and buy it there. I visited that place a few times, love that place. East or west side of the Hudson River? If youre really going to make me pick, well Id have to pick the east side because its where I come from. Having grown up east of the river, in New York City, Ill always consider that home. And what could be better than home? Whats the weirdest thing you own? Mickey Leigh Downtime is the best time Make the most of your Hudson Valley weekend, every week with our newsletter. Im looking at my brothers Rock & Roll Hall of Fame trophy right now, which is kind of weird and maybe even the weirdest thing ever . . . But words cant really describe the weirdest thing here. Id have to show you a picture. Its a wine bottle from the New York Mets I guess they have their own brand I had a Joey Ramone bobblehead, the head broke off and I put the head on the top of the bottle. Man, I wish tourists would . . . Revive those Im with stupid t-shirts. Those were a funny, honest and effective way for them to warn locals what was in store for them. Your band covers Pete Seegers If I had a Hammer as a driving and fuzzed-out pop-punk song, and you live pretty close to Woodstock. Whats the lowdown on hippie-punk relations these days? I don't foresee any punk bands covering that hippie song. The main reason was, I love the message. I know that for most punks having the words I want love between my brothers and sisters in a punk rock song would be considered sacrilegious to their ethos. That was one of the devilish reasons I wanted to record it to volunteer a lesson to the misguided punks. I used to argue with one of the co-founders of Punk magazine that the punk philosophy was no different than that of the hippies. In my opinion, theyre both married to non-conformity. And theyll never get divorced because they dont even realize theyre in a relationship. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) Two European divers were rescued by fishermen on Saturday but a third, a 14-year-old Dutch, had died, four days after they disappeared off a southern Malaysian island and drifted some 70 nautical miles (100 kilometers), authorities said. Alexia Alexandra Molina, 18, of France and Adrian Peter Chesters, 46, of Britain were found early Saturday in neighboring Indonesian waters and taken to a hospital, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency said. Chesters' Dutch son, Nathen Renze Chesters, remained missing but Chesters told police that he had died because he was too weak, the agency said in a statement. The agency said it notified Indonesian authorities to continue searching for the body. The search operation in Malaysia has been called off. Molina and Chesters were found 16 nautical miles (30 kilometers) north of Indonesias Bintan Island, which is about 70 nautical miles (100 kilometers) from the location they were reported missing on Wednesday, according to Mersing police chief Cyril Edward Nuing. The three were diving with their Norwegian instructor, Kristine Grodem, about 15 meters (50 feet) deep at an island off Mersing town in Malaysia's southern Johor state. Grodem, 35, was rescued Thursday by a tugboat. She said the four of them surfaced safely Wednesday afternoon but later drifted away from the boat and were separated by a strong current. The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote. Grodem was training for the other three, who were seeking to obtain advanced diving licenses, maritime officials said. The boat skipper was detained for further investigation, and diving activities off Mersing were suspended. There are several islands off the town that are popular dive spots. Malaysias borders reopened to foreigners on April 1 after being closed for more than two years during the COVID-19 pandemic. Carsten Koall/AP BERLIN (AP) Germany's health minister said Friday that the country may need to brink back a requirement for wearing face masks in public this autumn after lawmakers rejected a proposed coronavirus vaccine mandate. Karl Lauterbach acknowledged that the Bundestag's vote Thursday against requiring COVID-19 vaccination of people 60 and over was a personal setback for him. The bill was a watered-down compromise after some government lawmakers refused to back a vaccine mandate for all adults. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SANTIAGO, Chile Dozens of protesters gathered in front of the Russian embassy in Chiles capital of Santiago on Saturday to denounce the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Protesters unfurled a large banner featuring the colors of the Ukrainian flag. The group included Ukrainians living in Chile. Some protesters lay down on the ground and clutched stuffed animals to honor child victims of the war. A large banner read, Stand with Ukraine. We want to be united at this time with our children, with our families, said Alina Prus, a Ukrainian living in Chile. Several of us have our families who are now living the horror of what war means. Another protester, Daria Gryshko, said many Ukrainians living in Chile have family or friends living both there and in Russia. It is painful to see how families break up, how relationships break up, when opinions are divided within a family, she said. Because the people who live in Russia are exposed to a lot of propaganda, even when you show them video of what is happening now, they dont believe, because they dont come out from their TV. ___ KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR: Zelenskyy, in AP interview, says he seeks peace despite atrocities War Crimes Watch: A devastating walk through Buchas horror S&P downgrade indicates Russia headed for historic default Civilian evacuations continue in battle-scarred eastern Ukraine Intel: Putin may cite Ukraine war to meddle in US politics Go to https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine for more coverage ___ OTHER DEVELOPMENTS: BORODIANKA, Ukraine Firefighters continued searching Saturday for survivors or the dead in the debris of destroyed buildings in a northern Ukrainian town that was occupied for weeks by Russian forces. Residents of Borodianka expect to find dozens of victims under the rubble of the several buildings destroyed during fighting between Russian forces and Ukrainian troops. The town is about 75 kilometers (47 miles) northwest of the capital of Kyiv and had more than 12,000 residents. Russian troops occupied Borodianka while advancing towards Kyiv in an attempt to encircle it. They retreated during the last days of March following fierce fighting. The town is without electricity, natural gas or other services. A 77-year-old resident, Maria Vaselenko, said her daughter and son-in-laws bodies have been under rubble for 36 days because Russian soldiers would not allow residents to search for loved ones or their bodies. She said her two teenage grandchildren escaped to Poland but are now orphans. The Russians were shooting. And some people wanted to come and help, but they were shooting them, she told The Associated Press. They were putting explosives under dead people. ___ MARIUPOL, Ukraine -- Shelling by Russian forces of Ukraines key port of Mariupol on the Sea of Azov has collapsed several humanitarian corridors and made conditions seldom right for people to leave. It was not clear Saturday how many people remained trapped in the city, which had a prewar population of 430,000. Ukrainian officials have put the number at about 100,000, but earlier this week, British defense officials said 160,000 people remained trapped in the city. Ukrainian troops have refused to surrender the city, though much of it has been razed. Resident Sergey Petrov said Saturday that recently two shells struck around him in quick succession, but neither exploded upon landing. He was in his garage at the time and said his mother later told him, I was born again. A shell flew in and broke up into two parts but it did not explode, looks like it did not land on the detonator but on its side, he said. He added that when another shell flew in and hit the garage, I am in shock. I dont understand what is happening. I have a hole in my garage billowing smoke. I run away and leave everything. I come back in several hours and find another shell lying there, also unexploded. ___ ATHENS, Greece A Ukrainian soccer club on Saturday opened a series of charity games on a government-backed Global Tour for Peace wearing the names of heavily bombarded cities on its jerseys. The tour by the Shakhtar Donetsk club aims to raise money for Ukraines military in the war against Russia, and also help Ukrainian refugees displaced by the war. Its first game Saturday was a 1-0 loss to Greek league leader Olympiakos. Soccer clubs around Europe have been offering to play games against Ukrainian clubs and host youth players after soccer in the country was shut down when Russia invaded in February. Shakhtar already was displaced from its home of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine in 2014. Playing in the Athens area on Saturday, Shakhtar players replaced their names on the back of their jerseys with those of cities bombarded by Russian forces, including Mariupol. ___ BUCHA, Ukraine -- Civilians remaining in Bucha lined up Saturday for food donated by the local church in the battered Kyiv suburb where Ukrainian forces and journalists reported evidence of war crimes after Russian soldiers withdrew. With other civilians fleeing in the wake of Russias invasion, most of the people remaining in Bucha were elderly, poor or unable to leave loved ones. Russian troops withdrew more than a week ago. Volunteer Petro Denysyuk told The Associated Press that he and fellow church friends started providing food, with a wide array of basic foodstuffs and hot meals. We have gathered together with the youth from our church and prepared food for the needy, Denysyuk said. We prepared pilaf, boiled eggs, prepared meat, sausages, noodles. Ukrainian forces and journalists that went into Bucha saw bodies strewn in the streets, evidence of summary executions and the remains of people who could not have threatened soldiers. Russia has denied accusations of war crimes and accused Kyiv of staging them. ___ KYIV, Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the leaders of Britain and Austria for their visits to Kyiv on Saturday and pledges of further support. In his daily late-night video address to the nation, Zelenskyy also thanked European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for a global fundraising event that raised more than 10 billion euros ($11 billion) for Ukrainians who have had to flee their homes. Zelenskyy said democratic countries were united in working to stop the war. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer became the latest of several European rulers to meet Zelenskky in Kyiv. Because Russian aggression was not intended to be limited to Ukraine alone, to the destruction only of our freedom and our life, he said. The entire European project is a target for Russia. Zelenskyy repeated his call for a complete embargo on Russian oil and gas, calling them the sources of Russias self-confidence and impunity. But Ukraine does not have time to wait. Freedom does not have time to wait. When tyranny begins its aggression against everything that keeps the peace in Europe, action must be taken immediately, he said. He added: And an oil embargo must be the first step. Moreover, by all democratic states, the entire civilized world. Then Russia will feel it. Then it will be an argument for them to seek peace, to stop the senseless violence. ___ LVIV, Ukraine Eyewitness descriptions are coming from Kramatorsk, the town in eastern Ukraine where a missile hit a train station packed with evacuees on Friday. The Sydorenko family could have been among the 52 dead and more than 100 wounded, but their taxi didnt show and they had to wait for another one. They finally arrived for the 11 a.m. evacuation train just three minutes after the explosion. Ivan Sydorenko says there were around 2,000 people inside the station and on the platforms when the missile hit. He says they got out of their taxi in a scene of burning cars, burning pieces of the missile and people fleeing for their lives. Ivan managed to escape by bus and then train with his wife and daughter, eventually reaching the relative safety of Lviv in western Ukraine. The Sydorenkos are just one of thousands of families clamoring to leave eastern Ukraine ahead of an expected Russian onslaught there. Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said 10 evacuation corridors were planned for Saturday, and other stations were open for trains full of refugees. Russia meanwhile has denied responsibility, accusing Ukraines military of firing on the station to try to turn blame for civilian slayings on Moscow. ___ KYIV, Ukraine Panicked residents of eastern Ukraine boarded buses or looked for other ways to leave Saturday, a day after a missile strike killed at least 52 people and wounded more than 100 at a train station. The attack in in Kramatorsk left the city with no trains running and came with thousands of people seeking to leave. Ukrainian authorities have called on civilians to get out ahead of an imminent, stepped-up offensive by Russian forces in the east. Residents on Saturday feared the kind of unrelenting assaults and occupations by Russian invaders that brought food shortages, demolished buildings and death to other cities elsewhere in Ukraine. It was terrifying. The horror, the horror, one resident told British broadcaster Sky, recalling Fridays attack on the train station. Heaven forbid, to live through this again. No, I dont want to. Western military analysts said an arc of territory in eastern Ukraine was under Russian control. It was from Kharkiv Ukraines second-largest city in the north to Kherson in the south. But Ukrainian counterattacks are threatening Russian control of Kherson, according to the Western assessments, and Ukrainian forces are repelling Russian assaults elsewhere in the Donbas region in the southeast. ___ WASHINGTON U.S. intelligence officials predict Russian President Vladimir Putin may use U.S. support for Ukraine as justification for a new campaign to interfere in American politics. Intelligence officials tell The Associated Press that they have yet to find any evidence that Putin has authorized measures like the ones Russia undertook in the last two elections to support former President Donald Trump. Several people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive findings said it remains unclear which candidates Russia might try to promote next. Trump has repeatedly assailed U.S. intelligence officials and claimed that investigations of Russian influence on his campaigns to be political vendettas. In Ukraine and elsewhere, Russia has been accused of trying to spread disinformation, amplifying pro-Kremlin voices in the West and using cyberattacks to disrupt governments. Top U.S. intelligence officials are still working on plans for a new Foreign Malign Influence Center, authorized by Congress, that will focus on foreign influence campaigns by Russia, China and other adversaries. ___ KYIV, Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told The Associated Press on Saturday that he is committed to seeking peace despite Russian attacks on civilians that have stunned the world. He said no one wants to negotiate with people who tortured their nation as a man, as a father, I understand this very well. But he said we dont want to lose opportunities, if we have them, for a diplomatic solution. Zelenskyy said hes confident Ukrainians would accept peace despite the horrors they have witnessed in the war. But meanwhile, Russian troops are regrouping for an expected surge in fighting in eastern Ukraine, including the besieged port city of Mariupol that Ukrainian defenders are battling to retain. So Zelenskyy renewed his plea for countries to send more weapons. He says they have to fight for life -- not for dust when there is nothing and no people. Thats why it is important to stop this war. ___ The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote. KYIV, Ukraine U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, promising so much support that his nation might never be bullied again. Johnsons surprise visit included a pledge of 120 armored vehicles and new anti-ship missile systems, part of another 100 million pounds ($130 million) of high-grade military equipment. Johnson also confirmed an additional $500 million in World Bank lending, taking Britains total loan guarantee up to $1 billion. Johnson said Ukraine defied the odds pushing Russian forces from the gates of Kyiv, achieving the greatest feat of arms of the 21st century. The prime minister credits Zelenskyys resolute leadership and the invincible heroism and courage of the Ukrainian people for thwarting what he calls the monstrous aims of Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Johnson says Britain and its partners are going to ratchet up the economic pressure ... not just freezing assets in banks and sanctioning oligarchs but moving away from use of Russian hydrocarbons. Johnson also described a vision for a future Ukraine so fortified and protected by the equipment, technology and know-how of Britain and its partners that it can never be threatened in the same way again. In the meantime, Johnson said, there is a huge amount to do to make sure that Ukraine is successful, that Ukraine wins and that Putin must fail. - MILAN An Italian government source said Italian Premier Mario Draghi is traveling to Algeria on Monday to sign a deal for more gas. Italy has been urgently looking for alternatives to natural gas from Russia since its invasion of Ukraine. Russia is Italys biggest supplier, representing 40% of total imports. Italys foreign minister has traveled to Algeria as well as Azerbaijan, Qatar, Congo, Angola and Mozambique to secure more deals. Algeria is Italys second-largest supplier of natural gas, which is the main source of the nations electricity, providing some 21 billion cubic meters of gas via the Trans-Mediterranean pipeline. Italian energy company ENI has operated in Algeria for 40 years. ENI announced a significant oil and gas discovery in Algeria last month and said it would work with Algerian partner Sonatrach to fast-track its development for the third quarter of this year. Italy business reporter Colleen Barry. ___ Julian Lennon has explained why he decided to sing his fathers song Imagine for the first time publicly. Hes posted on social media that he always said he would only sing the song if it was the End of the World. He says its the right song to sing now because the War on Ukraine is an unimaginable tragedy, and he felt compelled to respond in the most significant way he could. The son of John Lennon says murderous violence in Ukraine is forcing millions of innocent families to leave the comfort of their homes. He says the lyrics reflect our collective desire for peace worldwide, and within this song, were transported to a space, where love and togetherness become our reality, if but for a moment in time. Lennon joined celebrities around the world calling on world leaders to do more to support refugees in the Stand Up For Ukraine campaign. ___ BOSTON -- The International Monetary Fund has created an account to give donor countries a secure way to funnel financial assistance directly to war-ravaged Ukraine. The multilateral lender said in a statement Friday that its launching the account at the request of several member countries. The goal is to help Ukraine meet its payment obligations and help stabilize its economy using loans or grants from pooled resources. The IMF says Canada has proposed routing up to 1 billion Canadian dollars ($795 million) to Ukraine through the new account. Two weeks after Russias Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, the IMF approved a $1.4 billion emergency loan to Ukraine. ___ BOSTON -- S&P Global Ratings has downgraded its assessment of Russias ability to repay foreign debt, signaling increased prospects that Moscow will soon default on such loans for the first time in more than a century. The credit ratings agency issued the downgrade to selective default Friday night after Russia arranged to make foreign bond payments in rubles last week when they were due in dollars. It said it didnt expect Russia to be able to convert the rubles into dollars within a 30-day grace period. S&P said it believes sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine are likely to increase, impeding its willingness and ability to honor its obligations to foreign debtholders. The Kremlin has signaled its willing to pay its debts but warned it would do so in rubles if its overseas accounts in foreign currencies remain frozen. ___ WARSAW, Poland The head of the European Unions executive branch says 10.1 billion euros ($11 billion) have been raised globally in a fundraising event for Ukraine and people who have fled the country invaded by Russia. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was joined at the event in Warsaw by Polish President Andrzej Duda and -- remotely -- by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. At the end of the 90-minute event, a smiling von der Leyen said the donations will go to help refugees, both outside and inside Ukraine. We will continue providing support. And once the bombs have stopped falling, we will help the people of Ukraine rebuild their country, von der Leyen said. Saturdays pledging event was held in Warsaw because more than 2.5 million of the 4.4 million people who have fled Ukraine since Russias invasion began Feb. 24 have entered Poland. Many have stayed, though some have moved on to other countries. The event aimed to prompt political leaders and global celebrities to provide funding and other donations for the people of Ukraine. It ended with Julian Lennon singing his father John Lennons peace song Imagine. ___ MOSCOW -- YouTube has banned the channel of Russias lower house of parliament, the State Duma, prompting government officials to renew longtime threats against the platform. The Duma TV channel reported the ban on the messaging app Telegram, noting that it had 145,000 subscribers and over 100,000 million total views. In comments to the Russian news agency Interfax, Google didnt give an exact reason for the move, but said the company follows all applicable sanction and trade compliance laws. Russias state communications watchdog Roskomnadzor demanded that YouTube unblock the channel. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Saturday that the service has handed itself a sentence and urged its users to download content, transfer it onto Russian platforms. And fast. State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin called the move against the parliaments YouTube channel another proof of violations of the rights and freedoms of citizens by Washington. Wilson Ring SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) The U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security was in Vermont Friday as part of an effort to recognize the service of some of the agencys employees in the state and across the country. Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas made a brief stop Friday at a South Burlington office of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, a part of the Department of Homeland Security. ATLANTA (AP) Police are searching for at least one armed suspect in connection with the killing of the owner of a gun range in Georgia and his wife and grandson, authorities said Saturday. The Grantville Police Department said via Facebook that the robbery occurred Friday evening. When officers arrived at the scene around 8 p.m., they discovered the bodies of the owner of Lock Stock & Barrel Shooting Range, along with his wife and grandson. According to WSB-TV, Grantville Police identified the victims as the gun range owner, Thomas Hawk, 75; his wife, Evelyn, 75; and their grandson, Luke, 17. Police Chief Steve Whitlock said the Hawk family was well-known and well-respected in their small, tight-knit community. The Hawks had operated Lock Stock & Barrel for nearly 30 years. Their grandson was on spring break, helping his grandparents at the shop. This is just a shock to everybody in the community, Whitlock told The Associated Press. Were trying to do the best that we can to figure this out. Whitlock said investigators believe the robbery and shooting happened around 5:30 p.m. Friday, which is when the range normally closes. He said Hawks son, Richard, came by the business and was the person who found the victims. There are no suspects as of early Saturday, and no arrests have been made, he said. Investigators said that as many as 40 guns and the ranges surveillance camera were also stolen. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating, but when contacted Saturday referred all inquiries to Grantville Police. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was also called in due to the amount of weapons taken. Whitlock said hes grateful for the help from other law enforcement agencies in the investigation. Were just a small town, 12 officers. Ive been here eight years and have never had to investigate anything like this. Its been kind of hard on us. The crime rate is really, really low, he said. A reward of $15,000 has been posted for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer or killers in the case, according to the ATF Atlanta office's Twitter feed. ATF and our law enforcement partners will work tirelessly to bring the killer(s) to justice, ATF Atlanta Field Division Special Agent in Charge Benjamin P. Gibbons said in a statement. The brutality of these senseless murders along with the fact that these killer(s) have acquired additional firearms makes solving this case our top priority. A message left with the ATF office in Atlanta was not immediately returned. Police are asking any witnesses to come forward. Whitlock said they dont have any video evidence to work with right now. Anyone having driven by the shooting range during the time frame of 530pm to 630 pm that may have seen vehicles other than a white Ford dually truck and a black Ford expedition are asked to contact the police department, Grantville police said in their Facebook statement. The shooting range is in rural Coweta County, about 50 miles (about 80 kilometers) southwest of Atlanta. Coweta County Sheriff Lenn Wood said in a statement on Facebook that the entire community was forever broken by the senseless and tragic killings of the Hawk family members. I am also fervently praying that God will use our law enforcement community and the Coweta Community, he said, "to bring justice swiftly." Associated Press writer Chevel Johnson reported from New Orleans. For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, WSB-TV. SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) Members of the Vermont National Guard will be deployed temporarily to Europe early next month to enhance NATO's defense and support its air policing, guard officials said. Guard members are expected to be briefed on the mission during a drill this weekend, WCAX-TV reported. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ALBANY As the Assembly finished voting on the annual state budget, the public was left to digest thousands of pages of budget bills debated and passed between Friday evening and mid-morning on Saturday. Big ticket items had drawn the most attention including changes toughening New Yorks bail and substantial public funding for a new Buffalo Bills stadium and Republicans and some Democrats were critical of the outcome. Several local Democrats had a more positive spin and highlighted securing items giving substantial monies to projects within the Capital Region. One major budget line that was included which Cohoes Assemblyman John McDonald said wasnt secured until late this week grants $75 million in capital funds for use at a new public engineering college at University at Albany. The funds are meant to jumpstart UAlbany's planned emphasis on the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence. This will really be able to take things to the next level, McDonald said on Saturday. Albany Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy, a Democrat, said an artificial intelligence semiconductor purchased with the funds would cement our region as an academic leader in the economy of tomorrow. McDonald, also a Democrat, said the Capital Region was getting $10 million in arterial maintenance aid that will fund road work and infrastructure along touring routes in local cities having state highways passing through their boundaries that they must maintain. The cities that will benefit include Albany, Cohoes, Rensselaer, Troy and Watervliet. For the first time, McDonald said a combined $3.4 million tax assessed annually to five counties Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Washington and Warren will now be paid by the state, rather than the counties. The $3.4 million is assessed by Hudson River-Black River Regulating District, a state public benefit corporation that oversees the Great Sacandaga Lake for flood control purposes. McDonald said $300,000 was secured to bolster the city of Albanys Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program. The program diverts people who are arrested on low-level crimes and who have mental health or substance abuse issues away from jail, and towards treatment. Fahy and McDonald both touted $200,000 secured for the Multi-Craft Apprentice Preparation Program (MAPP), which is meant to ensure a local pipeline for those seeking careers in the trades sector. Fahy said the city of Albanys capital funding was increased to $15 million in this years budget. And after a years-long effort, Fahy said she had secured funds enabling an engineering feasibility study to reimagine I-787s relationship with downtown Albany and reconnection to the Hudson River waterfront. She said Wadsworth Public Health Laboratory would now see a $750 million consolidation at the Harriman Campus in Albany in the form of new state-of-the-art facilities, creating hundreds of life sciences jobs in the process. Democratic Assembly Phil Steck of Colonie released a statement explaining why hed voted against two of the budget bills. One gave preferences in cannabis distribution license applications to persons with marijuana convictions. While persons with such convictions should not be discriminated against in the cannabis licensure process, we most certainly should not discriminate against those who followed the law as it formerly existed, which this bill unfortunately does, Steck said. Steck also voted against the budget bill containing Gov. Kathy Hochuls plan costing more than $1 billion in public funds to build a new Buffalo Bills stadium. The degree of state support in this budget is excessive, and I believe a better deal could have been struck, Steck said. And Steck said he had grave reservations about the $4.2 billion Environmental Bond Act which will go before voters on Novembers ballot because he feared the politics of being perceived as pro-environment has detracted from the measure. The Environmental Bond Act is predominantly about raising money to combat the effects of climate change, rather than funding a green economy that can address the causes of climate change, Steck said. Republican Assemblyman Matt Simpson of Horicon cited wins on the suspension of a portion of the state gas tax for seven months, and the repeal of a state fee on the installation of fiber optics, which he said would expand affordable and reliable broadband to our most rural communities. There is no doubt that we need to fix the budget process as it currently exists. New Yorkers deserve to know every program being voted on in a $220 billion bill, Simpson added. The governor and legislative majority leaders left New Yorkers and my colleagues in the dark for over a week on this final deal. Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, Rotterdam-area Democrat, said a bill passed as part of the budget will expand the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) services into the city of Amsterdam and Montgomery County communities. The legislation is significant, he said, because it will bring public transportation back to Amsterdam, which has been without a public transportation system since the Amsterdam Transportation Department was abolished in April 2018. Republican Assembly Chris Tague of Schoharie said Hochuls amendments to New Yorks bail laws didnt go far enough to ensure public safety. Tague said while there were helpful proposals in the budget, we couldve seized this moment to do so much more for the residents, farmers, and small business owners of this state. People are struggling to make ends meet, and no longer feel safe in the neighborhoods where they live. New Yorkers were counting on us to take decisive action, but instead, the governor and her Democrat colleagues were only able to offer them half-measures, he said. WFO CORPUS CHRISTI Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Friday, April 8, 2022 _____ FIRE WEATHER WATCH URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Corpus Christi TX 253 PM CDT Fri Apr 8 2022 ...Critical Fire Danger Conditions Possible Saturday Afternoon and Early Evening for South Texas... .Strong southerly winds of 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph and very low relative humidity from 15 to 35 percent will lead to elevated to critical fire danger conditions on Saturday for all of South Texas, including the islands. Transport winds will also be out of the south at 20 to 30 mph with a mixing height of 2-4 kft over the Coastal Bend to over 5 kft over the inland Coastal Plains, Brush Country, and Rio Grande Plains. Moisture conditions are expected to improve east to west in the evening. Relative humidity values are not expected to exceed 30 percent for the west until late Saturday evening. ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 10 PM CDT SATURDAY FOR FOR STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS AND VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY ACROSS SOUTH TEXAS... The National Weather Service in Corpus Christi has issued a Red Flag Warning, which is in effect from noon to 10 PM CDT Saturday. * AFFECTED AREA...La Salle...McMullen...Live Oak...Bee... Goliad...Victoria...Webb...Duval...Jim Wells...Inland Kleberg...Inland Nueces...Inland San Patricio...Coastal Aransas...Inland Refugio...Inland Calhoun...Coastal Kleberg... Coastal Nueces...Coastal San Patricio...Coastal Refugio... Coastal Calhoun. * TIMING...Saturday from 12 PM until 10 PM CDT. * WIND...South to Southeast at 20 to 25 mph with gusts to 35 mph. * HUMIDITY...Minimum values from 15 to 35 percent. * IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now....or will shortly. A combination of strong winds...low relative humidity...and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior. Residents are urged to exercise care with respect to all outdoor activities that could inadvertently cause wildfires. Report The results are in See the winners of each category of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region contest, as determined by popular vote. wildfires quickly to the nearest fire department or law enforcement office. * AFFECTED AREA...Aransas Islands...Kleberg Islands...Nueces Islands...Calhoun Islands. * WIND...South to Southeast at around 25 mph with gusts to 35 * HUMIDITY...Minimum values from 25 to 45 percent. * IMPACTS...any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. ...WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Northwest winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph expected. * WHERE...In Louisiana, Vernon, Rapides and Avoyelles Parishes. In Texas, Tyler, Northern Jasper and Northern Newton Counties. * WHEN...From 10 AM this morning to 7 PM CDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather It is a mistake for Government to exclude a nursing and midwifery representative on the new Covid-19 Advisory Group, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has said. INMO deputy general secretary Edward Mathews said it was "particularly disappointing" that there is no nursing or midwifery representative on the new advisory group which was announced on Friday. "Nurses have been sounding the alarm of what exactly it is like to work in overcrowded hospitals while dealing with a highly transmissible virus for months now. "Excluding nursing and midwifery from a panel that will advise government going forward shows a distant and unrealistic approach to the pandemic which actually ignores the reality of the situation in the health services," Mr Mathews said. "Theoretical, research, and on the ground perspectives are essential and underrepresented in the membership of this new body - and will ensure a particular, but not particularly accurate picture as time moves forward," he said. The total exclusion of the voice of the largest group of health professionals is a mistake," the INMO deputy general secretary said. Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly announced on Friday that the Covid-19 Advisory Group will take over the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet). The group will be chaired by outgoing chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan. Other members include deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn, Professor Luke ONeill from Trinity College Dublin, as well as the HSEs Colm Henry. Jurors have acquitted two defendants of all charges in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer but couldn't agree on a verdict for two others New York is at a technological crossroads. Autonomous vehicles, once the stuff of science fiction, can address issues of equity and safety across the state. As so often happens, New York State law has not caught up with the latest technology. Thankfully, innovation-minded lawmakers are on the case. State Sen. Jeremy Cooney, D-Rochester, recently introduced a bill that would unlock the potential for commercial applications of self-driving cars. A smart framework for AV deployment can make communities healthier, roads safer, society more accessible, and ensure New York is at the forefront of this emerging technology. Contactless delivery helped countless New Yorkers, particularly those at high risk, stay safe during the pandemic. Driverless vehicles would make deliveries truly contact-free, adding another layer of safety for our most vulnerable. AVs could also address long-standing inequities, particularly disparities in health outcomes. Many low-income New Yorkers live in food deserts and food swamps, areas that lack access to healthy foods. By reducing labor costs associated with door-to-door transit and delivery and by expanding range, AVs could connect people with previously inaccessible or difficult-to-access grocery options. Already, some AV companies are using their vehicles to tackle the issue of food deserts. Cruise has delivered more than 2 million meals to food-insecure families in San Francisco, and TuSimple automated trucks have delivered more than 3 million pounds of food to food banks in Arizona. Transportation services powered by AVs can also address the transportation accessibility gap for people with disabilities. While public transit is available in major metropolitan areas, remote regions leave people with few options. For the visually impaired, self-driving vehicles would be a godsend. With about one in five New Yorkers living with a disability, transportation access should be a priority, and AV transportation networks can help bridge the gap. Traffic deaths are on the rise in New York, especially in New York City, where February saw 23 pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists killed, the worst February for traffic deaths since 2008. Research has shown that human error is a factor in over 90% of traffic crashes. By bringing AVs online in New York now, we can save hundreds of thousands of lives over the long term, and even save drivers money by preventing damage from smaller collisions. Finally, AVs will spur job growth and economic activity in New York. The U.S. Department of Transportation reported in 2021 that AVs would enhance productivity and lower costs, improving performance and creating new jobs in the transportation and logistics industries. Furthermore, the ongoing shortage of truck drivers can be addressed with autonomous trucking, helping address the supply chain issues that plague our economic recovery. Better health outcomes, increased mobility, safer streets and stronger supply chains will help build a better New York. AV technology can play a key role in achieving these goals, but only if we bring the law into the 21st century. Doing so will unlock the potential for driverless vehicles, revolutionize our lives and attract high-tech jobs to areas that need them most. Adam Kovacevich is CEO of Chamber of Progress, an industry association promoting technologys progressive future. The Springtime warmup weekend starts with a brutal fatality across the state line. Here are the basics of the report . . . A woman was pronounced dead at the scene. She has not been identified. Another woman was taken to an area hospital. The extent of her injuries is unknown. No suspects have been arrested at this time. Anyone with information can call the TIPS Hotline at (816)-474-8477. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Police investigating homicide near 62nd and Webster in KCK KANSAS CITY, Kan. - The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department is investigating after a shooting Friday afternoon left one person dead and another injured. The shooting was reported outside a house near North 62nd Street and Webster Avenue, just south of Leavenworth Road. A woman was pronounced dead at the scene. 1 woman dead, another critically wounded Friday in KCK shooting KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Gunfire killed one woman Friday and critically wounded a second woman outside a Kansas City, Kansas, house. A police spokesperson told KSHB 41 the shooting happened about 4 p.m at a house in the 6200 block of Webster Avenue. No information on what led to the shootings was available. Kansas City, Kansas police investigate homicide near North 62nd, Webster Avenue SOURCE: KMBC Police in Kansas City, Kansas are investigating a homicide Friday afternoon.Authorities said officers were called at about 4 p.m. to North 62nd Street and Webster Avenue on a reported shooting.Police said they found one person dead at the scene and a second person was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Developing . . . Springtime in Kansas City comes with the rising threat of danger and so we share this quick glimpse at local police action, legal confrontation and just a bit of hope. Check TKC news gathering . . . Can you identify a real and a fentanyl-laced pill? KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Two pictures shared by the Kansas City Police Department show the danger of fentanyl-laced pills. The department posted two pictures on Facebook. One shows a real 30 mg oxycodone pill. The other is a counterfeit pill laced with fentanyl. The department then asked people to identify the two pills correctly. Wyandotte County settles lawsuit with police officer over 'rampant sexism and racism' The Unified Government of Wyandotte County has settled a federal workplace discrimination lawsuit brought by a Kansas City, Kansas, police officer who alleged there was "rampant racism and sexism" in the department. Z'Iontae Womack, a Black officer with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department, received $87,500.00 in December 2021, according to records obtained by The Star. 4 Kansas City men indicted in fentanyl case that resulted in overdose death KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Four Kansas City men have been indicted for their alleged role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl that resulted in a person dying from overdose, according to a release from the U.S. Department of Justice. No gray hair: Second Grain Valley officer files discrimination suit against city GRAIN VALLEY, Mo. - A second police officer in Grain Valley is claiming discrimination on the job. In a lawsuit filed in Jackson County court this month, former Grain Valley officer Kevin Bellmyer says he was discriminated against for his age in the process of applying for a job internally. Family awarded over $20 million in malpractice lawsuit against University Health doctor KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A local family was awarded $20.3 million in a medical malpractice lawsuit against a University Health doctor, according to court documents. A Jackson County judge reached his decision Wednesday in the case that alleged Dr. Kelli Sandri improperly treated a mother giving birth, resulting in the child developing cerebral palsy. Three years later family waits for trial date in Overland Park teen's killing OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - More than three years later, the mother of a murdered Overland Park teen is waiting for his case to go to trial. 17-year-old Ben Workman was shot and killed in February of 2019. In that time Amy Workman, Ben's mother, has traveled to Johnson County from out of state for court dates in his murder case. Keith Carnes will walk free after Jackson County Prosecutor declines to retry him for murder The Jackson County Prosecutor's Office said it will not retry Keith Carnes, a Kansas City man whose murder conviction was set aside by the Missouri Supreme Court earlier this week. Carnes has served more than 18 years in prison for a murder he says he didn't commit. Keith Carnes' attorney says he has 'clean slate' KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Taylor Rickard, one of Keith Carnes' lawyers, says Friday marks the beginning of a clean slate for Carnes. He will soon be released from prison after Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney Jean Peters Baker's Office said Friday they are dismissing charges against him because of insufficient evidence to retry the case of Carnes allegedly killing Larry White. Developing . . . The rural politics of the Show-Me State isn't pretty BUT always provides some insight into the human condition. Accordingly . . . This passage from a recent Lincoln Day get together in Boone County reveals very little grassroots support despite decent polling numbers for the online activist . . . Is Eric Greitens here? emcee Brandon Rathert asked again. More giggles. Eric Greitens? for the third time. Still no Greitens. There had been no trace of Greitens or his campaign at the most important pre-primary gathering of party faithful in the county where a court will weigh the explosive charges of domestic abuse from his former wife. No Greitens yard signs greeted those attending, as they did for other major candidates in the race. No literature adorned the dinner tables. And no one was wearing his campaign paraphernalia to identify themselves as a supporter. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link to the best of the local prog blogs . . . Johnson County baristas are taking on a global corporation and high-powered lawyers. Their victory isn't assured but here's the evening update on their progress amid allegations that leaders are getting fired for their efforts . . . Workers at the cafe on West 75th Street gathered Friday afternoon as the tally was read live from a National Labor Relations Board office. While the final tally of unchallenged votes Friday was 6-1 in favor of a union, the election was not finished. Starbucks lawyers are challenging the other half of the 14 ballots cast. Union organizers say those ballots include three pro-union workers who allege wrongful firing. There is currently no timeline for when those ballots might be verified. The 75th Street location was among four Starbucks cafes that were counting union votes on Friday. In particular, the Overland Park workers are demanding better working conditions and health care benefits. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Starbucks workers claim victory in Overland Park union vote, first in Kansas City area Starbucks workers in Overland Park appear to have successfully voted to form the company's first union in the Kansas City area. Workers at the cafe on West 75th Street gathered Friday afternoon as the tally was read live from a National Labor Relations Board office. The vote came back 6-1 in favor of the union. Related reading . . . Starbucks Is Desperate to Stop Unionization, So It's Firing Worker Leaders Starbucks is firing worker activists as it seeks to blunt the momentum of the union drive sweeping the company. Jacobin spoke to worker Laila Dalton, who was fired just weeks after the NLRB issued a complaint against Starbucks for retaliating against her. 'The Union Once Again Cleans Starbucks' Clock': Worker Wins Against Coffee Giant Continue "Shareholders should be asking why is Starbucks wasting tens of millions of dollars on anti-union lawyers," says Steven Greenhouse, "and why does it anger so many employees by fighting their wish to unionize." Starbucks union campaign pushes on, with at least 16 stores now organized. Workers at six more stores in upstate New York have voted to unionize. Starbucks workers have added to the momentum of a union campaign that went public in late August and has upended decades of union-free labor at the company's corporate-owned stores. Developing . . . Brampton Mayor and Conservative Party leadership candidate Patrick Brown feels pretty good about his decision not to take part in Thursdays leadership candidate debate. John McGivern is shown with his grandchildren, Kiara, left, Colm, right and Owen McGivern, centre left. John McGiverns family was finally able to get him the COVID antiviral Paxlovid after a lengthy search. - SUPPLIED PHOTO 'Immediately take away': Major recall at Walmart, Target, Amazon and other stores involving baby teethers and rattles triggers Health Canada warning after incidents reported The news comes as a Toronto Catholic elementary school reported between 10 and 16 COVID cases a day since the start of the month, although just two new cases on Thursday and Friday. Meanwhile, precarious employment, unfair wages and too few paid sick days are exacerbating the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report. Although public health recommends wearing masks, there is no legal requirement to do so for the most part. - Richard Lautens / Toronto Star The minimum speed on most expressways in the State of New York is 45 mph, according to the American Safety Council. Driving at 30 mph when 85% of the traffic is going faster is dangerous. It is time to return the speed on the Scajaquada Expressway to at least 45 mph. Photographers have captured beautiful candid photos of animals in their natural habitats. Ruben Perez Novo/NPOTY 2021 For Earth Month, we found captivating images of natural wonders and unique formations. Photographers have captured beautiful images of landscapes, extreme weather, and wild animals. Sunsets, volcanic eruptions, and bizarre cloud formations create magical moments. A pink lake in Eurasia is one of a few in the world and is protected from tourists. The Masazir Lake in Azerbaijan has a pink tint. Ramin Hasanalizade/Shutterstock There are supposedly only eight pink lakes in the world. Masazir Lake in Azerbaijan gets its vibrant color from microorganisms called halophiles. These have helped the lake produce salt since 1813. Its use is limited to extracting salt rather than for swimming. A thin layer of water reflects the sky and clouds at a Bolivian salt oasis. The Salar De Uyuni salt flat reflects the sky. Andia/Getty Images Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia is the world's largest salt flat. A crust of salt in polygonal-cracked patterns extends for 4,050 square miles. At points throughout the year, water from nearby lakes overflow, cascading a thin layer over the ground. This causes a mirror surface that reflects the sky. Meanwhile, this vertical panorama captures the beauty of what's under the water's surface. The Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia has clear turquoise waters, Photo copyright Mark Gray "Once we arrived at Hardy Reef we completed a number of laps of the area at different altitudes and I got to work, capturing a number of vertical and horizontal panoramas," photographer Mark Gray said. "This was my first time shooting vertical panoramas from a helicopter. As expected, the biggest challenge was avoiding the rotors in the top of the frame. I had to lean out of the chopper quite a way in the end but nailed this unique capture of such an incredible part of Australia." New Zealand beaches are also a sight to behold. The water in Fiordland National Park in New Zealand reflects the sky. Photo copyright Mark Gray "What an amazing sunset this was," Gray said. "As the tide raced in I kept relocating my tripod further and further back until the light peaked and I captured this amazing moment." Nature has the power to trick our eyes. The Mascarene Plateau in the Indian Ocean looks like an underwater waterfall. Mascarene Plateau in the Indian Ocean looks like an underwater waterfall. Myroslava Bozhko/ Shutterstock Off the coast of Mauritius, there seems to be a river and a waterfall under the surface of the Indian Ocean. In reality, however, there is no waterfall or secret river. It's just sand being pushed off an underwater shelf called the Mascarene Plateau. Nonetheless, the view is breathtaking. Story continues The right light can make greenery pop, like at this forest in Colorado. A streak of sunlight on the San Juan Mountains is magical. Courtesy of Alex Noriega This picture was taken in Colorado near the San Juan Mountains, and the photographer, Alex Noriega, calls the image "Limelight." The rainbow captured in this photo adds a magical element to the greenery down below. An aerial shot of the Hawaiian rainforest in Kauai, Hawaii. Courtesy of Erez Marom This landscape photo was taken on the island of Kauai in Hawaii, which is known for its tropical rainforest. Trees can become even more captivating when they change colors during the fall. Fall foliage captured in the Kashmir Valley in the Kashmir Division of Jammu and Kashmir, India. SOPA Images/ Getty The trees in the Kashmir Valley in India change dramatically during the fall. While some trees grow together in a forest, some stand alone, like this one in Aruba. A lone tree grows in Aruba. Courtesy of Claire Droppert The photographer, Claire Droppert said, "This Caribbean gem provides an abundance of opportunities to capture the quintessential feeling of silence in a unique, diverse and stunning landscape Aruba has to offer." Wild animals call these incredible landscapes home. A flamingo struts along an Aruban beach. Courtesy of Claire Droppert "My glamorous model waited patiently for me to capture his perfect elegance," Droppert said. Some creatures are less visible but still just as important, like this plump machaon caterpillar climbing up a thin fennel plant branch. "Walking Among Fennels" by Ruben Perez Novo. Ruben Perez Novo/NPOTY 2021 Ruben Perez Novo, an animal category winner for the 2021 Nature Photographer of the Year contest, captured this intimate photo of a Papilio machaon caterpillar climbing a plant. "The machaon butterfly is one of the most beautiful diurnal butterflies in Europe," Novo wrote. "The caterpillar of this butterfly [...] is also very striking because of its color in green and yellow with black stripes and orange points." Another memorable photo shows thousands of pink-footed geese migrating in snowy weather. "Winter Migration" by Terje Kolaas. Terje Kolaas/NPOTY 2021 The overall winner of the 2021 Nature Photographer of the Year contest was Terje Kolaas for his photo entitled "Winter Migration," which shows pink-footed geese flying in Norway. "More than 80,000 make a stopover here in the Trondheim fjord wetland system on their way between the wintering grounds in Denmark and Netherlands and the breeding grounds in Spitsbergen every spring and autumn," said Kolaas. Some nature photographers use animals to capture emotions. This majestic horse, for example, is meant to represent anger. A majestic horse was captured on a beach in the Netherlands. Courtesy of Claire Doppert "The intention in this series is to focus primarily on the character, elegance, power, and nobleness of the horse," photographer Droppert said. "[When] working with tones, colors, and contrasts, a feeling is created that could appeal to your emotions." Meanwhile, this photo of birds is meant to represent silence. Seagulls perch on a fog covered dock. Courtesy of Claire Droppert "'The Silence' series is created out of interest for the absence of sound witnessed in different locations around the world," Doppert said. This cow is also a representation of silence, but the reflection of the animal is even more powerful. A lone cow in the Netherlands makes eye contact with its photographer. Courtesy of Claire Droppert Photographer Claire Droppert calls this photo "The Stare," and said, "It lasted for two minutes, at least." Polar bears are known as the lords of the Arctic. A polar bear waves at a nature photographer. Steven Kazlowski / Barcroft Media / Getty Images In this perfectly timed photo, it appears the polar bear is waving to the camera. While some animals get along harmoniously in nature, others fight for survival. Bears fight each other in Alaska. Barcroft Media/ Getty These two bears are fighting for food in the McNeil River in Alaska. It's survival of the fittest for some, like these two tigers. Male tigers in Sweden fight to impress potential mates. Barcroft Media/ Getty These two Siberian tigers in Gelande, Sweden, are fighting for the attention of a female. Humpback whales call the icy waters of Greenland home. Humpback wales swim below icebergs in Greenland. Courtesy of Stian Klo These whales are swimming off the coast of Ilulissat Icefjord, Greenland, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Glow worms light up the Waitomo Glowworm Caves in New Zealand. Glow worms dot the walls of the dark Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Shaun Jeffers/Shutterstock The ancient Waitomo Glowworm Caves were discovered by Maori explorers. The natural wonder is dotted by luminescent insect larvae, or glow worms, who call the dark space home. There are tours for visiting caves, where people travel by boat to pass through streams of water. There's a black sand beach with stone column cliffs in Iceland. Dream-like black sand beaches fill the coast of Vik, Iceland. Andrey Bayda/Shutterstock Reynisfjara Beach in Vik, Iceland, is an alluring black volcanic sand beach. Its coastal cliffs are made of basalt stone columns. Fog often hovers over the North Atlantic Ocean water. The seascape is seen in "Game of Thrones" to represent Eastwatch-by-the-sea, "north of the wall." The Giant's Causeway's geometric stones juxtapose rolling green hills and the ocean in Northern Ireland. Hexagon-shaped stones sit on the Northern Ireland coast. Gigi Peis/Shutterstock Stacks of lava pillars sit along the coast of County Antrim in Northern Ireland. Over 40,000 columns formed naturally over 50 million years ago after a volcanic eruption. The lava cooled when it hit the ocean and transformed into hexagon-shaped stones. Mountains are another popular focal point in nature photography, and for good reason. Snowy mountains in Norway dwarf its icy surroundings. Courtesy of Stian Klo This photo was taken at the Fredvang Bridges in Norway where the massive mountains tower over the water and the narrow road. Even the mountains in the Arctic make for gorgeous nature photography. The icy terrain of the Arctic constantly shifts and melts. Photo copyright Mark Gray "One of the biggest challenges of shooting the Arctic is just how changeable it is, nothing stays the same for very long," photographer Mark Gray said. "The following day I drove past and stopped in for a look, this scene had changed completely. The foreground ice had disappeared, most likely destroyed or relocated by the tidal movements during the night." Up close, the Sierra Nevadas seem to be engulfed in a sea of fog and clouds. A stormy mountainscape was captured alongside California. Courtesy of Alex Noriega The Sierra Nevada mountain range stretches along the eastern border of California. Skinny and foliage-dotted steep mountains in China inspired "Avatar." There are eroded skyscraper-like Tianzi Mountains in Hunan, China. TAW4/Shutterstock The Tianzi Mountains in China's Zhangjiajie National Forest Park tower over clouds. Possibly as old as 300 million years old, the sky-scraping mountain shapes and foliage are due to sedimentary rock erosion. The Tianzi mountains inspired the world and landscape of Pandora in James Cameron's "Avatar." Sometimes events caused by nature can be downright dangerous. A volcanic eruption in Holuhraun, Iceland. Courtesy of Erez Marom This photo was taken in Holuhraun, which is a lava field in Iceland. The field of lava is approximately 33 square miles. An unsealed hot springs well in Nevada created a colorful geyser. Colorful mounds of minerals grow from the ground in Nevada. Ropelato Photography/EarthScapes/Getty Images The man-made Fly Geyser has sprung from the ground in Black Rock Desert, Nevada, ever since a well testing site wasn't properly resealed in 1964. The natural hot spring water therefore shot out from the hole and calcium-carbonate minerals then formed these mounds. Water still shoots from these geysers today. Although the red and green ombre mounds look huge, they stand under 30 feet tall. The Pinnacles in Australia are a natural wonder of the world. Limestone rocks sporadically sprout from the ground in Australia. Photo copyright Mark Gray The Pinnacles is a rock formation made of limestone in the Nambung National Park in Australia. The 16-foot-tall structures were formed over 25,000 years ago and now attract thousands of tourists each year. "I was immediately drawn to this group of rocks and captured a number of different angles," photographer Gray said. "This shot was my favorite and if you look very carefully you can just see the ocean in the distance." In the winter, trees are dusted with snow, like this forest in the Yellowstone National Park. The Yellowstone National Park looks like a winter wonderland. Courtesy of Alex Noriega In Yellowstone National Park, the most common tree is the lodgepole pine, which covers 80% of the park. These snow-covered trees in Mount Rainier, Washington, look like they came out of a Dr. Seuss illustration. Mounds of soft snow cover Washington terrain and trees. Courtesy of Alex Noriega The photographer, Alex Noriega, calls this photo "Hibernation." A crack in a Romanian frozen lake looks like a snowflake. Ice Cell by Gheorghe Popa. Gheorghe Popa/NPOTY 2021 Gheorghe Popa won the 2021 Nature Photographer of the Year contest for best nature art. The winning image, "Ice Cell," shows an aerial shot of a snowflake-like crack in a frozen lake. Taken at Cuejdel Lake in Romania, "The fresh snow and the ice cracks created these shapes that resemble neurons or cells," according to Popa. Sometimes beach landscapes can seem completely out of this world, like this one in Australia. The Milky Way is captured from Port Campbell National Park in Australia. Photo copyright Mark Gray "I spent a couple of hours working the scene in the dark and finally settled on this unique photo of the 12 Apostles with all the glory of the Milky Way above," Gray said. "When reviewing the photograph, I was pleasantly surprised to have captured the colors of a suspected Aurora on the horizon, or perhaps it was just light reflecting off the lingering sea mist? I guess we will never know." Another photo shows a beautiful natural event: an eclipse. An eclipse in Argentina. Courtesy of Erez Marom "I had been dreaming of a reflecting eclipse for years, and while it was not a perfect reflection (due to wind), this was pretty much what I had wanted," photographer Erez Marom wrote about the image, taken in July 2019 in Argentina. "I can't believe it actually worked." Mammatus clouds create a satisfying pattern of pouch-shaped formations in the sky. Mammatus clouds look like cotton balls. Barcroft Media/ Getty Mammatus clouds form when cool air that is filled with ice begins to sink around warmer air. The result is a beautiful cloud formation in the sky. These mammatus clouds were found over the plains of Georgetown, Texas. Captured at the right moment, mammatus clouds can make the sky look like it's on fire. Daunting mammatus clouds captured in England. Ian Forsyth/ Getty Mammatus clouds stretch behind English houses in a fiery sky. Clouds are a gorgeous contrast against a deep-blue sky. A giant cloud formation hovers in the Netherlands. Courtesy of Claire Droppert Droppert's cloud photos were "taken during a warm and sunny afternoon in June in my hometown in Rotterdam, The Netherlands." She said she likes the "contrasting blue tones" in this photo in particular. An airplane can look as small as a bird in an expansive sky. Cloud formations engulf an airplane. Courtesy of Claire Droppert Photographer Claire Droppert said she loves this photo because it demonstrates the unbelievable size of clouds when compared to the small plane. Some land formations, like the famous pitchfork dune in the Namibia desert, can also be a breathtaking example of nature at its best. Pitchfork dunes surround salt and clay in Namibia in South Africa. Courtesy of Erez Marom This photo was taken at sunrise in the Sossusvlei salt pan. The Coyote Buttes are a breathtaking geological feature on the Utah and Arizona border. Bright striped and winding rock formations make up the Coyote Buttes. Crisma/ Getty Images The Coyote Buttes are known as "The Wave" because of the undulating red and orange rock formations. While it's a popular tourist destination, only 20 visitors are allowed into the region per day to protect its natural beauty. Read the original article on Insider Research Gartner: 3 Ways to Understand the Top Data and Analytics Trends for 2022 The need to anticipate change and transform uncertainty into opportunity is a driving force underlying the top trends in data and analytics this year, according to research firm Gartner. The company recently identified 12 key areas defining data and analytics (D&A) in 2022: adaptive AI systems; data-centric AI; metadata-driven data fabric; a philosophy to always share data; context-enriched analysis; business-composed D&A; decision-centric D&A, skills and literacy shortfall; connected governance; AI risk management; vendor and region ecosystems; and expansion to the edge. To put those trends into context, Gartner offered three "imperatives" overarching categories that define D&A's real-world impact and how organizations can best leverage D&A trends in the coming year. 1) Activate diversity and dynamism. Adaptivity and data-sharing is key, Gartner asserted: "Innovations in data management for AI, automated, active metadata-driven approaches and data-sharing competencies, all founded on data fabrics, unleash the full value of data and analytics." The COVID-19 pandemic, for example, made it vital to share and increase access to the right data for decision-making across stakeholders. And that has been made possible by new technologies and approaches that mitigate data-sharing risk, the research firm pointed out. "By 2026, applying automated trust metrics across internal and external data ecosystems will replace most outside intermediaries, reducing data-sharing risk by half," Gartner predicted. Trends to watch in this category: adaptive AI systems; data-centric AI; metadata-driven data fabric; and the "always share data" philosophy. 2) Augment people and decisions. Here, Gartner pointed to the importance of data literacy and developing data and analytics talent. "Through 2025, the majority of CDOs will have failed to foster the necessary data literacy within the workforce to achieve their stated strategic data-driven business goals," the firm said. Focusing on the human elements of D&A "fosters broader digital learning, rather than simply delivering core platforms, datasets and tools." Trends to watch include context-enriched analysis; business-composed D&A; decision-centric D&A; and skills and literacy shortfall. 3) Institutionalize trust. Achieving value from D&A at scale is only possible with trust and transparency. And that means "managing AI risks and enacting connected governance across distributed systems, edge environments and emerging ecosystems," Gartner said. AI innovation has outpaced model governance, and "most organizations cannot interpret or explain what their models are doing," the research firm cautioned. By 2026, "organizations that develop trustworthy purpose-driven AI will see over 75% of AI innovations succeed, compared to 40% among those that don't." Trends to watch here: connected governance; AI risk management; vendor and region ecosystems; and expansion to the edge. The full report, "Top Trends in Data and Analytics, 2022," is available to Gartner clients here. Hi, my name is Scott C. Waring and I wrote a few books and am currently a ESL School Owner in Taiwan. I have had my own UFO sighting up close and personal, but that's how it works right? A non believer becomes a believer when they experience their first sighting. You witnessed it, your perceptual field changes, so now you need to share it. I created this site to help the UFO community get a little bit organized. I noticed that there was a lot of chaos when searching for UFO sighting reports, so I hope this site helps. I wanted to support those eyewitnesses who have tried to tell others about what they have seen, yet were laughed at by even closest of friends. More and more each day the governments of the world leak bits and pieces of UFO information to the public. They have a trickle down theory in hopes of slowly getting citizens use to the idea that we are not alone in universe and never have been. The truth is being leaked drop by drop until one day we look around and find ourselves neck high in it. The discovery of alien species in existence is the most monumental scientific event in human history, suppression of that information is a crime against humanity. About me: I live in Taiwan. I OWN MY OWN ENGLISH SCHOOL, AND ONCE HAD 5 SCHOOLS. Am Former USAF at SAC base (flight line). Age: 42 Educ: BA in Elem ed. Masters in Counseling ed. I had two UFO sightings, (30+bus size orbs) in military and in 2012 personally saw the UFO over Taipei 101 building on New Years Day (and recored it). As many as 6,665 civilians were evacuated through humanitarian corridors on April 8. Deputy Prime Minister - Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories Iryna Vereshchuk announced this on Telegram, Ukrinform reports. As many as 6,665 people have been evacuated today. A total of 5,158 people have arrived in Zaporizhzhia from Mariupol and Berdiansk in their own cars and evacuation buses. Of these: 1,614 are residents of Mariupol, 3,544 residents of Zaporizhzhia region (Polohy, Vasylivka, Berdiansk, Tokmak, Melitopol, Enerhodar, Orihiv, Huliaipole), she said. At the same time, the minister notes that the Russian forces have been detaining 8 evacuation buses in Melitopol for almost 24 hours. Ukraine is negotiating to return these buses and, under the relevant agreements, to evacuate local residents. In addition, 1,507 people were evacuated today from the cities of Lysychansk, Severodonetsk, Rubizhne, Kreminna and the village of Hirske in Luhansk region, Vereshchuk said. On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops have been shelling and destroying key infrastructure facilities, conducting massive shelling of residential areas of Ukrainian cities and villages using artillery, multiple rocket launchers and ballistic missiles. iy A Russian Tochka-U missile launched by Russian invaders from Belarus has been shot down in the Chernihiv region. That's according to the Facebook page of a defender of Chernihiv, Ukrinform reports. "These are the remains of a Tochka-U in the Chernihiv region. It fell. Not on its own. It was launched from Belarus territory. And it could have exploded over us. And today rockets flew to the [train] station in Kramatorsk, Donetsk region. Fifty civilians, including children, were killed and more than a hundred injured. This is the same tragedy as in Bucha and Irpin outside Kyiv, as in Lukashivka and Yahidne near Chernihiv, as in Mariupol and other towns and villages," the military wrote on Friday, commenting on a photo of the downed missile. On Friday, April 8, Russian troops fired missiles at the Kramatorsk train station. Thirty-eight people died on the spot, and 12 more, including five children, died in hospitals. Some 98 people injured in the attack are now in hospitals. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Kramatorsk train station had been hit with Tochka-U missiles. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky held a conference call with members of the Cabinet of Ministers, the leadership of law enforcement agencies and the National Security and Defense Council. The head of state wrote about this on Telegram, Ukrinform reports. "Meeting with government members, the leadership of law enforcement agencies and the National Security and Defense Council. We believe in the strength of our army. We negotiate with foreign leaders on the supplies of weapons to our country. We strengthen international support for Ukraine. We work every day," said the President. According to the press service of the Armed Forces, the participants of the conference call discussed the state of readiness of the army to perform current tasks to repel Russia's armed aggression. In addition, the National Security and Defense Council reported on the analysis of the situation. The needed efforts to consolidate Ukraine's international support were discussed. On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops have been shelling and destroying key infrastructure facilities, conducting massive shelling of residential areas of Ukrainian cities and villages using artillery, multiple rocket launchers and ballistic missiles. Photo: Zelenskiy/Official / https://www.president.gov.ua/ iy Since the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine began, the invaders have damaged 307 healthcare facilities, of which 21 are beyond repair. Health Minister Viktor Liashko said this during a telethon on Ukrainian TV channels, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "Since the beginning of the war, the Russian occupiers have damaged 307 healthcare facilities, including primary health care centers. 21 hospitals have been completely destroyed, they are beyond repair, and new ones will have to be built in their place," he said. Liashko noted that many patients from Donetsk and Luhansk regions were evacuated to safer places. He also stressed the need to deploy field hospitals in the western regions, as in the areas of hostilities, only first aid is provided to people and then they are evacuated. On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops have been shelling and destroying key infrastructure facilities, conducting massive shelling of residential areas of Ukrainian cities and villages using artillery, multiple rocket launchers and ballistic missiles. iy Russian invaders are concentrating significant forces in eastern and southern Ukraine, but President Zelensky believes in victory. The Ukrainian leader said this at a joint briefing with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "In parallel lines, in the east and also in the south, (Russian - ed.) forces are amassing. A large number of forces, equipment, armed men, who intend to occupy another part of our territories. It will be a difficult battle. We believe in our struggle, we believe in our victory, so we are ready to fight and at the same time look for certain ways in diplomacy that can stop this war," Zelensky said. The president noted that he had talked about this today with the Federal Chancellor of Austria, and noted that Ukraine, despite everything, had not abandoned the idea of negotiations. Read also: Zelensky thanks Austrian Chancellor for supporting Ukraine "Ukraine has always said that it is ready for negotiations and will look for any way to end the war. At the same time, unfortunately, we see preparations for an important some say decisive battle in the east of our country... It is difficult for me to say anything about it. I dont want to take responsibility for any forecasts. I can take responsibility for defending our state and for our struggle," the president said. As reported earlier, on February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the launch of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops have been massively shelling and destroying key infrastructure facilities and residential areas of Ukrainian cities and villages, using artillery, rockets, ballistic missiles, and bombs. Photo: Ukrainian Presidents Office Lithuanian filmmaker Mantas Kvedaravicius was killed by Russian invaders in Mariupol. His body was simply thrown out into the street. Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova reported on the circumstances of the directors death on Telegram, Ukrinform reports. New information has emerged about the circumstances of the death of Lithuanian film director Mantas Kvedaravicius in Mariupol. He was taken prisoner by Russian fascists, who later shot him dead. The occupiers threw the director's body out on the street, the ombudsperson said. According to Liudmyla Denisova, the cause of Kvedaravicius death had not previously been disclosed for the sake of his wifes safety. Risking her life, she had travelled to the besieged city and brought her husbands body back to Lithuania. The Commissioner also reminded that Yevhen Bal, 78, a journalist, writer, volunteer, member of the National Union of Journalists and the National Union of Writers, died after being tortured by Russian aggressors. On March 18, he was captured by the Russian military at his home in Melekine near Mariupol. He was nabbed allegedly over a number of "compromising" photos taken with the Ukrainian military. He was released three days later after the brutal beating, and on April 2, Yevhen Bal passed. Liudmyla Denisova stressed that his death was a result of torture. Denisova called on the UN Human Rights Councils commission investigating violations committed during Russias military invasion of Ukraine and the OSCE expert mission created under the Moscow Mechanism to take into account Russia's war crimes and crimes against humanity, as well as human rights violations in Ukraine. As reported, on April 3, film director Vitalii Manskyi announced that Lithuanian filmmaker Mantas Kvedaravicius had been killed in Mariupol. The Lithuanian media initially reported that a Russian missile hit his car. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his condolences to the President of the Republic of Lithuania and to the entire Lithuanian people in connection with the killing of Kvedaravicius. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) says that 1,766 civilians have been killed and 2,383 injured in Ukraine since the full-scale Russian invasion started. That's according to a civilian casualty update published by OHCHR on April 9, Ukrinform reports. Those killed include 452 men, 284 women, 27 girls, and 43 boys, as well as 69 children and 891 adults whose sex is yet unknown. Those injured include 272 men, 206 women, 45 girls, and 44 boys, as well as 126 children and 1,690 adults whose sex is yet unknown. Most of the civilian casualties recorded were caused by the use of explosive weapons with a wide impact area, including shelling from heavy artillery and multiple launch rocket systems, and missile and air strikes, the report said. OHCHR believes that the actual figures are considerably higher, as the receipt of information from some locations where intense hostilities have been going on has been delayed and many reports are still pending corroboration. This concerns, for example, Mariupol and Volnovakha (Donetsk region), Izium (Kharkiv region), Popasna (Luhansk region), and Borodianka (Kyiv region), where there are allegations of numerous civilian casualties. These figures are being further corroborated and are not included in the above statistics. OHCHR notes the report of the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine, according to which as of 20:00 on April 9 (local time), 176 children had been killed and at least 324 injured. On February 24, 2022, Russia launched an unprovoked war against Ukraine. The invaders have been shelling and bombing peaceful cities, towns and villages in Ukraine, torturing and killing civilians. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Western countries to follow the example of the United Kingdom Britain and increase pressure on Russia, including by imposing an embargo on Russian energy and increasing arms supplies to Ukraine. He said this at a joint press conference with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Kyiv on Saturday, April 9, Ukrinform reports. "We need to put even more pressure on the Russian Federation. We need to put pressure through effective assistance to the people of Ukraine in defending themselves against Russia. We need to put pressure through powerful sanctions. I thank the United Kingdom for continuing these powerful sanctions and continuously increasing [sanctions] packages and for providing powerful assistance to Ukraine, strengthening our defense capabilities. Other Western democracies must follow the example of the United Kingdom. It is time to impose a full embargo on Russian energy and increase the supply of all weapons to us," Zelensky said. He also said that he and Johnson believe that it is necessary to continue strengthening the anti-war coalition. Zelensky thanked Johnson for his current visit at an "extremely tense, dangerous and difficult" time for Ukraine. "The people of Ukraine appreciate the support of the United Kingdom on our path to peace," he said. Johnson is on a visit to Kyiv on Saturday. The Ukrainian-Russian war has already entered its 45th day. Russian troops have been shelling and destroying critical and civilian infrastructure, brutally killing Ukrainians. In Donetsk region on April 9, five civilians were killed and another five were wounded in shelling by Russian invaders. Head of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration Pavlo Kyrylenko wrote this on Telegram, Ukrinform reports. "Russia is killing civilians! Today, as a result of the Russian shelling of Donetsk region, five people died: four in Vuhledar and one in Novomykhailivka. Another five people were injured: four in Vuhledar and one in Krasnohorivka, the governor wrote. He noted that people injured in Luhansk region received medical treatment in Bakhmut. On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops have been shelling and destroying key infrastructure facilities, conducting massive shelling of residential areas of Ukrainian cities and villages using artillery, multiple rocket launchers and ballistic missiles. iy A 45-year-old man has been charged with homicide after his uncle was found dead in a fire in Juneau County in March, according to authorities. Travis Yirka, of Union Center, was charged Friday with first-degree reckless homicide and arson of a building, both felonies, in the death of LeRoy Siefkes, 64, also of Union Center, the Juneau County Sheriffs Office said. Yirka appeared Friday in court, where a judge set his bail at $500,000, according to court records. He is being held in the Juneau County Jail, the Sheriffs Office said. Firefighters responded to a report of a house fire in the village of Union Center shortly after 7:30 a.m. March 19 , the Sheriffs Office said. Emergency crews were notified that there were potentially two individuals inside the home as it burned. One person was found to be safe in the city of Elroy, but firefighters found the body of Siefkes inside the house after an extensive search. The Sheriffs Office said Friday that the fire caused Siefkes death. A criminal complaint identifies Siefkes as Yirkas uncle, and alleges that the two argued with each other frequently, including the night before the fire, Channel 3000 reported. Yirka claimed there was an explosion and his uncle was not able to make it out alive, but a fire marshal determined that the fire was not caused by an explosion, according to the complaint. The Wisconsin Department of Justices Division of Criminal Investigation assisted the Juneau County Sheriffs Office with the investigation. Yirkas next court date is scheduled for Wednesday. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Czech diplomats will soon return to Kyiv. This was reported by Novinky with reference to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Jan Lipavsky, Ukrinform saw. "We want to return (diplomats) to Kyiv, we are working on it intensively now, we hope that it will be possible soon We want to support Kyiv diplomatically. We want to be present in the capital," Lipavsky said. At the same time, he would not specify any details until diplomats actually return to the Ukrainian capital. The Minister expressed confidence that the immediate military threat, when the city was indeed in a state of emergency and a curfew was in place, has passed. Lipavsky also promised maximum support so that refugees could return to Ukraine when the situation there stabilizes. The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Kyiv was closed on February 24, the day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Later, Czech diplomats also left the Consulate General in Lviv. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked the Federal Chancellor of Austria Karl Nehammer for his visit to Ukraine and support for his country The Ukrainian leader spoke of this at a joint briefing in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "The Chancellor's visit to Kyiv is decisive on this day, it is very important for us... It is very important for us that he deeply understands our situation, deeply understands the consequences of this eight-year war the Russian Federation has been waging against us, especially after the full-scale invasion," stated the head of state. He also noted that the Chancellor of Austria decided to visit Bucha along with his team. As Ukrinform reported, on April 9, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer arrived in Ukraine. Irpin, Bucha, Hostomel, and the entire Kyiv region were liberated from Russian invaders in early April. Mass killings of civilians by Russians have been exposed in these areas. Photo: The Ukrainian Presidents Office Austria is a militarily neutral country, but it cannot stand neutral about Russia's war crimes and injustices. This was stated by the Federal Chancellor of Austria, Karl Nehammer, at a joint briefing with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "Austria was and is a neutral country and part of the European Union. We are militarily neutral, but we can never accept that war crimes are taking place, and we believe that we need to help countries where there is injustice, Nehammer said. Read also: Zelensky thanks Austrian Chancellor for supporting Ukraine According to the Chancellor, this means that Austria fully supports the EU sanctions and implements them, as well as supports Ukraine where it is most needed from the Ukrainian point of view. "We will strengthen sanctions (against Russia) within the EU until the war ends. Another package of sanctions has now been approved, and it will not be the last, the Austrian Chancellor assured. He also noted that Austria is making efforts to create reliable humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians, in particular from Mariupol. Nehammer stressed that in Austria there is great solidarity with the people who fled Ukraine and a willingness to help them. "I promise this will not stop," he said. The Federal Chancellor announced that later today, he would visit Bucha, where terrible crimes had been committed. In this context, he stressed the need for an investigation by UN institutions to involve international law and the International Criminal Court. As Ukrinform reported, on April 9, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer arrived in Ukraine. During the visit, the Austrian politician met with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has once again harshly criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin who does not behave like a modern leader but dwells in the realities of past centuries. According to Ukrinform, the head of the German government said this at the rally in support of the candidate from the Social Democratic Party in the city of Lubeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Ukrinform reports. "It is important not to lose sight of the message that President Putin of Russia has sent to Europe and the world. This message sounds like this: the law means nothing anymore; when I have power and might, I will break the law in order to achieve my goals, which we have known since the 19th, 18th, 17th, and other centuries," Scholz said. That, he noted, is why the unity of Germany with its friends and allies in the EU and NATO is so important. "And we say: Germany and NATO will be so equipped militarily that no one will dare attack us and our countries," Scholz promised. He also reaffirmed Germany's support for Ukraine, including arms supplies. Since 2014, Germany has been the second-largest donor to Ukraine, Scholz recalled, adding that Germany is now supporting it in a new way by helping Ukrainians defend themselves. "And it's true that we provide arms. We do, and will continue to do so," the chancellor said. He also appealed to Putin to stop the war immediately and to think about the fact that he is "destroying his country's future." On February 24, the Russian Federation began a new phase of its war against Ukraine. The invaders continue to shell and bomb peaceful Ukrainian towns and villages, torture and kill civilians. The leadership of the United Kingdom in providing assistance to Ukraine will remain in the history of the defense of democracy and Europe. The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his video address, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. The leadership of the United Kingdom in providing our country with the necessary assistance, especially in terms of defense, as well as the leadership in sanctions policy will remain forever in history. In the history of the defense of democracy, in the history of the defense of Europe. Ukraine will always be grateful to Boris [Johnson] and Britain for this, Zelensky told. In his words, Boris Johnsons visit to Ukraine demonstrates as clearly as possible: there are no obstacles to freedom and leadership. The President of Ukraine stressed that Boris Johnson was among those who did not hesitate for a moment whether to support Ukraine. A reminder that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson paid a visit to Kyiv on April 9, 2022. During his visit, Johnson presented a new package of financial and defense support for Ukraine. In addition, Zelensky and Johnson discussed new sanctions that are needed to force Russia to seek peace. mk Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees, Raouf Mazou, (left) visited the newly established Blue Dot in Isaccea, Romania, where refugees can receive care and information after crossing the border from Ukraine. UNHCR/Gabriela Leu Concluding a week-long visit to Romania and the Republic of Moldova, Raouf Mazou expressed his appreciation for the remarkable solidarity displayed in both countries towards people fleeing Ukraine. In the past days, I have witnessed first-hand the generosity that has thus far characterized the response to the arrival of refugees from Ukraine, Mazou said at the conclusion of his visit. We must all express our deep appreciation to the governments and the people of both Romania and the Republic of Moldova for opening their hearts and their homes to those in need, in these very difficult times. At a meeting with Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca in Romania, the Assistant High Commissioner commended the robust emergency response at borders and inside the country, which has so far received some 650,000 refugees. He acknowledged the rapid action taken by the Romanian government to ensure access to rights and services through temporary protection, as well as the strong coordination of the overall national response by the National Emergency Cell. National authorities have ensured swift access to territory, assistance and onward safe transportation. Visiting the joint UNHCR-UNICEF Blue Dots in Isaccea and Siret, Mazou witnessed the coordination between national NGOs and the authorities as they provide information and identify vulnerable refugees, including unaccompanied and separated children, for referral to protection structures. On 7 April, Mazou observed the Palanca border crossing point, one of the busiest crossing points into Moldova from Ukraine. Earlier in the week, while in Romania, he visited the Transit Centre in Husi, to which over 7,000 refugees coming from Palanca had been transferred as a result of close cooperation between the two governments and with the support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the International Organization for Migration. Since the onset of the conflict, over 400,000 refugees have crossed into Moldova. Tens of thousands have been assisted to travel onwards to other countries, including through pledges made by EU countries to welcome refugees from Moldova. The pledges made by European countries to transfer refugees from Moldova to their territory is an effort to share responsibility and ease pressure on receiving countries, as emphasized in the Global Compact on Refugees, said Mazou. Mazou also visited the MoldExpo in Chisinau, which is operating as an accommodation facility, a Blue Dot and a cash enrolment centre. Cash enrolments in Moldova are rapidly increasing since the programme was launched at the end of March. In collaboration with the government and the World Food Programme, the aim is to provide cash to some 150,000 people, as well as to Moldovan host families who have opened their homes to refugees fleeing Ukraine. The need to strengthen existing national systems to enable them to respond to the needs of refugees and host communities is essential, particularly given the scale of this crisis, as was discussed with Sergiu Odainic, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova. Following an initial three-month period, refugees should be able to access national support mechanisms, thus avoiding the need for parallel systems. The whole-of-society mobilization and solidarity which I have seen during my visit from government to civil society to volunteers has been truly humbling. We have to ensure that it reaches all refugees, irrespective of where they are fleeing from, said Mazou. Media contacts: Democratic Gov. Tony Evers on Friday set a Wisconsin record for vetoing bills in a single legislative session, rejecting Republican measures that would have altered election rules, allowed alternatives to college-level diversity education and eliminated college employee immunity from liability over alleged First Amendment violations. Evers also signed into law 35 bills, including one that advances the long overdue replacement of the embattled Lincoln Hills juvenile facility near Irma with one in Milwaukee County. With the Republican Legislature and Evers divided on education policy, elections administration and crime measures, Evers has now vetoed 98 bills in the latest session, the most of any Wisconsin governor, according to the Legislative Reference Bureau. Republicans in the Senate and Assembly dont have enough votes to override Evers vetoes. Election bills As he had promised, Evers vetoed multiple GOP-authored bills that would, among other things, allow lawmakers to cut funding for the state Elections Commission when its deemed not to have complied with state election laws. Republicans have touted the measures as an effort to clean up election processes in the state following a report last year from the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau that found no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election but made several recommendations for improvements. President Joe Biden defeated former President Donald Trump by close to 21,000 votes in Wisconsins 2020 presidential election. One of the bills vetoed Friday, SB 942, would have given the GOP-led budget committee the ability to enforce staffing cuts or reduce agency funding at the state Elections Commission or departments of Transportation, Corrections and Health Services if the committee found the departments failed to comply with election-related laws. Bills vetoed by Evers also include SB 943, which would have required the Elections Commission to submit to the Legislatures rules committee any guidance issued to elections officials; SB 941, which would have given the Joint Finance Committee final say over how the Elections Commission spends any federal funds and require the commissions lawyers be partisan attorneys; and SB 937, which would have limited who could claim indefinitely confined status. Evers also vetoed SB 935, which would have prohibited special voting deputies from being barred from assisting nursing home residents with casting absentee ballots unless a public health emergency is in place or the facility is closed due to infectious disease at which point personal care voting assistants must be trained to assist residents. These two bills represented common sense reforms that would have been supported by a wide spectrum of Wisconsinites, said Sen. Kathleen Bernier, R-Chippewa Falls. Again, I am disappointed in todays results but am hopeful that these reforms can become law under Wisconsins next governor. Evers also vetoed SB 939, which would bar election clerks from filling in any missing information on a voters absentee ballot envelope and prohibit anyone other than a voter, immediate family member or guardian or designated individual to return an absentee ballot. Republicans fast-tracked the election-related bills earlier this year, but Evers has long said he will veto any measure that would make voting more difficult. The right to vote is fundamental to our democracy; it should not be subject to the whims of politicians who do not like the outcome of an election, Evers wrote in a veto message for one of the bills. Elected officials should not be able to abuse their power to cheat or control the outcomes of our elections or to prevent eligible voters from casting their ballots. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, slammed Evers decision to veto the election bills, saying, He has yet again refused to protect the integrity of our elections by vetoing legislation that prohibits private funds in our elections, closes voter ID loopholes, protects our seniors right to vote, cleans voter rolls, and holds state agencies accountable for violations of election laws. An official with the office of Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, deferred questions to individual bill authors. Its clear the governor didnt even bother to read these bills and wants to lump any election reform as a conspiracy theory, said Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills. Education bills Among the education proposals Evers vetoed is AB 884, which would have specified that if any University of Wisconsin System institution requires a course in diversity or ethnic studies, students could instead complete a course on the U.S. Constitution, including the Bill of Rights. Evers also vetoed AB 885, which Republican legislators said would allow students to sue University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Technical College System employees for violating students First Amendment rights. UW-Madison in a statement said the measure was unnecessary and could be problematic in application and employee retention. Evers in his veto message said the System already protects students First Amendment rights. Its sad but unsurprising that Governor Evers today sided with entrenched bureaucrats, vetoing my bill, AB 885, protecting 1st amendment rights on UW campuses, Sen. Roger Roth, R-Appleton, said on Twitter. Evers also vetoed AB 995, which would have allowed students to opt out of wearing masks and prohibited school districts or their employees from requiring those students to wear masks. Evers rejected AB 968, which would have created a statewide Charter School Authorizing Board and allowed the board to authorize independent charter schools. Republicans previously created such a board under the University of Wisconsin System. Evers also signed into law AB 975, a measure loosening the requirements to become a substitute teacher, which legislators said would help mitigate the substitute teacher work shortage. Lincoln Hills Evers signing of SB 520, which authorizes a youth corrections facility in Milwaukee County, will likely expedite the closure of the northern Wisconsin facilities that lawmakers have sought to shutter for several years. For years, legislators have been talking about closing Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake as a juvenile facility while simultaneously delaying and obstructing plans to do so, Evers said in a statement Friday. The Lincoln Hills School for Boys and Copper Lake School for Girls in Irma in the last decade have faced reports of child neglect, violent outbursts from inmates, use of pepper spray to cause bodily harm and intimidation of witnesses. The bill comes about four years after former Republican Gov. Scott Walker signed a measure authorizing the state to shut Lincoln Hills by January 2021 and replace it with smaller, more regional facilities. One potential placement is the Felmers O. Chaney Correctional Center, an adult facility offering qualified prisoners work release programs with local employers. Advocates for the facility, including people who were housed there, testified in February that converting the facility would amount to disposing of a critical tool that enhances community integration and some lawmakers agreed. Its dumb to close a facility where we need people to connect to work, Sen. Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee, said in February. Other vetoes Other bills Evers vetoed include: , which would have required employers to allow proof of prior COVID-19 infection known as natural immunity as an alternative to vaccination and regular testing, even though studies show unvaccinated people are more than twice as likely to get reinfected with the virus as vaccinated people. , which would have limited the governors use of emergency powers during events like the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The bill would have prohibited the state from classifying businesses as essential or nonessential and mandate that any emergency rule must be applied evenly to all businesses. , which would have prohibited governmental agencies from requiring employees to attend training courses about topics related to systemic racism. , which would have required a 180-day minimum sentence for people convicted of retail theft three times in 10 years. , which would have allowed concealed carry licensees to bring guns to places of worship located on school grounds. , which would have allowed concealed carry licensees to bring guns in their vehicles on school grounds. AB 834, which would have prohibited cities from keeping police from using no-knock warrants. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Nebraska Board of Regents recently present a KUDOS Award to Lorraine Street, a clerical assistant in the Office of Field Experiences within UNOs College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, at their most recent meeting on Friday, April 8. A noted problem-solver, student advocate, and resource for her peers, Lorraine has exemplified UNOs Maverick spirit through her dedication to supporting future educators as they make the transition from being a student in a classroom to learning how to lead one of their own. As one nominator writes: Students and faculty seek her out because they know she will always take the time to find out the answers to their questions. In her role, Lorraine helps keep the office running, which can often mean switching between tasks quickly and in a time-sensitive manner. If you know Lorraine, you can count on her to see every situation through to the end, another nominator writes. I have personally watched her email and call students when they need her guidance. And, as someone with strong institutional knowledge, Lorraine is not just a hard worker, but a resource for her colleagues as well. She has been at UNO for many years and has so much knowledge to share with the rest of the office and college, a nominator writes. With all of her responsibilities, she is still always available to answer questions or train a new staff member. For her commitment to student success, attention, and willingness to go above and beyond in her role, Lorraine is a true example of excellence and service that we all strive for across the University of Nebraska System. KUDOS Award Nominations The University of Nebraska KUDOS award recognizes the accomplishments of outstanding employees and is presented six times a year during NU Board of Regents meetings. Is there an employee you feel is deserving of the KUDOS award? Nominate them today through UNO's People Are Everything software. (@FahadShabbir) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 09th April, 2022) Russian Finance Minister Anatoly Siluanov said on Saturday that the five BRICS countries could mitigate the backlash of Western sanctions against Russia on their economies by pooling their efforts and using a range of financial instruments at their disposal. "The current crisis is man-made and BRICS countries have all the instruments necessary to mitigate its consequences for the national and global economies," Siluanov was cited as saying by the Russian Finance Ministry. The minister blamed economic sanctions on Russia for "destroying the foundation of the existing international monetary and financial system based on the US Dollar" and urged BRICS to rely more on their national currencies in foreign trade, integrate payment systems and create an alternative to the SWIFT payment messaging platform. Central banks of BRICS countries Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa have already agreed to conduct the fifth test of a banking mechanism that will allow them to jointly pool "alternative Currency" reserves to shield their economies from outside shocks, the ministry said. (@ChaudhryMAli88) SaintUrsanne, Switzerland, April 9 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Apr, 2022 ) :Storing radioactive waste above ground is a risky business, but the Swiss think they have found the solution: burying spent nuclear fuel deep underground in clay. The Mont Terri international laboratory was built to study the effects of burying radioactive waste in clay which sits 300 metres (985 feet) below the surface near Saint-Ursanne in the northwestern Jura region. The underground laboratory stretches across 1.2 kilometres (0.7 miles) of tunnels. Niches along the way, each around five metres high, are filled with various storage simulations, containing small quantities of radioactive material monitored by thousands of sensors. More than 170 experiments have been carried out to simulate the different phases of the process -- positioning the waste, sealing off the tunnels, surveillance -- and to reproduce every imaginable physical and chemical effect. According to experts, it takes 200,000 years for the radioactivity in the most toxic waste to return to natural levels. Geologist Christophe Nussbaum, who heads the laboratory, said researchers wanted to determine what the possible effects could be "on storage that needs to last for nearly one million years."That "is the duration that we need to ensure safe confinement," he said, adding that so far, "the results are positive." I (@Abdulla99267510) The Secretariat officials have conveyed the speaker that violation of the Supreme Court to hold voting on no-trust-motion will lead to contempt of court proceedings. ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-April 9th, 2022) National Assembly secretariat on Saturday clearly conveyed to the speaker that voting on no-trust-motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan was mandatory under the decision of the Supreme Court. The officials told the speaker that violation of the Supreme Court to hold voting on no-trust-motion would lead to contempt of court proceedings. The sources said that the secretariat officials conveyed that implementation on the Supreme Courts decision was unavoidable. They said, We have clearly conveyed to the speaker that there is no other way except voting on no-trust move today, adding that if there would no voting then it would be tantamount to contempt of court. On Thursday, the Supreme Court had nullified the order of the deputy speaker and restored the National Assembly. A SC five-member larger bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial announced its reserved verdict on the suo motu case on the NA deputy speaker Qasim Khan Suris ruling on a no-trust move against then PM Imran Khan. The top court issued directives to immediately wind up the voting process of the no-trust motion against PM Imran Khan. It has been directed that the NA speaker could not adjourn the session for an indefinite period. Besides it, the apex court ordered the reinstatement of the prime minister and the Federal cabinet and restored the NA proceedings scenario before the deputy speakers ruling given on April 3. The SC ordered the National Assembly (NA) speaker to summon the session on April 9, Saturday to conduct the voting on the no-trust motion. The top court directed that the government could not stop any lawmaker from taking part in the vote of the no-confidence motion while the SC ruling would not impact the effectiveness of Article 63 (A), whereas, t Ends When Columbus Fire Chief Ryan Gray first rode on a fire engine at the age of 16, he said he knew at that moment he wanted to become a firefighter. Gray had other plans after high school before then. But after that experience with the volunteer department back in his home state of Virginia, he hasnt thought twice about his career choice. It was because of a friend. He was trying to push me to become a firefighter, Gray said. I had every intention to join the military but I ran that first call on the fire engine and I was hooked. From that point on, I made it a goal to get a job and pursue that career. Once I got into it, I realized I had bigger aspirations and wanted to move up the chain. Gray has started his duties at the Columbus Fire Department (CFD) at the end of last month. He said hes enjoyed learning about the department and community so far. Its been pretty good, Gray said. Everyones been pretty receptive and welcoming and has offered words of support and encouragement. Its been good all the way across through the hiring process to all the way now. Its been a pleasant experience. Gray is coming to the CFD with 16 years of fire service in both career and volunteer roles. He began in 2005 with the Driver Volunteer Fire Department, serving as fire lieutenant. He later joined the Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department in 2012 where he was the deputy fire chief. Since 2008, Gray has been with the City of Portsmouth in Virginia, serving as fire lieutenant. Before then, Gray graduated from Columbia Southern University in Orange Beach, Alabama, where he received his associate degree in fire science and bachelors degree in fire administration. He continued his studies at Waldorf University in Forest City, Iowa, where he earned his masters degree in organizational leadership/concentration in fire/rescue executive leadership. Mayor Jim Bulkley said Gray stood out as he has spent time in both paid and volunteer positions. We were obviously missing leadership since the departure of Chief (Dan) Miller, Bulkley said. We had some good temporary service by our lieutenants Kyle Lingenfelter, specifically but a department like this needs a leader on a daily basis. So its great to have Ryan on board. Gray moved - in part - to Columbus as his wife has ties to the area. She has a few relatives that live in town, as well as on the outskirts, Gray said. He also has family in Ashland. Career-wise, Gray said hes been looking at opportunities for a few years to become a fire chief and grow more within the field. The Columbus vacant fire chief position filled those checkboxes, he added. I thought it would be a great opportunity not only for me professionally but to give my wife the opportunity to spend some time with her family, Gray said. My children can also spend time with her family because back home it was always with my family. Gray added hes always envisioned retiring in the Midwest one day and the job allows him to do so whenever he desires. Bulkley said one of the aspects of Gray that stood out was that he had family connections to the area. Thats always a plus, Bulkley said. Having that will make him feel more comfortable being here because you want the family to be comfortable, not just the individual. Gray said he wants to assure Columbus residents that he is here so that the CFD can provide the best possible service to the community. I want to be inclusive of all of our members: career and volunteer, he said. I want to ensure were doing our part as a department to provide to our volunteers to help with recruitment and retention. But for our career staff as well I want to ensure theyre receiving the training and staffing and the things that they need. At the end of the day, its about the service that we provide to the community. It doesnt matter to me whether youre getting a paycheck or not. I want everyone to be the same and be on one team and provide that service. Andrew Kiser is a reporter for The Columbus Telegram. Reach him via email at andrew.kiser@lee.net. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. VThe joint Opposition here on Friday submitted a no-confidence motion against National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Apr, 2022 ) :The joint Opposition here on Friday submitted a no-confidence motion against National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri. The motion was submitted by MNA Muartaz Javed Abbasi. According to the document of the resolution, it has been submitted against Muhammad Qasim Khan Suri for removal from the office of Deputy Speaker, under paragraph (c) of clause (7) of Article 53 of the Constitution, read with Rule 12 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of business in the National Assembly, 2007. The resolution of the opposition said that the deputy speaker had violated the constitution on April 3 and gave his ruling against the no-trust motion submitted by the opposition against Prime Minister Imran Khan. The resolution further said that the Supreme Court of Pakistan has rejected his ruling and termed it as unconstitutional. It is pertinent to mention here that in a landmark judgment, the top court on April 7 termed the deputy speaker's ruling conflicting to the constitution and restored the dissolved National Assembly. The court ordered to call the legislature's session on Saturday (April 9) for voting on the no-confidence resolution against the Prime Minister. It also ordered to keep the voting process free of impediments. The National Assembly session has been reconvened on Saturday no later than 10:30 am. The United Nations warned Friday that an old, neglected oil tanker carrying more than a million barrels of oil is a ticking "time bomb" at "imminent risk" of a major spill off the coast of Yemen that could cost $20 billion to clean up UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Apr, 2022 ) :The United Nations warned Friday that an old, neglected oil tanker carrying more than a million barrels of oil is a ticking "time bomb" at "imminent risk" of a major spill off the coast of Yemen that could cost $20 billion to clean up. "If it were to happen, the spill would unleash a massive ecological and humanitarian catastrophe centered on a country already decimated by more than seven years of war," U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen David Gressly told reporters. "The environmental damage could affect states across the Red Sea. The economic impact of disrupted shipping would be felt across the region." The 45-year-old floating storage and offloading (FSO) facility holds 1.1 million barrels of oil, or four times the amount of the Exxon Valdez - the tanker that caused one of the greatest environmental disasters in United States' history. It is at imminent risk of spilling a massive amount of oil due to leakages or an explosion, Gressly said. "If it were to happen, the spill would unleash a massive ecological and humanitarian catastrophe centered on a country already decimated by more than seven years of war," he said. The FSO Safer has been moored some 4.8 nautical miles south west of the Ras Issa peninsula on Yemen's west coast for more than 30 years. Production, offloading and maintenance ceased in 2015 due to the conflict between a pro-Government Saudi-led coalition, and Houthi rebels, and the vessel is now beyond repair. Gressly warned that a significant spill would have devastating consequences for Yemen and beyond. Some 200,000 livelihoods in the already war and crisis-wracked country could be instantly wiped out, and families would be exposed to life-threatening toxins. "A major oil spill would likely close, at least temporarily, the ports of Hudaydah and Saleef," he added, referring to critical entry points for food, fuel and supplies. The disaster would have a severe environmental impact on water, reefs and life-supporting mangroves. Saudi Arabia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Somalia are also at risk. Clean-up alone would cost $20 billion. "That does not count the cost of environmental damage across the Red Sea. Or the billions that could be lost due to disruptions to shipping through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which is also a passageway to the Suez Canal," Mr. Gressly told journalists. "Think of the Ever Given", he said, referring to the huge container ship which ran aground in the Suez Canal a year ago, disrupting global trade. A UN-coordinated plan aims to address the threat, with an overall cost of around $80 million. Yemen's warring sides, which last week implemented a two-month ceasefire, have signaled their support, as have senior UN leaders and some countries on the Security Council. The plan has received the backing of the Yemeni Government, based in Aden, while a memorandum of understanding has been signed with the de facto authorities in the capital, Sana'a, who control the area where the FSO Safer is located. The plan covers two tracks, which will run simultaneously. It calls for installing a long-term replacement for the decrepit tanker within an 18-month period, and an emergency operation to transfer the oil to a safe temporary vessel over four months, thus eliminating any immediate threat. Both the FSO Safer and the temporary vessel would remain in place until all the oil is transferred to the permanent replacement vessel. The FSO Safer would then be towed to a yard and sold for salvage. To raise the funds, a pledging conference in May, co-hosted by the Netherlands, is set to be announced shortly. Mr. Gressly will travel to Gulf capitals next week to discuss the plan and drum up financial support. He underlined the urgent need for funding, stressing that without it, the "time bomb" will continue to tick. "My particular concern is really we need to finish this operation by the end of September to avoid the turbulent winds that start in the latter part of the year, increasing the risk of a break-up, and also increasing the risk in conducting any operation," he said. "So timing is tight." (@ChaudhryMAli88) Russian high-precision air-based weapons destroyed large ammunition depot of Ukrainian troops in Dnipropetrovsk region, Russian defense ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Saturday MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 09th April, 2022) Russian high-precision air-based weapons destroyed large ammunition depot of Ukrainian troops in Dnipropetrovsk region, Russian defense ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Saturday. "During the night, high-precision air-based missiles destroyed a large ammunition depot of the Ukrainian armed forces near Novomoskovsk settlement in Dnipropetrovsk region," Konashenkov told a briefing. (@ChaudhryMAli88) King Abdullah of Jordan will travel to Germany for an emergency surgery to treat a herniated disc at the advice of Jordanian doctors on Sunday, country's media reported, citing the Royal Court DOHA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 09th April, 2022) King Abdullah of Jordan will travel to Germany for an emergency surgery to treat a herniated disc at the advice of Jordanian doctors on Sunday, country's media reported, citing the Royal Court. The surgery will be reportedly performed at a specialized hospital in Frankfurt later in the week. The king has been suffering form intermittent pain in the spine after years of parachuting while serving in the special forces, Jordan News Agency (Petra) reported. King Abdullah will have to spend about a week in the hospital for rehabilitation, after which he will return to Jordan, according to the news agency. MEXICO CITY (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 09th April, 2022) The Western countries are seeking a war with Russia to dismember it and to put an end to the multipolar world, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said. "The West is coordinating economic, diplomatic and political efforts in the big war against Russia. We say that from Venezuela: they are seeking the war to dismember Russia into parts and put an end to the hopes for the multipolar world," Maduro said on late Friday. The Venezuelan president also described the joint efforts of Western media as the information dictatorship. Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine on February 24 to support the people's republics of Donetsk and Luhansk. The Western countries have strongly condemned the Russian military operation in Ukraine calling it an invasion and imposed harsh sanctions on Moscow. This weeks rain has helped Carlisle to look a little greener; as will 11 new trees planted at the Carlisle Police Department. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn spoke at the tree planting event Friday morning about the benefits of trees in a community. Planting a tree is a simple act with a big impact, Dunn said. These bare-root red oaks will grow to help shade the K9 area at the police station, slow down runoff when it rains, and help make the community a more attractive place to work and live. Other benefits include including reducing energy costs, improving air quality, attracting wildlife and increasing property values, a department news release said. The trees were provided by an organization called TreePennsylvania, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing urban forest cover in the state, Carlisle MS4 Coordinator Tiffany Strine said. The program is providing 109 trees in the Harrisburg area, funded by private donations, federal money and funds from a DCNR grant called TreeVitalize, a partnership that was created by DCNR to help give communities the capacity to plan for, plant, and care for trees, the release said. The borough received the annual Bare Root Tree Grant to obtain the trees. Strine said the amount of the grant was not defined by monetary figures, but rather by the number of trees given. The red oaks were planted at various locations on the police departments grounds. The Borough of Carlisle Police Department presented needs on their property for trees to better serve many purposes including shade for K9 units, natural fencing, green infrastructure improvements and simply promoting a healthier environment, Strine said. Carlisle Deputy Mayor Brenda Landis said the endeavor shows DCNRs interest in and support for enhancing Carlisles quality of life through nature. The addition of these red oaks at the Carlisle Police Department will benefit not only our police facility, but moreover contributing to the overall health and well-being of our community, Landis said in a news release. Carlisle Borough is trying to lead by example by investing in growing our tree canopy, which provides beauty and is a strategic way to also address climate change while making more livable communities. Anyone interested in donating to support these efforts can donate to the Keystone Tree Fund voluntary $3 check-off box on online Pennsylvania drivers license and vehicle registration applications. Direct donations can be made with checks written out to DCNR c/o Keystone Tree Fund and mailed to PA DCNR Bureau of Forestry, ATTN: Rural and Community Forestry, 400 Market St., 6th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17105. Maddie Seiler is a news reporter for The Sentinel and cumberlink.com covering Carlisle and Newville. You can contact her at mseiler@cumberlink.com and follow her on Twitter at: @SeilerMadalyn 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. With eyes set on World Youth Day - Lisbon 2023, Angolan Catholic youth held in the Diocese of Benguela this week a plenary assembly under the banner, For a Synodal Church Communion, Participation and Mission. Anastacio Sasembele - Luanda, Angola. For four days, the young Catholics analysed challenges in youth pastoral work. They reflected on the Synod, the Pastoral Letter on elections issued recently by the Bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Angola and Sao Tome (CEAST). The head of the national secretariat for CEASTs youth pastoral ministry, Vilma Gaspar Neto, positively assessed the plenary assembly. She was happy about the outcomes of the meeting. We can feel in the youth a hunger to do more and better. They all want to develop their personal skills. It was touching to know that they also want to grow youth ministry in their respective dioceses, she added. Angolan World Youth Day 2022 Concerning the CEAST Bishops Pastoral Letter, Gaspar Neto said young Angolans needed to participate in the forthcoming national electoral process. She stressed the importance of the Bishops document, which gives clear guidelines to the Catholic laity on sustaining democracy in Angola. The young people further discussed how best to participate in the World Youth Day - Lisbon 2023. It was agreed that this international event be preceded by an Angolan World Youth Day now scheduled for November 2022. The event will be in the Diocese of Benguela. Vilma Gaspar Neto has appealed to young Catholic Angolans to participate in the forthcoming major events. A child's gas mask lies in a former kindergarten classroom near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine The Pontifical Academy for Sciences issues a declaration calling for an end to the war in Ukraine and urging nations to avoid the proliferation of nuclear weapons. By Devin Watkins Participants in a conference on the risk of nuclear war have signed a statement appealing for nations to avoid recourse to nuclear weapons and to respect the territorial integrity and political independence of other States. The declaration was released on Friday as part of an international conference hosted by the Pontifical Academy for Sciences (PAS) on the risk of nuclear war. Humankind is again confronted with a grave threat, arising from armed conflicts and the acute war that Russia has inflicted on Ukraine. The possibility of nuclear war has been raised by the aggressors. Excessive mistrust among nations The statements signatories make known their opposition to the terrible, inhuman, sacrilegious, and senseless war in Ukraine, quoting the words of Pope Francis. They warn especially against the various ways in which nuclear technology could cause mass devastation, including destructions of nuclear power plants, leakage of nuclear waste, the threat posed by nuclear posturing, and the use of nuclear weapons, even of so-called tactical ones. The members of the PAS lament the rise in mistrust and suspicion between nations and call for more serious dialogue between the East and West. Serious inequities among nations and within nations, shortsighted national or partisan ambitions, and lust for power are the seeds of conflict which may lead to general and nuclear warfare. Scientific duty to improve life The statement also warns against the use of chemical and biological weapons in Ukraine, as well as the misuse of robotics and artificial intelligence on the battlefield. Scientists, add the signatories, must be used to help humanity towards a life of flourishing, fulfilment, and peace, rather than push it down the path of destructive war. It is the duty of scientists to speak out and help prevent the perversion of their achievements and to stress that the future of humankind depends on the acceptance by all nations of moral principles transcending all other considerations, the statement reads. Collective security without nuclear weapons The Holy See statement then calls on world leaders to uphold their grave responsibility to avoid nuclear war and even the use of excessive conventional forces. In nine points, the scientists urge all nations to refrain from threatening the territorial integrity and political independence of other nations; to avoid using force to settle conflicts; to offer shelter for refugees fleeing war; to cease the proliferation of nuclear weapons; to never preemptively use nuclear weapons and deescalate the arms race; to keep peaceful uses of nuclear energy from being used to build weapons; to do everything possible to reduce the possibility of nuclear war; and, to observe existing arms limitation agreements. Our goal must be to build a collective security system where nuclear weapons have no place. Duty of all to seek peace Finally, the PAS members appeal to the international community to find a peaceful solution to the war in Ukraine. Scientists, they urge, should do their part by employing their creativity to better human life, not worsen it. Religious leaders, the statement adds, must continue to proclaim forcefully and persistently the grave human issues at stake, so that these are fully understood and appreciated by society. And everyone, concludes the PAS statement, is called to reaffirm our faith in the destiny of humankind, while insisting that the duty to avoid war is a common responsibility. Music Time in Africa is VOAs longest running English language program. Since 1965, this award-winning program has featured pan African music that spans all genres and generations. Ethnomusicologist and Host Heather Maxwell keeps you up to date on whats happening in African music with exclusive interviews, cultural information, and of course, great music -- including rare recordings from the Leo Sarkisian Library of African Music. Millions of Americans voluntarily left their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the quit rate hitting a record high of 3% 4.5 million people in November 2021. So, where did all those workers go? Chris Decker, an economics professor at the University of Nebraska Omaha, says the pandemic hastened retirement for some older workers. "A lot of folks were either furloughed or perhaps laid off, and perhaps they were in their mid to late 50s," Decker says. "Many, from what I've been able to glean, chose an early retirement path, and that kind of fueled, I believe, a lot of the spikes that we've seen." The latest numbers put the quit rate at 2.9%. So, while 4.4 million workers decided to leave their jobs in February 2022, about 6.7 million people were hired during that same time, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Yes, lots of people are quitting, but they're going someplace else. They're not sitting on their couches," says Jay Zagorsky, a senior lecturer at Boston University's Questrom School of Business, who doesn't embrace the theory that COVID-19 drove more people to retire. "The 'Great Resignation,' in some ways, is real. And in other ways, it's a bit of a fable." A fable, in part, because quit-rate data has been collected only since December 2000, meaning there are no official BLS numbers from before 2000 to compare with today's numbers. 'Great Job Switch' Also, the fact that 6.7 million people got hired in February suggests that something else might be going on, according to Zagorsky. "It's not so much about the 'Great Resignation' like everyone's quitting and going off and, you know, writing the great American novel or connecting with their family," he says. "Instead, lots of people are quitting, but they're getting rehired someplace else. They're switching jobs. I would call it not the 'Great Resignation' but the 'Great Job Switch.'" But the "Great Job Switch" isn't happening everywhere. For example, government employees are, for the most part, staying put. Quit rates are highest in the leisure and hospitality industries, such as hotels, restaurants and bars, as well as in retail. "We're also seeing it among the young, and especially geographically, in the South," Zagorsky says. "Why is that? That, I can't tell you." Decker says younger people might be furthering their education. "I think a lot of people decided that rather than go right back into the labor force after getting furloughed or actually getting laid off, chose to go back to school full time," he says. "I know our university is seeing an increase in enrollment in some of our professional degree programs." Quitting trend Government data suggests that except for a few dips, American quit rates rose steadily in the 20 years leading up to the pandemic. "The story in my mind is that the U.S. has always had exceptionally high quit rates," Zagorsky says. "We have a very fluid labor market. The question is, do we have too fluid a labor market?" A recent Harris/USA Today poll found that 20% of people 1 in 5 who quit during the past two years now regret doing so. Twenty-five percent said they miss the job culture at their previous place of employment. Zagorsky says people need to have a better understanding of what a job entails before they take it, while employers must understand that the appeal of a position involves more than money. "Is my job important? Am I helping others besides myself? Am I getting positive feedback? All these kinds of things have nothing to do with pay but have a lot to do with why people quit," Zagorsky says. "People quit because of nonfinancial reasons. People need to feel they're valued and not being abused and not being disrespected. If people feel valued, if they feel respected, if they feel they're an important part of an organization, they tend not to quit." Decker expects labor demand to continue to be robust in the long term, while the labor supply will be challenging as America deals with an aging population. Labor supply will be an issue particularly in the Midwest, where Decker lives and works, as educated younger workers move to bigger cities. He sees one potential fix, which could be politically controversial. "Revisit the immigration policies to see if there's some way to balance the immigration flow, perhaps with a little bit less caustic and difficult political environment, to one that might be a little bit more based on numbers and potential impacts on labor force," Decker says. A Dutch teenager died when a group he was diving with off Malaysia's coast went missing, officials said Saturday following the dramatic rescue of his father and two others. The three Europeans and their instructor got into trouble Wednesday after they surfaced from a dive near a southern island but could not find their boat. A British man, 46-year-old Adrian Chesters, and a French girl, Alexia Molina, 18, were discovered by fishermen in the waters of neighboring Indonesia, picked up by marine police and taken back to Malaysia. But Chesters told officials that his son, 14-year-old Nathen, who holds Dutch citizenship, had died. The teen, "as a result of being too weak... was unable to survive," a coast guard statement said, citing the father. Police earlier said the search for the boy had been called off after they concluded he had floated into Indonesian waters, and they had informed their counterparts in the archipelago nation. In recent days, Malaysia had deployed helicopters, a plane, boats, divers and jet skiers to hunt over a large area. The instructor, a Norwegian woman, Kristine Grodem, had already been rescued Thursday in waters off southern Malaysia. The other two survivors were found about 30 kilometers (18 miles) north of Indonesia's Bintan Island -- having drifted some 130 kilometers from where they had been diving. The pair were admitted to a Malaysian hospital in stable condition, said local police chief Cyril Edward Nuing in the coastal town of Mersing, the base for search operations. Strong girl Authorities did not give details on how the rescued trio survived a long period drifting at sea and said they had not yet been questioned in detail about their ordeal. Previously, officials had expressed hope the divers would be found alive as they had substantial experience and were well equipped, including with a diving buoy. They also said light rains in recent days might have helped the divers survive by providing drinking water. On Thursday, the French teen's mother Esther Molina told AFP from Mersing that the family were "hoping for the best. She's a strong girl, she'll kick ass." Grodem had been instructing the divers close to a small island, Tokong Sanggol, about 15 kilometers (9 miles) off Malaysia's southeast coast, when the accident happened. After a dive lasting about 40 minutes, they surfaced but could not find their boat. They drifted together in strong currents but ended up getting separated. The captain of the boat who took them to the dive site has been arrested after testing positive for drugs. The area where the accident happened is popular with foreign and domestic visitors resorts dot the coast and the islands. Diving accidents, while rare, do occasionally happen in Malaysia. In 2013, a British tourist died when she was struck by a passing boat's propeller while diving off resort islands in the South China Sea. The tropical Southeast Asian nation's borders reopened to foreign tourists April 1 after a two-year coronavirus closure, and thousands of visitors have arrived. Cameroonian authorities said Friday that separatists had attacked a village on the Nigerian border earlier in the week, with local officials saying they torched at least 12 homes and killed six people. Authorities say the rebels appeared to be targeting members of the Mbororo ethnic group, who the separatists accuse of collaborating with government troops. The Cameroonian military said separatists shot indiscriminately in the air and torched houses in Mbonhong, a western village in Ndu district on the border with Nigeria. The military did not say how many houses were burned nor how many people were killed or wounded. Separatists have shared videos of the attack on Mbonhong village on social media including WhatsApp and Facebook. About 15 separatists in the videos say that they are avenging abuses committed against them by Cameroons military and charge the government forces are using homes, farms and cattle ranches of ethnic Mbororo and Fulani as military bases. The fighters are seen torching about eight houses. Capo Daniel, deputy defense chief of the Ambazonia Defense Forces, a separatist group, says fighters in Ndu district, where Mbonhong village is located, organized the attack. "The operation [attack] that took place in Ndu, targeted the house of Mbororo who has been using his compound as a point where Cameroon military plan attacks," Danielo said. "As the Cameroon military has been unsuccessful in reaching our camps that are located in remote areas, they have increasingly turned to Mbororo people who are working hand in hand with the Cameroon military." Daniel said the Ambazonia Defense Forces consider Mbororo people who collaborate with Cameroon government troops fighting separatists to be traitors and people who support separatist fighters as friends. Nkwenti Simon Dooh, the highest-ranking government official in Donga Mantung, the division where Ndu is located, told Cameroon state broadcaster CRTV that a week hardly goes by without separatists attacking Mbororo. "Armed groups benefit from the fact that the Mbororo populations are scattered over the hills to cause so many atrocities," he said. "They [separatists] carried away many herds of their [Mbororo] cattle, looted, killed and burnt most of their structures." Dooh said that besides deploying the military to protect Mbororo, the government asked the ethnic group to create militias to collaborate with government troops in protecting goods and people. Cameroon's National Institute of Statistics estimates that there are over a million Mbororo in the central African country. More than 70% of the Mbororo are cattle ranchers owning about 70% of the estimated 3 million cattle in the English-speaking regions. Mohammed Umaru Abubakar, a Mbororo rights activist and member of the Human Rights Committee of the Mbororo Cultural and Development Association, said Mbororo are victims of brutality because the ethnic group has refused to support separatists fighting to carve out an independent English-speaking state in the majority French-speaking Cameroon. Abubakar said the Mbororo are one of the ethnic groups that has suffered most from separatist brutality within the past four years. "Three thousand eight hundred forty-two cattle were killed or seized or killed by the separatists, and over 5,000 cows have left the Northwest to other [safer] regions, while others [cattle] left for Nigeria," Abubakar said. "Over 195 million [have] been taken away from Mbororo people in the name of ransom. As of date, the statistics we have is about 325 Mbororo people that [have been] murdered by the separatists." Abubakar said Cameroon should compensate Mbororo who have lost their cattle and protect ethnic group members from separatist attacks, looting and killing. Separatists say they do not specifically target Mbororo, but they target all individuals and groups who collaborate with the Cameroon military. The United Nations says the Cameroon separatist crisis that turned into an armed conflict in 2017 has killed at least 3,300 people, and internally displaced some 750,000.. An international donor conference on Friday raised $4.8 billion for the U.N.-backed COVAX plan to deliver coronavirus jabs to poorer countries, organizers said. "The pandemic is not over, far from it. Until we beat COVID-19 everywhere, we beat it nowhere. That is a fact, and a responsibility for all of us," said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, co-host of the online conference. Scholz, whose bid to make COVID jabs mandatory for over-60s in Germany failed in parliament this week, warned that the ongoing pandemic risked creating new variants that could be "more dangerous" than previous ones. The conference, hosted by Germany, Ghana, Senegal and Indonesia, sought to address a yawning gap in vaccination rates between the world's richest and poorest countries. The COVAX program, co-led by vaccine-sharing alliance Gavi, the World Health Organization and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, has so far delivered 1.4 billion doses to 145 countries far short of the planned 2 billion doses by the end of 2021. Governments from developed nations pledged $3.8 billion Friday to bring the vaccine to 92 low- and middle-income countries. Development banks including the World Bank and the European Investment Bank contributed $1 billion Friday. COVAX had said in January that it needed $5.2 billion to fund jabs for the world in 2022. The WHO wants 70% of every country's population vaccinated by July. But records are uneven. Nearly 80% of France's population, for example, has received two doses. But only 15% of the population on the continent of Africa is fully vaccinated, according to Oxford University data. COVAX says it currently has enough doses to vaccinate about 45% of the population in the 92 low- and middle-income countries receiving donations. But 25 of those countries lack the infrastructure for an effective immunization campaign. Making matters worse, many developing countries are slated to receive doses too close to their expiration date. "Vaccine inequity is the biggest moral failure of our times, and people and countries are paying the price," U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said earlier this year. As Ivory Coast beefs up its border security with Burkina Faso, ethnic Fulanis say they are being labeled as supporters of Islamist militants and persecuted by security forces. Rights groups warn the heavy-handed tactics could backfire, providing fertile recruiting ground for the insurgents. Since armed groups attacked military targets near the border with Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast's government has been sending large numbers of troops to the north over the past two years. In the town of Kong, near where many of the attacks took place, Boubacar Koueta was among many men arrested by recently arrived Ivorian government forces. Koueta was one of three ethnic Fulani men who described how army troops beat them and their relatives and held them for 11 days to two months without charge because of their ethnicity. Koueta said he was outside one day with several other people, including women. Two large vehicles pulled up, he said, and soldiers detained them and another group of people before firing into the air and beating them. Koueta and the others were tied up, beaten and left in the afternoon sun. Throughout the Sahel, there is a common misconception that ethnic Fulanis are behind attacks linked to the Islamic State and al-Qaida groups that have ravaged neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali. Relations had been cordial A community leader for the Fulanis in Kong, Amadou Sidibe, said they had good relations with security forces before new soldiers arrived two years ago. Amadou Sidibe said that before the arrival of the new military personnel, everything was fine. He said there were no problems with the authorities or security forces. But since their arrival, he added, the Fulani are often arrested and branded as terrorists. Officials with Human Rights Watch said the persecution of Fulanis in Burkina Faso and Mali is a major catalyst for recruitment by terror groups, who exploit resentment toward the state. Jihadist groups rely on long-standing tensions between farmers and herder communities like the Fulanis to stoke violent conflict, analysts say. Ethnic fracture Lassina Diara, an analyst with the Timbuktu Institute, said he thinks that beyond the religious rhetoric, terror groups are exploiting social fractures and ethnicity. He said there is a fracture between the Fulani communities and the regions other communities. A farmer near the northern city of Korhogo, who asked that his name be withheld for safety reasons, said he resented having to erect fencing because herders allow cattle to graze cashew crops. He said the farmers bear the costs of protecting their plantations while herders do nothing because they want to see their cattle well fed. Lassina Sele, who runs an NGO that aims to resolve disputes between farmers and herders, says local militiamen called dozos add to tensions. Sele says that when dozos arrest a thief who is Fulani, they are treated worse than those of another ethnic group. Diara, the analyst, said he did not think the government was doing enough to relieve tensions between herder and farmer communities. Ministers in charge of security and social cohesion did not respond to multiple requests for comment. The Newville Borough has never had a towing contract in Fred Potzers years as borough manager, although after a discussion at the councils March 29 meeting, this could change. A contract would mean that the boroughs police department would utilize a specific towing company, designated by the borough, Potzer said. The towing contract is something that would aid our police department, Potzer said. [It] would provide uniform pricing, storage for vehicles, and we would designate a contractor to handle the towing for the town. ... If there is a towing contract, the police department would summon the contractor and that contractor could tow improperly parked vehicles, but it could just as easily be a vehicle thats improperly parked on a parade route, it could be two vehicles involved in an accident, anything of that nature. Potzer said he doesnt know yet who the contractor would be. It would have to be put out for bid and we would obviously be looking within a certain mile radius of the borough so that may narrow the number of towing companies, he said. Potzer expects that if the borough enters a contract, it would likely last for one year with the option to renew for one year. He said the contract would primarily be for the benefit of the police department. I think just that they would have a designated towing contractor on call that they would know is available and would be available to respond within a required length of time, Potzer said. Newville Police Officer Matthew Keller said the potential towing contract is a good idea. A contract with a towing company will set a standard with towing cost and storage fees, he said. Keller said towing in the borough is currently handled differently depending on whether the vehicle is on private or public property, however in both cases the police would be contacted. He explained that with abandoned vehicles, something that has different qualifications on public versus private property, police notify the vehicle owner. If the owner or address cannot be identified, police post the notice on the vehicles window, Keller said. After seven days without a response from the vehicle owner, Keller said the vehicle is towed. This process of removing a vehicle can prove difficult and time consuming for business owners with limited parking spaces for their customers, he said. Potzer said that private property owners can (and many currently do) erect signs that private property violators will be towed. He said these signs arent uncommon in the borough and that the signs must be properly worded in order for police to enforce them. A private parking lot with proper signage, which is regulated by the department, will give the Officers and business owners the authority to tow vehicles that are in violation of the parameters set forth by the chosen, posted, legal signs in a timely manner, Keller said. The signs at a minimum will show the fines associated with illegally parking in said area, where your vehicle will be towed to and the contact information for the towing company. Potzer said the contract would not be directly connected to parking in the borough because private-property owners currently have the ability to call a towing company of their choice to have vehicles removed. With the contract, they would have the option of utilizing the designated towing service, but they could still opt for a different towing company. He said there arent many towing contractors in the western part of Cumberland County, so hes not sure what the response to a proposed towing contract would look like. Its like anything else, Potzer said. You dont know until you put it out for proposals and like the mayor said at the meeting, its something he has brought up and the police are looking into. Maddie Seiler is a news reporter for The Sentinel and cumberlink.com covering Carlisle and Newville. You can contact her at mseiler@cumberlink.com and follow her on Twitter at: @SeilerMadalyn Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. In the days after a group of West Point cadets on spring break were sickened by fentanyl-laced cocaine at a South Florida house party, community activists sprang into action. They blitzed beaches, warned spring breakers of a surge in recreational drugs cut with the dangerous synthetic opioid and offered an antidote for overdoses, which have risen nationally during the COVID-19 pandemic. Street teams stood under the blistering sun, handing out beads, pamphlets and samples of naloxone, a drug known by the brand name Narcan, which can revive overdose victims. "We weren't sure how people would react," said Thomas Smith, director of behavioral health services for The Special Purpose Outreach Team, a local mobile medical program. "But the spring breakers have been great. Some say, 'I don't do drugs, but my buddy sometimes does something stupid.' They are happy to get Narcan." Smith's team pulls up to Fort Lauderdale beach in a brightly colored mobile clinic van. They walk the sidewalks that run parallel to the beach, across the main drag from the bustling oceanfront clubs and restaurants. "Have you heard of Narcan?" Huston Ochoa, a clinical counselor for The SPOT, asked Tristan Gentles on a recent afternoon as music blared from the Elbo Room, a bar at the heart of Fort Lauderdale Beach. Gentles, who worked as a bartender and bouncer in New York City before moving to Fort Lauderdale, said he appreciates their efforts. "There's only so much you can do when you see someone on the floor," he said, adding that he had witnessed numerous overdoses during his days in New York. Fentanyl and other synthetic drugs, which can be 50 to 100 times more potent than heroin or prescription opioids, are what make the overdoes so dangerous, said David Scharf, who oversees community programs for the Broward Sheriff's Office and is the chairman of the county's Opioid Community Response Team. Last year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that for the first time more than 100,000 Americans had died of drug overdoses over a 12-month period. About two-thirds of the deaths were linked to fentanyl and other synthetic drugs. Stress from the coronavirus pandemic and the use of fentanyl are considered factors in the increase in deaths, according to preliminary reports by the CDC. Broward County led the state in fentanyl deaths in 2020, the latest year for which statistics are available from the Florida Medical Examiners Commission. In the vast majority of the deaths, fentanyl was combined with another drug, the sheriff's office said. "One snort, one swallow, one shot can kill," said Jim Hall, a retired epidemiologist from Nova Southeastern University, who has worked with the county's opioid response team. "It is not just in Florida but anywhere in North America." For the first three months of 2022, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue responded to 373 calls involving a possible overdose, where Narcan was administered, Battalion Chief Stephen Gollan said. That's an average of more than four per day. The reaction in Broward was swift after the five U.S. Military Academy cadets overdosed in Wilton Manors on March 10, just as thousands of college students were heading to Fort Lauderdale for spring break. The following Monday, more than 100 people representing agencies from law enforcement to social service organizations and hospitals met via Zoom to devise a plan to keep spring breakers safe. Groups such as The SPOT and the South Florida Wellness Network, which partner with the United Way of Broward County, agreed to hit the beaches to talk with people about the dangers associated with fentanyl-laced drugs. They also talked to restaurant and bar owners who could distribute Narcan if "someone went down," Scharf said. The groups have so far distributed more than 2,000 doses of Narcan supplied by state grants. The SPOT volunteers handed out packages with two doses of the nasal spray plus instructions. "It was kind of a blitz operation to get out there as quickly as possible, and to get as much information and Narcan out on the streets," Scharf said. The volunteer groups and sheriff's office don't have figures on how many of the distributed doses were actually used but believe the program has succeeded in raising awareness. The region isn't yet out of the spring break period, which runs until mid-April, but Scharf said organizers have been heartened to see a couple of weekends pass without any overdoses that resulted in emergency calls. German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht on Saturday reiterated her doubts about maintaining the German armed forces' commitment in Mali during a trip to the country during which she spoke of "atrocities" committed in Moura. Mali's military-dominated government says it "neutralized" 203 jihadis in Moura, but witnesses interviewed by media and Human Rights Watch (HRW) say soldiers instead killed scores of civilians. "Is this regime that we want to support," Lambrecht asked after a meeting with German soldiers in northern Gao, her ministry said. "We see that Malian soldiers are being trained in a tremendous way by highly motivated and skilled German soldiers, and then they go on missions with these capabilities, for example with Russian forces, even with mercenaries," the minister added. "And the question then arises of whether this can be compatible with our values, especially if we then have to witness atrocities like in Moura," she said. Calls for investigation French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Friday cast doubt on Mali's account of events in Moura. "The authorities in Bamako announce 200 terrorists killed, without civilian casualties. I have a hard time believing, I have a hard time understanding, I have a hard time accepting these explanations," he said. "There needs to be a United Nations investigation and we demand this," he added. No mercenariesIn February, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the withdrawal of thousands of troops deployed in Mali under France's anti-jihadi mission in the Sahel. Bamako denies the presence of mercenaries from the Russian group Wagner in Mali, acknowledging only the presence of what it calls Russian instructors and trainers under a bilateral cooperation agreement with Moscow dating from the 1960s. In a report, Human Rights Watch said Malian soldiers and foreign fighters had executed 300 civilians between March 27 and 31 in Moura. Foreign soldiers Malian forces were operating in tandem with white foreign soldiers, according to HRW, who are believed to be Russian because witness accounts refer to them as non-French-speaking. Russia has supplied what are officially described as military instructors to Mali. However, the United States, France, and others, say the instructors are operatives from the Russian private-security firm Wagner. The U.N. special envoy for Mali, El Ghassim Wane, on Thursday called on the Malian authorities to provide access to the area. Ruled by a military junta since August 2020, Mali has been in turmoil since 2012. Jihadi attacks have spread from the north to the center of the country and into neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger Israeli security forces raided the flashpoint West Bank district of Jenin on Saturday killing a Palestinian and wounding 12 others, after vowing there will "not be limits" to curb surging violence. The operation, which lasted several hours, came after a gunman from Jenin went on a shooting rampage in a popular Tel Aviv nightlife area on Thursday evening, killing three Israelis and wounding more than a dozen others. Following the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett gave security agencies "full freedom" to end deadly violence that has surged since March 22 "in order to defeat terror." "There are not and will not be limits for this war," Bennett. On Saturday, the army said security forces had launched the operation in the city of Jenin, in the north of the occupied West Bank, its Palestinian refugee camp and adjacent villages. The Palestinian health ministry said that at least one Palestinian man was killed by Israeli gunfire, while the Red Crescent said 12 others were wounded. Crowds of mourners marched through the streets carrying the body of the man -- identified by Palestinian officials as 25-year-old Ahmad al-Saadi -- on a stretcher covered with the flag of the Gaza Strip-based militant group Islamic Jihad. 'Armed assailants' Palestinian security sources said part of Saturday's operation was to identify the home of the Tel Aviv assailant ahead of demolishing it. Rights activists have repeatedly denounced Israel's policy of destroying the homes of Palestinian attackers as collective punishment, while Israel says it acts as a deterrent. Israeli soldiers and border police forces were "conducting counterterrorism activity" in the city of Jenin and its refugee camp, when gunmen had opened fire "endangering their lives," the army said in a statement. In response, troops opened fire "towards the armed assailants," the army said, adding there were no injuries among Israeli ranks. "An M16 assault rifle used by an assailant to attack the troops was confiscated," it added. An AFP photographer at the scene said the operation ended at midday. The Jenin refugee camp is a stronghold of armed factions, where three other Palestinians linked to an anti-Israeli attack were killed by the army last week. Saturday's raid comes a day after Israel said it had killed Raad Hazem, 28, the alleged Tel Aviv attacker. In addition to giving security forces a free rein to curb a surge in violence, Bennett on Friday ordered the closure of the Jalameh checkpoint between the Jenin area and Israel. On Friday, the father of the Tel Aviv attacker, Fathi Hazem -- a retired Palestinian security forces officer according to Palestinian sources -- struck a defiant tone. Speaking to hundreds at the family home in Jenin, he said the Palestinian people were looking for "freedom and independence." Ramadan violence A total of 14 people have been killed in attacks in Israel since March 22, including some carried out by assailants linked to or inspired by the Islamic State group. Over the same period, at least 10 Palestinians have been killed, including assailants. The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas and the Islamic Jihad group praised the Tel Aviv attack -- drawing criticism from the UN -- but did not claim responsibility. Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas denounced the Tel Aviv attack, while the United States stressed anew its support of key ally Israel. The Tel Aviv attack killed three Israeli men: childhood friends Tomer Morad and Eytam Magini, as well as father of three Barak Lufan. It came amid heightened tensions during Ramadan, after violence that flared during the Muslim holy month last year between Israeli forces and Palestinians led to 11 days of devastating conflict between Israel and Hamas. Earlier this month Israeli security forces killed three Islamic Jihad militants when they came under fire during an operation to arrest them in Jenin. The raid, in which four Israeli soldiers were wounded, followed another deadly attack on March 29 in Bnei Brak, an Orthodox Jewish city near Tel Aviv. The Palestinian assailant, who had also come from Jenin, killed two Israeli civilians, two Ukrainian nationals and an Arab-Israeli policeman using an assault rifle. Japan and the Philippines agreed Saturday to consider further expanding defense cooperation against a backdrop of regional tensions and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The meeting in Tokyo of the two Asian nations' foreign and defense ministers was the first in the "2+2" format between the key U.S. allies. The two countries will look at potentially enhancing cooperative activity and sharing supplies, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said after the meeting. Tokyo and Manila have been at odds with China over its conduct in the East and South China Seas, while Russia's actions in Ukraine and North Korea's missile tests also of mutual concern. Japan and the Philippines signed an agreement to forge closer defense ties in January 2015 and have since conducted nearly 20 joint naval drills. In 2021 they also held joint air force exercises. Japan has also transferred defense and technology equipment that could help the Philippines boost patrols in the South China Sea, where it has territorial disputes with China. Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana also attended the meeting. The defense ministers met on Thursday and agreed to further boost security cooperation by conducting joint exercises. The 2+2 framework with the Philippines is Japan's ninth such grouping but only the second in Southeast Asia, after Indonesia. Civilian evacuations moved forward Saturday in patches of battle-scarred eastern Ukraine a day after a missile strike killed at least 52 people at a train station where thousands were waiting to leave the increasingly vulnerable region before an expected Russian onslaught. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy demanded a tough global response to Friday's train station attack in Kramatorsk, calling it the latest sign of war crimes by Russian forces and hoping to prod Western backers to step up their response to help his country defend itself. All world efforts will be directed to establish every minute of who did what, who gave what orders, where the missile came from, who transported it, who gave the command and how this strike was agreed, Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address, his voice rising in anger. Russia denied it was responsible and accused Ukraines military of firing on the station to try to turn blame for civilian slayings on Moscow. A Russian Defense Ministry spokesman detailed the missiles trajectory and Ukrainian troop positions to bolster the argument. Western experts and Ukrainian authorities insisted that Russia launched the missile. Ukraines state railway company said in a statement that residents of the countrys contested Donbas region, where Russia has refocused its forces after failing to take over the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, could flee through other train stations on Saturday. The railways do not stop the task of taking everyone to safety, the statement on the messaging app Telegram said. Watch related video by Henry Ridgwell: Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said 10 evacuation corridors were planned for Saturday in hopes of allowing residents to leave war zones in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, which comprise the Donbas, as well as neighboring Zaporizhzhia. Ukrainian authorities have called on civilians to get out ahead of an imminent, stepped-up offensive by Russian forces. Britains Defense Ministry reported Saturday that Russian naval forces were launching cruise missiles to support the ground operations in eastern Ukraine, including in the port cities of Mykolaiv and Mariupol. Photos taken after Fridays missile strike showed corpses covered with tarpaulins, and the remnants of a rocket painted with the words For the children in Russian. The phrasing seemed to suggest the missile was sent to avenge the loss or subjugation of children, although its exact meaning remained unclear. The attack came as Ukrainian authorities worked to identify victims and document possible war crimes by Russian soldiers in northern Ukraine. The mayor of Bucha, a town near Kyiv where graphic evidence of civilian slayings emerged after the Russians withdrew, said search teams were still finding the bodies of people shot at close range in yards, parks and city squares. On Friday, workers unearthed the bodies of 67 people from a mass grave near a church, according to Ukraine's prosecutor general. Russia has falsely claimed that the scenes in Bucha were staged. After failing to occupy Kyiv in the face of stiff resistance, Russian forces have set their sights on eastern Ukraine. Many of the civilians now trying to evacuate are accustomed to living in or near a war zone because Moscow-backed rebels have been fighting Ukrainian forces since 2014 in the Donbas. The same week Russia invaded Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of areas controlled by the separatists and said he planned to send troops in to protect residents of the mostly Russian-speaking, industrial region. Although the Kramatorsk train station is in Ukrainian government-controlled territory in the Donbas, the separatists, who work closely with Russian troops, blamed Ukraine for the attack. Western experts, however, dismissed Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov's assertion that Russian forces do not use Tochka-U missiles, the type that hit the station. A Western official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence, said Russian forces have used the missile and that given the strikes location and impact, it was likely Russias. Ukrainian authorities and Western officials have repeatedly accused Russian forces of committing atrocities in the war that began with Russia's February 24 invasion. A total of 176 children have been killed in Ukraine since the start of the war, while 324 more have been wounded, the countrys Prosecutor Generals Office said Saturday. Ukrainian authorities have warned they expect to find more mass killings once they reach the southern port city of Mariupol, which is also in the Donbas and has been subjected to a monthlong blockade and intense fighting. As journalists who had been largely absent from the city began to trickle back in, new images emerged of the devastation from an airstrike on a theater last month that reportedly killed hundreds of civilians seeking shelter. Military analysts had predicted for weeks that Russia would succeed in taking Mariupol but said Ukrainian defenders were still putting up a fight. The city's location on the Sea of Azov is critical to establishing a land bridge from the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia seized from Ukraine eight years ago. Some of the grisliest evidence of atrocities so far has been found in Bucha and other towns around Kyiv, from which Russian troops pulled back in recent days. An international organization formed to identify the dead and missing from the 1990s Balkans conflicts is sending a team of forensics experts to Ukraine to help put names to bodies. In an excerpted interview with American broadcaster CBS 60 Minutes that aired Friday, Zelenskyy cited communications intercepted by the Ukrainian security service as evidence of Russian war crimes. The authenticity of the recordings could not be independently verified. There are [Russian] soldiers talking with their parents about what they stole and who they abducted. There are recordings of [Russian] prisoners of war who admitted to killing people, he said. There are pilots in prison who had maps with civilian targets to bomb. There are also investigations being conducted based on the remains of the dead. The deaths of civilians at the train station brought renewed expressions of outrage from Western leaders and pledges that Russia would face further reprisals for its actions in Ukraine. On Saturday, Russias Defense Ministry tried to counter the dominant international narrative by again raising the specter Ukraine planting false flags and misinformation. A Russian ministry spokesman, Major Gen. Igor Konashenkov, alleged Ukraines security services were preparing a cynical staged media operation in Irpin, another town near Kyiv. Konashenkov said the plan was to show falsely, he said more civilian casualties at the hands of the Russians and to stage the slaying of a fake Russian intelligence team that intended to kill witnesses. The claims could not be independently verified. A senior U.S. defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal military assessments said Friday the Pentagon believes Russia has lost between 15% and 20% of its combat power overall since the war began. While some combat units are withdrawing to be resupplied in Russia, Moscow has added thousands of troops around Ukraines second-largest city, Kharkiv, in the country's east, the official said. Ukrainian officials have almost daily pleaded with Western powers to send more arms, and to further punish Russia with sanctions, including the exclusion of Russian banks from the global financial system and a total European Union embargo on Russian gas and oil. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer on Saturday was the latest in a parade of top leaders from the European Union to visit Zelenskyy in Kyiv. The head of the EU's executive arm, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, gave the Ukrainian president a questionnaire Friday that could lead to Ukraines membership in the 27-member-country bloc. Zelenskyy wryly promised to fast-track a response. Nigerias High Court has reduced the number of charges against Biafra separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu. He will now be prosecuted on seven counts, including terrorism. Presiding High Court Judge Binta Nyako struck eight of the 15 federal charges, ruling on the separatist leaders preliminary objection that the government did not show any offense committed by him on charges of inciting public unrest, destabilizing Nigeria's political and economic orders, or mandating a sit-at-home order. Nyako upheld seven charges, including terrorism and broadcasting falsehoods. "The court, in its wisdom, reviewed all the charges and discovered that with the exception of seven counts, about eight counts appeared to be similar and those charges were struck out, prosecutor Shuaibu Labaran said to journalists outside the courtroom. Proceedings were adjourned until May 18, when the court will hear applications for bail. Kanu has pleaded not guilty to all charges. This was the first closed session of his trial, which had been open to the public since it began last July. Nigerias Justice Ministry ordered Thursday that all trials on terrorism charges would now be closed, saying in a statement that the change would ensure fair trials and the security and safety of all parties. Kanu leads the Indigenous People of Biafra group, which is seeking a separate identity for Nigerias Southeast region. Biafran secession led to a bloody civil war in the late 1960s that killed at least 1 million Nigerians, many from starvation. Pakistans lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, voted Prime Minister Imran Khan out of power Saturday, nearly four years after he took office. The voting on the opposition-launched, no-confidence resolution began after midnight local time, minutes after Speaker Asad Qaiser from Khans ruling party unexpectedly announced his resignation. Qaiser invited a senior opposition lawmaker, Ayaz Sadiq, to chair the special session of the 342-member house, saying he could not take part in a foreign conspiracy to oust the prime minister. Sadiq later announced that 174 lawmakers voted in favor of the no-confidence motion. Consequently, the resolution for vote of no-confidence against Mr. Imran Khan, the prime minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, has a been passed by a majority of the total membership of the National Assembly, Sadiq said. Almost all legislators of Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party left before or during the voting process. Election of new prime minister The legislative house will now elect a new prime minister and government Monday. Shehbaz Sharif, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party has already been nominated by the united opposition as their candidate for prime minister. We will not seek revenge. We will not put people in jails, but the law will take its course, Sharif said in a speech after the vote. Khan, the 69-year-old former cricket star, had lost his majority in the run-up to the vote after 20 lawmakers from his ruling party defected. Main coalition partners also switched sides and joined the opposition, leaving him to fight for his political survival. Despite its ouster from power, the PTI remains the largest political force, with 135 seats in the National Assembly. Supreme Court ruling Saturdays vote was held after the countrys Supreme Court ruled earlier in the week that Khan had acted unconstitutionally when he previously blocked the no-confidence vote and subsequently dissolving the parliament. Khan defended his blocking of the vote, alleging that the no-confidence motion was the result of the United States meddling in Pakistans politics. Washington rejected the charges, saying there was no truth to them. "I will not accept an imported government, and I am determined to vehemently agitate against it," Khan said in an address to the nation Friday. He called on his supporters to stage nationwide, peaceful protests Sunday. The deposed prime minister alleged in his speech that he was being punished by Washington for visiting Russia and pursuing an "independent foreign policy" for Pakistan. He visited President Vladimir Putin on the day the Russian troops invaded Ukraine. Lost military support Khan is the first Pakistani prime minister to be ousted by a no-confidence vote, but no elected prime minister has served out a full five-year term since the founding of the country 75 years ago. He was elected prime minister in 2018, promising to root out corruption and introduce reforms to fix economic troubles facing the country of about 220 million people. But critics say most of those pledges have gone unaddressed amid persistent opposition allegations that Khan was misruling Pakistan and mismanaging the economy. Khans critics say he had risen to power with the help of Pakistans military but lost the crucial support in recent months after developing differences over key security appointments and foreign policy matters, encouraging the opposition to stage his ouster. Pakistan has experienced three military coups, leading to prolonged dictatorial rules in the country. Direct and indirect military interventions are blamed for the fragility of democracy in the nuclear-armed South Asia nation. The discovery of civilian bodies in Ukrainian towns has "permanently polluted" Russian President Vladimir Putin's reputation, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said during a visit to Kyiv on Saturday. "What Putin has done in places like Bucha and Irpin is war crimes that have permanently polluted his reputation and the reputation of his government," Johnson said, standing next to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Johnson became the latest European leader to visit Kyiv this weekend after the bodies were discovered in several towns from where the Russian army retreated. Ukraine 'defied odds' Johnson praised Ukraine for "defying odds" and rebuffing a Russian offensive on Kyiv. "The Russians believed Ukraine could be engulfed in a matter of days and that Kyiv would falls in hours to their armies," he said, referring to Western intelligence. "How wrong they were," he said. The Ukrainian people have "shown the courage of a lion," he added. "The world has found new heroes and those heroes are the people of Ukraine," Johnson said. After talks with Zelenskyy, Johnson vowed U.K. armored vehicles and anti-ship missiles for Ukraine. Zelenskyy called on the West to follow the U.K. in providing military aid to Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Russia. "Other Western democratic countries should follow the U.K.'s example," Zelenskyy said after talks with Johnson. "It is because of President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy's resolute leadership and the invincible heroism and courage of the Ukrainian people that [Vladimir] Putin's monstrous aims are being thwarted," Johnson said after meeting Zelenskyy, according to a Downing Street statement. Military aid Johnson set out extra military aid of 120 armored vehicles and new anti-ship missile systems, "to support Ukraine in this crucial phase while Russia's illegal assault continues," the statement added. That is on top of U.K. aid announced Friday of more Starstreak anti-aircraft missiles and another 800 anti-tank missiles, along with "loitering" drones for "precision strikes" against the Russians. As world powers held a fundraising round for Ukraine, Johnson also promised an extra $500 million via the World Bank. Johnson said it had been a "privilege" to meet Zelenskyy in person on his surprise visit, which was not pre-announced in London. "Ukraine has defied the odds and pushed back Russian forces from the gates of Kyiv, achieving the greatest feat of arms of the 21st century," he said. "I made clear today that the United Kingdom stands unwaveringly with them in this ongoing fight, and we are in it for the long run." Their government still unrecognized by any country in the world, Afghanistan's ruling Taliban have found a way to beat international isolation: opening diplomatic ties with neighboring countries and others, with an eye to gaining formal recognition. In recent months, at least four countries China, Pakistan, Russia and Turkmenistan have accredited Taliban-appointed diplomats, even though all have refused to recognize the 8-month-old government in Afghanistan. Last month, Russia became the latest country to establish diplomatic ties with the Taliban when its Foreign Ministry accredited Taliban diplomat Jamal Nasir Gharwal as Afghan charge d'affaires in Moscow. "We regard this as a step towards the resumption of full-fledged diplomatic contacts," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Wednesday. On Saturday, Gharwal took over the embassy, Taliban foreign ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi tweeted. Although Zakharova said it was premature "to talk about official recognition of the Taliban," the move is not sitting well in Washington, where officials are concerned it could confer undeserved legitimacy on the Taliban. A State Department spokesperson said the U.S. and its allies "remain deeply troubled by recent steps the Taliban have taken, including steps to restrict education and travel for girls and women." "Now is not the time to take any steps to lend credibility to the Taliban or normalize relations," the spokesperson said in response to a query from VOA. "This move sends the wrong signal to the Taliban." In the wake of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan last August, the U.S. and other Western countries shut down their diplomatic posts in Kabul. But they've maintained contact with the group, if only to facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid into the country and influence Taliban policies. The countries that have received Taliban diplomats all maintain embassies in Afghanistan. Ronald Neumann, a former U.S. ambassador to Kabul and the president of the American Academy of Diplomacy, said it was a "mistake" for Russia and other nations to accredit Taliban diplomats while the international community seeks cooperation from the Taliban on a number of fronts. "When they accredit the diplomats, then they weaken the influence of the pressure that says you have to allow girls' education and you have to cooperate with the NGOs (nongovernmental organizations) to help feed people or you won't get recognition," Neumann said. "So what the Taliban will see is that if they pay no attention to those statements, some states will begin to move toward recognition anyway." Accrediting a foreign diplomat is not the same as giving formal recognition, Neumann said. But that's not how the Taliban see it. "In practice, this is the equivalent of recognition, but it is not enough," said Suhail Shaheen, who has been appointed by the Taliban to serve as Afghanistan's envoy to the U.N. "Countries must recognize the Islamic Emirate." Shaheen, whose appointment has not been endorsed by the U.N., told VOA that about 10 countries have "accepted" Taliban diplomats, including China, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Turkmenistan. Of those, only four China, Pakistan, Russia and Turkmenistan have formally accredited diplomats appointed by the Taliban, according to announcements by Afghan embassies and the foreign ministries of the host countries. But previously appointed diplomats at Afghanistan's embassies in Iran, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia now follow the Taliban foreign ministry's "instructions," Shaheen said. "We don't have any problem with anyone who contacts the current government of the Islamic Emirate and follows its instructions," Shaheen said via WhatsApp. "That's what they've done." Abdul Qayyum Sulaimani, the Afghan charge d'affaires in Tehran and a holdover from the previous government, told reporters in January that he'd received a letter from Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban foreign minister, confirming his status as acting ambassador. Representatives of the Afghan embassies in Kaula Lumpur and Ryadh could not be reached for comment. Qatar is a "special case," Neumann said. The Gulf state has long allowed the Taliban to operate a political office in Doha, and it represents some U.S. diplomatic interests in Afghanistan. In November, Muttaqi met with Afghan embassy staff in Doha. The Qatar Embassy in Washington did not respond to a question about whether the Qatari government had accredited any Taliban diplomats. Afghanistan maintains 45 embassies and 20 consulates around the world. The majority are still run by diplomats appointed by the government of former President Ashraf Ghani and have refused to work with the Taliban government. Mohammad Zahir Aghbar, Afghanistan's ambassador to Tajikistan, said Taliban pressure to oust Afghan diplomats won't work. "No country will let them do that," Aghbar told VOA's Afghan Service. Tajikistan, which maintains close ties to an anti-Taliban resistance group, is the only Afghanistan neighbor that has refused to allow Taliban officials to visit the Afghan Embassy. Last week, a senior Taliban foreign ministry official visited an Afghan consulate in neighboring Uzbekistan "to improve and organize the consular affairs of the Afghan consulate" in the border town of Termez, according to a Taliban official. Last month, Afghanistan's embassy in Washington and its consulates in New York and Los Angeles shut down after running out of money. Senior State Department Correspondent Cindy Saine and VOA Afghan Service's Mirwais Rahmani contributed to this article. Shanghai is Chinas most populous city, a place marked by an expansive worldview and keen sense of its own identity. But now it is chafing at Beijings rigid containment methods designed in accordance with the national zero-COVID policy. Since a wave of infections struck the metropolis of some 25 million people last month, Shanghai officials have imposed a temporary lockdown (March 28), designed a policy separating infected children from their parents (April 2), extended the lockdown indefinitely (April 5), buckled before a public outcry to ease the child-parent separation policy (April 6) and seen the daily count of new cases hit a record 22,000 (April 8). Viral videos appear to show residents tackling health workers in hazmat suits and charging through a barricaded street shouting We want to eat cheap vegetables, according to France24. Some residents are facing the mandatory tests in very Shanghainese style tweeted one. What are thought to be government drones whir through residential areas urging people against the temptation to break out from lockdown. And local authorities have reported more than 73,000 cases in the current wave, virtually all originating with the omicron BA.2 variant, which is more infectious but less lethal than the previous delta strain as evidenced by the lack of any reported deaths in the city. Shanghai Lingang Fangcai Hospital officially opened on April 5 with nearly 14,000 beds, half of which are already available. Authorities are converting the National Exhibition and Convention Center into a temporary hospital with more than 40,000 beds. The Global Times, a state-controlled media outlet, reported April 6 that more than 38,000 medical personnel from more than 10 provinces in China had been dispatched to Shanghai to help along with more than 2,000 from the Peoples Liberation Army. Zero-COVID policy When Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan visited the city on April 2, she stressed unswerving adherence to Beijings zero-COVID policy, a control measure China has put in place throughout the country since 2020 to curb the spread of the virus. "It is an arduous task and huge challenge to combat the omicron variant while maintaining the normal operation of core functions in a megacity with a population of 25 million," Sun said, according to Chinese state-controlled media outlet, Xinhua. According to Ren Ruihong, the former head of the medical relief department of the Red Cross Foundation of China, the probability of China achieving zero infection goal is almost zero judging from the movement of the omicron variant through the nation. You can't test everyone in the entire country every day. When you can't do that, a lot of asymptomatic or late-infected people have already spread the virus," Ren told VOA Mandarin. On Thursday, Human Rights Watch said on its website that Beijings insistence on draconian lockdown measures has significantly impeded peoples access to health care, food and other life necessities in Shanghai. The Chinese governments Zero-COVID approach to pandemic control by imposing stringent citywide lockdowns has resulted in the systematic denial of medical needs of people with serious but non-COVID related illnesses, said Yaqiu Wang, senior China researcher at Human Rights Watch. According to HRWs statement, an unknown number of people have died after being denied medical treatment for their non-COVID related illnesses. Completely chaotic response Shanghai officials also expressed their disappointment in the implementation of Beijings zero-COVID measures in Shanghai. "Shanghai's epidemic-prevention policy is completely chaotic," said a community management committee secretary in a nine-minute recorded conversation circulated on Chinese social media, adding that the prevention work she has been assigned is killing her. In another recording of a conversation between a Shanghai citizen and a frontline epidemic-prevention official, the official urged the resident not to go to a hospital and said that mild and asymptomatic patients should be isolated at home. When I went to the Fangcang shelter hospital, even the professionals were going crazy because no one listened to what they said, according to the official speaking to the resident in an audio since deleted from Chinese social media. "Now we all feel complete despair." Lin Baohua, a former professor at East China Normal University in Shanghai who now lives in Taiwan, told VOA Mandarin that recent signs indicate that grassroots officials in Shanghai are becoming sympathetic to Shanghai residents' dissatisfaction. The last thing the Beijing government wants to see is the collective action of the people, he added. Xiao Shan, a Chinese news analyst in Beijing, said Shanghai officials are unlikely to oppose the zero-COVID policy, as they have used it to consolidate their power. Suddenly they could become managers overnight, wearing red armbands shouting to hundreds of thousands of people in the community. Fan Shihping, a Taiwan Normal University professor, told VOA Mandarin that China's enforcement will have a great impact on Shanghai residents because they did not expect that they, citizens of a Tier 1 city, would be treated in the same way under the zero-COVID policy as residents of second- and third-tier cities. Tier 1 cities, like Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, are the most modern, the most populous and have the best infrastructure and locations, according to Investor Insights Asia. Tier 2 cities are relatively economically developed but less so than new first-tier cities. Tier 3 cities have large populations but little economic or political significance. Some Shanghai residents have refused to hide their dissatisfaction with the governments strict COVID measures. This is worse than the Cultural Revolution, said an old man in a video circulated on social media. Mao, the first leader of the Peoples Republic of China from 1949-76, launched the Chinese Cultural Revolution in 1966. By the time its turmoil ended a decade later, between 500,000 and 2 million people had died. Parks are not open. Shops are not open. We havent experienced a horror like this even when the Red Sun, Mao Zedong, died in 1976, the man continued. "Now I don't go out and I'm stuck in prison all day. A dozen U.S. senators, including Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, are asking President Joe Biden to consult with officials state by state on the possible impact of recommendations of the Department of Veterans Affairs to the Asset and Infrastructure Review Commission. The recommendations are overly focused on quantitative data that does not do enough to consider the impact the proposed changes would have on our Veterans, particularly elderly Veterans," the senators said. The VA released preliminary recommendations last month. The recommendations would significantly alter services provided to rural veterans across the country, according to a statement from Sen. Joe Manchin's office Friday. Manchin, D-W.Va., and Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., led a bipartisan letter asking Biden to be sure rural perspectives were considered by the review commission. In the latest letter, the group of senators told Biden that VA facilities are the only place many elderly veterans seek care. The reasons Veterans often cite are that they are better understood, respected, and cared for at their local VA Medical Center," the letter said. Besides Casey, Manchin and Rounds, the group consists of Republican Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Republican John Thune of South Dakota, Democrats Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico, Republican Steve Daines of Montana, Republicans John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Republican Ted Cruz of Texas and Republican Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 United Nations humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths is calling for localized cease-fires in war-torn Ukraine to allow humanitarian aid into areas under siege and to allow trapped civilians to leave. Griffiths this week discussed a possible humanitarian cease-fire in Ukraine with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Griffiths, the U.N. undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, stopped in Moscow Monday on his way to Ukraine. He did not obtain a commitment for a cease-fire, but U.N. humanitarian spokesman Jens Laerke said Friday that Griffiths views the meeting as only a first step in what is likely to be a long process. Meanwhile, he said Griffiths considers it of utmost importance to get the warring parties to agree to localized cease-fires. It is a top priority of that is to get silencing of the guns in those cities with Mariupol being the worst-affected," he said. "Those cities where civilians are trapped, to allow them to get to safety voluntarily, to a place of their choosing and to allow aid to get in. Hundreds of thousands of inhabitants of Mariupol have been under siege since Russia invaded Ukraine more than six weeks ago. They have been forced to hide in underground bunkers while their city was being turned into rubble by Russian strikes. Laerke said during his visit to Ukraine, Griffiths witnessed first-hand the scenes of death and destruction in the towns of Bucha and Irpin on the outskirts of the capital Kyiv. He said Griffiths, who saw a mass grave and dozens of destroyed building blocks in Bucha, described the sights as horrifying and called for an investigation into the atrocities allegedly committed by Russian forces. Russian troops have failed to win control of the capital, Kyiv, and have retreated. They have shifted their focus toward capturing the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. Laerke said U.N. officials hope the situation of Mariupol will not be repeated as fighting moves toward Luhansk and Donetsk. People are still hunkered down in basements in Luhansk and Donetsk," he said. "We have in our planning convoys to go there, I understand, already next week. If everything, againwhether that happens or not depends on the security situation. But it will be ready to go there if we can get there. Laerke said Griffiths is very worried about what might happen in the Russian-speaking regions in eastern Ukraine. Since leaving Ukraine, Griffiths has told media he is not optimistic about a cease-fire. The United States expressed concern Friday about reports of ethnically motivated atrocities in Ethiopia's Tigray region. We note with the utmost alarm that thousands of Ethiopians of Tigrayan ethnicity reportedly continue to be detained arbitrarily in life-threatening conditions in western Tigray, State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement. He said the United States was deeply troubled by the recent findings of a joint report by two leading human rights groups, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, which had found the violence in the region amounted to ethnic cleansing. The report chronicles abuse by forces from the Amhara region, aided by government troops and militia groups. It said hundreds of civilians in western Tigray had been forced from their homes through threats, sexual violence, denial of aid and unlawful killings. It also found evidence of deaths in detention facilities across western Tigray and gang rape by security forces. Researchers said they based their findings on interviews with more than 400 residents of western Tigray. Ethiopias government, while saying it would carefully examine the report, also criticized it for being one-sided. Began in 2020 The conflict in Tigray began in late 2020 between the Ethiopian federal government and a local military force, the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front, and has since exploded into a civil war that has forced 2 million people from their homes. Ethnic tensions between the region's Amhara and Tigray communities have spanned decades. The United States urged the immediate release of people detained arbitrarily in western Tigray and demanded international monitors be granted access to all detention facilities, according to Price. It is the U.S. position that there be credible investigations into and accountability for atrocities committed by any party to the conflict, Price said. Aid agencies have struggled to gain access to the millions in need of humanitarian assistance in Tigray because of restrictions by the government and militia groups. The United Nations and humanitarian partners have not been able to move any further aid into Tigray by road since April 2, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Friday. The April convoy's arrival was the first time U.N. supplies had entered Tigray by road since mid-December, he added. Dujarric said food had reached only 1.2 million out of a target of 5.2 million people who should be receiving food aid in the region every six weeks. Some information for this report came from Reuters. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken says new weapons are being delivered to Ukrainian forces with a "strong sense of urgency". Ukraine's foreign minister told NATO that the coming battles against invading Russian forces will resemble "World War II." Page Content Types of Elections Learn more about the 3 types of elections: General elections General elections are always held the first Tuesday, after the first Monday, in November. In a general election, Pennsylvanians vote for federal, state, and local officials, including: U.S. senators and U.S. representatives to Congress Pennsylvania governor, lieutenant governor, general assembly, attorney general, auditor general, state treasurer County and city officials (only elected in odd-numbered years) Judges and magisterial district judges (only elected in odd-numbered years) In odd-numbered years, like 2021, these November elections are also called municipal elections because there are no federal or state office on the ballot. Every four years, the General Election is also a presidential election. Primary elections Primary elections in Pennsylvania are held on the third Tuesday of May in most years. In presidential years, the primary election is held on the fourth Tuesday of April. In a primary election, each political party selects its candidates to run for office during the general election. The candidates who get the highest number of votes in the primary election go on to run in the general election . Voters also vote for their partys officers during a primary election. In Pennsylvania, you can only vote for the candidates in the same political party you have named in your voter registration. For example, if you registered to vote as a member of the Republican Party then you can vote in the Republican primary, but not the Democratic primary. All voters can vote on: constitutional amendments, ballot questions, and any special election contests held at the same time as a primary election. Special elections Pennsylvania holds special elections when someone in office can no longer serve. This may happen when someone resigns, dies, or gets removed from office. Voters must select someone to replace that person. Special elections may be held: during a general election during a primary election on a different day designated by the elections office The county or counties running the special election must advertise the date and locations for the special election, as well as the candidates running for office. Everyone who lives in the district the candidates will represent can vote in the special election. Presidential elections and the Electoral College In presidential elections, each political party holds a national convention where they choose their nominee for president. The results of the primary election determine how votes from Pennsylvania are cast at the convention. The nominees from each party run against each other in the general election in November. The president is officially elected by the Electoral College, and not the popular vote. But the popular vote including your vote helps decide which candidate receives Pennsylvania's electoral votes. What is the Electoral College? The Electoral College is a group of citizens known as electors. Electors get appointed by each state to cast votes for the president and vice president of the United States on behalf of the states citizens. Pennsylvania has 20 electoral votes. All 20 of Pennsylvanias electoral votes go to the person who won the popular vote in Pennsylvania. When you cast your vote for president, you tell your states electors to cast their votes for the candidate you chose. In Pennsylvania, each candidate for president chooses a list of electors. The electors for the candidate who wins Pennsylvanias popular vote get to cast their vote for president and vice president. The Constitution created the Electoral College to ensure that each state had a role in selecting the president, no matter its population. Each state has the same number of electoral votes as it has members of Congress. There are a total of 538 votes in the Electoral College. A candidate must win a simple majority - 270 - of those votes to win the election. Learn more about: Horrific scenes of mass murder on the outskirts of Kyiv should appall everybody and surprise nobody. The brutalization of civilians has been the Putin regimes calling card since its inception. Mostly, the world has found it easier to make excuses to get along with Putin than to work against him. One example: In 2015, Germany got about 35% of its natural gas from Russia. In 2021, the figure had jumped to 55%. Berlin is now a major diplomatic obstacle to imposing stiffer sanctions on Russia, and Germany continues to buy Russian gas, oil and coal, to the tune of $2 billion a month. A man holds a banner reading "Putin Murderer" in Polish, during an anti-war rally in front of the Russian Embassy in Warsaw, Poland, April 6. To put this in simplified but accurate terms, Germany having fiercely resisted years of international pressure to lessen its dependence on Russian gas finds itself in the position of funding the Russian state.Surely this cant be the role that Berlin wishes to play. But this requires a clear articulation of Western aims in this crisis. Do we want peace now or at least as soon as possible? Do we want Ukraine to achieve an unmistakable victory over Russia? And do we want Putin to go? The advantage of peace now a cease-fire followed by a negotiated settlement is that it would end both the immediate fighting and the risk of a wider war. These are not small things, and the temptation to seize them will be great, especially if Putin hints at an escalation that terrifies the West. An added temptation is to suppose that Russia has already suffered a strategic defeat, as Antony Blinken argued on CNN Sunday, on the pretense that a truce would represent a victory for both Ukraine and the West while giving Putin the offramp he supposedly needs. Problems with this course of action? It would consolidate most of Russias territorial gains in the war. It would allow Russian forces to continue terrorizing their captive Ukrainian subjects. It would give Putin the chance to present himself as a victor to his domestic audience. And it would provide him with the option to restart the conflict at a future date an exact replay of what happened after Russia's first Ukraine invasion, in 2014. Story continues The second option is to help Ukraine seek a decisive military victory. That would mean more than simply beating back Russian troops in the vicinity of Kyiv. It would also mean clearing them out of every other area theyve seized since February, if not of what Russia seized in 2014. This would require months of bloody fighting, a small but real risk of wider war and the long-term economic consequences of trying to wean the West from Russian energy. It would also require the West to supply Ukraine with the kinds of weaponry it needs to win: anti-ship missiles, high-altitude anti-aircraft missiles, mine-resistant armored personnel carriers and so on. Critics will argue that this option would put Ukraines long-term interests ahead of the Wests immediate ones. But the West also has a profound interest in seeing Russia lose decisively. It would salvage the principle that sovereign borders cannot be changed by force. It would deter similar forms of adventurism, above all a Chinese attempt to take Taiwan. It would send the illiberal nationalists quietly or not so quietly rooting for Putin, from Tucker Carlson at Fox News to Marine Le Pen in France, back to their fever swamps. It could also seriously undermine Putins political grip. To argue that the West has no compelling interest in wanting to see him fall is to pretend that this time, he will slink back into his corner and leave the world alone. This opens the broader question of what else the West can do to accelerate Putins exit. Broaching the topic always risks mindless accusations of seeking regime change, as if anyone seriously contemplates deploying the 82nd Airborne to take the Kremlin. But there is a range of options the West has not yet touched when it comes to Putin. We could turn Russias frozen foreign reserves and other assets into an escrow account for Ukrainian reconstruction, rearmament and refugee resettlement. We could counter the Kremlins dezinformatsiya campaigns in the West with informational campaigns for Russian citizens, particularly when it comes to highlighting their leaders ill-gotten wealth. We could set an ambitious date for placing sanctions on all Russian energy imports. Brussels could invite Kyiv into a formal accession process into the European Union as a sign of moral solidarity. None of these may be a silver bullet when it comes to toppling Putins regime. But regimes that face military defeat, economic impoverishment and global pariahdom as the Soviet Union did by the mid-1980s and Argentina did after its failure in the Falklands are the ones likeliest to fall. The task for the Biden administration is to persuade our allies to pursue all three while the horrors of Bucha remain fresh in our minds. Stephens writes for The New York Times. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Stephens: Biden is still right. Putin has to go. A Washington County man faces multiple felony charges after allegedly chasing down a vehicle and shooting at it because the driver had knocked over his trash can. The man is also accused of injuring a woman by allegedly kicking in the door of a residence in searching for someone in the vehicle that reportedly hit his trash cans. Kyle Joseph Coleman, 35, of Potosi, was charged in Washington County Wednesday with five counts of first-degree assault or attempt, five counts of armed criminal action, second-degree burglary, second-degree assault, and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon (shooting at a motor vehicle). According to a probable cause statement from the Washington County Sheriff's Office, on Monday, Coleman began pursuing a vehicle occupied by four adults and a 4-year-old child after they reportedly knocked over his trash can while turning around in his driveway. The report states Coleman followed the car onto Highway 21 and maneuvered in front of it in an attempt to make them stop on the highway. The driver of the pursued vehicle reportedly did not feel it was safe to stop and attempted to pass Coleman. As the driver tried to pass, Coleman allegedly fired a bullet from a gun in the direction of the fleeing car. Police say the alleged victims were able to separate themselves from Coleman once they reached the city limits of Potosi. Authorities made contact with the alleged victims at a Potosi address and were able to retrieve the projectile out of the passenger door, according to the statement. The report states the incident was initially reported to emergency dispatch by a motorist driving behind Coleman and the vehicle he had been chasing once they had turned onto Highway 21. The witnesses also reportedly managed to record video of the incident through Snapchat. Police obtained the video, and the witnesses who provided it said they had heard gunshots. When reviewing the video, a deputy noted in his report that he could hear a loud pop and smoke coming from the truck, which was consistent with the alleged victims' and witness' statements. After the incident, the report states that Coleman went to a residence outside Potosi once occupied by one of the men in the vehicle he had reportedly been chasing. Once Coleman was reportedly at the house, a woman at the home's front door attempted to close the door to avoid contact. When she closed the door, the report states Coleman kicked the door open with enough force to cause a laceration to the woman's right eyebrow. Coleman then reportedly left the address. On Wednesday, the report states that Coleman contacted police and discussed the incident. Coleman reportedly told authorities that the subjects were messing around his property and he chased them onto Highway 21 but stopped at Old Highway 21. That same day, a deputy reportedly went to Coleman's home asking the man about what had happened. The report states that Coleman told the deputy that he heard the dogs barking and stepped outside to find his trash can knocked over and a car leaving his driveway. He reportedly explained to the deputy that he got into his truck and began chasing the vehicle. The deputy reports that Coleman said he did not follow the car onto Highway 21 and did not have any firearms with him. Coleman repeatedly denied shooting at the vehicle, according to the statement. Coleman reportedly said that when he arrived at the residence outside of Potosi, a man answered the door with a shotgun, so he pushed the door at him in self-defense. When asked about his truck, the report states Coleman told police he left it at his boss' residence. Coleman was arrested and transported to the Washington County Jail, and a $350,000 bond was set in the case. The report states a search warrant for the truck was granted, and investigators collected a gunshot residue testing kit from the truck's cab. No other items of evidentiary value were located inside the motor vehicle, according to police. A review of Coleman's criminal history showed prior convictions for third-degree domestic assault and fourth-degree domestic assault stemming from a purported physical altercation with his girlfriend. The criminal complaint filed in the case indicates that Coleman is currently on probation for the fourth-degree domestic assault case. The man reportedly faces one year in jail if his probation in the case is revoked. The court filing notes that Coleman faces a potential sentence of 202 years in prison if convicted of the charges in the newly filed case. Bobby Radford is a reporter for the Daily Journal. He can be reached at bradford@dailyjournalonline.com Love 0 Funny 3 Wow 1 Sad 3 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. Placeholder while article actions load About nine months after the Singapore government committed to living with Covid-19, travel is opening up, restrictions on social distancing are being lifted and life is starting to look more like it does in the rest of the world. In a major milestone, one of the busiest land border crossings between Singapore and Malaysia reopened on April 1. Bloomberg Opinion editor Rachel Rosenthal is joined by columnist Daniel Moss, who was on the frontlines of the border reopening in Johor, to discuss the ease of restrictions and what it means for other parts of Asia. This is an edited transcript of their conversation. Rachel Rosenthal: Can you tell us a little bit about why this border is so important and what it looks like on the ground? Daniel Moss: My very strong impression is that this is a recovery in waiting. Southern Malaysia and Singapore are effectively one economy, and businesses got a boost from the opening of the bridge border. It was not, however, a tremendous uplift. Many of the people who flooded across at midnight April 1 were Malaysians working in Singapore who got stuck there during Covid. They reunited with their families. In some instances, people who hadnt seen children since they were born and couldnt take Friday off work but wanted to come across in the wee hours of Friday morning while Singapore was asleep and be back for work the next day just to hold their spouse and newborn. Pretty precious stuff. Advertisement Rosenthal: Is there a global comparison for this Malaysia-Singapore crossing, and what it was like pre-Covid? Moss: Think of the commute between Singapore and Malaysia before Covid as something akin to the commute between New York and New Jersey. Another analogy is border crossings in Southern California or southern Texas where people commute across. Singapore imports water, electricity, labor and many more things from Malaysia. If you look across the waterfront in Singapores northern districts, youll see high-rise condos cluttering the shores of southern Malaysia. Many of those are owned by Singaporeans who would work in Singapore, get in the car and drive across the bridge. Under no scenario in peacetime did people contemplate that land border, which is a bridge border of about 700 meters, being closed. So the closure was a big deal. The reopening is also a pretty big deal. Rosenthal: Why would Malaysias recovery be slow after this reopening, rather than an instant change? Advertisement Moss: Social media certainly from what we could see in Singapore was flooded with images of what this bridge looked like in the minutes after midnight. TikTok memes were flying around of the final countdown, and thousands of motorbikes poured across the bridge to the checkpoints on the Malaysian side. I was expecting, when I arrived Monday from Singapore, to see Johor as a boom town, like all of a sudden the Gold Rush was on again. Thats not what I found. Part of it might be that it was a Monday. The other part is that many of the folks who came across in those early hours and Friday and Saturday were Malaysians, so they werent spending an enormous amount of money. They werent here to spend money. They were here to see friends. They were here to see family, to hold their loved ones. Moss: Rachel, you have done recent international travel. What did that look like? Advertisement Rosenthal: It was nice to see Changi Airport, which is usually bustling, looking closer to what it used to. My family and I went to Sri Lanka for holiday when the kids were on school break. Even before some of the latest announcements, travel within the region was starting to open up. Countries were easing their requirements on what would need to be done to get in and out. Sri Lanka, for example, did not even have a testing requirement for entry. Thats a big, big evolution from what it was just a few months ago, when there were reams of paperwork and all kinds of tests. A lot of these things are now starting to go to the wayside. So, we are getting to a point where travel is starting to look more normal. This is a key reason why people live in Singapore. Its a teeny, tiny island. People live here not only to travel but also to work. They have regional roles and hop to Thailand or Vietnam or, you know, it used to be Hong Kong, and all these things were accessible in a short flight. That aspect of life looks like its just starting to resume. Moss: How much of an existential threat did work from home become for global cities that have based much of their business pitch on being regional hubs? If you can do a job from your living room, why do you need to be in a regional hub? Rosenthal: Part of the appeal of being an expat used to be the idea that you could decide on Thursday you wanted to go to Bangkok, get a cheap flight and go for the weekend. Dan, you wrote a great column on this, arguing that there was no reason to sit here in Singapore, 10,000 miles away from your family, if you couldnt travel. Now I see two different phenomena: One is the battle to get people back into the office, because some companies have to justify their enormous rents and office space. The other is travel. As eager as folks are to travel both for business and pleasure I still sense theres a lot of reluctance to get back into the office. Singaporeans in particular and managers Ive spoken with really liked to work from home, which isnt unlike other folks throughout the world. I think youre going get a pick-up in travel a lot faster than youre going to get people back into the office. Advertisement Moss: One thing that people have mentioned to me is, if you work from home, not only can you wear anything, but you also dont have to wear a mask. Now you do still have to wear masks indoors in Singapore, but things have changed relatively significantly in that department. Rosenthal: Can you describe what youve observed in the relaxed Covid regime in Singapore? Moss: As of Tuesday, March 29, you did not have to wear a mask outside, and social groups of 10 were allowed. Thats up from five. You could have a drink after 10:30 p.m. in a public place. I walked into a bar downtown that night at about 10:25 p.m., thinking I could get a drink. They barely let me in. At 10:35 p.m., there were last orders. Nevertheless, it was great, and it began cautiously. By Saturday night, you could really notice a change. Bars and restaurants were doing brisk business after 10:30 p.m. Ive spoken to quite a few people, and I confess I was among them, who were feeling a little worse for wear Sunday morning, thanks to the relaxation. A lot of food and beverage places had made the 10:30 p.m. closing and social distancing work. Since the relaxation was announced, many people were saying, You know what, were going to stop serving food at 10:30 p.m., but you can still have a drink. The kitchen staff has got used to finishing up things at 10:30 p.m. and going home to maybe see some family members while theyre still awake. In Malaysia, mask-wearing outside is still required. Singapore has relaxed ahead of Malaysia on that front. Advertisement Rosenthal: One of the things I noticed this weekend was music was back on. We did a staycation at Raffles, and at the iconic Long Bar, I could hear music and chatter. Its one of those things you dont totally notice when its gone. All of a sudden, these signs of life, and seeing photos of people on Instagram or social media with their faces clustered together in groups of 10, is a big change. Its going to be a real psychological boost for a lot of folks visiting Singapore. With the resumption of travel, its not only people getting out, but people are coming back in for the first time in what felt like forever. I saw people who were not from Singapore or living here from South Africa, Australia, Spain and Italy. It was really refreshing to see some new life. Rosenthal: Hong Kong is often compared to Singapore. What are your thoughts on how these two cities have diverged? Moss: Singapore is in a pretty sweet spot. Its been proceeding cautiously but consistently over the past couple of months with the reopening. The news from Hong Kong has been largely grim, grim, grim. Hong Kong is putting people into the equivalent of hollowed-out shipping containers, often without Wi-Fi for up to a month for the sin of daring to venture out of a regional connected hub. Singapore hasnt done that, to its enormous credit. Is Singapore going to replace Hong Kong as a financial hub tomorrow? No. Advertisement Rosenthal: Singapore and Hong Kong, I think, have always had a bit of a regional rivalry. Singapore is definitely reopening its making strides, and its going in the right direction. The exceedingly low bar that Hong Kong has set is probably doing Singapore some favors. There are a lot of families that have the choice of living between the two places, and they are picking Singapore. Still, Singapore is going to struggle to catch up with Hong Kong. From the size of Hong Kongs capital markets to its IPOs to trading turnover to basic deal-making I think a lot of that the epicenter is China, and Hong Kong remains the portal. The conclusion I came to is that Hong Kong and Singapore are always going to be complementary. Once Covid is behind us, I hope Hong Kong will get back to where it was. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Advertisement Rachel Rosenthal is an editor with Bloomberg Opinion. Previously, she was a markets reporter and editor at the Wall Street Journal in Hong Kong. Daniel Moss is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Asian economies. Previously he was executive editor of Bloomberg News for global economics, and has led teams in Asia, Europe and North America. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load Shortly after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban notched up a fourth landslide election win, the European Union moved to trigger powers that may ultimately deprive his government of more than 40 billion euros ($44 billion) in funding. The dramatic step shows the frustration among Hungarys neighbors at Orbans gradual consolidation of power and erosion of minority rights. If they succeed and Orban backs down, it would bolster democracy and EU unity. Failure may rekindle talk of Hungarys potential exit from the bloc. 1. Whats the backdrop? Since 2010, Orban has made it harder for independent institutions to hold the government to account. Hes appointed loyalists to the courts, the chief prosecutors office and the countrys media authority. A big parliamentary majority allowed him to write a new constitution that critics condemned as an attack on democracy and human rights. And hes targeted minorities, including the Roma and LGBTQ communities. In 2019, Hungary became the first EU country to lose its rating as a full-fledged democracy at Freedom House, a Washington D.C.-based institution that assesses political systems. Meantime, corruption has flourished, with Transparency International, the graft watchdog, now rating Hungary as the most corrupt country in the EU after Bulgaria. Advertisement 2. How did the EU allow this to happen? While governments must adhere to stringent democratic criteria to gain admission to the worlds largest trading bloc, there have been few tools available to deal with wayward members once theyve joined. The EU did try targeted legal action, but Orban always found a way out -- dragging his feet on demands for change, cutting deals that stopped short of meaningfully rolling back his power and exploiting shortcomings in the blocs own legal charters. Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel also shielded Orban, arguing that pressing him too hard may prompt Hungary to follow the U.K. in its decision to leave the EU. 3. Whats changed? The U.K.s exit from the EU showed the regions leaders that the biggest threat to the blocs future may come from its own members. In 2015, the nationalist Law & Justice party took power in Poland pledging to emulate Orbans policies. In Slovenia, another populist ally of Orban, Janez Jansa, took power. Italys Matteo Salvini and Frances Marine Le Pen have also forged close ties with Orban, seeing in the Hungarian leaders track record a recipe to subvert mainstream politics in their own countries. In response, the European Parliament voted in 2018 to trigger a rule-of-law probe against Hungary on a clear risk of a serious breach of the EUs democratic principles. A new mechanism adopted in 2020 allowed the EU to potentially cut off funding when the blocs financial interests may be undermined. Advertisement 4. How important is EU funding for Hungary? Its crucial. Hungarys share of the 2021-2027 EU budget is 36 billion euros, which is equivalent to about 28% of the countrys gross domestic product in 2020. That year, EU funds made up more than 10% of budget revenue. Theres also the question of Hungarys 7.2 billion-euro share of pandemic recovery funds. The EU has delayed the release of Hungarys portion, citing corruption concerns. When European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on April 5 that she was unleashing the mechanism for reining in nations that violate the EUs core values, it sent Hungarys forint plunging 2% against the euro. 5. How did Hungarys government react? At first, Orbans ministers attacked the EU decision, calling it a political move to help the defeated opposition. Orban struck a more diplomatic tone, saying he believed Hungarian and EU officials were close to resolving their disagreements. The government tried to reassure investors, saying any potential financial penalties would need to be proportional and targeted and shouldnt affect Hungarys pandemic funds. Advertisement 6. What happens next? Hungary has two months to respond to EU concerns, and Brussels could still row back if Orban makes concessions. If he doesnt, heads of government would vote at a summit on a funding freeze. To pass, the measure would need leaders representing at least 65% of the blocs population to vote in favor. 7. Is Poland on the same path? Not quite. The European Commission has also delayed the release of pandemic recovery aid to Poland because of concerns over the independence of its judiciary. But corruption is seen as less of a problem than in Hungary. And Russias invasion of Ukraine has given Poland, Ukraines direct neighbor, an incentive to improve ties with Brussels. Its taken in more than 2 million refugees fleeing the war and led the way in urging a tougher line against Russian President Vladimir Putin. On the day she announced the move against Hungary, von der Leyen said the bloc was close to releasing the pandemic funds to Warsaw. That suggests the bloc may be trying to isolate Poland from Orban, the EU leader with the closest ties to Putin. Advertisement 8. Could Hungary one day leave the EU? In his post-election news conference, Orban said Hungary intends to remain in the EU. Its export-oriented economy relies heavily on the free movement of goods and services, and the conflict raging in neighboring Ukraine has given Hungarians a sense of what might happen if they werent in the EU and the NATO military alliance. If the EU holds to its demands, its hard to see Orban willingly unwinding the changes of the past decade and launching a campaign against corruption: The ruling elite and its business allies are the biggest beneficiaries of his tenure. If the EU keeps up its criticism, Hungary may re-evaluate its membership at the end of the decade when its expected to become a net contributor to the blocs budget, Finance Minister Mihaly Varga said last year. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load Obituaries of residents from the District, Maryland and Northern Virginia. Eric Simmons, janitor Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Eric Simmons, 67, a native Washingtonian who spent much of his career as a janitor, mostly recently at George Washington University, died March 20 at a hospital in Washington. The cause was complications of diabetes, said a niece, Micola Glasgow. Joseph Humphrey, teacher Joseph Humphrey, 90, a Washington native who taught at Perry Elementary School, the Franklin Adult Education Center and other D.C. public schools for 32 years before retiring in 1993, died March 9 at his home in Glenarden, Md. The cause was congestive heart failure, said his daughter Pamela Humphrey. Paul Sullivan, landscaper Paul Sullivan, 63, a landscaper at the University of Maryland for 30 years, died March 11 at a hospital in Washington. The cause was a stroke, said a son, Byron Sullivan. Advertisement Mr. Sullivan, who lived in Hyattsville, Md., was born in Largo, Md. James Turner, lawyer, consumer advocate James Turner, 81, a Washington lawyer and consumer advocate who practiced for more than 50 years in Washington, died Jan. 25 at his home in the District. The cause was a heart attack, said his life partner and co-partner in his law firm, Betsy Lehrfeld. Mr. Turner was born in Columbus, Ohio, moved to the Washington area in 1969 and worked for consumer advocate Ralph Nader for three years. In 1973, he became a partner in the law firm Swankin and Turner, with which he would be affiliated until his death. He represented individual consumers and consulted with businesses on consumer policies, and he held special assignments with congressional committees. In 1978, Mr. Turner founded and became president of the not-for-profit National Institute for Science, Law and Public Policy. He was also chairman of Citizens for Health, helped launch Consumers for Dental Choice, and was a consultant and adviser to government committees. John Heritage, environmental journalist John Heritage, 82, an environmental reporter who spent a decade as an editor with EPA Journal before the publication closed in 1994, died March 8 at a hospital in Washington. The cause was complications of Parkinsons disease, said a brother, Joseph Heritage. Mr. Heritage, a District resident, was born in Petersburg, Va. Early in his career, he was a newspaper reporter, press aide in the 1968 presidential campaign of Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, and an assistant to Sen. Gaylord Nelson (D-Wis.), whom he helped with the first Earth Day observance. From staff reports GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load Obituaries of residents from the District, Maryland and Northern Virginia. John Crawford Jr., DOE official, Navy captain Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight John Crawford Jr., 102, a retired U.S. Navy captain who worked as a civilian with the Energy Department and its predecessor agencies, died Feb. 28 at a seniors community in Kensington, Md. The cause was pneumonia, said a daughter, Carol Crawford. Capt. Crawford, a resident of Rockville, Md., was born in Andover, Mass. He served in the Navy from 1939 until retiring in 1963 as deputy assistant chief of the Bureau of Ships. He later was principal deputy assistant secretary for nuclear energy from 1978 to 1981 and then served on the board of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board. Roger Charles, Marine, journalist Roger Charles, 76, a retired U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant colonel and Vietnam War veteran who pursued a second career as an investigative journalist specializing in military and national security affairs, died Feb. 17 at a hospital in Alexandria, Va. The cause was a cardiopulmonary attack, said a daughter, Katherine Charles. Advertisement Col. Charles, an Alexandria resident, was born in El Paso and raised in Williamson, W.Va. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1967. During the Vietnam War, he served as a platoon leader in combat operations that followed the 1968 Tet offensive by the North Vietnamese forces. He retired from the military in 1990. He worked in the early 1990s with the National Security News Service, collaborating with Newsweek magazine to help expose the USS Vincenness downing of an Iranian civilian airliner in 1988 and Chief of Naval Operations Jeremy M. Boordas use of combat decorations he may not have been entitled to wear. Boorda committed suicide amid the investigation in 1996. Col. Charles later did a variety of freelance work for CBS News, notably on an award-winning expose of abuse by U.S. military personnel at the Abu Ghraib prison facility in Iraq. He was a consultant for the ABC News program 20/20 on coverage of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and co-wrote Oklahoma City: What the Investigation Missed and Why It Still Matters (2012). Col. Charles was a co-founder of Soldiers for the Truth (now Stand for the Troops), a nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to promoting grunts issues, as Col. Charles called them, such as failure to provide the best battle equipment for combat soldiers. From staff reports GiftOutline Gift Article A rendering of the Allegheny Lock and Dam #2 project to electrify a dam near Highland Park Bridge in Pittsburgh. (Photo illustration by Rye Development) Out of about 90,000 dams in the nation, few generate hydropower. A push to retrofit nonpowered dams could change that. DEAR ABBY: I'm in a seven-year relationship with a beautiful woman I love and would do anything in the world for. I feel she would do the same for me. She has a dog, "Preston," who she loves and who has been with her since puppyhood. At 16, Preston is failing badly and is on his last legs. There is no doubt his time is coming. We had planned on meeting my son and grandchildren for a family celebration after a seven-hour drive. Her plan was to accompany me, but now, because of Preston's condition, she has changed her mind. I understand that. However, she's now angry that I am going alone. I spend every day with her and go out of my way always to support her. She has no grandchildren, having lost her only daughter two decades ago. I will be gone for only a weekend and return in plenty of time to be with her afterward. I haven't seen my three granddaughters in a year, and who knows when I will again. Should I feel guilty about leaving her and the dog? I am stuck in the middle here, and am going to upset her or my son's family no matter what I do. -- MAN IN THE MIDDLE DEAR MAN: You stated that your significant other's only child died 20 years ago. It is possible that puppy Preston became like a child to her, and losing him is causing her to revisit the loss of her daughter. If there is any way to manage it, postpone the visit with your son and his family until later in the year, after Preston's passing, or have them come to you. If that's not possible, because it's only a weekend, go see your son and your grandkids but remain in contact with her from afar during the visit. DEAR ABBY: My first husband was abusive, and I divorced him after less than four years of marriage. We had two daughters. In 2016, I remarried, this time to a loving, caring man. My oldest daughter was my maid of honor. A year after our wedding, she married her soul mate. Her father and I, including our current spouses, paid for their reception. Since 2017, this daughter has continually asked us for financial assistance. At first we helped, but after a terrible argument, we drew the line, and she decided to sever our relationship completely. She sees us occasionally during holidays and is cordial, but she doesn't call or text for my birthday or Mother's Day, which is very hurtful. I don't know where to turn, except to pray. I don't want to be estranged anymore. I miss her terribly, but do not want to be financially taken advantage of any longer. Any advice would help. -- HEARTBROKEN IN DELAWARE DEAR HEARTBROKEN: Would you really like to receive birthday and Mother's Day greetings knowing they didn't come from the heart and that you were paying for them? This is what your daughter's actions have revealed. You have not caused this estrangement; she has, because you turned off the spigot. I'm sure you are hurting, because that is what your daughter intends. Since prayer hasn't helped you cope with this, consult a licensed mental health professional, and I suspect you will have better results. You have my sympathy. DEAR ABBY: My husband passed away four months ago, after battling cancer for years. He declined in a month, and we chose hospice at home. (I did not find them particularly caring or helpful.) This was even more depressing because it happened during COVID. After my husband's death, all the emotional support stopped -- no family visits and no phone calls. If I don't text, I have no contact with anyone. After a marriage of 55 years, I am now totally isolated and alone. I have meltdowns at times over nothing. Sleep escapes me. Grief counseling is shut down except for Zoom, and I don't have a computer. I know it takes years to adjust to a new way of life, but my mobility issues aren't helping. I was always independent; now I feel like a burden. It takes me forever to get around. Abby, I'm not sure how to proceed from here. Any suggestions for moving forward? -- TOO MUCH CHANGE IN FLORIDA DEAR TOO MUCH CHANGE: Yes, I do! Place a call to your physician and tell them what's going on. Because you have no computer, peer-to-peer grief counseling by phone may be an option. There might be help for your sleep problems as well. As to your meltdowns, in time they will lessen. But you must accept that grieving is a process that takes time. When you feel isolated, do you pick up the phone and call others, or do you expect them to do the calling? A step toward healthy independence would be to make yourself reach out and communicate with others. You might also consider adopting a dog, which would not only force you to get out of the house -- which is healthy -- but also give you an opportunity to meet others. I know it's sometimes an effort to just get out of bed. But if you start doing these things, they are all steps in the right direction and will help you to reclaim your life. DEAR ABBY: When I texted my faraway sibling, "Pat," to thank them for a thoughtful gift I really liked, they said, "Oh no, the mailing labels for the boxes mailed to you and our other sibling must have been mixed up." Then Pat insisted I immediately trade gifts with our sibling. Pat immediately contacted our mutual sibling's spouse to inform them of the mix-up rather than trust me to handle the situation. Am I wrong to feel that Pat should have left well enough alone, since I had expressed appreciation for the gift, and sent a similarly thoughtful gift to its intended sibling to rectify things? I have never been in a situation like this before, but it seems to me that I am getting the short end of the stick. -- MIXED-UP OVER THE MIXUP DEAR MIXED-UP: Not knowing the discrepancy between the gift you received and the one your sibling received, I can't judge whether you got "the short end of the stick." But Pat should have replaced the gift received by the sibling rather than insist you relinquish the one you received. I don't blame you for being offended. The way Pat handled the situation was beyond rude. DEAR ABBY: I have two younger sisters -- "Mara" and "Talia." We grew up very close, thick as thieves. However, as adults, my relationship with Mara has gone from strained to nonexistent, especially as I've grown closer to my youngest sister, Talia. Mara gave birth to her first child five years ago, and since then, she has cut everyone out of her life, including our heartbroken parents. I was able to stay in contact with her, but she would accuse me of not wanting to see her because I couldn't make time in my schedule to see her kids. (I am a full-time student and have a full-time job.) Bear in mind that Mara has made no effort to meet my schedule, either. She finally cut all ties with me after Talia and I got matching tattoos centered around video games -- a subject Mara has no interest in. She was upset that we didn't invite her to get one too, but we didn't think she would want a permanent inking of something she had shown distaste for in the past. We invited her to get sister tattoos when she said she was hurt. She said she didn't have time because of her kids, and hasn't spoken to me since. I feel like nothing I do will make her happy. Am I better off not having her in my life? Or should I try to make amends? -- SISTER STRESS IN UTAH DEAR SISTER STRESS: You have done nothing for which to make amends. It appears you have one high-maintenance sister who looks for grievances and hangs on to them as though they are precious treasures. I suspect you are correct in thinking nothing you do will make her happy, at least at this point, and -- since you asked -- you may be better off without her making you miserable. I am sorry for your parents and for you and Talia, but sometimes it's better to let sleeping dogs lie. DEAR ABBY: Our wonderful daughter married her college sweetheart two years ago. We paid for the wedding. I have been noticing that everything he does is for his benefit. When he comes to our house, he plops down on the couch with his cellphone in hand until the food is ready. As soon as the food is on the table, his hands are ready to serve himself. Once meals are finished, he runs straight back to the couch. He looks into our fridge before anything is offered because he's hungry. When we go out for food, he leaves the table when the check arrives. (ALWAYS!) My wife gets mad if I mention "your turn" for the check. They both have good jobs, pay a mortgage and splurge if they go out themselves. When we go out together, he orders the most expensive items on the menu. When they invite us, WE pay. I'm tempted not to go out with them again. Am I stingy because I feel resentment? -- FEELING USED IN ILLINOIS DEAR FEELING USED: I don't think so. Not only are you not stingy, you have been more generous than many fathers-in-law would have been. This unfortunate situation might be effectively handled if your wife has a "woman-to-woman" chat with your daughter about her husband's boorish behavior. However, if that doesn't solve the problem, you may have to tolerate the moocher she married, warts and all. A final thought: The next time they invite you out, forget your credit cards on purpose. DEAR ABBY: I have a wonderful neighbor who loves to give me beautifully arranged bouquets of flowers. The problem is, although I appreciate her very much, I do not enjoy receiving flowers because I don't like seeing them die. My husband knows this. Also, I don't have enough room for all the vases. I'm not unappreciative, but I don't know how to let her know I no longer want flowers as gifts. I would like to be as tactful as possible without hurting her feelings. Please help. -- OVERWHELMED IN ARIZONA DEAR OVERWHELMED: Invite your generous neighbor to lunch and give her a small gift. (Candy, perhaps.) During the lunch thank her for her kindness and praise her for her flower arranging talent, but add that WATCHING THEM DIE DEPRESSES YOU, and to please stop. Ask if she would like you to return her vases you have collected, and if she says yes, have them boxed and ready to give her after the lunch. If she refuses your offer, find out if a neighborhood florist can use them. If not, recycle or toss them. Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069 Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The 2016 article describes an authoritative, constant, remote woman. Barnes, as no one but himself distinguished cerebral writer was painstakingly conjuring her as he wrote. The writing was fond but, more interestingly, it was puzzled. The puzzle has now been recast as fiction. Elizabeth Finch is about the most un-self-pitying person I have ever met. She knew the world to be unfair, and thought it naive of anyone else not to see that. She was, in her deepest self, a stoic. This is not a line from Julian Barnes novel Elizabeth Finch, but from an obituary he wrote about his friend, the art historian and novelist Anita Brookner. She died in 2016. But it is a precise description of the fictional Finch from the eponymous novel. Finch is the lecturer on culture and civilisation on an adult-education course that Neil, the narrator, is taking. She expects dialogue with her students, telling them that collaboration is the best way to teach. She also says this: Be approximately satisfied with approximate happiness. The only thing in life which is clear and beyond doubt is unhappiness. It is the 1980s, and afterwards the class goes to the pub. Without their teacher. Elizabeth in a pub is unimaginable. Unimaginable or not, she is with them because she is the essential topic of conversation. We responded to her like kids back at school, notes Neil. Julian Barnes, appearing at the Sydney Writers Festival in 2016. What this diverse group see in their teacher is that same starry quality that touches us, if we are lucky, once in our lives. It is the glamour of knowledge delivered with certainty. So much for collaboration. Elizabeth Finch, romantic pessimist, does not suit everyone in the class, but for Neil she is the real, remarkable thing. Finally, he has arrived at the right place. Ghastly pun, but Neil does metaphorically kneel before his teacher. His humility is appealing. Neils life is not straightforward. Hes a trained actor, but after spending too much time being a waiter, he and his family move to the country and grow mushrooms for restaurants. Neils profession provides the best line in the book, from Elizabeth: Acting? The perfect example of artificiality producing authenticity. Elizabeth herself is always impeccably staged. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Afterwards, it was the security guards that Albert Bourla remembered. It was Sunday, November 8, 2020, 13.27 US Eastern Standard Time. Bourla, the chief executive officer of Pfizer, had called his executive team to the office in Connecticut. There, they awaited the results of their vaccine trial. Some 46,000 patients had been recruited in six countries. Billions had been invested. Manufacturing of the vaccines had already begun. Now, this was the first opportunity to see if it had all been for nothing. Over the weekend, statisticians had been rushing to analyse the interim data. Would it be good enough to continue the trial? Would it be bad enough that they had to abandon it? Would it be so good that they declared victory then and there? Later, Bourla would discover that the entire process of analysing the data had nearly been held up because one member of the data monitoring board the independent statisticians who sift through trial results had lost his Wi-Fi connection. This statistician had driven around town in a panic at 1.30am seeking a hotspot, until finding an intermittent signal at a petrol station. A police officer, suspicious, had asked him what he was doing. When the officer heard the answer, he stayed with him until the last packet of data was transferred at 4.30am. There, in that small, glass-walled office, Bourla and his team at last learnt what that statistician had sent on and the history of a pandemic swerved. We had no idea what the results would be, he says, speaking from the same office. It was a great, great day. Yolanda Lyle, Bourlas chief of staff, appeared with a bottle of chilled champagne she had been quietly preparing. Watching on were the executive protection officers his constant companions, impassive and silent, just as they were trained to be. But, recalls Bourla, what he remembers is these officers. They had realised what was happening, and you could feel that they were seriously moved. One of them, he says, looked like he almost had tears in his eyes. The distribution of his vaccine who got it, who didnt get it would move markets and politics. This was not just a corporate victory, although it was clearly that. It was not just a global victory, although it was that too. In the months that followed, Bourla would speak to most of the leaders in the world. The distribution of his vaccine who got it, who didnt get it would move markets and politics. It would be invoked by leaders seeking re-election, and by leaders seeking distraction from, for example, prosecco bottles and broken swings. Advertisement But seeing the reaction of his security guards that afternoon reminded Bourla it was also, though, a victory that affected everyone. His own family his wife and grown-up twins would get the Pfizer vaccine. Their freedom, your freedom, the security guards freedom, would be to a large degree determined by its success. Previously, Pfizer was best known for erection pills. Now it would be best known for helping end a pandemic. It became obvious at a certain point that we were the drivers of the largest hope for the most important thing in the world at that time, says Bourla. And you can feel that weight on your shoulders. For now, they had champagne. The security guards, professional as ever, did not. And the weight was only going to increase. Believe it or not, says Bourla, with all the enthusiasm of a wide-eyed immigrant, in New York you can find whatever you want. Anything that one can create, you will find it here. In March 2020, eight months before that momentous day in his Connecticut office, what he wanted, as a relatively new CEO, was to find a way to thank his team. He had been restructuring the company and he was looking for a way to acknowledge that they had been under stress. He also wanted perhaps to apologise for the fact that he had been the cause of much of that stress. That was when he found the Break Bar, a normal bar that serves normal drink but with the twist that you get to smash up the glass afterwards and depending on the package you choose the room, too. When there is anxiety, marvels Bourla, as if describing the American dream, you can go, and for a small fee you can break everything. Advertisement Bourla, 60, has been with Pfizer for half his life and the company in turn has made him a citizen of the world. He was born in Greece, the son of two of the last of Thessalonikis Jews. He always knew that his parents existence, and hence his, hinged on the banality of random fate. During the German occupation, his father hid in Athens pretending to be ethnically Greek calling himself Kostas rather than Mois. His mother went into hiding in Thessaloniki and was captured and arrested towards the end of the war. Her elder sister had married a Christian, who bribed the senior Nazi in the city, extracting the promise she would not be executed. The elder sister, Bourlas aunt, did not trust the commander. Each day she went to see prisoners being loaded onto a truck, to be taken to be shot. One day, she saw her sister among them. Her husband bravely called the Nazi with whom he had made the deal. Bourlas mother was saved with minutes to go, pulled back from the wall against which she was due to be murdered. He spent the first half of his life in Greece. But when he joined Pfizer, he and his wife, Myriam, began to travel with the job. Their own children were born in Poland twins Mois and Selise. During the birth, Selise suffered a lack of oxygen, and as a result has cerebral palsy; Myriam, Bourla says, devoted herself from then on to ensuring it would not affect her life chances. There would be other countries and other, increasingly senior postings. Until, in January 2019, he took over as CEO in the US. Albert Bourla: It became obvious at a certain point that we were the drivers of the largest hope for the most important thing in the world at that time. Credit:Bryan Derballa/Redux/Headpress He never got to smash up the bar. Nor did his staff ever get to relieve that anxiety. Before they could enjoy Bourlas very Greek ideas about what to do with crockery, lockdown came and the really stressful work began. Across the company, employees began to work from home. Bourla himself asked to visit one of Pfizers manufacturing sites. The request was refused; the CEO of the company was not deemed an essential worker. Advertisement In a call a few weeks earlier, he had already promised then US president Donald Trump that the company would work on a vaccine. Now it needed to find one. And find is the right word. There is a great injustice that we call it the Pfizer vaccine. Pfizer did not create the vaccine, nor engage in the decades of research that made it possible. It did not spend years in the scientific wilderness, refining and investing in a technology many had begun to suspect would not work. Instead, in the spring of 2020, Bourla got in touch with BioNTech, a German company that had done all those things. Founded by a Turkish couple called Ugur Sahin and Ozlem Tureci, its main focus was on treating cancer. But Sahin and Tureci had faith that a particular molecule called RNA, a kind of genetic code, could change medicine. They believed that by encasing this molecule in droplets of fat and transporting it to our cells it could hack our cellular machinery, exploiting it for whatever we chose. It could make proteins to defeat cancer or they believed it could make coronavirus proteins, to train our bodies to defeat the real thing. Believed, though, is the operative word BioNtech had never made a successful product in its history. Ugur Sahin and Ozlem Tureci, founders of BioNTech, the company Pfizer worked with on the vaccine. The crucial advantage of BioNTechs messenger RNA or mRNA approach was speed. Credit:Getty Images For Bourla, who had rejected government funding, it was a massive punt of shareholders cash. But it was not a stupid one. Yes, there were more reliable vaccine technologies. There werent faster ones, though. The key, crucial advantage of BioNTechs messenger RNA or mRNA approach was speed. If it worked, it would be available sooner than any other. He called Sahin and they agreed on a deal. It would be weeks before they had the paperwork science, manufacturing and trials can be sped up, lawyers cant so they just did whatever the Zoom version is of shaking on it, and got to work. Advertisement If calling it the Pfizer vaccine is unfair, though, so too would be calling it merely the BioNTech vaccine. At the start, says Bourla, We had nothing but problems. There was a concept that maybe RNA can be put in lipid nanoparticles and that can go into the cells of humans, and then they can produce a protein that will probably make your body produce antibodies, and that could control the virus. That was a nice concept. And for years, people were trying to do it and they couldnt. Everything beyond the idea, says Bourla, was in the imagination. It wasnt just that nobody had shown that the concept worked. Nobody had manufactured an mRNA vaccine in enough quantity to be able to do so. Pfizer had to do everything. They had to write software to direct the mRNA molecule into the little particle of fat. They had to build the machines to apply the software to making enough for a dose, and then a million doses. Take just one stage in the process: delivery. The technology was so new that they did not have time to test how well the mRNA survived. To play it safe, they were going to transport it at minus 70 degrees. How? They designed a special box, filled with dry ice, a thermometer, a GPS and a light detector. It would transmit its location and temperature and they would know centrally if it had been opened. They did a back-of-an-envelope calculation. They would need 2 per cent of the dry-ice supply of the United States, and the cold-chain costs could be $US2 billion (about $2.7 billion). All of it would be written off if the vaccine failed. And even if it didnt, it would be pointless if they couldnt make enough. A dry-ice manufacturing process: without the time to assess how well the new vaccine would survive distribution, Pfizer chose to transport it at minus 70C, which required 2 per cent of the USs dry-ice supply. Credit:Alamy The year before had been a big one for vaccines at Pfizer. It had made 200 million doses of various vaccines. If, says Bourla, he had told his team that that year they needed to make 300 million, clearly it would be very challenging. They would squeeze in more equipment, look to optimise processes, maybe try to build another factory. They would, though, quite probably fail at least, in the first year. He wanted three billion doses. In a way, thats easier. If you tell them, I want you to do 20 times more, suddenly they start rethinking from scratch. Rather than building new factories, they made prefabricated modules. The police closed the highway so that these huge units could be transported to the manufacturing site at Kalamazoo, Michigan. Advertisement Hot on the heels of Prima Facies West End debut is a play about another legal subject, the late US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Also a one-woman play, RBG: Of Many, One, will premiere at the Sydney Theatre Company (STC) in October, marking Millers debut for the company. While its too early to confirm anything, there are also strong hopes RBG will tour nationally and beyond. Meanwhile, two of Millers other plays, Dust and Caress/Ache, are being read with a view to being made into films. As it was, her dramatic critique landed at just the right moment, in the wake of a global turbocharging of the #MeToo movement. Prima Facie had a triumphant run in 2019 at Sydneys Griffin Theatre and carried all before it at the 2020 Australian Writers Guild awards, where it won the three top prizes. Ahead of its London premiere, theatres both on and off-Broadway as well as in Europe and Scandinavia have expressed interest in taking the show. I do believe in the concept of innocent until proved guilty, but at the same time I dont think the adversarial criminal system is a forum fit for purpose when it comes to sexual assault. I thought that as a former criminal defence lawyer, I would be criticised for questioning some of the principles of the justice system, says the 58-year-old, who swapped the law for full-time playwriting in 2010. I do believe in the concept of innocent until proved guilty, but at the same time I dont think the adversarial criminal system is a forum fit for purpose when it comes to sexual assault. Cross-examination is intended to undermine the memory [of the victim] and to capitalise on the stereotypes that exist around rape culture and myths. Millers story of a barrister adept at defending men accused of sexual assault who finds herself a victim of the same crime has resonated in British legal circles even before it opens. At the heart of her drama is a challenge: how can the court system better serve victims of sexual assault, so often the losers in courtroom battles of he said/she said, vexed by the thorny question of consent. She knew she was prodding the sleeping lion of judicial process when she wrote it. When I call Miller to set up our interview, shes just back from a visit to Londons central criminal court, along with the plays director, Justin Martin, where she was due to talk to a QC about script changes that might be needed for a British audience. Or so she thought. We rock up at the Old Bailey, says Miller, to find ourselves at a formal lunch with silver service and a room full of silks and judges. Im wearing my jeans, Justins in a beanie, but they are so nice to us and so interested in the play, and theyve all bought their tickets. It is mid-March in England, spring is in the air and Australian lawyer turned writer Suzie Miller has arrived in London to begin rehearsals for her much-garlanded play, Prima Facie, due to open at the 800-seat Harold Pinter theatre for previews next week, ahead of an April 27 premiere. Posters depicting the face of Killing Eves Jodie Comer, making her stage debut in this one-woman show, are already stamped Sold Out. Suzie Miller grew up in Melbournes inner-city St Kilda with a younger brother and sister; her father Robert was an engineer, her mother Elaine on home duties. They came from humble backgrounds, one grandfather was a plumber, the other a forklift driver, she explains. My parents worked really hard to get ahead, scrimped and saved; I had so many jobs all through school and bought all my own clothes. I meet Miller at the studios in Southwark, just south of the Thames, where Prima Facie is in its second week of rehearsals. Theres a lot going on the stage manager is stuck at home with COVID, the company is worried about infection spreading but Miller, wrapped in a shaggy jacket of pink faux fur, her blonde hair worn long, is relaxed, disarmingly warm and entirely focused. As the conversation rolls on, Im struck by her ambition and calm sense of her own worth. She has been so uncelebrated in Australia till now, says one of her inner coterie of besties, the actor Heather Mitchell, who will play Ginsburg in the STC production. Yet she keeps going, always has ideas brimming. Another friend, fellow playwright Hilary Bell, attributes Millers current run of success in part to her temperament. She never seems intimidated or daunted by obstacles, and doesnt take no for an answer. Suzie Miller has written 40 plays in her 22-year writing career, a number of which have been staged internationally. But 2022, everyone agrees, is shaping up as her breakthrough year. The family returned to Melbourne for Millers high-school years, when her mother threw herself into local politics, becoming a councillor and, later, the first female mayor of St Kilda. I was tremendously proud of her, she says. It was like a movie, really she used to say, if her father Jack could see her hosting the Anzac Day Memorial at the St Kilda RSL he would never have believed it. She did it all on her wit, her smarts and her way with people. The only kids who accepted her were three Indigenous girls. When school was out at 2pm, I took to going to Yirrkala Mission with them, and a whole world opened up. Laughing kids jumping in the water, green frogs, bushlands, Aboriginal stories and a whole language Id never heard before. The deal was I could play with them if I did everyones maths homework, but eventually they were real friendships. At school, she was bullied remorselessly. Money was tight, so my mother with her well-known frugality made me wear my gingham Catholic school dress. Im sure I would have been a freak there anyway as I didnt have the street smarts the others had, but the dress was a disaster. Miller was nine when the family moved to the small mining town of Nhulunbuy in the Northern Territory, where they lived in portable housing and her father worked at the aluminium mine. Millers mother, meanwhile, was the light of her life. She was the parent singing in the kitchen when you walked in from school. She was really smart and greatly regretted having had to leave school under pressure from her family to work. My father was not able to express emotions well, but the thing we had in common was mathematics; we loved working out maths problems together. Her cousin Jenny Cooney lived in the same street; their mothers were sisters. We were very close, Cooney tells me via the phone from LA, where she works as a film producer. Suzie is the over-achiever in our family, always having 10 ideas before breakfast. Upon qualifying, Miller was recruited by top-tier law firm Freehills (now Herbert Smith Freehills) but left after 18 months to work for the Aboriginal Legal Service in inner Sydneys Redfern. I was not cut out for corporate law and was restless and bored. Tessa, the protagonist in Prima Facie, comes from a working-class background and has had to compete with privileged students and colleagues to get where she is. Jodie [Comer] is also from a working-class family in [north-west Englands] Liverpool, says Miller, and understands how inherent it is to the story. After a gap year in London, she elected to do her law degree at the University of NSW. I could be anonymous there; in Melbourne if people knew where I grew up and went to school, it would hold me back. People talk about Australia being classless; it absolutely is not. Instead, she studied science at Monash University, majoring in immunology and microbiology. She rejected the offer of a PhD At that stage, I realised lab life was not for me; the other people, mostly male, were very quiet, always peering into microscopes and opted instead for law school. I was quite opinionated and longed for rigorous discussion. Miller talks as she writes, fluently and expressively, barely pausing for breath. At Presentation College Windsor, the former Melbourne Catholic girls school, talking was her special talent, along with science and art. The careers adviser suggested hairdressing would combine these three attributes. Miller based the character of the mother in Prima Facie on Elaine, who died in 2019, of ovarian cancer, while the play was in rehearsal. I miss her dreadfully. She showed up for all my plays and loved everything I wrote. It was here that she dealt with the constant stream of sexual assault cases that would eventually provide material for her plays. Sometimes the assault had happened way in the past, she says, but the aftermath was the same: incredible self-blame, shame, embarrassment. They would take drugs to block it out; it affected their sexuality and sense of power in the world. I would go home massively traumatised. These were really hard cases, she explains, too complicated for Legal Aid; they were homeless, on drugs, lots of young women working in the sex industry, boys too, working on the Wall [Sydneys infamous gay prostitution strip], very broken young people. It was like working in the accident and emergency department of the law; we were in multiple courts every day, running hearings, dealing with serious situations and awful stories. Miller with and her husband Robert Beech-Jones, a NSW Supreme Court judge: He understood how hard it was to be in the law and not have connections. Credit:Courtesy of Suzie Miller When she recovered, she married Beech-Jones, resumed her masters, and worked as a childrens lawyer at Sydneys Marrickville Legal Centre. She was on maternity leave with their first child, Gabriel, when she was offered a job share, working half the week at Shopfront Youth Legal Centre, a resource for young people funded by her former employers, Freehills, and based in Kings Cross, Sydneys red-light district, where she defended clients and sought compensation for victims. In 1995, now aged in her early 30s, Miller was working while studying at UNSW for a masters in theatre and film on the side then a secret love of mine when she contracted viral encephalitis. I lost the feeling down one side, had strange neurological effects and was so sick I couldnt work for a year, she says. It was the most vulnerable time in her life. Id been working since I was 12, and suddenly I could do nothing. I was terrified; I think my life fell apart, actually. He was a baby barrister, offered as the only one prepared to act for no fee for an Aboriginal client of mine. I thought, Oh, the guy with the posh name, but there was nothing posh about him; his grandfather had been a Welsh coalminer, his parents had immigrated young, and hed grown up one of four boys in western Tasmania. He understood hardship, he understood how hard it was to be in the law and not have connections, not come from the right families. She moved from there to the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, a not-for-profit promoting social justice through changes in law, where she met her future husband, Robert Beech-Jones, now a NSW Supreme Court judge. What she saw made her anxious about her own youngsters, Gabriel and Sasha. All the files I read and children I represented meant I was never comfortable letting them do sleepovers, she says. I had too much information about what can happen in an instant in a seemingly harmless sleepover. So they never did. She recalls the period clearly. I remember Robert coming to pick me up one day, and I was dealing with someone in the middle of a psychotic breakdown, with another who was bleeding, and yet another having had an overdose but not yet high enough to call an ambulance. I remember telling Robert to ask the young man who had taken the drugs to tell him his name every two minutes and if he didnt, to call me urgently. I remember the shock on Roberts face at all that was happening and I realised, My law life is not normal. I was becoming so accustomed to emergencies and serious life-and-death situations that I didnt know any different. Miller was using the non-working half of her week to study playwriting at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA). She drew on her work at Shopfront to write her first play, Cross Sections, a depiction of the lives of people caught up in a messy 24-hour period of violence and cheap sex. The play had a sell-out run at The Old Fitz Theatre in Woolloomooloo before moving to the Sydney Opera House. I used to tell stories at the dinner table about my court cases and people would be horrified, but if you contextualise them in a play, then people are moved to understand. Afterwards people would come up to me and say, Now when I walk through the Cross, I dont see prostitutes and drug addicts, I see someone who could be my cousin or the child of a friend. I used to tell stories at the dinner table about my court cases and people would be horrified, but if you contextualise them in a play, then people are moved to understand. Miller continued to combine playwriting with her legal work until she was asked in 2009 to become a magistrate. At the same time, she was offered a one-year residency at the National Theatre in London. I knew I couldnt do both, so I decided to give up law, she says. I didnt agonise over it. What I loved about the law was the thrill of standing up in the courtroom. The bench felt like an especially lonely place to me; I like being around people, I like variety and difference. Sheridan Harbridge in Prima Facie, which debuted in 2019 at Sydneys Griffin Theatre. Credit:Brett Boardman Gabriel and Sasha were 10 and 7 at the time. She recalls telling her husband:I want to do this residency, and it means living in London. He was a QC by then, and he didnt want to do it, he said we couldnt afford it. I reminded him that before we got married we had a deal that at some point I could choose where we lived, other than Sydney. I said, I want to know that this is an equal partnership. Thus, they rented out their Sydney house and moved to London for a year. At the National Theatre, she was given space and support to work on a new play in draft form and provided with actors, director and designers to do so. Writers are celebrated in London, she says, and I was welcomed by the theatre community. Her husband continued his work, flying to Sydney and back. It was hard, mainly because I missed him. I took the kids to play-dates on the back of my bike, scooting through traffic; we didnt have a car. When Robert was home he would be a full-time dad, and I could work and go to rehearsals. After their return to Sydney, she flew to the UK every few months for work. Her father was initially shocked. He said, Robert will have to iron his own shirts. I said, Well, theyre his shirts. She greeted offers of giving poor Robert a casserole with the words, Please dont, theyre his children too. She notes, He was fine, he does all the cooking at home anyway. Her friend Hilary Bell confirms this: Suzie doesnt cook. When she gives her huge dinner parties, she drives to Bondi to the same fish shop, gets 14 portions of fish already marinated, then goes to the Jewish cake shop for strudel. Its always the same and always wonderful. Her priority is entertaining and connecting people, not spending hours fussing over menus. Miller laughs when I report that several of her friends mentioned the legendary dinners and her no-cooking regimen. Did they tell you I get guests to bring the salads? There are always so many dinners to pay back and I have an open-house policy: I like to have interesting people around the table talking about the world. They live in Newtown, in Sydneys inner west. Its a big, fabulous house, says Heather Mitchell, its not Home Beautiful, but its home. There are children and cats and dogs jumping everywhere, people staying over, and both Suzie and Robert have an extraordinary ability to read and concentrate on work in the midst of the chaos. Im always saying, In a minute, in a minute. If youre a mother, youre working in the cracks of other peoples lives. Millers children picked a meme of her. We were fostering a litter of kittens at the time and they were driving us wild, they were so active. Robert and the kids found this meme of a cat at a typewriter madly typing and saying, In a minute, in a minute, and it was such a funny cat, typing at 100 miles an hour. They only revealed it to me later; they thought I would be insulted I probably should be, as I like to think I am constantly there for my family when they need me however, its true. If they come into my office and Im writing a scene, there is something awful about being interrupted. Yet they always, always keep asking the question and no one ever waits. So Im always saying, In a minute, in a minute. She sighs: If youre a mother, youre working in the cracks of other peoples lives. Millers colleagues and friends all talk about her prodigious appetite for work. Ive seen Suzie write on public transport, in a car, in theatre foyers, says Heather Mitchell. She took me to hospital for some tests recently, and she had to spend three hours in a waiting room next to a fish tank. I said, I cant believe youve had to wait so long, and she said, Oh, but Ive got so much work done. I love working in hospitals, there is something so calm about them, everyone doing a job theyre good at, and you feel safe. Loading Miller admits she is happiest when working: I love the timelessness when youre on a roll. I often go for a swim, it is monotonous, there are no other voices and I can write in my head. Its like composing music. Then I start the first draft and dont stop till Ive finished. Does her husband read her work? No, she says, if he does, hell tell me theres a typo on page three. But with friends, we read each others work and give feedback. Almost all her stories have a social-justice theme. I gave up so much income and prestige as a lawyer to do this [writing], I feel like it needs to matter, she says. Theatre can change lives and I want my children to see that the arts are fundamental to life. They seem to have got the message: Gabriel, now 22, is studying art and film, while Sasha, 19, is taking a degree in game design. Her work is on stories that are not about shooting but about communities and people. During Prima Facies 2019 Sydney run, Griffin Theatre Company hosted a special performance for women in the law. Guests included Margaret Beazley, a former president of the NSW Court of Appeal, now the governor of NSW. The theatre was full of lawyers, recalls the then artistic director Lee Lewis, who is now at the creative helm of the Queensland Theatre Company. In the Q&A afterwards they said, This isnt a story, this is our lives. They talked freely about what happened to them, about harassment and assault in the legal profession. It was awful but also extraordinary: they said, We cant change it, so how can we change it for the rest of society? If not us, then who? It was so powerful. Miller vividly recalls the evening: One defence barrister put her hand up and said, I represent sexual assault perpetrators all the time; if I had a niece whod been assaulted Id say, dont take it to court. It was astonishing how much was shared: in a safe place women will talk about their experiences, but most of those who spoke out had not done so publicly for fear of losing briefs, or silk selection, or bench appointments. The success of Prima Facie has certainly opened doors. Its London director Justin Martin tells me that when he got the script from Miller, he sent it out to several producers. At first nobody was reading it, they said no one was interested in one-woman shows. Then it opened in Sydney, everyone went mental for it and [British producer] James Bierman felt it would be a good fit. Now theres a lot of interest; this play will rattle the bars. Theres media interest, too: among those to interview Miller has been the BBC journalist Emily Maitlis, who conducted the famous car-crash encounter with Prince Andrew about his friendship with the late US financier and convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. As well as preparing for that West End premiere, Miller is working on her play about US jurist Ruth Bader Ginsburg, with Priscilla Jackman directing the inaugural production at the STC. In the play we meet three of the US presidents Ginsburg served alongside: Clinton, Obama and Trump, says Jackman. I feel it is a study of power and leadership through the central figure of this tiny Jewish woman of extreme wisdom in juxtaposition with these three men. Miller has immersed herself in everything she could get her hands on about Ginsburgs life: She went from nothing to magnificence and changed the world. Her husband Marty was vital to her career: he really believed in equality, cooked all the meals. He put her forward, men need to do that. Heather Mitchell will play the late American jurist Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the plays premiere at the Sydney Theatre Company in October. Credit: After almost two hours, she fetches us some water and returns looking at her phone. It seems Ive had an offer to make a film series there have been a few other companies getting in touch and Im starting to have meetings. Its a very robust industry here, theatre in Britain is like sport in Australia. She looks wistful: I want to live here. Women playwrights have had a better time in Europe than in Australia, she argues, where until fairly recently directors and the playwrights they program have often tended to be male. I had one show which was rejected by a small theatre in Australia, then accepted in Edinburgh and won an award in New York. That play, Reasonable Doubt, took the 2008 New York Fringe excellence award for outstanding playwriting. Things have got better [in Australia] now with more female directors. Among spin-offs from the success of Prima Facie have been a contract to write two books for Pan Macmillan one the story of the play, the other a psychological literary thriller and growing film and television interest, for which Miller and her cousin Jenny Cooney have formed a production company. Cooney is already hopeful of making a film of Millers play Dust. Shes always looking at my stuff and saying, That could be a movie, that could be a TV series, says Miller. Screen has opened up for playwrights, TV especially has caught up with the nuance of theatre. From Cooneys perspective, this is good news for her cousin. Theatre is her first love, but if you want to bring about change, the bigger the audience, the better, she says. A lot of people are wanting a piece of her and I have no doubt that one day she will be giving an Oscar speech and a Tony and an Emmy. Not that Millers ambition stops there. She wants to build an auditorium in the garage space behind the Newtown family home. A pop-up Inner-West End, she explains, a small 60-seat theatre to bring people together with cheap seats and great new writing. The architects have already designed it and there are people ready to help with funding. I want it to be something we can share as a family with the community. Live theatre is dynamic, responsive and transformative: when were all in there together, anything can happen. I was told many stories of Millers love for assembly, for connecting ideas and people, and her capacity for rescuing her friends. Good Weekend books writer Nicole Abadee says Miller is the busiest person she knows. But if you need her, shell drop everything. She doesnt ask how she can help, she acts. And she always has ideas for solutions and projects. Talented, loyal, godmother to 14 children, apparently universally loved: surely Miller has other faults apart from untidiness and not cooking? Good luck with finding them, laughs Abadee, a friend since law school. All I would say is I worry about her habit of working into the small hours, which isnt a good thing as you get older. And she doesnt like to say no to anything; I think she needs the confidence to realise how sought-after she is and not take on everything shes offered. The evening after our interview, Miller and I go for dinner at The Wolseley, one of the loveliest, grandest dining rooms in London and a favourite of thespians, journalists and artists, a bit look at me, a bit look whos over there. I thought it would be fun to take her there and it is, because we have a happy time talking about families and horses I have one, Miller wants one. But tonight, service-wise, the old W has dropped the ball. The young waiter forgets our orders, then brings Miller a glass of vinegary wine, and then takes ages to replace it. The litany of errors continues until, at the end of the meal, he confides that he only started here two days ago, is sorry for his mistakes and has taken the service charge off the bill. We are disarmed and add the tip anyway. Outside on Piccadilly, we chat to the friendly doorman. Miller asks him how to get to the Thames. Oh dear, he says, are things that bad? We have a laugh, the evening ends happily and I send her off through Green Park in the direction of the river and her hotel. Im just going to do a bit of work before bed, she says. Of course she is. To read more from Good Weekend magazine, visit our page at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Brisbane Times. The best of Good Weekend delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. Sign up here. A surprising proportion of Jewish voters are backing Allegra Spender in Wentworth, says Australian Jewish Association president David Adler, who gave the independent candidate his tick of approval amid criticism of the broader Climate 200 movement. He said the AJA looked into Allegra Spender personally and have found nothing that we would point to that is adverse to Israel or the Jewish community. On a personal level, shes fine. He needs to get out of our way: Allegra Spender ramped up the rhetoric against Dave Sharma at her campaign relaunch. Credit:Michael Koziol It followed several stories in News Corp papers about individuals linked to climate independents who had been critical of Israel or expressed support for boycotting Israeli products and services. The conservative Dr Adler said Jewish voters in Wentworth were divided as much as the wider electorate. Liberal MP and former ambassador to Israel Dave Sharma holds the seat by a margin of just 1.3 per cent. A clear majority of Australians regard Taiwan as an independent country, in direct contradiction of the Australian governments own position, and more than two-thirds want Australia to do something if China attacks the island. An exclusive survey shows fewer than one in 10 Australians consider Taiwan to be part of China, and while most want to do something to protect the country from a Chinese invasion they baulk at sending Australian troops. Taiwan has become a geopolitical flashpoint as Beijing flexes its muscles. Credit: This is despite the Australian government subscribing to the One China policy which dictates that Taiwan is part of China. China, which regards Taiwan as a renegade province, has threatened to take the island by force if necessary but has stated its aim is for peaceful reunification. Areshini Pather, deputy commonwealths attorney for Charlottesville, will become a judge in Virginias 16th Judicial District in December. Pather, 43, has been part of the city office since 2011, and will serve a six-year term as a judge for one of the juvenile and domestic relations courts within the circuit. The 16th District includes Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Culpeper, Fluvanna, Goochland, Greene, Louisa, Madison and Orange. The appointment comes following a vote from the General Assembly last month to fill in a vacancy that will be left when Judge Richard E. Moore retires at the end of November. Pather, along with 10 others, was elected by unanimous full General Assembly votes to serve in juvenile and domestic relations district courts throughout the Commonwealth. Pathers appointment does not fill the upcoming vacancy caused by Moores retirement. That appointment will be made later. Moores eight-year term has been a tumultuous time for the Charlottesville Circuit Court. He oversaw many of the criminal cases spinning out of the Unite the Right rally as well as the legal attempts to prevent the removal of Charlottesvilles Confederate statues. Im looking forward to serving my community in this wonderful new capacity starting in December, Pather said. The juvenile court is such an important court for the children and families of the 16th Judicial District. I am honored by this appointment, and I am grateful for the faith placed in me by the Virginia General Assembly. Prior to working as a prosecutor, Pather spent six years as a public defender, which she has previously mentioned as an influence for her understanding and appreciation of the law and the work of judges. During her interviews, Pather also shared her experiences growing up as a person of color in South Africa during apartheid, which saw her and her family persecuted by an unjust system. During her 18 years of legal experience, Pather said she has worked on both sides of the aisle and has learned the value of compassion and kindness for both victims and those charged with crimes. I came to the United States from South Africa as a teenager. I couldnt imagine that I would become a judge in this great country that has given so much to me, she said. I am honored to serve and give back to my community. Pather specializes in violent sexual assault prosecutions and often takes on the most emotionally difficult cases, according to Charlottesville Commonwealths Attorney Joe Platania. Our community is losing the most fierce advocate for survivors of sexual assault that I have ever met, but our loss is the judiciarys gain, he said. Areshini will bring to the bench a keen intellect, an unparalleled level of preparation and attention to detail, and a true and genuine sense of compassion for others. I am so happy for her. In the state Senate, the resolution for Pathers judgeship was co-patroned by Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville. Following Pathers election, Deeds emphasized her range of experience and qualifications, as well as the ranking of highly qualified bestowed by the Charlottesville Albemarle Bar Association. She represents the best of coming to this country, working hard, and finding success, Deeds said. She is well qualified for the bench and will be an outstanding jurist. Where Pather and the newly appointed judges will be posted remains to be determined. According to Jim Hingeley, president-elect of the local bar association and commonwealths attorney for Albemarle County, the assignments in the 16th district may be shuffled after the new judges take the bench. The decision will likely take into account the needs and preferences of the courts and the judges. It might be, for example, that Pather would not sit in criminal court for the city as she would likely have a large number of conflicts initially, he said. So she could go to a different jurisdiction and the judge currently presiding in that jurisdiction could go to the city. Hingeley said he does not have any knowledge about what may have been decided but that assignment shuffling has happened in the Districts recent history. Where a judge ends up is not automatically determined by the jurisdiction where the vacancy has occurred, Hingeley 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. Its a plan that needs a little tweaking. Charlottesville City Council is considering changes to its proposed 2023 budget even as its adoption day quickly approaches. Those changes including adjusting tax rates and budget amendments. The city is anticipating a surplus of at least $12 million from the current year and thats changed some of the ways councilors are looking at the next budget, Mayor Lloyd Snook said during a Thursday night work session. One change is not raising the real estate tax rate by 10 cents per $100 of assessed real estate value, a rate which the city previously advertised. One of the questions that people have asked a number of times since weve started having this conversation last week, when it looked like we would have enough money without raising taxes has been why the heck did you scare us all to death with this new 10-cent tax increase? Snook said. We typically have not tried to factor into our thinking a surplus that we expect in the fiscal year that were presently in, he said. That surplus is typically not fully known. Most councilors voiced support for a one-cent real estate tax rate hike to raise tax dollars for funding future projects. That would allow keep the city from having to a large increase in property taxes in the next year. The proposed 10-cent increase was voted on when the council focused on funding the renovation and expansion of Buford Middle School. Currently, councilors are looking at new plans for funding the schools reconfiguration project that would not require raising the real estate tax a full 10 cents. At a work session last week, Senior Budget and Management Analyst Krisy Hammill offered two funding scenarios. In one, the city would use $54 million in bond funds along with $14.8 million from other cash sources. The other scenario would require the city to use $50 million in bond funds with $18.8 million from the other cash sources. Those sources would include potential American Rescue Act Plan funds from the schools and surplus funds from the current budget, which the city estimates at more than $12 million. The reconfiguration project option proposed by the school board is estimated to cost $76.8 million. An alternative $68.8 million option was presented by the developer but would delay construction on one of Bufords buildings that includes the auditorium. [I support] a one-cent real estate tax increase for a fund that goes directly to the schools, said councilor Sena Magill. I know we have this surplus, but I dont count my chickens. Snook said he is opposed to raising the real estate tax rate at all due to rising real estate assessments in the city. Home assessments in Charlottesville rose by an average of 11.69%. That will automatically increase tax bills, even if the tax rate does not change. I think it is a hard sell to tell voters were going to charge you money that we dont actually need this year. We may need it next year, but we want it this year and were going to stick in the bank, Snook said. Were taking the money from voters and putting it in our bank account and not theirs. Councilors voiced general support for a 0.05% meals tax rate increase, with most councilors, except Vice Mayor Juandiego Wade, wanting to keep the personal property tax rate the same. The city also looked at potential amendments to the budget. One would allocate $300,000 to the Department of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Deputy City Manager Ashley Marshall, who heads the department, said there was not a line item for the department in the initial budget. Previous city studies and discussions support this funding. The funding that is allocated there would provide support for team members including a community health worker that would be tasked with providing support for housing navigation specifically for individuals who are unhoused, Marshall said. The money would also provide training. Its how to make sure that were treating our community with excellence, Marshall said. The training Ive chosen has deep meaning and would move the organization forward and the thought process and mission for racial equity, diversity and inclusion. Councilors also discussed allocating $2 million in surplus money for CAT bus route expansion and $1 million to create a city manager fund. The money would allow a permanent city manager, which the city plans to hire this year, to institute their own ideas upon arrival. My thought was not that this is something that the city manager would be able to spend on his or her own initiative without consulting with Council, Snook said. With consultation with Council theres money [so] the new city manager could say, this is the direction I want to be able to go, I want to be able to go now and not next fiscal year. Boom, were ready. 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. WASHINGTON After deliberating for five hours Friday, a jury decided to return to court Monday to resume consideration in the case against a former Rocky Mount police officer charged in the riots at the U.S. Capitol. Thomas T.J. Robertson, who has been held without bond since summer, will have to wait until then to learn his fate on six charges. During the weeklong trial in Washington, D.C.s federal court, prosecutors presented heated online statements from Robertson calling for an open armed rebellion over what supporters of Donald Trump believe was a stolen election. Photographs and video both from Capitol surveillance cameras and a selfie posted to Facebook showed the 49-year-old approaching the building, entering through doors that had been broken down by the mob and then striking a pose in front of a statue. At least one police officer testified that he was struck by a large wooden stick that Robertson was carrying. Corroborating all that evidence, Assistant U.S. Attorney Risa Berkower told the jury in her closing arguments Friday, was a witness who perhaps knew the most about what happened. Jacob Fracker, who worked with Robertson at the Rocky Mount Police Department, agreed to accompany him to Washington and joined him with the mob that stormed the Capitol. Last month, he agreed to testify against Robertson. Berkower asked jurors to remember the look on Frackers face when he said he was ashamed of what happened on Jan. 6, 2021. As part of an agreement with prosecutors, Fracker, 30, testified against the man he considered a father figure. In return, most of the charges against him were dropped, and he faces the possibility of leniency when he is sentenced later for obstructing a special session of Congress that was meeting to certify an election won by Joe Biden. Defense attorney Mark Rollins conceded that the insurrection marked a dark day for America. Rollins admitted in his closing arguments there was likely sufficient evidence to convict his client on two charges, which involve entering the Capitol and its grounds while visitors were not allowed. But he argued there was no evidence to show illegal use of the wooden pole that Robertson, a U.S. Army veteran, had used as a walking stick after being struck in the leg by shrapnel in Afghanistan. Robertson did not testify, and there was conflicting evidence about how frequently if ever he used the walking stick. Both Robertson and Fracker were fired from their police jobs shortly after being charged in the insurrection. Three other men from Western Virginia are among the more than 750 people from across the country who have been arrested in an investigation that continues. When the jury returns Monday, it will resume deliberations on six charges that Robertson faces: Obstruction of an official proceeding, interfering with police officers during a civil disorder, entering a restricted area while armed with a dangerous weapon, disorderly conduct in a restricted area, disorderly conduct in the Capitol, and tampering with evidence. Allentown, PA (18103) Today Cloudy, windy, and unseasonably cool with occasional rain; winds gusting 35-40mph. 2-3" of rain for many for a two day storm total.. Tonight Cloudy and windy with rain tapering to showers and gradually ending. A Spotsylvania man was ordered Friday to serve 58 years in prison for his role in the 2019 slaying of a county teenager. Augustus Rhodes, 34, was sentenced in Spotsylvania Circuit Court to life plus 33 years, with all but 58 years suspended. He was previously convicted by a jury of charges that included murder and abduction. The charges stem from the Aug. 12, 2019, slaying of 18-year-old James Wallin. Wallin was shot to death during an altercation that started when Rhodes and codefendant William McDowney came to his home that night and mistook him for a man who owed a drug debt. McDowney is serving 63 years for his role in the slaying. He is also serving time for unrelated convictions. According to evidence presented by prosecutors Alex Vakos and Ryan Mehaffey, the home next to Wallins was raided 12 days before his death and a large amount of marijuana was seized. McDowney told police that someone he referred to as DB sent Rhodes to settle the debt. Wallin and two other adults were on his front stoop when a silver Cadillac went by slowly. Rhodes got out of the car a short time later and choke-slammed Wallin against a door while holding a gun to his head. He also pistol-whipped the victim. During the ensuing struggle, Wallin, who was also armed, shot Rhodes seven times. Camera footage showed that McDowney entered the scuffle for about eight seconds and shot Wallin in the back. McDowney then drove Rhodes to the nearby Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center, where Rhodes was treated for life-threatening injuries. During his trial, Rhodes testified that he was in Wallins neighborhood looking for a girl hed met at a Fredericksburg bar earlier that evening. Prosecutors called that story one of many lies Rhodes told following the slaying. Rhodes case was damaged by information that came out after his trial. Prosecutors learned that Rhodes picked up an attempted murder charge while serving in the military at Fort Hood, Texas. That charge stemmed from a disagreement at a bar, according to military records. Rhodes was accused of tracking the man down and shooting him in the chest. The military later dropped the charge and gave Rhodes a less-than-honorable discharge. He left the military in 2017. Defense attorney John Spencer argued that Rhodes was an exemplary soldier and served in Afghanistan. Technical Specialist, New York, United States Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme Country: United States City: New York Office: UNDP New York, USA Closing date: Friday, 22 April 2022 Job Identification : 2948 Locations : New York, United States Posting Date : 04/06/2022, 08:46 PM Apply Before : 04/22/2022, 03:59 AM Job Schedule : Full time Agency : UNDP Grade : P4 Vacancy Type : Fixed Term Practice Area : Nature, Climate and Energy Bureau : Bureau for Policy and Programme Support Contract Duration : 1 Year with Possibility for extension Education & Work Experience : Masters Degree - 7 year(s) experience Required Languages : English Vacancy Timeline 1 Week Mobility required/no mobility mobility required Job Description Background UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks. UNDPs 2018-2021 Strategic Plan emphasizes the critical links between environmental sustainability, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and broader efforts to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda and Paris Agreement. As part of the Global Policy Network in the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDPs Nature, Climate Change, and Energy (NCE) Team promotes and scales up integrated whole-of-governance approaches and nature-based solutions that reduce poverty and inequalities, strengthen livelihoods and inclusive growth, mitigate conflict, forced migration and displacement, and promote more resilient governance systems that advance linked peace and security agendas. The NCE Team works with governments, civil society, and private sector partners to integrate natural capital, environment and climate concerns into national and sector planning and inclusive growth policies; support country obligations under Multilateral Environmental Agreements; and implement the UNs largest portfolio of in-country programming on environment, climate change, and energy. This multi-billion dollar portfolio encompasses: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services including forests; Sustainable Land Management and Desertification including food and commodity systems; Water and Ocean Governance including SIDS; Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation; Renewable and Modern Energy; Extractive Industries; Chemicals and Waste Management; Environmental Governance and Green/Circular Economy and SCP approaches. This work advances crosscutting themes on innovative finance, digital transformation, capacity development, human rights, gender equality, health, technology, and South-South learning. UNDPs Nature, Climate and Energy practice spans 137 countries, with a portfolio directly benefiting 86 million people. Our support to Governments focusses on enabling an inclusive, resilient, green recovery by: building competency to accelerate access to sustainable energy and climate and nature-positive policies and finance; scaling capacity to ensure No One is Left Behind; catalyzing SDG and Paris-aligned investments (public and private); delivering client-focused solutions that respond to countries immediate, mid- and long-term recovery and socio-economic development priorities; and leveraging our on-the-ground presence and networks to unlock bottom-up solutions that deliver lasting impacts at country level. In addition to UNDPs bilateral partnerships on nature climate and energy, UNDP is an accredited multilateral implementing agency of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Multilateral Fund (MLF), and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) which includes the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund (GEF Trust Fund); the Nagoya Protocol Implementation Fund (NPIF); the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF); and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF). As part of UNDPs partnership with these vertical funds, UNDP provides countries specialized integrated technical services for eligibility assessment, programme formulation, capacity development, policy advice, technical assistance, training and technology transfer, mobilization of co-financing, implementation oversight, results management and evaluation, performance-based payments and knowledge management services. The Nature, Climate and Energy Team focuses on managing the oversight of climate and environmental financial resources from global trust funds to catalyze and unlock other types of public and private financing for sustainable development. This includes oversight of the design as well as implementation phase of projects (together with Country Offices and Regional Bureas), as well as portfolio level oversight and management. Climate Change Mitigation Programme: In order to avoid an irreversible climate crisis, we need to halve global emissions by 2030, and have carbon-neutral economies by 2050. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions - or climate change mitigation - is essential to fulfilling commitments to the Paris Agreement and limiting global mean temperature increase to 1.5 C above pre-industrial levels. All sectors, including energy, transportation, industry, forests, and land-use/agriculture must make a meaningful contribution towards achieving carbon neutrality. UNDP, as the largest implementer of climate change support within the UN system, plays a critical role by supporting countries in their emission reduction plans. With a commitment to providing long-term development support, our mitigation portfolio currently comprises of over 280 projects and programmes in over 110 countries. Together with our partners, UNDP supports countries to take ambitious climate action, advance Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and use a wide range of strategies and approaches across ene Climate & Forests Programme: Forests support the livelihoods of over 1 billion people and host the largest share of the worlds biodiversity. UNDP provides expertise in stakeholder engagement, social and environmental safeguards, governance, institutional coordination, strategic planning, implementation of policies and measures to address drivers of deforestation, access to innovative finance and accessing results-based payments. UNDP also facilitates the necessary partnerships to address the complex elements of the REDD+ process. The New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) is a partnership of governments, multinational companies, civil society and indigenous peoples who strive to end deforestation by 2030. The NYDF outlines ten ambitious global targets related to protecting and restoring forests. The NYDF Global Platform seeks to increase ambition, forge new partnerships, and accelerate progress on the NYDF goals to re-invigorate political endorsement of the NYDF, to facilitate coordination and communication, to share best practices, resources and lessons, and to support ongoing monitoring of progress. In these regards, the NYDF Global Platform is evolving into a Forest Declaration Platform. The Secretariat is provided by the United Nations Development Programme, through the Climate & Forests team, in partnership with the Meridian Institute, Climate Advisers and Climate Focus. Position Purpose The primary roles of the Technical Specialist (Climate & Forests), based in New York, are to coordinate the global platform of the Forest Declaration, including the New York Declaration on Forests and further partnerships that may be associated to it, to support UNDPs engagement with high-integrity voluntary carbon market initiatives, and to help advance the forest pillar of UNDPs Climate Promise. The Technical Specialist will ensure strategic engagement of global and regional UNDP teams, as well as country offices and national governments, in the above-mentioned initiatives. The Technical Specialist will also foster partnership relationships around the Forest Declaration and its related initiatives. As a member of the UNDP Climate & Forests team, the Technical Specialist will also contribute to the overall objectives and delivery of the UNDP lobal project on climate & forests, engage effectively with team members, and contribute to the overall portfolio as needed. Duties and Responsibilities Manage and provide strategic direction to the Global Platform of the Forest Declaration (formerly New York Declaration on Forests), in line with the UNDP Climate & Forests Programmes strategic framework. Example of Duties: Support the functioning and delivery of the Global Platform of the Forest Declaration, working closely with partners, and supporting stakeholders along the different processes. Connect the Forest Declaration to other global UNDP-wide initiatives (such as the Climate Promise, VCMI, and FACS) as well as to country-level efforts on forest-based climate solutions, working across UNDP teams and units. Represent UNDP at the Forest Declaration Leadership Group and its Secretariat Coordinate the Climate & Forests teams contribution to the forest pillar of UNDPs Climate Promise Example of Duties: Support global efforts to implement the forest pillar of the UNDP Climate Promise, including projects and consultants recruited to that effect Ensure coordination across UNDPs teams and with the Forest Declaration to deliver NDCs forest pillar activities. Support linkages with the UNFCCC, especially the contributions of the Climate Promise to the CoP processes and other high-level initiatives with regards the climate-forest agenda. Lead UNDPs engagement in high-integrity voluntary carbon market initiatives Example of Duties: Position UNDP as a leader in promoting high environmental integrity for forests within voluntary carbon markets (e.g. Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative, plus others) as part of credible netzero decarbonisation strategies of companies and jurisdictions. Promote the engagement of relevant forest countries in high-integrity VCMs, working with UNDP regional advisors, UNDP country offices and governments. Disseminate Climate & Forests knowledge and achievements Example of Duties: Extract, compile and disseminate key results and lessons emerging from the works around the Forest Declaration, also to feed global, regional and national processes. Provide strategic support to the UNDP Climate & Forestss communication team, identifying key issues/messages, prominent avenues and political momentum for developing and disseminating communication materials through different channels Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: The Technical Specialist will supervise the UNDP Programme Analyst of the Fores Declarations Global Platform (Climate & Forests), as well as consultants recruited for tasks under the Global Platform or related to the delivery of these Terms of Reference. Requirements: Education Masters degree in international relations, sustainable development, environmental management/sciences, social/political sciences, business administration and management, and/or other relevant field is required. Experience, Knowledge, and Skills A minimum of 7 years of practical working experience on at least one of the following domains: REDD+ readiness and implementation; forest governance and finance; the nature-climate nexus; Prior experience supporting multi-stakeholder policy processes or international climate fora is considered a strong asset; Experience in engagement with global environmental processes & mechanisms, particularly the UNFCCC, the Green Climate Fund and/or UN-REDD, is highly desirable; Experience supporting management of UN or UNDP projects would be an important asset; Experience in project development and/or proposal writing would be an important asset; Proficiency in English and another UN language (Spanish or French) is required. Expected Demonstration of Competencies Core Achieve Results : LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact Think Innovatively : LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems Learn Continuously : LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences Adapt with Agility : LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands Act with Determination : LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results Engage and Partner : LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration Enable Diversity and Inclusion : LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity People Management UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site. Cross-Functional & Technical competencies Partnership management Multi-stakeholder engagement and funding Knowledge and ability to forge multi-stakeholder partnerships, and remove any obstacles to resource mobilization and multi-stakeholder funding platforms Strategic engagement Ability to capture and sustain attention, interest and agreement of high-level, influential policy and decision makers and secure their buy-in of high-level vision and objectives Business direction & strategy Negotiation and Influence Ability to reach an understanding, persuade others, resolve points of difference, gain advantage in the outcome of dialogue, negotiates mutually acceptable solutions through compromise and creates win-win situations 2030 Agenda: Planet Nature, Climate and Energy Climate and Forests: REDD+/UNFCCC and emission reduction results and reporting Climate Change Policies: Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Climate and Forests: REDD+/UNFCCC and access to emission reduction results-based payments (GCF or carbon markets) For external applicants, please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period. Disclaimer Important information for US Permanent Residents (Green Card holders) Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications. Applicant information about UNDP rosters Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements. Scam warning The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web. Link to the organizations job posting: https://unjobs.org/vacancies/1649331553958 Thank you for reading! To read this article and more, subscribe now for as little as $1.99. Built to commemorate the memory and legacy of a modern martyr, a shrine at a North End church now provides a focal point for Ukrainian Catholics praying for peace in their homeland. Built to commemorate the memory and legacy of a modern martyr, a shrine at a North End church now provides a focal point for Ukrainian Catholics praying for peace in their homeland. Visiting the shrine Click to Expand Bishop Velychkovsky National Martyrs Shrine is located inside St. Josephs Ukrainian Catholic Church, 250 Jefferson Ave. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Holy Rosary for Peace in Ukraine, 1:30 p.m. Wednesday "Its a very peaceful place. We found people want to spend time here," explains Mary Jane Kalenchuk, one of several people running the Bishop Velychkovsky National Martyrs Shrine, located in an annex of St. Josephs Ukrainian Catholic Church. Located just steps away from Main Street, the shrine and its accompanying museum honours the life and ministry of Ukrainian Catholic Bishop Vasyl Velychkovsky, and also documents his persecution, torture and death. He died in Winnipeg in 1973 at age 70 after being exiled from Ukraine the previous year. Since the Russian military invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, the shrine has held special rosary for peace prayer services at 1:30 p.m. every Wednesday afternoon at the Jefferson Avenue church, offering a place for Ukrainians to gather as they pray for their homeland. "A couple said to me that coming together to pray makes it bearable," explains shrine director Rev. John Sianchuk of why people attend the hour-long service. "Its a thing we can do." Before February, Velychkovskys story was seen mostly through a historical lens, says Sianchuk, but now people recognize parallels to the current situation in Ukraine, as the country is bombed by Russian military and the freedoms of Ukrainian citizens are threatened. "This for me is like an echo. Weve been talking about this for 20 years here, about the persecution of the Ukrainian Catholics and (other) people of faith by Soviets," says Sianchuk, a member of the same Redemptorist order as Velychkovsky. "Now we have this repeated and for those who are there (in Ukraine), its worse than before." Mike Sudoma / Winnipeg Free Press Rev. John Sianchuk says a prayer at the shrine. Ordained in 1925, Velychkovsky was first imprisoned by the Soviets for refusing to deny his faith and leave the Catholic church to serve as a priest in the Russian Orthodox Church, the only church recognized by the Soviet regime. He served 10 years at a Soviet labour camp, where he ministered to fellow inmates. After his release, he was secretly ordained as a bishop in 1963, and then became known as the Father of the Underground Church as he administered sacraments, led the divine liturgy and prepared seminarians for the priesthood from his apartment in Lviv. Arrested again in 1969, Velychkovsky was subjected to repeated torture over three years, and then was abruptly exiled from Ukraine, moving to Winnipeg at the invitation of then-metropolitan Maxim Hermaniuk. He died a year later from chemical agents administered to him in prison. After being beatified as a martyr in 2002 by Pope John Paul II, his remains were moved from All Saints Cemetery to the newly completed shrine at St. Josephs, designed by Winnipegger Ben Wasylyshen. "For us, its a physical connection," says Sianchuk of the importance of the shrine to Ukrainian Catholics in Winnipeg and across Canada. Having him here is a very concrete connection to whats happening in Ukraine. Rev. John Sianchuk "Having him here is a very concrete connection to whats happening in Ukraine." Ukrainians Canadians are inspired by Velychkovskys faith in God and ability to stand up to the Soviet regime, says Kalenchuk. "Our people now are very strong in their faith and this is what is giving us courage our blessed bishop," she says. Since the invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainians Catholics fear their church will be forced underground, just as it had been for decades before independence in 1991. Instead of worshiping openly in their church buildings, Catholics listened at home to Ukrainian language radio broadcasts from Rome. After more than three decades of freedom, some fear history will repeat itself, says Bohdana Kornelyuk, a Ukrainian citizen who came who came to Winnipeg three years ago for graduate studies in religion. Mike Sudoma / Winnipeg Free Press Rev. John Sianchuk fears Velychkovskys shrine and story may also become a cautionary tale for the future. The Free Press is committed to covering faith in Manitoba. If you appreciate that coverage, help us do more! Your contribution of $10, $25 or more will allow us to deepen our reporting about faith in the province. Thanks! BECOME A FAITH JOURNALISM SUPPORTER Click here to learn more about the project. "My Baba (grandmother) was very much traumatized when this started," says the native of the western Ukraine city of Komarno, namesake to the community north of Winnipeg. "She never imagined this would happen again." Neither did Canadians with Ukrainian roots, says Sianchuk. For two decades, the shrine and the museum has educated visitors about the past and served as a memorial to honour the bishop who died for his faith. Now he fears Velychkovskys shrine and story may also become a cautionary tale for the future. "We speak of him being tortured and persecuted and suffering and now its happening again," he says. "Hes the only one in Canada who has that connection as a martyr." brenda@suderman.com Whats in a dress? The little black dress has been through many changes over the years. But while its hems may have risen and fallen, its sleeves cut in varying styles, and its silhouette shifting from flattering A-lines to slimming Empire waists to clingy sheaths, the dress itself remains a firm staple in most wardrobes. Commonly abbreviated as the LBD, the deceptively simple garment is the subject of the latest exhibition at the Costume Museum of Canada La Petite Robe Noire showcases 80 years of the dress through 12 pieces that have been donated to the museum. Nowadays the dress is worn in any way the wearer likes, from thigh-grazing minis to more conservative hems which flutter around the ankles. But there is one constant: it is always black. "The colour black is something that often looks like it is proper. I think it has an elegant look to it. It goes well with a tuxedo, it can be haute couture, it can be dressed up or dressed down," says Andrea Brown, president of the Costume Museum. The LBD is a transformative item, depending on its style. It can imbue the wearer with the elegance of Audrey Hepburn wafting across the screen in Breakfast at Tiffanys. Or it can be scintillating in the vein of a statuesque Anita Ekberg under the Trevi Fountain in La Dolce Vita, her black gown clinging to every curve. And who can forget the sartorial power the dress wielded in 1994 when Princess Diana chose it to be her revenge frock, a daring off-the-shoulder creation she wore on the night Prince Charles admitted to adultery on national television. In more recent times this ever-evolving item of clothing has been seen on the likes of Grammy Awards red-carpet presenter Laverne Cox where it was worn lengthy and sheer, on the actress Zendaya who seems to prefer hers sharp and modern and on Beyonce who often opts for a form-skimming incarnation. The term little black dress was coined in 1926 by Vogue Magazine editors when they featured Coco Chanels sketch of the calf-length, long-sleeved drop-waisted creation in the publication. Vogue called the dress the Chanel Ford dubbing it the equal to the Model T, the editors claiming that it would "become sort of a uniform for all women of taste." But Chanel wasnt the first person to spot the appeal of a simple black outfit the idea of a loosely structured unembellished dark frock came from humbler beginnings as it was often the outfit of choice for servants of the moneyed classes. RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The Costume Museum of Canada has a new exhibit focusing on the little black dress. "We often want to bring in a social context to our costume exhibitions and the dresses on show give a glimpse into what was going on in the world at that time," Brown says. A piece from the 1920s takes pride of place in the exhibition, a heavily-beaded flapper dress which was bought in Paris by a Major Peter Dodd of Montreal as a gift to his wife, Francis, and donated to the museum in 1971. "We also have this beautiful 1930s dress with a boa. The 30s were considered the golden age of glamour despite the Depression. You had movie stars of the day like Bette Davies and Greta Garbo wearing such stunning dresses," Brown says. The oldest item featured in the exhibition is an Edwardian chiffon evening gown circa 1911. The floor-length gown has a gathered skirt and features a print of the zinnia flower in rose, mauve, cream and green. "The newest dress is a 1990 strapless Scaasi dinner dress donated by Arnold Scaasi, the designer himself, in 1997," Brown says. "Born in Montreal in 1930, Arnold Isaacs studied in Paris where it was suggested he reverse him name to make it sound more Italian. He has donated over 40 gowns to the Costume Museum of Canada." Great care has to be taken of the costumes on display, with controlled lighting and temperature to ensure the items are not damaged. "We have to be careful to have the correct lightning in here with UV protection. You dont want a garment hanging on a mannequin for a lengthy period of time," Brown says. Browns favourite dress in the exhibition is a 1953 narrow mid-calf length with small capelet. "The faux pockets turn out giving this dress amazing lines. We styled it with a rhinestone brooch and a wide brim straw hat worn slightly at an angle," she says. When the exhibition ends at the end of the month, the 12 dresses will go on display in B.C. "The dresses will be going on tour to Sidney B.C. in the summer time. They will be there for three months and then will most likely come back to Manitoba into curatorial storage," Brown says. As well as the little black dress exhibition, the museum offers other costumes for loan from its 35,000 donated artefacts including wedding dresses, bathing costumes and clothes from the1940s and 1950s. Shelley Cook | Uplift A weekly review of funny, uplifting news in Winnipeg and around the globe that is delivered to your inbox each Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "Weve got something in the collection from the 1700s," Brown says, referring to a blue and white silk taffeta dress with matching shoes from 1765. Last year the museum held a fashion revue on the grounds of Dalnavert Museum where guests were treated to an outdoor display of historical fashion. "We will always have our eyes open to offerings of donations. We are looking for dresses now into the 1990s to 2020." The museum is open to the public now for exhibits and events. The current exhibit is on until April 30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-4 p.m. and on Saturdays by appointment (call 204-989-0072 or email costumemuseumcanada@gmail.com). There will be a spring and summer vintage sale on May 6 at the offices on 70 Arthur St. Also, on May 28-29, the museum takes part in the Doors Open Winnipeg exhibit (doorsopenwinnipeg.ca). Twitter: @nuchablue As the brutal war in Ukraine wreaks havoc on millions of peoples lives it also means a significant disruption in normal economic production. As the brutal war in Ukraine wreaks havoc on millions of peoples lives it also means a significant disruption in normal economic production. And since the Black Sea region is one of the great bread baskets of the world, that means agricultural production and exporting is grinding to a halt. Russia and Ukraine account for about one quarter of the global grain trade and disruption in the supply chain is sending just about every agricultural commodity price up, some to historic highs. The higher prices are a boon to Manitoba farmers, but many local industry experts say that the month-long war has not changed seeding decisions to take advantage of shortfalls in supply of specific crops. For instance, Ukraine accounts for close to 50 per cent of the global sunflower oil exports and while there are reports about increasing sunflower seeding in the U.S. and Argentina, that does not seem to be the case in Manitoba. MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Farmers such as Chuck Fossay have planned out what to plant this year in light of all the disruptions in the market including the war in Ukraine that have driven prices up significantly in many commodities. The province accounts for about 90 per cent of the sunflower grown in Canada, but it only represents about one per cent of the actual agricultural acreage in Manitoba. Most producers make their seeding decisions for next year during harvest time, six months before seeding. That is also the time when farmers will apply fertilizer for next years crops Chuck Fossay, a grain farmer in Starbuck just west of Winnipeg, said in thinking about crop selection, said military conflict isnt the only consideration affecting farmers. "The war in Ukraine is a wild card. But another big wild card is that fertilizer prices have more than doubled compared to a year ago," he said. Because the ground was so dry last year, some farmers may have chosen to wait to apply fertilizer, and that may impact their decision on what to plant on those fields this year. For instance some crops like soy beans and sunflowers, do not require nitrogen fertilizer and some may switch to those crops for those fields, Fossay said. The war in Ukraine is a wild card. But another big wild card is that fertilizer prices have more than doubled compared to a year ago. Grain farmer Chuck Fossay Even if there are those kinds of decisions being made, it is not expected to alter the traditional ratio of Manitoba crops. With about 10 million acres of crop land in Manitoba, typically about 30 per cent is planted with wheat, 30 per cent canola and the rest split between soy, barley, oats, flax, peas and sunflower. Neil Townsend, the senior market analyst at FarmLink Marketing Solutions, a grain marketing company, said, "We dont see significant acreage shifts in Manitoba this year. The number 1 risk management technique for farmers is crop rotation. They never really stray too far from that and with so much uncertainty and volatility it makes a lot of farmers stick to crop rotation even more." But Daryl Domitruk, executive director of Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers, said predicting seeding outcomes this year is tricky calling it one of the riskiest predictions to make at this point in history. "Normally we have a pretty good idea and can make some reasonably accurate predictions, but there are so many moving parts this year," he said. "Everyone I have talked to shrinks away from making predictions." Normally we have a pretty good idea and can make some reasonably accurate predictions, but there are so many moving parts this year." Daryl Domitruk, executive director of Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers He said while some think there would be an increase in soy and peas because they dont require nitrogen fertilizer, which is very expensive this year, last years drought left a deficit of good quality pea seeds. And even though soy prices are good, prices on everything else are strong as well. Fossay said, "I would say this is probably the first time in several years where wheat is going to make me a significant profit. Ten years ago when doing my wheat budget, lots of time I might break even, I might make $20 per acre, I might lose $10 per acre. Right now almost any crop you grow if you get an average yield you are definitely going to be locking in a profit." So even though sunflower might be an obvious opportunity, the market in Canada has not traditionally been able to bear much volume. While sunflower oil is among the most popular vegetable oils in Europe, that is not the case in North America. Even the confectionery market for edible sunflowers is shrinking after a processing plant in Lethbridge closed a couple of years ago. MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Fossay inspects a bin full of corn on his property about 30 kilometres west of Winnipeg. Scoular Canada, which operates a sunflower processing plant in Winkler with about 30 employees, buys sunflower seeds from Manitoba farmers both for human edible snack foods and black oil sunflowers for use in birdfeed. While the birdfeed market is up since the pandemic people have more time to feed the birds in the backyard it hasnt boosted prices. "The war in Ukraine is having an effect and people are watching but there has not been a big swing on prices in the last little while," said Jody Locke, an official at Scoular. Regardless of Manitoba farmers crop selection, the war in Ukraine is having a significant impact on the Manitoba ag community. "The Ukrainian community is at the foundation of agriculture in our province," said Brenna Mahoney, the general manager of Keystone Agricultural Producers. "This is really hitting home on an emotional and personal level, let alone on business decisions. People are worrying about what is coming next." martin.cash@winnipegfreepress.com Amazon is seeking to overturn the historic union victory at one of its New York City warehouses, arguing in a legal filing Friday that union organizers and the National Labor Relations Board acted in a way that tainted the results. It now wants to redo the election. Amazon is seeking to overturn the historic union victory at one of its New York City warehouses, arguing in a legal filing Friday that union organizers and the National Labor Relations Board acted in a way that tainted the results. It now wants to redo the election. The e-commerce giant listed 25 objections in the filing obtained by The Associated Press, accusing organizers with the nascent Amazon Labor Union of intimidating workers to vote for the union, a claim an attorney representing the group has called patently absurd. The employees have spoken, Eric Milner, the attorney, said in a statement Thursday after Amazon's initial planned objections were made public in another legal filing. Amazon is choosing to ignore that, and instead engage in stalling tactics to avoid the inevitable coming to the bargaining table and negotiating for a contract on behalf of the workers, he said. Warehouse workers in Staten Island cast 2,654 votes or about 55% in favor of a union, giving the fledgling group enough support to pull off a victory last Friday. In one objection, Amazon said organizers intentionally created hostile confrontations in front of eligible voters, by interrupting the mandatory meetings the company held to persuade its employees to reject the union drive. In a filing released earlier this month, the company disclosed it spent about $4.2 million last year on labor consultants. In another objection, Amazon targeted organizers distribution of cannabis to workers, saying the labor board cannot condone such a practice as a legitimate method of obtaining support for a labor organization." New York legalized the recreational use of marijuana last year for those over 21. Milner, the attorney representing the union, said Amazon is grasping at straws. Distributing cannabis is no different than distributing free t-shirts and it certainly did not act to interfere with the election," he said. The company also accused organizers of improperly polling workers. The retailer had initially signaled it planned to challenge the election results because of a lawsuit the NLRB filed in March, in which the board sought to force Amazon to reinstate a fired employee who was involved in the union drive. Amazon pointed to the lawsuit in one of its objections filed Friday, saying the regional NLRB office that brought the suit failed to protect the integrity and neutrality of its procedures, and had created an impression of support for the union by seeking reinstatement for the former employee, Gerald Bryson. Based on the evidence weve seen so far, as set out in our objections, we believe that the actions of the NLRB and the ALU improperly suppressed and influenced the vote, and we think the election should be conducted again so that a fair and broadly representative vote can be had," Kelly Nantel, an Amazon spokesperson, said in a statement Friday. Bryson was fired in the early days of the pandemic after leading a protest calling for the company to do more to protect workers against COVID-19. While off the job during the protest, Bryson got into a dispute with another worker and was later fired for violating Amazons vulgar-language policy, according to his attorney Frank Kearl. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The NLRB did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Its spokesperson, Kayla Blado, previously said the independent agency is authorized by Congress to enforce the National Labor Relations Act. All NLRB enforcement actions against Amazon have been consistent with that Congressional mandate, she said. In other objections, Amazon targeted how the labor agency conducted the election. It said the agency failed to control media presence around the voting area and didn't have enough staff and equipment, which the company says created long lines and discouraged many employees from voting in subsequent polling sessions. Meanwhile, both Amazon and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, a union that spearheaded a separate union drive in Bessemer, Alabama, have filed objections to that election. The final outcome of the union vote in Alabama is still up in the air with 416 outstanding challenged ballots in the balance. Initial results show the union down by 118 votes, with the majority of Amazon warehouse workers rejecting a bid to form unionize. RWDSU, which filed more than 20 objections, said in its filing Thursday that its objections are grounds to set the election aside. A hearing to review the challenged ballots is expected to begin in the coming weeks. With the first quarter of the year in the books, the dynamics of the Winnipeg real estate market have not really changed from 2021, which blew the doors off all previous records for sales volumes and values. With the first quarter of the year in the books, the dynamics of the Winnipeg real estate market have not really changed from 2021, which blew the doors off all previous records for sales volumes and values. While there were 27 per cent fewer sales this March compared to last years all time high for the month, and off 26 per cent for the full quarter, there were also fewer listings at exactly the same proportion, about 26 to 27 per cent. Meanwhile, according to the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Boards March market release, prices have continued to soar as the imbalanced sellers market continues to hold sway. The average price for a single-family detached home in Winnipeg was up 15.7 per cent through the first three months of the year and up 14.2 per cent in the month of March. The slightly lower growth in prices in March compared to the hike over the full quarter probably shouldnt fool people into thinking prices are about to start moderating. I dont know its a surprise that prices are going up as much as they are, said Akash Bedi, president of the WRREB and a broker at RE/MAX Executives Realty. We are facing a supply shortage, just like the rest of the country, he said. The number of buyers are still the same, if not increasing from last year at this time. Because of supply being so low were still seeing multiple offers coming in. Last year, the WRREB was recording record low listings and they continue to lag this year. Bedi said there is a one month supply of listings when in a typical balanced market dynamic there would be a four-month supply. Its creating a very stringent market, very heavily weighted on the sellers side, he said. Another difference in 2021 is the increase in mortgage rates, which the WRREB believes may be a contributing factor with fixed-term mortgage holders deciding to hold onto the favourable terms they have in place with respect to financing their existing home. What that means is that sellers dont have to worry if their house will sell. In March, about 78 per cent of all MLS listings sold with single-family listing sales conversions at 82 per cent. The out-of-balance market conditions has opened up the condo market in Winnipeg like never before. Condo listings converting to sales were at 73 per cent in March. Those are all almost identical rates to last year. Prior to 2021, conversions were significantly lower for this time of year. Bedi said that the average broker will write between five and 10 offers with the average buyer. Five years ago it may have been one-to-three. The house hunting experience was different then, he said. Now patience is a virtue. That means buyers have to be prepared with a committed game plan, according to Bedi. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. You need to be coming in with a strong offer that is going to be attractive for a vendor to consider over others, he said. Terms and conditions like possession date and other inclusions really can be a factor. For instance, he said someone may offer a possession date that is more convenient for the seller but it is $5,000 less and the seller may consider that offer. At the WRREBs annual market insights conference in February, Peter Squire, the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Boards (WRREB) head of market intelligence, said that while activity is expected to slow in 2022, rising prices are not. Simply put we need more listing inventory to ameliorate the supply/demand imbalance, said Squire. This, in and of itself, is reducing our possibility of reaching and surpassing last years total. So far, 2022 is playing out just as predicted. martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca The massive amount of snow that fell in the city and made travel treacherous at the start of the year have created a hefty overrun for the City of Winnipegs budget. MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Snow removal crews clear streets in Wolseley after a late-February storm. A recent report shows the City of Winnipeg exceeded its snow and ice clearing budget for January and February by $28 million. The massive amount of snow that fell in the city and made travel treacherous at the start of the year have created a hefty overrun for the City of Winnipegs budget. The city exceeded its snow and ice clearing budget for January and February by a whopping $28 million, a finance report shows. There was a lot of plowing there but there was also so much hauling (of snow.) The amount of snow they hauled away was unprecedented. Thats where the massive cost really was, said Coun. Jeff Browaty, who was recently appointed as councils finance chairperson. Browaty said the $28-million overrun is in addition to the $6.3 million budgeted for snow clearing in January and $5.1 million budgeted for February. That brings the total tab to clear snow and ice beyond $39 million for just two months and exceeds the entire $35-million snow clearing budget that was meant to last throughout 2022. We spent more in the first two months of 2022 compared to the budget for the entire year. It speaks to how much the snow-clearing budget can fluctuate from year to year There were more residential plowing operations and it felt like we were continuously (clearing) our regional streets and collector streets, said Browaty. The city had budgeted $4.8 million to clear ice and snow in March but is still calculating the actual cost. City policy standards, not the budget itself, determine the extent to which the city plows, hauls away snow, and sands roads. The rules are designed to ensure roads meet set standards, even when Mother Nature dumps far more snow than usual. Environment Canada has reported that 43 cm of snow fell on Winnipeg in January, followed by at least 50 cm in February. During typical years, extra plowing costs are covered by surpluses in other city departments or a transfer from the citys rainy day fund. In recent years, however, COVID-19 has eliminated those options. The pandemic is expected to cost the city nearly $223 million overall by the end of 2022, including expenses and lost revenues since 2020. Those losses have drained millions of dollars from city reserves and created deficits in multiple city departments. Browaty said it may be time to consider changing the overall annual budget for snow clearing, which has hovered around $35 million for years. Its perhaps time to look at (whether or not) the annual allocation is the right amount. The best practice is to have a snow-clearing reserve, so that in a good year, we bank something and in a bad year, theres (coverage) for it, he said. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Browaty said hes seeking information on how much money is available in city reserves for that purpose. The city faces other financial risks, in part due to soaring gas prices. A finance report warns fuel could cost Winnipeg Transit an extra $6 million to $9 million this year, if prices remain high. The city is hopeful it could claim part of a $750-million fund the federal government has promised to help municipalities pay off transit operating shortfalls. That funding would be conditional on the province matching federal funding and speeding up efforts to improve the housing supply. Browaty said hes hopeful the province will announce its participation in the program when it unveils its 2022 budget on Tuesday. Joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga SOME of Winnipegs most cutting-edge, modern art has found a home in a newly renovated building that is 120 years old. SOME of Winnipegs most cutting-edge, modern art has found a home in a newly renovated building that is 120 years old. Aceartinc., an artist-run contemporary art gallery founded in 1983, unveiled its new 3,100-square foot space in the Carriage Works building at 206 Princess St., Friday. Space2, a Winnipeg company run by Shelley and Mark Buleziuk that specializes in heritage building redevelopment, began converting two heritage buildings into one in 2019 in a $17-million partnership with CentreVenture Development Corp., the city-owned agency that focuses on downtown projects. All three organizations were eager to show off Aceartinc.s new digs, which has large windows that allow in natural light and gazes from curious passers-by, and its inaugural exhibition, Among the Falling Stars: Megwe-ayaiing anangoog gaa-bangishimowaad, by Metis artist Michel Dumont. Aceartinc., which used to be on the second floor of 290 McDermot Ave., will be transformed by the new spot, board chair Allison Yearwood said. You had to know someone who knew that Ace was in the building when we were on McDermot, she said. Being able to let people just find us on their own and be like Hey whats that cool thing, come on in. Thats a game-changer. Aceartinc.s new main-floor space removes accessibility issues that plague second- or third-floor galleries common in Exchange District buildings that were early in the 20th century. That allowed Dumont, who is disabled, to easily enter and set up the exhibition, which include Indigenous-themed sculptures of bears, beavers and other animals made from Italian ceramic tile. They come in a rainbow of colours that also speak to his life as a queer, two-spirited survivor of intergenerational trauma originating from Indian day schools. Were finally wheelchair-accessible, which is a huge thing, Yearwood said. Letting people come in the way they want to come in is so important, especially how were living now, being representational. Carriage Works includes 77 loft-style apartments, owned by Space2; and a Harrison Coffee location. CentreVenture continues to seek a tenant for a vacant 850-square-foot gallery space in the building. About half of the apartments have been leased since that part of the project opened Feb. 1, Mark Buleziuk said. The Carriage Works redevelopment had construction delays in the fall of 2019 after structural problems were discovered in one of its buildings, the Thomas Scott Memorial Orange Hall. It was considered unsafe and threatened another of the projects heritage building, the McLaughlin Carriage Building, which was built in 1902. Buleziuk called it a bit of a catastrophe. One thing thats interesting about these historic buildings is that youre already working within the confines of a structure, he said. Angela Mathieson, president and chief executive officer of CentreVenture, said the Carriage Works project is the agencys most unique collaboration in the past 20 years. She imagines the gallery, which is next door to the Red River College Exchange District campus, will get plenty of foot traffic as students walk by to visit the coffee shop. The gallery is near the corner of Princess and Ross Avenue, near Chinatown, and Yearwood says it will add activity to a quiet part of the Exchange. Its kind of exciting that the artists are the ones who go in first and everyone else will follow, Yearwood says. alan.small@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @AlanDSmall The row house on the corner of Magnus Avenue and Andrews Street took a turn in recent months, after new tenants moved in. There were parties during the week, with people coming and going late at night a lot of drinking and screaming and fighting that neighbour Danielle Kaye often heard from her bedroom window. The row house on the corner of Magnus Avenue and Andrews Street took a turn in recent months, after new tenants moved in. There were parties during the week, with people coming and going late at night a lot of drinking and screaming and fighting that neighbour Danielle Kaye often heard from her bedroom window. The 21-year-old university student wasnt surprised when she came back to her grandmothers house Friday evening to find the block taped off, with police cruisers lining the William Whyte street, after a man had been found dead inside the home. The Winnipeg Police Service major crimes unit is now investigating the mans death as a homicide the 11th in the city this year. Officers responded to the 500 block of Magnus Avenue at about 6:15 p.m. Friday for a report of an armed person, police said Saturday morning, though they did not specify what kind of weapon was involved. They found a suspect outside the home and took him into custody, and soon found the victim inside. The victims name, age and manner of death have not yet been released, but hes an adult male. The accused, whose name has also not yet been released, remains in police custody. The WPS has not yet said what charges he might face. "They were different disruptive," Kaye said of her neighbours on the corner, compared with the elderly men who had lived there prior. "People getting beat." There were at least three people in their 30s or 40s who lived in the residence Kaye described as something almost like a rooming house. DANIEL CRUMP University student Danielle Kaye wasnt surprised when she came back to her grandmothers house Friday evening to find the block taped off, with police cruisers lining the William Whyte street, after a man had been found dead inside the home. (Daniel Crump / Winnipeg Free Press) Officers from the police forensics unit clad in white jumpsuits, one carrying a camera, went in and out of the home on Saturday morning. A police cruiser was parked outside of the navy two-storey house with a broken front window. On the Andrews Street side of the house, someone had spray-painted "MOB" vertically in block capital letters, next to another tag that read "chilly" Police cadets sat in their vehicle on the side street, next to the houses small backyard, which was cordoned off with yellow police tape around to Magnus Avenue. A green hatchback sat parked with its back windshield smashed out, and an unmarked police van was on the adjacent boulevard. Yellow evidence markers were placed on the front step, lawn and a garbage bin, near a broken chair on the lawn. Police in plain clothes in an unmarked vehicle drove by slowly. Later, the police in white jumpsuits brought a gurney and a dark bag into the home on the corner. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Kayes grandmother, Shirley Flett, 69, said she saw about six police cruisers arrive Friday evening but wasnt sure what had happened. Police had been parked on the block since. Flett has lived on Magnus for 10 years and its normally a fine place to live, she said as she sat in the living room of her home, watching television Saturday. Most of her neighbours are families with children. "Nobodys ever bothered us," Flett said. "I feel bad for (the victim)." She normally doesnt lock the door of her house. But shes going to start now. erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @erik_pindera A shortage of respiratory therapists at Concordia Hospital is putting patients at risk and leading to exhausted workers, advocates say. A shortage of respiratory therapists at Concordia Hospital is putting patients at risk and leading to exhausted workers, advocates say. The Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals said the Winnipeg hospital, sit of many of the provinces hip and knee replacement surgeries, has a 50 per cent vacancy rate with its RTs, functioning with the equivalent of 2.5 full-time positions, not including an anesthesiology RT dedicated to support surgeries. Concordia is beyond the crisis point, union president Bob Moroz said Friday. It is unfair and unsustainable. This hospital operates 24 hours a day and this is asking too much of people. Moroz said RTs are essential in hospital ICUs, emergency rooms, urgent care and operating rooms. They keep people breathing, he said. Their role is they breathe for us when we cant breathe on our own. Moroz said the shortage means some are being forced to take consecutive 12-hour shifts and are denied breaks. Grace Hospital is also facing problems amid the COVID-19 pandemic and has told its RTs they will be limited to having only one RT on vacation at a time for the next year, he added. Not only have they been working 120 km/h through the pandemic and through amalgamation of emergency rooms, now they are looking at limiting the vacation time they so rightly deserve, Moroz said. It is a real crisis right now. Bobbi-Jo Stanley, a spokesperson for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, said there are several areas of the health-care system experiencing staffing shortages respiratory therapists is one of them. Our current vacancy rate for respiratory therapists across all WRHA sites and Health Sciences Centre is 21.8 per cent, Stanley said. The WRHA is addressing this situation by taking a number of actions, including an aggressive recruitment campaign to attract respiratory therapists from other provinces. In the meantime, work is underway to fill as many shifts as possible so that patient needs are being addressed, she said Friday. Respiratory therapists across the province are coming together to fill shifts at all WRHA sites. Even then, it is tough to find substitute staff One RT, based in southern Manitoba, said he was asked Friday to pick up a shift in Winnipeg, because somebody had called in sick. Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. I declined because I need to rest, Craig Doell said on social media. Staff everywhere is being crunched because of illness right now. Please be patient when coming to hospital. Staff are doing their best and theyre awesome. Moroz said the shortage of RTs wont be going away unless the province does something. He noted the Manitoba Association of Registered Respiratory Therapists peg the total number of RTs in the province at 332, 10 per cent fewer than a the 365 who were practicing last year. The University of Manitobas bachelor of respiratory therapy program has been funded for 16 positions since it was created in 2001, he said. We have nowhere close to the numbers of RTs we need to handle another pandemic surge. Theres nowhere left to pull staff from. Its unsustainable. kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca A deaf Winnipeg man with intellectual disabilities convicted of having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl has been sentenced to just 90 days in custody after a judge ruled counselling services in jail are inadequate to deal with his disability. A deaf Winnipeg man with intellectual disabilities convicted of having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl has been sentenced to just 90 days in custody after a judge ruled counselling services in jail are inadequate to deal with his disability. The mans crime demanded jail time, but anything longer than 90 days would not address "the unique circumstances of this case," provincial court Judge Tim Killeen said at a recent sentencing hearing for 25-year-old Cody James Remillard. "I dont suggest that someone should not be incarcerated because they are deaf, but the length of the incarceration must include the circumstances of the individual," Killeen said. After recommending a jail sentence of 18 months, the Crown has filed an appeal, arguing Killeens sentence is "demonstrably unfit" and did not adequately take into account Remillards moral blameworthiness. I dont suggest that someone should not be incarcerated because they are deaf, but the length of the incarceration must include the circumstances of the individual Judge Tim Killeen Remillard pleaded guilty in December 2019 to one court of sexual interference. The case was delayed several times due to pandemic-related court closures and the availability of American Sign Language interpreters. Remillard had a months-long sexual relationship with the victim beginning when she was 14 and he was 20, and ending with his arrest in early 2018. The girl did not provide a victim impact statement to court. "While I dont have evidence of harm, I know this girl was exploited," Killeen said. According to forensic psychiatric reports provided to court, Remillard lives with several intellectual disabilities, attention-deficit issues and difficulty regulating his emotions and moods. According to one report, Remillards intellectual disability "is complicated by difficult early life, characterized by trauma, exposure to substance use and social isolation as a result of his hearing impairment." Want more great journalism? Get our best news and features delivered in your inbox every weekday evening. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Killeen said Remillard was capable of understanding what he did was wrong, but his level of responsibility was limited by his intellectual issues. "While his limitations did not cause the criminal behaviour, they made him less likely to be involved responsibly in the relationship," he said. "The circumstance does not excuse or justify what he did, but he cannot be sentenced in the same way as someone who coolly decided they could exploit a child." At a sentencing hearing last year, court heard testimony from a corrections staff member about the lack of programming and services for deaf inmates at Headingley Correctional Centre. No staff members are trained in communicating with deaf inmates. "Jail is a tough place," Killeen said. "It will be vastly tougher for an inmate incapable of knowing if someone is coming up behind them, shouting at him, making fun of him or any of the other things that may terrify a cognitively challenged man." "The effect of a short sentence for him will meet all the requirements of sentencing. Judge Tim Killeen One of the main reasons to sentence sex offenders to jail is to provide them with counselling, Killeen said, but without any counsellors trained in sign language, counselling for Remillard would essentially be limited to "pen and paper." "Group counselling would be pointless and individual counselling would be challenging, " he said. Killeen said he was satisfied Remillard has been deterred from reoffending and has strong prospects for rehabilitation. "He is about to be isolated while incarcerated," he said. "He will be confined with others who he cannot hear, supervised by staff with whom he will likely only communicate in writing. The effect of a short sentence for him will meet all the requirements of sentencing." dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca SATURDAY Oregon State University Out of the Darkness Walk for Suicide Prevention, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., plaza, Student Experience Center, 2251 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis. Join in the walk to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide. The event features a resource fair, speakers, honor bead ceremony and campus walk, and is open to all. Registration: afsp.org/oregonstate. SUNDAY Book launch, 3 to 4:30 p.m., Willamette Park, 1350 SE Goodnight Ave., Corvallis. Local poet and essayist Charles Goodrich has a new book of poems, "Watering the Rhubarb." Goodrich will read poems from the book, and special guests will perform music. The event is co-sponsored by the Spring Creek Project and Grass Roots Books & Music, which will have books available for purchase. MONDAY "Resilience and Self-Care for Caregivers," 2 p.m. Mondays, April 11 through May 16, Zoom. Learn self-care skills to dramatically improve your overall mental, physical and emotional health. Small group format facilitated by J. Anna Looney. Sponsored by Samaritan Evergreen Hospice. Free registration: 609-468-2270 or cmbmannalooney@gmail.com. TUESDAY Academy for Lifelong Learning, 1:30 p.m., online. Matthew Graham, associate professor of the Oregon State University Micro-Femto Energetics Lab, will present "Capturing Electron Physics in the Twinkling of an Eye." How can we best harvest photocarriers in emerging nanomaterials to enable higher solar efficiencies and faster optoelectronics? The lab develops novel spectroscopy methods that resolve electron dynamics with both micron spatial resolution and femtosecond time-resolution. These methods resolve electron dynamics in next-generation solar cells and optical sensing devices to identify new materials that outperform conventional silicon-based technologies. ALL invites nonmembers to attend one or two classes at no charge to see if they are interested in becoming a member; email admin@academyforlifelonglearning.org if you are interested in doing that for this class. Corvallis Community Band spring concert, "Blossom by Blossom, Spring Begins," 7:30 p.m., LaSells Stewart Center, 875 SW 26th St. Conducted by artistic director Jim Martinez, the program will include pieces celebrating spring and the renewal of live performances by the band. Featuring the debut of a commissioned number by local composer Rob Birdwell. The concert is free, and no tickets are required. Information: 541-740-7882. WEDNESDAY Academy for Lifelong Learning, 1:30 p.m., online. Jacki Hedlund Tyler, assistant professor of history and director of social studies at Eastern Washington University, will present "The Origins of Settler Colonialism in the Pacific Northwest." The settlement of Oregon by white colonists was neither an organic process nor a natural extension of the United States. Hedlund Tyler will draw on research from her book, "Leveraging an Empire: Settler Colonialism and the Legalities of Citizenship," to address the formation of Oregon as a settler colony, and the forced removal of American Indians from their traditional lands. Learn more about the complex early history of the region. ALL invites nonmembers to attend one or two classes at no charge to see if they are interested in becoming a member; email admin@academyforlifelonglearning.org if you are interested. Items for this calendar are pulled from the user-generated calendar that runs on our websites. For further information, write to jane.stoltz@lee.net. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The tragic deaths of a family trying to walk across the Canada-U.S. border near Emerson in severe winter weather havent deterred others from attempting similar illegal journeys. The tragic deaths of a family trying to walk across the Canada-U.S. border near Emerson in severe winter weather havent deterred others from attempting similar illegal journeys. There have been at least three unlawful crossings into Manitoba from Minnesota or North Dakota since the bodies of the Patel family, including two children, were found in a snow-covered field Jan. 19. RCMP spokeswoman Cpl. Julie Courchaine said one person was intercepted in each of those incidents, which happened Feb. 23, March 3 and 23, respectively. Meanwhile, three people two Mexican nationals and a Canadian were apprehended by U.S. border patrol agents as they tried to enter North Dakota in February crossings, according to data published online. Figures for March and April were not yet available. Details about each of the incidents, including exact locations and circumstances, were not released by RCMP or U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Illegal crossings in the Emerson area have become infrequent since record numbers of asylum seekers arrived from the U.S. after Donald Trumps presidential election victory in November 2016. We dont hear or see it happening much anymore, said Dave Carlson, reeve of the Municipality of Emerson-Franklin. The political climate in the U.S. has changed, so were not seeing as many. Its a lot more quiet on that front. In 2017, the year Trump took office, the RCMP intercepted 1,018 asylum seekers between land border points of entry in Manitoba, according to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website. The annual total has been in rapid decline since then, falling to 410 interceptions in 2018, 180 in 2019, 28 in 2020, and 19 in 2021. In 2022, one asylum seeker was apprehended in February, the most recent month for which IRCC data is available. In recent years, the highest monthly number of illegal crossings has usually been in the spring months, when the weather starts to warm up. Kelly Sundberg, a criminologist and professor at Mount Royal University in Calgary, doesnt expect the trend to change. I would guess that enforcement, especially on the U.S. side, has really ramped up (since the January deaths). U.S. border patrol resources are allocated based on data to predict locations of illegal crossings, said Keith Cozine, associate professor of homeland security at St. Johns University in New York. Illegal crossings at this time of year can be fraught with danger due to cold nights and melting snow. There is some overland flooding in the Emerson area, where fields are wet and muddy, residents say. Carlson said most unlawful crossings involve one or more people walking into Manitoba from the United States. Its rare to hear of someone attempting to cross in the other direction, he added. That was one of the surprising details when the RCMP announced almost three months ago that four bodies had been found in a field about 10 kilometres east of Emerson. Jagdish Patel, 39, and Vaishaliben Patel, 37, their 11-year-old daughter, Vihangi, and three-year-old son, Dharmik, died trying to walk into the U.S., where they had relatives. The family was from the village of Dingucha, in Indias western state of Gujarat. The Patels, who died of exposure, were found after U.S. border patrol agents detained seven undocumented Indian nationals near St. Vincent, Minn. Investigators believe the Patels and the others were dropped off on the Manitoba side of the border the previous night in a -35 C blizzard, as part of a larger human smuggling operation. An Emerson-area resident said a camera was attached to a stop sign at a rural intersection following a suspected crossing about a week before the tragedy. The camera went up after the RCMP found footprints heading south toward the border through snow-filled fields, said the resident, who asked to remain anonymous. The RCMP said Friday officers continue to work with authorities in the U.S. and India to track the movements of the Patels, who arrived in Toronto on Jan. 12. Officers have travelled to the Toronto area and the U.S. state of Georgia to advance the investigation, spokesman Sgt. Paul Manaigre said recently. A survivor told U.S. border agents the larger group had walked for more than 11 hours before they were detained, along with an alleged human smuggler, a court affidavit stated. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Deltona, Fla., resident Steve Shand, 47, has been charged with illegally bringing two people into the U.S. and illegally transporting them. His trial in Fergus Falls, Minn., is to begin July 18. Two Indian nationals were found in Shands van, while five others were found on foot, the affidavit stated. Shand, who hasnt been charged in the deaths of the Patels, was released on bond and ordered to comply with conditions. The seven survivors were released from custody in the U.S., and are subject to deportation proceedings. chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @chriskitching Mary Ann Bartel is one of the less than 0.02% of Americans to reach their 100th birthday, and while many factors likely played a part in her longevity, her daughter believes one component is the dedicated care of her hospice team. Bartel entered hospice through Mayo Clinic Health System in July 2020, a program insurance or government medical assistance will cover for those with a life expectancy of approximately six months or less. Two years later, Bartel has surpassed the odds, and while she has transitioned to a nursing home in Galesville, her hospice providers, including nurse Jody Doebbert, are still by her side, helping make every day comfortable. There is a common misconception that hospice is only available those in the last days or weeks of their life, says Dr. Hilary Bingol, hospice and palliative medicine physician at Mayo, but that is definitely not the case. Patients with a terminal diagnosis can continue receiving care even if they live beyond another half year, and patients are encouraged to opt for the service which adults contribute to through social security sooner than later. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization reports that in 2019, 10% of Medicare beneficiaries received hospice care for two days; 25% for five days or less; and 50% for 18 days or less. These very short stays in hospice are considered too short a period for patients to fully benefit from the unique person-centered, interdisciplinary care provided by hospice, the organization says. Its helpful for patients and families if we have them on hospice longer, so we can really have a huge impact on their quality of life, we can decrease their symptoms related to their diseases, and that helps them feel better, stay in their homes longer and be with their families longer, Bingol says. It also gives the family and the patient time to plan for their end-of-life as well as to come to some acceptance and be able to stop having to focus on the crisis that often goes with chronic illness and instead just focus on each other. For Bartels daughter, Anne Paremski, a former nurse, hospice has allowed her to be more of a daughter than the nurse. Hospice workers through Mayo work with patients as many days as needed some require daily visits, others every other week with staff on call 24-7. Medications can be adjusted the same day if necessary, and the fast response to medical needs can prevent ER visits. The patients primary care provider collaborates with the hospice team to ensure all medical needs are met, and if the individual needs to transition to a nursing home, hospice can help make the process seamless, directing their care plan at the facility. They are so wonderful if you have any questions or concerns you can call them, they are able to come in at a moments notice and either reassure you things are fine, or we need to make some changes, Paremski says. They are very responsive and efficient, which is really helpful for my mom. Hospice patients do not need to be bedridden Bingol recalls a patient who worked up until his last days and can be living at home or in a facility. If they are traveling, hospice will coordinate with other care teams at their destination to ensure they have the necessary support during their time away. Doebbert says partnering with hospice earlier than later also helps with establishing a trusting relationship with the patient, who starts to look forward to the visit. Mary Ann shes like family almost, says Doebbert. You get to know people on a whole different level and in that way its more personal her daughter, her son, even having met some of the grandkids its that very, very intimate bond that you can create with folks after being on for so long. For Paremski and the rest of Bartels family, the connection has been a blessing. We never expected it to be this long not many people live to be 101 but its been amazing, Paremski says. The staff are so wonderful and they treat my mom like a mom, almost. They are so good to her. Doebbert feels its an honor to help patients, most of whom recognize their time is short, feel as good as possible. Many patients have something they hope to accomplish before they pass, and Doebbert strives to help them to fulfill it. Seeing how happy that stuff makes them in turn makes me happy, Doebbert says. Of course death is sad, but also it should be a celebration. We all die as mortal beings. Some people joke about it, even say Im dying this day. And by God sometimes it happens kind of crazy, but it happens. Emily Pyrek can be reached at emily.pyrek@lee.net. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 JUNEAU A state grant will help aid a local initiative to attract affordable housing to the area. The $50,000 grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. (WEDC) will pair with $75,000 from local sources to provide engineering and consulting services to aid in that process. Thrive Economic Development took the lead in the grant-writing process. Thrive Managing Director Deb Reinbold told the countys Executive Committee about the positive news on Monday. Thrive ED represents Dodge and Jefferson counties in economic development matters. Thrives contract to provide business attraction and recruitment services for Dodge County will expire in May, with in-house efforts to take their place. Thrive will help coordinate consultants in implementing the WEDC grant independent from its contract with Dodge County. Consulting firms that will be involved include Cedar Corp. and Movin Out. According to the overview from Thrive, The state of Wisconsin is experiencing a housing shortage for many well-documented reasons. The shortage is even more pronounced, particularly for attainable workforce housing, in rural Wisconsin. For small (less than 30,000 residents) municipalities, the options are fewer and attracting housing developments is a greater challenge. Employers want to see more attainable workforce housing units built in their community of residence, to retain workers, to reduce turnover rates and to attract new workers. Business needs workers, workers need housing, and everyone wins if the lack of housing/living units issue can be resolved. In addition to the WEDC grant, Watertown Community Health Foundation has committed $40,000 to the developer recruitment plan. A total of $17,500 from each county was also provided. We applied for this grant to assist communities to meet their housing needs, said Reinbold. They are all eligible to apply for the services that were offering through this grant. Its a $125,000 pool to help communities figure out where housing would best be suited and whatever type of housing is most needed. Our engineering firms and other experts will help them out wherever they need it, whether its determining a location or sending out a request for proposals to developers. A housing needs study completed by UW-Whitewater is working in conjunction with the pilot program, dubbed the Heartland Housing Initiative, to focus needs with potential resources. If this pilot program is successful it may be replicated throughout the state. Thrive ED proposes to address housing concerns by working with an expert housing development consulting team to provide development-focused services to municipalities across Dodge and Jefferson counties, said Thrive ED President Victoria Pratt. I can assure you from the meetings Deb and I have with municipalities and from conversations about community meetings that many of the municipalities in Dodge County want help. A resolution to support the grant application was approved by the full County Board on Oct. 19, 2021. The application was submitted to WEDC before the end of October. Emails are being sent by Thrive to area municipalities and county board members announcing the opportunity and inviting them to participate or to pass the information on to those who might use it. Communities have until April 29 to apply. First round recipients will be announced May 6. Its an excellent opportunity to utilize the expertise of everyone involved, said Reinbold. Were trying to get the word out as much as we can. For more information visit www.thriveed.org. 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. By Trend Russia's UTair Aviation may start regular flights from Chechnya's Grozny to Azerbaijan from May 2022, Minister of Transport and Communications of Russia's Chechen Republic Ramzan Cherhigov said, Trend reports referring to the Russian media. According to him, a relevant application for operating regular flights to Baku by UTair from May has already been submitted to the Federal Air Transport Agency. To date, some airlines such as Aeroflot, Air Arabia, Air Astana, Arkia, Belavia, FlyAristan, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa and a number of others carry out flights to Azerbaijan. Palm Sunday observed: Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 2650 NW Highland Drive in Corvallis, will share Gods Word and Holy Communion at 9 a.m. Sunday, April 10, both in the sanctuary and via livestream worship, accessible at www.svlccorvallis.org and facebook.com/shepherdcorvallis. Pastor Eric Bohlmanns sermon will be Greatness through Selflessness. Indoor masking is optional. For an undetermined period, a mask-required seating area also will be available. Multi-Gen Bible study will follow worship at 10:30, both in the church and via Zoom. The study will be on 1 Samuel:3. For access to the Zoom meeting, call the church office at 541-753-2816. Lent observed: First United Methodist Church, 1165 NW Monroe Ave. in Corvallis, will hold services at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, April 10, in person and at www.facebook.com/CorvallisFUMC/live. The congregation will continue the series Living Lent 2022: Creativity A Spiritual Discipline. What temptations keep you from accepting success? Based on Luke 22:1423:56. Palm Sunday observed: Grace Lutheran Church, 435 NW 21st St. in Corvallis, will observe Palm Sunday at 10 a.m. April 10. The service will celebrate Jesus entry into Jerusalem with blessing of palms and a readers theater version of the Passion story, in person and live-streamed on YouTube. Bahai devotions and discussion: Holy Season: Passover, Easter and Ramadan is set for 10:30 a.m. Sunday, April 10, via Zoom. The month of April sees several traditions of the faithful, with Jewish Passover, Christian Easter and Muslim Ramadan overlapping in time. The Bahai Ridvan festival also takes place in April. All are invited to join the group this week in exploring religious texts illuminating Pesach (Passover), Easter and the Muslim month of Fasting, Ramadan. How are these faiths all related to each other? For the Zoom link, visit https://tinyurl.com/2ejv7cth, where you will find the readings and a link for the meeting. Zoom chat opens at 10:15 a.m. Event for women: After 5 Connection, affiliated with Stonecroft, will present Second Time Around Fashions at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, at Lebanon Foursquare Church, 470 W. C St. The program will feature a fashion show presented by 1st Hand Seconds Unique Boutique. This upscale resale boutique in Albany is the financial support of a nonprofit agency providing help to women and their children at risk. Ray Hendricks, former director of the Lebanon Community Chorus will perform piano music for the fashion show. Janell Desmond of Tualatin, a former division chief for the Department of the Interior at Shasta Dam, will share her story of overcoming and gaining strength from hard times of personal failure, tragedy and loss. The dinner and program are open to all. Cost is $15 inclusive; the group is not credit card-ready. Reservations are available at 541-451-2586 or NancyPinzino@comcast.net. Maundy Thursday observed: First United Methodist Church, 1165 NW Monroe Ave. in Corvallis, will hold a service at 6:30 p.m. Maundy Thursday, April 14. Participants will join a solemn journey of three days that has changed the world and many lives. The Maundy Thursday service each year sets hearts and spirits to remember and experience the Last Supper as Christ wanted. It is probably the most deeply felt communion of the year. The evening will include a simple shared meal, communion, foot washing and a watercolor art class. Signup is required by Sunday, April 10, at www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0548AAAA23A5FB6-maundy. Holy Thursday observed: Grace Lutheran Church, 435 NW 21st St. in Corvallis, will commemorate Holy Thursday with communion at 7 p.m. April 14. The service will be in person only. Maundy Thursday service: Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 2650 NW Highland Drive in Corvallis, will hold a service including the Lords Supper at 7 p.m. Maundy Thursday, April 14. Good Friday observed: First United Methodist Church, 1165 NW Monroe Ave. in Corvallis, will hold a service at 7 p.m. Good Friday, April 15, both in person and online at www.facebook.com/CorvallisFUMC/live. In the midst of the pain and the loss, the tears and the grave are a paradox. What was final is simply not final. On Good Friday, why not look deeper within your own brokenness and search for the good in your life? You are beautiful not despite your scars, but because of them. May you find the beauty in all of who you are. Good Friday observed: Grace Lutheran Church, 435 NW 21st St. in Corvallis, will commemorate Good Friday at 7 p.m. April 15. The service will be in-person only. Good Friday service: Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 2650 NW Highland Drive in Corvallis, will hold a service at 7 p.m. Good Friday, April 15. Live-stream worship is accessible at www.svlccorvallis.org and facebook.com/shepherdcorvallis. Holy Saturday observed: Worshipers are invited for quiet meditation and prayer in the sanctuary of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 2650 NW Highland Drive in Corvallis, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Holy Saturday, April 16. Easter celebrated: Celebrations of Jesus Resurrection are set for 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday, Apr. 17, at Grace Lutheran Church, 435 NW 21st St. in Corvallis. Both services will be in person and livestreamed. Easter breakfast will be served at 9:30 a.m.; an Easter egg hunt will follow at 10:15. Details: 541-757-1600 or https://grace97330.org. Easter celebration: First United Methodist Church, 1165 NW Monroe Ave. in Corvallis, will celebrate the good news that in Christs death and resurrection Christians and all creation are continually being made new by Gods love and saving grace. In-person and online worship will start at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, April 17, featuring scripture from Luke 24:1-12, and music by the Bell Choir, the Chancel Choir, organ and brass. The link for online worship is www.facebook.com/CorvallisFUMC/live/. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday held a phone conversation with his Philippine counterpart, Rodrigo Duterte. During the phone conversation, Xi said that he still has fresh memories about Duterte's first visit to China in October 2016, which he called an ice-breaking trip and a milestone in the history of bilateral relations. In the past six years, Xi said, the two sides have followed the important consensus reached between the two leaders, and have persisted in promoting good-neighborly friendship and cooperation, properly handling differences, working together for common development, and getting rid of interference in bilateral ties, which is demonstrating a new situation of vigorous development. The two countries have established a comprehensive strategic cooperative relationship, deepened the synergy between the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and the plan of "Build, Build, Build," and jointly promoted cooperation in major programs such as infrastructure construction, with bilateral trade volume doubled during the period, he added. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Xi said, the two sides have stood by each other, safeguarded the safety of the lives of the people in both countries and their health, and worked to maintain the stability of the regional industrial and supply chains. The two sides' properly handling of the South China Sea issue has provided an important foundation for the China-Philippines friendly cooperation, benefited the two people and also effectively safeguarded regional peace and stability, Xi said. Xi stressed that China maintains the continuity and stability in its policy toward the Philippines, and is willing to work with the country to promote sustained and sound development of the bilateral relations so as to reach new levels. The Chinese side stands ready to continue to provide COVID-19 vaccines to the Philippines if needed, and strengthen bilateral cooperation in the research and development of specific drugs and in public health capacity building, Xi said. China is also ready to promote the construction of major projects and expand cooperation in trade, investment, education, as well as people-to-people and cultural exchanges with the Philippines, he said. China will also import more quality products from the Philippines, encourage Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in the Philippines, and contribute to the modernization process of the Philippines, he added. Xi stressed that the development of the current international situation has once again proved that regional security cannot be achieved by strengthening military alliances. The Chinese side is ready to work with the Philippines and other regional countries to uphold the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, take firm control over regional security, and jointly safeguard the hard-won peace and stability in the region so as to build a community with a shared future for mankind, he added. Duterte said he highly values his friendship and good relations with President Xi. Over the past six years, thanks to the joint efforts of both sides, people in the two countries have become more friendly toward each other, bilateral relations stronger and their cooperation more fruitful, and the Philippine people have truly felt the benefits of Philippines-China cooperation, he added. Thanking China for its vaccine support in the anti-pandemic fight as well as the timely help to the people affected by storms in his country, Duterte said China is a true and reliable friend of the Philippine people. The Philippine side is willing to consolidate its friendship and cooperation with China, continue to strengthen bilateral relations, learn from China's experience in poverty reduction, and promote cooperation in such fields as anti-pandemic, economy and trade, infrastructure, tourism and education, said the president. The Philippines also welcomes Chinese investment and cooperation in the country, which is of great significance for the Philippines to achieve its own development, he added. The Philippines is willing to work with China to properly address the South China Sea issue, set an example for the peaceful resolution of disputes, and maintain regional peace and stability, Duterte said, adding the Philippines is also willing to play an active role in the development of ASEAN-China relations. (Source: Xinhua) Articles Sorry, there are no recent results for popular articles. U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and Vice President Mike Pence arrive to a news conference in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, April 27, 2020. The White House issued a strategy to expand U.S. testing for the coronavirus on Monday, after enduring criticism that the outbreak has grown to nearly 1 million Americans in part because the government was slow to develop widespread testing to track and contain the disease. Photographer: Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/Bloomberg via Getty Images The militant strike that more than 70,000 Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) workers have waged for the past five months is in grave danger of being broken without the workers realizing their core demands. On Thursday, April 7, the Bombay High Court ordered the striking MSRTC bus drivers, ticket collectors, mechanics and other support staff to return to work by no later than Friday, April 22. The court ruling effectively gives the Maharashtra state government-owned MSRTC legal sanction to dismiss any and all workers who continue the strike beyond April 21. Drivers and workers of the bus company MSRTC appeal to passers-by to support their strike (Photo: MSRTC strikers) Responding to the High Courts latest anti-strike ruling, Maharashtra state Transport Minister Anil Parab minced no words. It will be assumed, he arrogantly declared, that those employees who still do not resume work by April 22 do not require the job. In their oral observations, the High Court judges hectored the workers. Resume your duty, they demanded. Dont lose your livelihood in this way. Continuing in this vein, the judges ordered the workers to use other remedies open to them to counter the state governments rejection of their key demand that the MSRTC be fused with the state government. Presumably the judges meant that workers should expend their energies on futile efforts at lobbying the parties of the capitalist establishmentall of whom have demonstrated time and again their hostility to the MSRTC workers struggle. The workers want MSRTC, currently a state-owned enterprise run as a profit-making enterprise, merged into the state government, so that they can avail themselves of the same pay, benefits and job security protections accorded other government workers. They have taken up the merger demand as a means of resisting the plans of MSRTC management and the state government to privatize the inter-city bus service, which is an essential means of transport for tens of millions of working people, especially in rural areas. The court set its April 22 deadline for the strikes end at the conclusion of three days of hearings into the strike, which workers have mounted in defiance of savage management reprisals, government threats, and repeated rulings by the courts that the strike is illegal. The hearing began with the court taking official cognizance of the governments rejection of the merger demand. In fact, this has never been in question. Throughout the conflict, the state governmenta coalition led by fascistic Shiv Sena and including the Congress Party and Maharashtra-based National Congress Partyhas been adamant that merger is non-negotiable and unaffordable. But as part of its attempts to suppress the strike, the High Court set up a phony process to study the merger demand, when it first declared the strike illegal last November. This weeks High Court hearing was also meant to address an MSRTC-filed contempt of court motion against the workers for having commenced and continued the strike in defiance of various court rulings declaring it illegal. The MRSTC workers have shown tremendous militancy and determination. Despite receiving no strike pay, the firing of over 2,200 workers, the suspensions of over 11,000 more, government threats of mass arrests, and the courts anti-strike orders, the vast majority of the more than 90,000 workers who walked out last November 4 remain off the job. If the strike is now in grave danger, it is above all due to the sabotage of the trade unions and Stalinist parliamentary partiesthe Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM and the Communist Party of India (CPI). From the outset, the more than two dozen unions that claim to represent the MSRTC workers have opposed the strike. The central trade union federations, including the CPM-affiliated CITU and CPI sponsored AITUC, have systematically isolated the MSRTC workers militant struggleabandoning them in the face of state repression and facilitating the company-government campaign to starve the strikers into submission. During last weeks two-day national general strike against Prime Minister Narendra Modis unrelenting drive to privatize a massive number of public sector industries, no mention was made of the Maharashtra bus transport workers courageous struggle against the threat of privatization, let alone anything done to mobilize the working class across India in their support . Due to the treachery of the union and Stalinist parties, sections of MSRTC workers, seeing no way forward, misguidedly put stock in the High Courts phony professions of sympathy for the workers at various hearings held over the last five months. The courts order threatening them with dismissal if they do not return to work by April 22, together with its demand that they give up their struggle for the MSRTCs merger with the state government, has thus come as a bitter blow. Throughout the dispute, the court has been acutely conscious of the danger the MSRTC workers struggle could become the catalyst of a broader movement of the working class, under conditions where there is mass anger over the ruling class ruinous response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying pandemic of mass joblessness and hunger. Thus, even as they dramatically ratcheted up the pressure on the workers, threatening them with dismissal en masse, the High Court judges feigned concern with the workers fate and made a show of extracting phoney promises from MSRTC management and the government. On Wednesday, the court set Friday, April 15 as the return-to-work deadline. But at the hearings conclusion, it extended this by a week. Declaring that when there is a fight between a lion and a lamb, the lamb has to be protected, the court directed MSRTC management to pledge that the fired and suspended workers will be allowed to return to work. The state government, meanwhile, has pledged that for the next four years it will provide state funding to MSRTC and ensure workers wages are paid on time. Due to the pandemic and years of government neglect, MSRTCs finances are currently in a shambles. None of the pledges and avowals from MSRTC management, the government or for that matter the High Court should be given any credence. The company has said it will drop disciplinary measures against the strikers. But it is also insisting that the many criminal court cases it has instigated against the most militant workers proceed, thereby providing itself with a mechanism to victimize and ultimately fire them. Even less credible are the promises of government funding for the MSRTC. No figures have been provided as to the extent of this four-year support. Moreover, it in no way entails any commitment from either MSRTC management or the government to abandon their plans to privatize bus routes and terminuses. Indeed, in the midst of the strike, MSRTC has been working with the giant transnational consulting firm KPMG on plans to contract out bus lines and otherwise monetize its assets. Workers across India and internationally must come to the defence of the MSRTC workers. Toward this end, the WSWS is circulating the video statement of support issued by victimized UK bus workers David OSullivan on behalf of the London Bus Rank-and-File Committee. For their part, the MSRTC workers must draw the necessary conclusions from their clash with the pro-corporate union apparatuses. To coordinate and lead their fight, they need to build new organizations of struggle, entirely independent of and opposed to the unions and capitalist politicians, at every garage and terminusan MSRTC workers rank-and-file committee. The first task of such a committee would be to break the union-imposed isolation of the strike, by issuing an urgent appeal to workers across India for a joint struggle against privatization and in defence of public services. There is no question such an appeal would win massive support from miners, bank, port and electricity workers and the millions of other workers targeted by the privatization agenda of the Modi government and the state governments, including those like Maharashtras, led by the opposition parties. MSRTC strikers seeking to build such rank-and-file committees can depend on the World Socialist Web Site and the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees to provide them our wholehearted support and every assistance. In this World Socialist Web Site video interview, Dr David Berger explains his opposition to the official let it rip response to COVID-19 and its immediate and long-term social consequences. Berger discusses his experiences over the past decade working as an emergency doctor in remote Australia and the failure of Australian governments to protect these highly vulnerable communities. He warns that the retrogressive and unscientific government and media responses to the coronavirus are a threat to society and offers his enthusiastic support for the Global Workers Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic. We encourage readers to share this interview widely on social media and watch study other material on the Global Workers Inquest into the Covid-19 Pandemic page on the WSWS. Workers strike inside CSN plant in Volta Redonda. (Credits: Sindicato Metabase Inconfidentes) In the midst of the intensification of a nationwide and global strike movement, Brazilian workers at Companhia Siderurgica Nacional (CSN) began a series of strikes and demonstrations across the country, demanding higher salaries and bonuses. The strike began on March 31 at the Casa de Pedra mine, located in the city of Congonhas, in the interior of Minas Gerais. According to CSNs website, it is the oldest iron ore mine in operation in Brazil and currently has a production capacity of 30 million tons per year. The movement was joined by workers at the Pires mine, which is in the neighboring town Ouro Preto. In both units, the movement is led by the trade union Metabase Inconfidentes, affiliated to the trade union federation CSP-Conlutas and controlled by the Morenoite Unified Socialist Workers Party (PSTU). Despite the workers demonstration of struggle throughout the week, challenging the company with effective participation in the strike and demonstrations, the union bulletin on April 7 reported: Are we on strike after all? No, comrades! We are in a mobilization process according to the deliberation of the assembly that took place on April 1, in which 77.11 percent of the workers decided to reject the companys proposal. The bulletin still tried to defend the unions refusal to demand an indefinite strike: In our initial understanding, this measure [the strike] is precipitous and can defeat the movement.... The treachery of the pseudo-left union in Minas Gerais became even more evident after the movement spread beyond its ranks. Workers rose up independently of their unions at the Port of Itaguaia major iron ore export huband at the Presidente Vargas Steelworks in Volta Redonda, the largest steel mill in Latin America, both in the state of Rio de Janeiro. According to a report on the website Foco Regional, the strike at the Presidente Vargas plant on the morning of the April 5 was carried out by a group of maintenance workers in a demonstration that reinforces the lack of credibility of the current leadership of the Metalworkers Union and even of those who call themselves opposition leaders (our emphasis). While the union in Volta Redonda is led by the Forca Sindical, the official opposition is headed by the PSTU Morenoites, the same ones who refused to declare a strike at the mining units in Minas Gerais. Also, according to the report on the Volta Redonda steelworkers strike, the action was supposedly spontaneous, gathering between 40 and 50 workers of the shift that ended at 3 pm. Following the example set by the wildcat strike in Volta Redonda, CSN workers in Porto de Itaguai also stopped working. As reported by the Jornal Atual newspaper, The movement in Itaguai is actually a reflection of what is happening in Volta Redonda. In an interview with the newspaper, the vice-president of the union himself confirmed that the movement came from the employees themselves and was not organized by the union. Foco Regional reported a substantial increase in the movement in Volta Redonda the following day, with a new strike and a strongly attended assembly inside the mill. In a video posted on the internet, a worker declared to the applause of the assembly, Either it improves [the agreement proposal] or we stop everything. The third day of strike at the mill was even stronger, with an assembly fully occupying the facilitys courtyard. In a video shared on social media, workers are called to shout our battle cry and respond massively: Workers united will never be defeated! The cry of the workers today hearkens back to historical struggles of the working class in Latin America, and particularly the struggles against the military dictatorship in Brazil, initiated with a US-backed coup in 1964 and officially ended in 1985 as a result of a semi-insurrectionary uprising by the working class. In 1988, CSN workers put the newborn democratic regime to the test by staging a massive sit-down strike and were brutally repressed by the Army. Three metalworkers were killed, and hundreds were wounded in what became known as the Volta Redonda massacre. The strike had strong support from the population and the workers funeral service was celebrated with a massive march, gathered under the cry People united will never be defeated! More than three decades later, CSN workers today face changed conditions, both in relation to their unions and the company. In 1988, CSN was still a state-owned company and with less capacity. Today it has facilities in 18 Brazilian states and two other countriesGermany and Portugal. Established as a transnational corporation, CSN had a net profit of 13.6 billion reais (US$ 2.9 billion) in 2021, which meant a 217 percent increase over 2020. But it continues to pay low wages to its roughly 30,000 workers in the country, with a large portion even lower than 2,000 reais (US$430) per month. The Workers Party (PT)-linked CUT trade union federation, which led the 1988 strike, played a systematic role of channeling the movement of strikes and demonstrations that emerged in the crisis of the military regime toward domestication of the working class and adaptation to capitalist relations of production as well as to the bourgeois state, culminating with the rise of the PT to Brazils presidency. Having played the role of a buffer between the ruling class and the workers for over 30 years, these unions have crystallized as capitalist agents, and today face consistent rejection by the working class. Hatred towards the unions has increasingly manifested itself as the cost of living has risen in Brazil, with food prices up more than 10 percent in the last 12 months. The CSN workers movement is an integral part of and represents a qualitative step in a wave of strikes in different sections of the economy throughout Brazil. In Rio de Janeiro, street sweepers went on a ten-day strike for better wages despite all the efforts of demobilization by the union affiliated to the UGT federation. Education and transport workers are also on strike in at least five states, demanding better salaries. In the state of Sao Paulo, metalworkers at Avibras are on strike against the lay-off of more than 400 workers, while workers at Toyota issued a strike warning against the companys decision to close its long-standing plant in Sao Bernardo do Campo. In the face of the intensifying economic and political crisis in Brazil and around the world, with the ruling class dragging millions into hunger and subjecting humanity to a policy of mass death with an uncontrolled pandemic and a threat of nuclear war, the only progressive social force is the working class. Its strength has been demonstrated in the largest wave of social protests since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic: in Greece, workers staged a 24-hour general strike on April 5; in Sri Lanka, massive demonstrations demand the resignation of the president in the face of the worst economic crisis in decades; in Peru, mass protests against the rising cost of living are facing violent repression by pseudo-left President Pedro Castillo, in which five people were killed in the past week. The coordination of these struggles internationally is advocated only by the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) with its fight for the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC). We call on workers in struggle throughout Brazil to study the IWA-RFC manifesto, form rank-and-file committees and join this critical international initiative. All signs point to Canada being in the midst of a developing sixth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, triggered by the emergence of the BA.2 subvariant of Omicron and fueled by government let-it-rip policies at the federal and provincial level. In this Thursday, April 29, 2021, photo, Sherry Cross Child, a Canadian resident of Stand Off, Alberta, receives a COVID-19 vaccine at the Piegan-Carway border crossing near Babb, Mont. (AP Photo/Iris Samuels) Across the country, case numbers, hospitalizations and deaths are surging after hitting an ebb less than three weeks ago. The fifth wave of the pandemic, triggered by the BA.1 subvariant of Omicron, produced the highest number of infections and hospitalizations on record, and the third-highest death toll of any wave of the pandemic. Over 6,500 Canadians succumbed to the disease during the first Omicron wave, which the corporate-controlled media has incessantly declared to be mild. Some parts of the country, such as the Maritimes and the northern territories, are experiencing their worst phase of the pandemic. Prince Edward Island, with a population of just 157,000, recorded over 2,200 cases per million people on April 2. This rate of infection is higher than any other province or state in Canada and the United States. The Northwest Territories, with a population of just 45,000, was a close second at almost 2,000 cases per million. On April 6, over 13,500 new infections were officially recorded across the country. This figure is certainly a vast undercount due to the decision of provincial governments to withhold public PCR testing from all but the most clinically vulnerable. In the province of Quebec alone, epidemiologists estimate that between March 24 and March 29, 18,000 to 32,000 people were infected on a daily basis by BA.2. Dr. Tara Moriarty, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Toronto, estimates that on March 31, over 136,000 people across the country contracted the disease. Comparing official government figures to Dr. Moriartys estimates, the former is an undercount of infections by at least a factor of 10. She previously co-authored a Royal Society of Canada report released in mid-2021 documenting the vast government undercount of COVID-19 deaths. Dr. Moriarty estimates that in the countrys most populace province, Ontario, with a population of 14.5 million, around 40,000 people were infected with BA.2 on March 31. In Alberta, Dr. Moriarty estimates 37,000 people were infected on March 31, in a population of 4.3 million. The provinces hard-right United Conservative Party government led by Premier Jason Kenney has spearheaded the dismantling of public health measures and the downplaying of the threat posed by COVID-19. Even the Ontario Science Table, a government COVID-19 advisory group that regularly downplays the severity of the pandemic, raised the alarm of a tidal wave of infections on the order of 100,000 to 120,000 new infections per day, based on wastewater surveillance. Given this figure, half of the provinces population could be infected in just over two months. Wastewater surveillance figures across the country corroborate Dr. Moriartys projections as well as those of other principled epidemiologists. The aggregator website covid19tracker.ca has daily hospitalizations nationwide at 4,957 as of April 8, a more than 16 percent increase over the previous week. This figure is almost as high as the peak of the second wave of the pandemic in the winter of 2020, and is on track to surpass the peak of 10,000 hospitalizations during the previous BA.1 wave. On April 4, Quebec reported a 40 percent increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations over the previous two weeks. Daily deaths are inching up again after three weeks of holding relatively steady at 40 per day. Since deaths are a lagging indicator of the severity of the pandemic, daily fatalities are set to skyrocket in the coming weeks. Dr. Moriartys estimates underscore that the official death toll continues to be a gross undercount, with an estimated 165 COVID-19 deaths on March 31 versus an official count of 39. This immense discrepancy between reported and estimated COVID-19 deaths is due to the limited testing of the deceased. Only Quebec systematically performs COVID-19 testing on those suspected of succumbing to the disease, while the other provinces sweep the growing number of excess deaths under the rug. The potential long-term impact of Long Covid, which affects an estimated 10 to 30 percent of all those who contract the disease, is mind-boggling. Preliminary studies of Long Covid show debilitating effects on major body organs, such as the brain, as well as the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and even reproductive systems. With an estimated one-third of the total Canadian population infected with COVID-19 since the pandemic began, anywhere from 1.25 million to 3.76 million people will live and die with the chronic effects of the disease for years and decades to come. With the approval of the federal Trudeau government, all provincial governments responded to the emergence of the far-right Freedom Convoy in early February by embracing its fascistic demands for the elimination of all public health measures. As a result, widespread public testing and contact tracing, indoor capacity limits, isolation protocols after infection, and mask mandates have been scrapped in the majority of provinces. Schools across the country have always been incubators for the pandemic. Nevertheless, the vast majority of provinces and school boards have discontinued mask mandates. Only Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the northern territories of Yukon, Nunavut, and the Northwest Territories still require children to wear masks. In addition, parents have been discouraged from informing their childs school of a positive case in their household. Self-isolation requirements have been scaled back to the point that some children can return to class almost immediately following infection. Similarly, workplaces across the country allow infected workers to return to work within five days of infection, meaning they are still infectious. Because provincial governments have removed widespread testing, thousands of workers undoubtedly go to work while infected, some without evident symptoms, ensuring that the pandemic will continue in perpetuity. The next stage of the government plan to implement the corporate-backed profits before life program is to methodically dismantle even the collection and publication of data, while lying outright about the continued impact of the virus on individuals and society. Only Quebec and Ontario continue to provide daily pandemic reports, although the governments at the Parliament Building and in Queens Park are undoubtedly working feverishly to overturn this. British Columbia this week ended daily reporting, and the rest of the provinces transitioned to weekly reports soon after the end of the fifth wave. The corporate press, which throughout the pandemic uncritically reported lies about the virus to justify allowing it to spread throughout the population, is also winding down its coverage. This trend is exemplified by the decision by CBC News to end its popular daily COVID-19 tracker with no legitimate justification. Political leaders at the provincial and federal level continue to downplay the severity of the current stage of the pandemic. Theresa Tam, the countrys Liberal-appointed Chief Medical Officer, declared that hospitalizations and admissions have been levelling off, before proclaiming that Canadas health system is expected to withstand this uptick. Similar language has been used by Ontarios hard-right Premier Doug Ford, who called the resurgence of the pandemic just weeks after the fifth wave a little spike that the province would be able to manage. Quebecs conservative Premier, Francois Legault, who recently contracted COVID-19, dismissed the disease as a cold, pretty much, before insisting that we will have to learn to live with the virus. By we, the former Air Transat CEO was not referring to the corporations, millionaires, and billionaires he and his government represents, which have been lavished with tax breaks and subsidies throughout the pandemic. Rather, he was referring to the working class, which has suffered unprecedented declines in its life expectancy and socioeconomic position over the past two years. Regarding the global COVID-19 pandemic, all eyes have turned towards China, where the lockdown in Shanghai has been extended indefinitely to battle the highly infectious and immune-resistant Omicron BA.2 subvariant that has caused a record surge of infections in the country. Health workers in protective suits prepare for coronavirus testing for residents at a compound near residential buildings, Thursday, April 7, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) Since mid-March, COVID-19 cases have been continually rising in Shanghai, the financial center of China. On March 28, Shanghai health officials initiated a two-stage lockdown whereby the city east of the Huangpu River would be placed in lockdown for five days, followed by the western half of the city. However, late last Thursday health officials opted to lock down the entire city until cases are brought to zero. Beijing is mobilizing all its resources to assist Shanghai during an outbreak on the verge of spinning out of control. More than 38,000 medical workers from 15 provincial-level regions have been deployed to assist in infection control, including building makeshift hospitals that can accommodate at least 50,000 patients. On Friday, the city underwent a second round of citywide testing. Despite concerns about supplies reaching neighborhoods under lockdown and delays in coordinating food deliveries, the situation seems to have improved recently. As Bloomberg confirmed, Officials have ramped up assistance in recent days, and some residents have begun receiving food packs from the government that include eggs, milk, vegetables, and luncheon meat. The efforts being employed in Shanghai have been compared to that in Wuhan city in Hubei province, which emerged out of a 79-day lockdown precisely two years ago on April 8, 2020. As happened then, the initial foray into lockdown has been chaotic and complex. Establishing such a vast, previously nonexistent logistics network means delays, setbacks, and social apprehension. However, the commitment to these efforts has been unwavering. Yesterday, Chinas National Health Commission (NHC) reported 24,224 new COVID-19 cases (including 91 imported cases), of which 22,648 were asymptomatic. However, the bulk of daily COVID-19 cases continues to be counted in Shanghai, and the city reported 21,222 new cases yesterday, of which 824 were symptomatic infections. Daily COVID cases China March 1 to April 8, 2022. (WSWS Media) By comparison, there were only 3,001 COVID-19 cases in the rest of mainland China, with 716 symptomatic cases. Most of these cases continue to be identified in the northeast province of Jilin. There were 2,266 COVID-19 cases, with 2,027 in Changchun, a city of nine million known locally as Chinas City of Automobiles or the Detroit of China. Lockdowns in Jilin city have drastically reduced new infections, with only 228 reported Friday. The apparent rise in COVID-19 cases across Shanghai is a product of mass citywide PCR testing to ascertain the location of every infection. In other words, the testing has uncovered the actual extent of the silent community transmission contributing to the rise in infections. Many in the population who have supported elimination complained that the somewhat laissez-faire approach in Shanghai until late March contributed to the avoidable onerous outbreak. After criticizing the Chinese governments policy, even the New York Times had to admit that the support for Zero-COVID remains high in China. Chen Daoyin, a former assistant professor at the Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, told the Times, Beijing had clearly doubled down on Zero-COVID and was bringing Shanghai in line with the rest of the country. In a system like Chinas, where politics determines everything, its impossible for you to walk a different road. In contrast, the US is doubling down on living with the virus. COVID-19 surveillance systems are being rapidly dismantled, adhering to fascistic former president Trumps infamous quip, If we didnt do any testing, we would have very few cases. These efforts have had full bipartisan support and approval from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Additionally, the numerous reported infections among high-level Washington politicians, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, mislead Americans to believe that COVID-19 is harmless. More than one million Americans have needlessly perished from COVID-19, and life expectancy in the US has declined by more than 2.2 years during the pandemic. In stark contrast, fewer than 5,000 have died in China and life expectancy has now surpassed that of the US. In contradistinction to the unscientific measures employed in the US and much of the rest of the world, the Chinese authorities have shifted from a mitigation strategy in Shanghai to implementing the strictest standards to eliminate COVID-19 and preserve life and livelihood. The sudden shift and resoluteness have been met with savage attacks in the Western press against the Zero-COVID policy, decrying its impact on the global markets. On March 29, the Editorial Board of the Financial Times, the mouthpiece of finance capital, wrote, Ultimately, China will need a strategy to exit Zero-COVID-19 and live with the virus As the world slowly returns to business as usual, the policy will come at a higher and higher cost to China. On April 3, The Economist remarked, The pain will be felt abroad too just as it was amid the lockdowns in Shenzhen, another city deeply entangled in global supply chains One team of economists estimates that a one-month lockdown of Shanghai and its spillover effects would knock a staggering four percent off Chinas GDP in that period. On April 6, the Washington Post Editorial Board wrote, For two years, Chinas leadership has bragged to anyone who would listen that its authoritarian system did a better job fighting the pandemic than the undisciplined and chaotic democracies. Pointing to the towering death toll in the United States, Beijing expressed pride that its policy of clamping down mercilessly whenever an infection was discovered, a policy called Zero COVID, was working. The Post added, For the most part, it did, and Chinas population was spared the sacrifices and misery seen elsewhere. But now, Chinas dictatorship is on the ropes in its battle with the virus. Evidently, in this battle the Post is rooting for the virus to win. Bloomberg provocatively opened its April 7 report, Pets beaten to death. Parents forced to separate from their children. Elderly folks unable to access medical care. Locked up residents chanting we want to eat and we want freedom. No mention was made of efforts being made to alleviate these concerns, which affect a tiny minority of those under lockdown. On April 8, the Wall Street Journal complained that the lockdowns are strangling manufacturing operations and placing undue strains on stretched global supply chains. They wrote, Stringent government measures to contain the countrys COVID-19 outbreak, the worst in more than two years, are locking down tens of millions of people, mostly in and around the industrial heartland of Shanghai. Regarding these fiery statements and rumors being purported about the plight of Shanghai, the WSWS had the opportunity to speak to Dr. Y in Shanghai on condition of anonymity. Commenting on the concerns raised in the media about children being separated from their parents, she said, Yes, that was true and made a lot of people very angry and verbal. COVID-positive children were quarantined at a center away from their negative parents. Positive parents, however, could stay with their children. However, after the outrage, the authorities adjusted their policy and allowed parents to stay with their children. Regarding the issue of food and supplies, Dr. Y explained that food distribution was being handled locally by communities. Locking everyone in their homes and closing all the supermarkets to prevent clustering [of people] obviously creates food shortages. People are forming WeChat groups in their community to bulk order things, and they also try to order groceries and have them delivered through different apps. The success is based mainly on luck. A box of vegetables delivered to a family in Shanghai. (WSWS Media) She added, Keep in mind that the cry for lack of food is very loud. However, there are reports that the authorities are going to start to take over the whole citys food distribution instead of relying on local communities. Dr. Y and other healthcare workers in China have corroborated that the elimination strategy had allowed them to return to normal life routines until recently. They all expressed concern about the threat that Omicron poses and supported the current efforts. Authorities recent imposition on freedom of movement stems directly from the dangers posed by allowing the virus free rein in the population without enough immune protection. The let-it-rip policy that international financial markets insist on would be socially catastrophic and politically destabilizing for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authorities. The purpose of the Western medias attack on Chinas Zero-COVID policy is to incite anger and reaction among the Chinese population. Utterly indifferent to concerns for the life and well-being of their own population or that of any other country, the ruling elites are weaponizing the virus as an existential threat and a political weapon against the Chinese. On Monday, April 11, nearly 300 Howard University Hospital (HUH) nurses and other staff plan to hold a one day strike to protest against the hospital administrations stonewalling, low pay and inadequate staffing levels. Hospital staff has been without a contract since November. The District of Columbia Nurses Association (DCNA), an affiliated of National Nurses United, has filed multiple unfair labor practice complaints against the hospital. Howard University Hospital (Photo: Wikipedia) On March 31, the District of Columbia Nurses Association, an affiliate of National Nurses United, served a strike notice to Howard University president Wayne A.I. Frederick and HUH CEO Anita Jenkins. According to American Universitys DCist publication, in addition to low pay and staffing, nurses have accused the hospital of unilaterally changing some workers schedules and pay during negotiations, and walking away from the bargaining table. Nurses at the hospital have reported nearly 100 staff vacancies as of the beginning of the year. According to the DCist, [s]taffing levels have been decimated by both COVID-19 cases among hospital employees and a staggering amount of vacancies driven by burnout. Rather than fix the issue with strict nurse-patient ratios, the hospital has filled the gaps by forcing nurses to tend to more patients than is considered safe. In January, Howard nurses rallied in front of the hospital to protest its policies. We come to work every day, we only got two nurses on the floor most of the time, with 13 patients, 14 patients Thats not safe anymore, said Esmeralda Salgado to the DCist at the time. In addition, the nurses are accusing the hospital of trying to lower their pay during the pandemic. Howard has imposed a flat rate wage increase which would severely blunt the take-home pay of more senior employees. Overnight workers and weekend staff will see a loss in differential pay under the new flat rate system. HUH spokespeople have denied the DCNAs claims, telling the DCist it was working diligently to reach a three-year contract with the nurses. The hospital declared it was hiring scabs to ensure that, during the one day strike, our patients continue to receive the same high-quality care in a safe environment that they expect and deserve. Howard University Hospital, originally named Freedmens Hospital, was established in 1862, five years prior to the founding of the school. The National Library of Medicine writes that it was created in the second year of the American Civil War, to address the needs of thousands of African Americans who poured into Washington, DC seeking their freedom. The hospital was the first to administer care in the United States to former slaves. The threatened Howard University Hospital strike is only the latest instance of working class opposition among the workforce at the prestigious historically black college. The strike comes a little over two weeks after a planned walkout of 350 Howard adjunct teachers and non-tenured staff was called off at the last minute by the Service Employees International Union (SIEU) Local 500. Adjuncts and non-tenured staff were some of the lowest-paid university workers in the D.C.-area, which has a cost of living similar to New York City. Non-tenured workers labored under a seven year rule, which doesnt allow for them to re-apply to the school after seven years of teaching. On Monday, the Howard faculty union announced that its members had ratified two contracts which were not perfect but nevertheless would be life-changing. The announcement was a far cry from the SIEUs previous claim three weeks prior, when it declared a historic victory had been achieved as it retreated from its threat to strike. The nurse strike also comes less than six months after students occupied Howards Blackburn building for over a month in protest of unsanitary dorms infested with rats, roaches and black mold. Students and the university administration ended the occupation in November 2021, even as students have frequently denounced the college for failing to improve living conditions. The threatened hospital walkout is the latest demonstration of the growing opposition among the working class globally to the profit system amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Nurses at Howard, as well as throughout the United States and the world, have been placed at ground zero for the multiple waves of COVID-19. Despite being hailed as heroes and essential workers, they have seen their safety dismissed by management in the name of keeping profits flowing. The Howard strike comes amid a surge of class struggle internationally. In California, 5,000 nurses at the Lucille Packard Childrens Hospital and Stanford Health Care complex at Stanford University are preparing to go on strike for better wages and staffing. This follows a series of one-day strikes by over 40,000 Kaiser Permanente workers late last year. Nurses at the University of Michigan are currently involved in contract discussions between the University of Michigan Professional Nurse Council and their employer, with demands similar to their co-workers worldwide. Nurses throughout the world have expressed outrage at the sentencing of Tennessee nurse RaDonda Vaught, who was convicted of criminally negligent homicide last month after mistakenly administering an incorrect drug to a patient. Howard nurses should place no faith in the DCNA. The organization, along with its parent organization the NNU, has presided over the current working conditions that prevail in the industry. The organization remained silent as wave after wave of students and workers protested the university, demanding changes and safety, in essence helping to isolate them. The organization has failed to explain how a single day strike would alter the situation at Howard, in which the hospital has already begun imposing its final offer without even receiving ratification from its workforce. The DCNAs Smith has referenced the fact that Howard University is the oldest, Historically Black College in the country, and that part of its mission is to take care of the underserved minorities in the region, a line which will surely be used to bludgeon its own members back to work if nurses try to assert their rights. The Howard nurse struggle exposes the narrative that society is fundamentally divided by race, not class. In reality, individuals such as president Wayne A.I. Fredericks (yearly salary: $1.6 million) and Anita Jenkins (former president of the Sycamore Medical Center in Miamisburg, Ohio and a current executive official of the Adventist Health Care non-profit chain) and the business interests they serve represent a completely different social class who are seeking to place the full weight of the crisis in healthcare on the backs of workers and patients. This article was initially posted as a thread on Twitter. The missile that killed, according to reports, at least 50 people at the Kramatorsk train station has been immediately denounced as a Russian war crime without any investigation. But there are grounds for questioning this conclusion. The New York Times reports that President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said that Russia had hit the station with what he identified as a Tochka-U short-range ballistic missile... Ukrainian servicemen stand next to a fragment of a Tochka-U missile at the railway station in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, Friday, April 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Andriy Andriyenko) The Russian Defense Ministry has denied the charge, stating that Tochka-U missiles are used by the Ukrainian military. This is certainly true. An article posted by the web publication 1945 on March 30 is headlined: Tochka: The Missile Ukraine Could Use to Attack Russia? Author Brent M. Eastwood, 1945s Defense and National Security editor, reported that the Ukrainians have their own short-range ballistic missile called the Tochka that is starting to make its presence known. The report continues: The Tochka specializes in destroying buildings and the Ukrainians may have used it to pulverize a structure that housed pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk in a strike that killed 23 people on March 14. The Ukrainians denied that they fired the missile. However, the Russians also claimed that they had shot down another Tochka missile on March 19. Whatever the truth of the allegations and denials, the Ukrainians, Eastwood writes, have between 90 and 500 missiles. Another significant piece of information provided by Eastwood is that the Ukrainian Tochka missiles are deployed in Donbas and in the south of the country. Kramatorsk is located in the Donbas region. The fact that the Ukrainian military has an arsenal of Tochka missilesand that such a missile was used in an attack last month (mostly ignored by the US media) that killed 23 ethnic Russians in Donetskdoes not prove that Ukraine fired the missile that hit Kramatorsk. But it is entirely possibleeven probablethat the Ukrainian military, with its ruthless fascist contingents, launched the attack, knowing that it will fuel the atrocity propaganda that is playing such an important role in NATOs war against Russia. The release of photos of a missile part with the handwritten Russian-language message, for the children, is a strong indication that the attack on the station was staged for propaganda purposes. It is all but unbelievable that the Russian military would place such a provocative and self-incriminating message, in the midst of the furor over the Bucha incident, on a missile that it planned to fire into a crowd of innocent civilians. What rational purpose would this serve? And who cannot believe that the discovery of this missile part, with the perfectly legible inscription, is too much of a coincidence? The Ukrainian regime has a carte blanche to do whatever it wants, because the media will immediately, and without any investigation, blame the Russians. Legislators in Oklahoma this week approved a near-total ban on abortion, making the Republican-led state the latest to pass a strict abortion law. Senate Bill 612 would make performing an abortion, except to save the life of a pregnant woman in a medical emergency, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $100,000. The law is a direct challenge to the landmark 1973 decision of the US Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade upholding the right to abortion. The Oklahoma House voted 70-14 on Tuesday without debate to pass the bill, which passed the state Senate last year. The bill now goes to Republican Governor Kevin Stitt, who has vowed to sign every piece of pro-life legislation that comes to his desk. The law would prohibit any abortion, including of pregnancies resulting from rape or incest. The only exception is a medical emergency that cannot be remedied by delivery of the child. The bill would also prohibit the sale, use, prescription or administration of a contraception measure, drug or chemical to end a pregnancy. A woman receiving an abortion would not be held criminally responsible. The Oklahoma legislation will have a major impact on women in Texas, after that state banned nearly all abortions after six weeks of pregnancy last year. Planned Parenthood clinics in Oklahoma have seen an 800 percent increase in patients from Texas following that states implementation of legislation that prohibits abortions after fetal cardiac activityreferred to incorrectly as a fetal heartbeatis detected, which is usually around the sixth week of pregnancy, when many women are not even aware they are pregnant. The day after SB 612 was sent to the governors desk, Oklahomas House Committee on Public Health approved another bill banning abortion at six weeks. If it becomes law, it would go into effect immediately. The bill is modeled after Texas SB8, the abortion ban the Supreme Court allowed to go into effect in September that bypasses Roe by having the ban on abortions enforced by private lawsuits instead of state prosecution. Women traveling to Oklahoma for an abortion have had to contend with the states draconian restrictions already in place, including an ultrasound, a 72-hour waiting period and mandatory anti-abortion counseling. This places an extreme financial burden on women, who must pay for travel and accommodations while they are put through this labyrinth of restrictions in order to receive abortion services. Other states seeing large numbers of patients from Texas include Louisiana, New Mexico, Kansas and Colorado. In March, the Florida Senate voted to ban most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Also advancing 15-week abortion bans this legislative session were West Virginia and Arizona. Anti-abortion legislators in Oklahoma are counting on the US Supreme Courts upholding of legislation in Mississippi that bans abortion after a pregnancy reaches 15 weeks. In oral arguments in November in Dobbs v. Jackson, the high courts six ultra-conservative justices signaled that they are prepared to uphold the Mississippi law. The follow-up decision to Roe in Planned Parenthood v. Casey established the right to abortion in the first two trimesters of pregnancy, which upheld the right to abortion until the fetus is viable outside the womb, at about 23 weeks. The courts upholding of the Mississippi law would mean fetal viability is no longer the standard, opening the way for the upholding of the Oklahoma legislation, which would essentially amount to an outright ban of the procedure. If the Supreme Court does uphold the Mississippi law this spring, this would embolden other states to move toward banning abortion outright. According to the Guttmacher Institute, 21 states have laws or amendments in place that would allow them to ban abortion as quickly as possible. Trigger bans, which declare abortion illegal as soon as Roe is overturned, exist in 12 states. Emily Wales, interim president at Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes, which advocates for the rights of patients in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, said in a statement on Tuesday that Oklahoma lawmakers are more focused on governing our bodies than addressing real crises, like the economic turmoil caused by the pandemic and rising maternal mortality rates. The US has the highest maternal mortality rate of any industrialized country, and it is higher than it has been in decades, at 17.4 maternal deaths per 100,000 lives births in 2018, according to the Commonwealth Fund. This compares to Switzerland (4.6 per 100,000), Sweden (4.3 per 100k), Germany (3.2 per 100k), Netherlands (3.0 per 100k) and Norway (4.6 per 100k). The five US states with the highest maternal mortality rates so far in 2022 are Louisiana, (58.1 per 100k), Georgia (48.4 per 100k), Indiana (43.6 per 100k), New Jersey (38.1 per 100k) and Arkansas (37.5 per 100k). Data published in February by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show the overall maternal death rate in the US rose from 20.1 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2019 to 23.8 deaths per 100,000 in 2020, an 18 percent increase. The rate has increased by nearly 37 percent since 2018. Many maternal deaths occur after birth, with some deaths occurring postpartum, shortly after birth or months later due to internal complications. These include infection, severe bleeding and high blood pressure. Poverty and extreme social inequality are the drivers of the scandalous rate of US maternal deaths. Despite having some of the most advanced medical technology, the delivery of US health care is subjugated to the for-profit health care system. These conditions have been exacerbated by the pandemic. The passage of anti-abortion legislation will only increase the suffering and deaths of women forced to carry unwanted pregnancies to term. The attack on the right to abortion predominantly impacts working class women, who do not have the financial means or time away from family or work to travel to other states or countries that provide abortion services. This inevitably forces women to resort to back alley abortions by non-medical or unscrupulous providers, endangering their health and lives. The passage of anti-abortion legislation, and the threat to the very right to abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned, will not be fought by the Democratic Party. Following the passage of Texas SB8, President Joe Biden denounced the legislation as unconstitutional chaos and an unprecedented assault on a womans constitutional rights. But nothing has been done by his administration since to defend the right to abortion. For many years as a US senator he supported the congressional ban on federal funding for abortions known as the Hyde Amendment, which prevents people on government health plans like Medicaid from having insurance coverage for most abortions. The Democrats, in control of both houses of Congress, have made no effort to pass a law to codify Roe v. Wade, despite Bidens pledge as a presidential candidate to do so. Democratic rights, including the right to abortion, can only be defended in a struggle by the working class to abolish the capitalist system, the source of social inequality. The defense of abortion rights must be linked to the mounting resistance of autoworkers, miners, teachers, health care and all workers against the for-profit system and in the fight for socialism. Spains Socialist Party (PSOE)-Podemos government is dismantling all remaining COVID-19 mitigation measures, as Omicron BA.2 surges throughout Europe. It is ending even the most basic aspects of monitoring, setting the stage for a new surge whose full extent will not be known until hospitalizations and deaths begin to rise. Medical staff members attend to a COVID-19 patient in the ICU department of the Hospital Universitario, in Pamplona, northern Spain, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos) The homicidal disregard for the lives and health of society is laid bare with the latest announcement that possibly infected workers should still go to work. Since March 28, quarantines are only mandatory for serious cases and those classified as part of the high-risk or vulnerable population. This includes those over age 60 years, immuno-compromised people and pregnant women. Workers will be forced back to work, even if they suspect they may have COVID-19, putting their colleagues and their families at risk. The policy aims to satisfy growing demands from the financial aristocracy. Last January, the president of the Madrid Business Confederation (CEIM), Miguel Garrido, demanded that the quarantine period be reduced to four days for the asymptomatic. He complained that workers on sick leave are many and long-lasting, some overlap with others and end up collapsing company activity. In February, his counterpart Angel Nicolas of the Confederation of Castilla-La Mancha Businessmen (Cecam) denounced the practice of giving sick days automatically. The PSOE-Podemos government is also attacking the monitoring of the pandemic. Tests will not be carried out on possibly infected people or contacts, except for those over 60, pregnant or immunosuppressed. Only serious cases are to be counted in official statistics. This is an anti-scientific campaign to cover up mass infection. It is part of the PSOE-Podemos plan to create a new normal of continuous mass infection and death with COVID-19, which it calls the gripalizacion (influenza-ization) of COVID-19. Indoor masking, the only relevant measure that remains in force, will be removed from April 20 onwards, coinciding with Easter break, a holiday season that has a track record of increasing COVID-19 cases. The criminal policy was laid out by government chief scientist, Fernando Simon, director of the Center for Alerts and Emergencies, supposedly in charge of protecting human life. During the XXI Conference on Vaccines and Public Health held Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Simon said, the situation is beginning to improve, and therefore we cannot continue as we were. Defending the ending of mitigation measures, he demanded Spaniards take on a bit more risk. Simon made clear that PSOE-Podemos intends to pursue mass infection. He stated, we cannot eliminate the circulation of the virus unless we get slightly better vaccines. For this reason, he admitted, we must assume that there is going to be a new one [new wave]. Covid, he added, cannot be an excuse for not returning to normal health care activity: We must take a step forward and recover assistance because there are many people who have suffered a lot. This is a pack of lies. Simon is providing pseudo-scientific justification for ending all COVID-19 mitigation, which is the polar opposite of the dynamic zero strategy pursued in China, which has stamped out repeated outbreaks and reduced deaths to only two people since May 2020in a country of 1.4 billion. China is now the only major country still fighting for a Zero-COVID strategy and is presently battling its worst outbreak since the start of the pandemic due to the BA.2 variant, with a record of over 20,000 infections reported on Tuesday. The claim that the aim of this policy is to relieve the public health system is even more fraudulent. The health care system is overwhelmed, with waiting times of weeks for primary care attention, appointments for tests or specialist care. But this is because the PSOE and Podemos are slashing health care spending. Totally inadequate public health spending was a problem long before the pandemic, which only aggravated the situation. The underlying problems in Spanish public health are fundamentally related to its progressive privatization and lack of resources. In fact, thousands of health workers hired as reinforcements against COVID-19 are being fired, and primary care now has 1,000 fewer doctors than before the pandemic. Madrid announced it was not renewing the contracts of 6,000 health workers who worked on the front-lines during the COVID-19 pandemic. They have found themselves unemployed since the end of March. Enrique Revilla, a family doctor and spokesman for Medicus Mundi, said: There is a lack of resources, doctors, nurses. We are in a state of collapse. In a recent report, the Ombudsman indicated that primary care shows the saturation of services, as occurs at the level of specialized and hospital care, all of which are factors that have undermined the quality of our health system. The PSOE-Podemos governments priorities are not in saving lives, but in supporting the military machine and bailing out the rich. It is currently disbursing billions of European Union bailout funds to major Spanish corporations and banks, while planning to pump over 14 billion euros into military spending, and is sending its fourth shipment of weapons to Ukraine. Much of this is ending in the hands of the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion. At the same time, the PSOE and Podemos are mounting a propaganda campaign insisting that the pandemic is over. Days before Simons statements, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez cynically claimed Spain is moving towards a horizon of overcoming the pandemic. These statements are contradicted by the data. In March, 516,000 people were infected with 2,728 deaths in Spain. The last real data available before the change in the way of counting infections indicated an upward incidence in the last two weeks, which was 466 per 100,000 on March 29. In that same period in China, there were only 40,000 infections and two deaths despite a major outbreak of infections that affected more than 30 cities. Worldwide, March has been the third worst month since 2020 with 51 million infections, and a very strong increase in those infected in countries that have recently abandoned strong mitigation strategies, such as South Korea with 10 million and Vietnam with 6 million, or that have eliminated virus containment measures, such as Germany with another 6 million. These data clearly show that the pandemic, far from being overcome, is surging in many countries. Ultimately, the policy of mass infection is about protecting business profits before lives. The catastrophic loss of life provoked by the governments policy of herd immunity strategy of mass infection is unprecedented in Spanish history since the three-year Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) over 80 years ago which costs the lives of around 500,000 people. According to the latest data of The Lancet, Spains excess mortality due to COVID-19 is now 162,000. It has provoked 12 million infections and an estimated 1 million Long-COVID cases. Meanwhile, Spains corporations recorded record profits of more than 53 billion in 2021. The World Socialist Web Site invites workers, scientists and anti-COVID-19 activists in Spain and throughout the world to uncover and document the disastrous response to the pandemic by providing testimony to the Global Workers Inquest into the COVID-19 Pandemic. Wije Dias, the general secretary of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) in Sri Lanka, addressed a media conference on Friday to outline the SEPs socialist program of action for the mass protests by working people and youth against President Gotabhaya Rajapakses government. Wije Dias For almost a week, hundreds of thousands of workers, students, professionals, unemployed people, housewives and rural toilers across the island have been holding protests demanding the resignation of Rajapakse and his government. The press conference, held in the Colombo National Library Conference Hall, was broadcast live through Facebook and over 160 people watched it live. Journalists from the Tamil daily paper Virakesari and the World Socialist Web Site attended the event. The SEP issued a statement the previous day titled, Bring down Sri Lankas Rajapakse government! Abolish the executive presidency! No to austerity and starvation! Form action committees to fight for a socialist program of action to secure food, fuel and medicines for all! Dias began his comments by characterising the situation as a mass insurrectionary one. We have seen in the last several days hundreds of thousands of people from all over the countryworkers, youngsters, oppressed, peasants, even housewives with their infants, participating in the agitations. Dias drew an historical parallel with the hartal (general strike and closure of businesses) in August 1953: If we recall the 1953 hartal, there was such a mass uprising throughout the country. But the Lanka Sama Samaja Party, the leader of the working class at the time, decided to stop it within a day. Even though workers and youth tried to carry on with the struggle for three days on their own, the capitalist government at the time shot and killed nine demonstrators and managed to end the struggle. Since then, this is the most intense struggle that has erupted in this country. Even though todays struggle shows the determination of workers, surrounded by youth, peasants and various oppressed sections of the society, there is a big gap in considering the perspective or program of the struggle. This big gap is being created collectively by all the so-called left organisations, trade unions and pseudo-lefts. Dias explained: Now the question of perspective of these day-and-night struggles has come to the foreground. Even though the masses are rallied around the slogan, The president must quit, they need a perspective. The Socialist Equality Party and its youth movement, the International Youth and Students for Social Equality, are the only organisations grappling with the issue of the perspective for the struggles of the working class, oppressed and youth. University students marching in Colombo on April 8, 2022 (WSWS Media) Dias noted that people have come to the streets due to scarcities and lengthy queues to buy fuel, cooking gas and milk powder, and the skyrocketing of prices of essentials. Meeting these needs posed the necessity for the taking of state power by the working class to establish a workers and peasants government to implement a socialist program. Dias said these issues were not being widely discussed. This lack of political perspective was being exploited by the government, the opposition parties and pseudo-lefts to trap the masses within the framework of forming an alternative bourgeois government. Dias continued: The SEP seriously warns people not to be misled by this trap. The formation of an interim or all-party government is being proposed with the existence of the presidential executive powers that imposed emergency decrees and curfews on mass agitations, and deployed the police and armed forces to curb the mass protests. By contrast, the SEP was proposing the abolition of the executive presidency and the fight for a workers and peasants government. This kind of government will not be established through the parliament. For that, the working class must prepare its own organisations with the support of the oppressed. For that, the SEP proposes action committees. At each and every workplace and plantation these workers action committees must be established, independent from the bourgeois parties and their agencies. Health workers from Kandy marching around the Hospital on April 8, 2022 [WSWS Media] Dias proposed transitional demands to animate the work of the action committees, addressing the pressing needs of the working people and rural toilers. The government is now trying to pay one billion dollars to international finance capital. This must be immediately stopped. The working class has to take matters into its own hands and act to stop all debt payments. Under so-called independence for 74 years, governments of all colours have created this debt, not for the welfare of the people but to build armed forces and implement the requirements of investors to protect capitalism. Now repayment of these debts has been pushed onto the shoulders of the people. Hence its totally justifiable to fight against paying back the debt These monies must be utilised to solve the burning issues of workers, the oppressed and youth. Dias warned that IMF-dictated austerity measures, which the government was seeking to implement with the support of all the official opposition parties, would lead to cuts in jobs, further increases in the cost of living, privatisation and the abolition of welfare measures. The action committees would fight those austerity programs. All the big industries, plantations and banks must be nationalised under workers control. That would establish democratic control over the production and distribution of all essential resources critical for the lives of people. Dias said the allies of the Sri Lankan workers in their fight against the ruling class onslaught on their basic social and democratic rights were their class brothers and sisters internationally, including in the US, Europe, African, Latin America and Asia, who had entered into struggles against similar attacks. He said the International Committee of Fourth International (ICFI) is fighting through the WSWS to make the working class around the world aware of the struggle of the Sri Lankan workers and to mobilise the support of those workers. Dias said the imperialist intervention in Ukraine could instigate a third world war. He also explained how this US-NATO war drive against Russia had further escalated the economic crisis confronting the Sri Lankan ruling class. He said Sri Lankan workers needed to be part of a global anti-war movement based on the fight for socialism. Describing the working class struggles in India and across South Asia, Dias explained the SEPs work to unite and mobilise workers throughout the region, including Sri Lankas civil war-torn north and east, based on a socialist program. A journalist from Virakesari asked why the SEP had emphasised the participation of Tamil and Muslim protesters in the islands North and East. Dias said it was very important to build the unity of the working class against oppression, as the Sri Lankan ruling class was notorious for dividing the working class along racial lines. Paul Mason (Creative Commons/Rwendland) Eight British trade unions are officially taking part in a Unions stand with Ukraine Demonstration in London today, supported by the Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine. These are the GMB, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), ASLEF, TSSA, the University and College Union (UCU) and the supposedly more radical Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), Communication Workers Union (CWU) and Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU). This is a politically filthy event, lending support to the right-wing government of Ukraine as a means of lining up behind the US, Britain and other NATO powers whose proxy war against Russia it is fighting. The demonstrations condemnation of the Russian invasion is not a show of solidarity with the people of Ukraine as it claims, but with the imperialist powers trying to perpetuate the bloodshed and using the country as a staging ground for a wider war for regime change in Moscow, with China the next target. The character of the protest is shown by its organiser, the Ukraine Solidarity Campaign, fronted by pro-NATO warmonger Paul Mason. In a promotional video for the demonstration Mason insists, everybody progressive in the world has the duty to side with Ukraine, to give them the arms they need, to give them the money they need Stirring the inflammatory hysteria generated by unfounded government and media propaganda, he accuses the Russian army of potential genocide. There is nothing to distinguish Masons comments from those of Prime Minister Boris Johnson or US President Joe Bidenthey are working to the same agenda. Masons role in this partnership is to open up a left cover for the war drive by mobilising the trade union bureaucracy and presenting it as the voice of working people Shortly before the Russian invasion, he led a Labour, Plaid Cymru and trade union delegation to Ukraine including ASLEF train drivers union leader Mick Whelan and the head of the essentially defunct National Union of Mineworkers, Chris Kitchen. They met with members of the Territorial Defence Brigade in Kyiv sporting the insignia of the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), Stepan Banderas Nazi-collaborationist organisation during the Second World War. A tweet posted by Mason showing volunteers with OUN patches on uniforms in a discussion with a Labour, Plaid Cymru and trade union delegation to Ukraine. (screenshot-Paul Mason/Twitter) Once the war had begun, Mason and the Ukraine Solidarity Campaign joined in a witch-hunt of the Stop the War Coalition (STWC) for its criticisms of NATOs eastward expansion. The Corbynite left Labour MPs and the trade unions rapidly abandoned their long association with a group now placed beyond the pale. Former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell led the way, joining Mason on a Ukraine Solidarity Campaign protest on February 26 and pulling out of a STWC event days later. Mason has now gained fresh recruits to his campaign for a NATO victory over Russia in the GMB, TSSA, UCU, PCS, BFAWU and CWU. The National Union of Journalists also published details of todays demonstration for members wishing to attend. The right-wing, nationalist character of the protest is clear, whatever weasel words are employed by this or that trade union about their commitment to peace. In the Ukraine Solidarity Campaigns video publicising tomorrows demonstration, speakers declare Slava Ukrayini! (Glory to Ukraine) and Heroyam slava! (Glory to the heroes), slogans associated with the Ukrainian nationalist movement, particularly the OUN, and the contemporary neo-Nazi brigades which form the shock troops of Ukraines armed forces. To line up behind the Zelensky government and its fascist allies in the name of working-class solidarity is grotesque. During the 2014 US-backed coup that overthrew the government of Viktor Yanukovych and established the current pro-NATO setup, far-right forces at the centre of the movement carried out a massacre in Odessas trade union hall. Since its bloody birth, the Ukrainian regime, together with the US and European Union, has carried out a staggering impoverishment of the mass of the population. That programme was being accelerated in the run-up to the war. In late 2019 and early 2020, the government attempted to push through a new labour code allowing the termination of contracts without reason, reducing overtime premiums, expanding the use of zero-hours contracts, limiting the number of trade unions allowed representation in each workplace, increasing the number of members required to start a union and allowing managers to refuse to negotiate with unions. The UN special rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and association commented, several provisions ... if approved, might be incompatible with Ukraines obligations under international human rights law and standards. When these moves were defeated by popular opposition, the government attempted to achieve the same ends through a series of smaller laws removing labour law protections, allowing employers unlimited use of successive short-term contracts, granting additional grounds for dismissal, scrapping protections for the disabled and young workers, removing working time, rest period, overtime and leave guarantees, and restricting union organising rights. The British state and the Johnson government was closely involved. Last November, openDemocracy reported on a communication plan designed to push the liberalisation agenda which was drafted by an international development consultancy and bore the seal of the British embassy in Kyiv. The document was supported by the Foreign Offices 150 million UK Aid Direct fund. Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak (centre) with Frances O'Grady, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (left) and (right) Dame Carolyn Julie Fairbairn, Director General of the CBI, London, September 24, 2020 [Credit: AP Photo/Frank Augstein] As in every country, the Ukrainian trade unions would have acceded to the governments demands. The same openDemocracy article quotes Pavlo Prudnikov, deputy head of Ukraines Nuclear Power and Industry Workers Union, saying, weve shifted, to an extent, to a different form of activity: tripartite negotiations on labour reform with government, business and unions. The war has dramatically accelerated this offensive. A new law passed by the Ukrainian parliament last month, On the Organising of Employment Relations During Martial Law, removes trade unions right to resist dismissals; extends the normal working week by 50 percent; allows employers unlimited rights to stipulate the beginning and end times of workdays, to transfer workers between jobs and change their working conditions without consent; relaxes restrictions on involuntary redundancy; allows women to be employed in heavy and underground work; and removes restrictions on overtime, night and weekend work for employees with young children. One can only imagine the outcry at such legislation were it passed in Russia. The Ukrainian trade unions have waved through this assault on the working class, with openDemocracy reporting of one union spokesperson, He explained that, in wartime, trade unions would not oppose the changes, which, he hopes, will be temporary. The European and International Trades Union congresses, who in December 2019 denounced the Ukrainian government for sid[ing] decisively with oligarchs and multinational enterprises against its own people, now support anti-Russian sanctions by governments which support democracy and the rule of law in support of Ukraines democratic state. The support of Britains trade unions for Zelensky and NATOs war drive flows from their domestic role as allies of the Johnson government and the employers in sabotaging every struggle waged by the working class. In the course of the pandemic, a long process of corporatist integration of the trade unions into the structures of company management and the state took finished form. The Trades Union Congress (TUC) joined the Labour Party in supporting a massive handout of cash to the corporations and then policing a return to unsafe workplaces and schools in line with the Tory herd immunity agenda. As lockdowns ended, the trade unions turned to finishing off major industrial disputes they had sat on for months. But even after more than a year of betrayals and selloutsat British Gas, BT, throughout public transport, in universities, schools and hospitalsstrikes have continued to erupt, fuelled by a cost-of-living crisis that threatens working families with ruin. The onset of war in Ukraine is being used to redouble efforts to suppress the class struggle. That is the real content of todays demonstration. The trade unions declaration of solidarity with Ukraine equates to a declaration of amnesty for the Johnson government. On March 3, two weeks after Russias invasion of Ukraine, the TUC issued a boilerplate statement condemning the illegal invasion of a sovereign nation and demanding that Russia respect Ukrainian territorial integrity, then calling for peace and for all governments to reach a negotiated solution through diplomacy. But the trade unions real priority is peace with the British government, leading to their ever-closer alignment with its plans for war to a NATO victory in Ukraine, in which the unions are offering their services as managers of the home front. This years annual TUC national protest outside the Conservative Party conference was cancelled with an announcement that Over the coming fortnight we will be mobilising trade unionists in support of the [International Trade Union Confederation] day of solidarity with Ukraine on 15 March. And we will support the mobilisations in London and around the UK for the UN Antiracism Day on 19-20 Marchparticularly as this government refuses to welcome enough refugees from Ukraine into the UK. The reference to refugees is cynical. They are being used as bargaining chips for closer relations with Johnson and the corporations. A March 16 TUC statement on Ukrainian refugees centred on the demand, The government must meet with business and unions together. As a down payment on an enforced wartime industrial peace, the trade unions have been busy this month bringing key strikes to a halt, including on the London Underground, London buses, in universities and at London hospitals, so that todays demonstration takes place in a capital transformed into a virtual strike-free zone. The working class must reject all appeals to back the Tory government and the NATO powers in the war in Ukraine. It is a matter of historical record that NATOs steady encroachment on Russias border and systematic arming of Ukraine following the 2014 pro-US coup was aimed at deliberately provoking a Russian invasion which could be used as a pretext for a broader offensive against Moscow and Beijing. This desperate and politically reactionary move by the Putin regime on behalf of the Russian oligarchy must be opposed by the working class by its own methods, not by lining up behind a conflict that can end in nuclear war. There must be a new mass anti-war movement, one based on the international working class that makes its appeal to workers in Ukraine and Russia. There must be no peace for the employers, the Tory warmongers or their accomplices in the Labour Party and the trade unions. Rather, the struggles against austerity and the destruction of pay and conditions being demanded in the name of the war drive must be waged with renewed force through the building of rank-and-file committees, independent of the trade unions and unifying workers across borders, and a new political leadership, the Socialist Equality Party. After nearly five days of deliberations, the twelve-person jury in the federal trial of four men accused of plotting to kidnap and execute Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2020 acquitted two defendants and was unable to reach a verdict on the charges against the two others. Top from left, Brandon Caserta and Barry Croft; bottom from left, Adam Dean Fox and Daniel Harris. These four stand accused in a plot to abduct Michigan's Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, right, in 2020. (Kent County Sheriff, Delaware Department of Justice, and AP Photo/Paul Sancya) On Friday, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids, Michigan, found Brandon Caserta, 34, and Daniel Harris, 24, not guilty of all charges and said they were deadlocked on the charges against Barry Croft, 46, and Adam Fox, 38. All four were charged with kidnapping conspiracy, while Fox, Croft and Harris were additionally charged with conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction. Croft and Harris were also charged with possession of unregistered destructive devices, and Harris was charged with possession of a semi-automatic rifle with an illegal barrel length. Chief U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker declared a mistrial in the kidnapping conspiracy charges against Croft and Fox, whom prosecutors identified as the leaders of the plot to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer from her vacation home, tie her up and take her on a boat into Lake Michigan, and abandon her there. All four of the men were to be released on Friday following the verdict. They had spent the past 18 months behind bars after they were arrested by the FBI on October 7, 2020 while trying to purchase materials to build a bomb that the prosecution said was central to the kidnapping plot. The outcome of the Whitmer kidnapping conspiracy in essence sanctions right-wing political violence in the U.S. It amounts to a legal affirmation of the resolution passed by the Republican National Committee on February 4 that the violent right-wing mob attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, aimed at overturning the results of the 2020 presidential election, constituted legitimate political discourse. The jurys verdict contradicted voluminous evidence presented in the trial showing that the mensome of whom were members of the far-right paramilitary group Wolverine Watchmen and affiliated with the fascist Boogaloo Boyswere preparing to use the kidnapping, brutalization and murder of Whitmer to reverse the COVID-19 stay-at-home policies that had been ordered by the governor early on during the pandemic. The broader political objectives of the conspirators were explained in the testimony of one of the original defendants, Ty Garbin, who had pleaded guilty to the kidnapping charge and took the stand as a prosecution witness. Garbin told the jury that the group intended the abduction of Whitmer to become the ignition for a civil war in the U.S. that would unite far-right groups across the country. He said, We wanted to cause as much a disruption as possible to prevent Joe Biden from getting into office. The outcome of the trial in Grand Rapids is unsurprising given the intervention of Judge Jonker, a 2007 appointee of Republican George W. Bush. Jonker made it clear before the trial began that he would not permit discussion in the proceedings of the political connections of the defendants to the nationwide growth of right-wing extremist and fascistic political groups. The relationship between the kidnap plotters and the armed, right-wing demonstration at the Michigan Capitol on April 30, 2020 was not raised, even though several of those who were arrested and charged with state offenses in the kidnapping plot were participants in the Lansing action. Nor was the connection exposed between the defendants and the tweet by then-President Donald Trump calling for protesters to Liberate Michigan! At a pretrial hearing on February 18, Jonker told the prosecution and defense: I dont want the trial to become a referendum on whether the trucking convoy in Ottawa is good or bad, or whether what happened on January 6 is an insurrection or legitimate political discourse. I want the focus to be on what happened in this case. Judge Jonker made this statement in response to the lawyer for defendant Adam Fox, who requested that the ideology of the Boogaloo movementa collection of violent, right-wing anti-government and anti-law enforcement groups seeking to instigate a civil war in the USbe presented in the trial. The prosecution did not challenge the judges restriction of the trial to what happened in this case. While Judge Jonker blocked any presentation of connections between the defendants and the violence of armed right-wing mobs in Lansing and Washington D.C., he instructed the jury to consider an entrapment defense for the defendants. The judge gave lengthy jury instructions and emphasized that they should decide whether the FBI had set up the defendants and persuaded them to commit a crime. The lawyers for the defense never explicitly made the legal argument for entrapment. Instead, the position of the defense was that the men might have threatened violence against the governor, but they did so under the influence of marijuana and alcohol and would never have acted on their views. In his closing argument, Joshua Blanchard, attorney for Croft, argued that through its FBI informants, the government tried to conjure up a conspiracy when there was no plan at all to kidnap the governor. The judges jury instructions directly undermined the prosecutions case, which rested on hours of conversations that were recorded by FBI informants who had participated with the conspirators in various meetings and training exercises where the kidnapping plot was being repeatedly discussed. The outcome of the trial in Grand Rapids is a failure of the judicial system amid the breakdown of democratic forms of rule in the U.S. It will embolden the far right and encourage the further use of violence against legitimate political protest and the struggles of the working class. As in the case of Kyle Rittenhouse--the fascist youth who was acquitted for shooting and killing two men and injuring a third during anti-police violence protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin in August 2020--the outcome of the Whitmer kidnapping plot trial was the result of the transparent bias of a judge who prevented any evidence that would connect the actions of the defendants with the melange of far right-wing groups in and around the Republican Party and the would-be dictator Donald Trump. Lithuania-based Bite Group is seeing progress towards its entry into Estonia's telecoms market, with the country's regulator mulling its participation in its upcoming 5G airwaves auction. A move that could see it replace Telia, Elisa or Tele2. The operator has previously said it will enter Estonia if it was allowed to bid for airwaves in the 3.5GHz band, as it plans to roll out full telecoms services in the country. Currently, Bite provides television services and will aim to roll out consumer fixed, mobile internet and other services if it is successful at auction. Estonias regulator the Consumer Protection and Technical Surveillance Authority (TTJA) revealed it received four applications for three licenses in its upcoming 3.5GHz spectrum auction, counting Telia, Elisa and Tele2 as returnees alongside newcomer Bite. The starting price for the licenses is 1.6 million. Minister of Enterprise and Information Technology Andres Sutt hailed there being four participants now taking part in the upcoming airwaves auction and one being a newcomer, giving confidence that 5G services will land in the market as soon as possible, he said in a translated statement. Sutt also noted with the increase in players, consumers will see benefits such as higher quality services and competitive pricing. The regulator predicted spectrum licenses will be issued by June this year to enable operators to begin building 5G networks. Russian-backed hackers tried to use Facebook for disinformation campaigns targeting Ukrainians, according to a report released by the tech giant. Meanwhile, the general counsel for the National Labor Relations Board is seeking to have a tactic favored by employers like Amazon banned. This is Hillicon Valley, detailing all you need to know about tech and cyber news from Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley. Send tips to The Hills Rebecca Klar, Chris Mills Rodrigo and Ines Kagubare. Someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Meta disrupts Russian hackers A new Facebook report found that government-affiliated hackers from Russia and Belarus attempted to use the social media platform for cyber espionage and disinformation campaigns targeting Ukrainians. The report, released on Thursday, said the hackers targeted the Ukrainian telecom industry, defense and energy sectors, tech platforms, journalists and activists. Facebook said it disrupted a disinformation campaign linked to the Belarusian KGB, which posted that Ukrainian troops were surrendering, and that the nations leaders were fleeing the country the day Russia invaded. The tech company said it disabled the account and stopped the campaign that same day. The report also found that Ghostwriter, a hacking group affiliated with Belarus, attempted to hack into the Facebook accounts of dozens of Ukrainian military personnel. Read more here. NLRB seeks ban on favored Amazon tactic The general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) will seek to have mandatory anti-union meetings during work hours banned. Jennifer Abruzzo, a President Biden appointee, said in a memo released Thursday that the meetings violate the National Labor Relations Act. The meetings, a favorite tactic of employers like Amazon, discourage workers from exercising their right not to listen to employer speech about their workplace rights, she argued. Story continues This license to coerce is an anomaly in labor law, inconsistent with the Acts protection of employees free choice. It is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of employers speech rights, Abruzzo wrote in the memo. I believe that the NLRB case precedent, which has tolerated such meetings, is at odds with fundamental labor-law principles, our statutory language, and our Congressional mandate. Read more here. OBAMA WEIGHS IN Former President Obama said at an event Wednesday that the U.S. needs to address the allure of dangerous misinformation on the internet through a mix of regulation and industry standards. When discussing how social media companies should handle misinformation and disinformation on the internet at an event hosted by the University of Chicagos Institute of Politics and The Atlantic. I do think that there is a demand for crazy on the internet that we have to grapple with, Obama said. Read more here. APPLE PUTS PUTIN OPPOSITION APP BACK Apple has put a voting app back on its app store in Russia that was created by Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny. Navalnys chief of staff, Leonid Volkov, announced on Twitter Thursday that the app, called Smart Voting, was again available for Russians after Apple took it off the store in 2021 ahead of Russian elections. The Navalny App is finally available again in Russia on Apples App Store. Great thanks to everyone who supported our cause, Volkov said. Read more here. VIRTUAL EVENT INVITE The Hills Future of Jobs Summit Tuesday, April 12 at 1:00 PM ET The COVID-19 pandemic sparked a revolution in work. Two years later, workers and employers are still looking for answers to questions surrounding the future of jobs. How can companies stay ahead of the curve and what does that mean for upskilling and transitioning workers into new, in-demand jobs? Join us for The Hills Future of Jobs summit as we discuss the evolving workforce of tomorrow. RSVP today. BITS & PIECES An op-ed to chew on: Its also important to win the information war with Putins Russia Lighter click: back to office struggles Notable links from around the web: Facial Recognition Goes to War (The New York Times / Kashmir Hill) Sex Workers Banned From Banks Turn to Crypto (Motherboard / Samantha Cole) Out of prison, TikTok influencers are reshaping how we think about life behind bars (NBC News/ Keri Blakinger) One more thing: NYTs new Twitter policy The New York Times is updating its policies for how its journalists use Twitter and emphasizing that use of the social media platform is optional given the dangers of online harassment. In a memo to employees on Thursday shared with The Hill, Dean Baquet, the newspapers top editor, announced what he called a reset in our approach, handing down new guidance dictating that maintaining a presence on Twitter and social media is now purely optional for Times journalists. Baquet wrote that he has been hearing from staffers about the challenges that Twitter presents, writing that staffers at the leading national newspaper often can rely too much on Twitter as a reporting and feedback tool. Such feedback, Baquet wrote, can be harmful to the Times journalism when our feeds become echo chambers. Read more here. Thats it for today, thanks for reading. Check out The Hills Technology and Cybersecurity pages for the latest news and coverage. Well see you tomorrow. VIEW THE FULL EDITION HERE For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Denzel Washington and Tyler Perry flocked to Will Smith's side following his altercation with Chris Rock. (C) Moments after the Academy Awards slap heard 'round the world, Will Smith huddled during a commercial break with Denzel Washington, another of the Best Actor nominees. No one could hear what Smith discussed with the man who is both an A-list player and the rare Hollywood superstar who has after years in hot press spotlights emerged as a mentor on issues of faith and family. But Smith appeared to have Washington on his mind during his emotional remarks after winning the Oscar for his work in "King Richard." Smith apologized to his peers for slap-punching Chris Rock after his jest about his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith's shaved head. The comic apparently didn't know she was suffering hair loss with Alopecia. In this moment, I am overwhelmed by what God is calling on me to do and be in this world. I'm being called on in my life to love people and to protect people," said Smith, tears on his face. "I know that to do what we do, you gotta be able to take abuse, you gotta be able to have people talk crazy about you. In this business, you gotta be able to have people disrespecting you. And you gotta smile and pretend that that's OK." When Washington offered quiet words of encouragement from offstage, Smith thanked him and added: "Denzel said a few minutes ago: At your highest moment, be careful that's when the devil comes for you." This was not ordinary Oscars God-talk. This drama triggered waves of social-media angst, with critics and millions of viewers debating who to blame for this crisis during an otherwise meandering Academy Awards show shaped by politics, pandemics, gender, race and low ratings. "Some people appreciate that the 'King Richard' actor was rightly defending his wife's honor, saying Rock went too far when making fun of Pinkett-Smith," noted educator Cerith Gardiner, writing for the Catholic website Aleteia. "Others were appalled by Smith's violent response to the insensitive joke. Story continues "Yet, out of all the rapidly-forming opinions, there is one voice that made a lot of sense." Washington's sobering words about temptation and fame during this "normally glamorous evening," she noted, "reminds us that these Hollywood stars, who some hero-worship, have their vulnerabilities and their weaknesses." It helped to know that comics have been jabbing at the Smiths for years, in part because of constant social-media banter about their unconventional, strained, some have said "open," marriage. There was, for example, this 2013 Facebook comment by Jada: "Will and I BOTH can do WHATEVER we want, because we TRUST each other to do so. This does NOT mean we have an open relationship this means we have a GROWN one." Denzel and Pauletta Washington have, in nearly four decades together, survived their own roller-coaster ride of Hollywood rumors and speculation. In 1995 they renewed their marriage vows in rites led by South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu. During a 2013 interview with Ebony, Pauletta Washington was blunt, noting: "He's a sex symbol. Everybody's around him. And when we're out, they push me over and run me over to get to him. That part is not so cute. I live with this man. I see the down part. I see the sad part. I see every part. He has and knows he has that stability in me as his wife." At the same time, Denzel has become increasingly vocal about his pilgrimage deeper into the Pentecostal faith of his childhood, when he was raised as the son of a Church of God in Christ pastor. Time after time, he has publicly linked his vows to God and his wife. What did Washington tell Smith? His words may have echoed his 2019 remarks after receiving the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award. The actor thanked his wife for "40 years of sacrifice, 40 years of forgiveness, of talking about faith, spirituality, love, real love, unwavering love in spite of myself. I would not be alive without Pauletta Washington." The bottom line, said Washington, was an even higher love. "I'm up here to say thank you to God for giving me this ability, for blessing me, for shaping me, for chastising me, for teaching me, for punishing me, for allowing me to be a vessel and touch people around the world." This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Mattingly: What did Denzel say to Will after the slap heard round the world? Angelina Jolie European Parliament / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Angelina Jolie continues to speak out about civilian rights during wartime as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues with mounting civilian casualties in places like Bucha and Mariupol. She has also been very vocal about the ongoing Yemeni Civil War. The humanitarian and Special Envoy to the United Nations, 46, posted a series of excerpts from the Geneva Conventions to her Instagram on Friday, highlighting language focusing on civilian populations caught in the middle of war. The Geneva Conventions, agreed upon in 1949, are a series of treaties and international agreements establishing standards of humanitarian treatment during wartime of the sick and wounded, as well as civilians and non-combatants. RELATED: Angelina Jolie Arrives in Yemen to Aid Refugees as She Likens Crisis to War in Ukraine In the caption to her post, Jolie identified the Conventions as "an attempt to limit the damage done by war, and reduce suffering." She also included a basic summary of the rules of warfare under the Conventions, writing, "Civilians can never be targeted" and "medics and aid workers should be protected." "The things civilians need for survival like food and water should not be denied or destroyed," Jolie's post noted. The Oscar winner also specified that "Rape and other forms of sexual violence are expressly forbidden." "Breaking these rules is a war crime," Jolie concluded. As a special envoy to the U.N., Jolie serves the High Commissioner for Refugees, and has brought attention to humanitarian crises around the world, including in Myanmar and Yemen. RELATED: Angelina Jolie Says That Without an End to the War in Ukraine 'Children Will Pay the Highest Price' She has also directly addressed the unfolding atrocities in Ukraine, specifically focusing on how children are going to "pay the highest price." Story continues Last month, the Maleficent star posted a set of gripping photos to her Instagram amid the ongoing war. The carousel of images began with a photo of a man and woman holding children as they wait to cross a river after escaping Irpin, Ukraine. RELATED VIDEO: Maks Chmerkovskiy Returns to Poland to Help Refugees Escaping Ukraine: 'It Is Getting Worse' The second picture was of a teenage boy lying in a hospital bed with his mother nearby as he was treated for his injuries following a Russian attack. The third image showed a young cancer patient hugging a man in the basement of a treatment facility that is serving as a bomb shelter. "As well as the millions who've fled over Ukraine's borders, nearly 2 million people are displaced inside their country, many trapped by fighting, denied access to aid, and in direct physical danger," Jolie captioned the post. "Without an end to the war children will pay the highest price in trauma, lost childhoods and shattered lives." RELATED: Former Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko Posts Graphic Video of Dead Bodies in Ukraine She ended with a note for her followers to "learn more" about the UN High Commissioner for Refugees by sharing the official Instagram page. Russia's attack on Ukraine continues after their forces launched a large-scale invasion on Feb. 24 the first major land conflict in Europe in decades. Details of the devastation change by the day, but hundreds of civilians have already been reported dead or wounded, including children. Millions of Ukrainians have also fled, the United Nations says. The Russian attack on Ukraine is an evolving story, with information changing quickly. Follow PEOPLE's complete coverage of the war here, including stories from citizens on the ground and ways to help. Lenny Kravitz, Stevie Nicks and Garth Brooks are a few of the stars supporting Ukraine on social media today. (Photo: Getty Images) Since Russia attacked Ukraine in February, celebrities have shown time and again that they support the country. Actress Mila Kunis, who was born there, and her husband, Ashton Kutcher, raised an impressive $35 million to help people fleeing the violence, giving them shelter and supplies. Maksim and Val Chmerkovskiy and their family organized the humanitarian fund Baranova 27, which has collected and sent more than 80 tons of needed items, such as clothing and shoes, as well as gas masks and chemical suits, to those affected. Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively publicly pledged to donate $1 million to the cause. And the list goes on. On Friday, a slew of celebs most of them music stars sent their love by participating in Global Citizen's Stand Up for Ukraine social media rally. Elton John, Rita Ora, Celine Dion, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, the Jonas Brothers and many, many others posted photos and videos explaining their stance, often with very personal stories. Stevie Nicks, for instance, wrote, "At 73 years old I never thought I would see in my lifetime flashes of things my mother and father told me about WWII." Meanwhile, John recalled performing a free AIDS awareness concert in Kyiv in 2007 and helping AIDS patients in Ukraine and the surrounding region ever since. All of them called on world leaders to pledge billions of dollars at a pledging summit scheduled for Saturday, April 9. Global Citizen also asked non-celebs to share their own videos and photos, hashtagged #StandUpforUkraine, explaining why they're supporting the country and encouraging others to "give big" at the summit. Stevie Nicks Jennifer Lopez Elton John Story continues Oprah Today I'm joining @GlblCtzn to say thank you to all the allies who have volunteered, donated, spoken out & risked their lives to #StandUpForUkraine. The Ukranian refugees & refugees all over the world need critical assistance. Visit https://t.co/77MJz8H7Bf for ways you can help. pic.twitter.com/kVz98pH3uI Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) April 8, 2022 Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood Lenny Kravitz Celine Dion Ellen DeGeneres Over 80 million people globally have been forced to leave their homes due to conflict, violence, persecution, or human rights violations. We must #StandUpForUkraine and for refugees around the world to ensure that they get the support that they need now: https://t.co/oQW2PhcuSb pic.twitter.com/DhaMCNxmQa Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) April 8, 2022 Padma Lakshmi Kacey Musgraves Ive joined @GlblCtzn in standing up for Ukraine alongside activists + advocates working to support refugees and all the angels taking immediate action to help displaced people all over the world + Ukraine. https://t.co/nZrPtyXQ39 pic.twitter.com/WqtIY9PDK0 K A C E Y (@KaceyMusgraves) April 8, 2022 Jonas Brothers Priyanka Chopra One Republic Hugh Jackman Gloria Gaynor 82.4 million people globally have been forced to leave their homes due to conflict, violence, persecution, or human rights violations. We must #StandUpForUkraine and for refugees around the world to ensure that they get the support that they need now: https://t.co/2gV10NjjIQ pic.twitter.com/LIr2ZqLI5U Gloria Gaynor (@gloriagaynor) April 8, 2022 Bruce Springsteen Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne Rita Ora (Photo: Instagram) Andy Cohen In times of crisis, those who are impacted struggle to find shelter, food, and other basic necessities. That's why Im calling on world leaders to mobilize billions of dollars to help those fleeing Ukraine and other areas of conflict. #StandUpForUkraine https://t.co/am9IOiJve3 pic.twitter.com/QglOS0BS2W Andy Cohen (@Andy) April 8, 2022 U2 Billy Porter Carole King Adam Lambert Red Hot Chili Peppers Were calling on everyone to do and give what you can to help refugees around the world. #StandUpForUkraine https://t.co/I84417qg2q@GlblCtzn pic.twitter.com/iVHDGhqzJ8 Red Hot ChiliPeppers (@ChiliPeppers) April 8, 2022 Jon Bon Jovi Barbra Streisand I supported and hope you will too #StandUpForUkraine https://t.co/vOzvuawg5d Barbra Streisand (@BarbraStreisand) April 8, 2022 Pearl Jam Katy Perry We've all seen the horror unfold in Ukraine, so we know how desperately they need help, and this is the time for all of us - but most especially our leaders - to #StandUpForUkraine. Support the refugees! https://t.co/35fGiZR5t6 @GlblCtzn pic.twitter.com/0W8N1gAoCI KATY PERRY (@katyperry) April 8, 2022 Annie Lennox Black Eyed Peas (Photo: Instagram) Metallica Weezer Refugees in Ukraine and around the world need urgent humanitarian aid. Join us + #StandUpForUkraine to ensure they're getting the support they need: https://t.co/CrKMjfHHIN pic.twitter.com/ulmkNwyS91 weezer (@Weezer) April 8, 2022 Radiohead 'Help! A Day In The Life' feat the Radiohead song 'I Want None Of This' is out now on limited coloured vinyl for the first time. All proceeds go to @WarChildUK to support the crisis in Ukraine & children in conflict zones round the world https://t.co/EMqxwjtLNO #StandUpForUkraine pic.twitter.com/vnNdo5TcMp Radiohead (@radiohead) April 8, 2022 k.d. lang Daymond John Im calling on world leaders to stand up for refugees everywhere. #StandUpForUkraine @GlblCtzn Tap the link for more info on how you can support: https://t.co/IM9G1SV404 pic.twitter.com/vVSEbrY2bT Daymond John (@TheSharkDaymond) April 8, 2022 Dave Matthews Band DMB stands with Ukraine and refugees all around the world. Join us and call for global support to fund this global humanitarian crisis. #StandUpForUkraine Help support Ukraine! Some organizations doing very meaningful work:@voices_org_ua@IMC_Worldwide @WCKitchen @CARE pic.twitter.com/tIlDbLe4Cf dave matthews band (@davematthewsbnd) April 8, 2022 Connie Britton #standupforukraine. Heres how you can learn more about the crisis and how to help: https://t.co/TE6UHivnDM pic.twitter.com/KmMBTP2Id0 Connie Britton (@conniebritton) April 8, 2022 Lilly Singh Fall Out Boy we're demanding action + calling on world leaders to mobilize billions of dollars to help those feeling Ukraine https://t.co/6qH1noSGFr #StandUpForUkraine pic.twitter.com/QXf04T81vF Fall Out Boy (@falloutboy) April 8, 2022 Green Day Letter to the Editor Our congressman, U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, joined 62 Republicans on Tuesday to oppose a nonbinding resolution to support NATO and the creation of a center within NATO to bolster struggling democracies. Mr. Walbergs vote with a minority of Republicans and against a majority of the House GOP caucus, let alone the full House is not just perplexing. Its indefensible, inexplicable and sickening. Amid the numerous war crimes Russia has committed against Ukraine and the serious threat Putin poses to Ukrainian neighbors including Lithuania, Poland, Moldova and other NATO countries, Mr. Walbergs vote also is stunning: More than 70% of the U.S. public is outraged by what is happening to Ukraine. On my mothers side, I am a descendant of some of the 22,000 Polish officers who were massacred in 1940 in the Katyn Forest, a war crime for which Stalin was never held accountable. My father is a Polish-American from Ohio who served in the U.S. Army in World War IIs Pacific Theater. Mr. Walbergs vote is a slap in the face not only to my family but to any U.S. veteran who served in World War I, II or any overseas conflict against tyranny. As well as their loved ones. So I have a few questions for Mr. Walberg: Why would you join GOP outliers to vote against a resolution that doesnt commit the United States to spending a dime? If youre against NATO and the U.S. troops who serve with NATO (including in Poland), what do you think is a better alternative? Finally, what verbal tap dance will you perform before the Veterans of Foreign Wars or American Legion in your much larger district for 2023? That youre for a constitutional republic, just not Ukraines? Elisa Tomaszewski Mantey Monroe Township This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Letter: Why did Walberg vote against NATO resolution? The Dr. Karen M. Trujillo Administration Complex has new signage in time for the special ceremony to rename the Las Cruces Public Schools administration building. If necessity is the mother of invention, the pandemic of our generation has created several innovative avenues in the way of education. None has had more of an impact than the evolution of virtual school, and a new consortium that includes Las Cruces Public Schools is creating a hub for learning that is accessible to more than just students in Las Cruces. The New Mexico Virtual Course Consortium (NMVC) is a network of public school districts and charter schools under the guidance of the New Mexico Public Education Department to provide high quality, standards-aligned supplemental online courses for subject areas that might be difficult to staff locally. For example, a student in Sierra County who would like to take an AP English class can enroll with LCPS and get that instruction online while staying enrolled in their home district. More from LCPS: Karen Trujillo's family works on 'moving forward' one year after Las Cruces superintendent's death Opportunities like that are currently made possible because districts across the state have made themselves available to host any student whose circumstances cannot be accommodated by their district school. In LCPS, we offer K-12 courses through our OWL (Online With LCPS) program, an extension of the Virtual Learning Academy (VLA) under my direction along with Stephanie Hanway, who is the principal of VLA. In all, LCPS joins six other districts in the NMVC: the Pecos Cyber Academy, Cuba Public schools, TriStar Academy in Santa Rosa, Fort Sumner, and Vaughn, the School of Dreams Academy in Los Lunas, Taos Municipal Schools and the Taos Academy Charter School. The consortium can provide up to four virtual courses per student, either as a supplement to their current course of study, or as an online substitute for classes that their home school currently does not offer. Right now, students cannot enroll full-time with the consortium, but it is open to homeschooled students looking for enriched learning opportunities outside of their homeschool curriculum. Story continues As a parent, taxpayer or educator, an obvious question after learning about the consortium is how can all this be possible if the state funds a district according to enrollment? If you look at education as a business and districts as providers of a service, then the service is instruction, and the cost is a pass-through between districts under a memorandum of understanding. Using the previous example, our student in Sierra County is funded by the state and those monies are paid to the home district where the student resides. The home district would then reimburse LCPS using set rates. Consortium fees are $375 per semester, per course in middle school and high school. For elementary students, those fees are $700 per year or $375 per semester. Fees are set by the consortium and help to cover administrative costs. More from LCPS: How long is summer? Will teacher pay increase? What to know about school calendar proposals As the consortium continues to gain traction, we hope additional districts will find value in offering this unique opportunity to provide additional course resources to their students. Any state-authorized district that can offer standards-based curriculum can become a member. As we continue to redefine education in a virtual setting, the consortium, and the opportunities it provides, is creating a foundation for student success no matter where you live. For more information on how to join, please visit the New Mexico Virtual Course Consortiums website at https://webnew.ped.state.nm.us/new-mexico-virtual-course-consortium/. Criss Grubbs is the Executive Director of Virtual Teaching and Learning at Las Cruces Public Schools. Keep reading: This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: How Las Cruces Public Schools offers online education statewide Rep. Anne Stava-Murray, D-Naperville, front, and Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, hold up signs from Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice during debate on the House floor on Friday. [Thomas J. Turney/The State Journal-Register] Democrats at the Illinois Capitol have spent the past several weeks trying to put together a package of bills relating to policing and crime in the state. The set of bills includes a variety of measures which direct more funds to police departments, adjusts the criminal code and tweaks existing law around public safety. "We passed a public safety package that addresses very real concerns in our communities while also targeting the root causes of violence," said House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch, D-Hillside, in his last words during the legislature's spring session. "We had to address it holistically. That's what we did here this session." The bills, all of which were formally introduced by Democrats, had near-unanimous support from the state's majority party and had varying degrees of buy-in from Republicans. State spending $5 million to prosecute 'organized retail crime' One of the final bills approved by the legislature in its last week of session directed millions of dollars into prosecuting a new type of criminal violation: organized retail crime. Sometimes conflated with "smash and grab" theft, a bill approved by the legislature early Saturday morning defines organized retail crime as an either a group of individuals committing assault or battery while stealing from a store. Past coverage: Illinois lawmakers try to tackle 'organized retail crime' as legislative session wraps up It also defines being a "manager of the organized retail crime" as someone directing another person to steal more than merchandise from a store with the intent to resell it, steal merchandise while its in transit, perform fraudulent returns or to "obtain control over" merchandise known to be stolen. The new law only applies to thefts of over $300 worth of merchandise. The bill, HB 1091, passed in the Senate with some bipartisan support on a 42-10 vote. The House approved the measure by a wide margin on a 96-5 vote, with two lawmakers voting "present." Story continues In addition to defining this crime, the bill also requires online retailers such as eBay or Amazon to collect and verify information about the identity of anyone who sells more than $5,000 worth of product on their platform or makes more than 200 sales in the span of one year. The bill was controversial when going through the legislative process, with earlier drafts of the measure attracting opposition from the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, Women's Justice Institute, Illinois Alliance for Reentry and Justice, Illinois Prison Project and more. Stephanie Kollmann is the policy director at the Children and Family Justice Center at Northwestern University. She manages legal research and reform projects for the organization. Though the center did not take a position on the bill, Kollmann spoke out against it. State Rep. Justin Slaughter, D-Chicago, reacts to the Republican response to a follow-up bill to the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today (SAFE-T) Act on Saturday. [Thomas J. Turney/The State Journal-Register] "It became a local news story because it was pushed by the police and the internet," she said. In fact, an analysis from the Children and Family Justice Center found that robberies in Chicago have fallen almost every year since 2001, with the overall number falling by more than 50% since 2001. The bill was championed by Attorney General Kwame Raoul as well as the Illinois Retail Merchants Association. Officials from the attorney general's office said they became interested in the crime, not for its direct impacts, but for its potential consequences. "Organized retail crime does not just (mean) smash and grabs that have been in the news, but also proceeds that fund everything from gun running and narcotics," said Ashley Wright, the legislative director at the Attorney General's office. Some in the General Assembly criticized it for inventing a new category of crime. "This legislation is doing absolutely nothing," said Sen. Steve McClure, R-Springfield. "It's just the same old stuff with some different language in the statutes," he later added. More: After partisan fight, lawmakers approve bill limiting donations in judicial elections A particular provision of the bill drew criticism from some survivors' rights groups and members of the General Assembly. Under a provision in the bill, retail establishments who are the victims of organized retail theft would have to be notified within seven days of any court case resulting from the crime. Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Evanston, voted against the measure and said until another law is filed, "large retailers have more rights than a woman who has been raped." State Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, a chief co-sponsor of the bill, defended the proposal by saying that he was committed to ensuring parity for victims of violent crime. He has since introduced HB 5748, which would require that victims be notified at least seven days prior to any court proceedings related to them. Lawmakers approve 3rd follow-up to last year's criminal justice reform bill Early Saturday morning, lawmakers got into a shouting match on the House floor over a bill clarifying and tweaking some provisions from the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today (SAFE-T) Act, a sweeping criminal justice reform backed by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus. A follow-up bill to that, SB 2364, would change some provisions of the SAFE-T Act, most notably allowing law enforcement officers to arrest people for traffic offenses and certain other minor infractions if they pose a threat to the community or have a mental or medical health issue and pose a risk to themselves. It also changes the rules for electronic monitoring and home detention, shifting the law from allowing two days of free movement per week to "two periods of time," as determined by the detainee's supervising authority. More: Illinois lawmakers pass $46.5 billion budget with tax relief and increased spending "This is not a penalty enhancement," said Rep. Justin Slaughter, D-Chicago, in his opening remarks about the bill. "This is a policy enhancement." But in discussion of the bill, debate devolved into a confrontation between Slaughter and House Republicans after Slaughter accused Republicans of creating the current "crisis." "We are literally in this crisis because of your failed 'lock 'em up, throw away the key' policies," Slaughter said. From there, Republican lawmakers started to jeer and boo Slaughter, who in turn raised his voice. Its a bad stench of racism coming from the other side of the aisle, Slaughter said, prompting more loud jeers, boos and shouts. The bottom line is that you dont deserve our respect," he said, after which some Republicans continued to boo, while others shouted for the acting speaker to intervene. 'Co-responder unit' coming to Springfield, 3 other cities One of the crime bills that passed this week has a direct effect on Springfield. A bill from two Peoria Democrats, Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth and Sen. David Koehler, creates a co-responder pilot program in Peoria, Waukegan, East St. Louis and Springfield. The program would create a unit within the police departments in those four cities that employs a social worker to "provide trauma-informed crisis intervention, case management, advocacy and ongoing emotional support to the victims of all crimes," according to the bill. More: Democrats finalize state budget, focus on crime bills The bill, HB 4736, passed in the Senate on Thursday on a nearly party-line 40-17 vote, with Sen. Jil Tracy, R-Quincy voting for the measure. It passed with bipartisan support in the House on Friday in a 109-2 vote. The co-responder program offers a helping hand to survivors when it comes to locating and accessing important resources in the days and weeks following an incident," said Koehler in a Friday statement. The bill also renames and expands the eligibility for a victims and witness protection program that can provide financial assistance to those materially impacted by their choice to participate in the prosecution of a crime. Undergoing trauma caused by a crime, especially crimes of a violent nature, can be a very isolating experience, Koehler said. Illinois becomes 12th state to pass ban on unserialized guns Guns without serial numbers, which some have called "ghost guns," were a controversial issue at the Capitol at the end of the session, as lawmakers voted to ban the sale and possession of these guns. These guns can be made using traditional gunsmithing equipment, by removing the serial number from a gun or be assembled using a kit and a 3D printer. Ten states had laws on the books banning these types of guns before this week, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. In addition to Illinois' potential new ban, Maryland also enacted its own ban of guns without serial numbers on Saturday. The bill banning this type of gun, HB 4383, passed on a 31-19 vote in the Senate and a 66-36 vote in the House. More: Lawmakers reject bill written in response to Blue Cross-Springfield Clinic controversy "Ghost guns are untraceable guns due to their lack of serial numbers," said Buckner, the bill's chief House sponsor. In late March, Buckner and other lawmakers announced the initiative to ban guns without serial numbers with G-PAC, a political organization focused on gun violence prevention. These untraceable weapons are sold by cynical companies evading our gun laws to flood the streets with unregulated weapons," said David Pucino, deputy chief counsel at Giffords Law Center in a March 28 statement. Sen. Neil Anderson, R-Andalusia, is an outspoken advocate for firearms owners. On Wednesday, he was a featured speaker at an event hosted by the Illinois State Rifle Association. In debate in the early hours of Saturday morning, Anderson sparred with the bill's chief Senate sponsor, Sen. Jacqueline Collins, D-Chicago. "The problem here is that we're trying to fix a problem that is unfixable," said Anderson. Anderson also criticized the bill for what he viewed as unclear language as it relates to what defines a gun and which parts of a gun need to be "serialized" and stamped with a serial number. "Our language is consistent with ATF language," said Sen. Jacqueline Collins, D-Chicago, referring to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tabacco and Firearms. Contact Andrew Adams: aadams1@gannett.com; (312)-291-1417; twitter.com/drewjayadams. This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Illinois lawmakers tackle police reform, ghost guns in final week A man wanted for sex offenses against a child in 2019 was arrested in Florida in January after allegedly fleeing the country for two and a half years. According to information provided by the Davidson County Sheriff's office, in October 2019 deputies received a report of a sex offense on a 6-year-old female in the Welcome area. Want to know more about what is happening in Davidson County? Support local journalism, subscribe to The Dispatch. After a forensic interview and medical exam at the Dragonfly House Child Advocacy Center, detectives determined the child had been sexually assaulted by the live-in boyfriend of the child's babysitter, identified as Joseph Tapper, 34, of Davidson County. During the early stages of the investigation, detectives discovered Tapper had fled the country and was believed to by living in Jamaica. At that time, warrants for his arrest were issued. More: Davidson County sheriff arrests ex-husband in murder of woman found dead in 2010 In January 2022, Tapper was detained by U.S. Customs on the active warrant when he returned to the country at the airport in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He was held at the Broward County Detention Center in Florida and waived extradition before being transported to Davidson County on Feb. 21. Tapper was charged with felony statutory sex offenses and indecent liberties of a child. He was given a $1 million secured bond and had his initial court appearance on March 22. The date for his trial has been set for July 18. General news reporter Sharon Myers can be reached at sharon.myers@the-dispatch.com. Follow her on Twitter @LexDispatchSM. This article originally appeared on The Dispatch: Davidson County man who fled country for child sex offenses arrested Panic buying is back. But instead of individual consumers cleaning out store shelves of toilet paper, as they did in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, the culprits now are national governments, who are hoarding food supplies in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine. And U.S. officials are warning that such behavior could prove catastrophic for the global food supply, which is still recovering from the pandemics effects. Russia and Ukraine together provide about 30 percent of the worlds wheat. But since Russian forces launched an invasion of their neighbor in late February, ports and supply routes have been shuttered and sanctions have blocked Russian exports to many of the worlds major economies. Thats prompted governments across Europe, Africa and the Middle East to scramble for a new source of nutrition for millions of people. To make matters worse, many of the countries who could help fill those voids including Hungary, Argentina and Turkey have placed restrictions on exports of key food products, arguing they need to keep enough supply for their own populations. China has also signaled it will likely hold back on rice exports, another major source of global nutrition, as food insecurity grows. Beijing already holds half of the worlds wheat supply in storage and its panic buying is further driving up prices. Its like pandemic hoarding, but its not toilet paper, its millions of bushels of grain that normally feed large portions of the world, said a Biden administration official. Countries are instead sitting on those supplies because they arent sure when this will end. After the wheat market reached an all-time high earlier this week, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and agricultural ministers from six other major economies warned on Friday that countries refusing to export food products would only drive further price spikes, saying it could threaten food security and nutrition at a global scale, especially among the most vulnerable. Story continues The G-7 officials, who met virtually to discuss Ukraine, called on countries to keep their food and agricultural markets open and to guard against any unjustified restrictive measures on their exports. Vilsack said later that Ukrainian Agrarian Policy and Food Minister Roman Leshchenko spoke to the group from a bunker and asked the countries to provide fuel to help Ukrainian farmers harvest and plant new crops this spring, as the nation faces a rapidly escalating humanitarian crisis. Leshchenkos request for help came just as the United Nations released a report Friday that estimated international food and feed prices could rise by as much as 20 percent as a result of the conflict. U.S. lawmakers and officials tracking the situation are especially worried about shortages and price spikes unleashing social unrest in countries across Africa and the Middle East. The U.S., a major grain exporter, will likely be insulated from the worst of the price spikes, said Scott Irwin, an agricultural economist at the University of Illinois. The concern is mainly consumers in poorer countries getting priced out of the market and the human cost of that, Irwin said. U.S. officials have been tracking Chinas moves in the wake of the conflict and are wary that Beijing is positioning itself to use its mass reserves as a political cudgel against countries in Africa and the Middle East who will be in increasingly desperate need for food supplies as the conflict continues.The biggest question is whether Beijing is doing this just because its worried about securing enough food for its own population, or if it has plans beyond that, the Biden official said. Russian paratroopers march during the military parade at Red Square on May 9, 2021 in Moscow, Russia Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images At least 60 Russian paratroopers from a unit in Pskov province refused to fight in Ukraine, a report says. The troops were fired and some are being threatened with criminal prosecution, a Russian newspaper reported. Russian forces have suffered heavy losses and reports suggest that morale is deteriorating. Up to 60 Russian paratroopers from one unit in Pskov province refused to fight in Ukraine, according to independent Russian newspaper Pskovskaya Gubernia. The troops were fired, and some were threatened with criminal prosecution for desertion or failure to comply with an order, the paper wrote on its Telegram channel. Insider was unable to verify the report independently. Pskovskaya Gubernia is a Russian newspaper known for its independent reporting. Amid the country's crackdown on independent media, last month authorities raided the paper's offices and the homes of senior employees, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Local activist Nikolay Kuzmin, who is affiliated with the opposition Yabloko party in Russia, appeared to corroborate the report on Telegram. Kuzmin said he spoke to a driver who transported some of the paratroopers from Belarus back to Pskov, an important base for Russia's airborne forces. Russia's military's airborne force, the VDV, has suffered heavy losses in Ukraine, which has dented their previous "elite" status. One unit within the VDV, the renowned 331st Guards Parachute Regiment, lost its commander, Col. Sergei Sukharev, and at least 39 other members. Russian forces have suffered heavy losses since it began its invasion of Ukraine, and reports suggest that morale is deteriorating. The Pskov paratroopers are not the only ones reported to have refused to fight. At least 11 members of Russia's Rosgvardia National Guard in the Khakassia region similarly rebelled, Newsweek reported, citing Russian-language news outlet New Focus. Human rights lawyer Pavel Chikhov said on Telegram that Captain Farid Chitav and 11 of his Rosgvardia subordinates refused to invade Ukraine on February 25 because the orders were "illegal," Newsweek said. Story continues Some captured Russians have said that their leaders lied to them about the plan to invade Ukraine, which left them unprepared for the fierce resistance. Despite the Russian military's many advantages, it has failed to achieve the swift victory it had hoped for in Ukraine. UK intelligence chief Jeremy Fleming said that Russian President Vladimir Putin "massively misjudged" the situation before invading, partly because his advisers are "afraid to tell him the truth." NATO estimated last month that between 7,000 and 15,000 Russian soldiers had been killed in action in Ukraine. In a rare frank admission, a Kremlin spokesman admitted on Sky News on Thursday that Russia had "significant losses of troops and it's a huge tragedy for us." Read the original article on Business Insider Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaking to reporters in Bucha, Ukraine, on April 4, 2022. Metin Aktas/Getty Images Zelenskyy told Paul Ronzheimer, a reporter with German tabloid BILD, that Putin 'has no clue' about the destruction in Ukraine. More than 4.4 million Ukrainians have fled since the beginning of the invasion, according to the United Nations. Putin "has given his order, but does not know just how many people die every day," Zelenskyy said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday said he doesn't believe Russian President Vladimir Putin truly knows the extent of the anguish Russian troops are inflicting on his country. "I'm not sure if he understands at all what is happening," Zelenskyy said in an interview with Paul Ronzheimer, a reporter with German tabloid BILD. "If I had an overview on all of the attacks on our cities, on everything that is actually happening, about all the dead people every day in our country. I'm sure he has no clue what is actually happening." Ukrainians who spoke to Insider over the course of the ongoing invasion have painted a grim picture of the devastation. They've described hearing missiles fire through the sky in the dead of night, having to share a single bulletproof vest as Russian soldiers tear through their towns, and troops shooting at homes and hospitals. Putin "has given his order, but does not know just how many people die every day, what is happening in reality," Zelenskyy told Ronzheimer. "How many people, how many children die, how many buildings are destroyed, are burnt to the ground. He doesn't know about all this and he doesn't want to know. He just needs a result." The war has forced millions of Ukrainians to flee their homeland. So far, more than 4.4 million Ukrainians have escaped since the beginning of the invasion, according to data from the United Nations Refugee Agency. Just in the first week alone, more than 1 million Ukrainians left. Zelenskyy has for weeks called on Western countries to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine in an effort to deter Russian missiles and airstrikes. Ordinary Ukrainian citizens have also renewed demand for the measure. Story continues But President Joe Biden has resisted calls to implement one out of fear of a potential a war with Russia, another nuclear power. Some lawmakers, such as Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, said the move could lead to World War III. Early in March, Putin warned that any country that tries to impose a no-fly zone will be considered "participants in a military conflict, and it doesn't matter members of which organizations they are." Editor's note: BILD is owned by Axel Springer, Insider's parent company. Read the original article on Business Insider This week, we're hoping that these April showers will pay off next month. We looked back on the best years of Freaknik Atlanta's famous street party for some warm weather inspiration and examined the link between Washington, DC's cherry trees and the infamous cherry blossom season in Japan. Francis Kokoroko looked at the skate girls of Ghana, and Vogue analyzed some of the best White House weddings ahead of Naomi Biden's announcement that her presidential grandparents will host her wedding there in November. Joe Webb's dystopian collages hold a surprisingly simple secret, and Adam Powell photographed the back-from-the-dead Kim's Video for the New York Times. In Ukraine, James Nachtwey photographed the atrocities in Bucha for the New Yorker, and Aperture looked back at decades of dissident Ukrainian photography. For more photo stories from around the internet, sign up for our newsletter. An Amazon union victory. ANDREA RENAULT/AFP via Getty Images The smartest insight and analysis, from all perspectives, rounded up from around the web: "Executives across corporate America may be beginning to doubt their carefully constructed anti-union defenses" after Amazon workers voted to organize in New York last week, said Steven Greenhouse in The Atlantic. "If any workplace was considered impossible to unionize, it was an Amazon warehouse," especially given the "ferocious, full-court presses" that Amazon has mounted against such efforts. But a stand-alone campaign at a fulfillment center in Staten Island "managed to pierce Amazon's Maginot Line" last week. The grassroots effort, whose two leaders, Christian Smalls and Derrick Palmer, "relied on GoFundMe for money" and rejected affiliation with a larger union, is not easily replicated. But with the Amazon win and a string of victories at Starbucks cafes, there is welling "pro-union excitement among many workers, especially young workers." Amazon's ham-fisted miscalculations "could haunt it for years to come," said Jodi Kantor and Karen Weise in The New York Times. Both Black men from New Jersey in their early 30s, Smalls and Palmer had "dropped out of community college and prided themselves on high scores on Amazon's performance metrics," hoping to rise within the company. However, they grew disillusioned by Amazon's working conditions, how it churned through employees, and its refusal to pause operations in the face of rising COVID cases in March 2020. Amazon's anti-union apparatus made several missteps. After firing Smalls, a top Amazon executive called him "not smart or articulate." Amazon then insisted on having Smalls arrested for bringing food to workers at the warehouse; videos of the arrest were "viewed on TikTok hundreds of thousands of times." The victory has broad implications, said Annie Palmer at CNBC. The Amazon Labor Union "has called for the company to increase hourly wages for all workers to a minimum $30 an hour"; Amazon's current starting wage at fulfillment centers averages $18 an hour. The prospect of that kind of increase could motivate additional attempts to organize the company's workers. A second vote is set for another Amazon warehouse in Staten Island, said Josh Eidelson in Bloomberg, "and the ALU is trying to sign up workers at two other facilities." Smalls has emerged "as a folk hero" to other "frontline workers who toiled through a dangerous pandemic" and are looking to "redress the power imbalance." Story continues The rate of union membership is now about half where it was in 1983, said Jarrett Skorup in The Hill. President Biden has proclaimed he wants to be "the most pro-union president in American history." But given their druthers, most workers "overwhelmingly reject unions." The New York tally was close, said Jeffrey Dastin in Reuters, and a revote at an Amazon plant in Bessemer, Alabama, which voted overwhelmingly against a union last year, has also come down to the wire. Amazon is likely to file objections, and having organized the workers, the ALU must still negotiate with Amazon to gain a contract. Yet an "invigorated purpose was palpable among union leaders this week" after the fledgling ALU showed how David could take down Goliath. This article was first published in the latest issue of The Week magazine. If you want to read more like it, you can try six risk-free issues of the magazine here. You may also like Hawaii's Brian Schatz lays into Josh Hawley on Senate floor: 'Completely ridiculous' Jimmy Kimmel mocks police threat from 'sweet little snowflake' Marjorie Taylor Greene, reports her to Batman The best starting Wordle word has been revealed The 2022 World Cup finals will take place in Qatar (Adam Davy/PA) (PA Wire) FIFA officials will meet a delegation from Amnesty International on Monday to discuss the human rights organisations concerns over migrant workers ahead of the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar. The Amnesty representatives will hand over a petition calling on the governing body to address ongoing issues in the Gulf state ahead of discussions on the matters raised as it prepares to host the tournament next year. FIFAs chief social responsibility and education officer Joyce Cook said: We very much welcome the ongoing engagement with Amnesty International and are always open to transparently and constructively discussing and addressing any concerns that our stakeholders may have. We remain fully committed to ensuring the protection of workers engaged in the delivery of the World Cup, and we are confident that the tournament will also serve as a catalyst for broader positive and lasting change across the host country. We remain fully committed to ensuring the protection of workers engaged in the delivery of the World Cup, and we are confident that the tournament will also serve as a catalyst for broader positive and lasting change across the host country FIFA As widely recognised by international expert organisations, the World Cup has already contributed significantly to improved labour conditions in the region and it is clear that Qatar is on the right track having introduced sweeping labour reforms and making substantial progress, in what has been a comparatively very short period of time. The Qatar government has passed a series of laws since 2017 aimed at improving conditions for migrant workers, including tackling the kafala system, which binds foreign workers to their employers, restricts their ability to change jobs and prevents many from leaving the country without their employers permission. However, Amnestys Qatar Reality Check 2021 report released in November last year claimed that in many respects, it was business as usual. The report said that some workers still need the permission of their employer to leave a job in practice, that wage theft remains common and that deaths in service are not properly investigated. There was an expectation that the Oregon Ducks were going to land 4-star cornerback Jahlil Florence back in January. He had previously committed to come to Eugene, but after the previous coaching staff left, decided to open up his options. Dan Lanning getting Florence back to Oregon was a major win, but nothing too shocking. Nobody can say they saw this coming. On Friday evening, the Ducks landed 5-star offensive tackle Josh Conerly, the No. 1 lineman in the 2022 class. Conerly was said to be a lock to the USC Trojans, with On3 giving him a 98% chance to land in Los Angeles as recently as this week. Instead, Lanning convinced him to come to the Ducks, and he will be lining up for them starting this fall. While is is a massive win for the current roster, it is even a bigger victory when it comes to asserting dominance on the west coast in the recruiting world. With only a few months to work after coming over from Georgia, Lanning as planted his flag in Eugene and made it known that they are after some of the top talent in the nation, and capable of landing them. When Lincoln Riley went to USC, people thought that the Trojans would take over as the premiere place for talent to land on the west coast. Lanning had other ideas. If youre a blue-chip prospect who is considering a future out west, the Ducks are going to be after you. And if weve seen anything so far, its that they will likely have a good chance to land you as well. Contact/Follow us @Ducks_Wire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinion. Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today. List April may be the cruelest month but it's looking pretty darn good for BookLovers. From new thrillers to page-turning non-fiction, this month this past week in particular is absolutely jammed with new releases. So many, in fact, that Ill have to break my picks for cream of this months crop into two columns. We start harvesting now April is Poetry Month, and Time Is a Mother, by Ocean Vuong is among the most anticipated volumes. Winner of the 2016 Whiting Award, the 2017 T. S. Eliot Prize, and a 2019 MacArthur fellow, Vuongs bestselling novel, On Earth Were Briefly Gorgeous was longlisted for the 2019 National Book Award for Fiction, and won the 2019 New England Book Award for Fiction. Some beautiful lines here. Time Is a Mother, by Ocean Vuong In the snow, the dry outline of my mother/ Promise me you won't vanish again, I said/ She lay there awhile, thinking it over. For a poetic memoir: Constructing A Nervous System, By Margo Jefferson (April 12). Im in love with Jeffersons style. There is music in her words. Her much-anticipated follow-up to Negroland is written in poems and dream fragment. Stunner. Constructing A Nervous System, By Margo Jefferson For non-fiction, this one is gripping: Riverman: An American Odyssey, by Ben McGrath (April 5.) This reminds me of Jon Krakauers Into the Wild. A staff writer at the New Yorker, McGrath first wrote about Dick Conant an American folk hero who, over the course of some 20 years, canoed solo thousands of miles of American rivers when he met Conant on a New York riverbank in 2014. McGraths article on his encounter with the larger-than-life character became a popular New Yorker article. Then, a few months after that chance meeting, Conants canoe washed up near the Outer Banks of North Carolina without any sign of his body. What follows is an Into the Wild-esque tale of a man who lived far outside the staid confines of modern existence. #PageTurner Book clubs, take note. This one is made for discussion: The Trayvon Generation: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, by Pulitzer Prize finalist and bestselling author Elizabeth Alexander. Accurately billed as a meditation on the power of art and culture to illuminate America's unresolved problem with race, Alexander delivers much-needed food for thought. This one also started as a New Yorker piece that went viral. #EssentialReading Story continues "Sea of Tranquility, by Emily St. John Mandel (April 5). "Sea of Tranquility, by Emily St. John Mandel Released in 2014, Mandels Station Eleven is, to this day, one of my favorite modern novels. The pacing, the imaginative plot, the details, the reveals impeccable. That National Book Award finalist now adapted for an HBO Max series cemented Mandel as a superb novelist with one heck of an imagination. I also enjoyed her 2020 release, The Glass Hotel. Her latest is a sci-fi time-jumping must-read. As the publishers synopsis reads: Edwin St. Andrew crosses the Atlantic by steamship, exiled from society following an event at a dinner party. He enters the Canadian wilderness, and hears a violin echoing in an airship terminalSome 200 years later, author Olive Llewellyn is on a book tour, traveling Earth but her home is the second moon colony. Her bestselling pandemic novel contains a strange passage: a man plays his violin in an airship terminal When Detective Gaspery-Jacques Roberts is hired to investigate an anomaly in the North American wilderness, he uncovers a series of lives upended and finds the chance to do something extraordinary that will disrupt the timeline of the universe. A story only Mandel could think up. "The Candy House, by Jennifer Egan (April 5). From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A Visit From the Good Squad comes a story that feels like a Black Mirror episode. According to the synopsis: Its 2010, and Tech demi-god Bix Bouton is searching for a new idea when he stumbles into a conversation group, mostly Columbia professors, one of whom is experimenting with downloading or externalizing memory. Within a decade, Bixs new technology, Own Your Unconscious allows you access to every memory youve ever had, and to share every memory in exchange for access to the memories of others Black Mirror and Twilight Zone fans, start reading. Portrait of a Thief, by Grace D. Li (April 5) Everybody loves a great heist story. Think Oceans 11 meets Netflix hit This is a Robbery. A Boston-set art heist also offers a thoughtful commentary on colonialism and the looting of culture. Will is a straight arrow student at Harvardbut when a mysterious Chinese benefactor reaches out with an offer, Will finds himself the leader of a heist to steal back five priceless Chinese sculptures, looted from Beijing centuries ago. #Pageturner Thin Places: A Natural History Of Healing And Home, by Kerri Ni Dochartaigh (April 12.) Outstanding. At once a Mary Oliver-esque celebration of the natural world and a memoir of one familys experience during the Troubles in Ireland, ni Dochartaigh was born in Derry, on the border of the North and South of Ireland, at the very height of the Troubles. One parent was Catholic, the other was Protestant. In one year, they were forced out of two homes. When she was 11, a homemade bomb was thrown through her bedroom window. In a unique blend of memoir, history, and nature writing, ni Dochartaigh explores how nature kept her sane and helped her heal. I love this description of watching curlews. Any one of us who feels a connection to the beach can feel this. This beach on which I stand, shivering and silvered by the salt of the Atlantic Ocean, is a perfect place for them open, empty, and desolate, at first glance. This beach has a quality to it, a stillness, which lets me almost float awayIt is as if the veil between worlds has become thin as moth-wing. Lauren Daley is a freelance writer and BookLovers columnist. She tweets @laurendaley1. Read more at https://www.facebook.com/daley.writer. This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: BookLovers: Daley picks 8 new releases to read right now CONCORD, N.H. (AP) The medical technician who drew blood from New Hampshire Rep. Peter Schmidt after he broke his leg in February was registered with the state, thanks to a 2014 law enacted after a traveling medical technician infected dozens of people with hepatitis C. But by the time Schmidt was back on his feet, colleagues had hijacked his bill aimed at improving the registry. House lawmakers passed a bill last month eliminating the registration requirement altogether, and Schmidt is now urging senators to reject it. "Please do not pass this, this is a terrible idea," Schmidt said. "I think we need to continue to register these medical technicians, otherwise we are opening ourselves up to a potential repeat of the Exeter experience." From 2021: Man who infected 46 patients with hepatitis C denied compassionate release New Hampshire created the Board of Registration for Medical Technicians in response to David Kwiatkowski, who is serving 39 years in prison for stealing painkillers and replacing them with saline-filled syringes tainted with his blood. Exeter LitFest whodunnit: Crime, wine and chocolate for a cause At the time, officials hoped the board would become a model for other states, but that hasn't happened. And those who want to ditch it say it creates unnecessary bureaucracy at a time when health care facilities are struggling to hire workers. "The actions of one bad actor, however heinous, are not reason to require thousands of technicians to register and pay fees," said Rep. Carol McGuire, R-Epsom, when the House passed the bill last month. Legislation: NH won't change how co-op school boards are elected. Brentwood rep.'s bill is tabled. But Linda Ficken, a Kansas woman who contracted hepatitis C from Kwiatkowski in 2011, said she believes any medical worker with access to drugs should be registered and should undergo frequent drug testing. "Every time I go into the hospital, I can't help but wonder, is this a repeat?" she said. "Cured or not, the thoughts and anxiety are still there." Story continues Despite being fired numerous times over drug allegations, Kwiatkowski had worked in 18 hospitals in seven states before being hired in at Exeter Hospital in New Hampshire. After his arrest in 2012, 46 people in four states were diagnosed with the same strain of the hepatitis C virus he carries, including one who died in Kansas. This Monday, Aug. 6, 2012 file photo shows the Exeter Hospital in Exeter, N.H. David Kwiatkowski, a former traveling medical technician and former worker at the New Hampshire hospital, is currently serving a 39 year sentence in prison for stealing painkillers and replacing them with saline-filled syringes tainted with his hepatitis C positive blood, infecting more than 40 patients with hepatitis C across four states. New Hampshire legislators responded to the 2013 case by creating a licensing board to register, investigate and discipline medical technicians. In 2022, the N.H. House has passed legislation eliminating the board and the registration requirements. (AP Photo/Jim Cole, File) The case highlighted the fact that medical technicians aren't as closely regulated as nurses or doctors, whose misconduct and discipline are tracked via a nationwide database. While some states require certain technicians to be licensed, four of the states where he worked didn't license any of them at the time of his arrest, including New Hampshire. The registry New Hampshire eventually created applies to all health care workers who are not otherwise already licensed or registered and have access to both patients and drugs. Hospitals are required to report disciplinary actions to the board, which also investigates complaints and takes disciplinary action. A call to service: Jeff Denton named Stratham's new fire chief The board has struggled to maintain a quorum, however, and hasn't met in more than a year, said Lindsey Courtney, director of the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification. "We're greatly concerned the state is not meeting its obligation to protect the public," she said at a public hearing. Courtney, who isn't taking a position on eliminating the board, supported Schmidt's original proposal to convert it to an advisory panel that would make recommendations to her office. There are currently 1,691 registered technicians, and although complaints are rare, the board has taken action in a handful of cases each year. Schmidt said his goal was to shift some of the administrative burden from the board to the larger agency. He hopes the Senate will either kill the amended bill or return to his original idea. While hospitals are on the front lines of preventing and responding to drug diversion, partnering with public health, licensing and law enforcement agencies is essential, said Dr. Matthew Crist, a medical officer with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He said the CDC isn't aware of outbreaks in recent years related to drug diversion and is cautiously optimistic given that health care facilities have improved security around controlled drugs, and many state licensing agencies have taken steps to improve communication across state lines. More: Portsmouth has deal for McIntyre project, but it needs extension from federal GSA, too In the decade before Kwiatkowski's arrests, similar hepatitis C outbreaks had been traced to other hospital technicians in Texas, Colorado and Florida, and CDC officials said at the time that the Kwiatkowski case highlighted a problem that was a growing concern across the public health system. Even though other states didn't follow New Hampshire's lead, the registry likely has deterred people like Kwiatkowski from coming to the state in the first place, said state Sen. Tom Sherman, D-Rye, who led the bipartisan effort to create the board. Sherman, a gastroenterologist who is running for governor, played a key role in discovering Kwiatkowski's misconduct when he and his colleagues noticed a cluster of hepatitis C cases among their patients and realized they all had been treated in Exeter Hospital's cardiac catherization lab. He's now urging his fellow senators to consider "the price of doing an experiment to see what happens if we get rid of the board." "People died because of that outbreak," he said. "This was a very carefully thought-out solution that has worked. To take it away now means we just don't learn from history." This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH medical registry may end decade after Exeter hepatitis outbreak, AP Photo Tesla CEO Elon Musk will hold a question-and-answer session with Twitter staff after some internal criticism was raised following the news of his appointment to the companys board of directors. Meanwhile, Microsoft said it disrupted a Russian cyberattack that was targeting Ukraine, the U.S. and the European Union. This is Hillicon Valley, detailing all you need to know about tech and cyber news from Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley. Send tips to The Hills Rebecca Klar, Chris Mills Rodrigo and Ines Kagubare. Someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Musk to answer Twitter staff questions Elon Musk will address questions from Twitter employees after his appointment to the social media companys board led to some internal criticism and concerns from company staff. A Twitter spokesperson confirmed Friday that Musk will join Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal for an AMA, or ask me anything, session for Twitter employees soon. The spokesperson did not offer additional information. The question-and-answer session was first reported by The Washington Post, citing an email Agrawal sent staff on Thursday. Read more here. Microsoft disrupted Russian cyberattacks Microsoft announced Thursday that it had disrupted Russian cyberattacks targeting Ukraine and organizations in the United States and European Union. A Russian hacking group called Strontium was targeting Ukrainian organizations, including media organizations, as well as both public and private foreign policy-related institutions in the U.S. and EU, Tom Burt, Microsofts corporate vice president of customer security and trust, said in a blog post. Strontium is connected to the GRU, Russias military intelligence service. We believe Strontium was attempting to establish long-term access to the systems of its targets, provide tactical support for the physical invasion and exfiltrate sensitive information, Burt wrote. Read more here. VIRTUAL EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT The Hills Future of Jobs Summit Tuesday, April 12 at 1:00 PM ET Story continues The COVID-19 pandemic sparked a revolution in work. Two years later, workers and employers are still looking for answers to questions surrounding the future of jobs. How can companies stay ahead of the curve and what does that mean for upskilling and transitioning workers into new, in-demand jobs? Join us for The Hills Future of Jobs summit as we discuss the evolving workforce of tomorrow. RSVP today. TUNE-IN TO RISING, now available as a podcast. Its politics without the screaming. BESSEMER ROUND 3? The union seeking to represent workers at Amazons Bessemer, Ala., warehouse filed objections Thursday evening to the e-commerce giants conduct during the facilitys recent unionization election. The results of the election may not be known for several weeks, as the current vote tally 993 votes against unionizing have been counted versus 875 yes votes could be swung by the 416 ballots that were contested. The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), which would represent the workers in Bessemer in the event of a win, claimed Thursday that Amazon interfered in the voting process. The union filed 21 objections that it believes both separately and cumulatively constitute grounds to set the election aside. Read more about the objections here. DONT MENTION IT Twitter announced on Thursday that it is experimenting with a new feature that would allow users to remove themselves from conversations in which they were tagged by others. How do you say Dont @ me, without saying Dont @ me? Were experimenting with Unmentioninga way to help you protect your peace and remove yourself from conversationsavailable on Web for some of you now, Twitter Safety tweeted. Twitter Safety provided a GIF illustrating how the feature would function, with a user tagged in a conversation clicking on an option to leave this conversation. Read more here. CYBERATTACKS HIT FINLANDS DEFENSE MINISTRY Finland was hit with cyberattacks and an airspace breach on Friday while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was speaking to the Finnish Parliament. The countrys Ministry of Defense tweeted earlier Friday its website was under attack and it would shutter until further notice. A few hours later, after resolving the issue, the department clarified that the cyberattack was a denial-of-service attack, which aims to shut down a website so users are unable to access its information. The attack also affected the Finnish foreign ministrys websites, according to the ministrys Twitter. Read more here. BITS & PIECES An op-ed to chew on: We need to protect childrens data online but lets protect everyones data while were at it Lighter click: Weve all been there Notable links from around the web: Axie Infinitys Financial Mess Started Long Before Its $600 Million Hack (The Verge / Adi Robertson) Internet algospeak is changing our language in real time, from nip nobs to le dollar bean (The Washington Post / Taylor Lorenz) Do Democrats Really Want Amazons Workers to Win? (Intelligencer / Sam Adler-Bell) One last thing: Discovery leadership changes Discovery Inc. announced an executive leadership team to head WarnerMedia amid a major merger between the two companies that will be finalized this month. Channing Dungey will continue as chairman of Warner Bros. Television Group, while Casey Bloys continues as chief content officer of HBO & HBO Max, the company announced. Kathleen Finch will assume a newly created role of chairman and chief content officer, US Networks Group, a new, consolidated organization comprising the companys more than 40 U.S. networks. Read more here. Thats it for today, thanks for reading. Check out The Hills Technology and Cybersecurity pages for the latest news and coverage. Well see you Monday. VIEW THE FULL EDITION HERE For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia A man arrested this week for allegedly posing as a phony Homeland Security agent in a years-long ruse that fooled at least four members of the Secret Serviceone of them on first lady Jill Bidens security detailhas been busted for passing bad checks, allegedly created a fake company to win a city contract, and stiffed a close friend and business partner before skipping town, according to state court records and interviews with two former associates. Arian Taherzadeh, 40, was arrested by the feds at his Washington, D.C., apartment complex on Wednesday. He is charged with false personation of an officer or employee of the United States. Along with alleged co-conspirator Haider Ali, the two for years portrayed themselves as federal law enforcement agents involved in covert operations on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), states a detention memo filed Friday in Washington, D.C. federal court. They are not law enforcement agents, and they are not involved in sanctioned covert activities. Neither Defendant is even employed by the United States government. But their impersonation scheme was sufficiently realistic to convince other government employees, including law enforcement agents, of their false identities. In an interview with investigators following his arrest, prosecutors say Taherzadeh admitted to posing as a DHS agent and said he also falsely told others that he was an ex-Army Ranger. However, he put much of the onus on Ali, telling the feds that Ali was the individual that funded most of their day-to-day operation but Taherzadeh did not know the source of the funds. You could call it karma, a former friend and business partner in Kansas City who started a now-defunct IT consultancy with Taherzadeh told The Daily Beast. I got burned a couple of different times and I finally walked away. One of the weapons the feds say they found in Taherzadeh and Alis possession. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Court records do not explain what Taherzadeh and Ali were thought to be hoping to achieve, and prosecutors did not elaborate in a detention hearing on Friday. Story continues The friend said hes extremely curious to know what Taherzadehs end-game was. Part of me just wants to tell you, its because he could, he said. Taherzadeh left Missouri for the D.C. area in the mid-to-late 2000s, said the friend, a local business owner who asked not to be identified so as not to spook his clients. Several years earlier, the two had begun working together running online operations for various companies. The finances were overseen by Taherzadeh, said the friend. He said he was getting paid regularly, and the two lived in, and worked out of, a local townhouse. The servers were on the bottom, they lived on the middle floor, and the third floor was the party floor, Joe Lehman, who knew both men in Kansas City, told The Daily Beast. Everything seemed finefor a while, Taherzadehs ex-business partner said. Until one day, when Taherzadeh called to offer him six months of work on a project he was doing for a national manufacturing company. I laid my price out for the six months, and I never got paid, he said. He would string me along, and string me along, and string me along. During this period, when the friend still hoped to get paid, he said Taherzadeh hired him to install some server equipment for a customer he was working with. This time, Taherzadeh gave him a check at the end of the job, representing payment in full. Hes good at making friends, and making people feel welcome, said the friend. And even when he burns you, hell still try to make it seem like its not that big a deal, you know? At the time, the friend was broke, living in a trailer with no bank account, he said. So, he was all-too happy to have a few bucks in his pocket. But about a month after he cashed the check, he learned that Taherzadeh had been arrested for check fraud after trying to cash a check he had written to himself. Taherzadeh, who has never been employed by the federal government, in authentic-looking police gear. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Taherzadeh was picked up on April 9, 2007, on a misdemeanor charge of passing a bad check under $500, according to Clay County, Missouri Circuit Court records. The police subsequently accused the friend of being in on the scam, and threatened him with felony charges, he said. They came after me, he said. I had a detective sweating me for weeks, telling me I was going to jail for forgery. But in the end, I wasn't the one who wrote the bad check. I had the check given to me. On Nov. 15, 2007, Taherzadeh took a deal and pleaded guilty in exchange for a suspended 180-day sentence and two years probation, which were also suspended, court records show. The friend was eventually able to resolve his issue without facing trial, and while he was initially charged, prosecutors dropped the case and his record is now clean, he said. But not before his life was turned upside-down in the process. Clay County was trying to pin it on somebody, the friend said. Thats probably the last time we really had it out, and then he bailed to D.C. The last time I talked to him, it was not pretty. While living in Missouri, Taherzadeh was also arrested and convicted on DWI charges, and spent two weeks in jail. He was also sued for non-payment of rent and credit card bills, being found in default in both cases. A few years later, Taherzadeh would be convicted in Virginia for assaulting his wife. While awaiting sentencing in that case, Taherzadeh was arrested and charged with assault and battery for attacking his girlfriend, according to the detention memo filed Friday by prosecutors, who did not specify if Taherzadeh had been convicted. For this reason, prosecutors said in their detention memo that Taherzadeh is prohibited from possessing a firearm or even a single round of ammunition. Reached by The Daily Beast on Friday, Taherzadehs court-appointed lawyer, Michelle Peterson, said, We will be making no comment outside of the courtroom. Earlier in 2007, Joe Lehman established an LLC with Taherzadeh so he could bid on a municipal contract to supply dog licenses to Kansas City. Lehman, who now works in the logistics industry, told The Daily Beast that Taherzadeh convinced him to put his name on the incorporation papers after his partner in the venture bailed on him. The contract involved manufacturing the metal tags attached to dog collars, which was something Taherzadeh had no experience with, Lehman said. He was somehow able to bullshit them enough to win the bid, Lehman said. He told me he needed to meet with all these city officials, and he wanted to bring me on as the frontman. I made up an LLC, I put on a suit and tie, [and] we went and showed these people an empty office building. The two would be the middlemen, Lehman continued, saying that Taherzadeh told him they would place the order, stamp em and shine em, then ship them to the City and wed get paid. He said he already had his vendor to make the tags, and then the whole thing never went anywhere, it never happened, said Lehman. He moved away, and last I heard, he was like a Border Patrol agent or some shit. Investigators say Taherzadeh and Ali had all the necessary trappings to pass as legit federal agents for years. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Of course, Taherzadeh wasnt a Border Patrol agent, nor was he any of the various things he claimed to be, such as an ex-Army Ranger, according to federal prosecutors. This investigation is less than two weeks old, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Rothstein said at Fridays detention hearing. And every day the facts get worse and worse The defendants were not merely playing dress-up with firearms and ammunition, body armor, tactical gear, surveillance equipment, they were engaged in conduct that represented a serious threat to the community and compromised the operations of federal law enforcement and created a potential national security threat. In the governments detention memo, prosecutors laid out a slew of disturbing allegations about Taherzadeh and Ali. The duo pretended to recruit other individuals to law enforcement and their fake operationincluding shooting a person with an air gunand leveraged their phony law enforcement status to ingratiate themselves to other law enforcement agents in sensitive positions, the detention memo states. They compromised United States Secret Service (USSS) personnel involved in protective details and with access to the White House complex by lavishing gifts upon them, including rent-free living. And they procured, stored, and used all the tools of law enforcement and covert tradecraft: weaponry, including firearms, scopes, and brass knuckles; surveillance equipment, including a drone, antennae, hard drives, and hard drive copying equipment; tools to manufacture identities, including a machine to create Personal Identification Verification (PIV) cards and passport photographs; and tactical gear, including vests, gas masks, breach equipment, police lights, and various law enforcement insignia. Taherzadehs former friend and partner in the IT consultancy enjoyed spending time with him, and said the two had all these common interests. They played video games together, and did some partying, but both knew theyd eventually have to grow up. Hes always kind of been into guns but it was never his main focus or priority, the friend, who now works in the HVAC business, told The Daily Beast. He never expressed interest in going into law enforcement when I knew him. He had talked at one point about maybe becoming an attorney. Live and learn, he said. Dont have a business partner or dont do business with friends. I knew I'd never get the money and once he left town, what could I do? Im broke, its not like I can chase him to D.C. Other than that, dude was fun to go to bars with, fun to be around, fun to sit around and shoot the shit with, but it got to a certain point where I just had to bail. A year or two ago, he said, Taherzadeh sent him a friend request on Facebook, but he ignored it. I hadnt talked to the dude in probably a decade, he said. So I started looking through his profile and seeing what was posted. It was all pretty much lifestyle stuff, but there were pictures of him in police-style clothing and tactical gear I was like, Well, shit. But I still don't want to be friends with you. On Friday, Magistrate Judge G. Michael Hervey ordered Taherzadeh and Ali detained without bail. Its a hell of a thing to be charged with, Taherzadehs former friend said with a laugh. But am I really surprised? Im not shocked. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. By Trend Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan Rovshan Rustamov and a delegation of the French Business Confederation (MEDEF International) discussed new areas of cooperation between French companies and Azerbaijani partners, the ministry told Trend. During the meeting, the parties exchanged views on cooperation in transport, space industry, and ICT. "The sides discussed prospects for public-private partnerships with a number of French companies. Meanwhile, data on the current potential of Azerbaijan's transport sector, as well as on the concept of smart cities and villages had been provided," the statement said. FARMINGTON A 51-year-old man has been charged with second-degree felony count of murder in connection with the death of a Farmington woman. Thomas Howard was charged this week for the death in December 2021 of Roberta Baier, 59, according to a news release from the Farmington Police Department. Court records show that the criminal complaint, arrest warrant affidavit, and arrest warrant were filed on March 30 in Farmington Magistrate Court. Howard is in custody at Cook County Jail in Chicago after he was arrested in February on an unrelated warrant, according to the news release. The release states that he is awaiting extradition back to New Mexico. Information about the homicide is in the arrest warrant affidavit. Farmington police responded on Dec. 6, 2021 to an apartment on the 2800 block of East 22nd Street to conduct a welfare check on Baier, after friends reported they had not seen or heard from her since Nov. 30, 2021. More: Farmington police accuse homicide suspect of burglarizing vehicles before fatal Saturday shooting Officers made several attempts to contact Baier by knocking on the front door. When there was no response, they reached out to the property manager to open the residence, where they found her deceased in her bedroom. An officer saw injuries to her face, including a laceration above her left brow, bruising on her face and dried blood in her hair. There was also blood spatter on the bedroom walls and blood on the bed. Her body was sent to the Office of Medical Investigator in Albuquerque to determine the cause of death. Officers learned that Howard had recently been living with Baier, but he was not present at the time her body was discovered and his whereabouts were unknown. Howard was described as Baier's boyfriend in the news release from the police department. The arrest warrant affidavit states that detectives learned Howard had been seen inside Baier's apartment the evening of Dec. 1, 2021. Detectives also learned that Howard checked into a motel in Farmington on the morning of Dec. 2, 2021 then took a cab ride that afternoon to Durango, Colorado. Story continues More: Reported Internet crime down in New Mexico, but FBI encourages vigilance Financial statements obtained by detectives in January revealed that Howard was in the Chicago area. He was arrested on an unrelated warrant on Feb. 5 in Cicero, Illinois by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Berwyn Police Department. Howard was booked into Cook County Jail in Chicago on Feb. 7 and remains in custody there. Online jail records show that he has a court date for May 2. According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Farmington detectives interviewed Howard in jail in late February. The court document states that he responded to detectives' questions and talked about his relationship with Baier and his actions toward her on Dec. 1, 2021. 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: Man charged in murder of Farmington woman found dead in December 2021 Apr. 9Ohio's PBS stations are working with the Ohio Department of Education to provide afterschool and summer programs serving underserved youth with additional materials to address learning loss this summer. PBS will provide the afterschool and summer programs with materials like curriculums and materials, virtual field trips, interactive video programs, community events and others, to help student learning and address learning loss. ODE paid $5 million from federal COVID-19 relief funding for Ohio Learns 360, which targets kindergarten through fifth graders, according to Ohio PBS. "Ohio's PBS stations have been wonderful partners in prioritizing additional education opportunities to support Ohio's students since the beginning of the pandemic," ODE interim superintendent of public instruction Stephanie Siddens said. "The Ohio Learns 360 initiative will give families an additional pathway to support student learning beyond the school day." According to Ohio's PBS stations, students in out-of-school-time programs will be able to do hands-on STEM activities with characters such as Cat in the Hat or go on a virtual field trip to one of Ohio's leading science museums. Students at home will also be able to participate in virtual after-school programs that feature a well-known PBS Kids character. Parents can learn how to support their child's learning through Parent Power webinars, and families will be able to attend community events offered by their local PBS station. PBS station Public Media Connect in Cincinnati and Dayton is leading the effort. For students in communities of color and in poorer neighborhoods, the summer has been a time when students can forget what they learned the previous school year, especially compared to their white, wealthier peers. That is because wealthier families can afford camps and daycare that provide educational services to kids. While camps serving poorer families exist, they are rarer and typically need outside funding. Story continues During the beginning of the pandemic, when many schools switched to virtual schooling, poor and minority students, as well as students who had a hard time in school, fell even further behind. According to an Ohio State University study published in 2021 using 2021 spring testing data, students across the state had achievement gaps compared to previous years. But learning declines were larger for lower-achieving, economically disadvantaged, and minority student subgroups and among districts that spent most of the year in fully remote instruction. Lacey Snoke, spokeswoman for ODE, said the Department is using federal funding to launch more than 60 new initiatives designed to help students recover from the effects of the pandemic. The Ohio Learns 360 program is just one of those. Snoke said in-person initiatives are a priority. ODE is putting more than $88 million in funding for summer and afterschool learning and $20 million to support tutoring, she said. "However, other types of learning experiences can be complementary to those efforts and can at times be more accessible and flexible for students and their families," she said. The Rev. George Baum of St. Timothy Episcopal Church in Massillon is traveling to Romania to help with war refugees. MASSILLON You could say they're getting the band back together. In two weeks, the Rev. George Baum, rector at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church at 226 Third St. SE, will head to Romania for a reunion of sorts with two close friends. The three will be engaged in serving refugees who have fled war-ravaged Ukraine. More: `They've lost everything.' Canton pastor has thousands of items for Ukraine refugees Baum said he will be in Romania, which shares a border with western Ukraine, for about a week. More: St. Timothy's recharging its outreach programs Before he was ordained, Baum performed in a band, Lost & Found, with Michael Bridges. They will meet up with their former manager, the Rev. Justin Vetrano of Old Westbury, N.Y., who is married to a woman from Romania. More: https://ne-np.facebook.com/stpaulslutheran.amityville/videos/245936990996289/ The Vetranos have been in Isaca, Romania, since March 4, Baum said. "People were coming across the Danube (river) in ferry boats every two hours, with 500 people," Baum said Vetrano told him. "The first few days, they were handing out hot tea and sandwiches." God doing 'a new thing all the time' The couple is helping refugees find places to live and jobs. "What I see, with the three of us together, is the ability to think bigger," Baum said. "In the long term, Ukraine will be built. In the meantime, it's about giving them hope for the future." Baum, who is heading over the day after Easter, said he wants to do what he can to help. "Obviously, handing out tea and sandwiches isn't going to stop the war, but we want to offer people hope and let them know someone cares," he said. "As Justin says, it's living out our faith as Christians." Baum said hope is evidence that God is doing "a new thing all the time." "The reason there is hope is that God leads people to help," he said. "That's where we see the face of Christ in the world, people who are willing to help." Story continues Helping Ukrainians in a time of need Baum said he admires the strength of the refugees, who have left behind all they know. "I don't know if I could do it," he said. "They have a need for long-term help. One of the biggest challenges is the language barrier. Most have no connections. They need food, shelter and jobs. They have children to take care of. I just can't imagine the PTSD they have. Our goal is to calm them down and help them get back on their feet." The world needs to do everything possible to help Ukraine fend off Russia's deadly attacks, he said. "Far be it from a priest to say more guns, but that's what we need to do ... that's hard for me to say; I'm praying for peace." Baum said the conflict brings up the age-old argument about the "just war theory." "What is just war? It is when innocent people are being knowingly abused," he said. "I don't want to live in a world where that's OK. Some Christians say things will be better on the other side. I believe God wants it better now. What makes it better is us doing something. They are real human beings that God loves, that are suffering. But God loves Russian soldiers, too." Baum said Easter is inextricably tied to hope. If he were to deliver an Easter Sunday message to the refugees, it would be that, "We're here to assure you that God loves you." Reach Charita at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com On Twitter: @cgoshayREP This article originally appeared on The Repository: Rev. George Baum of Massillon heads to Romania to assist war refugees Valerie Bertinelli is taking a trip down memory lane. The Hot in Cleveland alum, 61, shared a throwback photo on Friday of herself and three of her brothers on a family ski trip. "I miss our family ski vacays," Bertinelli wrote in the caption, celebrating Siblings Day early. RELATED: Valerie Bertinelli Says She's Given Up 'the Damn Scale': 'I'm Done Judging Myself' Bertinelli is the middle child of five. Tragically she never got to know one of her brothers. Bertinelli previously opened up to PEOPLE about her family suffering the loss of her older brother while her mom was pregnant with her. "When I came into the world, my mom was grieving," she said in 2020. "She was pregnant with me when my brother Mark died. He was only 17 months old," Bertinelli recalled. "He died in the most horrible way. They were visiting a friends' farm and he wandered off unsupervised and drank poison out of a bottle that wasn't supposed to have poison in it. It was a soda pop bottle." Valerie Bertinelli Dave Kotinsky/Getty Valerie Bertinelli The One Day at a Time actress didn't learn about her brother's death until she was a teenager. "The subject was too painful. My parents kept the tragedy locked inside," she explained. She developed a new understanding of her parents' loss years later when she returned to Delaware for her grandmother's funeral. "My grandmother was buried not far from Mark's grave," Bertinelli said. "I was holding Wolfie (her son with first husband Eddie Van Halen) who was 17 months old and thinking how did my mom survive?" she continued. "She had to keep going and I learned that from her. She had to carry on. She had a very hard life. She always tried to make the best of everything." RELATED VIDEO: Valerie Bertinelli on What Eddie Van Halen Would Think of Son Wolf's Nomination at 2022 Grammys Bertinelli appeared with Wolf, 31, at last weekend's 64th Grammy Awards, where he was up for best rock song. She told PEOPLE that Eddie, who died of cancer at age 65 in 2020, would be proud to see his son nominated. "There's only one other person that would be prouder than me. And that's pretty impossible, but it would be Ed," Bertinelli said. "I feel him so strongly right now. He's here with us. He is. I'm not gonna make you cry too, baby. But yeah. He's here. Thanks, Ed. It's fun." Job Ideas for Boomers Who Need More Work to Get Social Security Alabamas teachers arent teaching elementary students about gender identity or sexual orientation, state superintendent Eric Mackey said, but likely will need guidance on how to cut off classroom discussion if it does happen because it is now prohibited by a new law. That new law enacted and signed by Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey this week prohibits classroom instruction or discussion on gender identity or sexual orientation from grades K-5 that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate. That language was added to a bill that bans K-12 students from using bathrooms and school facilities inconsistent with biological sex. We dont have any standards that discuss gender identity or sexuality in K-5, Mackey said, and so we dont think [the law] has any impact on what were doing. But Mackey took issue with critics dubbing it the Dont Say Gay law. I think its kind of a misnomer, in my opinion, he said, to call it dont say gay because its also dont say straight. The new law will take effect before the start of next school year, allowing some time for teachers to learn what can and cannot be discussed, he added. I think it could create some tricky situations because lets say, for whatever reason, it comes up in a classroom, Mackey said. A child says I have two mommies, for example. If a teacher enters a discussion, or whether their personal belief might be pro- or anti-, that it doesnt matter what your personal belief is. The law says they cant introduce discussion on it. Another example Mackey shared is if a child wants to discuss a sermon the child heard where the preacher spoke against homosexuality. If the teacher engages in conversation with that child, Mackey said, theyre engaged in a classroom discussion. The teacher has violated the law. And thats what I mean by tricky situations. Teachers are going to have to know how to politely cut off discussion, without hurting a childs feelings. They dont know that thats a taboo subject. We teach all children who come to us, he added. We want every child to feel welcomed and loved and cared for at school, period. But how the teacher cuts off that conversation, in a professional way, is something that were going to have to think about. Mackey said teachers likely already have some experience redirecting or cutting off inappropriate conversations, particularly with older students. Mackey and the state board of education are charged with issuing rules to implement the new law. No civil or criminal penalties are required for teachers who violate the law. But, Mackey said, a teacher would be guilty of violating the teacher code of ethics if they violate the new law. Local boards of education should have policies on what to do if a teacher violates the teacher code of ethics, he said. Alabama Association of School Boards Executive Director Sally Smith told AL.com Thursday that prohibiting discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity shouldnt have an impact because those subjects arent taught in Alabama schools. However, she added, we are concerned that this amendment could make it even more difficult for school faculty to create safe environments for some students and families. Vic Wilson, executive director of Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools, said his organization will be working with the state department of education to make sure the law is implemented properly. Our principals around the state and our teachers will continue to educate and care for our students, he said. Mackey said he agreed with the idea that some topics are inappropriate for teachers to talk about with elementary-aged children. Its going to make some teachers have to ask, OK, where is the line? How do I respond to those kinds of questions or things that come up in the classroom? Teachers have always had to do this, this just may bring some of that to the forefront and make people a little bit nervous about figuring out where that gray area is. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. One of the largest exhibitions of Hieronymus Bosch in the past fifty years opened in Budapests Museum of Fine Arts on Friday. Original paintings by Bosch have come from Paris, Boston, Madrid, Berlin, Frankfurt and Rotterdam, President Janos Ader noted at the opening event. The exhibition also includes works by his contemporaries from the masters workshop, as well as illustrations, drawings and high-quality copies that can help viewers understand the artist. The ten original paintings on show in Budapest represent almost half of Boschs life work that have survived the centuries, Ader said. Museum of Fine Arts director Laszlo Baan said that the show was not only the largest ever Bosch exhibition in central Europe but globally one of the most significant Bosch exhibitions of recent decades. Nearly fifty prestigious public and private collections have lent works for the Budapest exhibition, he added. Larry Silver, an art historian and professor emeritus at University of Pennsylvania, told the event that the exhibition represented a milestone in Bosch research. It also includes painted manuscripts, drawings and sculptures that were possibly the basis of Boschs inventions, he added. The exhibition comprising a total of 90 works runs until July 17. Supporters of controversial state bills criminalizing gender-affirming medical treatments for transgender youth and banning trans kids from using school bathrooms of the gender they identify with hailed Gov. Kay Iveys signing of the legislation into law on Friday, saying the laws are about protecting children, not hate for the LGBTQ lifestyle, as critics claim. Were glad the governor did it, said A. Eric Johnston, an attorney who helped draft one of the bills and president of the Southeast Law Institute, which provides free legal services on protecting parental rights, among other issues. We know theres going to be litigation [challenging the laws] and were hopeful for a good outcome. Alabama House Speaker Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, said during an appearance Friday on Alabama Public Televisions Capitol Journal that the bills were not about hate. The priority in both of those issues was children, McCutcheon said when asked by host Todd Stacy if the tension during heated debate between lawmakers on the bills would spill over into future legislative sessions. Its not like it was an anti-gay movement .. or someone who doesnt like gays, it was more an issue with the children and how were going to handle this issue. McCutcheon said children should get to an age of accountability before undergoing a gender reassignment surgery or similar medical procedures. Rep. Charlotte Meadows, R-Montgomery, said she was surprised the bill regarding inappropriate school discussions needed to be passed. Alabama is an ultraconservative state, she said. It was kind of shocking to me that we actually needed to say that in legislation, that were not going to teach our kids at the early ages of their life how to become transgender, what it means to be gay, or anything like that. Meadows said she knew the banned topics, sexual orientation and gender identity, werent in state standards, but knows those conversations can happen anyway. If youve got a teacher with an agenda, she said, its really easy for them to bring their agenda into the classroom and to send it home with children at a very inappropriate and way too young age from what most parents would think. Just like we believe that religious education should be done at home, sex ed should be done at home until theres an age of accountability for children to really need to understand these things, Meadows said, adding, Im not saying get sex ed out of high school or middle school. In an email to supporters after both bills passed the legislature on the last day of the legislative session, the conservative Eagle Forum of Alabama called the gender-affirming treatments for trans children child abuse and said the treatments were harmful. Critics have dubbed the legislative package, which includes an amendment to the bathroom bill modeled after Floridas controversial Dont Say Gay law, which bars instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in Kindergarten through fifth grade, as anti-LGBTQ. Ivey was among supporters of the bill who said Dont Say Gay is a misnomer. Let me be clear to the media and opponents who like to incorrectly dub this the Dont Say Gay amendment: That is misleading, false and just plain wrong, the governor said in a statement after signing both bills. We dont need to be teaching young children about sex. We are talking about 5-year-olds for crying out loud. We need to focus on what matters core instruction like reading and math. American Family Association Action, the lobbying arm of the American Family Association an organization dedicated to advancing biblical, family values in society, applauded the legislature for passing the bathroom bill. This is a commonsense bill to protect the privacy rights of all students. HB 322 balances the rights of students to use the bathroom according to their biological sex while allowing other students to use single-occupancy bathrooms and locker rooms, said AFA Action CEO Walker Wildmon.Young girls dont feel safe anymore when they go to the bathroom at school. This is tragic, unhealthy, and bad for their education and self-esteem. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, in September 2021 started vehicle registration under the newly launched BH-series (Bharat-series) number plates for non-transport vehicles. The BH-series was introduced by the government to promote ease of mobility in the nation. As per MV Act, any vehicle owner shifting from one state to another requires to change number series from parent state (from which the vehicle has been bought) to the new state where the person has moved. However, for certain jobs, including Army personnel, central government officials among others are required to move from one state to another every 2-3 years, making it tedious to buy new number every time. To eliminate the same, BH series number plate have been introduced that does not require a new registration every time owner moves to another state. Also read: Honda offers massive discounts on City, Amaze and more in April 2022 What are the benefits of the BH series? Earlier, as per section 47 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, the owners were only allowed to keep their vehicle in another state (different from the ones they are registered in) for 12 months. After this period, the vehicle's registration was supposed to be transferred from the parent to the new state. The vehicle registered with a BH series doesn't require any transfer registration every time the owner moves. The number plate remains valid throughout the country. Apart from a seamless transfer of vehicles from one state to another and freeing vehicle owners from the hassle of the heavy paperwork for vehicle transfer, the BH series offers many other benefits. For instance, with the new number plate, vehicle owners are bound to pay just two years of road tax at a time, contrasted to 15 or 20 years (differing from state to state). In case someone fails to pay taxes after 2 years, the taxes start to accumulate by Rs 100 per day. How to get a BH series number plate? The process to get a BH series number plate is an online process. The vehicles can be registered online by the dealer at the time of purchase through the Vahan portal. After the registration process is completed, the vehicle owner will have their BH series number plate. What does a BH series number plate look like? The number plate will be the usual ones for private vehicles, with black text and white background. However, there will be a change in the format of the texts and numbers. Format- YY BH #### XX The BH series number plates will start with two numbers showing the year of first registration, followed by BH representing 'Bharat'. Later on, there are four randomly generated numbers on the number plate anywhere from 0000 to 9999, followed by two letters using all combinations 'AA' to 'ZZ'. However, the letters 'I' and 'O' are not used. Are there any changes in the taxation structure for the BH series? Indeed, the new BH series changes the taxation structure. As per the new taxation structure, if a vehicle has a value of less than ten lakh rupees, the owners ought to pay eight per cent road tax. However, if the vehicle costs between 10-20 lakh, the owner has to pay ten per cent road tax. Similarly, if the price of the vehicle is more than twenty lakh, the owners have to pay a twelve per cent road tax. The taxation also differs for different vehicles considering the power source. The vehicles having a diesel engine have an added tax of two per cent to their tax respective to the price categories. However, a vehicle with an electric engine saves the owner two per cent tax on their vehicle. Live TV #mute Arunachal Pradesh is ready to make aviation history on April 12 when light transport aircraft will be operating to promote regional connectivity in the northeast, Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said in a statement. The history will be created by Alliance Air when it will fly two of its first made-in-India Dornier 228 aircraft to Arunachal Pradesh on 12 April. The 17-seater non-pressurized Dornier 228 with an AC cabin capable of day and night operations. The light transport aircraft will facilitate regional connectivity in northeastern states. On Thursday, these two aircraft were handed over to Alliance Air. Speaking to ANI, Scindia said, "Alliance Air will initially be flying from Dibrugarh to Pasighat. In the next 15 to 20 days, it will fly to Tezu and then to Ziro. This is in the first phase. In the second phase, it will connect Vijaynagar, Mechuka and other places." Also read: Qantas to start direct flight between Sydney-Bengaluru from September 14, partners IndiGo "Taking forward the mission by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to have flight connectivity available for everyone by saying that the common man can now aspire to fly in an aircraft- Hawai Chappal to Hawai Jahaz... The flight connectivity has been designed for the northeast keeping this overarching thought in mind," he said. The Minister said the government is not only looking forward to connecting the northeast with other parts of the region as well as the country but also with international destinations around there through UDAN international in the coming days. "Practically, the northeastern region is the gateway to India from that side for those countries," he said. A lease agreement was signed between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Alliance Air Aviation Limited in September 2021 for the supply of two civil Dornier 228 aircraft. With inputs from ANI Live TV #mute An abandoned Boeing 737 has been parked in a field near a limestone mine in Bali's southernmost region, and no one knows how or where it came from. According to ATDB.aero, this Boeing 737-200 model was produced in October 1982, and Arkia Israeli Airlines began flying it in March of the following year, followed by Dan-Air London by the end of that year. Later, the twin-engine jet was retired from British Airways in November 1992 after almost a decade of service and was sold to Mandala Airlines, who purchased the 737-200 in March 1993 and renamed it PK-RII. The Jakarta-based Indonesian low-cost airline, now known as Tigerair Mandala, changed its name in 2011. Despite having been in business for three years, the airline was forced to close its doors in 2014 after its stockholders no longer wanted to support it. By this time, PK-RII had already gone out of business. Read also: Arunachal's light aircraft to be operational for regional connectivity, historical moment for state Mandala Airlines' 737-200 discontinued operations in November 2007, according to ATDB, however the precise date is unknown. According to ch-aviation.com, this occurred in February of 2008 and as it turned out, the well-travelled plane didn't wind up where it is today for many years. In March 2013, PK-RII was relocated to its current location, a decommissioned quarry. An Australia-based buyer has apparently come up with the idea of turning the jet into an amusement park. Even while PK-RII gets a lot of attention, it's unlikely to be the kind of tourist attraction the owner had in mind. Visitors are enthralled by the mystery of how the plane made its way into the pit. Putting it on a truck and driving it unobserved is not an option here. Rumour has it that the aircraft was dismantled and reconstructed in the quarry before the new owner ran out of money. The aircraft is protected by on-site security, however there are several viewing sites only a short distance away. It's not only PK-RII that's departed Bali's airport grounds, though, as one of the Boeing 737-300s is located in Kedonganan, next to a Dunkin' Donuts. Ex-Sriwijaya Air jet (registration PK-CKM) damaged beyond repair in Yogyakarta runway excursion disaster. "A guy from Jakarta named Arif" is said to be the owner of the plane, according to a Bali-based blog. In particular, Bali Arrangements reported in 2020: "In 2015, he purchased it in Jakarta, had it deconstructed, and then shipped it here in four cargo containers. Since then, it has been perched on a set of stilts. At some point in the future, it'll be transformed into a restaurant and a flying simulator. He has a 10-year lease on the property, but he needs an investor before he can begin the renovations to the aircraft." In addition to this, India is also home to a few aircraft that have been abandoned after making their final flight, including a Boeing 720 in Nagpur and a McDonnell Douglas MD-83 in Raipur SOURCE Live TV #mute New Delhi: This year, the auspicious festival of Ram Navami will be celebrated on April 10. After the 9-day long Chaitra Navratri celebrations (April 2-9), the birthday of Lord Rama also concludes the festivity. Lord Rama's birthday, also known as Ram Navami is revered across the globe and massively celebrated in different parts of the country. RAM NAVAMI IN SHIRDI TEMPLE OF SAI BABA: In the temple town of Shirdi, Maharashtra, Ram Navami holds utmost significance. It is believed that Shirdi Sai Baba took Mahasamadhi on the day of Vijayadashami or Dussehra. Therefore, during the Chaitra Navratri which falls in March-April, the Ram Navami day is celebrated as Baba's birthday and Sharad Navratri culminating on Dussehra is the day when Baba went Antardhyan. Both the days are massively observed in Shirdi Sai Baba's temple where devotees make a long queue just to get a glimpse and blessings of the lord. The name Sai was given to him by Mhalsapati upon his arrival in the temple town of Shirdi as not much is known about Sai's birth. According to Sai Satcharita, Baba came to Shirdi when he was only 16-year-old. It is believed that he came along with a man who was coming for a wedding to the place. Many believe that Baba's date of birth happens to be September 28, 1835. There is still no definitive date that can claim Baba's birthday. THE LEGEND OF RAM NAVAMI CELEBRATIONS: Baba's ardent follower named Gopalrao Gund was childless for a long time and finally was blessed with a son. To offer his thanks to Baba, seeking blessings for the newborn baby too, he took Baba's permission to organise a thanksgiving fair which coincided with Urus, a festival of Muslims in honour of a Sufi saint. As per Sai Charitra's book, the day for the Urus was fixed on Ram Navami, after having a consultation with Sai Baba. It seems he had some purpose behind this, viz. the unification of the two festivals, the Urus and the Ram Navami and the unification of the two communities the Hindus and the Mohammedens. As future events showed, this end or object was duly achieved. Gopalrao Gund had a friend by name Damu Anna Kasar of Ahmednagar. He also was similarly unhappy in the matter of progeny, though he had two wives. He too was blessed by Sai Baba with sons and Mr. Gund prevailed upon his friend to prepare and supply one flag for the procession of the fair. He also succeeded in inducing Mr. Nanasaheb Nimonkar to supply another flag. Both these flags were taken in procession through the village and finally, fixed at the two corners of the Masjid, which is called by Sai Baba as Dwarkamai. This is being done even now. SANDAL PROCESSION IN SHIRDI: An excerpt from Sai Charitra mentions: There was another procession which was started in this fair. The idea of Sandal procession originated with one Mr. Amir Shakkar Dalal, a Mohammeden Bhakta from Korhla. This procession is held in honour of great Muslim Saints. Sandal i.e. Chandan paste and scrappings are put in the Thali (flat dishes) with incense burning before them and carried in procession to the accompaniment of band and music through the village and then, after returning to the Masjid, the contents of the dishes are thrown on the Nimbar (niche) and walls of the Masjid. This work was managed by Mr. Amir Shakkar for the first three years and then afterwards, by his wife. So, on the same day the two processions, the Flags by the Hindus and Sandal by the Muslims, went on side by side and are still going on without any problem. Sai Baba made Dwarkamai masjid his abode and on Ram Navami day, flags are changed there. With many more legends and events which unfolded post this, according to Sai Charitra, from 1912, the Ram Navami festival was thus going on, the procession of the two flags by day and that of the Sandal by night, went off with the usual pomp and show. From this time onwards, the Urus of Baba was transformed into the Ram Navami festival. Therefore, to date on Ram Navami and Urus, Shirdi sees huge celebrations in place. Sai Baba of Shirdi is a spiritual figure worshipped across the globe. The saint or fakir of Shirdi has an ocean of devotees scattered in every corner of the world. Baba's teachings and learnings have travelled over the years and people irrespective of their religion have shown utmost faith in the Satguru. 'God Is One' was his motto and 'Sabka Malik Ek', Allah Malik favourite epigrams associated with Sai Baba of Shirdi. Happy Ram Navami and Shirdi Sai Baba birthday! The problems for Ola Electric scooters don't seem to come to an end. Earlier, we reported an incident with the Ola S1 Pro facing a glitch with its reverse mode feature. Now, the owner of the electric scooter described how his scooter switched to reverse mode leading to a crash. The incident was reported by a Twitter account named Agent Peenya, who described the whole incident in a thread. As per the reports, the owner of the scooter has been using the Ola S1 Pro for a week. Describing the incident, he said before the incident occurred, the scooter was parked. After taking the electric scooter out of the parking lot, the scooter switched to reverse mode on acceleration. Update: @OlaElectric 's regional service head Mr Arun Kumar called me. He acknowledged the issue I reported & explained in detail how the issue was reproducible & how they fixed it. They ensured that issue is fixed and that owners can ride it without any apprehension (1/n) https://t.co/japiApw8K2 Agent Peenya (@Themangofellow) April 6, 2022 Because of the sudden reverse acceleration, the rider fell off the scooter, damaging the scooter in the process. During this incident, the rider sustained minor injuries he described as scratches. Following the incident, the owner called Ola Electric's roadside assistance, which was answered after seven minutes of waiting time. Answering the SOS, the company said that the issue would be addressed in the next 2 hours. Also read: India-bound Kia EV6 spied testing in Hyderabad, launch soon The owner further said that even after the assurance of getting the issue addressed in 2 hours, the issue was not addressed even after 48 hours. Later on, the scooter Ola electric took the scooter and returned it after a week. At the time of delivery, the scratches on the body of the electric scooter were not repaired. As a result, the owner contacted the company once more, and customer service apologised. They claimed that his scooter was provided by mistake by the crew. Because everything has been outsourced, there is no communication between the various agencies. Finally, the scooter was returned to the owner, and Ola's staff stated that the problem had been resolved. In the latest update, the owner of the Ola S1 Pro tweeted, "@OlaElectric's regional service head Mr Arun Kumar called me. He acknowledged the issue I reported & explained in detail how the issue was reproducible & how they fixed it." He further added, "They ensured that the issue is fixed and that owners can ride it without any apprehension." Live TV #mute New Delhi: The buzz about Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt's marriage is high and now Alia Bhatt's brother Rahul Bhatt has confirmed the news by revealing that he is invited to the wedding. He said that the wedding is definitely happening and he will attend all the pre-wedding ceremonies as well. In an interview with ETimes, he said, "Yes, the wedding is happening and I have been invited. I will be there for the ceremonies. However, I am not going to sing and dance. I am a gym instructor by profession and I will be there in the capacity of a bouncer. I will be the rakshak at the wedding." Rahul, a gym instructor, also expressed his happiness for Alia and showered his blessings on her. "I am really happy to see what she has achieved at such a young age. She has got a great body of work and she has found fame, fortune and real love, which is non-existent in todays time. She has been blessed with everything because of her choices, the Almighty, the blessings of her parents and good karma. At the right age, she is making the right choices," he added. Reports suggest the wedding going to be a 4-day affair with D-Day taking place at RK's Bandra home, Vastu. The actress' mehendi ceremony will take place on April 13. The actors have not commented on the wedding but looks like the relatives have given out a few details. Now, a few reports also suggest that Ranbir and Alia will fly to South Africa for their honeymoon. Yes, no confirmation on this update but many fan pages are sharing it as excitement regarding Ranlia (as their fans fondly call them) is high. Earlier, Ranbir's mother Neetu Kapoor had hinted at her son's wedding. In a video posted by popular pap Viral Bhayani, a paparazzi can be heard saying, tareekh toh bata dijiye Neetu ji shaadi ki. She asks Kiski? He replied, RK sir ki. Neetu then said, Tareekh hai kuch? Bhagwan jaane." Later, another paparazzo asks Koi 14 April bol raha hai koi 15 April. Aap hi bata do, to which Neetu Kapoor replies to him by saying, "Main toh bol rahi hun ki ho gaya." Many prominent Bollywood celebrities are expected to grace the wedding. Their reception is said to be a lavish affair which will be attended by the likes of Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Aditya Chopra, Shah Rukh Khan, Ayan Mukerji, Aditya Roy Kapur, Arjun Kapoor, Karan Johar among others. Alia and Ranbir have been in a relationship for over three years now. The duo met on the sets of Ayan Mukerji's 'Brahmastra', and since then have been going strong. Buzz of them tying the knot surfaces on the internet every now and then. They often get papped together inspecting his construction site in Bandra. The bungalow is going to be Ranbirs new residence. This house is special for the Kapoors in many ways, as before Rishi Kapoor passed away, the veteran actor would often visit the construction site to check on the progress. New Delhi: The hustle-bustle in Bollywood gossip mills is high as one of the most loved couples - Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt are all set to tie the knot. Yes! According to latest India Today report, Alia's uncle has confirmed April 14 as the wedding date. And guess what it is going to be a 4-day affair with wedding taking place at RK's Bandra home, Vastu. The actress' mehendi ceremony will take place on April 13. The actors have not commented on the wedding but looks like the relatives have given out a few details. Now, a few reports also suggest that Ranbir and Alia will fly to South Africa for their honeymoon. Yes, no confirmation on this update but many fan pages are sharing it as excitement regarding Ranlia (as their fans fondly call them) is high. Recently, visuals of the actress's team checking the building area of Vastu at Pali Hill to security beefing up outside the venue surfaced online. Ranbir has booked a banquet hall at his residential complex for seven to eight days. Reportedly, the actor's bachelor party and other small functions are likely to be hosted in that hall. Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor made their relationship official by turning heads at Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja's wedding reception in Mumbai in 2018. They will be seen together on-screen for the first time in Ayan Mukerji's Brahmastra. Keep reading this space for all updates on Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt's wedding! Jammu Kashmir Police, along-with other security forces, have arrested two terrorist associates of proscribed terror outfit LeT in Budgam. Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition was recovered from their possession. Police official said, "Police in Budgam along-with 2RR & 179Bn CRPF have arrested two terrorist associates of proscribed terror outfit LeT from orchard area of Rathsun Beerwah, Budgam." Police identified the accused as Wajid Yousuf Akhoon and Mohammad Ashraf Sheikh. Incriminating materials of proscribed terror outfit LeT, arms and ammunition,. including one Chinese Pistol, 02 pistol magazines, 12 pistol rounds have been recovered from their possession. A case under relevant sections of law has been registered and investigation has been initiated. Officer said that more arrests can't be ruled out. It's pertained to mention that until now Security forces have managed to arrest 164 terrorist's associates of different terror outfits this year. New Delhi: A 21-year-old Indian boy studying in Canada was shot dead in Toronto on Thursday, Toronto Police said on Friday (April 8, 2022). The police informed that Kartik Vasudev was shot at the Glen Road entrance of Sherbourne Subway Station and had received medical attention by an off-duty paramedic. "The man had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was taken to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries," the police said in a statement. Homicide #19/2022, Sherbourne Subway Station, Kartik Vasudev, 21, https://t.co/1rje1tLTwH Toronto Police (@TorontoPolice) April 8, 2022 A first-semester Marketing Management student at Seneca College in Toronto, Kartik was reportedly shot and killed while he was on his way to the Mexican restaurant where he worked. The Seneca community is saddened to hear of the tragic death of Kartik Vasudev, a first-semester Marketing Management student. Our thoughts are with Mr. Vasudev's family, friends and classmates. Counselling support is being made available to students and employees. Seneca College (@SenecaCollege) April 8, 2022 Reacting to the news, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that he is "grieved by this tragic incident". "Deepest condolences to the family," he tweeted. The Indian Embassy in Toronto said that they are in touch with the family and will provide all possible assistance in early repatriation of mortal remains. Grieved by this tragic incident. Deepest condolences to the family. https://t.co/guG7xMwEMt Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 8, 2022 The student's family is said to be based in the Sahibabad area of Ghaziabad. Live TV Kolkata: Bizarre images of local train travels keep surfacing in India often. Recently, the image of a horse standing inside a crowded local train in West Bengal went viral. As per news reports, the photo was taken on a Sealdah-Diamond Harbour down local train. The Eastern Railways had ordered a probe after videos and photos of the incident went viral. While Zee News could not independently fact check the photo , according to a report in Hindu, the horse's owner was arrested by the Railway Police on Friday. Incidents of small cattle travelling on local trains are not unusual in India but the presence of a big horse took netizens by surprise. It is believed that the owner was returning with his horse after taking part in a race in Baruipur in Bengal's South 24 Parganas. News reports also say that co-passengers were unhappy and had protested against the presence of the horse in the train. But the owner didn't pay heed to protests and went ahead with their travel. Eklavya Chakraborty, the chief public relations officer of Eastern Railway, told the Hindu that a case has been registered "under sections 145, 146 and 151 of The Railway Act." No animal can be carried in this way in a passenger train. Animals can be moved from one place to another in a wagon, in compliance of certain rules. Cats and dogs can be taken on a passenger train, but only in AC first class, he was quoted by the Hindu. Live TV On long trips for a short time, Elvis Presley was our navigator. When I recall that, were in a sleek black 1960 Cadillac Biarritz convertible with red leather interior, blasting along a two-lane in the middle of nowhere America with no particular destination in mind. Im behind a steering wheel as large as a hula hoop with whats left of my hair whipping wildly; El is anachronistically clad in the black leather jumpsuit from the 68 Comeback Special and fighting a folding map from the Sinclair station while his midnight pompadour remained perfectly still in the wind. Whoa there, hoss, warns the Kang. Road hazard ahead. Thats how I remember it, but it wasnt that way at all. We were in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where wed flown to attend my nieces wedding. The flight cost more than expected, likely because who wants to go to Grand Rapids? We decided if wed gone all that way, wed see the sights, so we rented a car and planned a drive to Niagara Falls. Id rented a black SUV at the Grand Rapids airport, so the morning after the wedding, we headed out across Michigan to the Canadian border, then onto the Kings Highway to Niagara Falls. The Biarritz convertible was a late-model Nissan Pathfinder, and El was pointing the way as a disembodied voice from the Waze navigation app on my iPhone. Turn left up ahead, babymama The boy from Tupelo had successfully directed me all over Grand Rapids, and Id hoped hed keep us company on an interminable drive to Niagara Falls. But once you make it onto the ligature of southern Ontario between Lakes Huron and Erie, its straight, flat, and barren except for the towering windmills. Exits are few and far between, and are void of gas stations and fast food places, which is a problem for someone who constantly hydrates and wants a pit stop every couple of hours. So the Kang was relatively quiet during the slog across rural Canada. And I was dismayed to learn some time later that Elvis had left the vehicle entirely. It turns out that the Elvis navigation voice was a temporary feature of an otherwise spectacular directional app. We replaced El with Randy, a generic Midwestern voice thats informative without annoying us to death. Randy even knows his way around foreign cities. Wed spent some time in Montecatini Terme outside Florence, Italy, and had returned, flying into Milan and renting an Audi to drive into Tuscany. A womans voice on Google Maps had directed us through the Po River lowlands and across the mountainous stretch between Parma and Le Spezia, where we picked up the A11 toll road to Montecatini. Thats where the woman voicing Google Maps failed. I thought I knew how to get to the hotel, but the town looked different in the dead of night, and the Google womans idea of assistance was Turn north. Turn west. Now turn south. And you shake it all about. As it turns out, Google was sending us around and around the block beside the hotel; the street in front of the hotel had been turned into a piazza. I later discovered that Randy knew Montecatini. And he knew it in English, along with the street names, so goodbye Google. Sometimes, when the night is dark and Ive had too much caffeine, I lie awake and wonder how I became so dependent on navigational satellites to find my way around. I once had a keen innate sense of direction. Now I drive in circles around the block waiting for a disembodied voice to tell me when to stop. I still rely on Randy when Im in areas that arent familiar. But a couple of weeks ago in Amory, Mississippi, when wed visited a family resting place in a cemetery Id been to dozens of times, I found myself in unfamiliar territory. I hadnt noticed the street before, but it moved off to the right, between the two entrances to Haughton Cemetery on the left. I couldnt tell you whats on the street sign, but its a forgettable name for a short, memorable drive. It begins at the graveyard, a slow descent past the pulpwood mill into hairpin curves, then into a copse of pines along the waterway, and underneath a rusting trestle bridge where hulking locomotives drag their loads from Memphis and across the Tenn-Tom bound for Birmingham. It was like something out of a Springsteen song, and I was suddenly discombobulated. All I knew was that the waterway was on the left, which meant west, right? Or did it? I turned on Randy and tapped in the address to Bettyes brothers house in the woods, and hoped for the best. Surely Randy knew where Bob lives. I saw a building that looked familiar the fireworks stand a short piece from the Piggly Wiggly. But as the building drew closer, I saw it wasnt the fireworks stand. A sign over the door read, Wine Gallery. Now I was really confused. Amory is in a dry county. Thered be no wine gallery there; for wine, you have to drive over to Nettleton to the Short Street liquor store or out to Little Coontail Road to the Boom Boom Room. I was relieved to learn that we hadnt fallen through the looking glass and that I was where I thought I was. Monroe County had gone wet in the last election. But I wasnt completely reassured until I saw the sign for the road to Bettyes brothers house, and saw the checkered flag appear on the map on the dashboard screen. I longed to hear El one more time: Youve reached your destination, babymama. Thankyouvurrymuch. Bill Perkins is editorial page editor of the Dothan Eagle and can be reached at bperkins@dothaneagle.com or 334-712-7901. Support the work of Eagle journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at dothaneagle.com. 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. New Delhi: In a shocking incident reported in Bihars Aurangabad, six girls consumed poison after one of the girls marriage proposals was rejected by her lover, three of them have died, said an official on Saturday. According to police, one of the girls was involved in a one-sided affair with a man and consumed poison after her marriage proposal was rejected by the boy. other five girls also followed her actions. About the incident, Kantesh Kumar Mishra, SP of Aurangabad said: "One of the girls was in love with her brother`s brother-in-law. "On Friday, that girl along with five of her friends went to the boy and proposed marriage to him. The boy turned down her proposal after which they returned home. But the dejected girl consumed a poisonous substance in the evening. The five other girls who were following her also consumed the same, the officer added. The incident took place in a village that falls under the Kasma police station in Aurangabad. Three of the girls are stated to be "critical" in Gaya`s Magadh medical college. As per the police, the girls were immediately rushed to Aurangabad Sadar hospital where three of them succumbed, while the others were referred to Magadh medical college for better treatment in Gaya. Following the incident, the situation is tense in the village, where the Area Circle officers and SHO are camping to avoid any untoward incident. (With agency inputs) Live TV Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, on Saturday, shared a snap of him cooking `khichdi` to celebrate India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA). Morrison took to his Instagram handle and posted photos of the dishes he cooked for the curry night which were from Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s homeland Gujarat. In the caption, he wrote, "To celebrate our new trade agreement with India, the curries I chose to cook for curry night tonight are all from my dear friend Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s Gujurat province, including his favourite Khichdi. Jen, girls and mum all approve." In the first picture, the Australian PM could be seen posing for a selfie with `khichdi` being cooked on a stove in the background. The second image was a snap of the dishes he cooked for his curry night.ECTA is the first trade agreement of India with a developed country after more than a decade and provides for an institutional mechanism to improve trade between the two countries. Australia is the 17th largest trading partner of India and India is Australia`s 9th largest trading partner. The ECTA is expected to almost double the bilateral trade from USD 27.5 bn (2021) to about USD 45 to USD 50 Billion in the next five years. ECTA is expected to create new employment opportunities, raise living standards and enhance the overall welfare of the people of both countries. Additional employment generation is expected to be 10 lakhs within the next five years. Live TV Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti said that the BJP has been trying to destroy the economy of Jammu and Kashmir for the last three years while Prime Minister Narendra Modi is watching. Mufti was speaking to mediapersons after visiting the home of a recently martyred Jammu Kashmir policeman in Handwara, where she offered condolences to the slain cop's family. The former Chief Minister alleged that for the last three years, the ruling BJP has created a terrible atmosphere here as employees are being fired from their jobs. On the contrary, outsiders are being re-employed, she added. All this shows that efforts are being made to destroy our economy while the Prime Minister is watching the spectacle, " Mufti said. She said that those who speak the truth are being imprisoned and cited the arrest of journalists Sajjad Gul and Fahad Shah as an example. " Ordinary people can't even talk here, the PDP chief added. "If the situation in Kashmir is peaceful then why the number of troops in J&K is not decreasing with each passing day," Mufti said, adding that the search operations would also decrease but nothing positive is happening which clearly suggests that the situation is not peaceful at all. "Dangerous laws including PSA and UAPA are being used here. But I want to tell the central government that this is not going to last long," the former J&K CM said. Live TV New Delhi: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday (April 8, 2022) reacted to multiple schools in Bengaluru receiving bomb threats and said that there seems to be a 'conspiracy' to disturb peace in the state. Bommai stated that he has instructed police to take it seriously and to not take any chances. "Those behind (the hoax threat) will be arrested soon. All the necessary precautionary measures will be taken and a thorough investigation will be done...There is no need to worry," he said. Various private schools in the state capital on Friday received bomb threats via e-mail, following which City Police were rushed to the spots, along with a bomb disposal squad to carry out search operations, and the threats have turned out to be "hoax". The e-mail threats to schools read, "A very powerful bomb has been planted in your school, attention is not a joke, this is not a joke, a very powerful bomb has been planted in your school, immediately call the police and sappers, hundreds of lives may suffer, including yours, do not delay, now everything is only in your hands!" According to senior police officials, they have received information that at least five schools in the city received the bomb threat. Stating that bomb detection and disposal teams were also sent to schools that received threats separately, Additional Commissioner of Police Bengaluru (East) A Subramanyeswara Rao said, "Searches have been done at all the schools and no item that causes worry has been found." Investigating teams are probing the e-mail, Rao said. "We will find out at the earliest as to who is behind it and take necessary action," he said, adding that mails have come from different email ids and it will be investigated. Police officials said they have assured parents and teachers that there is no need to worry. Police evacuated schools that received the threat and parents were asked to come and pick up the children, they said, adding that it was also ensured that exams that were going on at a few schools, were not disturbed. Class 10 exams are currently on in the state. (With agency inputs) Live TV New Delhi: The Union health ministry has allowed precautionary, or booster, doses of Covid-19 vaccines for all adults from Sunday (April 10) at private vaccination centres. All those who are more than 18 years of age and have completed nine months after the administration of the second dose, would be eligible for precaution dose. This facility would be available in all private vaccination centres," said the ministry said in a statement. Adding an extra layer of safety! Precaution Dose to be available to 18+ age group from 10th April, 2022, at Private Vaccination Centres. All 18+ who have completed 9 months after administration of 2nd dose, would be eligible for Precaution Dose. https://t.co/NDs4AeprmB Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) April 8, 2022 The ministry also informed that over 2.4 crore precaution doses have also been administered to healthcare workers, frontline workers and those aged above 60 years, while 45 per cent in the 12-14 years age group have received the first vaccine dose. Who is eligible for the precautionary dose? If a person is 18 years or above, they are eligible to take the precautionary dose of vaccine against Covid-19. When to take the precautionary dose? The health ministry said that those who have completed 9 months after the administration of the second dose would be eligible for precaution dose at private vaccination centers. Which vaccine will be given as the precautionary dose? The individuals will be inoculated with the same Covid-19 vaccine as the first and the second dose as the mixing of vaccines is not allowed in the country. However, final guidelines on vaccinating all above 18 years are yet to be issued. How to book an appointment for the precautionary dose? The government on Saturday informed that the individuals are not required to register on the CoWIN portal again for the precaution dose as all due beneficiaries are already registered on CoWIN. What is the cost of the booster dose? According to the government statement, people will have to pay for their booster doses. Serum Institute of India (SII) CEO, Adar Poonawalla also informed that the precaution dose of its Covishield vaccine will be priced at Rs 600 plus taxes per shot. End-users will pay Rs 600 for the booster dose and the hospitals will get at discounted price, Poonawalla said in a statement. He also informed that once Covovax dose will cost Rs 900 plus taxes. Meanwhile, India had commenced administering precaution doses of Covid-19 vaccines to the healthcare and frontline workers and those aged 60 and above with comorbidities from January 10 this year. Later, the Center had allowed the booster dose for all those above 60. Live TV United Nations: With new coronavirus variants emerging every four months on average, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has cautioned that the Covid-19 pandemic is far from over as large outbreaks are spreading in Asia. Guterres also called for governments and pharma companies to work together to deliver vaccines to every person, everywhere. In a video message 'One World Protected - Break Covid Now' to the GAVI COVAX Advance Market Commitment Summit 2022, Guterres said Friday that the gathering is a critical reminder that the "Covid-19 pandemic is far from over." "We're seeing 1.5 million new cases each day. Large outbreaks are spreading in Asia. A new wave is sweeping across Europe," he said, adding that some countries are reporting their highest death rates since the start of the pandemic. He said the Omicron variant of the coronavirus is a "startling reminder" of how quickly Covid-19 can mutate and spread, especially in the absence of high vaccination coverage. While some high-income countries are preparing for their second booster doses, one-third of humanity remains unvaccinated, he rued. "This is a brutal indictment of our deeply unequal world. It's also a prime breeding ground for new variants, more deaths, and increased human and economic misery," he said. Guterres said the next variant is not a question of 'if' but of 'when.' "We are far from our target of every country reaching 70 per cent vaccination coverage by the middle of this year. And with new variants emerging every four months on average, time is of the essence," he said. He added that governments and pharmaceutical companies need to work together to deliver vaccines to every person, everywhere ? not just in wealthy countries. A new strain of the Covid-19 Omicron variant, first detected in the United Kingdom, appears to be more transmissible than previous strains of the virus, the World Health Organization (WHO) had said. WHO said last week that the XE recombinant (BA.1-BA.2), was first detected in the United Kingdom on January 19 and more than 600 sequences have been reported and confirmed since. "Early-day estimates indicate a community growth rate advantage of 10 per cent as compared to BA.2. However, this finding requires further confirmation," WHO had said. It added that XE belongs to the Omicron variant until significant differences in transmission and disease characteristics, including severity, may be reported. "WHO continues to closely monitor and assess the public health risk associated with recombinant variants, alongside other SARS-CoV-2 variants, and will provide updates as further evidence becomes available." The WHO Covid-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update issued this week said that after the increase observed during the first half of March 2022, the number of new Covid-19 cases has decreased for a second consecutive week, with a 16 per cent decline during the week of March 28 through April 3 as compared to the previous week. The number of new weekly deaths also decreased sharply (-43 per cent) as compared to the previous week, when an artificial spike in deaths was observed. Across the six WHO regions, over nine million new cases and over 26,000 new deaths were reported. All regions reported decreasing trends both in the number of new weekly cases and new weekly deaths. As of April 3, over 489 million cases and over 6 million deaths have been reported globally. At the country level, the highest number of new weekly cases were reported from South Korea (2,058,375 new cases; a decline of 16 per cent), Germany (1,371,270 new cases; a 13 per cent decrease), France (959,084 new cases; a 13 per cent increase), Vietnam (796,725 new cases; a 29 per cent decline), and Italy (486,695 new cases; a 3 per cent fall). The highest number of new weekly deaths were reported in the United States of America (4,435 new deaths; a 10 per cent decline), Russia (2,357 new deaths; an 18 per cent decline), South Korea (2,336 new deaths; a 5 per cent decline), Germany (1,592 new deaths; a 5 per cent rise) and Brazil (1,436 new deaths; a 19 per cent fall). Noting that the supply of Covid-19 vaccines is not the issue as manufacturers are producing 1.5 billion doses per month, Guterres said progress in achieving vaccine equity is possible but the window is closing fast. "This means countries fulfilling and accelerating dose-sharing and donation commitments to COVAX with better quality of supply. And it means having strong national vaccine-delivery systems at the ready, including efforts to counter disinformation and get vaccines into arms." He called on countries to commit new funding for the ACT-Accelerator and COVAX this year. The COVAX Facility is the global pooled procurement mechanism for Covid-19 vaccines through which COVAX seeks to ensure fair and equitable access to vaccines for all 190 participating economies, using an allocation framework formulated by WHO. Live TV New Delhi: The XE variant of Covid-19, a more infectious variety, has been found in Gujarat. The new variant was found in a patient who had tested positive for the virus a month ago, the additional chief secretary of the states health department said. Covid-19 XE variant was detected in a 67-year-old Gujarat man, who had tested positive on March 12. The Gujarat resident had travelled from Mumbai to Vadodara and had tested positive for the virus upon arrival. "A man from Santa Cruz in Mumbai, had tested positive for Covid-19 on March 12 during his visit to Vadodara. His wife was accompanying him," Medical Officer of Health, Vadodara Municipal Corporation, Devesh Patel said. As per the results of his sample's genome sequencing received yesterday, he is found to have been infected with the new mutant XE, a sub-variant of Omicron, he said. "He was found positive on March 12. His sample was sent for genome sequencing. As per the result, declared yesterday, he was found infected with a new mutant XE variant," he said. "He had provided local address of his relatives for his sample. He had returned to Mumbai on his own soon after. No further status of the patient is known to the local authorities," Patel added. The XE variant is a recombinant of BA.1 and BA.2, the sub-lineages of SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes Covid-19. In addition to those, it has three other mutations which were not there in Omicron or BA.1 or BA.2. "That is why it is called XE. It will now be a variant," Rakesh Mishra, Director of the Tata Institute of Genetics and Society, Bengaluru, told PTI. ALSO READ | Fourth wave scare! XE variant of Covid-19 in India? All we know about new variant and its symptoms Meanwhile, Rajeev Jayadevan, Co-Chairman National IMA COVID task force, on Thursday said that going by the trends so far, there is nothing surprising about the discovery of the new XE variant. XE variant is a slightly tuned-up version of Omicron, not an all-new variant. Jayadevan said the XE variant is the combination of BA.1 and BA.2 where X stands for Recombinant Type and E is the sequence of its discovery. Mutation and recombination are techniques used by viruses to become fitter. (With agency inputs) Live TV New Delhi: Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) is looking to fill 1,625 vacancies of Junior Technician in the organisation. The interested and eligible candidates can apply online through the official website of ECIL at www.ecil.co.in. The application process has been commenced on April 1 and the last date for the submission of the application is April 11. ECIL recruitment 2022: Vacancy details Total vacancies- 1625 Electronics Mechanic- 814 Electrician- 184 Fitter- 627 ECIL recruitment 2022: Age limit Candidates' age should not exceed 30 years as of March 31. ECIL recruitment 2022: Direct link to apply ECIL recruitment: How to apply Step 1. Visit the official website of ECIL at www.ecil.co.in Step 2. Click on the career tab then on e- recruitment on the homepage Step 3. Click on Click here to apply for Junior Technician on Contract positions against Advt. No. 13/2022 link Step 4. Click on the Apply and fill the application form Step 5. Submit the form and take print out for future reference Live TV New Delhi: The genomic analysis of the COVID-19 XE variant sample from Gujarat is still underway and results are expected soon, Union health ministry sources said on Saturday (April 9, 2022). The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a warning against XE, a new variant of Omicron first detected in the UK, and suggested that it could be more transmissible than any COVID-19 strain so far. The XE variant is a combination or recombinant of both sub-variants -- BA.1 and BA.2 -- of Omicron. Gujarat reported its first case of the XE variant after a man from Mumbai tested positive for COVID-19 during his visit to Vadodara, a state official said. Earlier to this, Mumbai civic body officials had said that a woman who had arrived from South Africa in February-end and tested positive in March has been infected by the XE variant, but the health ministry has not confirmed it to be so. The ministry on Wednesday evening said that present evidence does not yet indicate that it is a case of the XE variant. "Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) experts examined the FastQ files of the sample and have inferred that the genomic composition of this variant which infected the Mumbai woman does not correspond with the genomic composition of the XE variant," an official source had said, adding that INSACOG is conducting a genomic analysis of the Mumbai sample. The sources said that genomic analysis of the XE variant sample from Gujarat is underway and results are expected soon. Medical Officer of Health, Vadodara Municipal Corporation, Devesh Patel said that "a man from Santa Cruz in Mumbai, had tested positive for COVID-19 on March 12 during his visit to Vadodara. His wife was accompanying him". According to the results of his sample's genome sequencing received on Friday, he is found to have been infected with the new mutant XE, a sub-variant of Omicron, he said. The man had visited Vadodara due to some work and stayed at a hotel. After developing fever, he got himself tested for COVID-19 at a private lab, the result of which came positive, Patel said. "He was found positive on March 12. His sample was sent for genome sequencing. As per the result, declared yesterday, he was found infected with a new mutant XE variant," he said. He had provided local address of his relatives for his sample and returned to Mumbai on his own soon after. No further status of the patient is known to local authorities, Patel added. Live TV After the country's first case of coronavirus variant XE was reported in Mumbai, the Gurugram district health department has issued directions for the private and government health facilities to monitor the newly reported Covid cases here. Although no cases of the new variant have been reported yet, Gurugram Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Virender Yadav has issued an advisory to all the concerned officials and authorities about the new variant. The health officials said that the department has prepared an action plan to deal with the new variant. An intensive screening campaign will be run in crowded places and the private health facilities will have to update the department if they find any suspicious case of the new variant. The officials said that the new mutant may be more transmissible than any strain of Covid. "We have directed the private health facilities to keep a watch on patients who had foreign travel history and immediately inform the health department. Rapid antigen probe will be emphasised. Necessary directions have been issued to the concerned authorities," Yadav told IANS. All government and private hospitals have been instructed to take necessary steps to prevent Covid infections, Yadav added. On Friday, the city reported 61 new Covid cases which has increased the total number of active cases in Gurugram to 270. The health department said fewer people are now using face masks which is another reason for the rise in cases. On April 2, the Haryana government had lifted its mask mandate in public spaces and government offices. Live TV Wealth of Vietnam's richest rose during pandemic Most Vietnamese in the 2022 Forbes global billionaires list saw their wealth increase amid the Covid-19 pandemic last year. (From L), front row: Thaco Group Chairman Tran Ba Duong, Masan Group Chairman Nguyen Dang Quang, Hoa Phat Group Chairman Tran Dinh Long; Nova Group chairman Bui Thanh Nhon; second row: Vietjet CEO Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, Techcombank chairman Ho Hung Anh; back: Vingroup Chairman Pham Nhat Vuong. Graphic by VnExpress/Ta Lu The list features seven of them, the highest ever, including one woman and six men with a collective net worth of $21.2 billion. Nova Group chairman Bui Thanh Nhon broke into it for the first time. The rest saw their worth remain unchanged or increase except for Vingroup chairman Pham Nhat Vuong. Tran Dinh Long, 61, chairman of steel giant Hoa Phat, made it into the top 1,000 for the first time after his wealth increased by US$1 billion over the last year. Long had the highest net worth growth of all Vietnamese billionaires. With a net worth of $3.2 billion, he is currently Vietnams second richest after surpassing Vietjet Air CEO Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao. It had topped $4 billion last October after the Hoa Phat stock peaked at VND60,000 ($2.62), but the price fell by 25 percent at the end of last year, tracking the 30 percent decline in steel prices in China, the worlds top producer. His net worth then declined to around $3 billion, but as of March 11, when Forbes measured peoples wealth, the share (HPG) had rallied to VND50,000. Hoa Phat saw its post-tax profit go up 2.5 times to VND34.52 trillion last year, 92 percent higher than its target. New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department's (IMD) Twitter account was hacked on Saturday (April 9). It remains unclear who was behind the hacking. This comes as IMD's account is generating traction for updates and forecasts on the heatwave in parts of the country. #UPDATE | Our Twitter account has been hacked, we are trying to restore it: India Meteorological Department's Director-General Mrutyunjay Mahapatra to ANI (File pic) pic.twitter.com/dyCXFun9Jk ANI (@ANI) April 9, 2022 India Meteorological Department's Director-General Mrutyunjay Mahapatra told ANI, Our Twitter account has been hacked, we are trying to restore it. The hacker posted a malicious link, saying that they have opened up an airdrop to all active NFT traders in the community for the next 2 hours! Earlier today, Yogi Adityanath's Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister`s Office (CMO) Twitter account was hacked briefly and its profile picture changed to a cartoonist monkey. A case was registered at the Cyber Crime police station in Lucknow following the incident. "The account was hacked for around 29 minutes at night. The hackers posted around 400-500 tweets, and the account was suspended on grounds of unnatural activity," a senior official told PTI. The Uttar Pradesh government said in a tweet in Hindi, "There was an attempt by anti-social elements to hack the official Twitter account of the Chief Minister's Office @CMOfficeUP at 12.30 am on April 9. Some tweets were posted by them which were recovered immediately." "Strictest action will be taken against those responsible for this after an investigation of the case by cyber experts", it said. (With agency inputs) Live TV New Delhi: India and the United States announced that they will hold their next 2+2 dialogue on Sunday (April 11, 2022). US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J Austin III will welcome Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in an enhanced honour cordon ceremony at the Pentagon. The two countries are set to hold the 2+2 dialogue between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and their respective American counterparts on Sunday. "The Dialogue would enable both sides to undertake a comprehensive review of cross-cutting issues in the India-US bilateral agenda related to foreign policy, defence and security with the objective of providing strategic guidance and a vision for further consolidating the relationship," a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement said. "The 2+2 Dialogue will also provide an opportunity to exchange views about important regional and global developments and how we can work together to address issues of common interest and concern," the statement added. The US State Department also issued a statement on the same and informed that Secretary of State Antony J Blinken and Secretary of Defense will welcome their Indian counterparts in Washington DC on Sunday. "The 2+2 Ministerial is an important opportunity to advance our shared objectives across the breadth of the US-India Strategic Partnership, including enhancing our people-to-people ties and education cooperation, building diverse, resilient supply chains for critical and emerging technology, scaling up our climate action and public health cooperation, and developing a trade and investment partnership to increase prosperity for working families in both countries," the US statement had said. US also stated that the dialogue will also be a chance to highlight the growing major defence partnership between the US and India. "The relationship between the world`s largest democracies is built on a foundation of common values and resilient democratic institutions, and the shared Indo-Pacific interests of a rules-based international order that safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity, uphold human rights and expands regional and global peace and prosperity, said US State Department. Additionally, EAM Jaishankar will also meet his counterpart, Secretary of State Blinken separately. The External Affairs Minister, who will be visiting the US on April 11-12, is also scheduled to meet senior members of the US administration to advance India-US strategic global partnership. Ahead of the 2+2 dialogue, Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday spoke with EAM Jaishankar on a phone call to review regional and global priorities, including the situation in Ukraine. The last 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue between the two countries was held in October 2020 in New Delhi. India and the United States held a bilateral 2+2 inter-sessional meeting in September last year in Washington and exchanged assessments on developments in South Asia, the Indo-Pacific region and the Western Indian Ocean. (With ANI inputs) Live TV Out of 47, 24 students of the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar tested COVID-19 positive on Saturday. Block Medical Officer (BMO) Hazratbal in a letter to the Head of the Department, Social and Preventive Medicine GMC Srinagar informed that the students tested positive in a Rapid antigen test (RAT) on Saturday. "This is to inform that 24 cases have been Rapid antigen test (RAT) tested for COVID-19 positive while testing today at NIT out of 47 students. It is requested to kindly take up the matter with the concerned authorities for necessary declaration of MCZ," the letter states. Live TV Srinagar: A Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander was killed in an encounter with security forces in the Sirhama area of Anantnag district in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday (April 9, 2022) morning. Inspector-General of Police, Vijay Kumar informed that the LeT commander has been identified as Nisar Dar. The internet has also been snapped in some parts of Anantnag for precautionary measures, the police said. According to the police, the encounter broke out early in the day between the security forces and the terrorists, and a search is still going on in the Sirhama area of Anantnag. "#Encounter has started at Sirhama area of #Anantnag. Police and security forces are on the job. The Internet has been snapped in some parts of Anantnag for precautionary measures. Further details shall follow. @JmuKmrPolice," Kashmir Zone Police tweeted. A police official said that a joint team of Police, Army and CRPF launched a cordon and search operation on specific input about the presence of terrorists in the village. The joint searching party cordoned the suspected spot, exchange of begun which was retaliated and an encounter started, he added. It's pertinent to mention this is the 33rd encounter since January this year. Earlier in 32 encounters Security forces managed to kill 44 terrorists. Besides 26 active terrorists who have been arrested, over 160 terrorist associates are also arrested while 18 youngsters joined terror outfit's ranks this year. Live TV As protests rise over Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement that Hindi should be accepted as an alternative to English and not to local languages, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday said the move to impose Hindi cannot be accepted. Speaking at a seminar on Centre-State relations, organised by the CPI(M) as part of its 23rd Party Congress, Vijayan said India is a country known for its unity in diversity and the Sangh Parivar's agenda was not to recognise this diversity. Presiding over the 37th meeting of the Parliamentary Official Language Committee, Shah had on Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided that the medium of running the government is the official language and this will definitely increase the importance of Hindi. "India is a country which is known for its unity in diversity. The idea itself means accepting diversity. Our Constitution has also given importance to many languages in India. Most of the states were formed on the basis of language after a long struggle. The Sangh Parivar agenda is not to recognise diversity and federalism of our country. It's part of their agenda to weaken the regional languages," Vijayan said. He said languages are the basis of culture and life of each society and this diversity will be destroyed if a language is killed. "Such moves will create dangerous situations in the country. Hindi was used as part of the national movement and in that sense it is considered as a national-level language and that's why we have implemented the three-language courses in Kerala schools. However, imposing Hindi and destroying regional languages cannot be accepted. It will hamper the unity and integrity of the nation," Vijayan said. Kerala schools have three-language courses implemented with Malayalam, Hindi and English languages. Vijayan said recently, there was a demand for 'one nation, one language' during the celebration of Hindi Divas. "Similarly, in the draft of the New Education Policy, they tried to make Hindi a must language," Vijayan said. Prominent southern political parties have criticised Shah's statement on Hindi. Vijayan made these statements while inaugurating the seminar in which his Tamil Nadu counterpart MK Stalin was also present. (News sourced from PTI) Live TV A city council in the Scottish city of Glasgow has voted to repatriate seven historic artefacts stolen from India, in what has been dubbed the largest single repatriation of items ever from Scotland and the first repatriation of antiquities to India from any UK museum service. Glasgow City Council had received a formal request from the Indian High Commission in London earlier this year for the return of six architectural antiquities from Kanpur, Gwalior and Bihar. A further request made by Jaspreet Singh Sukhija, First Secretary of Trade at the High Commission, last month was for a 14th century ceremonial sword or talwar and scabbard from the Deccan region. The antiquities have been requested by the High Commission of India, on behalf of the Government of India and Archaeological Services India as they are part of India's historic heritage, notes a council report from earlier this week. Archaeological Services India has advised that these items fall under the category of Antiquities, under India's domestic legislation and are therefore part of India's historic heritage. These items are of cultural, historical and religious importance to the people of India as a whole and were illicitly removed from India, it reads. According to the information available, six of the artefacts were stolen from Hindu temples and shrines in different states in India during the 19th century, while the sword was illegally purchased as a result of theft from the owner, sold and smuggled out of India. All seven items were subsequently gifted to the city's museum collection, the report notes. Glasgow Life Museums has since held consultations with Sukhija and the Indian government has agreed to meet the full cost of the return of the artefacts to India. Delighted that all councillors supported the recommendations at committee today, said Councillor David McDonald, a trustee of Glasgow Life which manages the city's museums, in a Twitter statement on Thursday. Today's agreement represents the largest single repatriation of items ever from Scotland and the first repatriation of antiquities to India from any UK museum service, he said. Museums Galleries Scotland, the development body for Scotland's museums and galleries, welcomed the council's decision, which also involves the return of artefacts to Nigeria and the Cheyenne River and Oglala Lakota Sioux Tribes. The return of these items is a significant, positive step which reflects the ongoing work that Glasgow is undertaking to redress the wrongful removal of cultural artefacts from their originating communities, the organisation said in a statement. Live TV New Delhi: Amid reports of communal violence and friction coming in from parts of the country and a social media feed full of hate posts, a Gujarat Temple has chosen the alternate way of brotherhood and love. To celebrate the holy month of Ramzan, in Gujarats Dalvana village, a historic Hindu temple opened its gates and arms for fasting Muslim also called rozedaars so that they can break their fast on Fridays (Jumma), reported The Indian Express. According to the report, some 100 Muslim rozedaars of the village were given an invitation to offer Maghrib Namaz (Jumma Namaz) and break their day-long fast during Ramzan inside the premises of a 1,200-year-old temple holding great social and religious significance for the people of Dalvana. Pankaj Thakar, the temple priest said that this is the first time that the doors of the temple were opened for Muslims, The Indian Express report read. This year, the temple trust and gram panchayat decided to invite the Muslim rozedaars to our temple premises to break their fast. We arranged for five to six types of fruits, dates and sherbet for over 100 Muslim rozedaars of our village. I personally welcomed the Maulana sahib of our local mosque today, The Indian Express quoted priest Thakar as saying. As per the Muslim people of the village, the place and villagers live in absolute harmony and every festival, irrespective of the religion and community is celebrated with equal fervour, as per the report. Ramazan or Ramadan is the most important and revered holy month in the Islamic calendar. The preachers fast the entire day without food and even water and then break the fast at the time of Iftari. The holy month ends with Id-Ul-Fitr also called eid when the rozedaars celebrate by wearing new clothes and offering sweets and other delicacies to each other. Live TV Agra: 'Gayatri Mantra' and 'Mahamrityunjay mantra' will be played in jails to bring a positive attitude among the prisoners, Uttar Pradesh Prisons Minister on Friday said. "In the prisons of the state 'Gayatri Mantra' and 'Mahamrityunjay Mantra' will be played to bring positive change among the inmates, especially for those who regret their crimes," Minister of State for Prisons and Homeguards Dharamvir Prajapati told PTI news agency. "There would be sermons of 'saints' for prisoners. The aim of the initiative is to have inmates a positive attitude and so that when they are released they become good persons," he said. "We have directed the jail officials to provide a list of inmates good in art and craft. We will provide those inmates with modern training to enhance their skills. Besides, we will also showcase their artwork outside jails," said Prajapati. He also said that 136 prisoners who were not able to pay fines ordered by the court were released from jails with the help of social workers on the foundation day of the BJP. Live TV Leh: One person was rescued and at least six others were believed trapped after an under-construction bridge collapsed in Nubra sub-division of Leh district on Saturday evening, officials said. Ladakh Lt Governor R K Mathur is closely monitoring the rescue operation and has ordered an inquiry into the incident, the officials said. They said a section of the under-construction Shatse Takna bridge near village Diskit collapsed suddenly. "The under-construction bridge which was being launched could not withstand the strong gusty winds that swept the Ladakh region this evening," an official spokesman said. He said one labourer working on the bridge has been rescued and is under medical attention. His condition is said to be stable. "It is feared that another five to six people are stuck under the fallen bridge, and the administration is making every effort to rescue them at the earliest," the spokesman said. He said the rescue operations are being supervised by Sub Divisional Magistrate Lakshya Singhal on the spot, along with other officials who are keeping an eye on the progress of the rescue operations. Operational support has been mobilised from the local 102 Brigade of the Army, project Vijayak of Border Roads Organisation, and the Air Force Station, Leh, the spokesman said. The Indian Air Force has been called in for air evacuation of the rescued to Leh, he said. Ambulances and other medical facilities have been mobilised to check up on those rescued, the spokesman said. Mathur has assured every help to the affected persons in the accident, especially the labourers working on the bridge construction, said the spokesman. Live TV Gorakhpur: After casting vote in the elections for the members of the Legislative Council, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after almost four decades will attain a majority in the Upper House. "After almost four decades, a ruling party will attain a majority in the Legislative Council. Anti-land-mafia task force is taking back encroached land from the mafias. We won`t raze shanties of poor on encroached land until we rehabilitate them," said Yogi Adityanath in Gorakhpur. The polling for 36 Legislative Council seats spread across 35 local authorities constituencies is underway on Saturday. Of the 100-member Legislative Council, the BJP currently has 34 MLCs, the Samajwadi Party (SP) has 17 seats and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has four members. The Congress, Apna Dal (Sonelal), the Nishad party and Nirdal Samooh have one member each in the House. The elections for the Legislative Council are taking place a month after the BJP retained the power in the state for the second time by bagging 273 seats along with its allies in the Assembly polls. The biennial polls were earlier scheduled to be held in two phases on March 3 for 29 constituencies and March 7 for six constituencies but they were later rescheduled keeping in view of the Assembly polls in the state, held in seven phases. The counting of votes will take place on April 12. Live TV More than 50 people sit in front of Thu Duc Citys Social Insurance Agency at 4 a.m. on Friday so that they could be served first when the office opens at 7:30 a.m. They came to register to exit the social insurance scheme and withdraw the accumulated premiums they and their employers had paid. The condition for employees to withdraw the accumulated premiums is that they have been unemployed for a year and paid social insurance premiums for less than 20 years. Since early April, the withdrawal demand has surged across HCMC, causing overload at almost all social insurance agencies in town, prompting people to show up as early as they could to be the first in line. New Delhi: Super-talented star, Nushrratt Bharuccha is quite busy these days. Incidentally, on Friday (April 8), she had her film release for 'Hurdang' and first shooting for another upcoming film. So, Nushrratt took to her social media and shared a picture from the first shoot of her upcoming film while marking the moment as the release date of 'Hurdang'. She further mentioned in the picture, adding a #BLESSED emoji - "One film released today, a new one begins today." Her latest film Hurdang features her, Sunny Kaushal and Vijay Sharma in titular roles. The plot revolves around the student agitation of 1990 in Allahabad. The romantic-drama is directed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhat and produced by Shailesh R Singh. On the work front, Nushrratt will be next seen in Ram Setu, Janhit Mein Jaari, Chhorii 2, and Selfiee. New Delhi: Model-actress Lisa Haydon who welcomed her daughter last year recently shared adorable clicks with her little girl as they enjoyed their time on the beach. The actress who resides in Hong Kong took to Instagram on Saturday to give fans a glimpse of her happy, beach-day with her daughter. Although, Lisa's daughter was in the frame, she made sure to cover her face with an emoji to not reveal her identity on social media. In the pictures, Lisa was seen wearing an off-shoulder, white bikini and carrying her daughter in her arms and a coconut in her hand. Take a look at her post: Actress Evelyn Sharma commented on the post saying, "Oh my god shes so big now." Stylist Anaita Shroff also commented on the pictures with a heart emoji. Lisa's real name is Elisabeth Marie Haydon, who had a successful modelling career before making her acting debut in the 2010 release 'Aisha'. Her act in Kangana Ranaut starrer 'Queen' garnered her praise and recognition. She was also seen in 'Housefull 3' and 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil'. The tall and talented Lisa got married to Dino Lalvani in October 2016. The couple is blessed with two boys - Zack and Leo and a daughter Lara. In May 2017, Zack was born and in February 2020, Lisa gave birth to their second son named Leo and in 2021, she welcomed her daughter Lara. New Delhi: Actor-model Malaika Arora, who recently sustained minor injuries after she met with an accident, says she is recovering and will return to work soon. Last week, Arora met with an accident near Khopoli on Mumbai-Pune Expressway and was admitted to a hospital and kept under observation. She came home the same day. On Saturday, the 48-year-old actor shared a lengthy note on Instagram, thanking all those who took care of her and prayed for her well-being. She said moments like these are not 'epiphanies but strong reminders' that one must always offer gratitude to those, who shower love and good wishes, especially at a time when it is most needed. "A big heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you for being there making sure I come out of this with renewed vigour. I'm now on my road to recovery and I assure you, I'm a fighter and I'll be back before you know it!," Arora wrote. SEE HER POST: She said the last few days and the events that unfolded have been quite "unbelievable". "Thinking about it in retrospect feels like a scene from a film and not something that actually happened," she added. The actor expressed gratitude to her own staff, doctors, family and friends for all their care and support. "Thankfully, immediately after the accident, I felt like I was enveloped with the care from so many guardian angels - be it my staff, the people who helped me reach the hospital, my family who stood by me throughout this ordeal and the amazing hospital staff. My doctors ensure my safety in the most caring way possible at every step." "They made me feel safe and secure instantly and I am so very grateful for that. And finally, ofcourse the love that came in from my friends, family, my team and my Insta fam was just so reassuring," she wrote. Arora's partner actor Arjun Kapoor, sister Amrita Arora, friend Kareena Kapoor, had visited her this week. Mumbai: Actor Priyanka Chopra has urged world leaders to stand up and deal with the "humanitarian and refugee crisis" emerging out of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Chopra, who is the goodwill ambassador of UNICEF, took to her Instagram on Friday and posted a video, appealing to the world leaders to support the crisis in Eastern Europe and asked for action to be taken to help the displaced people from Ukraine. "World leaders, this is a direct appeal to you. We need you to answer the call from activists and advocates working to support the humanitarian and refugee crisis that we are watching unfold every day in Eastern Europe. We need you to take immediate action to help the displaced people from Ukraine, and all around the world,? she said. Chopra stated that more than two million children have been forced to leave everything behind in search of safety in the neighbouring countries. "Together with 2.5 million children internally displaced inside Ukraine, it's one of the fastest, largest large-scale displacements of children since World War II. These numbers are staggering,? she said. The actor believes the traumatic experiences of the war will forever be etched into the memories of many youths. "None of these children will ever be the same again after what they have seen and what they have experienced,? she said. "So the leaders of the UK, Germany, Japan, Norway, and Australia, when you meet to decide how much funding you will give to support humanitarian aid, will you stand up for refugees everywhere? Will you contribute the billions they need," she added. On a concluding note, Chopra asked her fans and followers to support the cause. ?I'm asking everyone who sees this video to please amplify this call. Post yourself, share a video from an activist or share this video, so that our leaders know we need the world to stand up and support refugees. This is the largest refugee crisis we have seen as human beings,? she said. Earlier, Chopra in the month of February had dubbed the Russian military attack on Ukraine as "terrifying" and said it was difficult to understand how the situation had escalated to a "catastrophic point". New Delhi: Popular YouTuber Lilly Singh aka Superwoman first disclosed being bisexual in 2019. She is quite famous globally and has a massive fan following. She even authored a book titled "How to Be a Bawse: A Guide to Conquering Life" which was published in 2017. In an interview with Vogue, Lilly Singh shared her experience of using a dating application. "The first time I messaged a girl on a dating app, I called her sis. I literally had to stop and chastise myself and be like No. Bad. I'm getting better at it but navigating this new realm of flirting is still a work in progress." A big part of it was learning how to flirt with girls, which is something I'd never done before, she laughs. I downloaded dating apps for the first time; I messaged girls for the first time. It was strange because I was used to having girls as friends and now the whole dynamic had changed. "I don't want to get my nails done with someone I could potentially date. I don't want to get dressed, drink and dance with them the way I do with my female friends. I don't want to do my eyeliner in the mirror with them; it makes me want to die." Earlier this year, she was admitted to a hospital after being diagnosed with ovarian cysts. She shared the news on Instagram. On the work front, Singh has penned a new book titled "Be a Triangle: How I Went from Being Lost to Getting My Life into Shape", which captured her personal journey. New Delhi: If you plan to visit Kedarnath or any other holy places in the Char Dham Yatra, you can now get real-time weather updates and alerts on the official app developed by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board. The app will also come in handy for pilgrims visiting the Hemkund Sahib in Uttrakhands Joshimath region. Every year, millions of pilgrims complete the Char Dham Yatra or visit popular religious places such as the Hemkund Sahib. However, the unruly weather in high altitude places of Uttrakhand has become a major challenge for pilgrims. The newly developed app will now help pilgrims in planning their travel. Pilgrims will receive weather updates from the meteorological department on the app. Weather-related alerts and other notifications related to the conditions of roads and risks will also be updated on the app. The 'Tourist Care System' mobile app developed by the state tourism board will aid pilgrims visiting Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri, or the famous Sikh shrine of Hemkund Sahib, which is located near another popular tourist destination the Valley of Flowers. Tourism Secretary Dilip Jawalkar said that once a user installs the app, the department will keep tracking their movements. 28 high definition cameras set up at 14 pre-identified points spread across the travel route will help the department in keeping a tab on the movements of travellers, Jawalkar added. Jawalkar also noted that the app will work only on Android phones. If users dont have Android phones, pilgrims will be provided with a wristband that will be connected with a Tourist Care System App. Also Read: Big update from Google! You will soon be able to self-repair Pixel phones at home The department will receive relevant information from the app or the wristband. The information will be processed 247 at a control room at the UTDB headquarters, Jawalkar was quoted as saying in a Mint report. Also Read: Vivo Y21G with 5,000 mAh battery, reverse charging feature launched in India: Price, specs Live TV #mute Islamabad: Maryam Nawaz Sharif, vice president of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), said that if Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan likes India so much then he should go back and leave Pakistan. While giving the example set by former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee`s resignation as per the Indian Constitution at a time when his government failed to win a confidence vote in the Lok Sabha (India`s lower house) by a single vote, Maryam hit out at Imran`s "planning and plotting". Maryam slammed Imran Khan, calling him a "Psychopath" while asserting that he must not be allowed to take the nation down. Taking to Twitter, Maryam wrote, "One person who is not in his senses anymore cannot be allowed to wreak havoc & bring the entire country down. This is not a joke. He should not be treated as PM or ex-PM, he must be treated as a PSYCHOPATH who just to save his own skin is holding the entire country hostage. Shame." One person who is not in his senses anymore cannot be allowed to wreak havoc & bring the entire country down. This is not a joke. He should not be treated as PM or ex PM, he must be treated as a PSYCHOPATH who just to save his own skin is holding the entire country hostage. Shame Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) April 9, 2022 Imran Khan was conspicuous by his absence in the National Assembly, which commenced its proceedings on Saturday to take up the no-confidence motion under the direction of the Supreme Court. The no-confidence motion is listed fourth on the day`s agenda of the National Assembly. While the Opposition has come out in full force, very few members of the treasury benches were seen in attendance. Prime Minister Imran Khan was also not present in the House, reported Geo News. Taking the floor, the leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif hailed Thursday (April 7) as a historic day when the apex court rejected the Deputy Speaker`s ruling to reject the no-confidence motion. According to the PML-N leader, the SC decision had made Pakistan`s future "bright", reported Geo News. He also thanked the Opposition leaders for leading protests against the erroneous ruling of the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly. He called upon the National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser to conduct proceedings in accordance with the SC`s directives, stating that Parliament would be writing history today. "Today, Parliament is going to defeat a selected prime minister in a Constitutional manner," he declared. Shehbaz urged the Speaker to let bygones be bygones and to stand for the law and the Constitution. He urged the Speaker to play his role and get his name "written in history in golden words". "You must cash in on this moment with conviction and with your heart and mind. Don`t act on the dictation of the selected Prime Minister," he urged Qaiser, adding that the apex court`s directives were clear. Responding to Shehbaz`s earnest plea, Qaiser assured the Opposition leader that he would conduct proceedings according to the law and the Constitution. "[But] the important thing is that there has been talk of an international conspiracy. This should also be discussed," he said, as the hall echoed with protests from the Opposition benches. This prompted Shehbaz Sherif to tell the Qaiser that he would be violating the court`s directives if he would go down that road (foreign conspiracy). He also read out the court`s directives regarding the convening of the session of the National Assembly. "Under the court`s directives, you are bound to take up this agenda item and no other items. That is the intent of the order and you cannot deviate from it," he said, calling on the Speaker to hold voting on the motion forthwith. "The SC`s orders will be followed in true letter and spirit," Qaiser replied, giving the floor to Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, reported Geo News. After what can perhaps be called the longest week in Pakistani politics in recent history, the National Assembly session to decide the fate of Prime Minister Imran Khan is currently underway. National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser is chairing the session which began at 10:30 am sharp, in accordance with the Supreme Court`s directives. Lawmakers began arriving at Parliament House ahead of the session while television footage showed tight security arrangements in place in the capital. The united Opposition also held a meeting of its Parliamentary group that was chaired by PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and attended by 176 lawmakers, reported Geo News. The Opposition needs the support of at least 172 lawmakers from a total of 342 to oust the premier through the no-confidence motion. Despite the impression that the PTI has lost its majority in the Lower House, the ruling party is still adamant that it would not leave the field open for the Opposition and has vowed to make things as difficult for them as they can by creating hurdles in the voting procedure and also preventing the election of Opposition nominee Shehbaz Sharif as the new leader of the House. Ahead of the session, on Friday, PM Imran had presided over a meeting of the party`s parliamentary group. Meanwhile, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has said the government would present the "threatening" cable -- purportedly containing evidence of a foreign plot against the government -- or its contents in the Assembly and will ask the Speaker for a debate on the issue. The joint Opposition, primarily the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and the PPP, had submitted the no-confidence motion against the premier with the NA Secretariat on March 8. Live TV New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is facing political turmoil, addressed the nation on Friday a day ahead of the crucial no-trust motion against him. In his emotional speech, Khan mentioned India several times and said that he received tremendous love from the country. The leader, who nearly escaped the no-confidence motion last week, has once again raised the foreign conspiracy allegation and said that the Supreme Court verdict upset him. Here are some top quotes from Imran Khans speech last night Pakistan should learn from India, it has self-respect. No foreign power can dictate terms to India, said Imran Khan adding that no superpower could raise a word even when India refused to take sides in the Russia-Ukraine war. India got free with Pakistan only, I have several friends in the country and this, I know the nation very well. I got huge respect and love in India, said Khan as he broke down adding that the strained relationship between India-Pak pains him. Indians have tremendous self-respect. No one can dictate them, no once can pressurise or hamper their foreign policies, said Khan. I am not against any country, but I am not ready to sell my people to the superpowers. I will continue to fight against terrorism and injustice, said Khan. Your country's sovereignty is in your own hands. You need to protect it. If you don't take a stand, whoever comes to power in future, will check if any superpower is angry., he added An American representative said that if Imran Khan escapes the no-confidence motion, Pakistan will have to bear the consequences but if Imran Khan is ousted from power, only then will the US forgive Pakistan, said Khan once again persisted with his charge of an American conspiracy behind his political crisis. They are against me because I speak against the injustice of Iraq war, Afghanistan war, terror attacks, said Khan. I am upset with the Supreme Court's verdict. I was upset because when the Deputy Speaker conducted the probe, the Supreme Court should have investigated it and then taken a decision, said Khan. Imran Khan, who nearly escaped the no-trust vote last week, will face the same on Saturday after a Supreme Court verdict said that quashing of no-confidence motion and dissolution of the National Army was unconstitutional. Live TV New Delhi: Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the daughter of the former prime minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif, on Friday (April 8, 2022) slammed Imran Khan after he hailed India as 'khuddar quam'. Maryam, also the vice president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), told the Pakistan PM to leave the country and move to India if he "likes it so much". "Someone should tell a person who is going crazy after seeing this power gone that he has been expelled by his own party and no one else. If you like India so much then shift there and leave Pakistan," she said after Khan lauded his neighbour as "khuddar quam" (very self-respecting people). "This is the first time I have seen someone crying for power like this," she said ahead of a no-confidence vote against Imran Khan in Pakistan Parliament. Khan, in an address to the nation ahead of the no-trust motion against him, had said that no superpower can dictate terms to India and had admitted that both New Delhi and Islamabad do not share a good relationship. "Indians are khuddar quam (very self-respecting people). No superpower can dictate terms to India," he said on Friday and added that he is "disappointed" that only due to RSS ideology and what is done with Kashmir, Pakistan doesn't have a good relation. Raising the foreign hand charge again, Imran Khan said both India and Pakistan got their independence together but Islamabad gets used as tissue paper and thrown away by the hand of foreign forces. My address to the Nation https://t.co/sa2L2BZxjv Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 8, 2022 It is notable that the Imran Khan government suffered a setback on Thursday as Pakistan Supreme Court set aside the ruling of the Deputy Speaker in which he had rejected the no-confidence motion brought by the opposition. The apex court set aside the dissolution of the Pakistan National Assembly and all the subsequent decisions are taken. The Supreme Court also gave directions for holding the sitting of the National Assembly on April 9 for the no-trust vote against Khan. (With agency inputs) Live TV Islamabad: The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday filed a review petition against the Supreme Court`s verdict setting aside the National Assembly Deputy Speaker`s rejection of the no-trust motion against Imran Khan, reported local media. The petition, filed against the April 7, 2022 verdict by the apex court, seeks a review of the ruling given by the five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, ARY News reported. According to the sources, the development came after Imran Khan finalized his consultations with legal experts over the matter. The government will plead for suspension of the verdict and for the National Assembly to be allowed to function according to the rules, reported the media outlet citing the sources. Notably, in the wake of the apex court`s decision, Imran Khan chaired a meeting of senior party leaders and legal experts ahead of a National Assembly session for the vote on the no-confidence motion. He also had a telephonic conversation with National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser to discuss the strategy for the voting on the no-trust motion. Meanwhile, the National Assembly secretariat has made it clear to the speaker that violating the apex court`s decision to hold voting on the no-trust move will lead to contempt of court proceedings. The secretariat officials have conveyed that implementation of the Supreme Court`s decision is unavoidable, reported the media outlet citing the sources."We have conveyed to the speaker that there is no way except voting on the no-trust move today. If there will be no voting then it will be tantamount to contempt of court," the media outlet quoted the officials as saying. The Supreme Court had on Thursday ordered the incumbent government to face the no-confidence motion on Saturday. The court had turned down the ruling of the Deputy Speaker to reject the no-confidence motion. The top court`s directives came after Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial took suo motu cognisance of Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri`s ruling and the subsequent dissolution of the National Assembly, declaring all the decisions unconstitutional. The court also fixed the Saturday session with the conditions that the session cannot be prorogued unless the motion is voted upon, and in case Imran Khan loses the no-trust vote, the next PM has to be elected in the same session. Live TV Spring Creek Association Committee of Architecture is scheduled to meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 11, at the SCA headquarters at 401 Fairway Blvd. The board will conduct a second reading of changes to the enforcement of COA rules and regulations, and to changes in requirements for inoperative or unlicensed vehicles. Also to be discussed are new COA rules for home occupations, and the Association has also scheduled a Community Meeting at 7 p.m. April 26 for additional discussion and public input. A draft of the proposal is posted on the SCA website. Also on Mondays COA agenda are home occupation applications for Five Little Monkeys Daycare LLC at 307 Lakeport Drive and Four Stones Farm at 860 Eastlake Drive. Elko City Council will meet in regular session at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, in Elko City Hall. The council will consider signing a Letter of Understanding with the county and the Boys and Girls Club for the construction of a community recreation/events center, including payment of $400,000 per year to the club for operating the center. Following the rejection of two previous air transportation agreement proposals with SkyWest Airlines, the council will consider a revised agreement proposed by SkyWest at a maximum one-year liability of $950,000 to the City of Elko. The council will also consider dispersing a portion of its $500,000 fund to aid small businesses impacted by the COVID pandemic, and designation of $126,600 to the Elko Institute of Academic Achievement. Elko County School District Board of Trustees meets at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, in the board room at 850 Elm St. Agenda items include possible approval of a superintendent contract for Clayton Anderson, review of the tentative budget for 2022-23, and the declaration of several staff positions as critical need positions retroactive for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years. Spring Creek Association has scheduled four candidate forums from 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, at the Sage Elementary School gym. Candidates for Elko County sheriff and county commissioner will speak from 6-7:30 p.m. Candidates for justice of the peace and Nevada Assembly will speak from 7:30-9 p.m. The event will be preceded by a meet and greet from 5:30-6 p.m. Elko Television District board will meet in regular session at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, in the Elko County Commissioners Room, 540 Court St. The board will consider capital projects including a new 60-foot tower and generator in Ryndon, and possible action on increasing the presence of the TV District in Elko County. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Islamabad (Pakistan): As the political drama continues in Pakistan and fate of Imran Khan hangs in balance, Shehbaz Sharif, the longest-serving Chief Minister of Pakistan's Punjab province, is poised to become the next Prime Minister of Pakistan. Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday urged the Speaker to carry out the proceedings of the House according to the norms of the Constitution. So who is Shehbaz Sharif? Here are some key points on the man who can very well helm the nation soon: Shehbaz Sharif is the younger brother of Nawaz Sharif, who has been Pakistan's prime minister for three terms. Born on September 23, 1951 to a Punjabi-speaking family of Mian clan in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, Shehbazs father was an industrialist. The family had emigrated from Anantnag in Kashmir for business and then settled in Jati Umra village in Amritsar. After Partition, his parents migrated from Amritsar to Lahore. He did his BA from Lahore's Government College University. Shehbaz has been the leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly since August 2018. Shehbaz was nominated as the PML-N president after his brother Nawaz was disqualified from holding office. A businessman by profession, Shehbaz's political journey began after he was elected to the Provincial Assembly of Punjab in the 1988 general election. He became the chief minister for the first time in 1997 of Punjab, a politically important province of Pakistan. But a 1999 military coup deposed the national government, forcing Shehbaz and his family to spend years in self-exile in Saudi Arabia. Shehbaz returned to Pakistan only in 2007. In 2013, he was elected as the CM of Punjab and served his term until the 2018 general elections, when his party was defeated in general elections. In 2019, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) seized 23 of his properties, accusing him and his son, Hamza Sharif, of money laundering. He and his family members were accused of accumulating assets worth Rs 7,328 million. In September 2020, the NAB arrested him at the Lahore high court and indicted him on charges of money laundering. In April 2021, the Lahore high court released him on bail. Sharif has been slamming Imran Khan. The Leader of the Opposition in Pakistan even likened Prime Minister Imran Khan to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, terming his decisions to dissolve the National Assembly and reject the vote of no-confidence against him as an unconstitutional power-grab. "Nazi Hitler prevailed to dissolve the Reichstag (German Parliament) and thereby solidified his position by abrogating the Constitution and ending the Weimar Republic- Imran Niazi is doing the same in Pakistan," the PML-N president had said. Meanwhile, Imran Khan has continued to take jibes at Sharif reportedly for his prime ministerial ambition. Check out LIVE updates from Pakistan's Parliament session where Imran Khan is facing no-trust vote Live TV Kyiv: Ukraine is ready for a tough battle with Russian forces amassing in the east of the country, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday, and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson paid him a visit to offer fresh financial and military aid. Johnson was the latest foreign leader to visit Kyiv after Russian forces pulled back from areas to the north of the capital just over a week ago. His visit was not previously announced. Earlier in the day, the Ukrainian leader met Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer in Kyiv, warning in a joint news conference that while the threat to the capital has receded, it is gaining in the east. "Yes, (Russian) forces are gathering in the east (of Ukraine)," Zelenskiy said. "This will be a hard battle, we believe in this fight and our victory. We are ready to simultaneously fight and look for diplomatic ways to put an end to this war," Zelenskiy added. Air-raid sirens sounded in cities across eastern Ukraine, which has become the focus of Russian military action after a withdrawal from areas close to Kyiv. Ukrainian officials have urged civilians in the east to flee. On Friday, officials said more than 50 people were killed in a missile strike on a train station in the Donetsk region city of Kramatorsk, where thousands of people had gathered to evacuate. Russia`s invasion, which began on Feb. 24, has forced around a quarter of the population of 44 million to leave their homes, turned cities into rubble and killed or injured thousands. The civilian casualties have triggered a wave of international condemnation, in particular over deaths in the town of Bucha, a town to the northwest of Kyiv that until last week was occupied by Russian forces. "We will never forget everything we saw here, this will stay with us for our whole lives," said Bohdan Zubchuk, a community policeman in the town, describing his life before and after the war. Russia has denied targetting civilians in what it calls a "special operation" to demilitarise and "denazify" its southern neighbour. Ukraine and Western nations have dismissed this as a baseless pretext for war. Johnson tweeted that he met Zelenskiy to set out a package of financial and military aid to show "our commitment to his country`s struggle against Russia`s barbaric campaign." FIFTY TWO DIE AT STATION Friday`s missile attack at the station in Kramatorsk, a hub for civilians fleeing the east, left shreds of blood-stained clothes, toys and damaged luggage strewn across the station`s platform. City Mayor Oleksander Honcharenko, who estimated 4,000 people were gathered there at the time, said on Saturday that the death toll had risen to least 52. Russia`s defence ministry denied responsibility, saying in a statement the missiles that struck the station were used only by Ukraine`s military and that Russia`s armed forces had no targets assigned in Kramatorsk on Friday. Russian state television described the attack as a "bloody provocation" by Ukraine. In Washington, a senior defence official said the United States did not accept the Russian denial and believed Russian forces had fired a short-range ballistic missile in the attack. Reuters was unable to verify the details of attack. Honcharenko said he expected just 50,000-60,000 of Kramatorsk`s population of 220,000 population to remain within a week or two as people flee the violence. The Ukrainian military says Moscow is preparing for a thrust to try to gain full control of the Donbas regions of Donetsk and Luhansk that have been partly held by Moscow-backed separatists since 2014. Air attacks are likely to increase in the south and east as Russia seeks to establish a land bridge between Crimea - which Moscow annexed in 2014 - and the Donbas but Ukrainian forces are thwarting the advance, the British Defence Ministry said in an intelligence update. Russia`s military said on Saturday it had destroyed an ammunition depot at the Myrhorod Air Base in central-eastern Ukraine. FOREIGN LEADERS VISIT Johnson and Nehammer visited Ukraine a day after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen - visits aimed at underlining the West`s support for Zelenskiy. Von der Leyen said on Saturday the European Commission will pledge 1 billion euros to support Ukraine and countries receiving refugees fleeing the war. Earlier, she said Russian forces appeared to have committed war crimes by targeting civilians in Ukraine, but she said lawyers must investigate the alleged incidents. A forensics team began exhuming a mass grave on Friday containing the bodies of civilians who local officials say were killed while Russians occupied the town. The Kremlin has repeatedly rejected accusations it has committed war crimes and has called allegations that its forces executed civilians in Bucha a "monstrous forgery". The visits by foreign leaders and an announcement by Italy that it intends to re-open its embassy in Kyiv later this month were a fresh sign that the city is returning to some degree of normality. Some Ukrainians have also begun returning to the capital, with cafes and restaurants reopening. The EU on Friday overcame some divisions to adopt new sweeping sanctions against Russia, including bans on the import of coal, wood, chemicals and other products. Oil and gas imports from Russia so far remain untouched. Zelenskiy urged the West on Friday to do more. At the news conference with Nehammer, he said he understood the sanctions could cause financial losses for the countries imposing them. "Nevertheless, there are countries which aren`t afraid of those important decisions. I am aware of Austria`s support in this issue," he said, again calling for weapons from "our partners". Live TV Ukraine: Ukraine called for more weapons and harsher sanctions after it blamed Russia for a missile attack that killed at least 52 people at a train station packed with women, children and the elderly fleeing the threat of a Russian offensive in the east. President Volodymyr Zelensky called the strike in Kramatorsk in the eastern region of Donetsk a deliberate attack on civilians. The city`s mayor estimated about 4,000 people were gathered there at the time. The United States, the European Union and Britain condemned the incident which took place on the same day European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Kyiv to show solidarity and accelerate Ukraine`s membership process. "We expect a firm global response to this war crime," Zelensky said in a video posted late on Friday. "Any delay in providing... weapons to Ukraine, any refusals, can only mean the politicians in question want to help the Russian leadership more than us," he said, calling for an energy embargo and all Russian banks to be cut off from the global system. Regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said the station was hit by a Tochka U short-range ballistic missile containing cluster munitions, which explode in mid-air, spraying small lethal bomblets over a wider area. Reuters was unable to verify what happened in Kramatorsk. Moscow`s more than six-week long incursion has seen over 4 million people flee abroad, killed or injured thousands, left a quarter of the population homeless and turned cities into rubble as it drags on for longer than Russia expected. Cluster munitions are banned under a 2008 convention. Russia has not signed it but has previously denied using such armaments in Ukraine. In Washington, a senior defense official said the United States was "not buying the denial by the Russians that they weren`t responsible", and believed Russian forces had fired a short-range ballistic missile in the attack. The Russian defence ministry was quoted by RIA news agency as saying the missiles said to have struck the station were used only by Ukraine`s military and that Russia`s armed forces had no targets assigned in Kramatorsk on Friday. Moscow has denied targeting civilians since President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion on Feb. 24 in what Russia calls a "special military operation" to demilitarise and "denazify" its neighbour. Kyiv and Western supporters call that a pretext for an unprovoked invasion. Ukrainian officials now expect an attempt by Russian forces to gain full control of Donetsk and neighbouring Luhansk, both partly held by Moscow-backed separatists since 2014. The Kremlin said on Friday the "special operation" could end in the "foreseeable future" with its aims being achieved through work by the Russian military and peace negotiators. The White House said it would support attempts to investigate the attack in Kramatorsk, which Britain`s Prime Minister Boris Johnson said showed "the depths to which Putin`s vaunted army has sunk." At least 52 people have now died in the incident, according to Pavlo Kirilenko, head of the Donetsk regional military administration. OIL AND GAS The wreckage of the missile bore the words "(this is) for the children" on its side. Russia has for years accused Ukraine of killing civilians including children with strikes in separatist-held eastern Ukraine. As Russia concentrates on the east, Ukrainian forces there said late on Friday that they had repelled seven Russian attacks, destroying nine tanks, seven other armored vehicles and two helicopters. Reuters could not independently verify that. Following a partial Russian pullback near Kyiv, a forensics team on Friday began exhuming a mass grave in the town of Bucha. Authorities say hundreds of dead civilians have been found there. Russia has called allegations that its forces executed civilians in Bucha a "monstrous forgery" aimed at denigrating its army and justifying more sanctions. Visiting the town on Friday, von der Leyen said it had witnessed the "unthinkable". She later handed Zelensky a questionnaire forming a starting point for the EU to decide on membership, telling him: "It will not as usual be a matter of years to form this opinion but I think a matter of weeks." The bloc also overcame some divisions to adopt new sanctions, including bans on the import of coal, wood, chemicals and other products alongside the freezing of EU assets belonging to Putin`s daughters and more oligarchs. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said a potential oil ban would be discussed on Monday, but called oil sanctions "a big elephant in the room" as the continent is heavily reliant on Russian energy. The United States on Friday broadened its export curbs against Russia and ally Belarus, restricting access to imports of items such as fertilizer and pipe valves. RECOVERING FROM OCCUPATION Kyiv wants deliveries of heavier armaments and on Thursday secured a new commitment from the NATO alliance to supply a wide range of weapons. Slovakia has donated its S-300 air defence system to Ukraine, while Britain will send a further 100 million pounds ($130 million) of military support. In Prague, defence sources said the Czech Republic had delivered tanks, rocket launchers, howitzers and infantry fighting vehicles and would ship more. Residents of areas north of Kyiv were meanwhile still coming to terms with a month-long occupation. In the village of Yahidne, residents recounted how more than 300 people were trapped for weeks in a school basement, with names of those who did not survive or were killed by soldiers scrawled on the wall. Reuters was not able to verify independently the accounts. Reporters saw one freshly dug grave and two bodies wrapped in white plastic sheets. Live TV Washington: The United States would prefer India to move away from its long-term history of non-alignment G77 partnership with Russia, the Biden Administration has told lawmakers, observing that there is a great opportunity for defence trade with India. America's relationship with India is a very critical one, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman told members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee during a Congressional hearing early this week. They are the largest democracy in the world. We have a strong defence relationship with them. They are part of the Quad, with Australia and Japan, and we are moving forward on many achievements that are critical to Indo-Pacific prosperity and security, she said. We, obviously, would prefer that India move away from their long-term history of non-alignment G77 partnership with Russia, Sherman said in response to a question from Congressman Tim Burchett. The United States, she said, has told Indians that it will be very hard for them now to get spare parts or to get them replaced from Russia because of the sanctions. They have increased their defence relationship with us, defence sales, and co-production efforts. And I think this is a great opportunity for that to surge in the years ahead, she said. I'm wondering, will India's neutrality in Russia's war on Ukraine and the country's general friendship with Russia have any effect on our policy towards India US policy towards India, I guess I should say, Burchett, asked. Congressman Joe Wilson also asked about India's position in Ukraine. The world's largest democracy should be standing firm with the other democracies, he said. We're in a conflict that has been identified by President Biden as totalitarianism against democracies. And so, either we stand for democracy's rule of law or we'll be facing around the world destabilization by governments that are the rule of the gun, he said. And so, how can we make an effort to replace the oil that India depends on and the military equipment that they depend on from Putin This is just so illogical for the extraordinary country of India, the wonderful people of India, to be overlooking abstaining. That's incredible. That's such an insult to the people of India, Wilson said. America's relationship with India, the world's largest democracy, is critical in so many areas, Sherman said. We have had very direct conversations with them about how we can address their very legitimate needs for their country, she added. I think that there's progress being made to see what we can do to be supportive to them, while, at the same time, urging them to be more forthright regarding what's happening in Ukraine, Sherman said. I did note that they made comments, not surprising, about the horrors that have taken place in Bucha. And so, I think we just have to keep working at this relationship and understanding the complexity of it, and helping to support India to really understand what is in their national security interests, said the top American diplomat. Live TV Sarybay noted his wish at a meeting with President Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Hanoi on April 8, which also saw the attendance of representatives from the Embassy of Kazakhstan. President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (right) receives Ambassador Kairat Sarybay, Executive Director of the Secretariat of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measure in Asia (CICA), in Hanoi on April 8. (Photo: VNA) Sarybay, a Kazakh diplomat, said leaders and people of Kazakhstan have admired late President Ho Chi Minh as well as Vietnams struggle for national liberation in the past and its socio-economic reforms. On this occasion, Sarybay handed over a letter of Kazakh President Kassym Jomart Tokayev to President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, inviting the Vietnamese leader to attend the sixth CICA Summit, slated for October 2022 in Kazakhstan. At the meeting, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc stressed that peace, security and development in the region and the world are of significance, and all countries need to make every effort to contribute to enhancing cooperation in economy, trade, investment and the fight against global challenges, especially climate change, diseases, terrorism and cross-border crime. He also called on CICA to carry forward its operational principles, including those on respecting sovereignty, territorial integrity and equality, respecting each other; not using or threatening to use force; peacefully settling disputes; not intervening into internal affairs; promoting multilateral cooperation; and observing international law and the United Nations Charter. Since its inception 30 years ago, CICA has developed strongly, becoming a major forum on enhancing dialogue, consolidating strategic trust, and strengthening collaboration between member countries for peace, cooperation and prosperity in Asia, the President emphasised. He suggested CICA support the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)s and Vietnams stance to ensure peace, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea and address disputes through peaceful measures in accordance with international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the UN Charter. Vietnam consistently pursues a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, being a responsible member of the international community, actively joining CICA activities and working to promote cooperation in economy, trade, agriculture, tourism and environmental protection between member countries, he affirmed. President Nguyen Xuan Phuc noted his belief that the sixth CICA Summit will be a success, pledging that the Vietnamese delegation will attend the summit with the most active and practical contributions. The President asked Sarybay to convey his greetings and sentiments to leaders and people of Kazakhstan, and lauded the good friendship and cooperation between the two countries, with two-way trade last year doubling the figure in 2020. He also commended Kazakhstan, which is one of the founding members of CICA, for its significant contributions to the forum's development over the past time./. Participants said Japan has high demand for agricultural products, seafood and processed foods; while Vietnam has competitive advantages in these areas. Vietnamese lychees are sold at AEON Lake Town supermarket in Saitama, Japan. (Source: VNA) Vietnam and Japan are both members of four bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements the Vietnam-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (VJEPA), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the ASEAN - Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). In order to penetrate deeper into the Japanese market, Vietnamese enterprises need to research and produce goods suitable to the tastes of Japanese consumers, advised Ta Minh Duc, Trade Counselor at the Vietnam Trade Office in Japan. The packaging needs to be eye-catching and the labels must provide adequate information, he added. Duc recommended Vietnamese exporters to pay attention to Japans strict requirements for product quality and food safety, as well the verification of their Japanese partners profiles. Quyen Thi Thuy Ha, head of the offices branch in Osaka, said language is a barrier for Vietnamese businesses which needs to be overcome. She suggested Vietnamese firms build their profiles in both Japanese and English and launch their own websites to advertise their products. Japan is currently Vietnams 4th largest export partner and 3rd largest import partner. Between 2012 and 2021, import and export turnover increased from 24.7 billion USD to 42.8 billion USD. Vietnam's agricultural, aquatic and food products are available on the shelves of major supermarket chains in Japan, such as AEON, Donkihote and Itoyokado. The number of Vietnamese people living in Japan has also increased rapidly in recent years to nearly 500,000 in 2021./. At the meeting (Photo: VNA) At the virtual meeting on April 8, participating countries lauded positive results posted in the first two years of implementing the ASEAN-Australia Plan of Action for 2020-2024. All 127 action lines of the plan have been conducted. Australia affirmed its support for the blocs central role in the maintenance of peace, security, stability, and development in the region; and for its community-building efforts. Australia also pledged to actively cooperate with ASEAN through mechanisms led by the group. For their part, ASEAN countries highly appreciated Australia's commitment and timely assistance in COVID-19 prevention and control over the past time. They welcomed the 124-million-AUD ASEAN Futures Initiative, which support projects that address complex challenges. The two sides committed to deepening their comprehensive strategic partnership, focusing on substantive and in-depth cooperation in such areas as maritime security, cyber security, transnational crime, trade and investment, connectivity, smart cities, education, health security, sustainable development, and sub-regions development./. By Trend Chairman of the Managerial Board of the State Agency of Azerbaijan Automobile Roads Saleh Mammadov inspected the construction process of the Ahmadbeyli-Fuzuli-Shusha highway, the agency told Trend. According to the statement, Mammadov got also acquainted with the construction of the tunnel and bridges within the project. The chairman gave recommendations and instructions on the timely and high-quality completion of construction. Building the first technical-grade and 81.6 km long Ahmadbeyli-Fuzuli-Shusha highway, starting from the M6??Hajigabul-Horadiz-Aghband-Zangazur highway and passing through the territory of the liberated Fuzuli, Khojavend, Khojaly and Shusha districts, continues apace. Seven tunnels, conventionally called T1A (3,340 m), T1 (314.9 m), T2 (556.9 m), T3 (680.3 m), T4 (540.6 m), T5 ( 454.8 m) and T6 (446.3 m), are being built along the road. Drilling work in several tunnels has already been completed. Bridges, underpasses, and drainage systems are also being constructed. The first 48 kilometers of the Ahmadbeyli-Fuzuli-Shusha highway will have six lanes, while the section between the 48 to the 81 kilometers will have four. The width of the roadway will account for 29.5 and 21.5 meters, respectively. The construction of this automobile road, being one of the road infrastructure projects implemented in the Karabakh and East Zangazur economic regions and playing an important role in the socio-economic development of the liberated lands, is scheduled to be completed in 2024. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is preparing comprehensive assistance packages and finalizing logistical preparations for several nuclear safety, security and safeguard missions to Ukraine in the coming weeks, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has said. "We are ready to transport spare parts and components to Ukraine and to provide expert assessments and advice, both on- and off-site. In the coming weeks, we will shift our assistance activities into a much higher gear," Grossi said on the IAEA website on Friday. According to the report, the IAEA's priority was to send safety, security and safeguards staff to the Chornobyl NPP as soon as it is possible. They would conduct a radiological assessment, deliver safety-related equipment, and restore the online safeguards monitoring system at the site, which was controlled by Russian forces for five weeks before their withdrawal on 31 March. In order to implement plans to send the mission, the director general is consulting and coordinating closely with Ukraine on both the specific content of the IAEA's assistance to its nuclear facilities as well as on the schedule for the expert missions that are expected to start later this month, the IAEA said in a statement. "To be able to do this, we will also rely on the continued support of our partners," Grossi said. At the same time, The IAEA will be the "single point of contact" for such international technical assistance to Ukraine and it is in discussions with the many countries that have expressed interest in backing its efforts to help ensure the safety and security of Ukraine's nuclear facilities. According to the statement, Signalling strong support, the Non-Proliferation Directors Group of the G7 comprising Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States on Thursday issued a statement welcoming "Director General Grossi's efforts as a major contribution to nuclear safety and security in Ukraine." Head of Poltava regional military administration Dmytro Lunin announced a missile attack on the infrastructure of Myrhorod at night, as a result of which two people were injured. "This night, the Russian invaders again launched a missile attack on the infrastructure in Myrhorod. Significant destruction. Unfortunately, two people were injured. They are receiving all the necessary assistance," Lunin wrote on his Telegram channel on Saturday morning. As a result of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, 176 children were killed and more than 324 were injured, the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine reports. "More than 500 children suffered in Ukraine due to the full-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation. Among them, 176 children were killed and more than 324 were injured. These figures are not final, since work is underway to establish them in places of active hostilities, in temporarily occupied and liberated territories," the Facebook post said. Children suffered the most, according to the data received, in Donetsk region - 102, Kyiv - 91, Kharkiv - 76, Chernihiv - 50, Mykolaiv - 40, Luhansk - 35, Zaporizhia - 22, Kherson - 29, the capital - 16, Sumy - 16 , Zhytomyr region - 15. In particular, as a result of the shelling of the railway station in Kramatorsk, Donetsk region by Tochka-U by Russian troops, on the territory of which more than 4,000 people were waiting for evacuation, five children were killed and 16 were injured. "The missile that bombed the station had the inscription 'For Children" on it" the Prosecutor General's Office said. Also, near Hostomel in Kyiv region, a shot car was found, in which a family with a child a little over a year old, died. Tortured and burned bodies of three people, one of whom is a child, were found in Izium district of Kharkiv region. A total of 928 educational institutions were damaged, 84 of them were completely destroyed. A deputy of the Mariupol City Council from the Opposition Platform For Life political party, who was appointed by the occupiers as the so-called "head of the administration of the city of Mariupol", was informed in absentia of suspicion of high treason, the Prosecutor General's Office reports. "According to the investigation, a deputy of the city council from the political party 'Opposition Platform - For Life,' while in Mariupol, which is currently partially under control of representatives of the armed forces of the Russian Federation, voluntarily agreed to cooperate with the occupiers. According to the pseudo-decree of the head of the fake republic 'DPR', since April 6, 2022, the suspect calls himself 'head of administration of the city of Mariupol," the Facebook post said. The suspect helps the Russian Federation and paramilitaries in carrying out subversive activities against Ukraine under martial law. The head of Donetsk Regional Prosecutor's Office informed in absentia about the suspicion to the deputy of Mariupol City Council of the Donetsk Region of high treason committed under martial law (Part 2, Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). As reported, the collaborator mayor is Kostiantyn Ivaschenko. The European Union is deeply shocked by the Russian attack on the railway station of Kramatorsk, which killed more than fifty people and injured dozens of others. "This was a brutal, indiscriminate bombing of innocent civilians, including many children, who were fleeing amid fears of another Russian onslaught against their homes and country. We mourn the victims and our thoughts are with their families and the Ukrainian people," the Foreign Service spokesman said in a statement released in Brussels on Saturday. The EU also said that those responsible for this war crime must be held accountable. "There must be no impunity for war crimes. The EU supports measures to ensure accountability for human rights violations and international humanitarian law. The European Union is appalled that these serious violations of international humanitarian law are becoming more and more frequent. Atrocities committed by Russian forces in Bucha, Borodyanka and other towns and villages recently liberated by Ukrainian army from Russian occupation, and the brutal attack on the Kramatorsk railway station, are part of Kremlins deplorable destruction tactics," the EU stated. In addition, a representative of European diplomacy called unacceptable "the blatant attempts to hide Russia's responsibility for this and other crimes using disinformation and media manipulations are unacceptable." "The EU commends the Ukrainian people's strength, courage, and resistance to withstand Russia's aggression, and stands with them in firm solidarity, which was also demonstrated on Friday by the visit of President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and High Representative Josep Borrell in Kyiv," the statement said. President Joe Biden has signed two laws imposing additional sanctions on Russia and Belarus, the White House said. The report says that an Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act, which prohibits the import of energy products from the Russian Federation, and a Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act, aimed at further strengthening trade and human rights sanctions, have been signed. Both laws are linked to Russian aggression in Ukraine. The bills were approved by the U.S. Congress and the Senate the day before. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said earlier that sanctions are "what the president supports" and "called for." This week, the Biden administration has already announced sanctions against the largest financial institutions in Russia and a number of individuals associated with the Russian leadership. The European Union has also imposed another round of sanctions against Russia, as reported in the Official Journal of the EU. Restrictive measures are being introduced against more than 200 individuals and 18 organizations. The new sanctions affected entrepreneurs of the LPR and DPR, as well as family members of persons who were already under sanctions. These measures came into force immediately after publication - on Friday evening. The European Council's diplomatic mission in Ukraine is returning from Polish Rzeszow to Kyiv, the press service of the European External Action Service in Brussels (EEAS) has reported. "The European Union is resuming its diplomatic presence in Kyiv. After the Russian invasion of 24 February, the Delegation of the European Union was temporarily re-located to the Polish city of Rzeszow. Today, during his visit to Kyiv, High Representative Josep Borrell announced that the work of the EU Delegation to Ukraine will now be led from Kyiv again," the message on the EU official website said on Friday evening. "With this visit, the European Union is returning back to Kyiv. I mean this literally: our Head of our Delegation is back here, so that we can work even more directly and more closely with the Ukrainian authorities," the EEAS press service quoted Borrell as saying. EU Delegation Head Matti Maasikas accompanied High Representative Borrell and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on their joint visit to Kyiv on Friday. They stayed in the capital to reopen the premises of the representative office and assess the conditions for the gradual return of all employees of the representative office to Kyiv. "During our stay in Kyiv, we saw firsthand the ability of the Ukrainian administration to ensure the effective and full functioning of state and government structures, despite very difficult circumstances. The return of our delegation to Kyiv will ensure even better interaction with the government and greater support from the Ukrainian people," the High Representative added. Some members of the Delegation will remain in Rzeszow and work from there. As previously reported, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry announced the return of the ambassador to Kyiv on Monday this week, and at the end of March, Slovenia's charge d'affaires arrived in the capital of Ukraine. Since the beginning of the war, unleashed by Russia, the Polish ambassador to Ukraine has always remained in Kyiv, the Turkish ambassador and the apostolic nuncio to Ukraine also worked in the Ukrainian capital, according to the media. Reznikov calls on partners to provide Ukraine with long-range weapons so that what is happening now in Ukraine doesnt come to other countries Defense Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov has appealed to partner countries from Gostomel destroyed by Russian invaders and called on them to provide Ukraine with long-range weapons so that what is happening in Ukraine now does not come to other countries, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported. "We need not only sanctions, but also weapons. If this case is postponed, the same will happen in Europe," a Telegram message from the Defense Ministry quoted Reznikov as saying on Saturday. IMF Board of Directors agrees to open special account for sending money from donor countries to Ukraine Ukraines rep in Fund The Board of Directors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Friday agreed to open a special administrative account for sending money from donor countries to help Ukraine, Deputy Executive Director from Ukraine at the IMF Vladyslav Rashkovan has said. "The Finance Ministry and I lobbied for this decision together with the government of Canada, but from the very beginning we also received support from the Netherlands, Poland and the Scandinavian and Baltic countries," he wrote on Facebook. According to him, Deputy Prime Minister of Finance of Canada Chrystia Freeland in the Parliament of Canada, presenting the draft federal budget for 2022 (from July 1), said that the government will send up to 1 billion Canadian dollars (about $800 million) in support of the government of Ukraine through this account. "$1 billion from Canada will be directed to help the government of Ukraine through the IMF instruments," Rashkovan said. Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko said at the end of March that Ukraine was discussing with international partners a mechanism for distributing Special Drawing Rights (SDR) from the IMF unused by other countries. As reported, in August last year, the IMF distributed an additional $650 billion between the SDR member countries, under which Ukraine received over $2.7 billion (SDR1.9 billion) in proportion to its quota in the Fund. By the beginning of the war, all these funds had already been spent by Ukraine. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has held a daily conference call with members of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, law enforcement agencies and the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC). According to the Presidents Office of Ukraine, the head of state was informed about the implementation of agreements with foreign leaders on the supply of weapons to Ukraine. "The participants of the meeting discussed the state of readiness of the army to perform current tasks to repel the armed aggression of the Russian Federation," the message says. Information on intelligence data and analysis of the situation from the NSDC was also heard. By Trend The Liminality personal exhibition of the famous Azerbaijani artist Aida Mahmudova has opened at the Gazelli Art House Gallery in London, the press service of the YARAT Contemporary Art Space told Trend. The exhibitions curator is Alistair Hicks. Considering her rapidly modernizing countrys forgotten and marginal corners, Mahmudova uses art as an outlet to give a feeling of stability to co-exist in this unprecedented environment. Art gives no boundaries, but, on the contrary, opens to any communicational variations for the painter. The concept of space is closely investigated through the lens of the artist. As Mahmudova explains, "we exist within space, we co-exist in parallel, and space exists within us." Space can be a place where one physically or spiritually exists, creating the concept of ones reality and illusions. Marc Auges concept of non-places explores the idea of transition or the liminal, as a crossroads of human relations to what humans perceive but only partially and incoherently. Aida Mahmudova explores the theme of juxtaposition of private and public, places and non-places, spaces and non-spaces. Marc Auges concept of non-places investigates the idea of transition, non-spaces discourage settling in contrasting with the notion of home and identity, where a paradox exists. Although that space can be equally alienating to anyone, one can feel comfortable and relational. By shedding light on liminality, or threshold crossing, Aida Mahmudova explores spaces of transition and disorientation. Initially coined by Arnold Van Gennep, rites of passage in 1909, the notion that an individuals life comprises of a series of transitions into three stages, separation, transition and return, where liminality is transition. Liminality has both spatial and temporal dimensions and can be applied to various subjects: individuals, communities, societies, and entire civilisations. On the contrary, nature has a sense of stability, timeless and open space, where Mahmudova regularly returns to as a source of inspiration. "Its the artist and the medium. The never-ending relationship between me and the other resembles perpetual conversation. It takes full involvement from both sides. The act itself is the purest form of creation. This, in turn, gives you a unique opportunity to engage in authentic and unguarded communication with unfolding perspectives. It connects and unites us in the moment of now, giving versatile, unpredictable and beautiful outcomes," she says. About Gazelli Art House Founded in 2010 by Mila Askarova, Gazelli Art House, London, has been committed to bringing a fresh perspective to Mayfair through championing artists from all corners of the globe, focusing on those at the height of their practice, presenting and contextualising their work to new audiences. With sister gallery Baku, the gallery specialises in promoting art from Azerbaijan and its neighbours to further a greater understanding of the rich linguistic, religious and historical ties that connect this geography. Since 2015, the gallery has expanded to support artists working in digital art through its online platform GAZELL.iO. Most recently, in 2020, it established the GAZELL.iO Project Space and VR Library, the first permanent home dedicated to digital art in Mayfair. Austrian Chancellor Karl Neammer arrived in Kyiv on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. "Austria supports us in resisting the aggression of the Russian Federation. The visit of Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer to Kyiv is an important manifestation of solidarity with the Ukrainian people," the president said on the Telegram channel. Zelensky stressed that it is an important signal for us that Austria supports Ukraine, thanked for the help. "And I think today we will talk in detail about this or that support. I would like to thank the people of your country separately, we saw how they took to the streets, on the square, supported us in the struggle for our independence," Zelensky said during the meeting. In turn, the Austrian Chancellor noted that he expresses respect to the President, the government and the people of Ukraine. "It is quite clear that we, Austria, stand by your side and try to help wherever, whenever and wherever we can. And we will expand our assistance," Hammer stressed. More news: https://t.me/interfaxuk_eng https://t.me/interfaxua https://t.me/interfax_uk Austria will help alleviate the humanitarian suffering of the Ukrainian people and put an end to the war, said Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer, who is paying a visit to Ukraine. "Thank you for an open and honest conversation and a warm welcome in Kyiv, Volodymyr Zelensky. Austria knows what the Ukrainian people are going through right now. We will help in any way we can to alleviate humanitarian suffering and put an end to this war," Nehammer wrote on Twitter on Saturday. More news: https://t.me/interfaxuk_eng https://t.me/interfaxua https://t.me/interfax_uk President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking about the situation with the redeployment of Russian troops, respectively, fighting in the eastern and southern directions, said that Ukraine is ready to fight for its territories and is ready to seek a parallel dialogue with Russia for the time being. "Ukraine has always said that it is ready for negotiations and will look for any ways to end the war. In parallel, unfortunately, we see preparations for an important, and someone says - a decisive battle in the east of our state," Zelensky said at a briefing after talks with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer in Kyiv on Saturday. According to the head of state, he would not like to take responsibility for the forecasts now, but stated that the battle would be difficult. He also added that so far Ukraine is ready to seek a parallel dialogue with the Russian Federation. "There is an accumulation of troops. A large number of troops, equipment, armed people who are going to occupy another part of our territories. It will be a difficult battle. We believe in our struggle and victory. Therefore, we are ready to fight and simultaneously look for certain ways in diplomacy that can stop this war. For now. So far, we are talking about a parallel dialogue," he said. More news: https://t.me/interfaxuk_eng https://t.me/interfaxua https://t.me/interfax_uk President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Austria for its help, noting that "if someone cannot help with weapons, he can show support by any other steps. "We see this on the example of Austria," he said at a briefing after talks with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer in Kyiv on Saturday. "You are aware of the EU's decision regarding our future membership. Here we see support. We understand that the sanctions policy leads to the fact that every state can lose money. And yet there are states that still close businesses [related to Russia]. Here I see support from Austria and from the Chancellor. Every dollar or euro earned by Russia goes to weapons," Zelensky said. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said that Raiffeisen Bank supports sanctions against the Russian Federation and has not invested in the Russian economy since the occupation of Crimea, and the Austrian government does not intend to ignore attempts to circumvent anti-Russian sanctions by anyone. "Raiffeisen Bank has branches not only in Russia, but also here in Ukraine. Raiffeisen supported our sanctions immediately, but we knew from the very beginning, since the Russian Federation annexed Crimea, that it is impossible to invest in Russia, because it is a risky investment, and there is no support from the Austrian government for Raiffeisen Bank, although it is a very large investor in Ukraine as well. And Raiffeisen Bank itself will try to make efforts to ensure that all sanctions are respected," Nehammer said at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Saturday, answering a journalist's question about the work of Raiffeisen Bank in Russia. "In Austria, any attempts to circumvent these sanctions will be punished. We must come up with strong, powerful sanctions against Russia. Not only the Austrian Raiffeisen Bank, but also other firms and banks are losing large investments. But the losses that the Austrian economy is suffering from sanctions, although they amount to billions of euros, are incomparable with the pain and grief that the Ukrainian people are experiencing," the Austrian Chancellor added. He stressed that Austria will strengthen sanctions against Russia until the war is over. "In military terms, we are neutral, but we can never accept crimes and will help those who suffer from injustice. This means that Austria fully supports the sanctions of the European Union, introduces them at home, and Austria also supports Ukraine with its capabilities, which from the point of view of Ukraine is most necessary. We will further strengthen sanctions within the framework of the European Union until the war is over. And now another package of sanctions has been adopted, and it will not be the last, in order for the war to be stopped," Nehammer said. According to him, the new package of sanctions will have to be "more powerful and more precise" - "Russian weapons factories will not receive electronic parts and drones will not be able to fly without these parts, and weapons will not be able to be used." "We will continue to follow this path, and everyone in the European Union is united, and we will make these sanctions more powerful than they have ever been known in the EU before. We understand that they are insufficient because people are dying, but we need to impose these sanctions in such numbers that they are directed against those who cause these sanctions. And all partners in the EU want to stop this war," the German Chancellor stressed. He also noted that Austria is making efforts to create effective humanitarian corridors, including for the evacuation of people from Mariupol, Donetsk region, and also promised to support refugees from Ukraine. "There is great solidarity in Austria with those people who were driven out of Ukraine by the war. There is a lot of willingness to help, and this unites the Austrian society very much - people want to help and help if they can. I promise it won't stop," said Nehammer. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Ukraine expects a firm global reaction to the death of people from a missile strike in Kramatorsk. "All the leading states of the world have already condemned the Russian missile strike on Kramatorsk. We expect a firm and global response to this war crime. As well as the massacres in Bucha, " Zelensky said in a video message on Friday. He stressed that this missile strike, like many other Russian war crimes, should become one of the charges at the international tribunal. "All the forces of the world will be aimed at establishing every minute who did what, who, how and what orders were given. How many missiles, who transported them, from whom the command was voiced and how this strike was coordinated. Responsibility is inevitable," he said. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking about the operational military situation in the country, said that the accumulation of Russian military forces in the east and south of Ukraine continues. "We understand that the issue is in Kharkiv, the issue is about the south, Zaporizhia region, Kherson region and the east. We see this accumulation everywhere [of Russian troops]. How the process will go, what will happen and when, depends on many things," Zelensky said at a briefing after talks with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer in Kyiv on Saturday. The further development of the situation, according to him, will depend on many factors, in particular, on the actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the speed of Western partners with the supply of weapons to Ukraine, as well as on what the Russian president will be ready to go further. Zelensky cited the situation in Mariupol as an example. "How long will Mariupol stand... Our military is there. Powerful and strong. They are one of the strongest. This is a great test for them and for our state. There are 10,000 Russian military around them today. If we hold Mariupol, these 10,000 will be there, they will not go to the east," he said, adding that the actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be the most decisive factor. "The most important thing is that everything will depend on our Armed Forces, so the main thing is that we are ready in any of these areas," the president summed up. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has held a meeting with Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Eduard Heger, who was paying a visit to Ukraine. "The Head of State thanked the Slovak people and the head of the Slovak government not only for the support of Ukraine in words, but also for the real help with weapons, which allows our country to resist the Russian invasion," the President's Office reported on Telegram. Zelensky thanked Heger and the Slovak people for the warm welcome of Ukrainians. Borrell: Youre asking for more sanctions, I understand you very well EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell has said that the European Union will continue to strengthen sanctions against Russia. "We are putting sanctions on Russia. You are asking for more sanctions, I understand you very well. The sanctions that we have agreed on, are putting a big burden, creating a big damage to the Russian economy, but more has to follow," Borrell said at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Friday evening. He stressed that the European Union would work to get rid of dependence on Russian energy carriers as soon as possible. He said that sanctions certainly do not stop the war, they only undermine the economy, they weaken it and thus it may lead to some kind of completion or approaching completion. At the same time, he recalled the military assistance from international partners. Borrell said that the European Union is doing everything it can to help Ukraine, but it also feels that much more needs to be done. The European Union has enacted another package of anti-Russian sanctions, according to a statement published in the EU Official Journal on Friday. The EU Official Journal has published another series of restrictive measures, noting that they are effective immediately upon publication. As was reported earlier, the EU moved to ban imports of Russian products such as timber, cement, fertilizers, seafood and alcoholic beverages. Additionally, the EU has moved to restrict exports of quantum computers and state-of-the-art semiconductors, hi-tech electronics, computer software, sensitive machinery and equipment for transport. The export and import bans are 10-billion-euro and 5.5-billion-euro worth, respectively. The fifth package of anti-Russian sanctions imposed by the EU envisages an embargo on coal shipments from Russia to the EU, effective from August 2022. Annual EU imports of coal are currently worth 8,000,000,000 euros. As part of the sanctions, the EU has also introduced restrictions for 217 individuals and 18 entities, including representatives of the so-called "Luhansk People's Republic" ("LPR") and the "Donetsk People's Republic" ("DPR"), according to the document published in the EU Official Journal. The new sanctions apply to "LPR" and "DPR"-based entrepreneurs and family members of some people earlier placed on EU sanctions lists. Sanctions also apply to some companies whose production facilities and technologies are linked to the Russian special military operation in Ukraine, the document said. As part of the fifth package of Russia sanctions, the EU has also introduced a ban on imports of potassium chloride from Belarus via Russia, it said. Exceptions from these EU sanctions include shipments of a number of goods such as pharmaceuticals, medical products, agricultural goods and food, including wheat. Besides, the sanctions do not apply to automobile transport used for humanitarian purposes. By Azernews By Sabina Mammadli The Azerbaijani embassy in London has hosted a celebration to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom. The leadership and members of the Conservative Party's Foreign Policy Council also attended the event, titled "Azerbaijan-UK: Celebrating 30 years of diplomatic relations and close cooperation". Ambassador Elin Suleymanov and British Prime Minister's Trade Envoy for Azerbaijan, Baroness Emma Nicholson, both spoke at the event. Suleymanov welcomed the visitors and emphasized the importance of cooperation between the embassy and the Council. Furthermore, he expressed his determination to deepen the two countries' multifaceted and dynamic cooperation established over the last 30 years. The ambassador expressed satisfaction with the existence of fruitful cooperation between Azerbaijan and the UK in international security, economy, trade, humanitarian activities, and education, particularly in the field of energy. Azerbaijan and the UK are cooperating in different spheres of the economy. There are already 30 years of successful cooperation between the two countries in the oil and gas sector, which entered a new stage of development in line with the challenges of the global energy sector. The energy sector accounts for $ 28.8 billion out of $ 30.6 billion of the UK investments in Azerbaijan's economy. The UK is also the biggest investor in Azerbaijan. It should be noted that the trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $667.8 in 2021. Of the total turnover, Azerbaijani exports to the UK amounted to $396.6 million while import was $271.1 million. The UK contributed over AZN 1 million (500,000) to Azerbaijans recovery efforts and demining activities in its liberated lands, the UK embassy reported earlier. On April 9, one of the residential areas of the city of Kharkiv faced another missile attack, seriously damaging a residential five-story building. "Four departments of the rescue service consisting of 20 rescuers were sent to the scene... From the apartments of one of the entrances that suffered the most damage, the State Emergency Service rescued 7 people and evacuated 8 people. Information about casualties is being specified," the press service of the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service in Kharkiv region reported. The Prime Minister of the UK is discussing in Kyiv a new package of financial and military aid to Ukraine, the BBC reported on Saturday, citing the press service of the country's government. Downing Street said that "Mr Johnson was using the trip to set out a new package of financial and military aid." "The prime minister has travelled to Ukraine to meet President Zelensky in person, in a show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people," the spokesman said. "They will discuss the UK's long-term support to Ukraine and the PM will set out a new package of financial and military aid," he said. BBC said that it comes the day after the UK announced GBP 100 million of weapons for Ukraine after the bombing of refugees at a railway station. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has expressed her conviction that Ukraine will win the war with Russia. "I am deeply convinced that Ukraine will win this war, democracy will win this war, freedom will win this war and the right of every country to shape its own future. And thus, we will work together with Ukraine to rebuild Ukraine. And rebuild Ukraine means massive investment and reforms and this will form and forge the path towards the European Union," von der Leyen said at a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Friday. Prime Minister of the UK Boris Johnson announced the "unwavering" support for the people of Ukraine. "Today I met my friend President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv as a show of our unwavering support for the people of Ukraine. We're setting out a new package of financial & military aid which is a testament of our commitment to his country's struggle against Russia's barbaric campaign," he said on Twitter late on Saturday. Other Western countries should follow UK example on sanctions Zelensky after meeting with Johnson President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has said that other Western countries should follow the example of the UK in the issue of sanctions against Russia for its military invasion and crimes in Ukraine. The head of state thanked the UK and Prime Minister Boris Johnson for expanding sanctions packages against the Russian Federation and strengthening Ukraine's defense capability. "Other democratic Western states should follow the UK's example. It's time to impose a full embargo on Russian energy, increase the volume of weapons provided to us," Zelensky said at a briefing with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Kyiv on Saturday. The UK will increase economic and sanctions pressure on the Russian Federation, in particular, they will affect its ability to use its energy, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said. He said at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday in Kyiv that it is necessary to provide all kinds of support to Ukraine and together with partners we will increase economic pressure, and we will intensify sanctions against Russia every week. We will not be limited to asset freezes or sanctions against oligarchs, we will also affect Russia's ability to use its energy, he said. Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine Iryna Vereschuk has announced the release of 26 Ukrainian citizens from Russian captivity: 12 military personnel and 14 civilians. "By order of President Zelensky, the third exchange of prisoners took place today. 12 of our soldiers, including one female officer, are returning home. We also released 14 civilians, including 9 women. A total of 26 of our people," Vereschuk wrote in her Telegram on Saturday. Civilian casualties from February 24, when Russia started the war against Ukraine, to 24:00 on April 8 amounted to 4,149 civilians (3,893 in a report a day earlier), including 1,766 dead (1,626), the Office of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights said on Saturday. "OHCHR believes that the actual figures are considerably higher, as the receipt of information from some locations where intense hostilities have been going on has been delayed and many reports are still pending corroboration," the document said. This concerns, for example, Mariupol and Volnovakha (Donetsk region), Izium (Kharkiv region), Popasna (Luhansk region), and Borodianka (Kyiv region), where there are allegations of numerous civilian casualties. These figures are being further corroborated and are not included in the above statistics. "Most of the civilian casualties recorded were caused by the use of explosive weapons with a wide impact area, including shelling from heavy artillery and multiple launch rocket systems, and missile and air strikes," the report notes. According to confirmed UN data, 452 men, 284 women, 43 boys and 27 girls died, while the sex of 69 children and 891 adults has yet unknown. Among the 2,383 wounded, there are 45 girls and 44 boys, as well as 126 children, whose sex yet unknown. Compared to the previous day, seven children were killed and 18 injured, according to the UN. In Donetsk and Luhansk regions: 1,843 casualties (630 killed and 1,213 injured); on government-controlled territory: 1,504 casualties (560 killed and 944 injured); and on territory controlled by the self-proclaimed "republics": 339 casualties (70 killed and 269 injured). In other regions of Ukraine (the city of Kyiv, and Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Sumy, Zaporizhia, Dnipropetrovsk and Zhytomyr regions), which were under Government control when casualties occurred 2,306 casualties (1,136 killed and 1,170 injured). OHCHR notes the report of the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine, according to which as of 8 a.m. 9 April (local time), 176 children had been killed and at least 324 injured. An increase in figures in this update compared with the previous update (as of 24:00 midnight on 7 April 2022 (local time) should not be attributed to civilian casualties that occurred on 8 April only, as during the day OHCHR also corroborated casualties that occurred on previous days. Russian invaders abducted 106 citizens in Zaporizhia region, including 21 representatives of local authorities and two journalists, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada Liudmyla Denisova has said. "Today, 63 people remain in captivity, including 10 officials and one journalist. The reason for the abductions is the pro-Ukrainian position and refusal to cooperate with the occupiers," Denisova wrote on Facebook. In particular, in the village of Verkhniy Tokmak, Berdiansk district, Zaporizhia region, the occupiers are looking for participants in the ATO (JFO) and weapons, they search houses, beat people, abduct men and take them away in an unknown direction. The villagers are threatened with violence. "Such actions by Russian militants grossly violate the right to liberty and security of citizens of Ukraine, guaranteed in Articles 3 and 34 of the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights. I appeal to the UN Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine and the mission of experts, created by the OSCE participating states following invocation of the OSCE's Moscow Mechanism, to take into account these facts of war crimes and human rights violations committed by the Russian Federation in Ukraine," Denisova wrote. Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal has discussed with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Ukraine's entry into the single payment space of the European Union and the creation of a single roaming space. "Today we discussed a number of important issues for Ukraine with Mrs. President of the European Commission and Mr. High Representative of European Diplomacy. This is a plan for the restoration of our state, the creation of a fund for the restoration of our state, the creation of a single payment space, the entry of Ukraine into a single payment space, the creation of a single roaming space, that is, the abolition of additional payment for the use of mobile Internet on the territory of the European Union," Shmyhal said at a joint press conference with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and security policy by Josep Borrell on Friday evening. The Prime Minister noted that these are the promising issues that the parties agreed to work on together. In addition, according to Shmyhal, the parties also discussed sanctions policy and support in the field of technology and weapons. By Trend Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs commented on a meeting between Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held on April 6 in Brussels, Trend reports citing the Turkish Foreign Ministry. The ministry expressed satisfaction that instructions had been given to foreign ministers of both countries during the meeting to start preparing a peace accord, as well as an agreement on establishing a Joint Border Commission between the two countries had been reached. "Turkey supports efforts to secure peace and stability in the region and makes important contributions to that end," the statement said. One of them is located in ward 2 and run by the Vinh Chau Renewable Energy JSC TDC. Costing more than 2.4 trillion VND, the plants first phase began in December 2019 to install six turbines with a total capacity of 30MW, one 22/110 kV - 40 MVA transformer station, and a 9km 110 kV transmission line. The second, operated by Quoc Vinh Soc Trang Wind Power Company Limited, is situated in Vinh Hai town. The 1,420 trillion VND plant consists of six turbines with a capacity of 30MW. Speaking at a ceremony to open the two facilities, Vice Chairman of the Soc Trang Peoples Committee Vuong Quoc Nam asked the investors to effectively manage and operate the plants. He said the province is currently implementing 20 wind power projects with a total capacity of 1,435 MW. To date, four projects, together capable of generating 110.8 MW, have been put into commercial operation. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has issued pardons for 986 male and female prison inmates on the occasion of Eid El-Fitr, the Ministry of Interior announced on Tuesday. Egypt's National Council for Women (NCW) said it will receive over the Eid El-Fitr holiday complaints, inquiries, reports or distress messages from girls and women to solve any crisis related to domestic violence by communicating with the concerned authorities. United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said Mali could collapse if a UN peacekeeping mission withdrew, but suggested an option could be to replace it with an African Union force backed by a tougher operating mandate. Small groups of Egyptians in Ukraine have arrived back home, while around 1,000 more are on their way to Bucharest, the capital of Romania, Minister of Emigration Nabila Makram has said. In remarks to media, Makram noted that 80 expats have also arrived at the Ukraine-Poland border. This comes as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues for the third day, having claimed the lives of 198 Ukrainians, according to the Ukrainian health ministry, and caused tens of thousands of residents to flee from the country. Around 6,000 Egyptian nationals lived in Ukraine prior to the invasion, with students representing a majority, according to officials. In remarks to media on Saturday, Makram said around 3,000 Egyptian students are in Ukraine, noting that she has held three virtual conversations with the students stranded in the country. Over the past few days, Egyptian embassies have urged citizens in western parts of Ukraine to head to the border crossings with Romania, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia, which lie west of Ukraine, to return back to Egypt through these countries. The embassy, however, advised citizens in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv or eastern cities to stay at home or in shelters, adding that negotiations are underway to secure a safe exit for those in the eastern parts. Makram urged students to abide by the embassys instructions and the security measures announced in the country. This comes as Kyiv authorities have extended the curfew from 5pm to 8am local time, warning that violators will be considered members of the enemy's sabotage and reconnaissance groups. People in Ukraine have sheltered underground as Russian forces have seized control of vital parts of the country and continued pressing towards the Ukrainian capital, which is still in Ukraines hands. Makram urged Egyptians in western areas who are heading to the Romanian and Polish borders to have enough food and wear heavy clothes as they may have to wait for long hours before they are allowed to enter. People arriving from Ukraine to Poland are being granted visas and will be admitted into shelters for two weeks, through which they can return back home, Makram said, noting that they do not have to take PCR tests. The best crossings to enter Poland from Ukraine, despite being crowded, are Krakowiec, Korczowa, Szeginie and Medyka, the minister said in a post on her Instagram account. She, however, advised citizens to avoid the Medyka crossing currently due to reports of scuffles there. Other crossings with no complaints reported are Jagodzin, Dorohusk, Rawa Ruska and Hrebenne, the minister added. Makram urged expats to contact the Egyptian embassy in Poland through 0048514154166 and 0048511538378. Egypt has affirmed on Thursday evening the importance of upholding dialogue and diplomatic solutions, as well as endeavours that would hasten a political settlement to the Ukrainian crisis, according to a statement by the foreign ministry. In a separate statement, the ministry said the Egyptian embassy in Kyiv was following closely the latest developments to the Egyptian community currently in Ukraine and shared the mobile numbers of diplomats in the embassy, including the mobile number of Ambassador Ayman El-Gamal (+380932165877). The embassy can also be reached at: +380732009984 and +380634779436. On Thursday, Egypt's Ministry of Tourism asserted that all tourists from countries affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine are welcome to continue with their stay at Egyptian hotels until their safe return to their countries. Search Keywords: Short link: A rocket attack on a train station in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk killed dozens on Friday as civilians raced to flee the Donbas region bracing for a feared Russian offensive. Fifty people were killed, including five children, the regional governor of Donetsk, Pavlo Kyrylenko, said as the toll rose on one of the deadliest strikes of the six-week-old war. President Volodymyr Zelensky reported 300 were injured, saying the strike showed "evil with no limits". AFP journalists saw the bodies of at least 30 people grouped and lying under plastic sheets next to the station, before being loaded onto a military truck. Blood was pooling on the ground and packed bags were strewn outside the building where the remains of a large rocket was lying with the words "for our children" in Russian. "I'm looking for my husband. He was here. I can't reach him," a woman told AFP, sobbing and holding her phone to her ear. Another woman in a state of shock said: "I was in the station. I heard like a double explosion. I rushed to the wall for protection. "Then I saw people covered in blood entering the station and bodies everywhere on the ground." Body parts, broken glass and abandoned baggage lay scattered around the station and across the platform. Russia's defence ministry said suggestions it had carried out the attack were "absolutely untrue". The bombing came as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell were in Kyiv to show solidarity with Ukraine. More than a month into President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has shifted its focus to eastern and southern Ukraine after stiff resistance torpedoed plans to swiftly capture the capital Kyiv. Instead, Russian troops appear set on creating a long-sought land link between occupied Crimea and the Moscow-backed separatist statelets of Donetsk and Lugansk in Donbas. Heavy shelling has already begun to lay waste to towns in the region, and officials have begged civilians to flee, while the intensity of fighting is impeding evacuations. But officials continued to press civilians to leave. "There is no secret -- the battle for Donbas will be decisive. What we have already experienced -- all this horror -- it can multiply," warned Lugansk regional governor Sergiy Gaiday. "Leave! The next few days are the last chances. Buses will be waiting for you in the morning," he added. 'More horrific' Meanwhile, near the capital Kyiv, residents and Ukrainian officials returning after a Russian withdrawal from the area were trying to piece together the scale of the devastation. Violence in the town of Bucha, where authorities say hundreds were killed -- including some found with their hands bound -- has become a byword for allegations of brutality inflicted under Russian occupation. But Zelensky warned worse was being uncovered. "They have started sorting through the ruins in Borodianka," northwest of Kyiv, he said in his nightly address. "It's much more horrific there. There are even more victims of Russian occupiers." Violence in the area has caused massive destruction, levelling and damaging many buildings, and bodies are only now being retrieved. Ukraine's Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova said on Thursday that 26 bodies had been recovered from two destroyed apartment buildings so far. "Only the civilian population was targeted. There is no military site here," she said, describing evidence of war crimes "at every turn". Fresh allegations emerged from other areas too, with villagers in Obukhovychi, northwest of Kyiv, telling AFP they were used as human shields. 'Help us now' Moscow has denied targeting civilians but growing evidence of atrocities has galvanised Ukraine's allies to pile on more pressure. On Thursday, the EU approved an embargo on Russian coal and the closure of its ports to Russian vessels as part of a "very substantial" new round of sanctions that also includes an export ban and new measures against Russian banks. In addition, it backed a proposal to boost its funding of arms supplies to Ukraine by 500 million euros ($544 million), taking it to a total of 1.5 billion euros. So far, the bloc had frozen 30 billion euros in assets from blacklisted Russian and Belarusian individuals and companies under sanctions, it said Friday. In a show of support, the EU's von der Leyen and Borrell were in Kyiv Friday for talks with Zelensky and to visit the scene of civilian deaths in Bucha. En route to Kyiv, Borrell told journalists the EU would supply 7.5 million euros to train Ukrainian prosecutors to investigate war crimes, which Russia is accused of committing in the country. The Group of Seven industrialised nations also agreed to more sanctions, including a ban on new investments in key sectors and fresh export restrictions, as well as the phasing out of Russian coal. At the United Nations, 93 of the General Assembly's 193 members voted on Thursday to suspend Russia from the body's human rights council over its actions in Ukraine. Russia blasted the move as "illegal and politically motivated", while US President Joe Biden said it confirmed Moscow as an "international pariah". "Russia's lies are no match for the undeniable evidence of what is happening in Ukraine," Biden said, calling Russia's actions in the country "an outrage to our common humanity". Ukraine has welcomed new measures on Moscow, as well as the UN suspension, but it continues to push for more support. Zelensky called for a "cocktail" of sanctions in an address to the Finnish parliament, scolding "those who are making us wait, wait for the things that we need badly, wait for the means of protecting our lives". The president's appeal echoed a call from his foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, who earlier asked NATO for heavy weaponry, including air defence systems, artillery, armoured vehicles and jets. "Either you help us now -- and I'm speaking about days, not weeks -- or your help will come too late and many people will die, many civilians will lose their homes, many villages will be destroyed," Kuleba said after meeting NATO foreign ministers in Brussels. Search Keywords: Short link: President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi issued on Saturday directives to widen the scope of interactive educational programmes aiming to link Egyptian youths abroad to their homeland, Presidential Spokesperson Bassam Rady said. During a meeting with Minister of Emigration and Expatriate Affairs Nabila Makram, the president was briefed on the situation of Egyptian students in Ukraine and issued directives to take all necessary measures to ensure their safety. Egypt has been exerting great efforts to bring its nationals home from Ukraine. Prior to the Russian invasion, around 6,000 Egyptians lived in Ukraine, including 3,000 students studying in the countrys universities, especially in the field of medicine. Over the past three weeks, scores of Egyptian expats have already crossed the borders into Romania, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia. The minister also reviewed Egyptian expats contributions to the countrys economic and social development. Furthermore, Makram spoke about the Life-Saving Boats Initiative, which aims to fight irregular migration. The president also ordered the minister to step up efforts aiming to encourage Egyptian expats to invest in the real estate sector in Egypt. Additionally, the minister reviewed the preparations being held for hosting the Egypt Can with Industry Conference and updates on the presidential Speak Arabic Initiative, which aims to solidify the Arab-Egyptian identity among Egyptians abroad. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypts Senate the consultative upper house of Parliament will convene on Sunday and Monday to resume discussions over the articles of the new government-drafted Unified Insurance Law following a two-week recess. The Senate will also resume a debate over a study on the problem of overpopulation in Egypt and what measures should be taken to contain it. The Senate, which approved the new 217-article insurance law in principle on 27 February, has so far discussed 100 articles. Hany Sirri the head of the Senates Financial and Economic Affairs Committee said the draft Unified Insurance Law aims to draw up new and comprehensive rules for regulating the insurance industry and market in Egypt. The past four decades have practically shown that the insurance market is in a pressing need for new legislative and regulatory rules, said Sirri, adding that technological developments and the creation of new insurance tools also require that a unified insurance legislation be passed. Sirri stated that the new law is necessary to cover a host of professions and services that were lately introduced into the insurance industry. It seeks to cover the rights of holders of insurance policies and private insurance funds, said Sirri, noting that the law also aims to streamline insurance rules to go in line with new international standards and to speed up digitisation reforms and the use of fintech in the insurance sector. Sirri pointed out that the law is meant to widen the scope of obligatory insurance operations in order to achieve insurance inclusiveness and reach out to poor and limited-income classes that are not currently covered by any kind of insurance, particularly health insurance. He explained that the new law will cover all kinds of insurance operations. The law will regulate insurance companies, special funds, obligatory operations such as highway accidents, and state the new supervisory rules for the insurance industry, said Sirri, adding that at the end, we will have a unified law that will regulate all forms of insurance in Egypt that is in line with international rules and methods and imposes stricter supervision. Two weeks ago, the Senate discussed articles regulating insurance funds, which cover risks not usually accepted by private sector insurance companies. It also approved article 100, which allows the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) to license the merge of two private insurance funds into one fund only after the approval of the general assemblies of the two funds. Meanwhile, the Senate will also continue discussing a study prepared by MP Soheir Abdel-Sallam on the problem of overpopulation in Egypt and what measures and solutions should be taken to contain it. Speaker of the Senate Abdel-Wahab Abdel-Razek revealed two weeks ago that concerned cabinet ministers and officials would be invited to address the chamber on the problem of overpopulation in Egypt. It is a very serious national issue, and all officials should participate in the Senates debate in order to draw up a new strategy on containing the runaway growth of population in Egypt, said Abdel-Razek. The study which the Senate began discussing on 28 March warns that Egypts population will reach 128 million by the year 2030 and 183 million by the year 2050. This runaway growth of population poses a serious threat to the countrys future, economic development, and national security, said the study, asking that the role of the National Population Council be reactivated in addition to the fact that new and urgent measures that can reduce population growth to just 110 million by 2030 should be adopted. Furthermore, the study proposed that an independent authority be set up to forge a new serious strategy on curbing overpopulation in Egypt. It shall be named the National Population and Family Planning Authority and would be affiliated with the presidency rather than with the Ministry of Health and Population and it would be granted powers that can take serious collective action in the area of checking overpopulation, said the study. Search Keywords: Short link: The Coordinating Committee of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) approved on Wednesday the chairmanship of Egypt and the European Union of the forum each for two years, succeeding Canada and Morocco. The EU will chair the forum from September 2022 to September 2024 and Egypt will hold the chairmanship of the forum from March 2023 to March 2025, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. The Egyptian-EU chairmanship of the GCTF will succeed that of Canada and Morocco, which co-chaired the forum between 2019 and 2021. Egypt, during its tenure as a co-chairman, intends to build on the special expertise that it enjoys in the field of counter-terrorism in order to advance the implementation of the forums strategic vision 2021-2031, the foreign ministrys statement read. Egypt will also work on enhancing the effectiveness of the international system to fight terrorism and support the efforts of the member states in implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, the ministry added. Furthermore, Egypt plans to promote attention to the African continent as well as to the needs of the developing countries, developing the existing coordination with regional mechanism concerned with fighting terrorism, the ministry said. Egypt will also work on continuing to introduce tangible initiatives within the framework of the forums working groups, the ministry added. GCFT was established in 2011 as a multilateral counter-terrorism platform to exchange experiences and best practices to develop an international system to address terrorism in light of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Strategy. Egypt is one of the founding countries of the forum, which includes 30 member states. Five working groups have emerged from the forum, including the capacity building working group for East African countries, which Egypt has co-chaired with the European Union since September 2017. Egypt had previously chaired the criminal justice and rule of law working group jointly with the United States during the period from 2011 to 2017. In recent years, Egypt has adopted a comprehensive framework to confront terrorism and extremist thought, which is based on security as well as awareness-raising mechanisms. Egypt has also pushed for serious and urgent cooperation in Africa to combat cross-border terrorism, founding the Sahel and Sahara Counterterrorism Centre in Cairo to coordinate the efforts of the 20 Sahel-Saharan states (CEN-SAD) to face terror threats. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt has cancelled mandatory COVID-realated declaration forms to ease procedured for arrivals at all airports starting Sunday. In a statement, the Ministry of Health and Population's department of preventive medicine said all travellers from abroad will no longer have to fill out declaration forms upon arrival. The government has recently launched the Visit Egypt online website, which allows incoming travellers to register their COVID-19 vaccination certificates on the website two days ahead of their trip in order to reduce processing time upon arrival. The Egyptian Health Quarantine Department will assign a QR code to travellers who meet COVID-related requirements. The goal of cancelling the paper forms is to make life easier; the world is dealing with these issues digitally all a passenger needs is to fill the required details on the [Visit Egypt] platform, Health Ministry Spokesman Hossam Abdel-Ghaffar told Ahram Online. Returning to routine cleansing The health ministrty also cancelled exceptional COVID-focus disinfection of planes after each flight, with a return to normal santisation procedures. In case a suspected or confirmed coronavirus case was detected onboard, the plane will be disinfected under the supervision of the quarantine department in accordance with World Health Organisations guide to hygiene and sanitation in aviation. Abdel-Ghaffar said the decision comes as the country is witnessing improvement in the epidemiological situation as indicated by the ministrys weekly update on the pandemic nationwide. The average daily coronavirus infection and deaths tolls in Egypt have continued to decline this past week, with the country reporting an average of 400 infections and seven deaths per day, according to the latest weekly update issued by the ministry on Saturday. Egypt, which relies on tourism revenues as a vital source of foreign currency, has been taking measures to support the tourism sector's recovery amid challenges posed by the pandemic as well as the Russia-Ukrainian war. Search Keywords: Short link: BLOCKED FROM POSTING LINKS TO THIS VERY NEWS SITE ON FACEBOOK (its executives involved in case since 1996/1997 - far before one even existed... Azerbaijan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov had a telephone conversation with UK's Minister at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office James Cleverly, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has reported. The sides exchanged views on the current situation in the region, including the implementation of trilateral statements [between Russian, Azerbaijani, and Armenian leaders following the second Karabakh war]. They also discussed the issues related to the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the recent high-level meeting in Brussels. During the telephone conversation, the ministers also addressed other issues of mutual interest. Egypt will have a big role in integrating water and climate issues globally, said Mari Pangestu the World Banks managing director of development policy and partnerships. Pangestu lauded Egypts policies on adopting modern irrigation systems while probing means of boosting cooperation in this regard with the Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mohamed Abdel-Aty on Saturday. Both sides coordinated the overlapping relation between water and climate on the side-lines of the fifth edition of Cairo Water Week, and the Water Pavilion that will be setup within the UN Conference of Parties on Climate Change (COP27), which will be hosted by Egypts Sharm El-Sheikh this November. For his part, Abdel-Aty said that climate change is one of the most important issues worldwide nowadays, shedding light on the Egyptian states great efforts to counter water challenges. Earlier, Pangestu said that the bank is keen to provide all means of support to Egypt during its presidency of the COP27 and to stimulate climate action-related efforts in Egypt and the African continent. Search Keywords: Short link: Iran's Revolutionary Guards have seized a foreign boat smuggling fuel in the Gulf and arrested its 11 crew members, a senior justice official said Saturday. "Naval forces have seized a foreign vessel carrying smuggled fuel in Arabian Gulf waters," said Mojtaba Ghahramani, justice chief for Iran's southern Hormozgan province, state television reported. "Over 220,000 litres of smuggled fuel were seized and 11 foreign crew members were detained for investigation," Ghahramani said. Ghahramani did not specify the date the boat was seized, nor the origin of the vessel or nationality of the crew. The Guards also captured an "Iranian boat carrying 20,000 litres of smuggled diesel, intended to supply the foreign ship" and arrested three crew members, Ghahramani added, noting the seizure was made "in the territorial waters" of Iran. The incident comes in the wake of a series of seizures of vessels in the sea lanes serving the Gulf, where a large portion of the world's oil is produced and shipped. In November, Iran announced the arrest of a foreign boat carrying 150,000 litres of smuggled diesel and the arrest of 11 foreign crew members, without disclosing further details. That seizure came days after Iran announced the release of the Vietnamese-flagged MV Sothys tanker, which they had seized in October. Search Keywords: Short link: France on Saturday was preparing for the first round of presidential elections projected to produce a run-off rematch between incumbent Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen that will be far tighter than their duel five years ago. All further political activity by candidates was banned on the final day before polls open in mainland France at 0600 GMT on Sunday, after a campaign overshadowed by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. French overseas territories began voting earlier to take account of the time difference, starting with the tiny island of Saint Pierre and Miquelon off the coast of Canada whose voters cast ballots from 1000 GMT Saturday. Territories in the Caribbean followed a few hours later, with Pacific island voters set to cast their ballots from 1800 GMT and then finally the Indian Ocean territories before polling stations open in mainland France. Polls predict that Macron will lead Le Pen by a handful of percentage points in round one, with the top two going through to a second round vote on April 24. But analysts warn that the outcome remains highly volatile with uncertainty remaining over turnout and some observers fearing a quarter of the electorate may stay away in a possible record boycott of the vote. Far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon is snapping at their heels in third and still fancies his chances of reaching the second round at the expense of Le Pen or even -- in what would be an extraordinary upset -- President Macron himself. Although her opponents accuse her of being an extremist bent on dividing society, Le Pen has with some success during the campaign sought to show a more moderate image and concern with voters' daily worries such as rising prices. Macron by contrast has campaigned relatively little, by his own admission entering the election campaign later than he would have wished due to the war in Ukraine. French television channels will broadcast projections of the final results, which are generally highly accurate, as soon as polls close at 1800 GMT Sunday. 'Strange campaign' If Macron and Le Pen as forecast reach the second round, analysts predict that their clash will be far tighter than in 2017 when the current president thrashed his rival with 66 percent of the vote. "There is an uncertainty ahead of the first round," said French political scientist Pascal Perrineau, pointing to unprecedently high numbers of voters who were still undecided or who changed their minds during the campaign as well as absentee voters. Analysts fear that the 2002 record of the numbers of French voters boycotting a first round of 28.4 percent risks being beaten, with the 2017 absentee rate of 22.2 percent almost sure to be exceeded. Some 48.7 million voters are registered across France to vote in this election. "We have experienced a strange campaign that was at odds with what we experienced in the past presidential elections," Frederic Dabi, director of the Ifop polling institute, told AFP. The stakes of the election are high for Macron, who came to power aged 39 as France's youngest president with a pledge to shake up the country. He would be the first French president since Jacques Chirac in 2002 to win a second term and thus cement a place in the country's history. If he wins he would have a five-year mandate to impose his vision of reform which would include a crack at reducing the pension age in defiance of union anger. He would also seek to consolidate his position as the undisputed number one in Europe after the departure of German chancellor Angela Merkel. A Le Pen victory would however be seen as a victory for right-wing populism and send shockwaves across Europe and markets. 'Republican front illusion' The candidates of France's traditional parties, the right-wing Republicans and the Socialists on the left, are facing a debacle on election night, continuing a shake-up of French politics that began when Macron took power. Greens candidate Yannick Jadot, the Republicans' Valerie Pecresse and the flagging Socialist nominee Anne Hidalgo appear certain to be ejected in the first round. Far-right former TV pundit Eric Zemmour made a stunning entry into the campaign last year but lost ground, and analysts say he has aided Le Pen by making her appear more moderate. Even with the outcome of the first round still the subject of some uncertainty, attention is already turning to the second round and who the defeated first-round hopefuls will back. Analysts question whether Macron would enjoy the same support from a broad anti-far right "Republican front" coalition that helped him win in 2017 and allowed Jacques Chirac to demolish Marine Le Pen's father Jean-Marie in 2002. "The Republican front hasn't been what it used to be for a while," the director of the Jean-Jaures Foundation, Gilles Finchelstein, told AFP. Search Keywords: Short link: Russian officials on Saturday accused US video hosting service YouTube of blocking the channel of the lower house of parliament and warned of reprisals. Vyacheslav Volodin, the head of the Duma, said Washington was breaching "the rights of Russians" while foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said "YouTube has sealed its fate". "The United States wants to have a monopoly on the diffusion of information," Volodin said on Telegram. "We cannot allow that". AFP journalists confirmed that the site was inaccessible. According to Moscow, Duma-TV has more than 145,000 subscribers. It airs clips of parliamentary debates and interviews of Russian lawmakers. On Thursday, Russia's state communications watchdog said it would ban US internet giant Google from advertising its services in the country, accusing YouTube of spreading "fake news" about its military campaign in Ukraine. Russia has moved to block access to non-state media and information resources and fears are mounting that Google could be next in line for a ban. The watchdog said Google-owned YouTube had committed "numerous violations" of Russian legislation and was "one of the key platforms, distributing fake news about the course of the special military operation in Ukraine, discrediting the armed forces of Russia". It said it had decided to "introduce measures of coercion". It said these included "a ban on distribution of advertising for Google LLC and its information resources". Search Keywords: Short link: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer on Saturday joined the stream of European leaders showing their support for Ukraine by traveling to the nation's capital for face-to-face meetings with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Johnson's surprise visit included a pledge of new military assistance, including 120 armored vehicles and new anti-ship missile systems. This came a day after he promised to send an additional 100 million pounds ($130 million) of high-grade military equipment to Ukraine, saying Britain wanted to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression. Johnson also confirmed further economic support, guaranteeing an additional $500 million in World Bank lending to Ukraine, taking Britain's total loan guarantee to up to $1 billion. ``Today I met my friend President (at)ZelenskyyUa in Kyiv as a show of our unwavering support for the people of Ukraine,'' Johnson said on Twitter. ``We're setting out a new package of financial & military aid which is a testament of our commitment to his country's struggle against Russia's barbaric campaign.'' The head of Ukraine's presidential office, Andriy Yermak, said ``the conversation was rich and constructive,'' but offered no details. An image of the two leaders meeting was posted online by the Ukrainian Embassy in London with the headline: ``Surprise,'' and a winking smiley face. The package of military aid Britain announced Friday includes more Starstreak anti-aircraft missiles, another 800 anti-tank missiles and precision munitions capable of lingering in the sky until directed to their target. ``Ukraine has defied the odds and pushed back Russian forces from the gates of Kyiv, achieving the greatest feat of arms of the 21st century,? Johnson said in a statement. ``It is because of President Zelenskyy's resolute leadership and the invincible heroism and courage of the Ukrainian people that Putin's monstrous aims are being thwarted.'' As Zelenskyy makes a continuous round of virtual appearances to drum up support from lawmakers around the world, an increasing number of European leaders have decided the time is right to travel to Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, for in-person talks. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was in Kyiv on Friday, following earlier visits from the Czech, Polish and Slovenian prime ministers. Nehammer met with Zelenskyy earlier Saturday and pledged that the EU would continue to ratchet up sanctions against Russia ``until the war stops.'' ``As long as people are dying, every sanction is still insufficient,'' he said, adding that Austrian embassy staff will return to Kyiv from western Ukraine. Von der Leyen, who heads the European Union's executive branch, travelled to Warsaw on Saturday to lead a fundraising event for Ukraine. She was joined by Polish President Andrzej Duda, with Zelenskyy and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appearing by video link. At the end of the 90-minute meeting, von der Leyen said 10.1 billion euros ($11 billion) had been raised for Ukrainian refugees. The event was held in Warsaw because more than 2.5 million of the 4.4 million people who have fled Ukraine since Russia's invasion began Feb. 24 have entered Poland. Many have stayed, though some have moved on to other countries. Convened jointly by von der Leyen and Trudeau, the event sought to attract pledges from governments, global celebrities and average citizens. It ended with Julian Lennon singing his father John Lennon's peace song ``Imagine,`` which he said is the first time he did so publicly. Julian Lennon posted on social media that he always said he would only sing the song if it was the ``end of the world.'' He says it's the right song to sing now because ``the war on Ukraine is an unimaginable tragedy,'' and he felt compelled to respond in the most significant way that he could. Search Keywords: Short link: Luxury fashion brand Chanel says it has stopped selling its clothes, perfumes and other luxury goods to Russian customers abroad if they plan to take the products back home a bold response to Moscows invasion of Ukraine that some say goes too far. The move, which some Russians have decried, comes after the Parisian company shuttered its boutiques in Russia. Many companies across all industries have halted business in the country in response to the war. This further step, Chanel said Wednesday, is simply a case of complying with trade sanctions imposed on Russia by the European Union, Switzerland and others that prohibit transactions with designated individuals. The most recent EU and Swiss sanction laws include a prohibition on the sale, supply, transfer or export, directly or indirectly, of luxury goods to any natural or legal person, entity or body in Russia or for use in Russia, Chanel said in a statement. It concerns products valued at over 300 euros ($328) which is the majority of Chanels design output. We have rolled out a process to ask clients for whom we do not know the main residency to confirm that the items they are purchasing will not be used in Russia, Chanel said, without elaborating on what that process looks like. Its a difficult measure to enforce, yet some Russian social media influencers have already said they are being asked for identification and denied the ability to buy goods at Chanel boutiques from Paris to the United Arab Emirates. Russian socialite Anna Kalashnikova said last week that she had seen Russophobia in action after not being allowed to purchase earrings and a Chanel bag in an outlet in Dubai. Fashion insiders say the brands decision would not have been easy because they are set to take a financial hit. Its bold for Chanel this is almost unprecedented. The house is putting its principles above the buck, said Long Nguyen, a prominent fashion critic. Russia is one of their biggest luxury markets, and Chanel is certain to suffer financially from this choice, he said. But its also political for the brand as it wants to appeal to Gen Z clients who are largely opposed to the war. Nguyen said Chanels move represents more than a mere application of the sanction laws. Qing Wang, professor of marketing and innovation at Warwick Business School and a luxury brands expert, said, Taking a bold political stand like this is not without risks. She cited research by PR firm Clutch that found consumers mainly think brands should stay silent on political issues. Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed (63%) said they were likely to continue shopping at businesses that stayed silent on issues they care about, Wang said in a statement. Peoples true opinion on whether Chanels actions are appropriate, or a step too far that borders on Russophobia (which could be damaging to the brand), remain to be seen. Luxury giants Kering and LVMH did not immediately respond to requests for comment about whether they also plan to curb sales to Russians. Search Keywords: Short link: Apple plans to open its first fully owned and branded Korean store in trendy Garosu-gil in Seoul's Gangnam next month. The 1,297 sq.m shop will sell Apple merchandise and local SIM cards. The builders said Tuesday that major work has been completed and exterior and interior finishing is in progress. Construction started in August and is scheduled for completion on Dec. 23. The U.S. company operates 500 Apple Stores in only 22 countries while the rest are authorized resellers. The first Apple Store in Asia opened in Japan in 2003 but Korea had none so far. Slovakia has donated its S-300 air defense system to Ukraine to help it defend against Russia's aggression, Slovakia Prime Minister Eduard Heger said Friday. Ukraine has appealed to Western nations for air defense equipment to help repel a Russian military onslaught that is now in its second month. "I would like to confirm that Slovakia has provided Ukraine with an air-defence system S-300. Ukrainian nation is bravely defending its sovereign country and us too," Heger said in a tweet. KYODO NEWS - Apr 9, 2022 - 02:14 | Arts, All, Japan An exhibition exploring 350 years of relations between the Japanese and British royal families has opened at the Queen's Gallery near Buckingham Palace, the London home of the British monarchy. The exhibit features some 150 items from the royal family's permanent collection, many of which were gifted to British royals by Japanese emperors and shoguns and are on public display for the first time. Curator Rachel Peat told Kyodo News the "stunning" works have "profoundly shaped British taste and helped forge a lasting relationship between the two nations." Objects on show include samurai armor and weaponry, lacquerware and ceramics. Viewed together, they trace the history of exchanges between the two courts -- from the first formal contact between Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu and King James I in the 1610s to gifts received by current monarch Queen Elizabeth II. Among the exhibition's highlights is a set of silk screens given to Queen Victoria by Shogun Tokugawa Iemochi in 1860. The screens were previously thought to be lost and their provenance was only recently rediscovered by curators. Research showed that the screens formed part of a grand gift to mark the resumption of direct relations between the two countries following Japan's 250-year "sakoku" policy of isolation from the outside world. Another gift on display is a lacquerware cosmetics box sent by Emperor Hirohito, who has become posthumously known as the Emperor Showa, to Queen Elizabeth II to mark her coronation in 1953. Designed by renowned lacquerer Shosai Shirayama, the box was the first diplomatic gift given after Japanese-British relations were disrupted during World War II and was therefore of "great significance," according to curators. Also featured are letters and photographs detailing deepening ties between the two countries during the second half of the 19th century. Among them is a letter from Prince Alfred to his mother, Queen Victoria, reflecting on his 1869 visit to Japan -- the first by a British royal -- and praising the Asian country's "beautiful landscape." The exhibition was set to open in 2020 but postponed for almost two years due to the coronavirus pandemic. Peat said she was "delighted" to be able to welcome visitors at last. Titled "Japan: Courts and Culture," the exhibition will run through February 2023. KYODO NEWS - Apr 9, 2022 - 18:27 | All, Japan, World Japan and the Philippines on Saturday agreed to work toward signing a treaty designed to facilitate joint exercises and reciprocal visits of their forces as China's increasingly assertive pursuit of sovereignty claims in regional waters has upset its neighbors. The deal was struck during a meeting in Tokyo of their foreign and defense ministers, in which they expressed "serious concern" about the situation in the East and South China Seas and "strongly opposed" any action that may inflame tensions, according to their joint statement. They also agreed that Russia's invasion of Ukraine has threatened the very foundation of rules-based international order and that the ramifications of the war go far beyond Europe. "We will strengthen defense cooperation in light of the increasingly harsh security environment," Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters following the two countries' first "two-plus-two" security talks. A new treaty sought by Japan and the Philippines, which have been struggling to deal with China's pressing of maritime sovereignty claims, is formally called the Reciprocal Access Agreement. Such a pact, which Japan most recently signed with Australia, will help ease restrictions on the transportation of weapons and supplies for joint training and disaster relief operations. Hayashi, Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi, and their respective Philippine counterparts Teodoro Locsin and Delfin Lorenzana also confirmed to consider signing a supply-sharing pact for their forces, known as ACSA, which stands for an acquisition and cross-servicing agreement, officials said. As China's clout looms large, the ministers vowed to realize a "free and open" Indo-Pacific and objected to "unlawful maritime claims, militarization, coercive activities and the threat or use of force in the South China Sea." The statement stopped short of directly referencing China, but Hayashi said at the outset of the talks that "China's unilateral attempts to change the status quo on the back of its force are continuing in the East and South China seas." China has routinely sent ships to the East China Sea to navigate waters near the Japan-administered Senkaku Islands, which Beijing claims and calls Diaoyu. It is also involved in a territorial dispute with the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries over the South China Sea. When Locsin met the press with the three other ministers, he said the launch of the two-plus-two dialogue is a "manifestation of our desire to jointly address common concern on defense and foreign affairs." The ministers also said they are strongly against "economic coercion to achieve political ends" and stressed "the importance of an international law-based economic order." The dialogue came as Russia's invasion of Ukraine fuels fears China could be emboldened to further intensify its military activities in the Indo-Pacific region, while North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile launch last month has renewed focus on its arms threat. On Russia's invasion, the Japanese and Philippine ministers agreed that it "constitutes a serious violation of international law," and they "deplored the dire humanitarian consequences of the hostilities, especially in Bucha," a Ukrainian town near Kyiv. Although the name of Russia did not appear on the statement, it said, "This aggression jeopardizes the foundation of the international order which does not accept any unilateral change of the internationally recognized borders through the use of force, thus affecting not only Europe but also Asia." They also condemned North Korea's development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, and underscored their commitment to achieving the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of all weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles of Pyongyang. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte agreed last November to launch the two-plus-two dialogue during phone talks. The security talks were arranged before Duterte's single six-year term, during which he has pursued rapprochement with China, ends in late June. The Philippines is the second Southeast Asian nation to have a two-plus-two meeting with Japan, following Indonesia. Besides the Philippines, Japan has held two-plus-two security talks with the United States, Australia, Britain, France, Germany, India, Indonesia and Russia. Related coverage: Japan, Philippines oppose changing status quo in regional seas Japan, Philippines to enhance security ties as China's clout grows Philippines enters final leg of 2-way presidential race By Trend A memorandum of cooperation was signed between Azerbaijan's Trend News Agency and one of Turkey's authoritative media agencies, Demiroren News Agency (DHA), Trend reports. The memorandum was signed by Trends Deputy Director-General Rufiz Hafizoglu and Deputy Director-General of DHA Bulent Ovacik. The document envisages a mutual exchange of information between DHA and Trend. While delivering a speech at the signing ceremony, MP Sevil Mikayilova stressed that today the Azerbaijani media has entered the essential development stage through the efforts of Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva in this direction. "This was made possible through the care and attention of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva. The signed memorandum will determine our future steps together. This will further strengthen our voice in the world. Our cooperation will contribute to the objective coverage of Azerbaijan and Turkey's potential," Sevil Mikayilova stated. Addressing the ceremony, Rufiz Hafizoglu and Bulent Ovacik also outlined that the document was to promote the continued development of media relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey. The cooperation between media agencies will allow for the dissemination of Turkish and Azerbaijani realities both in the two countries and around the world in many languages. The Azerbaijani press strives to cope with the tasks entrusted to it, to convey the legal voice of the country to the world, as well as to promote Azerbaijani truths in the international arena. Cooperation between Trend and DHA will make important contributions to the development of independent media and professional journalism in Azerbaijan and Turkey. KYODO NEWS - Apr 9, 2022 - 20:32 | All, World Finance ministers and central bank governors of the Group of Seven major developed countries are due to meet in Washington on April 20 to discuss ways of stepping up pressure on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, sources familiar with the plan said Saturday. The finance chiefs from the seven countries -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United State -- will gather to show their group's unity in its response to the invasion on the sidelines of a Group of 20 meeting. The finance meeting of the world's 20 largest economies will be held on the same day in the U.S. capital but remains complicated by conflicts over Russia's participation. U.S. President Joe Biden has said Russia should be removed from the G-20, composed of both developed and developing countries including China and India, which have stopped short of condemning Moscow's onslaught against its neighbor and killing of civilians. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen hinted earlier this month that the United States is prepared to boycott G-20 meetings should Russian officials turn up. When the G-7 finance chiefs meet in Washington, they may also discuss how to deal with rising prices stemming from a series of sanctions imposed on Russia in the wake of its aggression, according to the sources. The sanctions include removing Russian banks from a key international payment network, known as SWIFT, and having assets owned by high-ranking officials and powerful entities frozen. Earlier this week, in the latest round of sanctions, the G-7 countries said they will "expedite" plans to reduce energy dependence on Russia by phasing out and banning coal imports. On Feb. 14, 10 days before Russia's invasion started, the G-7 finance ministers and central bankers released a statement saying, "We are united in our resolve to protect the sovereignty, territorial integrity as well as economic and financial stability of Ukraine." When the finance chiefs met remotely on March 1, they also agreed to apply further pressure on Russia. KYODO NEWS - Apr 9, 2022 - 23:00 | All, World, Japan Japan on Saturday accepted Ukrainian evacuees using seats secured by the government on a direct commercial flight from Poland for the first time. The six aged between 6 and 55, of which five are female, arrived at Narita airport near Tokyo from Warsaw, according to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan. As Japan has pledged to play a more active role in providing humanitarian assistance to Ukrainian people following Russia's invasion, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Thursday that the government will secure seats weekly on direct flights from Poland to Japan for those fleeing from the war-torn country. Such free-of-charge assistance Japan plans to continue for a while will be available for "people who strongly hope to evacuate to Japan but find it difficult to arrange a medium to travel on their own," the agency said, as the war waged by Russia drags on and millions of refugees have fled Ukraine. If they have no acquaintances or families in Japan, they can stay in hotel rooms to be arranged by the government after they enter the country. Until now, Ukrainian evacuees came to Japan by themselves or by a Japanese government plane, which arrived Tuesday at Haneda airport in Tokyo carrying 20 of them from Poland, where Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi visited to learn about the refugee crisis. As of Wednesday, Japan, known for its strict immigration and refugee policy, has allowed the entry of 437 people from Ukraine. The Japanese number since March 2, about a week after the war began, is still small given that 4.44 million refugees had fled Ukraine, including about 2.56 million to Poland and about 678,000 to Romania, according to the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. Related coverage: Japan locals eager to help Ukrainian evacuees, over 700 offers made 20 Ukraine evacuees arrive in Japan from Poland on gov't plane KYODO NEWS - Apr 9, 2022 - 10:22 | Feature, All, Japan Japanese locals have demonstrated eagerness to help Ukrainian evacuees who have fled to the country in the wake of Russia's invasion, with the Japanese government having received nearly 900 offers of assistance so far. As of Thursday, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan said it had received 895 offers of assistance, including jobs and housing, far in excess of the some 400 Ukrainians that have sought refuge in Japan to date. Victoria Romashova and her son were among the 20 Ukrainian evacuees who arrived in Japan from Poland aboard a Japanese government plane on Tuesday. The pair traveled to Suita, Osaka Prefecture, where Romashova's mother lives with her Japanese husband. The city has provided free housing as well as a washing machine, refrigerator and bed. Top Sangyo Co., a manufacturer and seller of daily necessities, has provided cooking utensils and towels, while supermarket operator Foods Market Satake has supplied about 10 days' worth of food. Both companies are based in Suita. According to the immigration agency, 420 companies, 175 municipalities and 24 nongovernmental or nonprofit organizations have offered to provide support. Offers from individuals and others total 276. The majority of companies have offered employment opportunities, while individuals have proposed a wide variety of assistance including legal and administrative support and housing. In Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Masaru Nishikawa arranged for a Ukrainian woman and her son to be evacuated to Japan on Tuesday's government flight from Poland. Nishikawa used to teach tea ceremony in Russia and one of his students later instructed the Ukrainian woman in Kyiv. He met her in 2020 when she visited Japan to practice the cultural activity and heard from his former student that she had fled to Poland following the Russian invasion of Ukraine launched on Feb. 24 and wanted to come to Japan. "I don't want them to feel sad or have no place to go. I am just doing what should be done," said Nishikawa, who asked the Japanese Embassy in Poland to include the two among evacuees to be airlifted to Japan. He was also able to secure housing for the mother and son in Yokohama. In a meeting with Ukrainian Ambassador to Japan Sergiy Korsunsky earlier in the week, education minister Shinsuke Suematsu pledged to provide Japanese language training for Ukrainian evacuees and support for children who wish to enroll in Japanese schools. Meanwhile, the Tokyo metropolitan government had provided temporary accommodation for 17 evacuees from Ukraine as of Tuesday. It has so far secured 100 apartments for this purpose and plans to expand the capacity to 700 if needed. Related coverage: 20 Ukraine evacuees arrive in Japan from Poland on gov't plane FOCUS: Japan's rare move to welcome Ukraine evacuees made for voters, West Japan punishes Russia over Ukraine with import bans, asset freezes KYODO NEWS - Apr 9, 2022 - 09:04 | World, All Philippine presidential front-runner Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and incumbent Vice President Leni Robredo are in a two-cornered race to succeed President Rodrigo Duterte as the Southeast Asian country enters the final month of campaigning for the May 9 election. Analysts expect a neck-and-neck battle similar to the 2016 vice presidential race between Marcos, the son of a former dictator and namesake, and Robredo, a human rights lawyer and opposition leader. In 2016, Robredo beat Marcos by over 260,000 votes. Marcos claimed he was cheated and filed an election protest, which the Supreme Court dismissed in 2021. This time, there are a total of 10 official candidates for president, limited by the Constitution to a single six-year term. Candidates are elected individually by 67.5 million registered voters. On foreign policy, Marcos has expressed an eagerness to stay on friendly terms with both the United States and China, despite Beijing's militarization of outposts in areas disputed by Manila and other parties in the South China Sea. Robredo wants to use the 2016 arbitral ruling on the South China Sea as leverage to encourage other Association of Southeast Asian Nations members to come up with a code of conduct in the sea to defuse tensions between Beijing and other claimants in the disputed waters. China has overlapping claims with four ASEAN member states -- Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam -- and Taiwan in the South China Sea, a strategic waterway through which over one-third of global trade passes. Citing the latest Pulse Asia survey, Aries Arugay, a professor of political science at the University of the Philippines, said this period is crucial because Robredo is gaining momentum. The opinion poll conducted March 17-21 showed Marcos' lead over Robredo had narrowed to a margin of 32 percentage points from 45 points in February. "The house-to-house campaigning of Robredo supporters is phenomenal in that national candidates traditionally preferred to hold mass assemblies," Arugay said. In 2016, Duterte, who started as a poll survey laggard, had a breakthrough also around the same time during the campaign period. Arugay said that was also the case for the late President Benigno Aquino III against his rivals in the 2010 election. Duterte's daughter Sara, running for vice president under Marcos' ticket, has maintained a wide lead over her rivals. Marcos' camp said the survey showed people's "unwavering trust" in the Marcos' heir, who is facing disqualification at the Commission on Election and controversy over his family's unpaid taxes. Robredo's supporters began focusing on house-to-house campaigning to reach more voters in lower-income communities. Despite the endorsement of Marcos by Duterte's ruling party, the president says he remains neutral. Duterte refuses to endorse any candidate "except of course my daughter." "I will vote for my daughter," he said. Related coverage: FOCUS: Duterte's China appeasement makes pushback difficult for Manila FOCUS: "War on drugs" victims to pursue charges against Duterte after term Duterte's party backs Philippine presidential bid of Marcos Jr. KYODO NEWS - Apr 9, 2022 - 13:19 | All, Japan Japanese nonlife insurers have suspended undertaking new contracts entirely for domestic firms that operate in Russia, affected by Moscow's countermeasures against economic sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine, sources close to the matter said Saturday. Insurers such as Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co. will also not renew existing contracts after their terms have expired, the sources said, in a move that could leave Japanese firms uninsured or facing higher premiums by entering into new agreements with local insurers. The suspension comes after Russia designated Japan as an "unfriendly" country last month in the wake of economic sanctions imposed by Japan and Western nations, obligating all businesses deals with companies and individuals from these countries to secure Russia's government approval. Japanese firms often require Japanese nonlife insurers when they operate in Russia, for example when building a factory. The Japanese insurers introduce their clients to European insurance companies and receive reinsurance premiums to cover the risks. Japanese firms can still contract directly with Russian insurers, but they could face higher premiums or reduced coverage, making it difficult for them to continue operations in the country. According to survey results released in March by Tokyo Shoko Research Ltd., 200 Japanese companies engage in business in Russia. Related coverage: Japan to phase out Russian coal imports after war in Ukraine 55% of Japan firms based overseas impacted by Ukraine crisis: poll FOCUS: Business exodus from Russia has limited impact on Japan economy KYODO NEWS - Apr 9, 2022 - 19:16 | All, World, Japan German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is planning to visit Japan in late April to hold talks with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, with Russia's invasion of Ukraine and how to manage China's rise likely to top the agenda, a government source said Saturday. Scholz will meet with Kishida possibly on April 28, the Japanese source said. It will be his first visit since taking office in December last year. Germany is now the rotating chair of the Group of Seven major developed countries and is set to host their annual summit at Schloss Elmau, a castle resort in the Bavarian Alps, from June 26 to June 28. His visit is aimed at preparing for the summit, through which Germany is hoping to demonstrate the G-7 countries' unity in promoting common values such as democracy and freedom. Reducing dependency on energy resources from Russia has become a key issue in Europe, and will likely be discussed during the meeting of the Japanese and German leaders, who have strongly condemned Moscow's "atrocities" in Ukraine with other G-7 leaders. In light of the war in Ukraine, Scholz and Kishida are also expected to reaffirm their opposition to the unilateral use of force to change the status quo in the Indo-Pacific region, where China is increasingly putting pressure on Taiwan. Germany has distanced itself from cordial relations with China in recent years due to Beijing's assertiveness in the region, in line with actions by Britain and the European Union. In April last year, the foreign and defense ministers of Japan and Germany held their first so-called two-plus-two meeting in a virtual format. Then in December, a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer conducted a joint exercise with a German frigate off the southern Japan prefecture of Okinawa. The frigate became the country's first military vessel in about two decades to make a port call to Japan, which is scheduled to take over the presidency of G-7 in 2023. Students of Lhasa Ali high school attend a class given by a teacher of Xi 'an Gaoxin No. 1 High School via an online education system in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, April 8, 2022. An online education program aided by Shaanxi Province was launched on Friday to improve education in Tibet Autonomous Region. The program provides online teaching and research interaction between the two schools with the help of the 5G network. (Xinhua/Zhang Rufeng) Ren Kangyuan (L back), principal of Lhasa Ali high school, and Wang Shufang (on the screen), principal of Xi 'an Gaoxin No. 1 High School, are seen at the launching ceremony of an online education system in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, April 8, 2022. An online education program aided by Shaanxi Province was launched on Friday to improve education in Tibet Autonomous Region. The program provides online teaching and research interaction between the two schools with the help of the 5G network. (Xinhua/Zhang Rufeng) A student of Lhasa Ali high school interacts with a teacher of Xi 'an Gaoxin No. 1 High School via an online education system in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, April 8, 2022. An online education program aided by Shaanxi Province was launched on Friday to improve education in Tibet Autonomous Region. The program provides online teaching and research interaction between the two schools with the help of the 5G network. (Xinhua/Zhang Rufeng) A student of Lhasa Ali high school speaks at the launching ceremony of an online education system with Xi 'an Gaoxin No. 1 High School in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, April 8, 2022. An online education program aided by Shaanxi Province was launched on Friday to improve education in Tibet Autonomous Region. The program provides online teaching and research interaction between the two schools with the help of the 5G network. (Xinhua/Zhang Rufeng) JERUSALEM, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Eytan Stibbe, the second Israeli astronaut ever, took off into space on Friday aboard the Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft, as part of the first private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, Israeli media reported. The launch, broadcast live on Israeli television, was performed atop a Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the United States. Stibbe, a former fighter pilot in the Israeli Air Force (IAF), is part of a four-member crew which also includes mission commander Michael Lopez-Alegria and Larry Connor, both from the Untied States, and Canada's Mark Pathy. The spacecraft is expected to stay in space for 10 days for conducting scientific research, educational outreach, and commercial activities, according to NASA. Stibbe, 64, is expected to conduct dozens of scientific experiments developed by several Israeli universities, institutes, medical centers, and companies in various fields. The experiments are part of Israel's mission Rakia, which means "sky" in the Hebrew language. The Rakia Mission, led by the Israeli Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology and the Ramon Foundation, also includes education and art activities in space. Ramon Foundation is a non-profit organization that promotes advanced educational programs in the fields of aviation and space. The foundation was established in memory of the legacy of Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli astronaut who was killed in the Columbia Space Shuttle disaster in 2003, his late wife Rona Ramon who was a public and educational activist, and their son, IAF pilot Asaf Ramon who was killed in a training accident in 2009. The whole mission is operated by the U.S. company Axiom Space in partnership with NASA and the U.S. company SpaceX. MANILA, April 9 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology on Saturday lowered the alert level for Taal volcano, 66 km south of the capital region Manila, due to "decreased unrest." Alert level 2 on a scale of 0-5 means "that there is a decreased unrest but should not be interpreted that unrest has ceased or that the threat of an eruption has disappeared," the institute said. It warned that "sudden steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, ash fall and lethal accumulations or bursts of volcanic gas can occur." On March 26, the institute raised the alert level to level 3 for the volcano island in Batangas province following a phreatomagmatic eruption. The institute said it has recorded 86 small-magnitude and imperceptible volcanic earthquakes. "Most earthquakes were generated by volcanic degassing from the shallow magma and hydrothermal region beneath the edifice," the institute added. Villagers around the volcano are still prohibited from returning home despite the lowering of the danger level. The government has evacuated over 7,000 people from 18 villages around the volcano. Taal volcano, one of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines, last erupted in January 2020. The last eruption displaced nearly 380,000 villagers and destroyed many farms, houses and roads in the province. Huawei's Sub-Saharan Africa Region President Chen Lei pays a courtesy call to Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth in Mauritius' capital Port Louis, on April 6, 2022. (Mauritian Prime Minister's Office/Handout via Xinhua) Mauritian Prime minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth has commended Chinese tech giant Huawei's contribution to local talent cultivation while encouraging it to provide more opportunities to the nation's youth. ANTANANARIVO, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth has commended Chinese tech giant Huawei's contribution to local talent cultivation while encouraging it to provide more opportunities to the nation's youth. "Equally connecting everyone is vital in today's social and economic development," the prime minister told Huawei's Sub-Saharan Africa Region President Chen Lei and his team who paid a courtesy call earlier this week to the PM in Mauritius' capital Port Louis. "It is why we are investing in the network facilities to benefit everyone," the PM said. "We are open to the use of modern technologies, we welcome Huawei to strengthen cooperation with partners in advanced technology and benefit Mauritius as the business hub in Africa," said the prime minister. "It is very important to train our youth to be able to use the innovative tools, in both short term and long term. We encourage Huawei to provide more opportunities to Mauritius' youth," said the prime minister. For his part, Chen Lei admired Mauritius' visionary planning in Digital Economy, Renewable Energy and Talent Development. In view of building a digital and green Mauritius, Chen said that the focus could be on 3 pillars, namely connectivity, cloud and renewable energy with digital skills as the foundation of the whole. By Trend Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan SeparateCombined Arms Army carried out an inspection of the operated vehicles, Trend reports citing the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. During the contest, the daily maintenance sequence of each type of operated vehicle was inspected. Logistics vehicles and equipment, mobile refrigerators, bakeries, water tanks, and field kitchens designed to provide food and water to soldiers in the field conditions were involved in the contest along with cars, minibusses, and buses of various brands and purposes. At the end of the contest, the military units that demonstrated the best result were awarded. BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- To promote world peace and security, Chinese President Xi Jinping has been advocating a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. Back in 2014, while addressing the fourth summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia held in Shanghai, Xi initiated the vision to tackle rising challenges facing the region. In the following years, the Chinese leader has evolved the concept and expounded it on various international occasions. The following are some highlights of his remarks in this regard. Sept. 26, 2017 While addressing the opening ceremony of the 86th Interpol General Assembly, Xi said "countries should adopt a concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and jointly respond to security challenges." He called for promoting global security governance in a more fair, reasonable and effective way. "Countries, while maintaining their own security, should take into account other countries' security," Xi said. July 25, 2018 At a business forum at the 10th BRICS summit held in Johannesburg, South Africa, Xi called on BRICS countries to promote common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. He also stressed that BRICS members should address issues that matter to all through consultation and oppose hegemony and power politics. March 26, 2019 At the closing ceremony of the China-France Global Governance Forum held in Paris, the Chinese president called for joint efforts and mutual assistance to address the peace deficit. It is advisable to uphold a new vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, discard Cold-War and zero-sum mentalities, reject the law of the jungle, and settle conflicts through peaceful ways, he said. Nov. 10, 2020 While addressing the 20th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Beijing via video link, Xi said: "We need to safeguard security and stability and build a community of security for us all." "Security and stability are the number one precondition for a country's development, and thus concern the core interests of all countries," he said, adding that "We need to act on the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, address all forms of threats and challenges effectively, and foster a sound security environment in our region." Sept. 3, 2021 Addressing the opening ceremony of the plenary session of the sixth Eastern Economic Forum via video link, Xi called on all parties to form synergy to safeguard regional peace and stability. All parties need to narrow differences and build consensus through dialogue and exchanges, embrace the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and work for a harmonious and tranquil homeland for us all, Xi said. March 8, 2022 Xi had a virtual summit with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, during which the Chinese president urged advocation of a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. China supports France and Germany in promoting a balanced, effective and sustainable European security framework for the interests and lasting security of Europe, and by upholding its strategic autonomy, he said. The leaders also exchanged views on the current situation in Ukraine. China maintains that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries must be respected, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter must be fully observed, the legitimate security concerns of all countries must be taken seriously, and all efforts that are conducive to the peaceful settlement of the crisis must be supported, he said. April 8, 2022 Xi held a phone conversation with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, during which the Chinese president stressed the importance to adopt the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. "The development of the current international situation has once again proved that regional security cannot be achieved by strengthening military alliances," Xi said. "It was a wonderful experience," Junelia, a patient at the Dominica-China Friendship Hospital, said after she received a hi-tech treatment. Junelia, 40, has suffered from multiple uterine fibroids for many years. In February, China's Haifu medical team arrived in Dominica to train local doctors on the high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment technology. With the help of Chinese doctors, local doctors have so far successfully treated nine patients with this technology. Produced by Xinhua Global Service WUHAN, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Approximately 230,000 captive-bred Chinese sturgeon were released into the Yangtze River on Saturday to help restore the species' wild population. The fish were released in the city of Yichang, central China's Hubei Province, in the 65th sturgeon release event carried out by the China Three Gorges Corporation (CTGC). The number of sturgeon released hit a record high, and the CTGC has so far released nearly 5.3 million Chinese sturgeon into the Yangtze River. "When patrolling the river, I often see a large number of newborn fry. The number of aquatic creatures in the Yangtze River is recovering at a significant pace," said Yan Jin, a local police officer. Nicknamed "aquatic pandas," Chinese sturgeon have existed for more than 140 million years. However, the population of the species in the Yangtze plummeted in the late 20th century due to intrusive human activities. "At present, it is difficult for wild Chinese sturgeon to breed, and their population is extremely endangered. The release of captive-bred sturgeon is conducive to the reproduction and recovery of the species' wild population," said Lei Mingshan, chairman of the CTGC. The fish range in maturity from six months to 13 years, said Jiang Wei, chief engineer of the Chinese sturgeon research institute under the CTGC. Some male fish that are 13 years old have entered sexual maturity, which was rare in previous years, Jiang said. This is important to supplementing the number of wild Chinese sturgeon and adjusting the age structure of the species. Since the implementation of a 10-year fishing ban in pivotal waters, the Yangtze River has welcomed more aquatic creatures, but restoring the ecosystem and improving the biodiversity level are difficult things to achieve overnight, Jiang said. "We are still racing against the clock to minimize the adverse impact that the decline in wild resources is having on the reproduction of the Chinese sturgeon population," he said. In 2020, the Yangtze River rare fish conservation center was put into use in the Three Gorges Dam area. It has since become home to the highest number of captive-bred Chinese sturgeon in the country. "The conservation center and the supporting Chinese sturgeon sperm and tissue cell repository are running better and better. They are like Noah's Ark for the species, and ensure that Chinese sturgeon will not go extinct easily," said Li Zhiyuan, deputy director of the Chinese sturgeon research institute. BAGHDAD, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Two Iraqi soldiers were killed and another wounded Saturday in an attack by the militants of the Islamic State (IS) group in Iraq's western province of Anbar, a security source said. The attack took place in the morning when IS militants attacked an army base near the town of Heet, some 160 km west of the capital Baghdad, leaving two soldiers killed and a third wounded, Saad al-Eisawi, an army officer in the province, told Xinhua. The attackers made use of the bad weather as they carried out their attack during a dust storm in the early morning, al-Eisawi said. Over the past few months, Iraqi security forces have carried out deadly attacks against IS militants to crack down on their intensified activities. The security situation in Iraq has improved after Iraqi forces defeated the IS in 2017. Yet IS remnants have since melted into urban centers, deserts, and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians. The Elysee presidential palace is pictured in the morning before its opening to the public in Paris, France, Sept. 19, 2020. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) reported that 48.8 million French citizens had registered to vote in the presidential elections. Purchasing power, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the environment, the health system, immigration and social inequalities are the topics that interest French voters the most, according to the Ipsos survey. PARIS, April 9 (Xinhua) -- The first round of the 2022 French presidential elections will be held on Sunday. If none of the 12 eligible candidates receives an absolute majority of votes, a run-off would be held on April 24 between the top two candidates from the first round. WHO ARE THE CANDIDATES? The final list of all 12 candidates, including incumbent President Emmanuel Macron, was published by the Constitutional Council, the country's highest constitutional authority, in early March. These candidates each had received at least 500 sponsorship letters from mayors and local officials. According to a survey on voting intentions published on April 6 by market research firm Ipsos, Macron should be leading the first round, followed by Marine Le Pen of the far-right National Rally party and Jean-Luc Melenchon, who leads the left-wing La France Insoumise (Unsubmissive France) party. Purchasing power, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the environment, the health system, immigration and social inequalities are the topics that interest French voters the most, Ipsos said. A man walks past the electoral posters of the candidates of France's presidential elections in Paris, France, April 1, 2022. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) WHO CAN VOTE? The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) reported that 48.8 million French citizens had registered to vote in the presidential elections. Of them, 47.05 million have registered on municipal lists and 1.43 million registered overseas on consular lists. About 95 percent of France's eligible citizens have registered to vote, the INSEE said. According to another Ipsos survey, 30 percent of the eligible voters remain undecided about their participation in the first election round. This would result in a record-high abstention rate. In the first round of the previous presidential election, the abstention rate was 28.4 percent. SAFETY PROTOCOL On Sunday, the polling stations will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. In larger cities, such as Paris, Lyon or Marseille, polling stations can stay open until 8 p.m. As France is witnessing another surge in COVID-19 cases, the Interior Ministry has announced a health protocol for the polling stations. According to the ministry, a vaccine pass or a negative COVID-19 test result will not be required for those entering the polling stations. The wearing of face masks and social distancing will not be mandatory, but will be recommended for the elderly, the vulnerable and coronavirus positive individuals. French President Emmanuel Macron addresses his election campaign at the Paris La Defense Arena stadium, in Nanterre, on the outskirts of Paris, France, April 2, 2022. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) WHEN WILL THE RESULTS BE KNOWN? The official preliminary results from the first round will be announced on Sunday night or Monday morning after verification by the Interior Ministry. No candidate has won the French presidency in the first round since the Fifth French Republic switched to universal suffrage for presidential elections. BAGHDAD, April 9 (Xinhua) -- A member of the paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces and a villager were killed, and four villagers wounded Saturday in an attack by militants of the extremist Islamic State (IS) group in Iraqi northern province of Kirkuk, a local police source said. The attack took place in the evening when the IS militants opened fire on a village near the town of al-Rashad, some 250 km north of Baghdad, Major Abbas al-Obaidi from the Kirkuk police told Xinhua. Paramilitary Hashd Shaabi members in the village teamed up with armed villagers to fight the attackers, who fled the scene after reinforcement troops arrived, al-Obaidi said. There are no immediate reports about the casualties among the attackers, he added. Over the past few months, Iraqi security forces have carried out deadly attacks against IS militants to crack down on their intensified activities. The security situation in Iraq has improved after Iraqi forces defeated the IS in 2017. Yet the IS remnants have since melted into urban centers, deserts, and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians. GENEVA, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Although the numbers of new weekly cases and deaths of COVID-19 continue to decrease in Europe since the end of March, the current high level of transmission is putting strain on testing capacity and surveillance systems in many countries and caution is still needed, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). As per WHO's COVID-19 Weekly Epidemiological Update, after the increase in cases observed in the European Region during the first half of March 2022, new weekly cases have decreased for the second consecutive week as of April 3, or 16 percent as compared to the previous week, with over 4.6 million new cases reported. Meanwhile, the number of new deaths has also continued to fall in Europe, with over 10,000 new deaths reported weekly as of April 3, or a 15 percent decrease as compared to the previous week. Despite the falling numbers, WHO Regional Office for Europe has cautioned that the current high level of transmission is putting strain on testing capacity and surveillance systems in many countries, meaning the number of cases reported may be underestimated or delayed. It has warned that rapidly changing testing strategies will further impact reported case numbers and test positivity, so these indicators should be interpreted with caution. As for specific countries, Germany's Health Minister Karl Lauterbach tweeted on Saturday that despite the decline in infection figures, "everyone should get tested, or self-tested, before an Easter trip." A day after the rejection by the Bundestag (lower house of Germany's Parliament) of mandatory vaccination for adults aged 60 years and older in the country, Lauterbach said on Friday this meant "people are not optimally prepared for an expected autumn outbreak wave." He said given the remaining vaccination gap, it would "not be possible to go into autumn without making masks compulsory." Saturday marked one month since Romania lifted all anti-epidemic precautionary measures. However, some local health experts and officials have expressed reservations and called on people to continue wearing masks, emphasizing that wearing masks is still one of the most effective measures prior to the end of the pandemic. In Portugal, health authorities said on Friday that the transmissibility of coronavirus in the country remains "very high," with an incidence of 602 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. And the mortality from COVID-19 has maintained an "increasing trend" since the second half of March. France's Health Minister Olivier Veran has said that the country is planning to offer a fourth vaccination shot to people over 60 years old who have already received their booster dose amid a surge in COVID-19 cases. In Finland, the country's Ministry of Social Affairs and Health said earlier this week that there are still no signs of the pandemic abating in the country, as the total number of patients in specialized healthcare and primary healthcare remains high since the turn of 2021-2022. In the Netherlands, although almost all COVID-19 measures have been lifted in late February, health workers are still worried about the strained healthcare resources and the virus' potential threats, in particular to the vulnerable people. And in Croatia, where almost all epidemiological measures are being phased out beginning Saturday, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic has stated that caution is still required. "We certainly need to be careful though, COVID-19 is still there and unfortunately we still have people dying from the disease," he said. (Bloomberg) -- Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is traveling to the national capital, Canberra, on Sunday morning to call a federal election, according to local media reports. Most Read from Bloomberg Hes expected to leave Sydney after 9 a.m. local time, then will visit the countrys Governor-General David Hurley to tell him he plans to call the national poll, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. The election must be held by May 21. It remains unclear whether the election will be May 14 or 21, Sky News reported. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Tough decisions are piling up at the Department of Justice (DOJ), which is now weighing three criminal referrals from Congress directed at former Trump White House officials. The referrals pose thorny legal issues for a department that has historically defended senior administration officials testimonial immunity in the face of congressional subpoenas. This week, the House voted to hold Peter Navarro and Dan Scavino in contempt for defying the Jan. 6 committees subpoenas as the panel grows increasingly frustrated over the nearly four months that have passed since it approved a referral for former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. When the House voted to refer Stephen Bannon to the DOJ last year for defying another select committee subpoena, federal prosecutors quickly brought criminal contempt of Congress charges against the Trump confidant and former White House strategist. But the referrals involving Meadows, Navarro and Scavino may involve tougher considerations for the Justice Department since their subpoenas cover their work as White House officials. Neil Eggleston, a former White House counsel and congressional investigator for the Houses Iran-Contra probe, said the remaining cases are more difficult than that of Bannon, who was well out of the White House during the time period in question. For people who were senior White House officials at the time, theres another layer of complexity that doesnt apply to a Bannon, he said. The DOJ has historically argued in favor of shielding such officials from congressional inquiry, adopting legal positions that the legislative branch has no avenue to compel testimony from presidential advisers. For a few decades now, weve seen DOJ articulating this kind of absolutist stance that close advisors to the president are absolutely immune from congressional subpoena, said David Janovsky, an analyst with the nonpartisan Project on Government Oversight. Story continues And its worth noting that DOJ has basically invented this out of whole cloth, and its certainly not something that Congress agrees with, and its not really something that any of the judges who have had an occasion to look at this argument have agreed with either. So theyre pretty much on their own on it, but thats the line theyve taken in the past, he added. The growing pile of criminal contempt referrals for Trump White House officials is now forcing the department to balance its institutional interest in preserving executive branch prerogatives with the Biden administrations support of the select committees investigation. While Congress has the power to issue subpoenas and the courts have recognized the legal weight of those demands, the legislative branch has limited options when it comes to making sure they are enforced. When someone defies a congressional subpoena, Congress will usually either file a civil suit asking the courts to enforce it or hold the subpoena target in contempt, turning it into a criminal matter that the Justice Department must pursue. For Bannon, who refused to provide either documents or testimony, hes facing two contempt charges, each carrying the risk of a year in prison and up to $100,000 in fines. Under the federal statutes, the DOJ has a duty to bring contempt charges upon receiving a criminal referral from Congress, but prosecutors have in the past declined to follow through on the legislative branchs referrals. Amid their frustration over lack of action from the DOJ, some House select committee members have called out the department, arguing that if the administration doesnt follow through on the referral, it will undermine the panels authority and ability to seek accountability over Jan. 6. The Department of Justice has a duty to act on this referral and others that we have sent, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said last month when the select committee voted to send the Navarro and Scavino referrals to the House floor. Without enforcement of congressional subpoenas, there is no oversight, and without oversight, no accountability for the former president, or any other president, past, present, or future. Without enforcement of its lawful process, Congress ceases to be a co-equal branch of government, and the balance of power would be forever altered, to the lasting detriment of the American people, he added. Attorney General Merrick Garland has refused to provide any hint of how the department might proceed with the Meadows referral. We will follow the facts and the law wherever they lead. We dont comment any further on investigations, Garland said this week at a press conference. The Jan. 6 committee sought Scavino, Trumps deputy chief of staff for communications, after he spent considerable time with the former president on Jan. 6 and helped promote the rally. Navarro, a former trade adviser to Trump, has since disclosed in his book that he was involved in plans to delay certification of the presidential election. He also wrote a three-part series on his website promoting Trumps false claims of widespread election fraud. Neither man showed up for slated deposition or supplied any documents. Eggleston said the DOJ will be closely reading the advice from its Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), which has penned memos to the departments lawyers holding that current White House officials do not have to sit for interviews with congressional committees. OLC opinions dont bind courts, but they do bind the Justice Department, he said. But Eggleston said Navarro could present an easier case for the Justice Department given that his involvement in Trumps efforts to remain in office were well outside the scope of his executive branch duties. Navarro isnt being consulted about economic matters. Hes been consulted about the rally and the insurrection. And so I think theres a pretty strong argument that none of those doctrines apply, he said. The Biden administration has largely been supportive of the select committees investigation thus far, waiving executive privilege over records and officials and siding with the panel in court in various legal challenges. Janovsky said that the urgency behind the select committees investigation should compel the DOJ into following through on the criminal referrals, even if its not ready to completely abandon its past positions on executive authority in the face of congressional oversight. Fundamentally, we need to remember that Congress is investigating an insurrection and an attempt to prevent the transfer of power, Janovsky said. Any step that makes it harder for Congress to do this investigation is damaging. Its hard to imagine a more serious subject of congressional investigation, and they need every tool available, including punishing people who dont want to cooperate. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Trend Big progress was achieved during the negotiations in Brussels, Director of the Russian Institute of Political Studies, analyst Sergey Markov told Trend. Markov made the remark commenting on the agreements reached following the meeting in the Belgian capital between President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, which was held with the mediation and participation of the President of the Council of the European Union (EU) Charles Michel. The analyst noted that there are several important aspects of the negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Brussels. "First, there were serious, substantive negotiations, which lasted more than four hours. Serious step forward was made during them," he said. "Firstly, the parties decided to create a Joint Border Commission which is expected to be able to speed up work on the delimitation and demarcation of the border [between the two countries]. So far, Armenia largely disrupted this work, but now it has expressed its readiness to move in this direction." "Secondly, the desire of both parties to seriously engage in the preparation of a future peace treaty was expressed. The peace agreement should fix the main thing - the mutual recognition of borders, that is, the recognition by Armenia that Karabakh is Azerbaijan," Markov further said. The analyst stressed that the European Union can provide assistance in clearing mines from the Azerbaijani territories liberated from Armenian occupation [in the 2020 Second Karabakh War]. "The problem of mines is a huge problem for the restoration of the liberated territories. They are heavily mined. Armenia didnt hand over all the maps of minefields, and those which were provided are 75 percent useless," he also noted. "If the European Union, with its vast experience in mine-clearing of large territories, could help in this issue, this would be a very serious step forward," added Markov. (Reuters) - The head of Yemen's new presidential council said on Friday he would end the seven-year-long war via a peace process, in his first speech since power was delegated to the body by the Saudi-backed president this week. "The leadership council promises the people to end the war and achieve peace through a comprehensive peace process that guarantees the Yemeni people all its aspirations," Rashad Al-Alimi said in the televised speech. President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who is based in Riyadh, delegated power to the council and dismissed his deputy on Thursday, as Saudi Arabia moves to strengthen an anti-Houthi alliance amid U.N.-led efforts to revive peace negotiations. Alimi, who has close ties with both Riyadh and major Yemeni bloc the Islamist Islah party, said in his speech the council would work to deal with "challenges in all areas of Yemen without discrimination, without exception". The war has killed tens of thousands, devastated the economy and pushed Yemen to the brink of famine. The conflict is widely seen as a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The Iran-aligned Houthis say they are fighting a corrupt system and foreign aggression. Riyadh, which has struggled to exit the war in Yemen, has urged the council to negotiate with the Houthis under U.N. auspices "for a final and comprehensive solution". There was no immediate Houthi response to Alimi's speech. Houthi chief negotiator Mohammed Abdulsalam responded to the formation of the council on Thursday by calling the move a farce and a "desperate attempt to restructure the ranks of mercenaries to push them towards further escalation." Saudi Arabia announced $3 billion in financial aid to the Saudi-backed government after Hadi's announcement. Gulf Cooperation Council ministers have expressed their support for the council and starting negotiations with Houthis under U.N. supervision "to reach a final and comprehensive political solution." Yemen's warring sides have agreed on a two-month truce that began last Saturday. (Reporting by Lilian Wagdy; Writing by Tom Perry; editing by Grant McCool) Junshi Biosciences - Toripalimab plus chemotherapy provided superior progression free survival, overall survival, overall response rate and duration of response compared to chemotherapy alone - SHANGHAI, China, and REDWOOD CITY, Calif., April 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co., Ltd (Junshi Biosciences, HKEX: 1877; SSE: 688180) and Coherus BioSciences, Inc. (Coherus) announced the results of the prespecified final progression-free survival (PFS) analysis and the interim overall survival (OS) analysis of the JUPITER-02 study (NCT03581786), a pivotal Phase 3 trial in first-line treatment of recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The JUPITER-02 results are summarized in a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). In the final PFS analysis, results from JUPITER-02 demonstrated that toripalimab in combination with chemotherapy provided a statistically significant improvement in PFS assessed by the blinded independent review committee (BIRC) compared to chemotherapy plus placebo, with an improvement in median PFS of 13.2 months (21.4 versus 8.2 months). Furthermore, the addition of toripalimab to chemotherapy provided significant improvements in the secondary endpoints of PFS assessed by the investigator, objective response rate (ORR) and duration of response (DoR), while maintaining a safety profile consistent with that in previously reported toripalimab clinical trials. Although the median OS (mOS) was not yet mature in either arm, the interim OS analysis showed a trend favoring the toripalimab arm and will be formally tested in a prespecified final analysis. First-line treatment options for advanced NPC remain limited for this difficult-to-treat tumor, resulting in poor outcomes for patients due to therapeutic resistance to chemotherapy, which is the current standard of care, said Professor Ruihua Xu, the posters corresponding author from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (SYSUCC). The JUPITER-02 results validate the potential advancement that toripalimab in combination with chemotherapy would represent as a new standard-of-care first-line therapy for patients with advanced NPC. Story continues Rosh Dias, MD, MRCP, Coherus Chief Medical Officer, added, Innovative immuno-oncology approaches including anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody treatments represent a promising new option for advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma, for which there are currently no approved immuno-oncology treatments in the United States. The significant improvement demonstrated in JUPITER-02 with the combination of toripalimab and chemotherapy across key clinically meaningful endpoints compared to chemotherapy alone supports its use as a potential new standard of care treatment option for advanced NPC. We are excited that the updated results from JUPITER-02 confirm that the addition of toripalimab to chemotherapy significantly extends the median PFS of patients with advanced NPC by more than a year, said Dr. Patricia Keegan, Chief Medical Officer of Junshi Biosciences. We believe that toripalimab can revolutionize the treatment of advanced NPC and are working closely with the FDA and our partner, Coherus, to provide the first approved therapy for patients with this rare disease in the U.S. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted breakthrough therapy designation for toripalimab in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin as first-line treatment for patients with advanced recurrent or metastatic NPC and for toripalimab monotherapy for second-line or later treatment of recurrent or metastatic NPC after platinum-containing chemotherapy. A biologics license application (BLA) for these indications is under priority review by the FDA. Junshi Biosciences and Coherus are working closely with the FDA to complete the review process and schedule any required inspections in China. About JUPITER-02 Study Results JUPITER-02, conducted in mainland China, Taiwan and Singapore, is the largest Phase 3 clinical study to date to evaluate a checkpoint inhibitor plus chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of recurrent or metastatic NPC. Two hundred eighty-nine patients with advanced NPC who had received no prior chemotherapy for recurrent or metastatic disease were randomized 1:1 to receive toripalimab 240 mg or placebo in combination with gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 (d1, 8) and cisplatin 80 mg/m2 (d1), Q3W followed by toripalimab or placebo monotherapy until disease progression, intolerable toxicity or completion of two years of treatment. PFS and response were assessed by the BIRC and by the investigator per RECIST v1.1. There was one prespecified interim analysis of PFS at 130 (65%) PFS events and a final analysis at 200 PFS events. At the final PFS analysis (cut-off date June 8, 2021), the median follow-up time was 22.1 months for the toripalimab arm and 21.4 months for the placebo arm. A summary of the results is as follows: The addition of toripalimab to gemcitabine-cisplatin (GP) chemotherapy as first-line treatment for advanced NPC patients provided superior PFS, OS, ORR and DoR than GP chemotherapy alone: Significant improvement in PFS: mPFS 21.4 vs. 8.2 months, HR=0.52 (95% CI: 0.37, 0.73), P <0.0001. Significant improvement in ORR: 78.8% vs. 67.1% (P = 0.0221). Significant improvement in DoR: mDoR 18.0 vs. 6.0 months, HR=0.49, P = 0.0003. Although mOS was not mature in either arm, a 41% reduction in risk of death was observed in the toripalimab arm over the placebo arm, HR=0.59 (95% CI: 0.37, 0.94), nominal P =0.0238. The safety profile was consistent with that previously reported in other toripalimab clinical trials with no new safety signals identified with toripalimab added to GP. About toripalimab Toripalimab is an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody developed for its ability to block PD-1 interactions with its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, and for enhanced receptor internalization (endocytosis function). Blocking PD-1 interactions with PD-L1 and PD-L2 promotes the immune systems ability to attack and kill tumor cells. More than thirty company-sponsored toripalimab clinical studies covering more than fifteen indications have been conducted globally by Junshi Biosciences, including in China, the United States, Southeast Asia, and European countries. Ongoing or completed pivotal clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of toripalimab cover a broad range of tumor types including cancers of the lung, nasopharynx, esophagus, stomach, bladder, breast, liver, kidney and skin. In China, toripalimab was the first domestic anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody approved for marketing (approved in China as TUOYI). Currently, there are four approved indications for toripalimab in China: unresectable or metastatic melanoma after failure of standard systemic therapy; recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma NPC after failure of at least two lines of prior systemic therapy; locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma that failed platinum-containing chemotherapy or progressed within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant platinum-containing chemotherapy; in combination with cisplatin and gemcitabine as the first-line treatment for patients with locally recurrent or metastatic NPC. The first three indications have been included in the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) (2021 Edition). Toripalimab is the only anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody included in the NRDL for melanoma and NPC. In addition, two supplemental New Drug Applications (NDAs) for toripalimab are currently under review by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in China: in combination with chemotherapy as the first-line treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic ESCC. in combination with chemotherapy as the first-line treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic NSCLC without EGFR or ALK mutations. In the United States, the FDA has granted priority review for the toripalimab BLA for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic NPC, an aggressive head and neck tumor which has no FDA-approved immuno-oncology treatment options. The FDA has assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date for April 2022 for the toripalimab BLA. The FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy designation for toripalimab in combination with chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of recurrent or metastatic NPC in 2021 as well as for toripalimab monotherapy in the second or third-line treatment of recurrent or metastatic NPC in 2020. Additionally, the FDA has granted Fast Track designation for toripalimab for the treatment of mucosal melanoma and Orphan Drug Designation for the treatment of esophageal cancer, NPC, mucosal melanoma and soft tissue sarcoma. In 2021, Coherus in-licensed rights to develop and commercialize toripalimab in the United States and Canada. Junshi Biosciences and Coherus plan to file additional toripalimab BLAs with the FDA over the next three years for multiple other cancer types. About Junshi Biosciences Founded in December 2012, Junshi Biosciences (HKEX: 1877; SSE: 688180) is an innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of innovative therapeutics. The company has established a diversified R & D pipeline comprising over 50 drug candidates, with five therapeutic focus areas covering cancer, autoimmune, metabolic, neurological, and infectious diseases. Junshi Biosciences was the first Chinese pharmaceutical company that obtained marketing approval for anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody in China. Its first-in-human anti-BTLA monoclonal antibody for tumors was the first in the world to be approved for clinical trials by the FDA and NMPA and has since entered Phase Ib/II trials in both China and the US. Its anti-PCSK9 monoclonal antibody was the first in China to be approved for clinical trials by the NMPA. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Junshi Biosciences responded swiftly and strongly, joining forces with Chinese and international scientific research institutions and enterprises to develop an arsenal of drug candidates to combat COVID-19, taking the initiative to shoulder the social responsibility of Chinese pharmaceutical companies by prioritizing and accelerating COVID-19 R&D. Among the many drug candidates is JS016 (etesevimab), Chinas first neutralizing fully human monoclonal antibody against SARS-CoV-2 and the result of the combined efforts of Junshi Biosciences, the Institute of Microbiology of the Chinese Academy of Science and Lilly. JS016 administered with bamlanivimab has been granted Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) in over 15 countries and regions worldwide. Meanwhile, VV116, a new oral nucleoside analog anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug designed to hinder virus replication, is in global Phase III clinical trials. The JS016 and VV116 programs are a part of the companys continuous innovation for disease control and prevention of the global pandemic. Junshi Biosciences has more than 2,800 employees in the United States (San Francisco and Maryland) and China (Shanghai, Suzhou, Beijing and Guangzhou). For more information, please visit: http://junshipharma.com. About Coherus BioSciences Coherus is a commercial stage biopharmaceutical company building a leading immuno-oncology franchise funded with cash generated by its commercial biosimilar business. In 2021, Coherus in-licensed toripalimab, an anti-PD-1 antibody, in the United States and Canada. A biologics license application for toripalimab for the treatment of metastatic or recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma is currently under priority review by the FDA with a target action date of April 2022. Toripalimab is also being evaluated in pivotal clinical trials for the treatment of cancers of the lung, breast, liver, skin, kidney, stomach, esophagus, and bladder. Coherus markets UDENYCA (pegfilgrastim-cbqv), a biosimilar of Neulasta in the United States, and expects to launch the FDA-approved Humira biosimilar YUSIMRY (adalimumab-aqvh) in the United States in 2023. The FDA is currently reviewing the biologics license application for CHS-201, a biosimilar of Lucentis (ranibizumab), with a target action date of August 2022. Coherus is also developing CHS-305, a biosimilar of Avastin (bevacizumab). Forward-Looking Statements Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding Coherus ability to build its immuno-oncology franchise to achieve a leading market position; Coherus ability to generate cash; Coherus investment plans; Coherus expectations for the launch date of YUSIMRY and other products; Coherus plans to file additional BLAs for toripalimab; beliefs about toripalimabs ability to enhance treatment of patients; and potential for toripalimab plus chemotherapy to represent a new standard of care in the future. Such forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause Coherus actual results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the risks and uncertainties inherent in the clinical drug development process; risks relating to the COVID-19 pandemic; risks related to our existing and potential collaboration partners; risks of the drug development position of Coherus competitors; the risks and uncertainties of the regulatory approval process, including the speed of regulatory review, international aspects of Coherus business, the need to schedule inspections in China and the timing of Coherus regulatory filings; the risk of FDA review issues; the risk of Coherus execution of its change in strategy from a focus on biosimilars to a strategy using cash from its portfolio to fund an immuno-oncology franchise; the risk that Coherus is unable to complete commercial transactions and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of Coherus drug candidates; and the risks and uncertainties of possible litigation. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. Coherus undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. For a further description of the significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to Coherus business in general, see Coherus Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 23, 2022, including the section therein captioned Risk Factors and in other documents Coherus files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. UDENYCA, YUSIMRY and CIMERLI, whether or not appearing in large print or with the trademark symbol, are trademarks of Coherus, its affiliates, related companies or its licensors or joint venture partners, unless otherwise noted. Trademarks and trade names of other companies appearing in this press release are, to the knowledge of Coherus, the property of their respective owners. Coherus Contact Information: IR Contact: McDavid Stilwell Chief Financial Officer Coherus BioSciences, Inc. IR@coherus.com Media Contact: Brian Grancagnolo Brian.Grancagnolo@hkstrategies.com +1 (212) 885-0449 Junshi Biosciences Contact Information IR Team: Junshi Biosciences info@junshipharma.com + 86 021-2250 0300 Goby Global Bob Ai bai@gobyglobal.com + 1 646-389-6658 PR Team: Junshi Biosciences Zhi Li zhi_li@junshipharma.com + 86 021-6105 8800 The title isn't the only similarity between Tokyo Vice and Miami Vice. The first episode of HBO Max's new Japan-set crime series was also directed by Michael Mann, the famed filmmaker who produced the original Miami Vice TV series and directed the 2006 film. That makes Tokyo Vice's premiere episode the first Mann-directed project to make it to screens since his 2015 flop Blackhat. But Tokyo Vice creator J.T. Rogers (who adapted the series from his longtime friend Jake Adelstein's 2009 memoir of the same name) tells EW that Mann's involvement in the show was "a glorious stroke of luck" rather than something that was planned from the beginning. "The show was set up, and Destin Daniel Cretton was going to direct the pilot. But then he had this little tiny Marvel movie you may have heard of," Rogers says in a nod to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. "He's wonderful, I'd still love to work with him sometime. But then Michael was brought up, and he loved the script and wanted to be involved. So that was terrific." Tokyo Vice HBO Max Ansel Elgort and Ken Watanabe in 'Tokyo Vice.' Both within Miami Vice and his other acclaimed films like Thief or Collateral, Mann is well-known for capturing the beauty and the danger of cities at night. Indeed, much of Tokyo Vice which stars Ansel Elgort as a fictionalized version of Adelstein and Ken Watanabe as the world-weary detective who teaches him about the Japanese underworld is set at night, and viewers can feel the Mann touch. "As is the wont for most shows, your bill as the director of the first episode is to set a visual tone and help build the structure," Rogers says. "He is justly lionized for his nighttime noir and the show, especially the first episode, is really drenched in that. So it was terrific to watch him work that way. Plus we cast together and you give him a lot of deference because he's got great experience." Story continues Tokyo Vice is a multilingual, cross-cultural show. Aside from Elgort and Rachel Keller, almost the entire cast is Japanese characters performed by Japanese actors, and Rogers says most of the crew was Japanese as well (especially since Japan's COVID-19 protocols prevented many foreigners from entering the country while the show was in production). While Tokyo Vice streams on HBO Max in the United States, in Japan the show airs on premium pay TV broadcaster WOWOW, which co-produced it. Michael Mann VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images Michael Mann directed the first episode of HBO Max's new series 'Tokyo Vice.' Given this multiplicity of audiences, Rogers and producer Alan Poul tell EW that a major priority was making sure that Tokyo Vice's depiction of '90s Japan did not seem embarrassing or cringe-worthy to Japanese viewers. According to Watanabe (who personally reviewed much of the show's Japanese dialogue), Mann helped bring a lot of authenticity to the show by where he chose to shoot in the world's largest city. "This pilot's success owes a lot to Michael Mann. He really tried for the realistic feeling," Watanabe tells EW. "It's so difficult to get approval for shooting in Tokyo, and we considered other places just outside the city. But Michael Mann wanted and needed to shoot in Tokyo. Japanese critics sometimes say that foreign filmmakers only want to shoot Tokyo from above, like from the sky or something. But Michael wanted to shoot deep down, in the 'basement' of Tokyo. It really gives you that 'underworld' feeling." The first three episodes of Tokyo Vice are streaming now on HBO Max. Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more. Related content: Here is the latest news from Middle Tennessee State University. Focus on mental health The MTSU Center for Health and Human Services is focusing on mental health with two events in April in preparation for Mental Health Awareness Month in May. Events are free and open to the public. UNTOLD the Campus Diaries on exhibit April 11 at MTSU. MTSU will become the first campus in the country to host the UNTOLD Projects Campus Diaries exhibit from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, April 11, in the Student Union Building atrium, 1768 MTSU Blvd. In a Dear Diary format, students anonymously express their stories of mental health challenges, adjustments to campus life and hopes for the future. Students post their feelings through an online portal at untoldproject.org/campus-diaries-home/. The exhibit includes four 7-foot towers adorned with anonymous essays with photography by UNTOLD co-founder Lorna Dancey. In a separate event, Leilani Attilio will present Lets Talk! Being Stigma-free in a Stigma-filled World: Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Stigma at 3 p.m. Thursday, April 14, in the Tennessee Room of the James Union Building, 516 Alma Mater Dr. The former Army nurse, an advanced care registered nurse, provides primary care, gender-affirming care and opioid use disorder treatment in Tacoma, Washington. She will deliver an interactive, conversation-style lecture and answer students questions about the stigma around mental health and substance use. "Let's Talk!" will be livestreamed at livestream.com/mtsu and a video will be available for viewing later at mtsu.edu on the CHHS website, the MTSU YouTube channel and True Blue TV. Equal Rights MTSU will host a virtual discussion looking at the Equal Rights Amendment. Equal Rights Amendment (ERA): The Big Picture with Zoe Nicholson and Special Guest Lilly Ledbetter is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, via videoconferencing at livestream.com/mtsu. From left, Marissa Richmond, Zoe Nicholson and Lilly Ledbetter. Reserve a space to watch in person at the MT Center in the Ingram Building, 2269 Middle Tennessee Blvd., by emailing pcsw@mtsu.edu. Story continues Marisa Richmond, an adjunct professor of history and womens and gender studies, will moderate a Q&A session in person and online following the presentation. The Equal Rights Amendment was passed by Congress in 1972 and sent to states for the required three-fourths ratification. It reads, Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of sex. When the seven-year limit on the ratification process ran out, the ERA had been ratified by 36 states, including Tennessee. In 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 222-204 to remove the time limit. I realized in teaching and learning about social movements that there is a misunderstanding about what the ERA really is and that some people believe it has already passed, said LOreal Stephens, chair of the Presidents Commission on the Status of Women and a lecturer in the Department of Communication Studies. Nicholson, an artist, author and activist, joined six women at the Illinois state capitol in 1982 to take part in a fast in support of the ERA. Her memoir, The Hungry Heart: A Womans Fast for Justice, chronicles that demonstration. Ledbetter was a manager at a Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. plant in Gadsden, Alabama, when someone left her an anonymous note informing her that she was making thousands less per year than her male counterparts. Her plight led Congress to pass the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama on Jan. 29, 2009. Richmond, an activist for transgender rights, is a member and former chair of the Metropolitan Nashville Human Relations Commission and a member of the board of the Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative and the Tennessee Federation of Democratic Women. Richmond also has completed a term of service as the first and only Black trans woman on the Democratic National Committee. This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: MTSU Mondays: Mental health, Equal Rights discussed (Bloomberg) -- Rising food prices and turbulent global commodities markets are fueling a surge in wealth for the billionaire family behind Americas largest closely held company. Most Read from Bloomberg Three more members of the Cargill family -- siblings James Cargill, Austen Cargill and Marianne Liebmann -- have joined the ranks of the worlds 500 richest people thanks to their stakes in Minnesota-based food processor Cargill Inc. Each has a net worth of $5.3 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, up 20% this year. Family members already among the Top 500 include Pauline Keinath, a great-grandaughter of founder William Wallace Cargill, and Gwendolyn Sontheim Meyer with fortunes of $7.8 billion each. More than 20 members of the extended Cargill and MacMillan families control 87% of the closely held company, which was founded in 1865 with a single grain warehouse in Conover, Iowa. The Cargills ranked 11th on Bloombergs September list of the worlds wealthiest families with a collective fortune of $51 billion at the time. Russias invasion of Ukraine has sent shudders through global food and commodity markets that were already struggling with supply chain disruptions and low output due to drought and other weather conditions. The UN World Food Price Index for March reached a record high, with few signs of easing. Big food companies have been beneficiaries of the shortages and volatility. Agricultural trading house Louis Dreyfus Co. said in March that profit surged 82% last year on grain price fluctuations and strong margins in oilseeds. The valuations of some the largest publicly traded food companies are rising fast, with Illinois-based Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. up more than 25% since Russia invaded in late February. Story continues Cargill has periodically faced pressure to go public, but has resisted. Doing so would dilute the familys stake and reduce its share of the companys annual payouts. Family members collect an estimated 17% of net profits each year as a dividend, though not all their shares are equal. Now in its seventh generation, the Cargill-MacMillan extended family has grown to about 125 people. In August, Cargill reported the biggest profit in its history, with almost $5 billion in net income during fiscal 2021 on revenue of $134.4 billion. A spokesperson for the Cargills family office, Waycrosse, didnt respond to a request for comment. Gregory Broussard, Cargills global head of financial trading at its risk-management unit, told Bloomberg this week that the move to ostracize Russia economically is likely to persist and will force markets to find new sources of everything from grain to fertilizer and fuel. We will exit this war from the supply side tighter than we entered it, he said. When people start throwing sanctions around, they dont just dissipate overnight. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. This weeks Sunday show circuit will focus around the alleged war crimes Russia has committed in Ukraine and Western countries reactions to the atrocities. Russia forces have been accused of targeting civilians, raping women and kidnapping individuals during the war that began at the end of February. International condemnation has been widespread, with the U.S. passing bipartisan legislation in the House forcing the Biden administration to reveal details of how it is tracking war crimes in Ukraine. White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan detailed to the press this week a change in Russias strategy in Ukraine, saying the country will focus its attacks on the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. At this juncture we believe that Russia is revising its war aims, Sullivan said. Russia is repositioning its forces to concentrate its offensive operations in eastern and parts of southern Ukraine rather than target most of the territory. Sullivan will appear on ABCs This Week, NBCs Meet the Press, CBS Face the Nation and CNNs State of the Union Sunday to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Ukrainian officials have been sounding alarms for weeks regarding alleged crimes Russia has committed, urging the West to do more to combat Russias attack. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who will appear on NBCs Meet the Press, accused the Russians this week of knowingly bombing a train that was full of civilians, killing women and children. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Ukraine this past week and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky amidst the fighting. Indeed, I started my day today with a visit to Bucha because being in Bucha and seeing what has happened, you can tell that our humanity was shattered in Bucha, von der Leyen, who will appear on CNNs State of the Union, said. As the war continues, the House passed a bill this week instructing the government to collect war crimes evidence in the Russian-Ukrainian war. Story continues The bill was voted against by six Republicans as Democrats used the opportunity to paint the GOP as sympathetic to Russia during the crisis. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) previously had to denounce Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.) for calling Zelensky a thug. McCarthy will appear on FOX News Channels Sunday Morning Futures. Along with the war in Ukraine, the Biden administration this week had to contend with reports that White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki will be leaving the administration for a spot at MSNBC. Psaki, who will appear on Fox News Sunday, is set to leave the administration in May for her new role. Below is the full list of guests scheduled to appear on this weeks Sunday talk shows: ABCs This Week White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan. NBCs Meet the Press Sullivan; Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba; former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers. CBS Face the Nation Sullivan; Oksana Markarova, Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S.; Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former Food and Drug Administration commissioner; former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson; Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Loretta Mester. CNNs State of the Union Sullivan; Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.); European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen; Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; Global Citizen CEO Hugh Evans; former CIA Director Gen. David Petraeus. Fox News Sunday White House press secretary Jen Psaki; Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Fox News Sunday Morning Futures Ranking member of House Judiciary Committee Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio); Herschel Walker, Georgia Senate candidate; House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin Mccarthy (R-Calif.); U.S. Army combat veteran and Florida Congressional candidate Cory Mills. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A young Spotsylvania man has been charged in connection with a sex trafficking investigation that began with an Alabama runaway, court records show. Christopher Wayne Sloan, 18, is charged in Spotsylvania with aggravated sexual battery and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He was arrested last week and is being held in the Rappahannock Regional Jail. According to an affidavit for a search warrant filed in Spotsylvania Circuit Court, an investigation into a runaway 14-year-old girl from Moundville, Alabama, led police to Scarlet Oak Road in Spotsylvania. The Moundville Police Department and a local FBI special agent found the girl by tracking her phone. The girl, who had been missing since March 31, was found with Sloan on April 2, court records state. That affidavit states that Sloan admitted having sex with the girl after communicating with her on social media on both of his cellphones. Police seized the phones and will search them as part of an ongoing investigation into sex trafficking allegations. The affidavit did not state how the girl got to Spotsylvania. 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. Eric Barnes runs a warehouse thats filled to the rafters with crutches and piled to the ceiling with aluminum walkers. When he heard about a partnership that will send some of the items to people in Ukraine who have been injured in the war, he was thrilled. Barnes is the administrator for the Equipment Connection, the arm of the disAbility Resource Center in Fredericksburg that collects, then gives out for free, various types of equipment. People who need crutches or canes for a limited time pass them along to the DRC when they get better with the hopes someone else can use them. We have so much equipment, were literally bursting at the seam, Barnes said, noting that he might get six or seven pairs of crutches a week and only hand out two or three sets a month. When he saw footage of soldiers and civilians injured in the Ukrainian war fashioning crutches out of sticks or other pieces of rubble, he was glad to learn the DRC could help. Debra Fults, its executive director, worked out a partnership with Embrace Foundation in Newport News. The group is collecting crutches, walkers, canes and diapers to share with Samaritans Purse, a Christian humanitarian aid organization which will ship the items to Europe. This was a perfect opportunity to get them the things they needed, Fults said, without having to incur expensive shipping costs. Barnes, an Army veteran who was exposed to chemical agents during the first Gulf War, is thrilled that equipment from the Fredericksburg area can make a difference to help someone stay on their feet after being injured in the Ukrainian war. Its a matter of being a good steward and sharing what the good Lord has sent us, he said. Barnes will load a rental truck Sunday with the equipment, including diapers for children and adults, then head to Newport News on Monday. Someone from the North Carolina branch of Samaritans Purse is scheduled to pick up the goods on Tuesday and get them shipped to Europe, the DRC said. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Workers at Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center grabbed cheerleading pompoms and balloons last week, then gathered on an inside stairwell for a photo to mark a special milestone: For seven days, the hospital didnt have a single patient with COVID-19. The streak was broken the following day, but it still gave people like Kristen Woodward, who oversees the hospitals intensive care unit, a moment of reprieve, to be able to take a deep breath and to say, Woo, this has been heavy, she said in a video by Channel 4 news in Washington. Mary Washington Healthcare experienced a similar moment last week. Two workers posed outside the hospital doors with extended arms to announce that waiting rooms are open and visitor restrictions have been lifted. Patients at Mary Washington Hospital and Stafford Hospital can have four visitors at a time and even COVID-19 patients are allowed two visitors over 18 who must follow infection prevention protocol. Its really nice to get back to some sense of normalcy, said Dr. Christopher Newman, chief medical officer of Mary Washington Healthcare. It feels great. Masks are still required for workers, patients and hospital visitors except in areas where employees arent interacting with patients, according to MWHC. The staff has resumed in-person meetings. While conditions havent returned to pre-pandemic levels, the changes have been more than welcome, Newman said. Its really a well-needed respite for our nursing staff, our physicians, our care teams, especially after the delta and omicron surges which were extraordinarily difficult, he said. But after two years of the pandemic, were seeing unprecedented levels of burnout, both among nurses and doctors, unlike anything weve ever seen, not just at Mary Washington but across the nation. Theres a tremendous amount of fatigue and burnout. For the last two weeks, Mary Washington Healthcare has had about 10 COVID-19 patients a day, Newman said. Thats a far cry from three months ago, when the systems two hospitalsMary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg and Stafford Hospitalhad 180 patients on Jan. 15. After equally dramatic declines in case counts, new cases have remained steadywith a few ups and downs in recent weeksin the Rappahannock Area Health District, said Mary Chamberlin, public information officer. She posts updates every Friday on the health districts Facebook page instead of the daily updates she did during the height of the pandemic. The Virginia Department of Health also changed its online dashboards in mid-March to focus more on cases in the last three months rather than the cumulative totals since the pandemic began. The local health district, which includes Fredericksburg and the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford, has averaged between 19 and 30 cases a day since mid-March. Again, that pales in comparison to Jan. 4, when there were 1,713 new infections reported in a single day. That was the all-time high for the Fredericksburg area. COVID-19 deaths continue to be added to the local tally, sometimes months after they occurred. One of the 12 fatalities added to Fridays weekly report happened in January, according to the RAHD. To date, 624 people in the local health district have died from the virus. While overall cases have dropped significantly in the United States since the surge of the highly contagious omicron variant, the Centers for Disease Controls COVID Data Tracker has reported that almost half of the country is beginning to see increases in weekly averages. The tracker also notes that the BA.2 subvariant of omicron has accounted for 72% of recent new cases. But current case counts may not reflect the true picture of COVID prevalence because so many people are taking tests at home and probably not reporting the results to their state health department. Thats why Dr. Olugbenga Obasanjo, RAHD director, believes hospitalizations are one of the most accurate barometers to gauge transmission levels in our communities. The CDC does as well, as its new metrics to determine a communitys transmission level include new hospital admissions, the number of beds occupied by COVID patients and new cases per 100,000 people. Under those measurements, the local health districts transmission level has been low for weeks. So has the RAHDs positivity rate which mirrors state levels. The rate indicates the percentage of positive tests among all those taken. Locally and across Virginia, the rate fell to about 3.5% in mid-March then climbed above 5% on Friday. Still, the prevalence of COVID-19 is very, very low in the Fredericksburg area, Newman said, adding that the United States is not seeing the uptick of the BA.2 variant as other countries have seen. Its not quite clear why that is and well take it as it comes. Going into summer, he said that for most people who dont have compromised immune systems or significant underlying health problems it is fairly safe to resume life as normal, Newman said. However, everyone needs to weigh individual risk and tolerance. Obasanjo, at the health district, said the same. For now, the data says we can continue our current relaxed measures, but that could very well change. 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. Seven weeks into Russias unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, that embattled nation is still fighting alone. No other countryespecially NATO nationsdares to send in troops for fear of starting World War III. Neighbors have taken in refugees, and some countries, including the United States, are sending humanitarian aid, but no one will send in ground troops. The Ukrainians fight alone. Things appear to be bad in some Ukrainian cities. On 60 Minutes on Sunday night, I watched video of dead bodies in the streets, vehicles torched and buildings bombed. It was a ghastly sight. Unfortunately, my mind wandered back to October 1990, when an innocent-looking 15-year-old girl named Nayirah was shown on that news program telling viewers that she witnessed Iraqi soldiers removing babies from incubators in Kuwait. That, of course, was a lie perpetrated by President George H. W. Bushs administration in an effort to garner support for Operation Desert Storm. And I remembered news programs telling the American public in 2003 that there was strong evidence that the Iraqis had weapons of mass destruction ready to be unleashed on an unsuspecting world. That turned out to be a lie perpetrated by President George W. Bush to convince the American people that an invasion of Iraq was justified. So, given the medias past history, I am always skeptical of reported atrocities that have not been verified by some international commission. Still, despite any skepticism, we must assume that reported Russian atrocities in Ukraine are actually occurring. The question then becomes, what does the rest of the world do to stop the slaughter? President Joe Biden has called Russian President Vladimir Putin every name in the book, but words are no match for tanks and bullets. Biden has labeled Putin a war criminal and has vowed to bring the Russian president to justice. In a speech before the United Nations on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy echoed Bidens assessment of Putin and said the Russian leader should be tried in a world court such as was held for Nazi war criminals in Nuremberg after World War II. The key words here are after World War II. How do Biden and Zelenskyy propose to bring Putin to trial without defeating Russia in what could well become World War III? Do we sneak a military SWAT team into Russia and kidnap Putin? Do we lure him into some world meeting and then arrest him? Do we have him assassinated? All of the above, of course, would be acts of war, so unless we are ready to duck and cover, all we can do is talk big. According to reports, all the sanctions we have imposed against Russia have done just the opposite of what we had hoped. Instead of the Russian people turning against their president, reports this week say Putins approval rating has risen dramatically. Any shortages endured by the Russians are blamed on America and not Putin. So, do we really think that the Russians will hand over Putin and any accused soldiers so that they may be tried in an international court? There are likely those in Iraq and Afghanistan who think Americans should be tried for what they perceive as war crimes. Would we hand thoseincluding our presidentover to an international tribunal? Of course not, and neither will Russia. The only way we will try Putin and any other Russian is to go to war and defeat Russia the same way the Allies defeated Nazi Germany. Then we can seek justice. The problem is that by the time World War III is over, there might not be a safe place to hold a trial. Russia still has nuclear weapons, you know. So, if we send troops in to help Ukraine we risk starting World War III. If we kidnap Putin and put him on trial we risk starting World War III. The only way we will try Putin is if there is a World War III and we win it. In his Tuesday speech, Zelenskyy pleaded with the United Nations for help. Unfortunately, the UN has little power anymore, having been emasculated by the Bush Administration in the days before Americas Iraq invasion. About all it does these days is warn us about global warming. Besides, Russia sits on the Security Council and can veto any action against itself. Biden calls Putin names and Zelenskyy pleads for help, but the war in Ukraine goes on. And the only way to bring Putin to trial for war crimes is to win World War III. And Putin knows it. By Trend The Brussels agreements are the result of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's successful diplomatic strategy, Igor Korotchenko, a political analyst and editor-in-chief of the Russian National Defense magazine, told Trend. Korotchenko made the remark commenting on the agreements reached following the meeting in Brussels between President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan with the mediation and participation of President of the Council of the European Union (EU) Charles Michel. "Despite Yerevan's non-constructive approach to the implementation of the trilateral statement [between the presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan and the Armenian prime minister following the 2020 second Karabakh war], and the subsequent Moscow and Sochi agreements, thanks to the efforts of Azerbaijani diplomacy, Pashinyan was directed to a constructive course, the analyst said. I evaluate the agreement to work on a full-scale peace treaty and the creation of a delimitation commission state border very positively and consider this as the success of Azerbaijani diplomacy, he noted. Armenia did everything, including armed provocations of Armenian separatists in Azerbaijans Karabakh economic region, to disrupt the peace process and the fulfillment of Armenias obligations [within the trilateral statement and consequent agreements]. These provocations were resolutely and firmly suppressed, which also influenced Pashinyan's readiness to take a more constructive position, Korotchenko added. Despite all the efforts of the Armenian diaspora in the US and France, aimed at putting any pressure on Azerbaijan and supporting Armenia, all these attempts failed. Peace, stability, and acceptance of the existing realities are a chance for Armenia, the analyst said. According to him, Pashinyan and his subordinates understand that they wont be able to drag out the implementation of the previous statement and agreements. The peace treaty should clearly state that Armenia recognizes Karabakh as an integral part of Azerbaijan," he said. Korotchenko stressed that there is still a lot of work to be done. "The main unresolved issue today is the presence of illegal Armenian armed formations in Karabakh economic region of Azerbaijan. As long as the formations, in fact militants, remain there, well always expect various armed provocations, terrorist attacks, and continued shelling of Azerbaijani positions," the analyst added. Besides, according to him, the basis for the agreements reached was previously laid by the basic documents - the trilateral statement, the Moscow and Sochi agreements. "Russia has always supported and will continue to support the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. In this regard, the Declaration on Allied Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia is also the foundation, based on which Azerbaijan can advance the diplomatic agenda in the negotiation process with Armenia, respectively, Korotchenko noted. Armenia now understands that Azerbaijan will be guided by this basic document [Declaration on Allied Cooperation]. The paragraphs of the document envision support of Azerbaijans territorial integrity, suppression of various separatist acts and attempts to violate the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and in this regard, Russia will fulfill all its obligations," he concluded. The images and verified reports of atrocities committed in Ukraine should mark the point of no return for relations with a Vladimir Putin-led Russia. As long as the bloody-handed dictator controls that nation, the United States must keep its back turned on Moscow. Over the weekend, Russian troops pulled back from the suburbs of Kyiv, leaving behind streets strewn with the bodies of civilians. Some of the dead were found with their hands tied behind their backs, shot execution style. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy toured the region and reported finding bodies in barrels, basements, strangled, tortured. Other accounts say girls and women were raped and killed, their bodies burned. Intentionally killing unarmed civilians is a violation of international law. Biden is asking that Putin face war crime charges before the International Criminal Court. The indictment should also extend to his sycophantic sidekick Alexander Lukashenko, the Belarussian president who is supplying troops and material to Russias war effort. The officers and soldiers carrying out the atrocities should be fully aware that they, too, will be held to account for their actions. Russia has been waging a merciless air attack against Ukraines cities, leading to the deaths of thousands of civilians. It has also prevented the evacuation of the bomb-ravaged port of Mariupol, and has blocked international aid from reaching trapped citizens. Putin perhaps thought he could roll over Ukraine, as he did Georgia and Crimea, and return to sit at the table of civilized nations as if nothing happened. That cant be permitted. Russia and Belarus must be fully shunned until Putin and Lukashenko are no longer in charge. The United States intends to ask the United Nations to expel Russia from the bodys Human Rights Council. That vote should be automatic, given the slaughter in Bucha. The U.S. and its European allies should also be thinking longer term about a return to what basically must be a Cold War relationship with Russia. That means learning to live without the oil, grain and other resources Russia exports. The free world has become far too dependent on Russia and other oppressive regimes. The United States must never be in a position in which its economic interests discourage it from standing up to brutality. Europe appears split on how to respond to the war crimes. France advocates a ratcheting down of energy imports from Russia while increasing sanctions. Poland wants an immediate cut-off of fossil fuels. Would you negotiate with Hitler, with Stalin, with Pol Pot? asked Polands Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. In entering Ukraine and ruthlessly killing its people, Putin and Lukashenko joined the ranks of tyrants who have committed offenses against humanity. They should be ostracized from trade organizations, scientific collaborations and all other interactions with nations that observe and respect human rights. No matter what the outcome in Ukraine, there should be no return to normal for Russia and Belarus until their mad men are gone. The Detroit News In 2021, cyber-crime victims across the nation lost $6.9 billion dollars. According to the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) annual report, cyber-crime victims in Nebraska lost $19.7 million, victims in Iowa lost $33.8 million. The most money was lost to business email compromise scams, investment fraud, and romance and confidence schemes. The FBI Omaha Field Offices Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel wants to remind Nebraska and Iowa businesses and individuals of ways to protect themselves from cyber criminals. Our adversaries and criminal actors look to exploit gaps in our intelligence and information security networks, Kowel said in a news release. The FBI is committed to working with our federal counterparts, our foreign partners and private sector to close those gaps. The FBI Omaha cyber squad is working harder than ever to protect Nebraska and Iowa individuals and businesses from cyber-crime. Some ways to protect yourself and your online data include: Dont click on anything in an unsolicited email or text message. Look up the companys phone number on your own (dont use the one a potential scammer provided) and call the company to ask if the request is legitimate. Carefully examine the email address, URL, and spelling used in any correspondence. Scammers use slight differences to trick your eye and gain your trust. Be careful what you download. Never open an email attachment from someone you dont know and be wary of email attachments forwarded to you. Set up two-factor (or multi-factor) authentication on any account that allows it and never disable it. Verify payment and purchase requests in person if possible or by calling the person to make sure it is legitimate. You should verify any change in account number of payment procedures with the person making the request. Be especially wary if the requestor is pressing you to act quickly. Be careful with what information you share online or on social media. By openly sharing things like pet names, schools you attended, family members, and your birthday, you can give a scammer all the information they need to guess your password or answer your security questions. If you or your business become the victim of a cyber-crime you can report it to www.ic3.gov. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, middle and high school student musicians returned to Northeast Community College to compete for top honors at the institutions 40th Annual Jazz Festival in the Cox Activities Center on the Northeast campus in Norfolk. The two-day event, sponsored by the Northeast Music Department, drew 77 musical groups featuring 1,532 students from Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota. The competition hosted jazz bands and show/jazz choirs for schools in four levels. Twenty-five trophies were presented at the end of each competition over the two days for first, second, third, and fourth place and solo and instrumental awards. Joy McKay knows a $15,000 grant from First National Bank of Omaha can help area residents build their dreams. McKay is executive director of Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity which recently received the grant. The funds will be used to help provide affordable housing units in Fremont. Habitat is thrilled to receive this grant again, McKay said. The local nonprofit previously has received FNBO grants. We appreciate our partnership with First National Bank of Omaha, McKay said. Our purpose is to increase access to affordable housing and thats one of First National Banks goals as well, so this partnership works very well together. McKay noted the challenge of dealing with higher construction costs. Especially these days with the cost of construction, every grant donation is very helpful, because our construction costs have gone very high, McKay said. McKay said the bank also services the nonprofits mortgage loans. Thats just something they do in support of our organization, which is huge. If we had to pay for that, she said, that would also be a huge cost to us. The local Habitat affiliate is part of a global, nonprofit agency dedicated to eliminating substandard housing through constructing, rehabilitating and preserving homes. Houses are sold never given away to partner families who make mortgage payments. Partner families work sweat equity hours on building homes and other approved projects. They purchase the homes with a 0% interest loan. McKay said dedications scheduled for one home on May 5 and another on May 7. More details can be found on the nonprofits website at fremonthabitat.org/ or its Facebook page. Fremont Area Habitat for Humanity started in 1993. To date, its built 90 houses. FNBO awarded a total of $880,000 in Impact Grants to 44 organizations in Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, South Dakota and Texas, said Spencer Danner, vice president, community development, corporate philanthropy and social responsibility. The grants support programs dedicated to affordable housing and neighborhood stability, as well as entrepreneurship and small business development. FNBO is committed to strengthening all the communities we call home, Danner said in a media release. To build a strong community, every member of the community must have access to the tools, resources and opportunities needed to succeed. Grants for affordable housing and neighborhood stability programs are intended to enable FNBOs community partners to build, rehabilitate or finance an estimated 700 affordable housing units across the banks footprint. Danner said grants supporting entrepreneurship and small business development initiatives are estimated to create approximately 3,500 jobs. Our Impact Grant Program directs our investments to community partners who are working to create positive outcomes in areas that will have the greatest impacts on financial wellbeing, resulting in the long-term economic success of our communities, Danner said. FNBO awarded $610,000 in Impact Grants to 28 organizations across Nebraska and western Iowa. For more information about FNBOs impact initiatives, visit fnbo.com/impact. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has been ousted in a no-confidence motion in the countrys National Assembly, likely leading to a dramatic and contentious standoff between Khan and the opposition. A total of 174 of the 342 members of the lower house of Pakistan's parliament voted in support of the no-confidence motion completed in the early hours of April 10 after a 13-hour delay and the resignation of speaker Asad Qaiser, an ally of Khan's. With the result, the chamber will vote on a new prime minister, likely on April 11. Opposition leader Shahbaz Sharif, president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), called for the no-confidence vote and had said that if Kahn were voted out, his allies would nominate him as the next prime minister. "We will not seek revenge. We will not put people in jail, but the law will take its course," Sharif said after the vote. The session was called after the Supreme Court blocked a bid by Khan to stay in power, ruling on April 7 that a move to stymie a vote of no-confidence in the National Assembly was unconstitutional. There was no immediate reason given for the delay in the vote or for Qaiser's resignation. Members of Khan's party had indicated on April 8 that they would attempt to delay the vote for as long as possible. Reuters reported that Khan had met with Pakistani Army Chief of Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa during the delay, but no details were immediately available. Some political analysts say Khan has fallen out with the powerful military, whose support is critical for any party to attain power. Khan and his allies had tried to sidestep a no-confidence motion that seemed certain to unseat him by dissolving parliament. As the session got under way on April 9, Qaiser said he wanted the body to debate what he described as the "foreign conspiracy" to oust Khan, triggering an angry response from members of the opposition. The 69-year-old Khan, a former cricket star, took power in 2018 with the military's support and widespread public backing, but he recently lost his parliamentary majority when allies quit his coalition government. Critics have blamed him for the country's economic woes and widespread corruption and accused him of a disastrous response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Late on April 8, Khan said he would not recognize a government formed by the opposition if the no-confidence vote passed. Khan said he would "not accept an imported government," suggesting again that the move to oust him was part of a foreign conspiracy. "I'm ready for a struggle," he said, calling for peaceful protests on April 10. Dozens of protesters have gathered in front of the Russian embassy in Chiles capital of Santiago to denounce the Russian invasion of Ukraine Paul Sutton and his wife Lisa Sutton own Peak Structural in Palmer Lake. Paul has been named Pikes Peak Small Business Person of the year for the second year. The couple is pictured at the business Thursday, June 14, 2018. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock) International cooperation in space, including operating the International Space Station and future missions to Mars, has become much more diff By Trend The West's acceptance of new realities in the region is the success of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's diplomacy, Selim Han Yeniacun, a researcher at the Center for Global Governance at Shanghai University, told Trend while commenting on the trilateral meeting in Brussels. According to him, through the successful foreign policy of President Ilham Aliyev, the international community learned the truth about the 30-year Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territories, about the country's just struggle. Thus, the whole world, especially Europe, accepted a new reality in the region. "The diplomatic success of President Ilham Aliyev was the adoption of the Sochi agreements by the EU, while Western countries were imposing sanctions against Russia. Armenia will feel pressure from Europe to comply with the terms of the Sochi agreements. I think this was one of the most important points of the meeting in Brussels. The army and Azerbaijan's diplomacy under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev withstood a serious test during the Second Karabakh War to restore the country's territorial integrity and achieved great success," Yeniacun stated. A county road project aiming to expand Colorado 105 to increase safety and accommodate long-term growth is closer to its start after El Paso County commissioners on Tuesday approved agreements with Monument Academy and the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA) for the project. El Paso County intends to improve the section of Colorado 105 from Interstate 25 to Colorado 83 in three phases. Commissioners' unanimous vote on Tuesday is a step forward in plans to expand the highway on about a mile-long segment from the I-25 off-ramp to Lake Woodmoor Drive, the first phase. Work on this segment includes expanding the road from two lanes to four lanes east of Knollwood Drive, and adding turn lanes, improved shoulders, stormwater upgrades and sidewalks, among other improvements, county engineer Jennifer Irvine said. The improvements are much needed because the corridor doesn't meet the county's traffic standards, Irvine told commissioners. "There's congestion along this corridor. There's not a lot of shoulders along this corridor. There's a lack of turn lanes. There's uncontrolled access, which affects the safety and efficiency of the roadway," she said. "We [have] inadequate roadway and intersection capacity. In many of those areas [there are] sharp turns," and there's no space for bicyclists or pedestrians to safely travel the road, she said. Crews will create an acceleration lane from Knollwood Drive to westbound Colorado 105, as the current acceleration lane turns into a second through lane, county spokeswoman Natalie Sosa said. They'll also install a single-lane roundabout at Knollwood Drive and Village Ridge Point, an eastbound left-turn lane on Colorado 105 to northbound Lake Woodmoor Drive, a southbound right-turn lane on Lake Woodmoor to westbound Colorado 105, and a southbound left-turn lane on Lake Woodmoor to eastbound Colorado 105. Improvements in this phase of the project are expected to cost about $20 million, Irvine said. PPRTA capital funds and an approximately $5.12 million federal grant will pay for the work. As part of its agreement with Monument Academy, El Paso County designed a circulation plan for improvements near the school intended to add more vehicle capacity during peak school drop-off and pickup hours, Irvine said. The school will contract for construction, with the county's oversight, she said. Once approved by the regional transportation authority, Lewis-Palmer School District 38's only charter school can begin improvements in the summer to ease traffic congestion there. El Paso County expects to begin construction advertisement for other improvements in November, Sosa said. The first phase is expected to be completed in 2024, according to the county Department of Public Works' construction and maintenance projects webpage. Construction schedules may change as the county completes remaining property acquisitions and environmental assessments, officials said. The second phase of corridor improvements, from Lake Woodmoor Drive to Martingale Road, will include widening the road to three lanes and adding shoulders and turn lanes, the Public Works webpage states. Construction on those improvements is planned to take place from 2023 to 2025. County officials are still doing preliminary design for the remainder of the corridor, from Martingale Drive to Colorado 83, the webpage states. By Trend NATO training course was held in Baku, Trend reports citing Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. The Military Public Affairs training course was conducted at the War College of the Armed Forces by the Brunssum Allied Joint Forces Command Mobile Training Group, the Netherlands, as part of the Individual Partnership Cooperation Program for 2022 of the Ministry of Defense with NATO. The course provided briefs on NATO's joint activities with the media and the public. An exchange of views was held on the topic and practical group work was carried out. In the end, the trainees received certificates. Jimmy Sengenberger is host of The Jimmy Sengenberger Show Saturdays from 6-9am on News/Talk 710 KNUS. He also hosts Jimmy at the Crossroads, a webshow and podcast in partnership with The Washington Examiner. The criminal trial of kidney care company DaVita, Inc. and its former leader, Kent Thiry, ended its first week with a detailed look at the flow of DaVita employees to Radiology Partners, another healthcare company the government alleges was involved in a conspiracy to stifle competition in the labor market. Barry Morphew, accused of killing his wife, Suzanne, walks into Chaffee County Court in Salida on Tuesday flanked by his two adult daughters. By Trend The decision to suspend Russia's membership in the UN Human Rights Council due to events in Ukrainian Bucha testifies to the unanimity of the international community on the issue of humanism and concern for humanity, political expert Ilyas Huseynov told Trend. Meanwhile, we must not forget that Azerbaijan is also a country that suffered from terror, and at different times, Armenian radicals undertook bloody terrorist actions against the Azerbaijani people, Huseynov said. According to him, in 1918 a genocide against Azerbaijanis was organized, and at the end of the 20th century, Armenian separatists committed large-scale acts of terror and vandalism. "The Khojaly tragedy, the genocide committed in Aghdaban, Bashlibel, Karkijahan and other areas contributed to the isolation of Armenia at the international level. However, the patrons of Armenia, along with applying double standards, limited the possibilities of such isolation, the expert noted. At the same time, Azerbaijani diplomacy has been working to expose the Armenian terror for about 30 years, and important decisions and resolutions have been adopted in connection with the Armenian occupation. During the 2020 second Karabakh war, Armenia also carried out terror in Ganja, Barda and Tartar, which were far from the battlefield. However, no international measures were taken against Armenia. If important decisions on the Khojaly genocide had been taken on time, bloody events could have been avoided in the future," he added. Quote: (A) have been priced to sell, and they are Quote: (B) are priced to sell, and they have Quote: (C) are priced to sell, and they do Mike always wanted to surf in Chile, and last year, he did. did refers back to the verb to surf Charlie wanted to eat nine pretzels in one day, and on his last trip to Munich, he did. did refers back to the verb phrase to eat nine pretzels in one day, and that sounds awesome Quote: (D) are being priced to sell, and have Quote: (E) had been priced to sell, and they have Heh. I kind of hate this question, and thats exactly why we chose it for a QOTD. Yeah, its a verb tense question, but as with most GMAT SC verb tense questions, its mostly a question of thinking somewhat deeply about meaning. If youre using different verb tenses, then the actions must logically happen at different times. (And well have a lot more to say about GMAT verb tenses in an upcoming YouTube webinar.)OK, so lets start by figuring out WTF this sentence is trying to say. Before the semicolon, we have an action in present perfect tense (vintners have cut prices). The use of this tense suggests that the action began in the past, and continues into the present or at least that the consequences continue in the present.So whatever happens in the underlined portion, it has to be consistent somehow with the timeline that vintners started cutting prices sometime in the past, and then reaped the benefits later.Im not sure that the verb tenses are 100% wrong here, but they arent great. Vintners have cut prices (in the past, continuing into the present), the wines have been priced to sell (also in the past, continuing into the present), but then we have they are. Why is it that the they are is suddenly in the present, but the pricing stuff started in the past? Im not sure that its wrong, but I dont think its ideal.The bigger issue: they are is the end of the sentence. They are WHAT, exactly? They are delicious? They are cheap? They are getting me drunk after I drink two bottles for breakfast?(Oops, did I say that last part out loud? I dont drink wine for breakfast anymore. But there were some interesting times in Argentina)Anyway, you have to make a big, fat, weird leap to assume that the word selling is implied at the end of the sentence. Theres no grammatical reason why we would be able to make that assumption. And so we dont actually know what the sentence is trying to say if the sentence just ends with they are.So (A) is out, even if youre able to give the verb tenses the benefit of the doubt.We have a very similar problem in (B) as in (A): they have what, exactly? They have been fermented from leftover potato pancakes instead of grapes? They have caused Johnny Depp to destroy another hotel room in a drunken haze? They have made Mike tipsy and happy after a long day of surfing?We cant just assume that the word sold would magically appear after the have. Again, theres no grammatical reason why we can just carry another form of the verb to sell to the end of the sentence.(B) is gone, too.OK, this is a weird aspect of the English language: various forms of the verb to do functions sort of like a pronoun, except that it can refer back to a verb instead of a noun. Consider the following examples:So in (C), the meaning actually makes sense: if do refers back to the verb to sell, were OK. ... the wines are priced to sell, and they [sell]. No problem.The verb tenses also work pretty well here: vintners have cut prices (starting in the past, continuing into the present), and THEN we see the consequences in the present (the wines are priced to sell, and they [sell]).We probably cant do much better than (C).(D) has the same general issue as in (A) and (B): they have what, exactly? Plus, the verb tenses arent great here. Why would we use the present progressive are being priced which emphasizes that an action is happening right now only to switch back to have which is presumably present perfect tense, if it were followed by a participle (i.e., have sold).In other words, even if we assume that the word have magically implies the entire phrase have sold, the timeline would still be illogical. So (D) is out.(E) has the same they have what? issue as (D), but now the verb tenses are even worse. Had been priced to sell suggests that they had been priced to sell in the distant past, before some other past action. So, um, the wines had been priced to sell before vintners have cut prices, I guess? Im not sure that you could use the past perfect had been before the present perfect have cut but either way, the timeline is completely illogical.(E) can be eliminated, and were left with (C). Tough question, no?_________________ On April 9, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev made a phone call to President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. During the conversation, the sides exchanged views on the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the post-conflict period, as well as the meeting held in Brussels on April 6. President Ilham Aliyev recalled the document submitted by Azerbaijan on five principles for establishing interstate relations with Armenia, and the fact that the Armenian side accepted these principles. During the telephone conversation, they discussed setting up a working group to prepare a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the establishment of a commission on delimitation of borders, as well as the activities of a working group on transport issues with the involvement of Azerbaijan, Russia and Armenia and further contacts in this format. The sides reaffirmed their mutual intention to continue close cooperation on the current agenda of bilateral relations. Military Sealift Command civil service mariner Morris Williams has never lacked confidence. His positive, can-do attitude has guided him since his days leading the drumline for the George Washington High School Marching Eagles of Danville. Now that same spirit has helped him complete a successful journey from entry-level supply utilityman to the commands newest chief engineer. It has been a 17-year climb through the ranks for the Danville native who recently reported aboard USNS Puerto Rico (T-EPF 11). However, the foundation for his determination to achieve success was inspired years before he joined the Military Sealift Command. When I was younger, I stayed with my grandparents while my parents worked, said the chief engineer. My grandfather ... served in World War II. He was a great man who lived to be 111 years old. I watched him as a kid work from sunrise to sunset taking of a huge family at home and his hogs and horses outside. I would ride with him in his truck every day and help him. I just wanted to please my parents and grandparents, he said. I didnt get in a lot of trouble growing up, although there was plenty going on around me. I just wanted to make my parents happy and be the best me I can be. Williams spent the first few years after high school working back home to support his child. However, when he was 26 years old, he decided to take a chance with the Military Sealift Command. He charted his path for success the very first day in new employee orientation class when he formed a bond with a few other aspirational civil service mariners. There were seven of us in NEO class and we all went to the same ship, said Williams. We started doing on-the-job training together, fighting to get in time to work with the engineers. We used each other as motivation. One of my friends, and he knows who he is, would always say, were doing this job, why not make the most of it. Thats how we pushed each other to keep going. Staying focused and relentless, Williams spent as much time as he could in the engine rooms learning the trade. In a few years, he reached his first milestone when he officially became an engineer. It took me eight years to become a licensed engineer. It was very challenging. I spent nearly two years doing [on-the-job training] in engineering department while still maintaining my job assignment as a supply utilityman in supply department. Once I got to engineering department, I continued learning during my off time. I just stayed patient, he said. Taking advantage of every opportunity presented to him along the way, Williams earned several in-class certifications, including attending refrigeration, damage control and advanced damage control schools. Refrigeration was my first trade. I didnt know if I wanted to be a chief engineer at this time. I wanted to be a third engineer to assist the chief. Once I achieved that, I kept studying and learning different platforms, becoming more knowledgeable, he said. With years of experience and on-the-job training behind him, Williams successfully challenged the Coast Guard engineering test to carry on the hawsepiper tradition of mariners to climb the ranks from unlicensed merchant seaman to merchant ships officer without a traditional maritime college or academy. Just like hed done more than 20 years ago leading his high school band, he approached this challenge with confidence to achieve success. Ive always been a self-motivated guy. I always feel if someone else can do something, why cant I? I always believe in being the best you can be no matter what you do and not getting too comfortable or complacent. That is always how Ive approached things and how I got to where I am. It seems he has no plans of letting up. Williams said he wants to continue to master his trade and serve the Military Sealift Command to the best of his ability. Ive reached the highest management level, but it doesnt stop. I want to continue to learn every day. If Im not learning anything new then Im becoming lazy. I would like to keep striving and advancing. I want to retire as a chief engineer in good standing and bow out gracefully. Dickson is with the USN Military Sealift Command. When Taylor Herndon glanced in her rearview mirror at her husband riding his motorcycle behind her vehicle on Franklin Turnpike on April 2, he looked so peaceful. She was about 50 feet ahead of him. But just 15 seconds later when she looked back at him again, tragedy struck, shattering that tranquility. Something told me to look up and we saw him on the ground, Taylor recalled Friday morning. A car making a left turn into the parking lot at Shadowwood Mart pulled out in front of Taylors husband, 26-year-old Tyler Herndon. To avoid hitting the car, Tyler tilted his bike and laid it down to the right, rolling underneath the car. The vehicle drove over Tyler, but did not hit him, Taylor said. Tyler went underneath the front of the car and somehow, the car did not run over him, she said. It did not touch him. They and their three daughters had just left their 4-year-old daughters T-ball practice at Twin Springs Elementary School. They were heading to Old Dutch Supermarket at West Main Street to pick up some steaks. The last thing we said to each other, we said, Goodbye, I love you, Taylor said. He said, See you there, and I said, Ill see you there. The driver of the vehicle, a black, four-door 2012-16 Buick Verano with tinted windows, has not been found or identified, but authorities have located the vehicle. The vehicle entered the Shadowwood parking lot, left, and headed toward Piney Forest Road after the wreck, she said. Since the incident, the Danville Police Department has been inundated with calls and tips about the wreck, said department spokesman Capt. Steve Richardson. The tips and responses have been overwhelming, Richardson said Friday. Its been an unbelievable amount of public support. More than 100 calls and tips regarding the wreck and the vehicle have poured into the department, he said. Were still working on determining how the accident happened, Richardson said, adding that the department is looking for witnesses. The biggest thing is to determine whats accurate and whats not. Every tip is being considered and examined, he said. It takes a lot of work, Richardson said. You have to vet those tips. Investigators have been very, very busy doing that. So far, the department is viewing the case as a potential hit-and-run and traffic accident, he said. The incident happened at 3:42 p.m. April 2, and Tyler Herndon was declared dead by doctors at 12:31 p.m. Tuesday, Taylor Herndon said, adding that she believes he died at the scene of the wreck. Tyler, who Taylor described as selfless, was an organ donor, she said, adding that the boyfriend of a woman who helped out at the scene of the wreck has already received one of his kidneys, she said. Tyler also was able to donate his heart, liver, pancreas and his other kidney. As a husband and father, he looked out for his family and was always concerned about something bad happening to Taylor whenever she went anywhere. Taylors own father, who also rode motorcycles, was in a bad motorcycle wreck before she was born, she recalled. He would caution Tyler about the perils of traffic,. He would warn him [Tyler], Its the other person you have to look out for, Taylor said. Immediately following the wreck, Taylor drove up next to her husband, dashed out of her car to him and started hitting his chest. He was lying in the middle of the parking-lot entrance to Shadowwood Mart. I just kept yelling at him, I just kept yelling, Tyler! Tyler!, she said. The couple, who had been married since Feb. 1, 2019, met through mutual friends in October 2013, when she was 17 and Tyler was 18. I was just starting my senior year of high school, she recalled. Some friends of mine and I needed a ride to a party. Tyler came to pick them up in his Ford Ranger pick-up truck and he picked Taylor to ride in front with him, she said. I clicked with him, Taylor said. We talked every day from then on. They began dating the following November and would have three daughters together, Addyson, 5; Makenzie, 4; and Layla, 2. Tyler dreamed of growing and dispensing medical and recreational cannabis, Taylor said. He wanted to have his own medical marijuana dispensary, warehouse, brand, she said. He wanted to go big. Taylor and her late husbands younger brother plan to make that dream happen. I have to keep that going for him, she said. As to who left the scene of the wreck, the police department has been answering Taylors questions about the incident, but will not provide details, she said. They dont want to give me false hope, Taylor said. An investigator has been inspecting leads on vehicles one-by-one, she said. They are on top of it, she said. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. GREENSBORO Local "Hamilton" fans may get a glimpse around town of its cast members, who say they are eager to explore the city from its rich history to its culinary options. The Broadway blockbuster opened Wednesday at the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts, which will host performances through April 24. Tyler Belo, who plays the characters of Hercules Mulligan and James Madison, said Friday that he recently enjoyed lunch at local taco favorite, Crafted, in downtown Greensboro. It's his first trip to North Carolina. "I've only had good experiences so far in Greensboro," Belo said during an interview at the Tanger Center. "It's been great. I'm excited to go to the civil rights museum." Hamilton tells the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton. Its score, with songs such as My Shot and The Room Where It Happens, blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway. Belo said he looks forward to his interactions with people who come out to see the show. And, don't be surprised to see him around town taking pictures in his off time, which he said is one way he likes to feed his creativity. Josh Tower, who plays Aaron Burr, is no stranger to North Carolina. He studied acting and earned his master's degree from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1998. "I cut my teeth there," Tower said about UNC's influence on his acting career. Tower said he is already enjoying his time at the Tanger Center. "This theater is beautiful," he said, noting the view from the stage is spectacular. "It really is a pretty space." As a husband and a father of two children, ages 7 and 9, Tower said he is doing his best to balance his joy of performing with knowing he may be missing special moments at home. "I feel every minute of it," he said as he placed his hand over his heart. Fellow cast member Zoe Jensen plays Elizabeth "Eliza" Schuyler Hamilton the wife of Alexander Hamilton. She said the show has inspired her interest in learning more about history including Greensboro's. "I'm really looking forward to exploring," Jensen said. "It's actually fun to learn about history." Jensen hopes audiences will enjoy the depth of characters like Eliza. "She always looks forward," Jensen said. "Even through tragedy, she can see how lucky she is." Belo said he has also learned life lessons from playing James Madison, such as choosing when and how to express opinions. Certain themes resonate deeply with characters, Tower said, including lyrics in the song "Wait For It" that speak to how love and life do not discriminate between sinners and saints. "That really embodies Burr to a T," Tower said. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote the script, music and lyrics for "Hamilton" and originally starred in its titular role. It has won 11 Tony Awards, a Grammy Award, Olivier Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a special citation from Kennedy Center Honors. The musical has been a smash hit since its off-Broadway debut in 2015, followed by its Broadway premiere. An early 20th century tenant farmhouse in Cornelius, whose history is significant to the Black community, appears likely to be spared from demolition. The J. Wilson Alexander house, which was built in the early 1900s, sits on the site of a proposed mixed-use residential and commercial development. Now, a new handshake agreement between the town and developer means the historic building will be moved to another part of the property, according to a local historian and Cornelius town officials. The plan for the home is the latest effort to save a number of sites in Mecklenburg County with ties to the Black community, including the Excelsior Club along Beatties Ford Road and the Morgan School in Charlottes Cherry community. The house in Cornelius is one of the last remaining tenant homes of its kind in Mecklenburg County. Its namesake was a prominent cotton farmer who rented out the modest, one-story home to laborers who worked the land. Not much has been recorded about the J. Wilson Alexander tenant house, according to one architectural evaluation by engineering consulting firm Terracon. But it stands as an example of tenant farming. After the Civil War, tenant farming, or sharecropping, emerged as a system where formerly enslaved people rented houses and land for farming from white landowners and turned profits back over to the landowner. Plans for the Cornelius site Since October 2020, the unoccupied homes fate has remained in limbo after the town Board of Commissioners approved a rezoning plan by Florida-developer Win Development. Wins plans call for building more than 100 senior independent housing units, 77 single-family homes and over 120,000 square feet of commercial space, including a grocery store. The tenant house, estimated to be less than 1,000 square feet, is on the northwest corner of the roughly 55-acre development site. Win has been working with the town and the nonprofit group Preserve Mecklenburg on a way to save the house. One plan called for moving the house twice: once off site while a park is built on the property and then back to the park once it is complete. But that plan ran into a few glitches, and most agreed moving the home twice might not be the best idea given its age and condition, said Wayne Herron, Corneliuss deputy town manager. New plan, new location Thats when Win stepped in and said the developers would be interested in moving the home to a prominent, tree-covered corner on the property, Herron told the Observer Tuesday. The corner is at the intersection of West Catawba Avenue and Westmoreland Road. The new site wouldnt require a long-distance move, but it does mean Win has to submit an amended application, Herron said. The town Board of Commissioners would then hold a public hearing and vote on that application. As part of the agreement, Win is likely going to ask for an additional 13 senior housing units, according to Herron and Dan Morrill, a prominent local historian who works with Preserve Mecklenburg. A Win Development representative declined to comment Tuesday. Herron said he pitched the agreement to town commissioners, who signaled theyd be willing to support the idea. The town, developer and Preserve Mecklenburg have been up against an April 12 deadline to find a solution to move the house. Thats because the development site includes a creek, Morrill said. A federal environmental review process was triggered, setting up the deadline and also requiring a review of any impacts to historic resources. The state agreed with a consultants report that the house was eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and therefore a preservation solution needed to be pursued. About J. Wilson Alexander J. Wilson Alexander was a prominent farmer in Mecklenburg County around the early 1900s. Born in 1887, Alexander went on to serve for many years on the county Board of Education, according to Morrill. In 1928, he took home a state prize for producing more cotton per acre than any other farmer in North Carolina. That year, he produced 816 pounds of cotton lint per acre in the growing season, according to Susan V. Mayer, a historical research and preservation consultant whos been researching the property. The norm at that time was 212 pounds. Tenant farmers and sharecroppers made up a significant portion of Mecklenburg Countys population until the Great Depression, according to Morrill. The majority of these farm laborers were Black, he said, but there were white tenant farmers, too. At one time, Mecklenburg County boasted hundreds of homes just like the J. Wilson Alexander tenant house. Very few remain today. Its a rare historic artifact, Morrill told the Observer. In the past month, Mayer has found records of at least one Black family who rented the home from the Alexanders. Census records from 1940 show John Norman living in the home with his wife, Camoline, and their seven children and one granddaughter, according to Mayers research. The Alexander tenant house has three rooms, including one with a fireplace, as well as a kitchen area and bathroom. Its an incredibly humble residence, Mayer said. A game changer in Cornelius Win Developments project will be a game changer for Cornelius, Herron, the deputy town manager, said. A cost estimate of the project was not immediately available. But it will be at a prominent intersection and include a grocery store and possibly other amenities like restaurants. The senior housing will fill a big need in town for folks looking to downsize, Herron said. The developer filed grading and other permits already, which typically means construction could start in the next three to four months. The corner where the tenant house will go will be among some larger oak trees. Those wont be taken down or affected, Herron said. He said one possible use of the home will be passive recreation. That means people would be able to come up to look inside the home not go in it and see what it looks like. He envisions a sign nearby that explains the history. To be able to see something that pertained to the (Alexander) family on the site and the history of Cornelius, thats a good thing, Herron said. Former Gov. Pat McCrory, who is running for U.S. Senate, launched a new digital ad this week attempting to tie one of his biggest competitors to one of the most controversial men in North Carolina politics: Rep. Madison Cawthorn. The ad focuses on war in Ukraine and a riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, putting soundbites from Cawthorn side-by-side with those of Rep. Ted Budd, the Trump-endorsed candidate in the Republican primary for Senate. Cawthorn and Budd are scheduled to share a stage with Trump at his rally in Selma today. The ad also highlights one of McCrorys strategies telling voters McCrorys their guy if theyre sick of controversial headlines about their elected officials said Chris Cooper, a political science professor at Western Carolina University. Hes clearly trying to present the view that hes not an extremist, Cooper said. That is his electoral lane, and I think that is also who he is. In an interview with the Observer on Wednesday, McCrory said he also includes Biden as a politician whose language has been reckless around the war in Ukraine. He cited a comment made in January, when Biden referred to the possibility of a small incursion by Russia in Ukraine as compared to an all-out assault. The comment drew backlash in Europe, with people including the Ukrainian president saying there could be no such thing as a minor incursion of a sovereign nation. Biden later clarified his remarks. They need to be compared with each other, McCrory said. Biden, Budd and Cawthorn have been reckless with their words especially when we need to be cautious and united. Budd on Thursday released a new video of his own highlighting his Trump endorsement and pointing to positive economic outcomes during the Trump presidency. Other front-runners include former Rep. Mark Walker of Summerfield and Marjorie Eastman, a veteran who served on two combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. McCrory leaning into his electoral lane The new McCrory ad, which does not provide the full context of some of Budds statements, begins with a soundbite from Budd about the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Budd in an interview on a conservative talk radio show said people have lost faith in election systems. He also said the protest was nothing, it was just patriots standing up the part quoted in McCrorys ad. While not included in McCrorys ad, Budd continued, And it was a bad day for America, lets agree to that. It was a bad day for America no matter where you are politically, but at the same time ... we need to make sure that we trust our institutions, particularly when it comes to elections. Jonathan Felts, an adviser to Budd, said the statement from McCrorys ad was taken out of context, and that Budd was referring to a story from Reuters that said the FBI found scant evidence of a coordinated effort to upend the presidential election prior to the Capitol riot. Professional Politician Pat McCrory is, as usual, taking comments out of context. The full context is that Ted has repeatedly condemned the January 6 rioters and supported a full law enforcement investigation, Felts said in a statement. Felts said Budd has consistently criticized people who broke the law on Jan. 6, 2021, and called for full investigations and prosecutions of the rioters. If Pat McCrory thinks peaceful protesters should be treated the same as rioters, its probably a bad idea for him to be in any sort of elected office, Felts said. The Budd clip is followed by one of Cawthorn, who spoke at the rally just before hundreds of Trump supporters clashed with U.S. Capitol Police and stormed the Capitol building. Then, the ad moves to Ukraine, clipping a soundbite of Budd saying Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is a very intelligent actor, followed by one of Cawthorn calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a thug. Budds full statement, which is not included in the ad, also called Putin evil and an international thug. But he is intelligent, so we have to treat him as such, he said in an interview with the CBS affiliate in Raleigh. Budd points to healthy economy Two recent polls, including one this week by Emerson College and news outlet The Hill, show Budd leading the U.S. Senate race in North Carolina. On Thursday, the congressman released a video pointing to high economic outcomes during Trumps presidency, including a low unemployment rate for women and Black residents. Youve got to serve the interests of the American men and women who, frankly, they feel forgotten by the rest of Washington, Budd said in the ad. The poll from Emerson College and The Hill showed Budd up 16 percentage points among likely voters. Thirty-six percent of Republican respondents said they would vote for Budd, while 22% said they would vote for McCrory. Along with the economy, Budd has also used topics such as critical race theory in schools to galvanize support. Polling suggested the intersection of race and education is a big-ticket item for Republicans. A poll in December by the University of Massachusetts Amherst found that more than half of Republicans dont think public schools should teach students about racial inequality. While McCrory received just over $3 million in contributions to his campaign in 2021 compared to Budds $2.7 million, Budd also has the backing of the Washington-based PAC Club For Growth. That organization has spent more than $8 million on the primary so far and plans to spend $14 million by the election in May. Neither candidate has raised as much as Cheri Beasley, the presumptive Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate. She received more than $4.8 million in contributions in 2021 and announced Thursday she raised another $3.6 million in the first quarter of 2022. If youre spending time online in North Carolina, youre not alone. North Carolinians cant get enough of social media propelling the state to the top of a national list. Researchers studied online habits and found the state was the most social media obsessed in the country, according to figures released Thursday. The marketing agency Hennessey Digital said it came up with the list after it studied internet data over the past two years. It found Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat were the most popular U.S. social media sites by search volume. Then, analysts studied the number of times people Googled those platforms in each state to see which ones had the most searches per month for every 1,000 people, officials said in a news release. North Carolina home to over 10 million came out on top, with people looking up social media platforms more than 9 million times each month. Thats about 867.87 searches per 1,000 residents, results show. So, which online platform was the state most curious about? Facebook topped the list with 6.12 million average monthly searches in North Carolina. Instagram comes in second with 823,000 searches a month and Twitter in third with 550,000 monthly searches, officials said. Those figures mirror the nationwide trends, which rank Facebook before Instagram and Twitter in terms of search popularity. Snapchat was the lowest-ranking of the social media platforms studied. Though it didnt match North Carolinas level of interest in social media sites, neighboring Tennessee landed the No. 2 spot in the overall rankings. Rounding out the top five were Maine, New Hampshire and New Mexico. Hawaii was found to be the least social media obsessed state, with 440.34 searches per 1,000 people, officials said. By Trend Georgia will receive the EU membership questionnaire next week, Georgian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mari Narchemashvili told the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB), Trend reports citing 1tv.ge. According to the MFAs spokesperson, Georgia is preparing for the follow-up procedures on EU accession. The EU Integration Commission, headed by the Georgian Prime Minister, is in charge of effective coordination among relevant agencies to fill in the questionnaire shortly. We are sure that Georgia will successfully handle the process. Georgias progress in implementing the reforms gives strong ground. Georgia, together with the associated countries, getting the membership questionnaire so imminently confirms our European partners support for the integration process and recognition of the successful reforms, Narchemashvili told the GPB. The EU Integration Commission approved Georgias 2022 National Action Plan for EU membership on April 1. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili signed Georgias application for EU membership on March 3. For All U of U Health Patients & Visitors Easter is one of the largest attended services of the religious calendar, but the numbers of those who consider themselves religious is in rapid decline. Before the Notre Dame Cathedral burned, I had the privilege of walking through it. The cathedral was black with time, crowded with people admiring the art and history, but there was also a mass going on in front, with very few in attendance. Why was there such a large crowd admiring the beauty of the building, but not engaged in the ritual it was built to house? Europe has some of the most beautiful religious houses of worship, but they are largely empty of worshippers. America is not far behind. The Pew Research Foundation reports that about a quarter of U.S. adults (27%) think of themselves as spiritual but not religious (SBNR). That group was 7% in 2004 and 10% in 2017. This SBNR title began in the rise of dating sites in 2000 when a person wanted to distinguish themself from a cold-hearted atheist, but neither were they a moralizing prudish person: Im nice, friendly, spiritual, but not religious (What It Means to Be Spiritual But Not Religious Caroline Kitchner, The Atlantic, Jan. 2018). Lets define spirituality and religion. I am a Chaplain to veterans, their families and the staff that cares for them at the Montana VA. The VA defines spirituality as that which gives meaning, purpose and hope in life (VHA Directive 1111(1). Meaning is the quest to find the design and the Designer in life, or am I part of something bigger than myself? Whatever your answer is to that question is your meaning. Purpose is my identity, or contribution to that meaning. Hope is my growth in that meaning and purpose, a person without hope does not believe they have anything to contribute to their world. While spirituality is the quest to bring meaning, purpose and hope into my experiences, religion is an organization to help me with spiritual questions. Why are people abandoning the religious organizations to explore their own spirituality? George Barna defines the SBNR as self-identifying as spiritual, even agree that religious faith is important in their life but havent attended church in the last 6 months. (Meet Those Who Love Jesus But Not the Church Barna Group barna.com, April 2017). The research gives many reasons people are abandoning religion as they grow in awareness of their spirituality. As I work with military veterans, I have had very few claim not to be spiritual, but many have abandoned religion because their experiences in life and, especially in combat, are avoided by religion. The civilian culture of their religious background tends to skip over the uncomfortable stories of failure and wars in the Bible. But these are exactly the world veterans experienced. In my Christian tradition, King David was a warrior and wrote about it extensively, but his life is filled with the uncomfortable and complicated. While veterans may have a higher percentage of SBNRs, the reason so many are leaving religious systems may be for similar reasons. Kitchner gives some reasons the SBNR dont find help in religion. Religion has become identified with political issues, or they feel restricted by dogma or avoiding formal organizations of any kind. A veteran with PTSD or Moral Injury or an addiction thinks about religion, they often worry about being judged rather than finding a place of healing. If I talk about a struggle with something I did, or in a teaching of my faith, rather than allowing the confusion, I will often receive a quick answer. For instance, a man struggled with the death of his father when he was 13 years old. The church told me that my fathers life was in Gods hands, so that seems like God could have kept him alive in the time I needed him most! What about the parent who continues to struggle with addiction, because their baby died in the crib, when a parent is supposed to protect their child? When the conclusion (dogma) comes first, we avoid the ability to work through the conflict of grief. Barnas research shows that the SBNR tends to have a dogma that is more orthodox than Church attenders, but they abandoned religion because it doesnt allow them to struggle with the conflicts theyve experienced. Most SBNRs come out of evangelical traditions, but they walk away because they are focused on dressing up, singing old songs, lecturing about topics that they are not wondering about. Perhaps instead of telling the unchurched they should return to church; it is time to wonder why religion has become irrelevant. Everyone is spiritual, but not everyone is religious. We all share a longing to connect to a meaning and purpose. Religion can be helpful toward my deepening spiritual life. But when religion is handed down to me and assumed by my culture, country or family, religion tends to overlook the deeper questions of life. Religion turns into dwelling on beliefs you dont feel comfortable questioning, though you do. How do I feed my spiritual life? Albert Einstein said that the most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all art and science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed (Living Philosophies). Let me suggest some helpful things I have found. First, nurture curiosity. A friend of mine said that when I judge someone, I lose curiosity. Find friends who can handle the struggle rather than those who attempt to correct you. Second, give relationships the honor they deserve. Brene Brown said that spirituality of relationships is defined as much by how we treat our enemies as how we treat our friends. (The Gifts of Imperfection). Religious houses of worship can provide a diverse community or get in the way by becoming a gathering of those who think the same way I do. Third, return to and create beauty. While religion has done its share of abuse and warfare, it has also been the greatest benefactor of art, music, and poetry. Worship is awe, wonder, which covers a great variety of venues and genres. Genesis begins with the story of creativity and beauty in the universe. Starting on the third day, when God made something beautiful, he would stop to admire it and pronounce it good. Then God made people in his image to do the same. Caring for our spiritual life is the pilgrimage of a lifetime. It is a task that cant be handed off to a religious organization, but it can be supplemented by religion. How might you nurture your soul today? Tim Weidlich Pastored in South Carolina, Texas and Montana for over 30 years. He works as a Chaplain at the Montana VA and lives in Helena. He has three grown children and loves connecting with people, discovering beauty in nature and in reading and teaching. You can contact Tim at tim.weidlich1@gmail.com. Love 7 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Colstrip Power Plant operator and co-owner Talen Energy is reportedly seeking loans for a potential bankruptcy, according to Bloomberg. The news service reported Thursday that Talen was talking to lenders about financing for a bankruptcy. On an earnings call last August, Talen told investors it was $4 billion in debt. News that Talen is allegedly seeking a debtor-in-possession loan comes 11 days after lead attorneys for Talen withdrew from a key lawsuit concerning Colstrip. Talen informed the court of the withdrawal of its lead counsel March 25. The lawyers were with the Susman Godfrey Law Firm. The change in representation comes weeks before a hearing about whether to grant summary judgment against Talen, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen and NorthWestern Energy. Talen didnt respond to a Thursday request for comment. The lawsuit concerns a new Montana law empowering the state attorney general to order power plant repairs and imposing fines of $100,000 a day against noncompliant Colstrip owners. Last November, in an order preventing the state from acting on the law, U.S. District Judge Susan Watters said the law is likely unconstitutional. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit are the majority owners of the power plant. Puget Sound Energy, Avista Corp., PacifiCorp and Portland General Electric plan to be financially ready to exit Colstrip by the end of 2025. They have objected to paying for maintenance that extends the life of the power plant beyond their time in Colstrip. 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. In September 2020, Pantagraph city reporters Analisa Trofimuk and Sierra Henry founded the "Long Story Short" podcast. The idea was to inform Central Illinois readers of all the latest news in Bloomington-Normal, Decatur, and Charleston-Mattoon. After 70 episodes and countless hours recording, laughing, and talking about the news, co-hosts Sierra Henry and Kelsey Watznauer are saying a final goodbye to this rendition of "Long Story Short" podcast. Watznauer and Henry discuss professional developments in their career and reflect on past episodes of the podcast, goofs, and gags. In the coming weeks Lee Enterprises will begin revamping the podcast, so stay tuned for future episodes! Music by Podington Bear. Contact Sierra Henry at 309-820-3234. Follow her on Twitter: @pg_sierrahenry. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 My inbox remains a reliable source of vitriolic accusations about the so-called woke mob, as well as more specific accusations that I am myself a member in good standing with the so-called woke mob, so I guess its time for a pertinent question: Uh, what is it? Id be willing to identify as woke, but Id have to know what it is. Im funny that way. Absent further explanation, Im not sure Im woke. Im awake, probably about half the time, but I feel like that doesnt fulfill the requirements. I have an almost identical issue with this term rock, as in Billy Porter rocked a bright pink Valentino at the Grammys. OK, but what was he wearing? The woke thing is fairly ubiquitous and has been for a few years, but its general comprehension is decidedly not. Confusion about woke reached a tipping point in the last couple weeks with yet another mindless assertion by Donald J. Trump, specifically that Alabama Congressman Mo Brooks made a horrible mistake when he went woke and stated, referring to the 2020 Presidential Election Scam, Put that behind you, put that behind you. Brooks, lest youve misplaced your handy roster of Jan. 6 insurrectionists, is the guy who turned up in Washington that day for conspicuous speechmaking that somehow required him to wear body armor and carry a Glock. When the (former) president calls me woke, theres not anybody in Alabama with a brain larger than the size of a pea who believes that Mo Brooks is a woke liberal, Brooks told ABC. Same with most everyone else, pea- and non-pea brains alike, coast to coast. Woke has evidently emerged as a kind of universal dismissal of the left, a vapid slice of political slang that has all but replaced politically correct. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has warned that Disney will destroy the country if its woke ideology is left to flourish unabated. Luckily, the line to destroy the country is longer than the one for Space Mountain, and I doubt Disney will be cutting the line in front of Ron DeSantis. Heres another thing Im not sure I understand. Since Im in the media, I doubt Id have the time for mob activities, especially since a recent survey by the Public Religion Research Institute says that 16% of Americans believe the government, media, and financial institutions in the U.S. are controlled by a group of Satan-worshipping pedophiles who run a global child sex-trafficking operation. That sounds like a lot of work. As it happens though, there is an official definition of woke, and its not surprising that its as benign as can be. According to Merriam-Webster, woke means aware and attentive to important facts and issues, especially issues of race and social justice. No one on the left should allow themselves to be defined by the pejorative slang of people whod be hard-pressed to define such terms for themselves, and vice versa. Its the same with the lefts socialist agenda. What percentage of people who throw socialist around can ascribe to it an accurate definition? Its say about 16%. Thankfully, were coming up on the 70th anniversary of that time Harry Truman put the socialist trope to bed for good. Socialism is a scare word they have hurled at every advance the people have made in the last 20 years, Truman said in a speech at Syracuse. Socialism is what they called public power. Socialism is what they called social security. Socialism is what they called farm price supports. Socialism is what they called bank deposit insurance. Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations. Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people. And who is the they in all of that? Not the woke mob. Gene Collier is a columnist for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Last years state budget talks were dragged into the bitter fight between the Senate and the House and the governors office over a massive bill to regulate carbon-based power plants. As a result, the House hurriedly and angrily jammed an appropriations bill over to the Senate before it could be fully checked for accuracy. Both chambers had to return during the summer to fix the mistakes. And a week before the end of this years spring session, tensions started showing again. Top House Democrats and people in the governors office said they were blind-sided when the Senate Democrats unveiled a $1.8 billion temporary tax cut package during a late Friday afternoon press conference. The Senate Dems apparently wanted to lay down their marker before the House - which had not by then proposed its tax cut plan outside the governors temporary $1 billion tax cut proposal in February - reconvened the following Sunday afternoon. But the rancor quickly eased because people began talking to each other. The House unveiled its own $1.4 billion temporary tax cut plan by Wednesday and the talks began in earnest. The last 24 hours have been a virtual model of cordial negotiation and give and take, marveled a high-level official in Gov. JB Pritzkers administration at the beginning of the following day. By that afternoon, a deal was announced. Elements of all three plans made it into the $1.8 billion tax cut deal. The centerpiece of the Senates plan was sending individual-filing taxpayers a check for $100 and joint filers $200. The final agreement cut that amount in half but doubled the per-child level to $100, from the Senates proposed $50, and lowered the top income threshold. The Senate also proposed expanding the states Earned Income Credit, which was not in the governors original tax cut plan, and the House pushed the expansion further to include a permanent expansion, which is in the final proposal. State revenues have continued to strengthen at an unforeseen pace. The revised estimate projects revenues for the remainder of this fiscal year and next fiscal year will come in $2 billion higher than projected before the governors February budget address. So, the decision was made to increase the taxpayer give-backs. That new revenue also allowed the state to sweeten the pie for credit ratings agencies by increasing the governors proposed $900 million contribution to the states essentially empty rainy day fund to about $1 billion. The states pension funds will receive a $500 million boost above and beyond the required contribution, which is equal to the governors original plan. If the state doesnt get another upgrade after all this, then I have no idea what itll take. And there will be about $200 million in additional spending to support public safety measures, invest in the tools law enforcement needs to prevent and solve crimes and strengthen investments in violence prevent programs that keep communities safe, according to a press release. So, is this an election-year budget, as the news media has noted again and again? Of course it is. I mean, the states majority party is engaged in an off-year election contest with enormous national anti-Democratic headwinds. The governor goes before the voters this fall, possibly against someone backed by a richer guy than he is. All state legislators are up and theyre all running in newly redrawn districts with significant numbers of constituents who dont know a thing about them. It would be absolute political malpractice if the Democrats let this opportunity pass them by. And, frankly, refunding likely one-time surplus money to taxpayers while also bulking up reserves, shoring up state pension funds and paying off other debts is standard procedure in well-run states. Scream Politics! all you want. Youre totally right. But good government is, as someone once said, good politics, and that was most definitely the mantra of the day. But is this really good government? Id prefer using all that extra revenue to further shore up the states pension funds. The state is missing out on a huge opportunity. Then again, I dont have to run for reelection this year. And, notably, the Senate Republicans budget proposal did not once mention the pension funds, state debt or the rainy day fund. Instead, they proposed using likely one-time revenue spikes to fund permanent tax cuts, which could create a fiscal disaster when the economy eventually falters. They could play that game because they knew their proposal has no chance of passage all the while claiming that the other side is engaging in politics like theyre somehow immune to the charge. Same goes for the House Republicans, who called the agreement both unaffordable and inadequate. Rich Miller publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and CapitolFax.com. Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 BRISTOL, Va. The impending closure of the Bristol, Virginia jail will come at the expense of 46 total jobs and cost the city an additional $1.44 million in its first year, according to the citys proposed budget. The document reveals the most precise estimates yet of what it will cost to close the existing city jail and shift all of the citys inmates to the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail Authority. City Manager Randy Eads presented those and other details to the City Council at a called Thursday meeting. We knew that going to the regional jail was going to cost the city some money, and that is a budget challenge, but we have prepared for that and are ready to move forward with the regional jail transition, Eads told the council. The council voted last October to abandon its aging, long overcrowded jail and join the regional jail authority after spending more than $1 million annually to house excess city prisoners at other jails across the state. The payment to the jail [authority] for the upcoming fiscal year will be roughly $3.123 million. We have police transport costs of $500,000, the sheriffs net budget would be [reduced to] $902,000 for a total of $4.5 million, Eads said. The fiscal 2022 budget had roughly $3 million allocated to the sheriff, and we now have a net increase of $1.449 million. This is less than what was projected by Davenport & Company by roughly $600,000. In April 2021, Davenport Richmond-based financial advisers to both the city and the authority estimated the city would need to come up with an additional $2.18 million annually. The $500,000 allocation for police transport of prisoners to the Abingdon regional jail is following the initial arrest, Eads said. The jail authority would be responsible for subsequent trips to and from court in Bristol, with those costs included in the citys annual membership, which is based on its total number of inmates. Authority members currently pay about $28 per inmate, per day, or about $10,254 annually. The city agreement also includes hold harmless language. The city must also offset any difference in lost authority revenue if it can no longer house federal prisoners $1.66 million in fiscal 2021-22 and to offset the nearly $570,000 rent paid by the city during the current fiscal year. Davenport estimated the city would need to send 196 inmates to the regional jail to offset those losses. Eads said that has been programmed into the budget. The total payment [to the jail authority] is $3.123 million; $1.8 million will come from fund one [city general fund] and $1.31 million will come from fund 35, which is the ARPA [federal American Rescue Plan Act] funding, during this transition year for the regional jail, Eads said. The 1.3 million is one-time funding from the federal government that must be replaced in fiscal 2023-24. Part of that $1.8 million general fund contribution $1.2 million is expected to come from savings of not having to pay other jails to house excess city prisoners. Eads said the actual costs wont be known until the city has gone through at least one complete year housing its prisoners at authority facilities. The change will eliminate 43 positions from the Sheriffs Office budget and three jobs by closing down the Judicial Alternative Sentencing Program. The total decrease in salaries is $1.66 million, including positions at the Sheriffs Office and the sentencing program. Of that total, $1.47 million was paid by the Virginia Compensation Board, for certified deputy salaries. The change also removes $819,000 in benefits from the budget. The sentencing program operates through the Circuit Court, providing options for inmates, including drug treatment court to assist those suffering addiction issues, a work reentry program for nonviolent offenders whove served the majority of a sentence and a home monitoring program. I am recommending we eliminate the Judicial Alternative Sentencing Program. It first came online in 2018. The original intent was to relieve overcrowding in our local jail to help us lessen jail costs. We are now going to the regional jail, Eads said. The funding is $243,000. If were going to the regional jail, and we do not have the numbers of inmates in that program to make it break even, I cannot in good faith recommend we continue with that program. I have talked with Judge [Sage] Johnson in regards to the program. He would prefer we continue the program for at least another year through the jail transition. However, my recommendation is to eliminate the program, Eads said. Mayor Anthony Farnum said it was a lot of information to process. One thing that jumps out that, I think, will take us a while to get our heads around is the jail. A lot of different numbers with the transition this year, Farnum said. Any changes to the budget plan must be completed by the final reading, which is currently scheduled for May 24. 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. Congratulations, youve got a new gun carry law in Georgia! Whether you should rely on it will be the topic of this column. Its called the "John Meadows Constitutional Carry Act of 2022, an act of gratitude, I reckon, because the name common folk gave it was "Constitutional Carry, as this law abolishes many gun carry restrictions. In 1910, the Democrat-controlled Georgia Legislature imposed gun carry restraints on the entire population when, at the urging of racist Atlanta Journal editors, they enacted gun carry laws aimed at denying Black people gun-carrying ability. Georgias Constitution says the right to bear arms shall not be infringed, unless the Legislature says so, leading to our gun carry infringements for over one hundred years. And this law still carries some infringements, as Ill discuss. The new law allows a "lawful weapons carrier to carry in unrestricted areas without a Georgia Weapons Carry License (GWCL) so long as they would be eligible for a GWCL if they applied. One could already carry in ones car, on ones property, or at ones business without a GWCL. Upon the Governors signing, one can carry in Walmart without a GWCL if they would be eligible for a GWCL. That means, one is age 21 or over (unless military, then 18 and over); has not been convicted of domestic violence, drug crimes or felonies (without gun rights restoration); has no pending felony charges; has no misdemeanor gun crime convictions; or was not hospitalized for mental health treatment in the past five years. One cannot carry everywhere a GWCL holder can. For instance, with a GWCL you can carry in "sterile areas at an airport, but not under the "lawful weapons carrier law. You also cannot carry on Corps of Engineers property (Lake Allatoona, for instance), but with a GWCL you can. Federal law mandates a 1000-foot "gun-free zone around schools, but a GWCL exempts one from that policy, although carrying in the school is complicated. Now what other advantages remain for plunking down your hard-earned money at the courthouse for a carry permit (GWCL)? A GWCL holder can walk into a store and buy a firearm with no waiting period. Others cannot. A GWCL holder is entitled to reciprocity with all Southern states and many other states, so one can carry there regardless of that states stance on constitutional carry. That list of states is found below. Notably, all Southern states are included. Not included are communist strongholds of New York, New Jersey, Illinoisy, and the Left Coast. Reciprocity States: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Vermont has no reciprocity because they are a true constitutional carry state where everyone can carry. So, Ill keep renewing my GWCL. Its about $6 a year, overall. Not too bad, although as a constitutional right, it seems like it should be free, but its not. Disappointment in my government takes many forms. Kelly Burke, practicing attorney, former district attorney and magistrate judge, writes about the law, rocknroll, and politics or anything that strikes him. These articles are not designed to give legal advice, but are to inform the public about how the law affects their daily lives. Contact Kelly atdakellyburke@gmail.com to comment on this article or suggest articles that youd like to see, and visit his website at www.kellyrburke.com to view prior columns. Each year in Perry, the Perry Ministerial Association hosts a series of Holy Week services the week prior to Easter. The brief services take place at Noon at various churches in Perry, and are followed by a luncheon. The public is invited to each of these four brief services and the meals that follow. This years Holy Week Services and meals are as follows: Monday, April 11 at 12 p.m. at Crossroads United Methodist Church Rev. Leland Collins from Northview United Methodist Church will speak. Tuesday, April 12 at 12 p.m. at Perry Presbyterian Church Pastor Jason Mangrum from Kings Cross Baptist Church will speak. Wednesday, April 13 at 12 p.m. at Cross Point Church in Perry Pastor Willie King from Faith Bible Fellowship in Perry will speak. Thursday, April 14 at 12 p.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church Rev. Pat Jefferson from Oak Grove CME will speak. A service does not take place on Good Friday. A free-will offering is taken at each event. Proceeds are used to fund the Perry Ministerial Associations work of providing lodging, gas and food for transients individuals who are passing through our area and experience an emergency of some kind. The Perry Ministerial Association has been providing this assistance for many years, with financial support provided through the Holy Week Service offerings. Individuals who would like to lend financial support to this effort may also send checks to the Perry Ministerial Association at PO Box 1426 in Perry, Georgia 31069. This help is distributed by vouchers provided to the Perry Police Department for distribution to individuals in need. The Perry Ministerial Association members are pastors of the various churches in Perry. This years President is Pastor Tom Carruth from Perry United Methodist Church. We invite you to join us at Mondays Holy Week service at 12 Noon at Crossroads United Methodist Church. HICKORY Veterans Coffee Connection, a coffee group for veterans of all ages and branches of military service, will meet Wednesday, April 13, at 8:30 a.m. at Outback Steakhouse on Lenoir-Rhyne Boulevard in Hickory. The group, sponsored by Carolina Caring, is designed to be a welcoming place for veterans to meet other veterans in the area. This free gathering, which meets on the third Tuesday of every month, is a place to share a cup of coffee, enjoy doughnuts provided by Dunkin Donuts and swap stories. This months guest speaker is Jack McCabe, Vietnam veteran and author of the books, "Those Left Behind" and When We Came Home. McCabe was a business owner for 20 years before retiring to focus on helping those who have served our country. He will share what inspired him to write his books and resources to help veterans with PTSD, financial challenges, family issues and more. Carolina Caring for Veterans is proud to be a Level IV partner of the We Honor Veterans program, an awareness initiative spearheaded by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. For more information, contact the Rev. Sandi Hood, Carolina Carings director of community relations, at shood@carolinacaring.org or by calling 828-466-0466, ext. 3212. Carolina Caring, founded in 1979, is an independent, community-based, nonprofit health care provider. It specializes in programs that offer relief from chronic conditions, serious illnesses, and the challenges they bring, including palliative medicine and hospice care for all ages, primary care and grief counseling. Currently, Carolina Caring serves 12 counties across western North Carolina and the Charlotte region. For more information about Carolina Caring, call 828-466-0466 or visit www.CarolinaCaring.org. Kindergarten students in Hanoi to return to school on April 13 Around 600,000 kindergarten students in Hanoi will return to schools on April 13 after a year of strictly online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kindergarten students at a school in Hanoi. The capital city has allowed the reopening of preschools from April 13. The Hanoi Peoples Committee has given the go-ahead on Friday afternoon following the municipal Department of Education and Trainings proposal to resume in-person learning for preschool students in all 30 urban and outlying districts and townships across the city. About 80 per cent of parents said they are willing to bring their children back to preschools, according to the education department. Hanoi People's Committee asked the municipal education department to coordinate with the health department to regularly update and follow related regulations to ensure COVID-19 prevention and control at schools. Local authorities of districts and townships are entrusted with increasing supervision and examining the implementation of COVID-19 prevention and control at schools. Hanoi is the last locality among 63 provinces and cities nationwide to allow kindergartens to resume in-person learning. Schools in the city have reopened to all students from first to sixth grades on Wednesday, with the rate of students returning reaching 94 per cent. The number of new COVID-19 cases has kept dropping in the capital, with 2,897 new infections recorded on Friday, only a fraction of the peak in March. Vietnam is preparing to inoculate children aged 5 to 11 years old in the second week of April with Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines whereas the first batch of Moderna vaccines for children is expected to be delivered to the country on May 10. By Trend The Foreign Ministry called for an immediate cease-fire after the attack on a train station in eastern Ukraine on Friday, Trend reports citing Daily Sabah. In a statement, the ministry said it expressed deep concern about the civilian losses, after a rocket hit the train station in Kramatorsk, where civilians were waiting to be evacuated. "It has been learned with great sadness that dozens of people waiting to be evacuated died and were injured" as a result of the strike, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Noting that the deplorable incident has shown the necessity and urgency of facilitating humanitarian corridors, the ministry said it reiterates its call for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the destructive war. At least 39 civilians, including four children, lost their lives in the rocket attack. Its an often-repeated tale, I admit, but Im going to repeat it, again: the worlds largest low-rise office building, the Pentagon, was built in 16 months. Can you imagine a project even a tenth the size of the Pentagon being constructed that quickly today? Its true the 16-month period in question from the Sept. 11, 1941 groundbreaking to the Jan. 15, 1943 completion date didnt include planning time. Can you guess how long the planning took? Heres the sequence of events. At a July 17, 1941 hearing on Capitol Hill, U.S Rep. Clifton Woodrum of Virginia pressed the Roosevelt administration to come up with an overall solution to the War Departments longstanding office crunch. At the time, its employees were spread out over 17 separate buildings in the nations capital. Keep in mind that by this point in World War II, the United States had not officially entered the conflict. But America was already a major supplier of materiel to both Britain and the Soviet Union, and was imposing stiff economic sanctions on Japan in response to its invasion of, and atrocities within, the vast expanse of China. U.S. officials knew full well (even if the general public did not) that the country might soon be drawn into war. Among their concerns was the readiness of the War Department to manage any rapid and massive mobilization that might be required. Within days of the July 17 hearing, then, the department responded with a plan to build a new headquarters just over the Potomac River at Arlington Farms. Because of the sites irregular shape, planners chose the now-distinctive pentagon design. On July 28 you read that right Congress authorized funding for the project. The departments plan drew immediate objections. Neighbors, activists, and civic leaders complained that even though the planned building would be only five stories tall, it might block the view from Arlington National Cemetery to Washington. After several weeks of wrangling, President Roosevelt sided with the critics and chose a different location, a former airport, for the Pentagon. Unlike modern land-use disputes of comparable acrimony, however, this one didnt gum up the works too much. Though the final site hadnt been officially designated, the War Department spent the summer selecting its vendors and identifying the additional parcels of land it would need to buy around each of the alternative sites. On the same day the construction contract was designed, Sept. 11, work on the Pentagon began. I cant tell you the next 16 months always went smoothly. The contractors encountered unexpected problems. Sometimes the construction crews got ahead of the evolving designs. The project blew past its original budget. And although the 16 months of construction may seem lightning fast to us, department officials actually found it frustratingly slow. They had to move some employees into the Pentagon as it was still being completed when some of the hallways were really just wooden planks laid across construction pits. Theres no such emergency in North Carolina right now. But the example of the Pentagon, and of other construction projects of the era, can be seen as evidence of the proposition that when public agencies and private contractors have sufficient means and motivation, they can act with dispatch. Can we all agree that it simply takes too long today to plan, permit, design, and complete major public-works projects? There are roads I regularly travel where orange barrels have become a seemingly permanent feature. The cost in dollars, traffic, and frustration are immense. Now that the national Democrats Build Back Better legislation has stalled out, I suggest North Carolina leaders expropriate two-thirds of the slogan to name a new bipartisan initiative: a Build Back Faster bill. Lets get serious about streamlining state regulations and permitting processes so that public buildings, roads, sewer lines, and other infrastructure can be completed in a reasonable time. Do that, ladies and gentlemen, and youll get a big round of applause. Itll be well deserved. John Hood is a John Locke Foundation board member and author of the new novel Mountain Folk, a historical fantasy set during the American Revolution (MountainFolkBook.com). The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoards Dairyman. Dairy producers and advisors working with all types, sizes, and breeds of dairy herds are invited to the first of its kind Data and Innovations Summit (DIS) held in conjunction with the National Holstein Convention on Thursday, June 30, 2022 at the Sioux Falls Convention Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The summit will be an in-person only event.The DIS will feature dairy industry leaders who will share how data gleaned from the many innovations used on todays dairy farms can be better utilized to help maximize efficiency, results, and profitability. Attendees will hear key considerations for implementing new technologies or data systems, discussion from data industry leaders who work to utilize multiple data sources, as well as from producers using data innovations.The DIS will provide attendees with many immediate and practical take-homes actions, and thought-provoking ideas from four speakers, two panels, and over a dozen technology spotlights. All for only $25, which includes a hot lunch!The summit will begin with registration at 7 am. At 7:30 am, the summit gets underway with the featured speakers addressing Dairy Data and Technologies: Past, Present, and Future; Dos and Donts of Interpreting Farm Data: Avoiding Common Data Mistakes; Unlocking the Power of Data for the Hardest Working Cow in the Business; and How to Determine if Precision Dairy Analytics and Technologies are Right for Your Farm. The main summit is scheduled to conclude at 1:15 pm.After the main summit, participants are invited to stay for additional seminars. Beginning at 3:30 pm, 11 additional 30-minute sponsored educational seminars, most technology-based, will be offered. Furthermore, company representatives will also be available at the all-day trade show.Theres no doubt, data and technology are a fast-growing part of the dairy industry, and for good reason. The continued pressure to improve will continue to challenge and change how the dairy industry operates. No matter how you measure success, data and innovations of all sorts can help dairy producers meet those opportunities.The value-packed agenda was built by producers, with all dairy producers in mind regardless of their farm size, breed, or management style. Dairy producers, advisors to dairy producers, college-age students interested in a future career in farming or consulting, dairy challenge contests students, and others are welcome to attend. Please note: attendees do NOT need to be a member of the Holstein association to attend this event.The DIS is truly U.S. dairy producer focused with the following objectives: To demonstrate ways to improve utilization and management of existing data on dairies of all sizes. This includes the potential for data to aid in new decision-making on dairies from individual cow data to herd-based decisions. To foster an environment for all dairy producers to learn about relevant data and technology innovations that are currently available and look ahead to meet future dairy producer needs. The summit has been approved for six hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions that recognize RACE approval. Approval has been given for ARPAS (American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists) for five CEU credits.For younger attendees, there will be a special youth version of the Data & Innovations Summit that will feature a panel of three dairy industry leaders and their wealth of knowledge related to data, technology, and dairy cattle production. This event will be from 11:30 am to 1 pm. Networking opportunities will also be available with universities that offer dairy and/or animal science programs.The DIS is hosted by the Minnesota Holstein Association. Again, attendees do not need to be a member of the Holstein association to attend this event.Attendees are also invited to participate in additional events at the National Holstein Convention including a ticketed steak sandwich meal held in conjunction with the National Holstein Convention Sale the evening of the DIS event. For more information about the convention, visit www.2022nationalholsteinconvention.com. For more information, a complete schedule, view the list of speakers, and to register for the summit and/or the national convention, visit www.2022nationalholsteinconvention.com/data-innovation-summit . Registration for the summit is open through June 1. Victoria Young Gina Clark has traveled to Ukraine over the past 20 years offering medical support to rural towns. But three weeks ago, she was giving the same medical aid to Ukrainian refugees displaced from their home by Russias invasion. Clark, a nurse of 40 years who lives in Midland, started traveling to Ukraine through a Christian organization called Ukraine Challenge. She is currently employed in an emergency department in Mecklenburg County. Getting to know Ukraine Each year, she would travel with a Ukraine Challenge team to participate in a two-week medical screening clinic in rural Ukrainian towns. We would advise, she explained. If we noted something that was concerning, we would counsel them on seeking medical attention. In some cases we would tell them where to seek treatment. They also distributed some over-the-counter medication and vitamins. She began joining these teams in the early 2000s. A team still traveled to the country in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea. At the time, her team moved westward to the Zhytomyr region, away from some of the conflict in the east. When Clark and her family watched the news in April and saw Ukrainians fleeing the country, she wanted to do something. We have a relationship with these people. We have worked side by side with them. We consider these people family. To see their country devastated, it is heartbreaking for us because we see how they are suffering, she said. We have known them for years. We, the Clark family, and our church have a relationship with these people and to see a city and a country that is just so beautiful be devastated is awful. Clark had two missionary friends living in Ukraine. They left the country and went to Poland just before Russias invasion started. They were working with Ukrainian refugees who just entered Poland. Ukraine is a country the size of Texas with a population of about 44 million. According to the UN Refugee Agency, roughly 4.4 million Ukrainians have fled the country so far, and about 2.5 million of those refugees are in Poland. Clark went to Poland and stayed March 22-29. I knew someone there, and I knew they could help me work with the Ukrainians coming into the country. I didnt want to show up and not have a plan, she said. Traveling to Poland She traveled through the International Mission Board and went to Zory, Poland. She also gave aid in Wroclaw. There she gave similar medical screenings. But she distributed a bit more than just vitamins. Refugees were given kits with first-aid, over-the-counter medication, childrens school supplies and some essentials. While there, she gave aid at a church that was converted to house about 40 refugees. She also gave aid at a hotel that was housing about 200. Often Clark was rendering aid to women and children. The Ukraines State Border Guard Service had prohibited Ukrainian men 18-60 from leaving the country while martial law was enacted. Reports show that martial law has been extended into the month of April. That was a topic brought up at a trauma seminar at the hotel. One of the organizations aiding refugees had set up a seminar to address the mental and emotional trauma of the conflict. Clark said many women dont have contact with their male family members. They dont even know if their husbands, sons or their fathers are still alive, she said. One story many refugees shared was how they made it to the Polish border. Clarks interpreter said she left Kharkiv, Ukraine at night in a long caravan of cars. They drove through fields and side roads because Russian forces blocked main roads. That made what could have been a 15 hour trip into one that took almost 30. Needing help Help isnt just coming from private organizations. The Polish government is providing significant aid, Clark noted. For example, the government is providing funds to the hotel in Zory for housing and food for the refugees. The Polish government is also giving Ukrainian refugees an electronic ID number, similar to a U.S. Social Security number called a PESEL. It will allow people to rent an apartment, find a job and enroll their children in schools. Refugees with children will also receive a monthly benefit with this number. There are other small ways aid is given. While there, Clark noticed that cars with Ukraine license plates werent required to stop at tolls. Friends she was staying with had Ukrainian tags, and they were waved through each time without charge. Not everyone is staying in Poland long-term. For some, places like the church and hotel are just a waystation until they move to another country. Families in many counties are opening their homes to refugees. Clark met several refugees who were being sponsored by families in countries like Romania, Hungary and Germany for them to have a place to stay. But many refugees Clark spoke to longed to go home to Ukraine. Some were in limbo trying to decide whether they should enroll their children in school or not because they were unsure how long the conflict would continue. But as the conflict continues, aid to the refugees has remained constant. And the Polish people continued in their support and visible acceptance, Clark said. There are billboards with the Ukrainian flag that says, Solidarity, Clark said. There are Ukrainian flags everywhere, and school children have put sunflowers along windows in schools. There is just so much support through the whole country its a miracle, is what it is. The Italian Embassy in Ukraine will resume its work in Kyiv after Easter, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said, Corriere della Sera reports. "We were the last to leave Kyiv and will be one of the first to return," Corriere della Sera quotes Di Maio as saying. He stressed that this is another gesture of support for the Ukrainian people, a concrete way to confirm that diplomacy must win. "In the coming days, all the checks necessary for moving to Kyiv will be carried out, everything should be done in a safe environment and in coordination with other European partners," Di Maio said. GUEST SURVEY FINDINGS: LeanIX surveyed Enterprise Architects and IT leaders from 140 companies globally about the strategic relevance and urgency of various IT initiatives including technical debt, cloud migration, security and sustainability LeanIX, the platform that enables continuous transformation across the enterprise, today announced the release of its Enterprise Architecture and IT Strategy Survey. Among the key findings, the survey found 41% of Enterprise Architects (EAs) and IT leaders consider reducing technical debt and modernizing legacy systems the top IT priority. In support of this, close to 60% of respondents placed a high priority on migrating key applications to the cloud. For the full survey findings please download the report here. Between December 2021 and January 2022, LeanIX surveyed EAs and IT leaders from more than 140 global companies. Per the survey findings, reducing technical debt is a clear priority for EAs. Technical debt extra unplanned work a company needs to perform in order to upgrade or change technical systems poses security risk, adds avoid the cost to IT operations, and hobbles innovation. The survey found that EAs are eager to address this challenge: 96% of respondents acknowledged their company has at least one project planned for this year aimed at reducing technical debt. 52% of respondents said that retiring IT applications, which are no longer used but still consume resources, is the top initiative for reducing tech debt. In addition to the risk and inefficiency associated with it, technical debt also impacts other critical organizational priorities and initiatives, such as cloud migration. 24% of respondents indicated that cloud initiatives should be a top IT priority. This relatively low number could be due to the fact that many companies already have at least some workloads in the cloud or have already begun their cloud transformation journey. When asked further about which cloud initiatives were most important, the survey found that 60% of EAs are focusing on migrating key applications to the cloud. Cloud migration, when done right, involves optimization for the cloud. Technical debt can get in the way of this optimization, so managing technical debt is a necessary complement to a successful cloud strategy. The second most important cloud initiative (41%), according to the survey, is increasing the amount of SaaS in enterprise application portfolios. Replacing on-prem or self-developed systems with SaaS solutions is a tried-and-true method for reducing technical debt. Additional Considerations for IT Leadership Per the survey results, EAs and IT leaders are clearly focused on reducing technical debt and moving key applications to the cloud. However, there are other IT strategies that are on the rise: Key Security Initiatives Come into Focus : While only 16% of those surveyed considered the evolution and improvement of their security posture a top priority, more than two-thirds overall saw security initiatives such as improving risk assessment capabilities and adopting more Zero Trust technologies as important or highly important. : While only 16% of those surveyed considered the evolution and improvement of their security posture a top priority, more than two-thirds overall saw security initiatives such as improving risk assessment capabilities and adopting more Zero Trust technologies as important or highly important. The Case for Value Stream Management (VSM): 73% of respondents agree that EAs should form a closer connection with software development and expand collaboration. Almost three-quarters of respondents agree on the importance of tracking the business impact of software development, a key tenet of VSM. 73% of respondents agree that EAs should form a closer connection with software development and expand collaboration. Almost three-quarters of respondents agree on the importance of tracking the business impact of software development, a key tenet of VSM. Lack of Commitment to Sustainability: Many companies publicly claim a commitment to sustainability, but only 52% of the IT leaders surveyed reported concrete sustainability initiatives in their organizations for 2022. The majority of these initiatives focused on data collection and reporting. About LeanIX LeanIXs Continuous Transformation Platform is trusted by Corporate IT and Product IT to achieve comprehensive visibility and superior governance. Global customers organize, plan and manage IT landscapes with LeanIXs automated and data-driven approach. Offering Enterprise Architecture, SaaS Management, and Value Stream Management, LeanIX helps organizations make sound decisions and accelerate transformation journeys. LeanIX has hundreds of customers globally, including Adidas, Atlassian, Bosch, Dropbox, Santander or Workday. The company is headquartered in Bonn, Germany, with offices in Boston, San Francisco and around the world. CHARLESTON - Eastern Illinois University student Constance Young has been following the hearings for Ketanji Brown Jackson closely ever since she was named a Supreme Court nominee. So when Young got the notification of Jackson's confirmation to the Supreme Court, she had to contain her excitement a little before she could reach out to family and friends. "I was actually in class so I couldn't react the way I wanted to, but I know on the inside I was really excited," said Young, who is a senior studying political science and minoring in pre-law studies. "I have friends who also study in this field, so I got a lot of text messages from them throughout the day." Local students and residents in Coles County are celebrating and looking forward to the future following the historic confirmation of the first Black woman to be a justice on the highest court in the country. Members of the U.S. Senate on Thursday voted 53-47 to confirm Jackson, a 51-year-old appeals court judge with nine years of experience on the federal bench. The confirmation came mostly along party lines but with three Republican votes: Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Mitt Romney. Jackson will take her seat when Justice Stephen Breyer retires this summer. Jacksons arrival on the bench wont upend the current 6-3 conservative balance. But in addition to the racial history, it will for the first time put four women on the court at one time. Young, who is also the vice president of the Pre-Law Society and secretary of the Political Science Association on campus, said throughout the hearing process she was nervous about people portraying Jackson negatively. But Young said she knows that the country is moving toward including more minorities into these fields and was optimistic about her chances after learning more about her. "She is replacing somebody who was also appointed by a Democratic president and that says a lot about the perspective a judge brings to the Supreme Court or even to a lower court," said Karen Swenson, an EIU political science professor, . "But beyond the political party, judges do bring their personal history, background and culture to judging and hen somebody is on the Supreme Court, they're deciding questions that haven't yet been resolved." Swenson, who teaches courses in constitutional law and judicial politics, said Jackson's perspective could influence how the court will rule on cases and she could have stronger opinions on current topics like the constitutionality of affirmative action in higher education against her conservative counter parts. While it's unfortunate that many African Americans and women are still celebrating "many firsts," the election of the first Black female to the Supreme Court is a triumph for women and all people of color that deserves to be celebrates by all people, said Taneya Higginbotham, president and CEO of The RealiTea ProjecT Inc., in an email. "Ms. Jackson's valiant achievements in our judicial system, accompanied by her outstanding ability to confidently and boldly withstand the scrutiny of her electoral candidacy process, should encourage all women of color that change is possible and we can reap a harvest if we do not faint," Higginbotham said in an email. Another reason why Jackson was chosen was most likely due to her experience as a lawyer representing defendants in lower courts and even serving as a federal judge on the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit since 2021, said Kayla Crowder, a junior political science major minoring in pre-law studies at EIU. "When you're a Black woman you can't be the first Black woman to do anything, you have to be better than everyone else and I took that as something that I have experienced within my time," said Crowder, who is also the vice president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on campus. "There's always that sense to be an overachiever but to what extent do you receive the appreciation and representation within our system to connect the dots and feel that." Crowder, who is originally from Aurora, said growing up in a predominantly white community and being around other people from minority backgrounds has made her realize that everything she does is not just representing herself as an individual but building upon what other great Black woman have done in history and her life. "I'm excited that I'm able to see it because honestly this a barrier that many didn't believe would happen even in my lifetime due to the systemic challenges woman deal with every day and what Black woman undergo in representation in any community," Crowder said. "It struck a chord with me emotionally and also pushing me forward to keep striving for what I want to do and how I want to grow as a person." Young said it's also important to note that Black women make up a small percentage of those who are lawyers today, so having someone reach that level is beyond inspirational. "For Black and brown girls who think that opportunities like this don't exist for them, I think she has opened the doors for them and many other to know that they do have place at the table and in courts like that," Young said. "And as African American woman who wants to practice law, I think this is something of monumental significance for me." Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 CHICAGO - Chicagos public health commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said Thursday that the citys outlook for weathering the recent increase in COVID-19 cases remains promising. Cases of the highly contagious BA.2 subvariant of omicron commonly known as stealth omicron now make up 67.4% of new cases in the Midwest, Arwady said. That progression is coinciding with a rise in COVID-19 numbers in Chicago: In the past week, the citys average daily caseload of positive tests has spiked 28%, landing at 304. The positivity rate has also ticked up to 1.7%. But Arwady stressed in a news conference that the numbers remain under control compared with the previous winter surge of the original omicron variant that saw up to a 20% positivity rate and about 7,000 daily cases at one point. Right now, still, we are low, Arwady said. I am not alarmed, although our cases are rising. Ive been talking to folks across the country, and we are not alone in this. Sign up for The Spin to get the top stories in politics delivered to your inbox weekday afternoons. Early research suggests BA.2 spreads quicker than the original omicron, but its inconclusive whether it leads to more severe symptoms. The subvariant pummeled much of Europe and Asia last month, but recent data show cases are dropping in hot spots and that vaccines remain effective against serious illness and death. BA.2 is called stealth omicron because it is harder to immediately discern whether a person infected by it has that specific coronavirus lineage or the delta variant, another highly infectious version of the coronavirus that hit the U.S. mid-2021. But current COVID-19 tests can still detect that a person with BA.2 is positive for the virus. Arwady said the reason for her outlook is that Chicagos prior experience with being hit hard by the original omicron variant, also known as BA.1, gives much of the population some immunity toward BA.2. The most important thing is to be vaccinated, especially in terms of preventing that severe illness, Arwady said. But with every passing day, I am more confident that in the very short term, we will avoid a major increase like we saw with the omicron surge. However, Arwady also noted that anyone over the age of 12 should be getting a booster shot, which only half of eligible Chicagoans have gotten. She noted that during the original omicron surge, Americans with a booster shot were 21 times less likely to die of COVID-19 than people who were not vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Earlier this year, Chicago officials celebrated the city emerging from the omicron variant surge, lifting its mask mandate for public indoor settings and in Chicago Public Schools as well as its proof-of-vaccination requirement for indoor settings. Arwady said Thursday that the city is not close to considering a return to any of those mitigations, but she outlined the new metrics for such scenarios. For CPS to reinstate its mask mandate, the city must meet the medium risk level for COVID-19 as defined by the CDC guidance, she said. If the risk level jumps to high, then a mask requirement for most indoor public settings would return, along with a vaccine requirement for places such as restaurants and bars. The CDCs latest metrics for assessing a communitys COVID-19 risk look at a mix of numbers for caseloads, hospital admissions and occupied inpatient beds. If a region has fewer than 200 cases per 100,000 residents in the past week but has at least 20 COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 residents, as well as at least 15% of its inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, then it is high risk. If the area has 200 or more positive cases, then its considered high risk if it has at least 10 hospitalizations and at least 10% of occupied inpatient beds. Medium risk designation means a region has fewer than 200 cases per 100,000 residents in the past week and there are between 10 to 19.9 COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 residents as well as 10% to 14.9% of its inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients. If the area has 200 or more positive cases, it would be medium risk if there are less than 10 hospitalizations and less than 10% of occupied inpatient beds. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 CHARLESTON Longtime local broadcaster Doug Quick will deliver a public presentation on the early history of local television in Central Illinois. The event will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, in Buzzard Auditorium at Buzzard Hall on the campus of Eastern Illinois University. The presentation will focus on the first 10 years of local television in downstate Illinois and will touch on topics including the technology of early TV, conflict among local TV owners, local controversies and more. It will also feature examples of broadcasting from that era. T.V. was a vastly new thing here in the Central Illinois area, especially in rural areas, Quick said. We started out with a blank slate. The presentation is hosted by the EIU School of Communication and Journalism. Quick plans to touch on other topics, including the rise of some early local TV stations and the fall of others, Quick said. Each of the station owners had a different story; they did things differently, Quick said. Some real oddities and anomalies came up. There was no rulebook. Quick, who worked in radio and television for more than 45 years, has compiled an online museum of Central Illinois broadcasting, complete with histories of local radio and television stations. He has also published a book on the early days of local television, called "Pictures on the Prairie." Dougs work chronicling the history of local television is a treasure, both for those who work in TV and those who enjoy it, said EIU journalism instructor Joe Astrouski. Likewise, this presentation is sure to be both informative and enjoyable for consumers of media of any age. For more information, contact Astrouski at jmastrouski@eiu.edu Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. George Meade George Gordon Meade (Dec. 31, 1815-Nov. 6, 1872) was a U.S. Army officer and civil engineer best known for decisively defeating Confederate General Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Gettysburg in the American Civil War. Meade entered the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1831 and graduated 19th in his class of 56 cadets in 1835. Meade was then commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Artillery. His first assignment was in Florida fighting the Seminole Indians. Not intending to have a career in the Army, Meade resigned and found work as a civil engineer for the Alabama, Georgia, and Florida Railroad. On Dec. 31, 1840, he married Margaretta Sergeant and together they had seven children. It was difficult for Meade to find steady civilian employment and so he reentered the army in 1842 as a second lieutenant with assignment as a topographical engineer. Meades first military action was in the Mexican-American War. He was promoted due to his gallant conduct at the Battle of Monterrey. With Meades military experience and the lack of qualified Union officers, he was appointed brigadier general of volunteers on Aug. 31, 1861, a few months after the beginning of the Civil War. Meades first assignment was to construct a defense around Washington, D.C. He eventually came to command a brigade in the Pennsylvania Reserves Division of the Army of the Potomac. Meade distinguished himself in several battles, such as the Battle of South Mountain and the Battle of Antietam. During the Battle of Fredericksburg, Meades division made the only breakthrough of the Confederate lines. This was considered a great accomplishment as he was facing General Thomas Stonewall Jackson. With General Hookers resignation, President Lincoln appointed Meade as his replacement as commander of the Army of the Potomac. With Lees invasion of Pennsylvania, Meade confronted Lee in the pivotal Battle of Gettysburg, on July 1. As a result of the battle the Confederates suffered severe losses and hastily retreated back to Virginia. Lincoln was disappointed that Meade did not pursue Lee and resume battle in the hopes of destroying Lees army and ending the war. At the conclusion of the war, Meade commanded several important departments during Reconstruction. On a personal note: Fort Meade located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, was the home of the 7th Cavalry during the Indian wars and into World War I. As a very young boy living in Rapid City, South Dakota, I remember the mounted cavalry from Fort Meade participated in a Thanksgiving parade. It was an extremely cold November when the commander made the horse soldiers ride the 30 miles from Fort Meade to Rapid City. Many cavalry soldiers suffered frost bite. Therefore, horse trailers and buses were sent to Rapid City to take the contingent back to Fort Meade. Needless to say, the commander at Fort Meade was severely reprimanded for exposing the cavalry soldiers to such cold conditions. Today, Fort Meade is still in operation and serves as a psychiatric hospital for discharged veterans. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A Winston-Salem woman was shot and wounded Friday afternoon while she was in her car in the 2700 block of Piedmont Circle, authorities said. The shooting happened about 4:47 p.m. After the gunfire, Aundra Aiken, 24, drove herself to the fire department at the intersection of Brookwood Park Drive and 29th Street, Winston-Salem police said. The suspect left the scene on Piedmont Circle before officers arrived, police said. Aiken was taken to a local hospital, where she was in stable condition, police said. Her injuries were considered to be non-life-threatening. Police are investigating the incident. Winston-Salem police are asking for the public's assistance in this case. Anyone with information about this case can call the police at 336-773-7700, Crime Stoppers at 336-727-2800 or its Spanish line at 336-728-3909. Crime Stoppers of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County is on Facebook. The Text-A-Tip program at 336-276-1717 allows people to text tips, photos and video to the Winston-Salem police. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. By Trend Azerbaijans Education Ministry has prepared a relevant order and action plan in connection with the Year of Shusha [liberated from Armenian occupation in the 2020 second Karabakh war] declared in the country, Head of the Baku Education Department Mehriban Valiyeva told reporters, Trend reports. According to Valiyeva, the announcement of 2022 as the Year of Shusha by President Ilham Aliyev in Azerbaijan is of great importance in terms of promoting this city, which is the cradle of Azerbaijani culture. "The Baku Education Department has also prepared a corresponding order and action plan. Schools are already hosting various events dedicated to the Year of Shusha. The department is also planning to hold various thematic competitions as well," added Valiyeva. A lawsuit filed late last month alleges that doctors at Forsyth Medical Center neglected and abandoned a 92-year-old woman who died a day after being brought into the hospital. The womans daughter asked for a doctor eight different times after her mother started having problems breathing, the lawsuit said. Once a doctor did see the woman, she was rushed to the hospitals Intensive Care Unit, put on a ventilator and then placed on life support, the lawsuit said. She died hours later from pneumonia. Olivia Thompkins was the mother of Renita Thompkins-Linville, who became the first Black person to hold the position of Forsyth Countys clerk of superior court in 2019 after she was appointed (she unsuccessfully ran for re-election). Her husband was the late David Thompkins, the first Black person to be executive director for the Housing Authority of Winston-Salem. And Olivia Thompkins worked as treasurer at the Kate Bitting Hospital Credit Union and business manager for the Reynolds Health Center in Winston-Salem. According to the lawsuit, Olivia Thompkins died at 3:54 p.m. March 26, 2020. Attorneys Harold and Harvey Kennedy filed the lawsuit March 28 in Forsyth Superior Court on behalf of Tina Thompkins, daughter of Olivia Thompkins who is the administrator of her mothers estate. Olivia and David Thompkins had four daughters. The lawsuit said Olivia Thompkins was taken to Forsyth Medical Center on the night of March 24, 2020. Tina Thompkins came to the hospital the next day and stayed with her until she died. According to the lawsuit, she asked nurses to suction her mother after Olivia Thompkins started having trouble breathing. During the suctioning, Tina Thompkins saw dark bloody mucous coming out of her mothers mouth. Thats when, the lawsuit said, she started asking the nurses for a doctor to evaluate her mother. There were three doctors assigned to her mother Dr. Gregory P. Tarleton, Dr. Francisca O. Aluya and Dr. Ryan T. Barnes, the lawsuit said. No physician ever came to her mothers room during that time period, the lawsuit said. The physicians assigned to her care completely ignored her. They abandoned her. In response to a request for comment from both the hospital and the three doctors, a Novant Health spokesman issued this statement: As a matter of corporate policy, we are not able to comment on pending litigation or employment status. Efforts to reach Tarleton, Aluya and Barnes were unsuccessful. Late on the morning of March 26, 2020, a doctor did come to evaluate Olivia Thompkins, the lawsuit said. She was immediately transferred to a respiratory unit and then rushed to the ICU. A few hours later, she was placed on life support. Before any of that happened, the lawsuit alleges, she was never put on a ventilator, despite having breathing problems. At 11:04 a.m. March 26, 2020, when she got to the ICU, her oxygen levels were in the 70s, which is a dangerously low level, the lawsuit said. The lawsuit said she was never treated for pneumonia. The lawsuit alleges that Tarleton, Aluya, Barnes and Novant Health acted with conscious and intentional disregard of and indifference to the rights and safety of Olivia B. Thompkins, and that the doctors participated in the willful and wanton conduct, as attending physicians. The lawsuit is asking for compensatory and punitive damages of more than $50,000. 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. Winston-Salem man is facing charges in connection with a shooting Friday that left a pregnant woman wounded, authorities said Saturday. Tyrone Jamel Roseborough, 27, of Mount Zion Place is charged with assault inflicting serious injury with a minor present, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or seriously injure and assault on an unborn child, Winston-Salem police said. Roseborough also is charged with discharging firearms in the city limits and discharging firearms into a moving vehicle, police said. Roseborough was being held Saturday in the Forsyth County Jail with no bond allowed, police said. The incident happened around 4:45 p.m. Friday when Aundra Aiken, 24, who is pregnant, was shot and wounded while she was in her car in the 2700 block of Piedmont Circle, police said. At the time, Aikens 2-year-old child was in her cars back seat. The child wasnt injured, police said. After the gunfire, Aiken drove herself to the Winston-Salem Fire Departments Station Three at 2995 N. Liberty St., where she called police and received medical attention, police said. Aiken was taken to a local hospital, where she was in stable condition, police said. Her injuries are non-life-threatening, and her unborn child also wasnt injured, police said. Roseborough is accused of shooting into Aikens vehicle, police said. Prior to the shooting, Roseborough and Aiken were involved in a disturbance, police said. Roseborough and Aiken, who was struck by three bullets, had a personal relationship, according to arrest warrants. Officers later arrested Roseborough Friday night in the 900 block of Mount Zion Place, police said. Investigators found a handgun and ammunition. Anyone with information about this case can call the police at 336-773-7700, Crime Stoppers at 336-727-2800 or its Spanish line at 336-728-3904. Crime Stoppers of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County is on Facebook. The Text-A-Tip program at 336-276-1717 allows people to text tips, photos and video to the Winston-Salem police. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. When we think of Jesus entering Jerusalem, we remember the words from Zechariah 9:9-10 about a king riding a donkey. Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation. Lowly and riding on a donkey. He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be from sea to sea. Jesus followers in the New Testament rejoiced when Jesus entered Jerusalem riding a donkey. By riding a donkey instead of a horse, He came not as a conquering warrior, but as the Prince of Peace. His followers believed that he was the son of God and their savior. Although people waved palm branches as a sign of victory, the day of his arrival was not called Palm Sunday until the Fourth Century. Holy Week was also called Passion week by Saint Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria in the 300s. During Passion week, Jesus suffered the physical pains of condemnation and violence from powerful men who feared his popularity. To understand the price he paid for the promise of triumphal eternal life for the faithful, we need to internalize the pains of hunger when the devil tempted him, his questioning and acceptance of Gods will, and the painfully long hours on the cross. We must keep all of his experiences in our hearts and minds. It is moving to think about the time Jesus spent with his disciples for the Last Supper, the Passover Feast. He knew about the betrayal and his future. He, with humbleness, washed the feet of his disciples. As they were sitting at the table, He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. (Luke 22:19-20) He shared his inner strength and power by the words of His Great Commission. Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Anyone who believes and is immersed shall be saved. Anyone who does not so believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:15-16). The story of Jesus challenges, suffering and redemptive love are recorded in Matthew, Luke, Mark and John. To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1:77-79) In addition to attending church services, I hope that the faithful will focus on the messages that can be taken from Jesus life as a human so that his sacrifice and love will be the guiding forces in all human relationships. Jesus did not use his power to enslave, harm or manipulate others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death even death on a cross. Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name. (Philippians 2:5-9) As the Church and its people are willing to be moved by the experiences of the pain and joy of other people, they will be acting according to Gods will. Being supportive and compassionate by word and deed, Christians become more Christ-like. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. (1 Corinthians 12:26) I will end with the words of Martin Luther King Jr. that remain true to present issues. Every nation must now develop an overriding loyalty to mankind as a whole in order to preserve the best in their individual societies. His words encourage us to pray for those who are persecuted by people with deadly power and evil intentions. We pray for the wisdom and strength to remove violence from everyday life. Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope. His words of hope provide a vision. I have the audacity to believe that people everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality, and freedom for their spirits. Earl Crows column is published Saturdays in the Winston-Salem Journal. Email him at ecrow1@triad.rr.com. When theyre not busy accusing her of being too lenient on pedophiles and too hard on white people, Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee holding hearings on Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson purport to worship an originalist judicial philosophy. That means they like judges who promise, all Antonin Scalia-like, to base judicial rulings on what (they prefer to think) the Constitutions framers intended. The merit of holding sacred the intentions of 18th-century enslavers aside, the rights professed regard for originalism can be situational, as evidenced, for instance, by the rights steadfast determination to pretend the phrase A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State doesnt exist, or if it does, it doesnt count. One problem with the GOP trying to divine the framers original intent by consulting an official Federalist Society-approved Ouija board is that Ouija boards dont actually work. The other problem is even if they did, and Amy Coney Barrett or Neal Gorsuch could reach the Constitutions framers via the spirit world, which framers would they summon? After all, the framers strongly disagreed among themselves while drafting the Constitution. And after the Constitution was ratified, they disagreed about it even harder. James Madison and Alexander Hamilton plotted and planned and connived and even resorted to some trickery to get states to send delegates to what would turn into the Constitutional Convention in the first place. But by 1791, when the ink was barely dry on the document, Hamilton and Madison had very different visions of what it was they had just done together. Hamilton, the nations first Treasury secretary, was the architect of legislation to create a national bank, which Congress passed. But wait, no can do, said Madison. Theres nothing in the Constitution that explicitly says Congress can create a bank, so Congress cant create one, he asserted while urging President George Washington to veto the bill. Oh pish posh, Hamilton said. Article I, Section 8 authorizes Congress to do a whole bunch of stuff, including but not limited to raising taxes and borrowing and printing money. So ipso facto, ergo and neener neener, Hamilton continued, if Congress is empowered to raise and borrow and spend money, its empowered to create a bank. Stick with your precious enumerated powers interpretation, Hamilton warned, and you get a government with no power to govern. As you may have noticed over the years, Republicans believe the enumerated powers interpretation of the Constitution goes hand-in-hand with the original intent philosophy that has so besotted them. Both concepts reflect the rights solemn conviction that the framers said what they meant and they meant what they said, dadgummit. (That sentence reads a lot better by the way if you imagine it being read by Iowa GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley.) Meanwhile back in 1791, Washington sided with Hamilton and the implied powers interpretation of the Constitution and signed the bank bill over Madisons objection. And that squishy embrace of implied powers (though probably not his enslavement of humans) is why Washington could not win a Republican primary today. The bank bill is just one of many founding feuds. A lot of people who would go on to become American heroes (maybe most famously Patrick Henry) strongly opposed ratification of the Constitution, for a lot of reasons, many of them quite sound. In fact it was their opposition that compelled Madison et al to double-dog vow that once the document was ratified, one of the first things the new government would do is amend its new Constitution by adding a Bill of Rights. Placating enslavers to get the Constitution ratified an unenlightened act even for its time the holy sacred founders amen also got a bunch of stuff horribly wrong, which would require a second founding in the form of the Civil War and Reconstruction amendments. For decades the American right has indiscriminately stuffed the nations founding thinkers into a conveniently GOP-friendly box, to be emptied out on any hot-button issue at a moments notice. But framers were just humans (white men, specifically), many of them fops in stylishly ridiculous powdered wigs. They could be and on multiple occasions were wrong, unreasonable, self-interested (Madison wrote a lot about that last bit too) and jerks. But they also had very different views and principles, some profound, others atrocious. Regarding them as a monolith enthralled by some magical Founding Father groupthink, Republicans are doing a disservice to the very people they say they revere. And if it triggers the base and drives it to the polls, Republicans dont care. Hugh Jackson is the editor of the Nevada Current, which first published this essay. A Lancaster County jury Friday found an Illinois man not guilty of four felony gun charges in connection to a search of an SUV along Interstate 80 west of Lincoln in 2020. And the judge dismissed the case against Tydarious James, 24, of Belleville. On Jan. 30, 2020, Lancaster County Sheriffs deputies arrested James and two others, Kiondre Fitzgerald and Deangelo Gilmore, after an officer in the Criminal Interdiction Task Force stopped them for following too closely about 5 miles west of the Northwest 48th Street exit. The officer smelled marijuana coming from their 2015 Dodge Journey and found a baggy of marijuana in one of the mens pockets. It led to a search of the SUV, which turned up two handguns wrapped in a T-shirt hidden in an access panel near the steering wheel. One of them, a loaded Ruger 9 mm pistol, was reported stolen in Memphis, Tennessee. The other, a loaded Smith & Wesson 9 mm handgun, was defaced. James was charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, of a stolen firearm, of a defaced firearm and of money while violating drug laws and would have faced a minimum of three years in prison if convicted. James' jury trial started Monday, with the verdict coming Friday afternoon. After, defense attorney Carlos Monzon said improperly handled evidence and an improperly investigated case resulted in the State Crime Lab not being able to do its job. "The only ones that did their job correctly was the jury. Acquitting an innocent young man," he said. The case against Fitzgerald previously was dismissed, leaving the last of the three, Gilmore, awaiting trial. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ATLANTA (AP) Police are searching for at least one armed suspect in connection with the killing of the owner of a gun range in Georgia and his wife and grandson, authorities said Saturday. The Grantville Police Department said via Facebook that the robbery occurred Friday evening. When officers arrived at the scene around 8 p.m., they discovered the bodies of the owner of Lock Stock & Barrel Shooting Range, along with his wife and grandson. According to WSB-TV, Grantville Police identified the victims as the gun range owner, Thomas Hawk, 75; his wife, Evelyn, 75; and their grandson, Luke, 17. Police Chief Steve Whitlock said the Hawk family was well-known and well-respected in their small, tight-knit community. The Hawks had operated Lock Stock & Barrel for nearly 30 years. Their grandson was on spring break, helping his grandparents at the shop. This is just a shock to everybody in the community, Whitlock told The Associated Press. Were trying to do the best that we can to figure this out. Whitlock said investigators believe the robbery and shooting happened around 5:30 p.m. Friday, which is when the range normally closes. He said Hawks son, Richard, came by the business and was the person who found the victims. There are no suspects as of early Saturday, and no arrests have been made, he said. Investigators said that as many as 40 guns and the ranges surveillance camera were also stolen. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating, but when contacted Saturday referred all inquiries to Grantville Police. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was also called in due to the amount of weapons taken. Whitlock said hes grateful for the help from other law enforcement agencies in the investigation. Were just a small town, 12 officers. Ive been here eight years and have never had to investigate anything like this. Its been kind of hard on us. The crime rate is really, really low, he said. A reward of $15,000 has been posted for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer or killers in the case, according to the ATF Atlanta office's Twitter feed. ATF and our law enforcement partners will work tirelessly to bring the killer(s) to justice, ATF Atlanta Field Division Special Agent in Charge Benjamin P. Gibbons said in a statement. The brutality of these senseless murders along with the fact that these killer(s) have acquired additional firearms makes solving this case our top priority. A message left with the ATF office in Atlanta was not immediately returned. Police are asking any witnesses to come forward. Whitlock said they dont have any video evidence to work with right now. Anyone having driven by the shooting range during the time frame of 530pm to 630 pm that may have seen vehicles other than a white Ford dually truck and a black Ford expedition are asked to contact the police department, Grantville police said in their Facebook statement. The shooting range is in rural Coweta County, about 50 miles (about 80 kilometers) southwest of Atlanta. Coweta County Sheriff Lenn Wood said in a statement on Facebook that the entire community was forever broken by the senseless and tragic killings of the Hawk family members. I am also fervently praying that God will use our law enforcement community and the Coweta Community, he said, "to bring justice swiftly." Associated Press writer Chevel Johnson reported from New Orleans. For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, WSB-TV. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Legislature on Friday approved a bill that would designate $20 million in funding for infrastructure projects at Fonner Park in Grand Island. More than $1 billion in total funding was allotted in LR1014, the appropriations bill for monies available to Nebraska provided under the federal American Rescue Plan Act. The Nebraska State Fair 1868 Foundation expressed gratitude after the bill passed on a 40-4 vote. The bill now goes to Gov. Pete Ricketts desk for consideration. We are grateful for todays vote and the support and passion of our legislative leaders, local office holders, and community stakeholders who helped us reach this point, Lindsey Koepke, executive director of the 1868 Foundation, said in a news release. These funds will help significantly improve the Fonner Park campus for all users. There are quite a few big ideas that have surfaced for the Fonner Park campus that will take much bigger funding," Fonner Park CEO Chris Kotulak said in a statement. "But without the surface infrastructure aid, it would have been hard to imagine anything getting off the ground. The 1868 Foundation has served as sponsor acting on behalf of entities that utilize and support the Fonner Park campus. Groups represented in the effort include Fonner Park, Nebraska State Fair, Heartland Events Center, Grand Island Livestock Complex Authority, the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce, Grand Island and Hall County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Hall County Agricultural Society, Grow Grand Island, Hall County and the city of Grand Island. These funds will make a greater future possible for Fonner Park and all its users and guests, said Bill Ogg, executive director of the Nebraska State Fair, said in a statement. Growth and expansion of the facilities could not happen without infrastructure improvements and repairs. Todays vote facilitates significant progress for an exciting future. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Lincolnite Ben Pankonin is the founder of Social Assurance, a software solutions company that brings marketing, sales and community development tools to financial brands. As the founder and CEO, he led Social Assurance from an idea to working with over 20% of banks and credit unions in the United States. In 2017, Pankonin founded Class Intercom, a subsidiary of Social Assurance, to be the social media management platform for schools in hundreds of districts, and tens of thousands of schools around the world. His thought leadership has been featured in publications including Financial Brand, CRN, Bank Director, Independent Banker, Silicon Prairie News and the Midlands Business Journal. Pankonin is a graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University, where he studied Computer Science and Business Administration. He volunteers regularly as a mentor to students, entrepreneurs and young content creators. He and his wife live in Lincoln, and he serves the community as a board member for the Food Bank of Lincoln, Bryan Physicians Network and Nebraska Wesleyan Alumni. Whats the most rewarding part about what you do, at work and in the community? Its especially rewarding for me to see how others inspire the communities they serve. In our work with clients in every state and a handful of other countries, we get a front-row seat to community building. We try to harness that energy and use it as a model to inspire our employees, partners and members of our own communities to make an impact. What is the biggest challenge about what you do? When I started our company, I had to do many things to get it off the ground. I still do a lot of those things out of habit. But as it grows, its becoming increasingly important for me to focus on casting a strong and purposeful vision while sharing those responsibilities and keeping the plates spinning all the while aspiring to be a servant leader. What is your favorite part of Lincoln and why? The culture of our community is one that collaborates rather than competes. I have friends in every quadrant of the city, across political spectrums, in business and nonprofit work, in government all are willing to come together and get to work on something if they believe it can help someone else. Is there something that people dont know about you? Before my family got a computer, I wanted to ride horses in the rodeo, but the most rodeo thing I've ever been a part of was Garth Brooks from the cheap seats. How do you take your coffee? Latte. Contact Brian Reetz at briangreetz@gmail.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sometimes thinking inside the box can be a very good thing. Fitting things into a defined space can create intriguing connections, mysterious mixes or simply pleasing pairings. Lincoln artist Michael Farrell, known for photographic and documentary film work, offers Over 50 Years of Fitting In this month at WallSpace-LNK Fine Art Gallery & Salon, 1624 S. 17th St. More than 100 assembled objects invite viewers to find meaning in sometimes curious combinations. Farrells assembled objects have generated interest and respect in the arts community for more than three decades. After his first exhibition at (then) University Place Arts Center in 1991, he received a Nebraska Arts Council visual artists fellowship and positive reviews for this unconventional work. Several of the objects on exhibit were featured in the Sheldon Art Museums Its Surreal Thing: The Temptation of Objects in 2014. Others have never been seen on public display. The assembled works are accompanied by large format black-and-white photographic arrangements that continue the conversation about the meaning of objects in a confined space. Farrell is offering these unique objects for sale in celebration of his 50 years of living and working in our community. Farrells work in photography, drawing, collage and assemblage has been exhibited at Great Plains Art Museum, Joslyn Art Museum, Lux Center for the Arts, Museum of Nebraska Art, Wyoming State Museum and, most recently, in juried shows at the Amanda Smith Gallery in Johnson City, Texas. His work is included in private collections throughout the region. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday, noon-5 p.m. or by appointment. For more information, visit Wallspace-LNK.com or email mfarrell.1st@gmail.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 By Trend The fact of a mine explosion, which took place in Azerbaijans Tartar district and resulted in the injury of the 46-years-old resident of Goranboy district Elnur Hasanov, is being investigated, the press service of Prosecutor Generals Office told Trend. According to the press service, it was established that Hasanov from Khoilu village of Goranboy district has been heavily injured following the explosion of anti-infantry mine which took place in the territory of Tartar districts Hasangaya village. The Tartar District Prosecutors Office is investigating the fact, the press service added. Earlier it was reported that Hasanov was hospitalized in the Barda Regional Diagnostic Center with a traumatic amputation of both legs below the knee. Since March 1, and with a goal of raising $3 million, the Committee to Save Pershings Mural has raised between $25,000 and $30,000 from over 270 contributions ranging from $5 to $1,000. In addition, the committee has received two additional monetary commitments totaling $200,000. Most of the donations are from Lincoln, but the committee has also received contributions from as far away as California and Sweden. The goal is to raise the first $1 million by May 1. That amount would allow safely removing the mural before the building is roped off for its scheduled demolition this summer. After May 1, the committee would have additional time to continue its fundraising and grant-writing efforts to raise the additional $2 million to restore and reinstall the mural at the Lancaster Event Center. The following feelings expressed by respected individuals in Lincoln and the state echo the passion of countless Nebraskans who want to see Pershings historic mural a majestic, historic and iconic example of public art preserved for future generations. Allen Beermann, Lincoln citizen for more than half a century Someone once remarked that there are events and projects that awaken the mind, touch the human heart and call for each of us in a community to walk the high road of conscience, guided by what President Lincoln called "the better angels of our society." Our City of Lincoln is made up of better angels, and we call on all of you now to help save the mural that has been a part of our communitys culture for a very long time. It can truly be said that our obligation as a citizenry is to do our part in cultural patriotism and the opportunity is real, it is now and it cannot fail! As we work together to save the mural, our work and contributions will be constructive, upbuilding, beneficent, enduring and always an influence for good because we saved this Picasso for many future generations to enjoy and admire. Fellow Lincolnites, we are hoping that each of you can be a beacon of hope. In this endeavor, we can either be leaners or lifters. It seems like in life, we can be bitter, or better. Please join in this endeavor to do better do not allow this mural to go in pieces to the city dump! Join the community in being a lifter and let us, together, lift this mural to a new location to be enjoyed by all for another lifetime or more! Anne Pagel, curator, Karen and Robert Duncan Collection Ive always loved seeing the Pershing Auditoriums bold, colorful mural and, as I passed, would oftentimes search out bits that I hadnt noticed before. I liked the balance of representational figures with abstraction, so typical of the mid-1950s, and that it effectively communicated the exciting things that were going on inside: sports, dance, music, drama and important community events. The two artists who created the design, Leonard Thiessen and Bill J. Hammond, met the immense aesthetic and engineering challenges of the project. In fact, the mural was, at the time, the largest such work in the country. Both were highly trained, respected artists and teachers in Omaha who left lasting legacies, Thiessen in particular. He was one of the founders of the Nebraska Arts Council, an art critic for the Omaha World-Herald and led Iowas WPA Federal Art Project. To me, it is vital to cherish art that so effectively reflects its time and place, and also to respect and preserve the works of exceptional, forward-thinking Nebraskans. I look forward to seeing the mural installed for people to enjoy for years to come. Tax-deductible donations to save Pershings mural may be made online at www.nshsf.org/projects/pershing-mural/ or by mailing to the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation, 128 N. 13th St., Suite 1010, Lincoln, NE 68508, noting Pershing Mural Preservation Project in the memo line of the check. Questions? Contact Liz Shea-McCoy at 402-430-5923 or lizwshea@gmail.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Kenneth Runnels doesn't see himself as a "victim" of the drought. He says he's an "adapter." Runnels is the chief administrator of the Antelope Point Marina on Lake Powell, the second-largest reservoir in the country and part of the Colorado River system, which provides water for more than 40 million people in the West. After decades of drought, Powell's water level has sunk to unimaginable lows, threatening Runnels' business and the millions of other people who rely on the lake's water. Runnels has had to make rapid adjustments to the plummeting water level, and has fashioned new routes to get from the bank to the water. He told CNN he's working on getting another permit to lower the access point another 20 feet. Lake Powell has dropped nearly 100 feet in the past two years amid what scientists have determined is the worst multiyear drought in at least 12 centuries. Runnels blames several things for the low water levels, including overuse. There are more people using water from the Colorado River than what it can naturally sustain. He also said he sees the fingerprints of climate change. "I've seen it come up and go down, come up and go down," Runnels recounted. "Never to this level." A Gallup poll shared first with CNN found 1 in 3 Americans said they have been affected by some kind of extreme weather in the past two years, and those who had been were far more likely to say the climate crisis is a threat. Gallup estimates that around 6 million people were affected by drought in that time. It's the first time Gallup has asked respondents in their annual environment poll about their experience with extreme weather. It found 78% of respondents who have faced recent extreme weather like the West's megadrought, the Texas deep freeze, deadly hurricanes like Ida believe the effects of climate change are already unfolding, compared to 51% who had not. "People see this happening more and more across the country, and I think they're making that connection," Jeffrey Jones, senior editor with Gallup, told CNN. "It's certainly influencing how they view the (climate) issue." While Democrats were more likely to report being impacted by extreme weather 45% to 20% the poll found, regardless of political party affiliation, respondents who had been affected were more likely to be concerned about the climate crisis. Republicans and Republican-leaners are less likely to be concerned, Gallup reported, but there was a 15-point percentage gap in climate concern between those who had (28%) and had not (13%) been affected by an extreme event. "Extreme weather events are, in fact, more common now than they used to be," Jones said. "They're certainly getting a lot more attention in the news, and within that discussion, they're saying this is evidence of climate change." The survey, which was conducted in early March, confirmed how people have a hard time understanding the gravity of the crisis until it reaches their doorstep, Jones asserted. People in the South and West were significantly more likely to report they had faced an extreme event than those living in the East or Midwest, Gallup found. And of those who said they had such experiences, a majority listed extreme cold, hurricane, winter storm or extreme heat as the event affecting them. Among respondents in the West, wildfires, extreme heat and drought were the events most commonly reported. "These data indicate that many people are starting to realize that our climate isn't just warming, it's becoming more variable, which is really bad news for agriculture, water supplies, industry, and so many other critical aspects of life," Jennifer Marlon, a climate scientist at the Yale School of the Environment, who was not involved with the poll, told CNN. Marlon contended it is good news most people are finally connecting the dots between extreme weather and global warming. "The next question is: Do people understand that burning coal, oil and methane gas is what is causing the chaotic severe weather?" Marlon posed. On Monday, the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned the world must make immediate transitions away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy, like solar and wind, to limit the impact of the climate crisis otherwise, the West is destined for more drought and heat, the oceans will continue to inundate coastal communities and extreme weather will become more deadly than it already is. Around 65% of Gallup's respondents believe humans are to blame for Earth's warming over the past century, rather than natural changes. But while 45% believe global warming poses a threat to their way of life during their lifetime, there are 54% who don't. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Mitch and Hannah Bruner have only ever lived in Illinois. Well, until last July. They moved to Kenosha from Spring Grove, Illinois, several months after Mitch found a job in Racine at Fischer USA, Inc., 3715 Blue River Ave. Mitch, who used to travel for work and spend five days a week away from home, now has a commute time of 15 minutes. As a result, he gets to spend more time with Hannah. The couple has enjoyed lower housing costs, lower taxes and lower prices of goods. An additional benefit that came as a surprise: They dont have to pay for garbage. Theyre planning on staying in the area for good. If you gave me a choice between going back to Illinois and buying a house, Im not going to do that, Mitch said. Im going to do that here. I feel like this is a better place to get on with life now that I can. Im comfortable with moving ahead with life, and thats really all Im after in general. The Bruners experience is an example of what opportunities exist when moving to Racine or Kenosha County, especially from a busy and expensive area like Chicago. Its the heart of an initiative by the Racine County Economic Development Corp. and the Wisconn Valley Media Group. The initiative, called the Digital Manufacturing Campaign, aims to target current residents of Chicago and its surrounding areas and encourage them to relocate to and join the workforce in Racine County. It launched last August. Several area companies A&E Inc., InSinkErator, CNH Industrial, Marini Manufacturing, E.C. Styberg Engineering, Fischer USA, Pioneer Products, Burlington Graphic Systems and Andis are participating in the initiative and providing job opportunities. Gateway Technical College and Racine Area Manufacturers and Commerce are additionally supporting the initiative. Since its beginning, the Digital Manufacturing Campaign has been running multiple targeted digital tactics to support the campaign to bring new employees to the area, such as social media, video and other display advertising. Wisconn Valley Media Group reported significant user engagement, doubling response rate on the social ads, increasing user actions over 300% for the display campaign and generating almost 10,000 sessions to the campaigns webpage. Identifying a need During 2018, Racine County performed a study with local companies examining the supply and demand for talent and what resources employers may need. The conclusion was that demand was going to ramp up into 2021, RCEDC Deputy Director Laura Million said. The idea was to entice individuals to relocate to Racine County. RCEDC partnered with Racine County, formed a Greater Racine County website, greaterracinecounty.com, and has been working ever since to showcase the local manufacturing community. The Chicago area was specifically targeted due to its close geographical location. Theres a lot of great job opportunities here and a great quality of life many may not have access to, Million said, highlighting Racine Countys low cost of living, lower traffic volume and opportunities for more personal time through a shorter commute. We dont expect people to move over night. We understand its an investment. But we ultimately want them to move here. This is something were trying to continue on longer, with the idea that its going to take time and effort to sell that this is a good place to live and good place to work, added Russ Weyers, president and CEO of Pioneer Products. This time of year is a good time to move, because if potential Racine County residents have children, the school year will be ending soon, Million said. We really want to build that talent bench, grow our local population and get additional people here to work at our companies, Million said. Weyers said many of the manufacturers involved in the campaign have had a difficult time selling their open positions to potential candidates. Every company in Racine County has a sign on the street saying now hiring, and many businesses have tried advertising for the open positions and participating in job fairs, but to no avail, he said. Other companies, such as Styberg Engineering, have long had a difficult time hiring and retaining talent. Five years ago, Styberg Engineerings employee count was at 165. In the last six years, the company has hired 725 people. But the employee count is now 145. Styberg President John Baker said the company has tried just about everything to hire and retain employees. But nothing is working well. The ideal employee count would be 175 people the company has the opportunity to expand, but challenges have prevented it from achieving that. While Styberg has had some great employees, a lot of them had to be fired because they wouldnt come into work every day or show up on time. Some didnt follow instructions. We lost 80% because of discipline problems, Baker said. Other employees have quit on the spot, citing the job wasnt for them as the reason for their resignation. Employees of Styberg can receive $25 an hour, a reasonable benefit package and education assistance, Baker said, which makes the company a competitive choice for job-seekers. But 90% of local people from the county dont even finish training. It hasnt turned out very well, he said. Were trying everything under the sun. Other recruitment programs in town including government programs had not been working, Weyers said. Their effort is to try to find employment for people who live in town. This is not something we wanted to focus on, Weyers said. Were not able to find them locally, and frankly, were all trying to train people also. That process takes an awful long time. We need skilled employees faster than that The business community has stepped up to do this. Hopeful thinking Baker is hopeful the Digital Marketing Campaign will attract better employees to Styberg and so far, while they havent turned into jobs yet, Styberg is seeing some action from preliminary efforts, such as receiving more clicks on the website. Hes hoping the lower taxes in Racine will be a key draw. People could get a better standard of living up here because of the cost down there, its crazy, Baker said. If somebody is willing to relocate and they realize that theres benefits, I do believe they will be willing to show up everyday and do a good job. If theyre willing to do this move, theyll most likely be better disciplined. One other obstacle has been correcting peoples outdated ideas that manufacturing looks like it did in the 1920s, 30s and 40s: dark lighting, dirty machines or harsh working conditions. Styberg, which manufactures vehicle parts that are sent around the world, has state-of-the-art electronic machines and bright lighting. A few of the machines are the largest machines of their type in the world. We have golden opportunities to give. Its getting people to understand: Heres the opportunities, you need to take them. Thats been hard, Baker said. I remember when Racine used to be one of the biggest manufacturing hubs of the U.S. It sure would be nice to get back to that. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A Walworth County man who has run for local office in the past and is disabled said his absentee ballot was not accepted for the April 5 spring election because he was not present with his wife when it was submitted. Dave Nusberger, who lives in the Village of Bloomfield near Lake Geneva, said his wife tried to submit his mail-in ballot on his behalf to village officials during the election, but his ballot was not accepted. He said his wife had not mailed in their ballots, so she tried to turn them in during the day of the election. She explained to them that she did not have time to mail them in, said Nusberger. They took hers, but they wouldnt take mine, because I wasnt there. What happened to Nusberger is what disability rights advocates were trying to prevent from happening before the election. Its an issue the state Supreme Court will be hearing oral arguments on Wednesday. It stems from recent court decisions interpreting state law that says, the (absentee ballot) envelope shall be mailed by the elector, or delivered in person, to the municipal clerk issuing the ballot or ballots. Nusberger has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a chronic inflammatory lung disease, and uses a tracheostomy to breathe. Nusberger said he was not present with his wife when the ballots were submitted because of his medical condition, which he said his wife explained to the village clerk. Im handicapped. Im on oxygen. I cant get around anymore. It makes no sense. This is crazy, said Nusberger, who has previously run for Bloomfield village trustee and wanted to vote for the contested County Board seat in his district, as well as the state court of appeals judge, a race won by conservative-backed Maria Lazar. Case background The Village of Bloomfield did not return calls for comment about the ballot rejection. However, many municipalities announced they would not be accepting ballots from anyone other than the voters after recent court rulings. In a 4-3 ruling in February, the Wisconsin Supreme Court let stand Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Michael Bohrens decision that says voters cannot give their absentee ballots to another person to mail or to hand over to an election clerk. The lawsuit over returning ballots was brought in 2021 by two men represented by the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, arguing the law explicitly states, the (absentee ballot) envelope shall be mailed by the elector, or delivered in person, to the municipal clerk issuing the ballot or ballots. One of the reasons for the lawsuit was to prevent ballot harvesting, a practice in which political operatives collect absentee ballots from voters homes and drop them off at a polling place or election. However, at the same time, the federal Voting Rights Act states, Any voter who requires assistance to vote by reason of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write may be given assistance by a person of the voters choice. Additionally, under the Americans with Disabilities Ac, No qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of a public entity, or be subject to discrimination by any such entity. Because of the confusion some clerks were having, the League of Municipalities issued guidance to municipalities saying, Ultimately, each clerk will need to decide what to do, taking into consideration both state and federal law, the different ways the absentee ballot statute can be interpreted, and the risks of choosing one option over another. Unfortunately, any decision brings with it the potential for dispute and litigation. In Racine, the city clerk stated that her office was accepting absentee ballots from authorized representatives of voters. I refuse to be the obstacle that prevents Americans with disabilities from submitting their absentee ballots, said Racine City Clerk Tara Coolidge. State Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, has since filed an elections complaint against the City of Racines mayor and clerk alleging the city violated state law by accepting absentee ballots delivered by someone who is not the voter. In arguing that Racine violated the law, Wanggaard said, The law is the law The City of Racine is allowing ballot harvesting, but other municipalities voting in the same election are not. This is granting Racine voters additional rights, and an outsized influence in those elections. Gov. Tony Evers has also expressed concern about the voting rights of people with disabilities saying, in a recent Wisconsin Eye interview, Republicans are talking about making sure we punish people for wanting to vote, making it more difficult. Theyre spending a lot of time talking about making it more difficult for people to vote. If youre eligible, we should be encouraging people to vote instead of saying, well yes, but you have to do x, y, and z. He said, Think of a disabled person he votes by mail, he wants to deliver it by hand, and he cant hand it off to the person who has done it in the past. What in the heck is that about? Why should we be so descriptive and prescriptive around that issue? The state Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Libertys case starting Wednesday, April 13 and a decision is expected by this summer on what the rules will be for the Aug. 9 primary and Nov. 8 general election, when Wisconsin residents will vote for governor, U.S. senator and other offices. Concern for others Nusbergers wife, Kathleen, said in the past she has brought in her husbands ballot and there werent issues. I think its incorrect. Its a sealed ballot. Its just turning it over to be counted, said Kathleen, who was caught off guard when the clerk wouldnt accept her husbands ballot without him being present. And by that point, it was too late to send it in the mail and he wasnt in good enough health to get to the Village Hall himself, she said. Dave said he is concerned about other residents who might have a disability, who may not be able to vote in the future because of a similar situation. For him, voting is a big deal. I dont care how small or big it is, I have to vote, Dave said. Its my obligation so I do it. Dave still has his un-submitted absentee ballot with him. I still got the ballot, Dave said. Its never been opened. 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. CALEDONIA Like almost every business across the country right now, St. Monicas Senior Living has been experiencing staffing shortages. The gaps were particularly obvious in the kitchen and dining room. But after the facility brought a special new staff member last month, the time it takes for food to be served to residents has now been shortened from 30 to 15 minutes. No, the new staff member is not The Flash. Its Robby, a Servi Robot made by Bear Robotics. Bear Robotics is a robotics and artificial intelligence company founded in 2017 to address the increased pressure faced by the foodservice industry around wages, labor supply and cost efficiencies. The companys robots tackle jobs in restaurants, corporate campuses, ghost kitchens, senior care facilities and casinos across North America and Asia. The nonprofit assisted living and memory care facility at 3920 N. Green Bay Road first implemented the robot March 21. Its not meant to replace humans, but instead supplement them, said St. Monicas Administrator Stephany Lichter. Robby assists people during mealtime by carrying trays, bringing food out from the kitchen and busing tables during clean-up. The St. Monicas community gave the robot its nickname, Robby. St. Monicas staff have said the facility is the only senior community to have a robot like this in southeastern Wisconsin and possibly the state. How Robby works Lichter said with employing Robby, she wanted to give the existing staff the tools they need to do their jobs more efficiently and with less stress. We had a really high turnover rate, Lichter said. I cant get anybody to work anymore. We were always down two people and werent able to run some operations. Staff were always picking up extra hours. An engineer mapped out the dining room, dish room, where the cook is, and the robots own charging station and programmed that into Robby. Staff simply tap a touchscreen, telling the robot where to go. Robby stops when he senses something in his way. Robby has three tray tiers that hold up to 66 pounds and his battery life can last up to 12 hours. While Robby is great for transporting items, humans still have to load and unload the items when he stops. Instead of running back and forth from kitchen to dining room waiting on or delivering food, servers are now able to stay in the dining room longer to better assist the residents such as refilling coffee. We used to see residents hands up all the time, asking for more coffee, Lichter said. Now, we dont see that anymore. Robby has proven to be cost-effective; the facility rents the robot for about $3 per hour. Lichter appreciates that Robby wont quit or show up late to work. He also wont cause any spills or otherwise do the job wrong. What you program it to do is what it does, Lichter said. The way of the future Lichter said St. Monicas community members and staff are very excited about their new robot. Staff is considering adding more robots elsewhere in the building, such as helping with cleaning or the front desk screening process. This is because St. Monicas is always curious about new technology and seeing if theres something the facility can implement to make things better or safer for residents, she said. Lichter noted that by implementing Robby, she also wanted to keep residents happy. These are the people that matter to me, so I want to make sure they get good service, Lichter said, motioning to the residents in the dining room. I think the most exciting part is, the community members, they have not seen this. This is Jetsons stuff. Robotics is the way of the future. Server Kelly Wheatley said she enjoys being free to bring coffee to the residents. She appreciates that Robby takes transporting the heavy load of plates off her hands something she wouldnt have time for anyway, she said. Robby keeps them (the residents) entertained, Wheatley said. Otherwise they get a little impatient just sitting there. They love watching it. Server Addrin Nicki Brown said she enjoys spending more time with the residents as a result of implementing Robby. Were done a little early to interact with them more, Brown said. Its been very successful. St. Monicas resident Elaine Weber articulated shes noticed fellow residents enjoying Robby, enjoying the opportunities for more coffee and noticed that Robby is something residents seem to be relating with. But Weber herself is a little hesitant about the new robot. We should be with human beings, not electronics, Weber said. I hope we dont lose any human beings out of it. Thats the No. 1 thing. Otherwise, its been fine. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The former state Supreme Court Justice leading the GOP-ordered review into the 2020 election said he may be forced by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos to pack up his Brookfield office by the end of the month. Speaking Thursday on a podcast hosted by former President Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon, Michael Gableman said he has recently been contacted by officials in Vos office notifying him of plans to dismantle his office within a matter of weeks. I know that prior to the release of my report on March 1, that Speaker Vos went on the radio and he told everyone within listening distance within a couple of states area reach that March 1 would mark just the beginning of the Gableman investigation, Gableman said, adding, Now Im getting calls from Speaker Vos office telling us that theyre going to pick up our office equipment on April 26. There must be more investigation. Vos, R-Rochester, hired Gableman last year to lead the review at a cost of $676,000 in taxpayer funds, but has recently said he would like to see the effort come to a conclusion in the near future. As weve said before, the investigation will now turn its focus to resolving the lawsuits that have been brought against our efforts by liberal activists, Vos said in a statement Friday. We hope to have Justice Gableman help us do that so we can once again focus on reforming the election process. Vos did not comment on Gablemans statement regarding the closure of his Brookfield office later this month. After extending Gablemans contract through the end of April, Vos later said he was considering rescinding subpoenas issued by the former justice so that a Republican attorney general if elected in November could file criminal charges against the subpoenaed individuals, though he did not provide specifics on what charges could be pursued. Speaking with Bannon, Gableman, who is being paid $11,000 a month for his work, urged listeners to put pressure on Vos to keep the review going. We must pursue those subpoenas in court, Gableman said. Backing off on subpoenas could drastically shorten the ongoing review. The new contract maintains Gablemans existing budget, but does allow for the possibility of added funds to cover the costs of legal battles related to the probe. In at least one of the ongoing court cases surrounding Gablemans review, a Waukesha County Circuit Judge has scheduled a July 11 hearing in a case to decide if Gableman has the authority to demand that the mayors of the states five largest cities and other officials be jailed for not cooperating with his subpoenas. Gableman was one of several Trump supporters to attend a meeting at the former presidents Mar-a-Lago resort earlier this week for an event focused largely on unproven claims of election fraud, where he was met with applause from the crowd and praise from Trump, The Washington Post reported. A recount, court decisions and multiple reviews have affirmed that Biden defeated Trump in Wisconsin by almost 21,000 votes. Only 24 people out of nearly 3.3 million who cast ballots have been charged with election fraud in Wisconsin. Despite that, Gableman earlier this year suggested the Legislature decertify the 2020 results, which experts and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have described as a legal and constitutional impossibility. He also called for the elimination and dismantling of the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission, based largely on guidance the agency provided in 2020 to not send poll workers to nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. A Wisconsin State Journal review found that Gablemans interim report falsely claimed nursing homes in Dane and Milwaukee counties had 100% voter turnout in 2020 despite a number of them being incompetent to vote. In fact, the newspaper found, the percentage of registered voters who cast ballots in all but one Dane County facility ranged from 42% to 91%. Gableman insinuated that malign actors had filled out ballots on behalf of nursing home residents, even though there is no evidence of widespread fraud. District attorneys in three counties have already declined to file charges against members of the Wisconsin Elections Commission related to the agencys decision in a public meeting to waive laws related to absentee voting in nursing homes in the 2020 election. While Vos has also made claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election, he has adamantly opposed both decertifying the election and dismantling the elections commission. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 State officials have come up with a list of recommendations on how to respond to the opioid epidemic in Wisconsin after holding a series of listening sessions and hearing from those who have struggled with addiction. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services report that resulted from those sessions says the state needs more treatment places for people who are addicted to opioids, more availability of overdose treatments and a willingness to address the root causes of addiction. The state is due to receive more than $400 million in funding from the settlement of a multistate lawsuit against four pharmaceutical companies accused of fueling the opioid epidemic. The companies settled for $26 billion, but did not admit any wrongdoing. By state law, 70% of the opioid settlement money will go to county and local governments and 30% will go to DHS. As a result of the settlement, Racine County will now have additional support in its efforts to mitigate the catastrophic impacts of the opioid epidemic, Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave said in a statement. We are applying a multipronged strategy to address the opioid crisis focused on targeted interventions, intensive case management, and treatment. Racine County is committed to offering same-day, next-day appointments for our residents to ensure immediate access for those who are struggling with addiction. In 2014, Racine County became the first county in Wisconsin to put Narcan, an opioid overdose antidote, in all of its sheriffs offices squad cars. Narcan has been deployed by RCSO more than 65 times since then. After Narcan was used to counteract an overdose in the Racine County Jail in March, Sheriff Christopher Schmaling stated, One of our most important missions is to combat the dangerous distribution and use of illegal drugs. Sometimes we fight this fight through arresting drug dealers, sometimes we provide information about the dangers of this poison, and sometimes we save lives using Narcan. Either way, the Sheriffs Office has trained and equipped staff continuously standing ready to serve and protect the community. This money is going to transform our response to the opioid epidemic, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul said in a recent interview with Wisconsin Public Radio. My hope is to see those funds go toward long-term investments that can help us ultimately beat this epidemic, including funding things like treatment programs, prevention programs and recovery programs. Recently decriminalized in Wisconsin, Racine County is now in the process of distributing fentanyl test strips in the community, allowing the public to test substances for the presence of the drug 50-100 times more potent than morphine. During the sessions, officials heard from substance abuse professionals, people in recovery and family members of those whove struggled with addictions. The studys recommendations include a range of interventions, including addressing childhood traumas that can put people at risk for addiction later in life and further expanding access to the overdose treatment naloxone. Adam Rogan of The Journal Times contributed to this report. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 WAUKESHA Police in Waukesha have arrested a man who allegedly tried to rob a bank Friday by suggesting he was armed with a grenade. WTMJ-TV reported the man walked into State Bank just before 10 a.m. and gave a note to the teller suggesting he had a grenade in his pocket. Police arrived within 90 seconds. Officers confronted the man as he left the bank with an undisclosed amount of money and took him to jail. Police described him as a man in his 60s. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 1. Yes. Raising the bar for future developments will boost the citys housing market. 2. Yes. It will help in newer areas, but more needs to be done to change Killeens image. 3. No. The new standards will just slow down homebuilding and drive away developers. 4.No. The ordinance will do little more than drive up the price of new homes in the city. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say what the effect will be until they have been in place for a while. Vote View Results Nutanix, a leader in private cloud, hybrid and multicloud computing, has named Mandy Dhaliwal as Chief Marketing Officer and Shyam Desirazu as Head of Engineering. Each brings more than two decades of experience building and scaling high performing, mission-driven organisations. They will both report to Rajiv Ramaswami, the Chief Executive Officer at Nutanix. Both Mandy and Shyam are exceptional leaders with proven technological savvy and unique insight into what it takes to build and drive industry leading solutions that meet the needs of the market, said Ramaswami. Next phase of growth The addition of Mandy and Shyam to our organisation will be instrumental in driving our vision as Nutanix continues its next phase of growth. I am very excited about the opportunity to take Nutanixs industry leading cloud platform to market and showcase how we uniquely enable enterprises to modernise their applications and digitally transform their businesses with speed, simplicity and efficiency, said Dhaliwal. As we move steadily into a hybrid multicloud era, I will be laser focused on driving long-term sustainable growth for the Nutanix business and tangible value for our customers. Dhaliwal brings to Nutanix more than 25 years of experience in driving growth and innovation strategies across the cloud and software markets, and building high performing, mission-driven organisations. Global marketing strategy In this role, she will work closely with the companys executive leadership team to drive a global marketing strategy that will accelerate the adoption of Nutanixs enterprise hybrid multicloud solutions. Most recently, Dhaliwal was the Chief Marketing Officer for Boomi, where she was responsible for leading, planning and executing the company's global go-to-market, brand presence, product marketing, demand generation, partner marketing, field marketing, customer advocacy, strategic events and corporate communications functions. Dhaliwals career experience spans high profile positions at venture-backed startups, high-growth businesses and large public corporations. Before joining Boomi, she served as Fugues CMO, and held senior marketing leadership positions at BlazeMeter, SOASTA, EMC, and Legato Systems. Many businesses today are grappling with the reality of multicloud deployments, said Desirazu. I believe that hybrid multicloud is the future and that Nutanixs fast-moving culture of innovation is uniquely positioned to help customers navigate todays cloud complexities, while deploying solutions that help to future-proof IT. The opportunity to lead and build Nutanixs engineering organisation as the industry evolves towards this future is incredibly exciting. Driving technology In this role, Desirazu will work in close partnership with Ramaswami and Nutanixs executive leadership team to evolve and drive the companys technology and platform vision, roadmap, innovation strategy, and R&D investments across the portfolio. He will own the engineering function of the organisation and will play an essential role in driving the future growth of the business. With more than 20 years of experience building and scaling world class engineering teams, Desirazu brings deep technical and leadership expertise from positions across early-stage startups, high-growth businesses and large public enterprises. He has a proven track-record of building, deploying and managing cloud-based services and an extensive systems background with broad technical expertise, especially in core storage. Most recently, he was Vice President of Engineering for VMware Cloud on AWS at VMware. In this role, he led the engineering team that built VMware Cloud on AWS as well as other cloud solutions. Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice President of Engineering at BlueTalon focused on building the global development organisation and defining the product design, strategic partnership and engineering processes. He also has held engineering leadership positions at Panzura, Zynga, Citrix and Netapp. -- TradeArabia News Service KEARNEY Brandon Koch was born two centuries too late. He loves nothing better than heading out of town, pitching a canvas tent and foraging for most of his food. Later this month, dressed in Lewis-and-Clark-era attire, he will attend a primitive camp out where coolers, trash bags, flashlights and modern utensils will be prohibited. It all began when he slept in a buffalo hide next to an open fire during a Boy Scout campout when he was young. As he grew up, he camped both with the Boy Scouts and his family. It wasnt just being outside. What got me into it was the idea of the first fur trade/mountain man, the whole idea of exploration, Koch said. He is a pretty cool guy, his wife Jennifer said. If he wants something and cant find it anywhere, he will figure out how to make it. He sews anything he wants. He is very, very talented. Surviving outdoors Koch has devoured old woodsman books, field guides and old Boy Scout handbooks. He has built up a large library of such books. He goes camping at least once a month alone, with his family or with friends from muzzleloader clubs. He has mastered many skills, including how to eat. Hes headed out on Boy Scout wilderness survival weekends with little food. I might take nothing out there, and within a half hour I can be somewhere where I can get food. Its fantastic living in the woods, he said. Some weekends, he takes nothing but dried corn and jerky to supplement hunting squirrels and other small game. He has learned how to put out traplines for coyote, beaver and raccoon, although Im not as involved with that as much as I used to be. It takes a lot of time. He has learned a lot about wild edibles, too. For a well-rounded woodsman, I wanted to know what I could eat in the woods, and what things are worth eating, he said. Dandelions are edible, but theyre bitter. Every part of the common milkweed is edible until it dries out. In the spring, its young shoots taste a lot like asparagus. When they get bigger and develop buds, and you can fry them like a fritter. His favorite winter jacket is one made of brain-tanned deer. He didnt buy it; he traded for it. Brain tanning is the ancient art of preserving animal hides using the emulsifying agents in brain matter, which help break up the mucous membranes that cause animal hides to harden. He cut up a wool blanket to make its lining. Authentic tent Koch sleeps in an authentic tent made of canvas without a floor. He can put up his 12-foot by 14-foot tent in 45 minutes. The great thing about a canvas tent is that hail bounces right off of it. Its pretty resilient at an event where you might have 300 people, all in canvas tents, and no place to seek shelter. You batten down hatches to be sure the tent doesnt blow away, he said. At a large muzzleloader event last Memorial Day, several vicious storms picked up a tent or two, but with the kind of people who are into this, were a big family, so we came together and helped everybody out, he said. Chairman of the United Nebraska Muzzleloaders Association, Koch is also a member of the Grand Island-based Nebraska Muzzle Loading Rifle Association. Koch also can start a fire without matches. I never mastered that until later in life. It was knowing which woods work together. In this area, its cottonwood and eastern red cedar. Luckily in Nebraska, those trees are everywhere, he said. Canvas tent Koch, who served in the U.S. Marines for four years and works at West Pharmaceuticals, met Jennifer at a tattoo parlor in Grand Island 20 years ago, where he worked at the time. They married in 2001. Kochs passion is a part of their life. Theyve camped in a canvas tent at Rocky Mountain National Park. Koch prefers a canvas wall tent when hes in the field because it feels more like hunting. Its a tradition for us, he said. Jennifer enjoys hunting, too. She doesnt shoot; instead, she sits in the stand or blind while Koch hunts. I enjoy the peace and quiet and watching the wildlife, she said. She cleans what Brandon brings home, as she did for her father and brother years ago. Their sons have been hunting too. Kemper, 16, doesnt like its blood and loud noises, but Kase, 12, loves it. Camping for Christmas During Christmas, the family camped for three days on a private site on muzzleloader club property near Cairo and the Middle Loup River. It has two wells, no electricity and 16 outhouses because it handles big events like the High Plains Regional Rendezvous last summer, attended by 800 people who dressed in pre-1840s attire and hid their cellphones, Koch said. On Christmas, the Kochs were alone except for one other family. It took them three hours to unpack and set up the tent, four cots, food and camping gear. They set up a wood-burning stove, properly vented, inside the tent. We know what were doing, Koch said. If you have the right equipment, wool blankets, buffalo hides, its easy to stay warm if well-prepared. It was 18 degrees outside but 70 degrees in the tent. The family cut down a little cedar that they called a Charlie Brown Christmas tree. They took it into the tent and decorated it with items they found in the woods, along with ornaments made out of wood, dangling shotgun shells and yarn garlands brought from home. The kids loved it, Koch said. He cooked Christmas dinner of chicken fried steak over an open fire, along with potatoes, biscuits and country gravy. For Christmas breakfast, he fried hash browns with mushrooms, eggs and bacon, also over an open fire. Deer hunting The Koch family never buys beef. Koch shoots between two and four deer each season. He and Jennifer process it into sausages, hamburger and more. Meats expensive. We take pride in doing it ourselves. Jennifer helps butcher and put the meat up because her family has deer-hunted for years, he said. Koch also is eager to find road kill. I get it, tan it and make a hat out of it or something, he said. Hes passing his skills along to the next generation. As assistant scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 158 in Kearney, he has taken the boys camping in Colorado, Kansas, Canada, the Boundary Waters in Canada and beyond. Son Kemper is an Eagle Scout. Blacksmith, too Koch is also a blacksmith. He has a side business, Skab Leatherworks and Forge. There was a lot of outdoor stuff I wanted, but I saw how much it cost, so I tried to make it. Now my blacksmithing and leatherworking pays for my outdoor hobbies. The more periodically authentic it is, the more valuable it is, he said. In that role, he has volunteered at the Buffalo County Historical Societys Trails & Rails Museum. His handiwork includes rotisseries used in 1800s, a working beaver trap patterned after the style of the 1850s, branding irons used both for ranches and decoration, and more sculpture ware pieces. I hope I give people appreciation for the work it takes to make these items, he said. Koch made a branding iron that is currently part of a fur trade display in a North Carolina museum. Koch doesnt know whether to term his passion a hobby or a lifestyle, but when their children are grown, he and Jennifer hope to move to the Black Hills, where he will do blacksmithing and leatherworking at sites open to tourists. I like to make this stuff. There arent a lot of people who are teaching and passing on these skills, he said. Several years ago, I started writing petitions for the Prayer of the Faithful at Newman Catholic Parish. In one of my first petitions I wrote For wisdom for Pope Francis as he continues his work to decentralize the Catholic church. I heard through my pastor that the local bishop was not happy with this petition. He either did not think the Pope was decentralizing the Catholic church, or he wanted to keep it a secret. Recently, Pope Francis took two huge steps to continue his decentralization of the Catholic church. On March 19, he published a new constitution that decentralizes the administration of the Vaticans central bureaucracy. In this 54-page document, he restructures Vatican offices and makes it possible for laypeople and religious women to be leaders of these offices. Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago notes that substantive changes are ahead. For example, he says that the new constitution makes clear were not just having clerics involved in the selection of bishops, but were involving laypeople. He adds, I think this is the most significant document from Rome to deal with the implementation of the [Second Vatican] Council. Besides decentralizing administration, the pope is also changing the way he listens to people. At previous synods, he heard mainly from bishops and clerics. The preparatory documents for the 2021-23 Synod make it clear: Bishops all over the world are called to make every effort to consult and listen to those who feel excluded or marginalized from society and the church. Several dioceses are following creative options to follow this instruction. In Chicago, through its Kolbe House Jail Ministry, Cupich is listening to about 700 Catholic pretrial detainees in the Cook County Jail. In Washington, D.C., Archbishop Wilton Gregory has organized for the deaf community, listening sessions facilitated by deaf lay leaders. Also in Georgetown, there was a special listening session for several LGBTQ parishioners and their families. In Washington state, Catholic Community Services is planning bi-lingual in-person listening sessions at food banks, homeless shelters and rural mobile home communities in and around Seattle, Tacoma and Olympia. In San Diego, Catholic Charities is connecting with migrant seasonal farm workers, especially those who work the land in Southern Californias Imperial Valley. Today, April 3, our pastor Father Billy Dodge, is initiating a plan he learned from Tom Zinkula, bishop of Davenport. Ironically, then Father Tom Zinkula and I had many conversations about the church when we both lived in Dubuque. Father Dodge challenged us to listen to someone from each of three categories(1) someone who is in the pews of the Catholic church, (2) someone who once attended a Catholic church, but no longer does so, and (3) someone who has never been Catholic. We are to ask them only two questions, listen to their responses, and write down their comments to be anonymously forwarded to our parish and diocese. The questions are: 1. As you think about your experience of the Catholic church, what positively fills your heart? 2. As you think about your experience of the Catholic church, what breaks your heart? We are to simply receive comments without judgment or response. We want the experience to feel safe enough for you to be honest. I would be happy to interview as many of you as I have time for between now and June 1. If you are interested, contact me at synod6266@gmail.com. Please leave your name, email address, and which one of the three groups you identify with. I will contact you to arrange a meeting at a coffee shop. I want to do my small part in decentralizing the Catholic church. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Enoc Group has announced the opening of two new service stations in Sharjah in the areas of Al Ramtha and Al Sajaa as part of its plans to boost its retail footprint in the region. The new Al Ramtha service station which was unveiled earlier this month, will cater to the needs of residents in nearby communities as well as visitors from Wasit Wetland Centre. With a total area of 45,000sq. ft., the new service station in Al Sajaa will provide fuel retail services to 150,000 people in the industrial area catering to the needs of approximately 1,000 companies. Both stations are equipped with a bridge canopy, three islands with six fuel dispensers, and five fuel tanks with a capacity of 15,000 imperial gallons, in addition to an electric vehicle charging station. They also include a large Zoom store, a standalone drive through restaurant and AutoPro facilities, featuring four bays including Manual Wash and Autowash as well as other services that include Battery Change, Tyre Change and Oil Change. Enoc Group CEO Saif Humaid Al Falasi said: "In line with our goal to deliver world-class sustainable and integrated energy solutions, our continued expansion into Sharjah is helping to meet the growing fuelling needs of residents and visitors in the emirate and beyond. With the opening of these, we now have a total of 15 service stations in Sharjah and look forward to more openings in the months ahead. The two stations have been built in accordance with retail fuel industry global best practices, with complete retail automation and modern construction standards and is compliant with Sharjah Municipality green standards. Together, the stations bring the total number of Enocs service stations to 15 in Sharjah and 164 across the UAE and supports the groups plans to have 186 fully operational service stations at the end of 2022.-TradeArabia News Service The continued spread of a highly contagious strain of the bird flu has led to the euthanizing of a third domesticated flock in southern Wisconsin, authorities said Friday. A case of the avian flu was found in a poultry flock in Racine County, prompting all birds on the property to be euthanized to prevent the spread of the disease, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection said. Previous cases were found in flocks in Jefferson and Rock counties. This strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza, called EA H5N1, is deadly to captive and domesticated birds such as those found in farms, zoos and in peoples homes but is not as dangerous to the wild birds that are spreading it throughout the state. Last week, the state Department of Natural Resources said the strain was found in several wild species of birds in Dane, Columbia, Grant, Milwaukee and Polk counties. Bird flu does not pose a public health concern because the virus is not spreading to humans. Cooking poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 degrees kills the virus, DATCP said. But the continued spread of the disease in Wisconsin could threaten birds in zoos, pet birds and the egg and poultry industry. Dane Countys Vilas Zoo closed its bird exhibits March 22 because of the outbreak. On Friday, DATCP announced that it is suspending all poultry shows, exhibitions and swap meets throughout Wisconsin until May 31 to try to prevent the spread. Millions of birds have already been euthanized in Wisconsin because of the spread. The case at a chicken farm in Jefferson County in mid-March resulted in the euthanizing of nearly 3 million chickens. A few weeks later, a backyard flock in Rock County was killed after a case was found. What to watch for DATCP is encouraging residents to report signs of bird flu by calling (608) 224-4872 during business hours or (800) 943-0003 after hours and weekends. Signs of infected birds include: Sudden death without clinical signs. Lack of energy or appetite. Decrease in egg production; soft, misshapen eggs. Purple discoloration of wattles, comb, and legs. Difficulty breathing. Runny nose, coughing, sneezing. Stumbling or falling down. Diarrhea. Tremors. Circling movement. Holding head in strange positions. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A conservative law firm involved in the state's partisan and factually suspect investigation of the November 2020 election says it has filed two complaints with the Wisconsin Elections Commission alleging two people deemed by courts to be incompetent to vote nonetheless voted or received a ballot to vote in recent elections. The complaints were filed on behalf of the voters' guardians by Erick Kaardal of the Chicago-based Thomas More Society. One alleges that Walter Jankowski II, a resident of the Waunakee Manor nursing home, was deemed incompetent by a court in the late 1970s and that his son and court-appointed guardian, Walter Jankowski Jr., was surprised to learn he'd voted in November 2020 and was sent an absentee ballot for Tuesday's election. The other alleges that Sandra Klitzke, who lives at the Brewster Village nursing home in the town of Grand Chute in Outagamie County, voted in the November 2020 and April 2021 elections despite having been deemed incompetent in February 2020. Kaardal alleged Klitzke's case constitutes "abuse of those not cognizant enough to be aware that votes are being cast in their name" and called Jankowski's case "outrageous" and "illegal, and it cannot be tolerated." The Elections Commission on Friday did not respond to a request to comment on or confirm the existence of the complaints. Waunakee's clerk, Karla Endres, said she was "very vaguely familiar" with the Jankowski complaint and that her office was investigating it. The clerk in the town of Grand Chute could not be reached, and the directors at Waunakee Manor and Brewster Village did not respond to requests for comment. Klitzke and Jankowski are two of the eight people Kaardal interviewed or talked to a relative about as part of his group's investigation of the November 2020 election, which former President Donald Trump and many Republicans have baselessly alleged was rife with so much fraud that it denied Trump reelection. Conservative former state Supreme Court Justice and current Republican-appointed special counsel Michael Gableman aired video clips of some of those interviews during a presentation on his ongoing review of the 2020 election during a legislative hearing March 1, falsely alleging in the presentation and a report he released that day that voting turnout was as high as 100% at nursing homes in five Wisconsin counties that got significant outside funding to help them run elections during the pandemic. He and other election skeptics have pointed to a decision in 2020 by the Elections Commission to stop sending special voting deputies into nursing homes to help residents vote. The bipartisan commission made the decision because nursing homes were barring people from entry during the height of the pandemic when there was no vaccine and thousands of nursing home residents were dying from COVID-19. After Trump lost the election, his supporters pointed to the policy and suggested it led to mass voter fraud in the homes. Kaardal has asserted there could be thousands more voters who have been deemed incompetent by the courts and barred from voting, but have been kept on the active rolls anyway, but has not provided evidence to back that up. So far he says he's only been able to document such illegal voting by Klitzke and Jankowski. More than three million people cast ballots in Wisconsin in 2020 in an election that saw Joe Biden win the state by nearly 21,000 votes. Only 24 people have been charged with voter fraud in the election. Elections Commission spokesperson Riley Vetterkind said the agency, on an "ongoing basis," gets "case record copies of voters who have been deemed by the courts as not competent and therefore ineligible to vote," and shares those records in the statewide voter database that clerks access to make sure their local voter lists are accurate. "This process is reliant on court records being sent to the WEC by county registers in probate in a timely manner," he said, and commission guidance directs "clerks to review the adjudicated incompetent list before each election and update voter records as appropriate." Endres said her office checks that list whenever it helps nursing home voters vote and when people register to vote at the polls. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Residents of nursing homes in five Wisconsin counties did not vote in unusually high numbers in the last presidential election contrary to what the leader of a partisan review of the election has asserted. Nor was voter turnout significantly different from turnout in the 2016 election at nursing homes in four of the counties for which the Wisconsin State Journal obtained voting data. The newspapers findings again throw cold water on claims by conservative former state Supreme Court justice and GOP special counsel Michael Gableman and supporters that widespread voter fraud was responsible for President Joe Bidens 21,000-vote victory in Wisconsin. A report on the election by the states nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau, recounts in the states two largest counties, and multiple courts have found no evidence to support their claims. Nevertheless, during a presentation March 1 before the state Assemblys elections committee to discuss his most recent findings, Gableman showed videos of purported nursing home residents who appeared to be incapable of understanding the voting process but had, in fact, voted in the 2020 election. He then pointed to figures in his 136-page second interim investigative report claiming 100% of the registered voters in nursing homes in heavily Democratic Dane and Milwaukee counties, and in Racine County, home to the Democratic-leaning city of Racine, cast ballots in 2020. In Kenosha and Brown counties, home to the Democratic-leaning cities of Kenosha and Green Bay, the figures were 97% and 95%, respectively, he said. Earlier that year, the Wisconsin Elections Commission told municipal clerks they were not required to send special election workers into nursing homes to assist with the election because of the pandemic. Gablemans clear insinuation was that someone not qualified to conduct an election improperly influenced these vulnerable voters or, worse, cast ballots on their behalf. A State Journal review of municipal poll books last month showed a far different story in Dane County. Poll books, sometimes in electronic form and sometimes on thousands of pages of paper, allow the public to see who was registered on the date of an election and which of those voters cast ballots in that election. In only one of Dane Countys 18 state-licensed nursing homes was turnout 100%: Nazareth Health and Rehab Center in Stoughton, where all 12 people listed as registered in the poll book had their ballots tallied. Turnout among all the others ranged from 42% to 91%. Gablemans turnout numbers for nursing homes in the other four counties are proving equally false. Using data requested through the Wisconsin Election Commissions Badger Voters service which allows political campaigns and the public to obtain lists of registered voters and voting activity by address the State Journal calculated voter turnout at all 52 state-licensed nursing homes in Brown, Kenosha, Milwaukee and Racine counties in which people were recorded as having voted in the Nov. 3, 2020, election. It could find only one where turnout in 2020 was 100%: the Brown County Community Treatment Center Bayshore Village in Green Bay, where eight of eight registered voters voted. Otherwise, turnout at the nursing homes ranged from 20% to 94%. Average turnout for Milwaukee County nursing homes was 80%, as it was for Brown. Turnout in Kenosha facilities was 72% and in Racine it was 73%. Such levels are not out of line with what the state as a whole saw in 2020, when turnout was 72%, according to the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission, and nearly 10% more people cast ballots than in 2016. Whats more, the nursing home figures overstate turnout in the facilities because they reflect the number of votes cast divided by the number of registered voters, not the larger voting-age population, which the Elections Commission uses as the denominator in its turnout calculations. Its also long been true that senior citizens are more likely to vote than the population at large. Nor was the 2020 turnout at nursing homes in Brown, Kenosha, Milwaukee and Racine counties much different from that in 2016. In fact, three homes in those areas saw 100% turnout, with 41 of 41 registered voters casting ballots in an election won by former President Donald Trump, who praised Gableman at the former presidents Mar-a-Lago resort on Tuesday and whose baseless claims of a stolen election Gableman has also taken up. Incorrect and deceptive Gableman and his team did not respond to requests for comment for this story. Nor was the newspaper able to obtain comment from Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, who appointed Gableman, or the Assembly elections committee chair Janel Brandtjen, R-Menomonee Falls, who has called for a full, cyber-forensic audit of the election. Wisconsin Voter Alliance president Ron Heuer, who has said he compiled Gablemans turnout numbers when he worked for him from about Oct. 1 to mid-December, also didnt respond to a request for comment. The Kewaunee County-based Wisconsin Voter Alliance touts itself as promoting and protecting the integrity of Wisconsins voting system and has unsuccessfully sued to overturn Wisconsins 2020 presidential election results. In a statement, the ranking Democrat on the Assembly elections committee, Rep. Mark Spreitzer, D-Beloit, called Gablemans report misleading and said the only way that they didnt choose to intentionally mislead the public is if they have no idea how this works. Mike Gableman should not have made an assertion about nursing home turnout based on partial data, and should have reached out to the actual experts like the Wisconsin Elections Commission that could have explained how this works, he said. Instead, he released a report that was incorrect and deceptive. Heuer said last month that he used the states voter database as of August 2021 to look at whether every registered voter at every nursing home in the five counties voted in the November 2020 election, although he erroneously included other kinds of group living arrangements, such as independent living for elderly people, in his calculations. A spreadsheet of his findings provided to Spreitzers office, which provided it to the State Journal, shows columns for the number of active registered voters and number of votes cast in the 2020 election, often resulting in turnout figures that are inexplicably well above 100%. Spot checks of the data on registered voters and votes cast dont match what the State Journal found in poll books. Heuer has declined requests to go into detail about how he arrived at his turnout figures. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 My elder son (Aquinas class of 2007) is a medical officer in the US Army. He began a two-year assignment in the pediatric intensive care unit at Walter Reed Medical Center Washington D.C. this past August. We planned a late winter/early spring vacation together in Florida and were preparing to depart a couple weeks ago when my son received orders reassigning him to the 1st Infantry Division (Big Red 1) with an early April report date to Texas followed shortly by deployment to eastern Germany. Due to the need to prepare for deployment our vacation was canceled. I traveled to Washington, D.C., so we could be together before his deployment. Returning from Washington Friday evening, I stepped on the escalator at the La Crosse airport and as I looked up I got a very bad feeling like I had been hit in the stomach at the sight of the Russian flag above (I stumbled on the escalator as I lost my balance). I was stunned and became even more so as I proceeded around the corner in the lower level to the baggage claim area and noticed one of the small commercial flat screen displays (off to the right towards the corner) that stated WE STAND WITH UKRAINE!! Really? Seriously? Prominently and permanently displaying a Russian flag from the rafters in the center of the airport while simultaneously illuminating a temporary statement supporting Ukraine on a small commercial flat screen in the back lower portion of the baggage claim area is truly a slap in the face to all the displaced, dead, and still dying citizens of Ukraine. Make no mistake, the Russian flag leads the Russian military made up entirely of Russian citizens who are pulling the triggers and pushing the buttons in this Russian war on Ukraine, democracy and civilization. The Russian flag is soaked and dripping with the blood of innocent Ukraine citizens! La Crosse, take down that Russian flag! One cannot permanently and prominently display the Russian flag while claiming to support Ukraine. A solitary temporary sign in the back lower portion of the baggage claim area stating support for Ukraine cannot coexist with the prominent display of the Russian flag in the center of the airport ... this is blatant hypocrisy and thoroughly insulting. Furthermore, in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine followed by full scale warfare on innocent civilians that continues as I write, La Crosses sister city relationship status with Dubna, Russia, deserves serious discussion and reconsideration. Please consider adoption of the Ukraine city of Mariupol as a sister city, but La Crosse must proceed with urgency as this historic metropolis up to two months ago (was 4-5 times the size and population of La Crosse) is being wiped off the face of our planet. William J. Hayman is a resident of Holmen. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Scientists who make artificial intelligence (AI) systems say they have no problem designing ones that make good predictions for business decisions. But they are finding that the AI may need to explain itself through another algorithm to make such tools effective for the people who use them. AI is an area of computer science which aims to give machines abilities that seem like human intelligence. Explainable AI, or XAI, is a new field that has received a lot of investment. Small, new companies and large technology companies are competing to make complex software more understandable. Government officials in the United States and European Union also want to make sure machines decision-making is fair and understandable. Experts say that AI technology can sometimes increase unfair opinions about race, gender and culture in society. Some AI scientists think explanations are an important way to deal with that. Over the last two years, U.S. government agencies including the Federal Trade Commission have warned that AI, which is not explainable, could be investigated. The European Union could also pass the Artificial Intelligence Act next year. That law would require explanations of AI results. Supporters of explainable AI say it has helped increase the effectiveness of AIs use in fields like healthcare and sales. For example, Microsofts LinkedIn professional networking service earned 8 percent more money after giving its sales team AI software. The software aims to predict the risk of a person canceling a subscription. But the software also provides an explanation of why it makes a prediction. The system was launched last July. It is expected to be described on LinkedIns website. But critics say explanations of AI predictions are not trustworthy. They say the AI technology to explain the machines results is not good enough. Developers of explainable AI say that each step in the process should be improved. These steps include analyzing predictions, creating explanations, confirming them and making them helpful for users. But after two years, LinkedIn said its technology has already created value. It said the proof is the 8 percent increase in money from subscription sales during the current financial year. Before the AI software, LinkedIn salespeople used their own abilities. Now, the AI quickly does research and analysis. Called CrystalCandle by LinkedIn, it identifies actions and helps salespeople sell subscriptions and other services. LinkedIn said the explanation-based service has extended to more than 5,000 sales employees. It includes finding new workers, advertising, marketing and educational offerings. "It has helped experienced salespeople by arming them with specific insights, said Parvez Ahammad. He is LinkedIn's director of machine learning and head of data science applied research. But some AI experts question whether explanations are needed. They say explanations could even do harm, creating a false idea of security in AI. Researchers say they could also create design changes that are less useful. But LinkedIn said an algorithm's strength cannot be understood without understanding its thinking. LinkedIn also said that tools like its CrystalCandle could help AI users in other fields. Doctors could learn why AI predicts that someone is more at risk of a disease. People could be told why AI recommended that they be denied a credit card. Been Kim is an AI researcher at Google. She hopes that explanations show whether a system presents ideas and values people want to support. She said explanations can create a kind of discussion between machines and humans. "If we truly want to enable human-machine collaboration, we need that, Kim said. Im Dan Novak. Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting from Reuters. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story algorithm n. a set of steps that are followed in order to solve a mathematical problem or to complete a computer process subscription n. an agreement that you make with a company to get a publication or service regularly and that you pay for regularly gender n. the state of being male or female analyze v. to study something closely and carefully; to learn the nature and relationship of the parts of something by a close and careful examination insight n. an understanding of the true nature of something collaboration n. to work with another person or group in order to gain or do something An astronaut crew of private citizens has launched to the International Space Station (ISS). The launch happened Friday morning from Floridas Kennedy Space Center. The flight is the first to be organized and operated by a private company involving a completely commercial astronaut crew. The four-member team will travel to the ISS inside a Crew Dragon Endeavor spacecraft built by American company SpaceX. The spacecraft will be carried into space by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. It is expected to arrive at the ISS about 28 hours after the launch. The crew members are from the private company Axiom Space, based in Houston, Texas. The group is led by retired NASA astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria. The mission is called Ax-1. The 63-year-old Lopez-Alegria is described as the mission commander. He is Axioms vice president of business development. Lopez-Alegria will be joined by the mission pilot, Larry Conner, a businessman and private pilot from Ohio. Conner is in his 70s, but the company did not provide his exact age. The other members of the crew are 64-year-old Israeli fighter pilot Eytan Stibbe and 52-year-old Mark Pathy, a Canadian businessman. Stibbe and Pathy will serve as mission specialists. The private crew is expected to spend eight days aboard the orbiting ISS. NASA said it will cooperate with Axiom mission officials to plan joint activities involving the Axiom team and regular ISS crew members. Currently, there are three American astronauts aboard the ISS, along with a German astronaut and three Russian cosmonauts. The launch is being praised by Axiom, NASA and industry officials as a turning point in the latest expansion of commercial space activities. Such activities have become known in the industry as the low-Earth orbit economy, or the LEO economy. In 2020, SpaceX became the first private company to launch astronauts into Earths orbit. That mission sent two astronauts to the ISS. SpaceX has since completed several similar flights. The latest missions crew might seem similar to private space tourists who recently took space rides that did not reach orbit. Those services are offered by private companies Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic. The trips aim to fly private citizens to the edge of space and permit them to experience weightlessness and observe Earth. But Axiom executives said their mission is very different. "We are not space tourists," Lopez-Alegria told a recent news conference. He added that the Axiom team had completed intense astronaut training with both NASA and SpaceX. The Ax-1 team will be carrying equipment and supplies for 26 science and technology experiments. They include research in areas including brain and heart health, cancer and aging. In the past, the ISS has accepted some visits by private citizens. But the current mission will mark the first all-commercial team of astronauts sent to use the station for its purpose as an orbiting laboratory. Axiom's co-founder and executive chairman, Kam Ghaffarian, told Reuters he sees the launch as "the beginning of many beginnings for commercializing low-Earth orbit." He added: "We're like in the early days of the internet, and we haven't even imagined all the possibilities, all the capabilities, that we're going to be providing in space." Im Bryan Lynn. Reuters, NASA and Axiom reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story mission n. an important project or trip, especially involving space travel commercial adj. related to buying and selling things tourist n. a person who travels to a place for pleasure capability n. the ability or power to do something Scientists say they have finished mapping the full set of genetic information for human life. The effort involved the first-ever sequencing of a complete human genome. A group of international researchers announced the result on March 31. The researchers said the latest sequencing work filled in all remaining information needed for a full map of the human genome. The research was published in a series of studies in the publication Science. A first version of the research was published last year before it was examined by the scientific community. In 2003, scientists released what was described at the time as a complete sequence of the human genome. But the international research team said the earlier effort did not include about eight percent of the genome. The past failure to complete the full map was linked to limitations in sequencing technology in use at the time. Evan Eichler is a researcher at the University of Washington who took part in the latest effort. He was also part of a past research effort known as the Human Genome Project. Eichler told The Associated Press that some of the genes that make us different as humans were contained in what he called the dark matter of the genome. He said the earlier sequencing efforts missed those parts. It took 20-plus years, but we finally got it done, Eichler said. Many people, including Eichler's own students, thought the full sequence had already been completed. I was teaching them, and they said, 'Wait a minute. Isnt this like the sixth time you guys have declared victory? Eichler said. He answered, No, this time we really, really did it. Karen Miga is a genomics researcher at the University of California-Santa Cruz. She helped lead the latest research. Miga told the AP that scientists hope the results will open the door to new medical discoveries in areas such as aging, the nervous system, cancer and heart disease. The human genome is made up of about 3.1 billion DNA chemical base pairs, known by the letters A, T, G and C, the National Human Genome Research Institute explains. Each of these base pairs are contained in 23 pairs of chromosomes found in the nucleus of human cells. Each chromosome contains hundreds to thousands of genes. The genes provide instructions for making proteins, the building blocks of life. An estimated 30,000 genes make up the human genome. Until now, Miga said there were "large and persistent elements missing from important areas of the human genome map. So Miga worked with Adam Phillippy, of the National Human Genome Research Institute, to organize the team of scientists to start over with a new genome. The groups goal was to sequence all of it. The effort added new genetic information to the human genome and corrected past errors. It also identified long stretches of DNA known to play important parts in both evolution and disease. Eichler, the University of Washington researcher, noted that some scientists used to think unknown areas of the genome contained junk." But he said he never thought that way. "Some of us always believed there was gold in those hills," he told the AP. That means he always believed they were valuable. Eichler said some of the unknown areas included many important genes. Im Bryan Lynn. Reuters and The Associated Press reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ___________________________________________________________ Words in This Story sequence n. the order in which nucleotides (chemical substances) are combined to form DNA genome n. the complete set of genetic material of a human, animal, plant or other living thing DNA n. (deoxyribonucleic acid) a substance that carries genetic information in the cells of plants and animals pair n. two things of the same appearance and size that are intended to be used together building block n. an important part that is grouped together with many other similar things to form something larger persistent adj. doing something continually for a long time until a certain result is reached evolution n. a gradual process of change and development junk n. things that are considered to be of no use of value, or of low quality A missile hit a train station Friday where thousands of people had gathered to flee Russian attacks in eastern Ukraine, killing at least 50 people, Ukrainian officials said. Dozens more were injured. Images from the scene showed covered bodies and peoples belongings on the ground around the station, in the city of Kramatorsk. A burned rocket was also found on the ground, with the words for the children painted on it in Russian. About 4,000 civilians were in and around the station, the office of Ukraines prosecutor-general said. It added that most of the victims were women and children trying to leave the area. They had been warned that Russian forces were planning to launch a major new offensive in the countrys east, Ukrainian officials said. Russias Defense Ministry denied attacking the station, which sits inside Ukraines contested Donbas area. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian leaders accused Russias military of targeting a place where only civilians were gathered. The inhuman Russians are not changing their methods, Zelenskyy said on social media. Without the strength or courage to stand up to us on the battlefield, they are cynically destroying the civilian population, he added. This is an evil without limits. And if it is not punished, then it will never stop, he said. Britains Defense Minister Ben Wallace denounced the train station attack, saying the striking of civilians and critical infrastructure is a war crime. The people just wanted to get away for evacuation, Ukraines Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova said. She spoke while visiting Bucha, a town north of Kyiv, Ukraines capital. Ukrainians discovered many bodies on the streets and in mass graves in Bucha after Russian troops withdrew. Venediktova watched as workers pulled bodies from a mass grave near a church. Black body bags were placed next to each other in the mud. She said that none of the dead were Russians. Most of the victims had been shot. The prosecutor generals office is investigating the deaths as possible war crimes. Russia has failed to take Ukraines capital and moved its troops away from northern Ukraine. It has recently been sending troops into Donbas, a mostly Russian-speaking, industrial area in eastern Ukraine. Moscow-backed rebels have been fighting Ukrainian forces for eight years and control some areas. The train station attacked is in an area under Ukrainian government control. This week, Ukrainian officials warned citizens in the area to leave as soon as possible for safer parts of the country. They said Russia had agreed to establish evacuation paths in the east. One expert said only Russia would have a reason to attack civilian railway infrastructure in the Donbas, and that Ukraine would not kill its own civilians on purpose in a war of survival. The Ukrainian military is desperately trying to reinforce units in the area, said Justin Bronk. He is a research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London. Bronk added that the rail station was important for the movement of troops and people. In his nightly television speech, Zelenskyy said officials had already discovered horrors worse than those found in Bucha in Borodyanka, a neighborhood northwest of Kyiv. There, on every street, is what the world saw in Bucha and other towns in the Kyiv region....The same cruelty. The same terrible crimes, Zelenskyy said. NATO nations agreed to increase arms supplies when Ukraines foreign minister appealed for more weapons after reports that Russian forces had carried out atrocities. The United Nations estimates that more than 4.3 million people have fled Ukraine since the war began and more than 12 million people are trapped in areas under attack. Im Caty Weaver. The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. ____________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story dozen n. a group of twelve people or things courage n. the ability to do something that you know is difficult or dangerous cynical adj. believing that people are generally selfish and dishonest infrastructure n. the basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) that are needed for a country, region, or organization to function properly evacuation -n. to remove (someone) from a dangerous place desperate adj. very sad and upset because of having little or no hope cruel -adj. a desire to cause others to suffer atrocity -n. a very cruel or terrible act or action We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, and visit our Facebook page. Our teacher worked tirelessly for peace in Vietnam by never choosing sides. Instead, he appealed to adversaries to look deeply into each others pain, anxiety, and existential fear, and to consider the wars horrific toll on all victims. Forced into exile, he became a spiritual leader of a global movement for peace, reconciliation, and disarmament. Our communitys own roots lie in the tradition of Engaged Buddhism in Vietnam, where more than three million people died in a war that lasted nearly 20 years and some two million fled as refugees. We know from our teacher that war is never a solution. It leads only to division and hatred that can last for generations. In our Buddhist community, every Christmas we listen with great joy to the sound of Russian church bells, and we open our hearts to the rich spiritual heritage of Russia and Europe. Our teacher, the venerable Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh, has said that A bell is always a bell; whether its Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, or Buddhist, it is still a bell. Listening to the bell, no matter what our cultural or religious roots are, we can have a deep encounter where we touch peace and a shared spiritual dimension. We all yearn for peace. We all need peace. Watching the tragedy of war continue to unfold daily in Ukraine, we open our hearts to the suffering of people young and old. As an international community of Engaged Buddhism in the Plum Village tradition, we observe the war with pain and alarm. We believe our teachers universal message of peace can offer hope at this pivotal time for Ukraine, Russia, and humanity. History shows us that war can be transformed into peace; survivors can heal despite their wounds. In the name of our teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, and his great love, compassion, and wisdom, we his students call for an immediate ceasefire, to end the bloodshed in Ukraine. We send our love and support to negotiators on both sides. May they listen deeply to each other and create the conditions for peace. The Buddha tells us that our true enemy is not to be found in others but in our own fear, anxiety, and sorrow, our anger, greed, ignorance, and hatred. War is made possible by dualistic and discriminative thinking, and by the idea that only by eliminating our so-called enemy can we have peace and security. But as the Buddha said, hatred cannot resolve hatred. Only understanding and love can transform hatred. As our teacher has said, when there is peace in ourselves, there will be peace in the world. If we succeed in achieving an end to the war in Ukraine and a lasting peace, the whole world will benefit, for as a human family we are interconnected and interdependent. We pray, too, that precious global resources can be redirected from war to where they are most needed, namely, to tackle disease, poverty, hunger and malnutrition, human trafficking including exploitation of vulnerable children environmental stress, and climate change. Our world needs a culture of peace. Our human family needs to accelerate to a higher stage of evolution; to a cosmic spirituality and ethic that can unite all peoples and nations, removing separation and discrimination. In this spirit, as a community of Engaged Buddhism, we renewed our commitment on New Years Eve 2021 to practice mindfulness for peace on earth. Below, we share with our love this solemn vow. The work of peace is the work of great and noble beings. As a human family, for the sake of the Ukrainian people, the people of Russia, and soldiers on both sides, our most urgent task is to invest all our energy and skills in exploring every viable option for peace at this time of great danger for humanity. All our ancestors and descendants are counting on us. With love and trust, Bhikkhu Thich Chan Phap An Elder Monk in the Plum Village Community Bhikkhuni Thich Nu Chan Khong Elder Nun in the Plum Village Community :: link to original Local Lawmakers discuss energy, education, bipartisanship at summit NACOGDOCHES Lawmakers at Fridays Lone Star Legislative Summit largely embraced bipartisanship and cooperation while offering their takes on hotly contested issues facing Texans including immigration, education and free speech. What we see here in Texas is there is a great appetite to work across the aisle on difficult issues than in Washington, D.C. said Glenn Hamer, president and CEO of Texas Association of Businesses. The nature of the legislatures no separating aisle and part-time legislators meeting once every two years helps foster that cooperation, said House Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont). We are friends when we leave the building, he said. More than 30 legislators both Republicans and Democrats attended the summit, including Sen. Cesar Blanco, a Democrat who flew in from El Paso to discuss immigration. Its very special that Rep. (Travis) Clardy and Sen. (Robert) Nichols serve as the hosts and are able to get so many colleagues from both sides of the aisle to discuss the top issues facing Texas, Hamer said. The Lone Star Legislative Summit was produced by the Nacogdoches Chamber of Commerce. I want to give Wayne Mitchell and the Nacogdoches chamber all the credit in the world. This is the preeminent legislative summit in the state, Hamer said. The topic How to Be Smart About Education: Affordability, Accessibility, and Affluence in Higher Education was discussed in a morning session moderated by Audrey Young of the State Board of Education and the director of student support services for Nacogdoches ISD. Panelists first discussed a recent announcement by Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Education Agency that public school districts may not lose funding because of low attendance rates caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and why this flexibility was important. The average daily attendance you had situations where, in some cases, 15% of the kids werent showing up for school. Now at a normal level, when they look at the budgets, school districts are budgeting somewhere around 93-95%, state Rep. Dan Huberty said. So if districts are having 5-10% less of a student population showing up, its hundreds of millions of dollars that is missing out of their budget. The importance of Texas Senate Bill 15 also was discussed. With this bill, local educational agencies may receive full average daily attendance funding for students who attend local remote learning programs at any point during the 2021-22 school year if that remote instruction meets the requirements set by the bill. Texas Sen. Larry Taylor has been pushing for more technology in the classroom for years, not as a replacement for teachers, but as an enhancement, he said. Online learning provides opportunities for students who cannot be in the classroom, he said. Most of our students, probably 95%, did not do well in that environment, but just in general, most of our kids need to be in that classroom, we need that face-face with the teachers, he said. Theres a small percentage, probably 5% or less, that actually thrived in this environment, and my goal has always been to make sure every child has the opportunity to have the education thats best for them, that helps them meet their potential and achieve the goals they should have. The panel discussed House Bill 3 which, when passed in 2019, provided more money for Texas classrooms, increased teacher compensation, reduced recapture and cut local property taxes for Texas taxpayers. Building a Talent Strong Texas the states plan to connect more students to college degrees, certificates and other credentials that offer purpose in the economy, value in the labor market and opportunities for good jobs and meaningful careers also was discussed. The plan is in accordance with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Boards goal for at least 60% of Texans ages 25-34 to have a certificate or degree by 2030. In 2021, the Legislature made adjustments to improve school finance formulas and other provisions from the bill regarding the growth in career and technical education. To me, thats one of the most important things that we can do is continue to train people to do the jobs that need to be done, state Rep. John Raney said. The goal of having 60% by the year 30 is wonderful I hope we achieve it. Weve got to expend more money on these activities to accomplish that goal, in my opinion. A panel of lawmakers discussed the evolving world of energy production in the afternoon session, How to burn off pent-up energy without ruining the planet: Balancing energy needs and a growing economy with an uncertain climate future. State Sen. Nathan Johnson and representatives Bryan Slaton, Drew Darby and Mary Ann Perez fielded questions from Todd Staples, president of the Texas Oil and Gas Association, with a focus on where the industry is headed. Texas is one of the worlds largest producers of oil and gas, and the industry is a revenue source for various state goals; taxes paid by the industry fill the rainy day fund and pay for education, Staples said. It also supports infrastructure improvements statewide. Oil and gas is a mighty contributor to our states economy, Staples said. The world view on the industry has changed in the last year from wondering whether it was necessary to deciding it is, he said. Darby has watched the industry for decades and said it was startling to see the industry where it is today with all the booms and busts it has faced. When you look at the industry as a whole, it delivers about $451 billion worth of economic impact to the state of Texas, he said. Four hundred fifty-one billion dollars. Clearly its an important part. So our job as policymakers is to make sure we have a regulatory framework available so that industry can continue to deliver the energy needs of this great state. Conversely, Johnson encouraged lawmakers not to let the industry remain static, but to encourage innovation and development in hopes of making it cleaner. He believes if Texas is lazy and doesnt encourage growth, the state will lose out. Weve done a great job making things cleaner, but we have to keep going, he said. If we do, there will be less opposition to continuing the role natural gas plays in power generation among other things. He wants to see the state helping smaller producers access technology that will make production cleaner. WASHINGTON (AP) A defense attorney conceded Friday that a former Virginia police officer broke the law when he entered the U.S. Capitol during last year's riot, encouraging a federal jury to convict him of misdemeanor offenses. But the lawyer urged jurors to acquit former Rocky Mount police officer Thomas Robertson of felony charges that he armed himself with a weapon and stormed the Capitol with another off-duty officer to obstruct Congress from certifying President Joe Bidens 2020 electoral victory. The jury for Robertson's trial deliberated for more than four hours without reaching a verdict after hearing closing arguments from Justice Department prosecutors and defense attorney Mark Rollins. Jurors are scheduled to return Monday to resume their deliberations. Robertson's jury trial is the second among hundreds of Capitol riot cases. The first ended last month with jurors convicting a Texas man, Guy Reffitt, of all five counts in his indictment. Rollins said Robertson is absolutely guilty of illegally entering restricted areas of the Capitol and of engaging in disorderly conduct on Jan. 6, 2021. But the defense attorney argued that the evidence doesn't support more serious charges that Robertson intended to stop Congress from certifying the Electoral College vote or that he was armed with a dangerous weapon, a large wooden stick. There were no plans to go down there and say, Im going to stop Congress from doing this vote,'" Rollins said. Assistant U.S. Attorney Risa Berkower said Robertson went to Washington and joined a violent vigilante mob" because he believed the election was stolen from then-President Donald Trump. He used the wooden stick to interfere with outnumbered police before he joined the crowd pouring into the Capitol, she said. The defendant did all this because he wanted to overturn the election, Berkower said. Robertson didnt testify at his trial. A key witness for prosecutors in his case was Jacob Fracker, who also served on the Rocky Mount police force and viewed Robertson as a mentor and father figure. Fracker was scheduled to be tried alongside Robertson before he pleaded guilty last month to a conspiracy charge and agreed to cooperate with federal authorities. Fracker testified on Thursday that he initially believed that he was merely trespassing when he entered the Capitol building. However, he ultimately pleaded guilty to conspiring with Robertson to obstruct the joint session of Congress. Fracker said he didnt have a verbal agreement with anybody to obstruct the congressional proceedings. He said he believed everybody in the mob pretty much had the same goal and didnt need for it to be said out loud. It was clear that everyone around them had that same goal, Berkower said. Rollins said Robertson didn't engage in any of the violence or destruction carried out by knuckleheads and clowns who stormed the Capitol. Don't judge him by what the other people are doing, he told jurors. Robertson and Fracker drove with a neighbor to Washington on the morning of Jan. 6. Robertson brought three gas masks for them to use, according to prosecutors. After listening to speeches near the Washington Monument, Fracker, Robertson and the neighbor walked toward the Capitol, donned the gas masks and joined the growing mob, prosecutors said. Robertson stopped to help his neighbor, who was having trouble breathing. Fracker broke off and entered the building before Robertson, but they reunited inside the Capitol. Defense attorney Camille Wagner said Robertson only went into the Capitol because he wanted to retrieve Fracker. Wagner also denied that Robertson wielded the stick as a weapon. She said the U.S. Army veteran was using it as a walking stick because he still has a limp from getting shot in the right thigh while working as a private contractor for the U.S. Defense Department in Afghanistan in 2011. Robertson was charged with six counts: obstruction of Congress, interfering with officers during a civil disorder, entering a restricted area while carrying a dangerous weapon, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted area, disorderly or disruptive conduct inside the Capitol building and obstruction. The last charge stems from his alleged post-riot destruction of cellphones belonging to him and Fracker. The town fired Robertson and Fracker after the riot. Prosecutors said Robertson paid Fracker more than $30,000 after they were arrested, but Fracker said he believes Robertson wanted to cover his lost wages and wasnt trying to buy his testimony. Jurors saw some of Robertsons vitriolic posts on social media before and after the Capitol riot. In a Facebook post on Nov. 7, 2020, Robertson said being disenfranchised by fraud is my hard line. Ive spent most of my adult life fighting a counter insurgency. (Im) about to become part of one, and a very effective one, he wrote. Robertson has been jailed since Cooper ruled in July that he violated the terms of his pretrial release by possessing firearms. More than 770 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the riot. Over 240 of them have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanors. Robertson's trial is one of four so far for Capitol riot defendants. Two others had their cases decided by bench trials before the same judge. U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden convicted New Mexico elected official Couy Griffin last month of illegally entering restricted Capitol grounds but acquitted him of engaging in disorderly conduct. On Wednesday, McFadden acquitted another New Mexico man, Matthew Martin, of all four charges that he faced. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. A 45-year-old man has been charged with homicide after his uncle was found dead in a fire in Juneau County in March, according to authorities. Travis Yirka, of Union Center, was charged Friday with first-degree reckless homicide and arson of a building, both felonies, in the death of LeRoy Siefkes, 64, also of Union Center, the Juneau County Sheriffs Office said. Yirka appeared Friday in court, where a judge set his bail at $500,000, according to court records. He is being held in the Juneau County Jail, the Sheriffs Office said. Firefighters responded to a report of a house fire in the village of Union Center shortly after 7:30 a.m. March 19 , the Sheriffs Office said. Emergency crews were notified that there were potentially two individuals inside the home as it burned. One person was found to be safe in the city of Elroy, but firefighters found the body of Siefkes inside the house after an extensive search. The Sheriffs Office said Friday that the fire caused Siefkes death. A criminal complaint identifies Siefkes as Yirkas uncle, and alleges that the two argued with each other frequently, including the night before the fire, Channel 3000 reported. Yirka claimed there was an explosion and his uncle was not able to make it out alive, but a fire marshal determined that the fire was not caused by an explosion, according to the complaint. The Wisconsin Department of Justices Division of Criminal Investigation assisted the Juneau County Sheriffs Office with the investigation. Yirkas next court date is scheduled for Wednesday. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A Walworth County man, who has run for local office in the past and is disabled, said his absentee ballot was not accepted for the April 5 spring election because he was not present with his wife when it was submitted. Dave Nusberger, who lives in the Village of Bloomfield near Lake Geneva, said his wife tried to submit his mail-in ballot on his behalf to village officials during the election, but his ballot was not accepted. He said his wife had not mailed in their ballots, so she tried to turn them in during the day of the election. "She explained to them that she did not have time to mail them in," said Nusberger. "They took hers, but they wouldn't take mine, because I wasn't there." What happened to Nusberger is what disability rights advocates were trying to prevent from happening before the election and its an issue that the state Supreme Court will be hearing oral arguments on starting on Wednesday, April 13. It stems from recent court decisions interpreting state law that says the [absentee ballot] envelope shall be mailed by the elector, or delivered in person, to the municipal clerk issuing the ballot or ballots. Nusberger has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) a chronic inflammatory lung disease and uses a tracheostomy to breath. Nusberger said he was not present with his wife when the ballots were submitted because of his medical condition, which he said his wife explained to the village clerk. I'm handicapped. I'm on oxygen. I can't get around anymore. It makes no sense. This is crazy, said Nusberger, who has run for Bloomfield village trustee in the past and had wanted to vote for the contested county board seat in his district as well as the state court of appeals judge seat up for election. Case background The village of Bloomfield did not return calls for comments about the ballot rejection. However, many municipalities announced they would not be accepting ballots from anyone other than the voters after a recent court rulings. In a 4-3 ruling in February, the Wisconsin Supreme Court let stand Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Michael Bohrens decision that says voters cannot give their absentee ballots to another person to mail or to hand over to an election clerk. The lawsuit over returning ballots was brought in 2021 by two men represented by the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, arguing the law explicitly states, the [absentee ballot] envelope shall be mailed by the elector, or delivered in person, to the municipal clerk issuing the ballot or ballots. One of the reasons for the lawsuit was to prevent ballot harvesting, a practice in which political operatives collect absentee ballots from voters' homes and drop them off at a polling place or election. However, at the same time, the federal Voting Rights Act states, Any voter who requires assistance to vote by reason of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write may be given assistance by a person of the voters choice. Additionally, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), No qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of a public entity, or be subject to discrimination by any such entity. Because of the confusion some clerks were having, the League of Municipalities issued guidance to municipalities saying, Ultimately, each clerk will need to decide what to do, taking into consideration both state and federal law, the different ways the absentee ballot statute can be interpreted, and the risks of choosing one option over another. Unfortunately, any decision brings with it the potential for dispute and litigation. For instance in Racine, the city clerk there stated that they were accepting absentee ballots from authorized representatives. I refuse to be the obstacle that prevents Americans with disabilities from submitting their absentee ballots, said Racine City Clerk Tara Coolidge. State Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, has since filed an elections complaint against the City of Racines mayor and clerk alleging the city violated state law by accepting absentee ballots delivered by someone who is not the voter. In arguing that Racine violated the law, Wanggaard said, The law is the law The City of Racine is allowing ballot harvesting, but other municipalities voting in the same election are not. This is granting Racine voters additional rights, and an outsized influence in those elections. The state Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty's case starting Wednesday, April 13, and a decision is expected by this summer on what the rules will be for the Aug. 9 primary and Nov. 8 general election, when Wisconsin residents will vote for governor, U.S. senator and other offices. Concern for others Nusberger's wife, Kathleen, said in the past she has brought in her husband's ballot and there weren't issues. I think its incorrect. Its a sealed ballot. Its just turning it over to be counted," said Kathleen Nusberger, who was caught off guard when the clerk wouldn't accept her husband's ballot without him being present. And by that point, it was too late to send it in the mail and he wasn't in good enough health to get to the village hall himself, she said. Dave Nusberger said he is concerned about other residents who might have a disability, who may not be able to vote in the future because of a similar situation. For him, voting is a big deal. "I don't care how small or big it is, I have to vote," Nusberger said. "It's my obligation so I do it." Nusberger still has his un-submitted absentee ballot with him. "I still got the ballot," Nusberger said. "It's never been opened." Demolition of the Downtown Madison office building that houses Paisans restaurant could begin as early as this summer if the owners plan is successful, making way for a possible new 14-story building with commercial and residential space. Greg Rice, who represents the owners, submitted a notice Friday stating he intends to apply to tear down the 12-story building at 131 W. Wilson St. despite objections from Paisans restaurant. The building has closed and reopened twice over the last several months due to ongoing structural concerns. On Monday, architect Kirk Keller will introduce a development proposal for 131 W. Wilson St. at a Bassett Neighborhood meeting. The concept is a 14 story building built to the Capitol View Preservation Limit with underground parking, commercial space on floors 1 and 2, residential space on floors 3 through 14, and outdoor open space in front of the building along West Wilson, according to the meetings agenda. This building is past its useful life and is in need of demolition, Rice wrote Friday in the demolition notice to neighbors, the local business association and the City Council member representing the area. The public notice is the first step in getting city approval for the demolition. Next, Rice needs to file an application, which would be considered by city committees and need final approval from Madisons Plan Commission. Rice, who is president of Executive Management Inc., which owns the property, is shooting for that process to be complete by the end of June, according to the notice. Walter Borowski, co-owner of Paisans Italian Restaurant, called the demolition notice a terrible development in the ongoing saga of repercussions stemming from a degrading underground garage in the building. This is just another opportunity for Greg Rice and EMI to cause havoc for Paisans, Borowski said. The city ordered the property shut in September due to structural concerns raised in an engineering report and occupants of the building constructed in 1971 reportedly feeling a shaking or swaying inside. Temporary supports were installed in the parking garage, allowing it to reopen in October. But the owners failed to keep up with the required inspections, causing another closure of the building in December. The building reopened in January after the citys Building Inspection Division said common spaces were safe. Borowski said he and the other Paisans owners have invested a lot of money into the restaurant because they expected it to be a long-term investment. He said Rice and the building owners have not done anything to ameliorate the problems that they have caused by their inaction, and now are giving up. Rice had not responded to a request for comment. Its unclear whether the demolition request will be successful. Ald. Patrick Heck, 2nd District, a member of the Plan Commission, said hes not sure if the demolition request will receive pushback from the community. I dont have a good sense of whether it will be controversial or not, he said. This is very early in the process. Borowski said he believes the Plan Commission wont allow the demolition unless commissioners know what will happen to the property afterward. He said the planning process for such a project takes a long time, and as far as he knows, none of thats happened. Rices demolition notice did not provide information about what owners would plan to do with the property after the building is demolished. Rice plans to submit the formal application with the city by May 16 so the demolition request can be considered at the Plan Commissions June 27 meeting. On that timeline, the teardown would start in the summer and extend into the fall, said Matt Tucker, director of the citys Building Inspection Division. State Journal reporters Lucas Robinson and Logan Wroge contributed to this report. 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. On Dec. 10, a tornado went through five states killing more than 75 people in Kentucky and causing billions in damage in total. From Jan. 3 to Feb. 28, dozens of members of the faith-based Journey Disaster Response Team which is run by the multisite Journey Church, which has campuses in Kenosha, Burlington, and Beach Park, Illinois were in Kentucky. Jeff Berard, Journey DRTs director, described the scene they found in the rural areas 45 minutes from Paducah, Kentucky. They found demolished and partially demolished houses, debris everywhere, people living in RVs and at the local state park, and people who had lost everything struggling to clean up so they could get back to their lives. Some were insured, some were not. Some could clear their property Some could not. Some were single mothers with small children, others were elderly or had physical limitations. What we were greeted with was total devastation, Berard said and described the subdivisions that looked like a bomb went: It looked like a war zone. They really lost everything and then some, he said. After their time in Kentucky was over, the members of Journey DRT knew they wanted to do more. Training coming They began with the idea of a Regional Disaster Preparation Training Center for Racine, Kenosha and Walworth counties where folks could get prepared for the worst through disaster training. Berard explained the intent is to have two parallel training opportunities: Train people to prepare themselves and their homes for the potential of a disaster, and Train people to respond to disasters in their communities Theres a phrase people in the disaster response world use, Berard explained, that goes, All disasters begin and end in the local community. That is, helpful people will come and go, but in the beginning of a disaster it will be local people, local families, who suffer, and theyll still be there in the end after being rebuilt or left behind. Based on that, we want to make sure we provide the right resources to the people who are interested, so they can prepare themselves, Berard said. Berard said a planning team has been organized who intend to start offering the first classes in summer 2022. That class will be a day-long presentation that helps individuals and/or groups learn to prepare for disaster. There will be other classes in the future. For example, the classes necessary for people to help in their communities with such skills as learning to handle a chainsaw and heavy equipment operation. Kentucky Journey DRT worked with a larger organization in Kentucky, Christ in Action, whose members have been responding to disasters since 1998. By the time the Wisconsin delegation arrived, Christ in Action members had set up camp and deployed the heavy equipment. The most immediate need was for debris to be cleared off of properties and stacked by the side of the road where FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) contractors would clear it. Clearing the properties of debris was one of the biggest challenges, Berard said. Some of those impacted by the tornado had neither the insurance nor the money to get their property cleared. Due to the work of the volunteers, and the disaster response infrastructure brought by Christ in Action, people were able to have their lots cleared of debris at no cost to them. The Christ in Action team works exclusively with families, rather than on commercial properties. DRT Journey DRT had 15 people volunteer in Kentucky; though, they werent all there at the same time. Berard said people would come for four or five days, as their schedule would allow, but all told the team put in a total of 76 full workdays. The team focused primarily on demolishing homes that were no longer safe for human habitation. Due to Journey DRTs experience in Kentucky, more people are interested in becoming involved. It has sparked the interest of a great number of people, Berard said. Weve had a lot of interest from people who want to know more about what we do and how can they get involved. Southeastern Wisconsin does not tend to have tornadoes or earthquakes or wildfires, but that does not mean the state is immune to disasters. Any number of things could result in people having to shelter-in-place for 72 hours or thereabouts, and they should be prepared, he said. Madison moves fast. Take it from someone who grew up in a city Chicago where change came at a sclerotic pace, if it came at all. But Madison is swift to act. City leaders managed the caustic situation at Reindahl Park homeless encampments and made it a win. The park was cleared and a substantial portion of the homeless were helped through the offer of tiny homes, motel room vouchers and other housing and support. Now, too, we see racial progress with the election of new Dane County supervisors with a stated commitment to racial and social justice. First an interesting note: Dane Countys election turnout was, like many people weathering this lengthy Wisconsin winter, depressed. Only 18.5% of the adults in Dane County who were eligible to vote actually turned out to cast a ballot the lowest turnout for the spring election in eight years. Madison, proper, was even lower with a 15.8% turnout. These sorts of elections are tough. Spring midterms get less attention than fall elections, which feature statewide, higher-office seats and, every four years, a president to choose. It means that those who voted were likely the most civically engaged, and probably the most informed, voters. Its impossible to say for sure, but it says something about the 81,104 people who turned out they clearly prized seeing local legislative seats go to those with the background to make Madison a multiracial, multicultural city that welcomes all. Thats true even though some winning candidates were unopposed. In 2013, the foundational Race to Equity Report from the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families clearly stated: The pervasiveness and the extremity of [Dane] countys black-white disparities are generally more extreme than those found in most other jurisdictions across the state and nation. There is not a single indicator that we analyzed in which African American well-being is on par with that of whites. This is the point of electing people of color to positions in which they are likely to be able to add a unique view to discussions about allocating public resources that centers disparities in particular communities. The people of color who were elected to the Dane County Board Brenda Yang, 19th District, Dana Pellebon, 33rd District, Olivia Xistris-Songpanya, 13th District; April Kigeya, 15th District are cultural ambassadors who likely have the beginnings of answers to thorny questions that have bedeviled the Madison area for years. Questions like how to perform outreach in communities that are cut off from Madisons glittering Downtown and its majestic campuses; what to do about the lack of jobs for those approaching the job market with few skills; and how to string together disconnected neighborhood enclaves into a multicultural coalition that could hold their representatives to account. Intertwined with how county leaders move toward equality for the most vulnerable is Tuesdays election of women of color to the Madison School Board. Nothing is more important than establishing the local public schools as safe places where children of color can read, write and compute math at the same level as their white, grade-level peers. As a former Madison teacher, I can tell you from personal experience that the Madison schools have put an incredible amount of energy, time and cash behind training and programs to guide staff toward an understanding of the special needs, talents and assets of children of color. School Board president and first-term incumbent Ali Muldrow was re-elected Tuesday, and Nichelle Nichols won an open seat. These women bring extensive personal and professional experience with Madison schools and the district office to bear on huge budgets meant to target the neediest students while still nurturing high-flyer learners. Both the School Board and the Madison City Council have majorities of people of color leading them. Surely, the authors of the Race to Equity Project report wouldnt declare that the mission to promote greater public awareness and understanding of the depth and breadth of the racial disparities that differentiate the white and black experience in Dane County, Wisconsin is accomplished. But they did tip their hat to all those who came before them. Long before we came along, mission-driven institutions and a host of committed Dane County activists had been compiling an impressive record of struggle against racism, discrimination, and unequal opportunity. They have fought for equality and fairness for people of color from their positions as public officials, in the classroom, from the pulpit, at neighborhood centers, and in the day-to-day work of improving the future for at-risk children and families. Amen. It is on the shoulders of those who have gone before them that leaders of color in Madison are finally getting their due. There is much work to be done, but things are moving in the right direction. Compared to so many other municipalities, Dane County and Madison are moving relatively quickly to address big needs this is exciting! Cepeda, of Madison, can be reached at ejc@estherjcepeda.com and @estherjcepeda. This year marks the 100th birthday of Nobel Prize-winning chemist Har Gobind Khorana or so we think. The exact date of his birth is not known, because Khorana was born in poverty in a British Indian class that rarely recorded such dates. As a child, he had to beg a neighbor for a glowing ember so his mother could light their daily cooking fire. He was 6 before he owned his first pencil. Khorana emerged from this background to receive a Nobel Prize in 1968 at UW-Madison for deciphering the genetic code that translates DNA sequences into the protein molecules that carry out the functions of living cells. I am writing a biography of Khorana with the hope that his story will inspire young scientists from every background to pursue their dreams of exploration and discovery. In spite of his familys poverty, Khoranas father insisted on educating his children. He taught them to read and write early. The younger Khoranas first four years of schooling took place under a tree until his father helped establish a one-room school in their village. Khorana attended the University of Punjab, where he obtained a masters in chemistry in 1945. That same year, the Indian government initiated a program that sent talented students abroad for training. Khorana belonged to the first cohort and obtained a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Liverpool in 1948. Under his scholarships terms, he was due to return to India. But the previous year, Khoran had met and been captivated by Esther Silber, a Swiss woman. He opted to do a postdoctoral year in Switzerland. With no funding, he lived off his meager savings to work with Vladimir Prelog, one of the worlds leading organic chemists. Khorana also began to read widely in German-language chemistry, which led him to become curious about a family of little-known synthetic reagents called carbodiimides that help form larger organic molecules from smaller components. One of these chemicals in particular, diccyclohexylcarbodiimide or DCC, became critical in Khoranas future work on DNA. In 1949, Khorana returned to India alone, but his promised government job never materialized because the newly independent country was bankrupt. He managed to obtain a fellowship at the University of Cambridge in England, which was emerging as a global center of molecular biology. The groundbreaking work happening there included the sequencing of protein molecules into their amino acid components as well as determining their structure. Francis Crick and James Watson would untangle the double helix structure of DNA there in 1953. Khorana began using the chemical DCC to take apart and put together amino acid components of protein molecules. DCC also allowed him to put together strings of DNA, starting with their fundamental units, nucleotides. In 1952, Khorana was offered his own laboratory at the University of British Columbia. Esther and Khorana married and moved to Vancouver. Thats where Khorana focused on using DCC to synthesize complex molecules, especially protein molecules called enzymes that govern metabolism. He succeeded in synthesizing ATP, the molecule responsible for producing energy in cells. By 1960, he had synthesized an even more complex molecule, Coenzyme A, which is involved in digestion. This success marked him as one of the most important biological chemists of his time. Because DCC also allowed a researcher to string together DNA sequences, Khorana proposed a startlingly ambitious project the creation of an artificial gene. Nothing of this sort had ever been attempted, and it became the Holy Grail of Khoranas laboratory. Khorana moved to the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1960. In 1961, biochemists Marshall Nirenberg and Heinrich Matthaei announced a way to translate DNA sequences into amino acid sequences outside a living cell. They first placed a variety of cell components in a test tube. When they then introduced short DNA sequences into the test tube, the system translated them into a sequence of amino acids that, in turn, formed part of a protein. The effect on Khorana was electrifying. The chemical DCC allowed him to create any DNA sequence he wanted, which went beyond what Nirenberg and Matthaei could do. Inserting synthesized sequences into a test tube could produce all the amino acid sequences that DNA encodes. Several labs were competing to do the same thing. Khorana worked around the clock in double shifts to solve the code first. By 1966, it was complete. Khorana and Nirenberg were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1968 for physiology or medicine, which they shared with Robert Holley, who had discovered another molecule involved in protein formation. Solving the genetic code was a detour in Khoranas relentless pursuit of artificial genes. In 1970, Khorana moved his laboratory to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he remained for the rest of his life. In 1972, he finally completed the total synthesis of a functional gene outside a living organism. He also showed it could function appropriately in a bacterium. In spite of his acknowledged success and prominence, racism marred Khoranas life through much of his career. His daughter told me that, in both the U.K. and Canada, he was derided as a Paki by white residents. In Canada, he was paid less and expected to work more than white colleagues. She also noted, in the United States, that their mixed-race family did not dare travel together in the South. Khoranas legacy has also suffered from neglect that may be a result of racial bias. When author Horace Freeland Judson conducted interviews with molecular biologists for his pioneering 1979 history of molecular biology, The Eighth Day of Creation, he ignored Khorana though scores of lesser white figures were interviewed and given their due. Even though Khorana and Crick were in constant contact during the years the genetic code was deciphered, Khorana gets only fleeting mention in Robert C. Olbys biography of Crick. But this neglect is changing, as a new generation of writers have begun to construct a more accurate and inclusive history of science. Sarkar is a professor of philosophy and integrative biology at the University of Texas at Austin: sahotra-sarkar.org. He wrote this for The Conversation. The town of Courtland in Columbia County has prime agricultural land which may be covered with solar panels. Why are the farmers who are renting their land not putting these solar panels near their personal homes? When selling a recent home, I had to disclose the proposed solar panel factory farm nearby. The farmer will profit with prices being offered up to $1,200 an acre in some places in Wisconsin. So why then aren't big-tech companies buying the land outright? With tax incentives to big tech, everyone is paying more taxes for this huge land grab. The construction of massive solar panels will impact property values and disturb the natural habitat of wildlife. Fields of solar panels will increase noise, dust and take away the view to many residences. The solar panels may even pose a risk of electrocution and the release toxic gases with a fire. Why haven't we heard more about losing thousands of acres of land, which produced food and brought jobs to our area? Many people are now asking that question. With the leases being 30 years and having little transparency, many families are worried about what this contractual venture will do to future generations of farms and food. Pat Van Buren, Randolph In Idaho, charitable organizations stepped up to serve Idahoans when they needed it the most during the darkest days of the pandemic. The nonprofit sector adapted to the COVID-19 situation incredibly well, often fulfilling their missions with fewer resources and volunteers or even cancelled events, all while ensuring the communities they serve were being helped. But, COVID-related responses are not the only ones worth mentioning. Whether it is responding to a natural disaster, food insecurity or providing mental health services, nonprofits across the country have done a wonderful job. They deserve our thanks, our praise and our commitment to continued support. According to a 2021 report by the Giving USA Foundation, charitable giving in the U.S. exceeded $470 billion in 2020a 5 percent increase over 2019. The vast majority of giving comes from individuals, but contributions and impacts from corporations, foundations, and even estates cannot be overlooked. While data on charitable giving are encouraging, more can be done to encourage giving moving forward. Charitable giving and accompanying tax incentives are inextricably linked. The U.S. Senate Finance Committee, on which I serve as Ranking Republican Member, has been examining the current state of charitable giving, the various charitable tax incentives and trends in charitable giving over the past few years. Fellow Finance Committee members Senators James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) and Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-Nevada) are among those leading efforts to craft legislation to help increase charitable giving. As the Senate Committee charged with considering changes to the tax code, the Senate Finance Committee has an obligation to look ahead and pay attention to shifts in the charitable giving landscape. For example, the increasing prominence of crowdfunding and the rise of digital assets present challenges and opportunities for the nonprofit sector. Educational efforts to encourage more giving are also an important aspect. It is essential that we think through these issues and ensure we are being proactive about new developments and trends on the horizon. As the Senate Finance Committee discusses these issues, I have sought further insight on related issues including: the overall health of the nonprofit sector since March 2020; the importance of giving through retirement accounts; any pandemic-related giving challenges; priorities in supporting charitable organizations legislatively and through policy efforts; and challenges with expanding charitable giving tax incentives. Individual Idahoans give extensively of their time and resources, often quietly, and it makes a considerable difference in countless lives. I look forward to continuing to responsibly encourage giving, that seems to be a way of life for so many Idahoans. Sen. Mike Crapo represents Idaho in the U.S. Senate. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Uptown plans Uptown Partnership (UP) invites residents to share their views on the community with four engagements sessions. It begins with a session Monday evening at TAD Space and will continue every few weeks, ending June 4. The series is to solicit input on the recommendations received from consulting group Downtown Economics on the Community Driven Uptown Vision Plan which was focused on revitalization efforts in the uptown commercial business district. Business owners, property owners, organizations, community members and other stakeholders are invited to share their feelings on some of the recommendations for the revitalization of the Uptown commercial business district that were put forward in the Vision Plan presented in March by Downtown Economics. These sessions will present opportunities for you to hear the recommendations made, to share your thoughts on the recommendations, and to discuss how we begin to work together as a whole community on the implementation of the communitys revitalization efforts moving forward, a press release states. To register for a session, contact UP Executive Director Kathy Deacon at 276-212-2060 or kathydeacon@martinsvilleup.com or click on the links in the online version of this article on www.martinsvillebulletin.com. The schedule is: Livestock judging The Virginia Cooperative Extension in Patrick County and the Patrick County Fair Rotary Club in Stuart are hosting a livestock judging event from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 30, at the Patrick County Fair Grounds, 420 Woodland Drive. At 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. there will be a check-in/weigh-in held for all livestock entries of beef, sheep, goats, rabbits and chickens. The main barn is not available, only the show ring; entries will not be able to bed in the barn. The rabbit show will begin at 9:30 a.m., and all other shows will follow immediately after the completion of the prior show with the poultry show, beef showmanship, beef classes by age, goat showmanship, market goat, breeding meat goat, sheep showmanship, market lamb and junior ewe. The schedule is subject to change depending on the number of classes per species. The event is open to the public. For more information, https://patrick.ext.vt.edu/. More housing The West Piedmont Planning District Commission (WPPDC), utilizing a Virginia Housing grant, has provided funding for the development of 115 affordable residential units throughout the West Piedmont Planning District. The initial goal was 20 units, which must be developed by June 30, 2024. Residential housing is to consist of both owner-occupied and renter-occupied units. Affordable housing, in the context of this grant, consists of income of individuals or families no higher than 80% of Area Median Income (AMI). In many of the developments, funding provided by the WPPDC is being leveraged with funding from other agencies and sources such as the City of Martinsville, the Community Foundation of the Dan River Region, Hope VI grants, the Danville Redevelopment & Housing Authority, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, and others. In 2021, the WPPDC was one of 21 Planning District Commissions (PDCs) across the Commonwealth to receive a share of a $40 million grant award distributed across the PDCs by Virginia Housing for the purpose of developing affordable housing; the WPPDC was awarded $2 million as part of this three-year initiative. For its part in developing 115 units of affordable housing, the WPPDC has only used $1.6 million. The $400,000 not used this year will be allocated to the next two years of the program and will fund the activities associated with the program including housing development consultant(s), staff activities, public comment activities, and legal review. Currently, $220,000 of the $1.6 million has not been awarded. 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 Mount Airy, North Carolina man is dead after a car chase that began in Halifax County and ended in Patrick County Friday afternoon. Bobby Wayne Gammons, 81, died at the scene on U.S. 58 in Patrick County after his 2005 Toyota Corolla was struck head-on by a 2010 Toyota Corolla driven by Christine S. Barnette, 41, of Cary, North Carolina, a Virginia State Police (VSP) release stated. A pursuit was initiated in Halifax County, passed through Pittsylvania County, Henry County, the City of Martinsville and Patrick County, said VSP Sgt. Dennis McBride at the scene. The driver of the vehicle crossed the median and went westbound in the eastbound lane and struck another vehicle head-on. Park rangers had found Barnette earlier in the day inside an unoccupied, unrented cabin in Staunton River State Park near Scottsburg. Barnette was able to escape the cabin and get into her vehicle and speed away with Park Rangers in pursuit, the VSP release stated. The Halifax County Sheriffs Office joined the pursuit and attempted to use their vehicle to force Barnette to stop, but Barnette escaped the attempted containment by striking one of the deputys vehicles with her car, the release said. Patrick County Sheriff Dan Smith said at about 1 p.m., the Patrick County 911 center received a call that the Martinsville Police Department and the Virginia State Police were in pursuit of Barnette driving recklessly at high speeds on U.S. 58 coming in to Patrick County from Henry County. Smith said his deputies and VSP troopers tried multiple times to disable Barnettes car with spike strips, but Barnette managed to avoid each attempt. The sheriffs office shut down the intersection at Walmart in an attempt to prevent a crash, Smith wrote by email. After the suspect vehicle came through the intersection at Walmart, it veered into the oncoming, eastbound lane near Patrick County Family Practice and collided with another vehicle. McBride said Barnette was airlifted to Roanoke Memorial Hospital with life-threatening injuries and Gammons was declared dead at the scene. Smith didnt say what speeds Barnettes car reached during the chase, but they were too high to employ a pursuit intervention technique maneuver when the pursuit entered Patrick County. It was blatantly obvious that she was not going to stop her erratic and reckless behavior, Smith wrote by email. The reckless, careless and selfish actions of one person took the life of a totally innocent person today and that is sickening. The law enforcement officers from the three agencies involved did everything possible to try and prevent the tragedy that occurred and our hearts are broken for the innocent life that was lost. Barnette is facing charges of breaking and entering, reckless driving, defrauding an innkeeper, felony eluding police, trespassing and vehicular homicide, the VSP release stated. McBride said the tragic incident puts a strain on law enforcement who must divert resources to the Martinsville Speedway for race weekend. The race puts a strain on us and requires a lot of attention from every agency around Martinsville, said McBride. When something like this happens we have to pull those resources. Were looking at a long day with the race anyway and now weve got this added on us. It does stretch us pretty tight. Bill Wyatt is a reporter for the Martinsville Bulletin. He can be reached at 276-638-8801, Ext. 2360. Follow him @billdwyatt. 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. Two months after a judge rejected his plea agreement, Yost was back in court with a new judge who considered the same agreement and accepted it. A judge in Richmond on Friday ordered the Virginia Department of Education to provide more specific information to the Richmond Times-Dispatch in response to a FOIA request the newspaper made for communications between state officials and a nonprofit in Washington, D.C. The newspaper in February requested communications between certain Department of Education officials and people at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative-leaning think tank that, records show, has assisted the department in its work. The department found 53 emails responsive to the newspapers FOIA request and provided the records, withholding five of the emails as working papers of the governors office. Virginia FOIA says that when a public agency opts to withhold records, it must cite the code section that allows the withholding and shall identify with reasonable particularity the volume and subject matter of withheld records. When the newspaper asked the department to describe the particular subject matter of the five withheld emails, the departments FOIA officer declined. Reporter Patrick Wilson then filed a petition in Richmond General District Court on April 1 asking the court to order the department to comply with FOIA. Substitute Judge Jennifer Rosen on Friday heard the case and found that the Department of Education should provide more detail than it had. She ordered the department to provide the newspaper with the dates of the withheld emails and the names of the individuals included on the withheld emails. The department can do that or appeal the judges decision to circuit court. Assistant Attorney General Robert McEntee III, representing the Department of Education, argued in court that the agency had complied with FOIA, and said any further description of the subject matter in the five withheld emails would violate the governors ability to shield his deliberative process from the public. He said there would be no way the agency could describe the documents without identifying subject matter which is the subject of the executive privilege. The text of the FOIA request identifies the subject matter as an email between the governors office and the individuals identified in the Freedom of Information Act request, McEntee said. And to require us to go beyond that sort of description of what these withheld documents are really peers into the deliberative process of the governor, and thats what were trying to protect here. Wilson addressed the matter in court on Friday. The judge said she did not think the law required the agency to provide a summary of whats in the withheld emails, but thought that the agency should be able to provide the names of the specific people on the emails, and the exact dates, without infringing on the governors executive privilege. Gov. Glenn Youngkin and his Department of Education are generating attention over a push to de-emphasize race and racism from K-12 classroom teaching. The Department of Educations connection to the American Enterprise Institute is murky. Jillian Balow, the state superintendent of public instruction, was not available for an interview about it, a department spokesperson said this week. Records the Department of Education did release show that the department was receiving assistance from Max Eden, a research fellow at the American Enterprise Institute focusing on education, according to AEIs website. Youngkin and Balow are reversing diversity and equity policies that were promoted under James Lane, the superintendent of public instruction for Youngkins predecessor, Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam. Early in his term, the Youngkin administration set up an email address for taking concerns from people about divisive teachings in schools. That account has been referred to as the tipline, and generated controversy because opponents fear it is having a chilling effect on teachers. Numerous media outlets have made public records requests to the Youngkin administration to request copies of the emails that were sent to the account, but the administration has declined to release them, citing the discretionary exemption in the Virginia Freedom of Information Act for documents prepared for the personal or deliberative use of the governors office. pwilson@timesdispatch.com (804) 649-6061 Twitter: @patrickmwilson Staff writer Andrew Cain contributed to this report. Gov. Glenn Youngkin's office announced Friday that the governor signed a bill to require the Department of Education to develop - and local school boards to adopt - policies for ensuring parental notification of sexually explicit instructional material. The bill from Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant, R-Henrico, was among over 100 bills that Youngkin's office announced he'd signed. The policies must ensure schools notify parents of the content, identify the specific material and sexually explicit subjects, permit parents to review the material and offer alternative material at the request of a parent. Youngkin campaigned on the issue last year, featuring an ad that criticized former Gov. Terry McAuliffe - Youngkin's opponent last year - for vetoing a similar bill. Fairfax County parent Laura Murphy in 2016 objected to the teaching of the novel "Beloved" by Toni Morrison after her son, then a senior, had been assigned to read it. A Youngkin ad featured Murphy in the race he went on to win. The governor said in a statement that the bill, and another he signed promoting performance standards for schools, "both deliver on my Day One promises to give parents a greater say in their childrens education. I'm pleased to sign them into law, along with many other bipartisan bills that will enhance education, improve public safety, provide tax relief, and make government work better for the people of Virginia." Youngkin also signed legislation sponsored by Del. Delores McQuinn, D-Richmond, and Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, to create the Virginia Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Historic Preservation Fund, which can award grants to Native American tribes, nonprofits and localities. And he signed a bill from McQuinn and Sen. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, to allow historic African American cemeteries that opened between 1900 and 1948 to receive state money for preservation. Va. House Dems propose $50 payments to drivers in lieu of gas tax suspension Democrats in the House of Delegates are proposing rebates of $50 per car or up to $100 per household as an alternative to Gov. Glenn Youngkin's proposed three-month suspension of the state's gas tax. In this photo released by the family of Shen Peiming, Shen Peiming, 71, eats a banana as a family member attends to her at her bed side at the Shanghai Donghai Elderly Care hospital on Sept. 24, 2019. Shen died Sunday morning, April 3, 2022, at the hospital, without her loved ones by her side. Her family, unable to visit because of pandemic restrictions, is unsure of the circumstances of her death. The hospital had reported a COVID-19 outbreak, but Shen had tested negative, as of last week. Credit: Family of Shen Peiming via AP A series of deaths at a hospital for elderly patients in Shanghai is underscoring the dangerous consequences of China's stubborn pursuit of a zero-COVID approach amid an escalating outbreak in the city of 26 million people. Multiple patients have died at the Shanghai Donghai Elderly Care hospital, relatives of patients told The Associated Press. They say their loved ones weren't properly cared for after caretakers who came into contact with the virus were taken away to be quarantined, in adherence to the strict pandemic regulations, depleting the hospital of staff. Family members have taken to social media to plea for help and answers and are demanding to see surveillance video from inside the facility after getting little to no information from the hospital. The conditions and deaths at the hospital are a sharp rebuke against China's strategy of sticking to a zero-COVID policy as it deals with the outbreak in Shanghai in which most of the infected people don't have symptoms. With a focus on forcing positive cases and close contacts into designated collective quarantine facilities, the costs of zero-COVID may be outweighing the risk of getting sick. Shen Peiming, 71, was one such casualty. She died Sunday morning at the hospital, without any relatives by her side. A family member said they have been calling the hospital non-stop to find out the circumstances of Shen's death, but have not gotten a clear answer. "How many times have there been lockdowns since 2020? They still don't have experience managing this?" the family member said. All they know is her doctor and nurses had not been there to care for Shen, who was partially paralyzed after a stroke. Her last nursing assistant had been quarantined for being a close contact of a positive case, the relative said, speaking on condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution. An unfamiliar worker called to inform them of her death. Later, the hospital said it was due to a chest infection. The hospital had a COVID-19 outbreak, the family heard from orderlies, but Shen had tested negative as of last week. Shanghai authorities have reported no deaths from this outbreak, but questions have been raised about the reliability of the data. A city health official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic, said that the criteria for confirming cases and deaths are very strict and susceptible to political meddling. It is unclear how many patients have died at the hospital, and whether any died of COVID-19. Families say they are talking with other families whose relatives have also died. An article from Chinese news outlet Caixin describing the deaths and infections was taken down shortly after it was published, apparently targeted by censors. Calls to the main office of Donghai Elderly Care went unanswered. The Shanghai government did not respond to a faxed request for comment. Most experts agree that China's zero-COVID approach was highly successful in keeping deaths to a minimum when there were limited drugs or vaccines. But now that shots are widely available in China, and with the advent of the omicron variant, many say the government should abandon the policy and focus medical resources on the elderly and vulnerable instead. Workers in protective gear help a man in a wheelchair during the mass testing for residents in a lockdown area in the Jingan district of western Shanghai on April 4, 2022. Shanghai's lockdown is an abrupt about-face from just a month ago, when some Chinese health experts publicly suggested softening pandemic control measures. Credit: AP Photo/Chen Si, File Instead, Shanghai has locked down its 26 million people and carried out repeated mass testing to tackle an outbreak driven by the highly contagious omicron BA.2 variant. On Saturday, the city reported more than 23,000 new local cases, of which only 1,015 had symptoms. "If you're asymptomatic, what's going to hurt you?" said Ray Yip, the founding director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control office in China, who maintains close ties with Chinese health officials. "The only people who get sick are those with diabetes, obesity, chronic disease, old people. Protect those people. You can protect them." A low vaccination rate among the elderly, though, remains a concern. Only 62% of Shanghai residents over 60 have been vaccinated, according to the latest data available. Some experts support the strict approach, saying China needs to raise that rate before it can safely live with the virus. The U.S. guidelines for asymptomatic cases, as in the U.K., are that individuals isolate at home for five days. In Shanghai, workers are rushing to set up massive temporary facilities in exhibition halls and elsewhere to try to house everyone who tests positive. The citywide lockdown has disrupted daily life and the economy. Many residents, trapped in their apartment buildings, are scrambling to buy food through apps and place bulk orders with neighbors. Some in quarantine have posted videos showing chaotic scenes of people rushing to get food and a lack of clean toilets. Others have posted pleas for relatives who need medicine urgently. The U.S. said Friday that it is allowing the voluntary departure of non-essential personnel and family members from its consulate in Shanghai because of the situation. The government has trumpeted its success in curbing COVID-19, touting it as evidence of the superiority of China's governing systemespecially compared to Western democracies, where deaths have far exceeded China's. That narrative, experts said, is making it difficult for Beijing to switch tactics. "They bragged too hard to their own people about how wonderful they are, and now they've painted themselves into a corner," said Yip. "The only way they can control Shanghai now is to repeat what they did in Wuhan." The 11 million residents of Wuhan were locked down for more than two months at the start of the pandemic in 2020. Shanghai's lockdown is an abrupt about-face from just a month ago, when some Chinese health experts publicly suggested softening pandemic control measures. Residents line up for the first round of mass COVID testing in the Jingan district of western Shanghai, China, Friday, April 1, 2022. Shanghai's harsh lockdown is an abrupt about-face from just a month ago, when some Chinese health experts publicly suggested softening pandemic control measures. Credit: AP Photo/Chen Si, File The city's economic importance and advanced healthcare system left officials reluctant to impose strict measures and confident about combating any outbreaks. Further, Chinese leader Xi Jinping ordered that ongoing outbreaks in China be controlled at "minimum cost" in mid-March, emphasizing Beijing's desire to protect the economy while curbing the virus. Shanghai took targeted steps, locking down individual office buildings, shopping centers and neighborhoods for 48 hours at a time but otherwise allowing life to go on as usual. With the soft measures, the city's case count rose. The outbreak spilled over to at least 71 other cities, according to a notice posted by Guangxi province in southern China, and pressure grew for harsher measures. On March 28, the city started an eight-day lockdown in two phases, which has since evolved into a citywide one with no end in sight. "There is no time to waste," Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan said on a visit to the city last weekend, according to a government statement. "We need to move forward faster and harder to provide strong support for the elimination of cases in society." The actions sent nurses and doctors into quarantine, causing conditions to worsen at Donghai Elderly Care. Chen Jielei said the outbreak at the hospital infected her unvaccinated, partially paralyzed 81-year-old mother. Because staff members also fell ill, her mother wasn't served meals on time and her sheets were unchanged for days. After a few days, a replacement worker started taking care of her. A college professor who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was afraid of retribution, said his family wasn't notified for more than a day after his 82-year-old father died on March 31. His last contact was on March 28 with a nursing assistant who called to warn there were positive cases and they could no longer take care of his father. "In those three days, what happened to my father? What kind of mistreatment did he suffer?" he asked. His father's condition had been stable on March 28 when he spoke with the nursing assistant. Shen had lived on and off in the hospital for three years after her stroke. Family members visited every week. But visits were banned in early March as the COVID-19 outbreak spread through Shanghai, the relative said. Residents hold up the Communist Party flag and the Chinese national flag as others prepare to take part in the first round of mass COVID tests in the Jingan district of western Shanghai, China, on April 1, 2022. Shanghai's lockdown is an abrupt about-face from just a month ago, when some Chinese health experts publicly suggested softening pandemic control measures. Credit: AP Photo/Chen Si, File They were not worried initially because the hospital had always been very responsive and they were in contact with the nursing assistants who took care of Shen. But one orderly warned on March 26 there were positive cases and many of Donghai's staff were being quarantined. The hospital hired temporary nursing assistants, but many did not have healthcare experience, one nursing assistant said. The woman, who gave only her last name of Zhang, said an employment agency told her it was a cleaning job. "They said your work is just to clean, you won't even have to wear a protective suit. But what they said was completely different from what I had to do," she said. Shen needed to be assisted with eating through a tube by having her food blended into a liquid. She also had a tube in her throat that had to be disinfected each day. "In the past, if there was an issue, they'd always call me. This time, there wasn't even a voice message, and she died so suddenly," the relative said. Now the hospital is asking the families to sign a form to cremate the deceased. Shen's relative said the family will refuse until they get a clear answer. The hospital sent an apology letter Wednesday to some of the families. The AP has viewed a copy. "Because of the outbreak's emergency, and many of the seniors had not been vaccinated, this caused those with severe underlying illness and weak health to die," it said. While Chinese government researchers have begun exploring ways to end zero-COVID, the government continues to punish officials with large outbreaks on their turfs. "The space for discussion is now eliminated," said Yanzhong Huang, a public health expert at the Council for Foreign Relations in the U.S. "The message is loud and clear: zero-COVID, no exceptions." Explore further China reports most virus cases since pandemic start 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Federal student loan borrowers just got an extra four months before their payments resume. If that feels like deja vu, its because this is the sixth extension of the interest-free payment pause that went into effect in March 2020 under the Trump administration, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Payments had been scheduled to restart beginning May 2. This latest extension, through Aug. 31, will put the total number of months without payments at 30. Nearly 37 million of the nations federal student loan borrowers havent had to make payments during the pause, saving them a collective $195 billion in waived payments, according to a March report from the New York Federal Reserve. They've used the wiggle room in their budgets to handle essentials like food, rent and child care. Some have managed to tackle larger financial goals, like paying down credit card debt or saving up for emergencies. Some even kept paying each month. For months, Department of Education officials have expressed concern about whether the majority of borrowers could handle payments after more than two years without them, according to a recent Government Accountability Office report. On Wednesday, the White House said borrowers still arent ready. And it offered up a huge win for 5 million borrowers with loans in default: an automatic return to good standing. Borrowers in default have long faced wage garnishment, damage to their credit and substantial collections fees. Debtors have had the option to pursue rehabilitation during the pause; now its automatic. Its unclear if borrowers will be more able to cope with payments come September. At the very least, the additional reprieve provides borrowers with more time to plan. But plan for what, exactly? Is there an end game? Forgive student debtors for being doubtful: The government labeled last Augusts extension as final, but that has been followed by several more. Employment is back to near pre-pandemic levels, COVID-19 cases are dropping and other pandemic-related relief has expired. But the Biden administration, in a White House news release, said Federal Reserve data predicted a rise in late payments and defaults if payments resumed. Some experts are skeptical. This feels much more driven by politics than by public health, says Robert Kelchen, professor and head of the department of educational leadership and policy studies at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Kelchen says he thinks an additional extension this year could be likely. He also raised the question of whether the Biden administration will ever resume payments. Theyre not going to resume at the end of August to make voters repay right before the midterms, Kelchen says. And then, at that point, the re-election campaign starts. Kelchen isnt the only one who sees the move as largely political. Betsy Mayotte, president and founder of The Institute of Student Loan Advisors, says any extension will benefit borrowers, but four months might be more palatable to voters during the midterm election, whether they support or oppose extending the payment pause. If they had [extended] it through the end of the year, some people might take that as, he only did it to get through midterms, Mayotte says. Too much? Not enough? Extending the payment restart raises the stakes for the Biden administration to make a decision on debt cancellation, says Mike Pierce, executive director of the Student Borrower Protection Center advocacy group. I think this is the clearest sign yet that big things are coming, he adds. The extension "does not make sense if you decouple it from the broader conversation around student debt cancellation and student loan reform, says Pierce, adding that the timing of the extensions expiration does tee up the possibility of debt cancellation weeks before voters head for the polls. The Biden administration has repeatedly said the president would support cancellation via congressional action despite calls from Democrats in Congress, along with student borrower advocates, state attorneys general and one former Secretary of Education, to do so via executive action. Biden has questioned his unilateral ability to do so. The amount of cancellation, if any, has also been a tug-of-war. While on the campaign trail, Biden pledged to sign off on canceling $10,000 in debt per borrower, a promise he has distanced himself from since becoming president. Some Democratic lawmakers like Sens. Chuck Schumer of New York and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts have called for Biden to cancel $50,000 in debt. While broad student debt cancellation has not come to pass, more than 700,000 borrowers have seen $17 billion in loan debt forgiven via a revamped Public Service Loan Forgiveness program and other existing forgiveness programs. Is it time to get back to normal? Republican lawmakers, meanwhile, have criticized both the extension and their Democratic colleagues calls to cancel student debt. Rep. Virginia Foxx of North Carolina, who sits on the House Education Committee, called the pause extension outrageous, while two others, Reps. Jim Banks of Indiana and Bob Good of Virginia, had previously introduced a bill to block another extension. Leaders in the private student lending industry are also against extending the pause since their business has taken a two-year hit from federal borrowers who chose to stick with the pause rather than refinance privately. SoFi CEO Anthony Noto wrote in a March 17 blog post that extending the pause was at best fiscally irresponsible and takes from struggling families and gives to the affluent, and at worst its political theater. Student loan servicers are unlikely to be more ready to resume processing payments or offering guidance to borrowers in September than May, says Scott Buchanan, executive director of the Student Loan Servicing Alliance, which represents servicers. These private companies are contracted by the government to manage federal student loans. Buchanan adds, In fact, we may be less ready just because youve burned through a bunch of resources to get ready and now all of those are wasted. Who needs a plan? Borrowers Buchanan says hes concerned that a further delay means borrowers wont take the restart seriously. Theyll ignore it until they get a delinquency notice, he says. The more we push this out and do it at the last minute, the worse our problems become. What leaders from both sides of the aisle, the private lending industry and student borrower advocacy groups all seem to agree on is that the pause doesnt fix the core issue: The student lending system is broken. And, as Pierce says, a four-month extension isnt much time to implement meaningful reform. Four months does give borrowers more time to, at a minimum, make a plan for payment to restart. Whenever that is. ___ You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 UM launched its annual sexual assault awareness month campaign with a campus event and lighting of Main Hall on Wednesday. April is dedicated to prevention and awareness about sexual violence and harassment. Hosted by UMs Student Advocacy Resource Center, Wednesdays event featured a handful of student speakers. (Sexual assault) is something that can happen to absolutely anyone, SARC Director Jen Euell said. Often we have a stereotype of the kind of person who might be a survivor but in truth it can be anyone, any gender, any race or any age. Healing and recovery are absolutely possible." The theme of this year's awareness month is Building Safer Spaces: Reclaiming our Right to Safety. Student speakers highlighted the need for community funding of programs like SARC and Missoula Project Beacon to combat sexual violence. Project Beacon is a grant-funded initiative that offers trauma-informed services to Indigenous survivors of human trafficking. "Just because something is common, does not mean it's normal," SARC employee and UM student Kendall Butler shared. "Survivors deserve a voice, action deserves to be taken and we do not have to accept the norms built around us." The Jeannette Rankin Peace Center hosted the Red Sand Project Friday afternoon, a national, participatory art project that looks at the human trafficking crisis. (The Red Sand Project) uses sidewalk interventions and earthwork installations to create opportunities for people to question, connect and take action against vulnerabilities that can lead to human trafficking and exploitation, their website says. Participants were given red sand to fill sidewalk crevices along the Hip Strip, emblematic of how many people fall through the cracks. The student resource center has a full month of events planned. On April 19, community members can gather for a safety panel discussion with Missoula police, First Step Resource Center employees and other public safety officials. On April 27, Missoulians have the opportunity to attend an on-campus presentation of the universitys most recent Safe Campus Survey results. Bystander training sessions were also offered earlier in the month to teach participants how to intervene and prevent sexual violence. The month will wrap up with a second lighting of Main Hall in red on May 5 for the Congressional Day of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. There are many resources available in Missoula for sexual assault and domestic violence survivors. The Missoula YWCA provides 24-hour crisis counseling, emergency shelter, transitional housing, mental health counseling, legal support and support groups for victims of crime. Their phone number is 406-542-1944. The Missoula City-County Crime Victim Advocate Program provides legal advocacy for victims of crimes. Advocates can help you obtain a restraining order, report a crime to police or navigate options available to you through the justice system. They can be reached at 406-258-3830. The University of Montana Student Advocacy Resource Center also provides support for survivors of violence and harassment. They offer free and confidential counseling, advocacy and a 24-hour support line at 406-243-6559. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 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. When it comes to reintroducing fire onto the landscape, sometimes the windows of opportunity are very small. That window for the Bitterroot National Forests popular Bass Creek Recreational Area came down to a single day. And so on Friday, firefighters from the Bitterroot Forest were joined by smokejumpers and researchers from Missoula and a crew from the Idaho Panhandle to burn over 600 acres on the park-like ponderosa pine stand. With drip torches filled with a mixture of diesel and gasoline, the firefighters spread out about 20 feet apart and drew lines of fire across the hillsides. With this years crop of grass already turning green and the heavier fuels still a bit damp from a soaking earlier in the week, the fire for the most stayed close to the ground as it burned in a mosaic pattern across the landscape. A storm blew through Friday night that dropped both rain and snow on the 600-acre burn. The Bass Creek Recreation Area will reopen to the public on Sunday, April 10. Bitterroot Forests Stevensville Ranger Steve Brown said it wasnt easy squeezing in this prescribed fire on the districts most popular recreation area this year. The green-up started about two weeks early this year, Brown said. That green grass is like a wall of water. While the burning along the ground didnt burn the larger downed fuels, Brown said it was doing a good job in cleaning up the pine tree litter of pine needles and cones. A ponderosa pine forest can produce upward of 3,000 pounds of that material a year. Stevensville District Assistant Fire Management Officer Jon Devino said Bass Creek is a challenging place to use prescribed fire because almost as soon as the snow comes off the grass begins to turn green. The area was thinned in 2013. In 2017, firefighters did an emergency underburn in the area to help slow the southern progression of the 57,000-acre Lolo Peak fire. We were able to hold the line here on the Lolo Peak fire because of the thinning that had been done earlier, Brown said. Otherwise that fire would have burned further south. Devino said the effort Friday at Bass Creek was a maintenance burn. It's something that were trying to do more of in our low-lying forest types, he said. The high-frequency, low-intensity fires reduce the growth of new saplings and clear the forest floor of fuels These were types of fires those forest types saw historically. Brown said the agency has learned that its not enough to just thin the forest. Fire has to be re-introduced at regular intervals too. Last years 414,000-acre Bootleg fire near Beatty, Oregon provided land managers with real-life examples. Brown said there were areas that burned that had not been treated at all; some that were thinned but didnt have any prescribed fire; and some that thinning and prescribed fire had been employed. The areas that had no treatment were the most severely burned. The fire didnt get into the crowns of the forest in the areas that had been thinned, but it burned hot enough along the ground to kill trees. Those areas where both thinning and prescribed fire happened suffered the least damage to the forest, Brown said. Ideally, Brown said the Forest Service will do another maintenance prescribed fire in the Bass Creek Recreation Area in seven years. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A man who invited a group of homeless people to stay in his backyard has promised the city of Morganton a battle in court if code enforcement action continues. Joseph and Victoria Bateman were notified by a letter from city staff in March that they were in violation of the citys ordinances on campgrounds and owning fowl in city limits. That notice said the Batemans property on Dogwood Drive, which is zoned in the light intensity district, did not allow for campgrounds like the one multiple people experiencing homelessness are living in behind the home. Even if the propertys zoning district allowed for campgrounds, the notice said their property would not be able to meet other requirements laid out by the zoning ordinance. One of those requirements included a lot size minimum of 5 acres, according to the citys zoning ordinance. The two lots the Batemans own on Dogwood Drive add up to about 2.37 acres, according to land records. The notice also told the Batemans they had more chickens than allowed by city ordinance. The notice of violation informed the Batemans they had until March 27 to correct the violations before they could face fines, liens or other assessments. The Batemans have until April 14 to appeal the notice to the board of adjustments, City Attorney Louis Vinay told The News Herald. When The News Herald spoke to the Batemans about the notice in March, they said they had no intention of getting in compliance with the zoning ordinance. Joseph Bateman reaffirmed those intentions during public comments at Mondays Morganton City Council meeting. He said he sent the city a cease and desist order after receiving the notice of violation. The city responded promptly with a letter stating that they felt they were in the right, Joseph Bateman said. He said he feels the city is not, and claimed no law gives the city the right to govern what he can do with his own property. He asked the council to provide proof of a signed contract giving the city the right to govern over him. There is no law that allows any corporation to govern over an individual, he said. None. None in this land. More light was shed on that belief later in the city council meeting when Joseph Bateman spoke during a public hearing about a rezoning request on North Green Street. This is kind of an educational moment, I think we all need to kind of understand here, he said. The city of Morganton is a corporation, it is not a government. What state law gives the city of Morganton, the corporation of Morganton, the jurisdiction to govern over this land? Vinay told him at the meeting North Carolina General Statutes, specifically N.C.G.S. 160D, provide provisions for cities and other local governments to, among other things, enact a code of ordinances. Joseph Bateman insisted the city is not a government but instead a corporation, despite Vinay informing him the city is a governing body recognized by the state. Mr. Bateman, Morganton is a city chartered by the state of North Carolina like every other municipality in the state, Vinay said. It is a municipal corporation, it is a government body subordinate to the state of North Carolina. If the city, which is a government entity, decides to take further code enforcement action, the Batemans could face hundreds of dollars in civil penalties. Once someone is warned they are in violation, they have 10 days to get in compliance. After 10 days has passed, the person can be fined $50 for the first offense. Vinay told The News Herald the person has three days after the first citation with a fine to get in compliance. If they do not, they are cited and fined again this time for $100. If another three days passes without the person getting in compliance, the next citation and each subsequent citation will be $200. Joseph Bateman asked the city to produce a signed contract showing he consented to the city, which he believes is a corporation instead of a government, governing his property. If you guys fail to produce that then I will seek legal action but Ill be self-representing, he said. Im hoping we can work this out amongst ourselves here and you guys choose to do the right thing. Thats my hopes and prayers, but Im ready and willing to take it a step further if we need to. Chrissy Murphy is a staff writer and can be reached at cmurphy@morganton.com or at 828-432-8941. Follow @cmurphyMNH on Twitter. 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. There are many dogs and cats are available for adoption at Burke County Animal Services. Trinity Johnson, shelter technician at animal services, wants all of the animals in the shelter to find a loving fur-ever home. These are the animals she chose to spotlight this week. This weeks Dog of the Week is Ickis. Ickis, a 1- to 2-year-old Staffordshire terrier mix male, Johnson said. Ickis is a wonderful boy that loves to play, go on walks, play with squeaky toys, and meet new friends. He has never met a person he does not like; he loves everyone he meets and goes right for the kisses. Ickis would do well with some kids in his life to keep him active, and hed love to make someone a great cuddle buddy. They really dont come any sweeter than Ickis. He came to BCAS as a stray and was very underweight and not in the best of shape, but just after a few weeks with his friends here at BCAS, he is healthier than ever! Ickis deserves a really great family and would love to meet you today. All animals brought to animal services come from different backgrounds and are in different physical condition. The agencys staff works to ensure all animals are taken care of while theyre in the shelter and in preparation to be adopted into their forever homes. This weeks Cats of the Week again are a bonded pair, Scamper and Lovey. Scamper is the tabby and white cat, Johnson said. He is 7 years old and full of love. Lovey is the short-haired black cat, and he is 9 years old. These cats have spent their whole lives together and would love nothing more than to stay together. Their adoption fees have been sponsored in hopes they can find a furever home together. Scamper and Lovey are very sweet and cuddly cats and they love being around other cats and even dogs. They love taking cat naps and getting lots of scratches. There is no adoption fee to adopt Scamper and Lovey and they are up-to-date on vaccines, flea control, deworming, as well as being neutered. They are currently in a foster home so please call us ahead of time at 828-764-9588 so we can schedule a meet and greet. In addition to this weeks pets of the week, there are many dogs and cats are available for adoption at animal services. Animal services tries to take in as many animals as it can, and with the help of foster home volunteers it is able to care for more animals. There are different fees for those interested in adopting a dog or a cat from animal services. The adoption fee for any adult dog or puppy is $125. The adoption fee for any adult cat or kitten is $90. All animals come up-to-date on vaccines, flea control, and deworming, as well as being spayed and neutered. The shelter also offers foster programs for members of the community to help the animals of the shelter without having to make a lifelong commitment. Fosters are only required to give a copy of a valid ID with address and phone number and to sign their foster agreement. Fostering is free, and animal services provides all needed supplies, including litter boxes, litter and food and the same for dogs, the agencys policy says. Crates are provided, if available. Foster parents are just asked to transport the animal either to vet appointments or back to the shelter for updated vaccines and deworming. For more information on Ickis, Scamper, Lovey or any other adoption or foster-related questions, call animal services at 828-764-9588 or visit its website at burkenc.org/animalservices. Visit its Facebook page at Burke County Animal Services for information on adoptable animals or upcoming adoption events. More than 20,000 North Carolinians have lost their lives to opioid overdoses. Still more are struggling with the disease of addiction, and many thousands more live in fear that they will lose someone they love. The morphine molecule has left a trail of death, destruction, and damaged families and communities in its wake all across our state. After years of reading horrible statistics and devastating stories, help is on the way. I am so proud that my office led the bi-partisan, multi-state negotiations with the four major companies responsible for manufacturing and distributing opioids Cardinal, McKesson, AmerisourceBergen, and Johnson & Johnson. These companies made billions of dollars while millions of Americans got hooked on opioids. Too many people are mourning their loved ones and too many jails are filled with people addicted to opioids. We achieved a historic $26 billion agreement that will distribute relief to state and local governments around the nation. North Carolina will receive $750 million, most of which will go straight to county governments to make a difference where it is needed the most. Now is the time for Burke County to work with its local leaders and residents to decide on proven, effective strategies to address the opioid epidemic. This settlement money represents a transformative tool in our fight against the opioid epidemic. The deal requires funds to go directly to strategies to attack the crisis. It also requires the companies to fundamentally change their business practices to ensure something like this never happens again. As a result of the national opioid settlement and the programs it will fund, I am certain that there will be people alive in North Carolina a year from now who otherwise wouldnt be. In sum, this settlement brings much-needed hope to every corner of our state. The opioid epidemic has devastated communities across North Carolina, and Burke County is no exception. In 2020, at least 36 people died from an overdose across Burke County. Thats why, along with other health metrics, Burke County will receive $13,465,401 to combat the crisis. The money will be distributed to the county commission, which, with community input, will decide how to invest the money to save lives. We required full transparency with the settlement funds so the public will know which programs each government funds and how effective the program was. We want the money to have the maximum impact so that more lives will be saved. Now is the time for each person in Burke County to reach out to your county commissioners to make your voice heard. I encourage you to share your thoughts with them. Its been my honor to fight for the families all across our state who have suffered the tragedy of opioid addiction. Im proud that this money will ensure that people with substance use disorder will get the help they need and bring us closer to ending the opioid epidemic. Together, we can achieve a North Carolina where people can lead happy, healthy lives, free of addiction. DEER LODGE The determined little Bullocks oriole tugs and tugs at the baling twine knotted around a strand of barbed wire. A dozen sequential photos shot by Christie Holmgren display the birds quest for nesting material. Finally, it stands triumphantly, gripping a few inches of twine in its beak. The orioles tenacity earned the colorful bird a two-page spread in Holmgrens new book: Finding Resiliency: A Birds Guide. The accompanying photo captions read, Set achievable goalsand persist until you succeed. Persistence played a role in the books publication. Holmgren, 70, began work on Finding Resiliency years ago after a grandson enduring a bout of depression shared his struggles during a visit around Christmas. They talked about strategies to shed depressions dark plumage, with Holmgren identifying adaptive behaviors and ways of thinking shed embraced through the years when melancholia rapped at her door like Poes raven. Later, she thought about pairing these ideas with a selection from the hundreds of bird photos she has shot through the years. Many of those images are either humorous or otherwise-apt illustrations for the tips and techniques shared in the book. I have dealt with much adversity and heartache in my 70 years on this planet and have learned a fair amount about nurturing emotional resilience, Holmgren writes in the books Afterword. Her daughter was diagnosed with cancer at 16. She remained ill for most of her life, battling various cancers, finally dying at age 43. Holmgrens husband passed within months of her daughter. Holmgren said she learned years ago she is responsible for her own destiny and to focus on life's joys and blessings. For Holmgren, birds clearly provide a source of both. One photo in Finding Resiliency pictures a ruddy duck with one webbed foot thrust parallel to the water in which he floats. The caption reads, Others find Yoga relaxing. Holmgren is a birder and a bird photographer and she ventures out nearly every day from her home in Deer Lodge to the Clark Fork River, the Warm Springs Ponds or to other regional destinations with avian allure. Getting out in nature helps keep me on an even keel, Holmgren said. She totes a camera and long lens combination that weighs about 6.5 pounds. She tucks it into the crook of one arm to take the load off the strap around her neck. Yet Holmgren isnt one of those birders obsessed with notching conquests, adding species to a life list, or searching for an exotic bird hundreds of miles from its last sighting. Her approach emphasizes focusing both on the bird and the moment, or moments, she shares with her colorful and often quirky quarry. One photo in Finding Resiliency features a tri-colored heron striding across a plank, followed by a much larger snowy egret. Both birds stand atop legs spindlier than a lodgepole sapling. The heron is dark and the egret white. The photo caption emphasizes the healing potential of getting together with just one caring friend who accepts you as you are. Finding Resiliency, which is Holmgrens fifth self-published book, offers suggestions for battling the blues that most would agree are useful. Attend to hygiene. Fix a nutritious meal. Get regular exercise. Find a new perspective. Regularly make time for yourself to do the things that bring you pleasure, like creating art, writing, listening to music or reading a book. The 53-page book is free of the sort of judgment that depressed people often encounter out in the world. Holmgren recognizes that a person struggling with the sometimes disabling symptoms of clinical depression likely needs more than a book of tips, even if they might be just the ticket for someone whose suffering is less intense. If youre really depressed, none of this is easy, she said. Getting out of bed in the morning isnt easy. Maybe all you can do today is get out of bed. Maybe all you can do tomorrow is take a shower. Holmgren finds solace in her birding quests and the myriad sights and sounds they yield. She said she became a serious birder around 1995. I had always loved birds but couldnt tell one from another until I met my late husband, who taught me how to really see and identify birds, Holmgren said. Bruce Holmgren died in 2016. Holmgren moved last year from Portland, Oregon, to Deer Lodge, where she has family. The daughter of a nuclear engineer father and a technical writer mother, she is retired, having worked in public relations for the state of Oregon and as a newspaper editor in years past. Holmgrens birding experiences have included encounters with memorable species, including but not limited to turquoise-browed motmots, pied wagtails, harlequin ducks, a black-throated blue warbler and many more. Photos used in the book were shot over 27 years. Locations included Deer Lodge and vicinity, Warm Springs Ponds, Force Lake and Portland, Oregon, as well as Texas, Florida and England. To me, the important thing is to be in the moment and enjoy the birds, she said. And that approach, in itself, could provide an escape from the blues. For now, Finding Resiliency: A Birds Guide, is available on Amazon.com for $14.95. Holmgren hopes to soon supply copies to regional sellers. Love 4 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 MUSCATINE COUNTY For several weeks, gas prices across the country have risen to record or near-record highs. As of Friday, gas prices across Iowa averaged $3.839 per gallon, according to GasBuddy.com. While the price is lower than last months average of $3.915 a gallon, many Iowans continue to feel frustrated with the amount that they are paying at the pumps. For Muscatine County citizens, that frustration has begun to grow as many have noticed the lower prices in nearby counties. Muscatine County saw average gas prices of $4.018 per gallon on Friday, according to Gas Buddy, while surrounding counties saw average prices that were 10 cents to 20 cents a gallon cheaper. For example, gas prices in Scott County averaged $3.795 per gallon last week, one of the lowest in the state and matching similar rates found in Linn and Jasper counties, where average gas prices ranged from $3.70 to $3.80 per gallon. Cedar, Washington, Louisa and Johnson counties saw average gas prices under $3.90 per gallon. Stations in those counties have also managed to keep their gas prices below $3.900. As a result, many residents have started wondering why such a drastic difference. The cost of gasoline across the United States varies for several different reasons, including the type of gasoline blends that are allowed in each region, the cost of additional ingredients and the overall costs of running a gas station, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said there likely wasnt one specific reason for Muscatine Countys higher than average prices. He did, however, suggest that one of the biggest possible factors was due to local competition within counties. "Stations are lowering prices at various paces. In some areas there is more competition than other areas, driving prices lower faster," De Hann said. "That's what many times the differences in price are, a result of varied levels of competition from one area or county to another." More populous Scott County, for example, has more gas stations that need to make a profit. And the more competition may mean added pressure to lower their prices. But that isnt to say that rural counties are fated to always have high gas prices, De Haan said. It isnt that competition can't happen in rural areas, but usually less stations mean less aggressive competition, he said. The other issue is that rural stations may struggle selling through higher-priced inventory as quickly and so they may lag behind on lowering price due to that. As the busy summer travel season approaches, there is some hope that higher-than-average prices may soon start to fall. According to GasBuddy data, the national average gas price has been declining slightly for the last two weeks. One of the potential reason may be President Joe Bidens announcement regarding the release of 180 million barrels from the countrys Strategic Petroleum Reserve. So long as oil prices remain under $100 per barrel and theres no escalations in Russias war on Ukraine, we may be poised to see gas prices decline again this week as the U.S. and other countries try to raise oil supply to tip prices lower," De Haan said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Voters are digesting a newly hostile Democratic primary race in Pennsylvanias premier contest for U.S. Senate. That's as the leading candidates came together in a room Saturday, face to face, for the first time since Conor Lamb first attacked rival John Fetterman, Pennsylvanias lieutenant governor. Fetterman has been on the defensive, after a week of attacks by Lamb, Malcolm Kenyatta and a super PAC supporting Lamb that's running a TV ad against Fetterman. Neither Lamb nor Kenyatta made any reference to Fetterman in their remarks to a crowd of about 200 Penn State-area Democrats. But Fetterman did, telling the crowd that he wouldn't attack a fellow Democrat. BOISE, Idaho (AP) Idaho environmental officials are proposing a $1 million fine as part of a settlement agreement with Idaho Power involving pollution permits at 15 of the public utilitys hydroelectric facilities in southern Idaho. The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality announced the proposed agreement with the public utility on Thursday and is seeking public comments for 30 days. Idaho Power had permits from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the facilities for decades until the federal agency determined they werent needed in the 1990s. Idaho Power in January contacted Idaho officials after determining policy changes might again require the facilities have permits. Idaho Power said it self-reported because it wanted to be proactive in protecting the environment. We're certainly disappointed that there's a fine associated with this, said Ryan Adelman, Idaho Power's vice president of Power Supply. But we're also encouraged that there's a process to get into compliance. Mary Anne Nelson, administrator for the Environmental Departments Surface and Wastewater Division, said the two entities started negotiating after Idaho Power reported the potential violations and mutually agreed on a path that used the courts to reach a settlement agreement. I would say they are good actors in this," Nelson said. "This is an action we took together. As part of that plan, the agency on Thursday filed lawsuits in seven counties against the utility for what it said are violations of the federal Clean Water Act and the Idaho Environmental Protection and Health Act. The proposed settlement agreement was announced the same day, indicating negotiations had been going on well before the lawsuits were filed. One possible advantage of involving the courts is that a settlement agreement has to be approved by the court and gives both sides a definitive legal document going forward. Each of the 15 hydroelectric facilities received a fine of $72,870 that Nelson said was based on criteria the agency has developed. Most of the facilities had been without permits since the 1990s, but Nelson said the statute of limitations for such violations is two years. Idaho in recent years has been taking over issuing pollution permits from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Idaho only started issuing pollution permits for hydroelectric facilities in 2019. The proposed agreement requires Idaho Power to submit applications to Idaho for pollution discharge permits for the facilities. It also requires the company to comply with water quality standards as well as oil and grease effluent limits. Adelman said there might be some technology updates needed, but we had permits in the past, so I don't think there's a significant lift. The Environmental Department filed the complaints in Ada, Gooding, Jerome, Owyhee, Power, Twin Falls and Valley counties, where the 15 hydroelectric facilities are located. The hydroelectric dams named in court documents are American Falls, Bliss, Cascade, C.J. Strike, Swan Falls, Lower Salmon Falls, Upper Salmon Falls A, Upper Salmon Falls B, Upper Malad, Lower Malad, Milner, Twin Falls, Shoshone Falls, Thousand Springs and Clear Lake. Comments on the settlement agreement are being accepted through May 9. Idaho Power has more than 600,000 customers in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon. The company has 17 hydroelectric facilities on the Snake River and its tributaries, with the Hells Canyon Complex on the Snake River providing about 70% of the companys hydroelectric generating capacity and 30% of the companys total generating capacity. The Hells Canyon Complex is not involved in the settlement agreement. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Civilian evacuations moved forward in patches of battle-scarred eastern Ukraine on Saturday, a day after a missile strike killed at least 52 people and wounded more than 100 at a train station where thousands clamored to leave before an expected Russian onslaught. In the wake of the attack in Kramatorsk, several European leaders made efforts to show solidarity with Ukraine, with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson visiting Kyiv the capital city that Russia failed to capture and where troops retreated days ago. Johnson met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a surprise visit in which he pledged new military assistance, including 120 armored vehicles and new anti-ship missile systems. Zelenskyy noted the increased support in an Associated Press interview, but expressed frustration when asked if weapons and other equipment Ukraine has received from the West is sufficient to shift the war's outcome. Not yet, he said, switching to English for emphasis. Of course its not enough. Zelenskyy later thanked Johnson and Nehammer during his nightly video address to the nation. He also thanked the European Commission president and the Canadian prime minister for a global fundraising event that raised more than 10 billion euros ($11 billion) for Ukrainians who have had to flee their homes. He added that democratic countries are united in working to stop the war. Because Russian aggression was not intended to be limited to Ukraine alone. ... The entire European project is a target for Russia. Zelenskyy repeated his call for a complete embargo on Russian oil and gas, which he called the sources of Moscow's self-confidence and impunity. More than six weeks after the invasion began, Russia has pulled its troops from the northern part of the country, around Kyiv, and refocused on the Donbas region in the east. Western military analysts said an arc of territory in eastern Ukraine was under Russian control, from Kharkiv Ukraines second-largest city in the north to Kherson in the south. But counterattacks are threatening Russian control of Kherson, according to the Western assessments, and Ukrainian forces are repelling Russian assaults elsewhere in the Donbas. Ukrainian authorities have called on civilians to get out ahead of an imminent, stepped-up offensive by Russian forces in the east. With trains not running out of Kramatorsk on Saturday, panicked residents boarded buses or looked for other ways to leave, fearing the kind of unrelenting assaults and occupations by Russian invaders that brought food shortages, demolished buildings and death to other cities. It was terrifying. The horror, the horror," one resident told British broadcaster Sky, recalling Friday's attack on the train station. "Heaven forbid, to live through this again. No, I dont want to. Ukraines state railway company said residents of Kramatorsk and other parts of the Donbas could flee through other train stations. Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said 10 evacuation corridors were planned for Saturday. Zelenskyy called the train station attack the latest example of war crimes by Russian forces and said it should motivate the West to do more to help his country defend itself. Russia denied responsibility and accused Ukraines military of firing on the station to turn blame for civilian casualties on Moscow. A Russian Defense Ministry spokesman detailed the missiles trajectory and Ukrainian troop positions to bolster the argument. Major Gen. Igor Konashenkov alleged Ukraines security services were preparing a cynical staged media operation in Irpin, another town near Kyiv, intended to attribute civilian casualties to Russian forces falsely, he said and to stage the slaying of a fake Russian intelligence team that intended to kill witnesses. The claims could not be independently verified. Western experts and Ukrainian authorities insisted that Russia attacked the station. Remnants of the rocket had the words For the children in Russian painted on it. The phrasing seemed to suggest the missile was sent to avenge the loss or subjugation of children, although its exact meaning remained unclear. Ukrainian authorities have worked to identify victims and document possible war crimes in the country's north. The mayor of Bucha, a town near Kyiv where graphic evidence of civilian slayings emerged after Russian forces withdrew, said search teams were still finding bodies of people shot at close range in yards, parks and city squares. Workers unearthed 67 bodies Friday from a mass grave near a church, according to Ukraine's prosecutor general. Russia has falsely claimed that the scenes in Bucha were staged. Ukrainian and Western officials have repeatedly accused Russian forces of committing atrocities. A total of 176 children have been killed, while 324 more have been wounded, the Prosecutor Generals Office said Saturday. Speaking to AP inside the heavily guarded presidential office complex in Kyiv, Zelenskyy said he is committed to negotiating a diplomatic end to the war even though Russia has tortured Ukraine. He also acknowledged that peace likely will not come quickly. Talks so far have not included Russian President Vladimir Putin or other top officials. We have to fight, but fight for life. You cant fight for dust when there is nothing and no people. Thats why it is important to stop this war, he said. Ukrainian authorities have said they expect to find more mass killings once they reach the southern port city of Mariupol, which is also in the Donbas and has been subjected to a monthlong blockade and intense fighting. As journalists who had been largely absent from the city began to trickle back in, new images emerged of the devastation from an airstrike on a theater last month that reportedly killed hundreds of civilians seeking shelter. Military analysts had predicted for weeks that Russia would succeed in taking Mariupol but said Ukrainian defenders were still putting up a fight. The city's location on the Sea of Azov is critical to establishing a land bridge from the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia seized from Ukraine eight years ago. Many civilians now trying to evacuate are accustomed to living in or near a war zone because Moscow-backed rebels have been fighting Ukrainian forces since 2014 in the Donbas, a mostly Russian-speaking, industrial region. Ukrainian officials have pleaded with Western powers almost daily to send more arms and further punish Moscow with sanctions, including the exclusion of Russian banks from the global financial system and a total EU embargo on Russian gas and oil. Nehammer said during his visit to Kyiv that he expects more EU sanctions against Russia, but he defended his countrys opposition so far to cutting off deliveries of Russian gas. A package of sanctions imposed this week wont be the last one, the chancellor said, acknowledging that as long as people are dying, every sanction is still insufficient. Austria is militarily neutral and not a member of NATO. Johnson's visit came a day after the U.K. pledged an additional 100 million pounds ($130 million) in high-grade military equipment to Ukraine. Johnson also confirmed further economic support, guaranteeing an additional $500 million in World Bank lending to Ukraine, taking Britains total loan guarantee to up to $1 billion. Anna reported from Bucha, Ukraine. Robert Burns in Washington, Jill Lawless and Danica Kirka in London 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 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Calistoga has long had an abundant Mexican-American culture and history. During the Spanish era, Napa Valley was controlled by the Mission San Francisco de Solano, located in what is now Sonoma. Following Mexican independence, mission properties were secularized and partitioned into ranchos in the 1830s and 1840s. 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. This May, Calistoga's own Sharpsteen Museum whose mission is to preserve the history of Calistoga and upper Napa Valley from its early days to post-World War I will celebrate Calistogas Mexican heritage with a new exhibit: Cosas de Nuestra Casa or Things from Our Home. The colorful, yet intimate exhibit will feature everyday objects, from cookware to regional textiles, embroidery, clothing and family photos, all donated by some of the citys best-known Mexican-American residents. Cosas de Nuestra Casa will celebrate its grand opening on Sunday, May 8 Mothers Day with a lively performance by St. Helena's Ballet Folklorico "El Valle" from 2 to 4 p.m. The event is free but a $3 donation per person is appreciated. The exhibit will run from May 1 through October 31. Eden Umble, special exhibits chair and social media consultant for the Sharpsteen, was instrumental in collecting objects to display from a team of volunteers, including Placido Garcia-Hernandez, a former city councilman who was born in Chihuahua, Mexico; Julie Garcia, and Vice-Mayor Iris Lopez-Ortega. The exhibit will feature five cases, each with a different theme and from different historic periods, like textiles and handcrafts, work, family, and Dia de los Muertos. Placards explaining each display will be in English and Spanish. Said Umble, Weve got the original blender, a stone mortar and pestle, black-and-white family photos; regional textiles from states like Oaxaca, and a rancheria saddle and sarape representing the charro culture, donated by Carlos Renteria. Umble continued, Ive spoken to a lot of people in town whove never been to the museum. Were hoping that this deeply personal exhibit will bring in new visitors, especially Mexican-Americans who would like to celebrate the richness of their culture. A poster for the exhibit designed by Calistoga graphic artist Christy Fitzpatrick-Webb will also be on hand. Napa County contains massive Lake Berryessa, the seventh-largest reservoir in California, and receives what in the water world amounts to a thimbleful from it. Almost all of Lake Berryessas water goes to neighboring Solano County. Only a small portion goes to Napa County and none to Napa Valley cities or its world-famous wine country vineyards. 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 Amid a drought, its like being parched next to an oasis. This oasis is mostly off-limits because Napa County during the 1940s and 1950s didn't help fund and in fact opposed the creation of a federal reservoir that submerged a townsite and farmland. Still, theres this following goal in Napa Countys 2022 legislative platform obtain additional water from Lake Berryessa. Its a bit of a long shot, acknowledged Richard Thomasser of the Napa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District. He stressed the idea isnt to infringe on Solano Countys water allocations from the reservoir. But maybe Napa County could get a slug of Berryessa water during droughts or make better use of the small amount it has. I dont think anyone thinks Berryessa is a large source of water for Napa, Thomasser said. But I think were interested in just being flexible with our resources. Every drop counts, he said. Napa County cities have their own local reservoirs that they use for water. But the biggest Lake Hennessey holds a mere 2% of the water thats in a full Lake Berryessa. Lake Berryessa is 23 miles long and three miles wide, with 165 miles of winding shoreline. It can hold 1.6 million acre-feet of water when full behind Monticello Dam, a 300-foot-tall concrete plug across Putah Creek at Devils Gate. The reservoir is presently only 66% full amid the three-year drought. Still, 66% for Berryessa is more than a million acre-feet. Solano County farms, cities and other interests have entitlements for 181,000 acre-feet annually. Thats enough water as calculated by the Water Education Foundation to serve 181,000 to 362,000 households annually. Napa County, in contrast, has a small straw in Lake Berryessa. The countys contract with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation allows for up to 1,500 acre-feet of water annually. In addition, the county contractually can use this water only for communities in the Putah Creek watershed, such as remote, tiny Berryessa Highlands and Spanish Flat. None can come to Napa Valley. Thats the situation Napa County faces if it wants to eke out more Berryessa water. Getting more water One idea is for Napa County to buy Lake Berryessa water from Solano County to take the edge off of droughts. The two counties considered such a move during the 2014 drought. Solano County was willing to sell Napa County up to 10,000 acre-feet of emergency Berryessa water from its own allocations. That drought ended before the water deal came to fruition. The idea is being revived amid the current drought but has yet to move forward. So far, nobody in the Solano users has stepped forward to say, We have some water we are willing to sell, so the discussion hasnt gone any further, said Roland Sanford, general manager of the Solano County Water Agency. Another possibility is to move some of Napa Countys own 1,500-acre-foot allocation from Lake Berryessa to Napa Valley. That would mean getting that federal restriction lifted that requires the water to be used only in the Berryessa area. Even if planned resort renovations come to fruition, the county might use only about half of its allocation at the lake. Theres a fair amount of water were leaving on the table, Thomasser said. But wed have to look at expanding our service area. Napa County could soon have that chance. The countys water contract with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is up for renewal in 2024 and the county could seek changes for the next contract. Bridging the gap Another issue is moving the water. Theres a 15-mile mountainous gap between Lake Berryessa and Napa Valley and no canal bridging the distance. Water officials during that 2014 drought came up with an idea. This plumbing puzzle might be solved in a roundabout way. Napa County receives State Water Project water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta through the 28-mile-long North Bay Aqueduct. The pipe runs from Barker Slough in Solano County through Jameson Canyon to Napa County. Meanwhile, Solano County receives Lake Berryessa water through the 33-mile-long Putah South Canal that ends near Cordelia. These two separate water systems at one point come within about 1,700 feet of each other. The idea is simple connect the two water systems with a pipe, perhaps a temporary one used only during drought. Then Berryessa water could come to Napa Valley. Or maybe its not as simple as it sounds. Sanford said the connection would be made toward the end of the Putah South Canal, where there is the least amount of capacity. There would be some issues to work out for sure, Sanford said. I wouldnt say its out of the question. There would be some details to work out. Napa County water wars Theres an obvious Lake Berryessa question how did such a huge reservoir get created in Napa County without Napa County getting more of its water? The short answer is Napa County opposed the building of Monticello Dam to avoid having the small townsite of Monticello and Berryessa Valley farmland go underwater. Newspapers from past decades and Harold Rubins The Solano Water Story tell the tale. Solano County rancher William Pierce championed damming Putah Creek at Devils Gate as early as 1916. He feared Bay Area cities would beat local interests to the undertaking and export water that could otherwise irrigate Solano County farms. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation was also interested in building a Putah Creek dam. By 1940, Pierce had convinced Solano County agricultural interests to take the idea seriously. Frank Douglass of Vacaville drew the assignment of trying to convince other counties to join the push for a dam. As Rubin relates in his book, Douglass didnt get very far. I couldnt budge Napa or Yolo, Douglass told Rubin. There was a guy in Napa County who owned the block brick business and was buying up a lot of land. He didnt want the dam. The sheriff said if he caught me in town again, hed put me in jail. Solano County ultimately decided to push for a dam on its own and lobbied Congress. It had help in high places. Gov. Earl Warren, alarmed by a drought, supported the so-called Solano Project in 1948. U.S. Sen. Richard Nixon sponsored legislation to help with the effort. Napa County officials laid out their case opposing the project during a November 1952 U.S. Senate hearing held in Sacramento, as recorded in The Napa Register. County Supervisor N.D. Clark called the reservoir-creation effort a vicious project that would dislocate 45 families and 350 people. Clark owned a Berryessa Valley ranch that would go underwater. Napa County had its own idea to dam Putah Creek upstream of the proposed federal reservoir and bring water to Napa Valley vineyards. But Bureau of Reclamation officials made it clear that 100% of Putah Creek water should go into Lake Berryessa. Perhaps, federal officials said, water for Napa County could be obtained from the Russian River. State Sen. Nathan Coombs, R-Napa and relative of the similarly named city of Napa founder, called this idea ridiculous. County Supervisor Lowell Edington said reclamation officials had in open debate admitted there was nothing in this for Napa. Solano County had its own challenges. Enough farmers had to agree to join the Solano Irrigation District and pay for water to move ahead. Enough did, though some thought tiny Putah Creek could never fill the planned reservoir. The result the Bureau of Reclamation build Monticello Dam from 1953 to 1957, Lake Berryessa filled and Solano County farmers had a huge reservoir almost to themselves in water-scarce California. As the Solano County cities of Fairfield, Vallejo, Suisun City and Vacaville grew, they too benefited from the reservoir. Napa Countys benefit was to be lake recreation. Today, Napa County is trying to redevelop resorts along the lake to see greater benefits from lake recreation. New marinas, lodges, campsites, restaurants and other attractions are possible. A world-class destination, said a marketing pamphlet seeking resort concessionaires. And, if the county can squeeze out a little more Berryessa water as well, it will take it. WATCH NOW: "Citizen scientists" help Napa Stream Watch The Napa County Resource Conservation District uses volunteers to track flows in the county's streams. Throwback Thursday: Napa's George F. Butler Memorial Bridge, 1977 The Napa River Bridge (now known as the George F. Butler Memorial Bridge) was built in 1977. Napa's biggest span is named for California Highw 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. MoF supports businesses in economic recovery and development programme The Ministry of Finance (MoF) will support businesses when implementing the socio-economic recovery and development programme, Finance Minister Ho uc Phoc said. Last year, the General Department of Customs completed regulations to shorten customs clearance time and reduce costs for enterprises. Photo nangluongsachvietnam.vn Specific areas will include accessing markets, capital, labour and infrastructure as well as open administrative procedures. MoF will accompany firms with supportive solutions so that the domestic business community can overcome difficulties to restore and develop production. Thereby they can contribute to the economic recovery and development. Minister Ho uc Phoc was addressing a forum on "Fiscal policy to support the socio-economic recovery and development programme" that was held on Thursday in Hanoi by the Thoi bao Tai chinh (Vietnam Financial Times) and the au tu (Investor) Magazine. The ministry has listened to opinions from the businesses and then reported to authorities to remove obstacles to business development. At the same time, it also promulgates policies to achieve financial development goals, ensure strong and harmonious economic development, and improve national competitiveness, according to Phoc. ang Ngoc Minh, deputy director of the General Department of Taxation, said the general department had built drafts of two decrees on extending the deadline for tax and land rent payments. They included the decree on extending payment of value added tax, corporate income tax, personal income tax, and land and water surface rent in 2022 and the decree extending the deadline for excise tax payment for domestically manufactured or assembled cars. For these two drafts, the General Department of Taxation had collected opinions from ministries, agencies, and people's committees of provinces and cities. At the same time, it also had coordinated with the Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry to organise an online seminar on those drafts. The ministry was finalising the drafts to send to the Ministry of Justice for appraisal before submitting them to the Government for consideration of issuance in April 2022. If they were approved, the total amount of tax, land rent and water surface rent extended payment would reach about VND132 trillion to VND137 trillion, said Minh. The extension would be of great significance to businesses and individuals because they could have more financial resources for production, promoting economic growth, said Minh. Meanwhile, the customs sector has also continuously implemented reforms to create more favourable conditions for businesses. Hoang Viet Cuong, deputy director of the General Department of Customs, said that the General Department of Customs had proactively implemented solutions to create favourable conditions for trade activities, helping businesses and people in recovery and development of production, imports and exports. Last year, it completed regulations to shorten customs clearance time and reduce costs for enterprises. By reviewing, amending and supplementing core documents in customs procedures and guiding circulars, the General Department of Customs had proposed to reduce documents, orders and procedures that are not necessary to simplify administrative procedures and handle problems. In addition, the general department had strengthened research for modernising equipment to support customs inspection and supervision, and carried out specialised inspections for imported and exported goods. It had also promoted simplification and automation of customs procedures, and implementation of the national single window, ASEAN single window and the application of information technology for online public services. In the future, Vietnam would continue to promote administrative reform in an extensive and comprehensive manner to reduce the time for customs clearance of goods, creating favourable conditions for businesses, and meeting the requirements of State management. I would focus on reviewing and evaluating the implementation of the Law on Customs; redesigning the information technology system of the customs sector based on the latest technology. It would also promote electronic document exchange via the ASEAN Single Window; review the implementation of administrative procedures via the National Single Window; and reform specialised inspections. Especially, the customs sector would coordinate with ministries, sectors and businesses to reform customs clearance procedures for import and export goods, creating favourable conditions for the businesses to cut costs and save time, and improve national competitiveness, Cuong said. A diesel truck Friday morning experienced a clutch failure while going north on Highway 29 to Highway 121 and blocked all southbound Highway 29 lanes, causing significant traffic delays for about an hour, according to the California Highway Patrol. The CHP started receiving calls about the truck at about 8:29 a.m., according to Jaret Paulson, spokesperson for Napas CHP bureau. The CHP was able to use two Chevy Tahoe CHP trucks to push the big rig to the shoulder of the area at about 9:10 a.m., Paulson said. The Napa Police Department traffic unit has returned after a roughly two-year hiatus, amid calls from community members to improve the safety of Napas streets. Police Sgt. Aaron Medina, head of the revived traffic unit, said it currently consists of two officers and him. The two traffic officers generally ride around on motorbikes and carry out enforcement action in different areas of Napa each day, he said, and he personally spends about half his time handling administrative tasks and half enforcing traffic laws. The unit generally focuses on high collision intersections, such as the intersection of Imola Avenue and Soscol Avenue, Medina said. But the officers spread out to different locations throughout the day, and may change their focus areas depending on city data and community input. 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. But traffic unit members were reassigned to police patrol back in 2020 because of staffing shortages, Medina said. And then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, alongside a considerable economic impact, so the unit remained on hiatus. Officers on patrol do enforce traffic laws, Medina said, but the amount of actual enforcement they do tends to depend on whether they have the time or training to carry that enforcement out. And officers were trying to limit close contact with people earlier in the pandemic, he said, which effectively meant traffic stops only happened when a driver appeared to be egregiously breaking the law. When the pandemic hit that created another challenge, Medina said. We had to recuse contact. So our citations really, our enforcement really dropped off. I think thats the lowest Ive ever seen it. But even before the pandemic, Napas traffic safety wasnt scoring well compared to similar cities. According to data from the California Office of Traffic Safety covering 2019, Napa County ranked the sixth worst out of 105 comparable jurisdictions in total fatal and injury crashes, and the second-worst in a composite score that includes all types of crashes. Medina said the traffic unit fits well alongside other efforts to improve Napas traffic safety that have risen up in recent years because its fundamental goal is to reduce injury collisions and make Napa The unit along with representatives from the Napa County Bicycle Coalition, Slow Down Napa and the Flock Safety camera company even held an expo on two days last week to let the community know about the reactivation of the units, show off traffic safety equipment like radar speed detectors and take questions. The reason we do enforcement is because were trying to change peoples behavior, Medina said. Were trying to get them to slow down, to pay attention to the traffic laws, not to be on their cell phone and things like that so we reduce those factors that cause collisions. And my experience and my training have shown that enforcement is a key component of changing that behavior and reducing injury collisions. Marueen Trippe, co-founder of Slow Down Napa a local movement that started up in October 2020 because of repeated complaints about speeding traffic said in an email that it was great to learn about and see the technology used by the traffic unit at the expo, and to see engagement from the community. She added that she hopes having a traffic sergeant in place is the first step toward further enhancing traffic enforcement in Napa. Generally, Trippe has pushed for traffic calming engineering measures to slow traffic as the main focus for slowing traffic at Napa City Council meetings and elsewhere. But, she said, the city has moved slowly on those measures. In our view, we should be investing as much as we can with our capable PD, Trippe wrote. They can make a difference to curb speeding much more quickly than engineering traffic calming measures we just arent seeing any progress there at all. Trippe added that Slow Down Napa would like to see actions to improve traffic get moving which could take the form of relatively measures such as repainting crosswalks, improving bike facilities and testing new technologies for speed radar. These arent expensive measures, Trippe wrote. Lets support the PD to speed up progress. Yes, we said speed up. Kara Vernor, executive director of the Napa County Bicycle Coalition, said the coalition is advocating for low-cost, quick-build traffic calming pilot projects to help the community understand what traffic calming can achieve without the projects needing to go through a lengthy and expensive public process. Hypothetical change is scary, so the quick-build projects allow people to go through a test run, Vernor said. Medina said the traffic unit is actively involved with the citys Public Works Department in several ways, and is helping to develop the citys first Local Roadway Safety Plan. That plan is being developed using vehicle collision data from 2016 to 2020 as well as community and stakeholder input. An update to the citys traffic calming guidelines is planned for later this year, and will be built from the roadway safety plan, according to Public Works Director Julie Lucido. Medina said the efforts of the Public Works department to put together that plan are important to the traffic unit because a deeper understanding of traffic data allows the unit to adjust operations to match with actual traffic conditions. We really want people to go to the local roadway safety plan and fill out the survey, Medina said. As they do that, Public is moving that information back to us and saying these are the areas, these are the concerns, and we can adjust our enforcement efforts. We all work in conjunction with each other, the community, public works, the traffic unit, we all kind of support each other and try to do the best we can with the resources that we have. Medina said staffing remains a problem including for city departments outside the department and thats pretty much true for police departments across the state. To help with that, he said, the department is looking into technical solutions to help bolster the traffic units enforcement efforts. That could include a traffic speed system that captures real-time traffic data so the police know what the speeds actually are on specific streets, he said. The department is also looking at automated enforcement, such as red-light cameras, he said. People want enforcement, they really want it, Medina said. If I put a map up of where people want to have enforcement, I should just color the whole city in. People would really like to have a motor officer on their street, on a regular basis, to deal with these traffic issues. But unfortunately, we only have two and a half officers, basically. You can reach Edward Booth at 707-256-2213. 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. Sri Lanka's president declares state of emergency amid mass protests Austria needs several years to give up on Russian gas Biden to sign new arms package for Ukraine worth at least $100 million Armenia's third President Serzh Sargsyan in France Square Resistance Movement to hold rally tomorrow in Vanadzor, women's march to take place in Yerevan 2nd Chamber of Istanbul Regional Court dismisses appeals by lawyers in Hrant Dink case European Parliament: Ankara deliberately 'destroyed' its chances of joining EU NEWS.am digest: Large scale protests continue in Yerevan, people forcibly arrested Scholz to take part in G7 Ukraine discussion with Zelenskyy Germany to supply Ukraine with seven self-propelled howitzers Resistance Movement rallies in France Square Al-Monitor: More niceties, zero progress in third round of Turkey-Armenia peace talks 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 Policeman hits woman during protest action in Yerevan 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 YEREVAN. Past daily of the Republic of Armenia (RA) writes: The fact that Armenias economy is in a rather difficult situation is regularly noted by both the RA expert community and a number of rather authoritative international organizations. The fact is that the RA economy is not able to recover from the post-Covid and post-war shock, and the authorities are not taking any concrete steps to find appropriate solutions and regulations in the current situation. Add to this the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, which, in the economists conviction, will leave a quite major impact on the RA economy. Experts note that, unfortunately, the wave of non-promising forecasts in connection with the RA economy will be continuous, with all its grave consequences. In particular, they predict negative indicators in 2022 in virtually all sectors of the [countrys] economy, and note that positive trends are possible only in the agricultural sectorbut due to a favorable year in terms of weather, as well as the low number of people leaving from rural settlements to the RF [(Russian Federation)] for work abroad. By the way, it is not ruled out that in some respects positive indicators will be registered in the tourism sector as well. According to our information, all hope of the current [Armenian] authorities is only these two sectors: agriculture and tourism. President Joe Biden on Friday signed two bills levying further US sanctions on Russia and Belarus, the White House announced, CNN reported. One bill suspends normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus, punishing the countries by paving the way for higher tariffs on imports from them. The other prohibits energy imports from Russia, including oil, coal, and natural gas. White House press secretary Jen Psaki had made clear on Thursday that Biden would sign the bills, saying the sanctions were "something the President supports" and "had called for." The US Senate unanimously passed the two measures Thursday morning. While the House voted overwhelmingly to pass the legislation, the bills faced more opposition there. The signing of an agreement on economic cooperation between the governments of Armenia and Slovakia took place Friday at the Ministry of Economy of Armenia. The document was signed by Armenian Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan and Slovakian Ambassador to Armenia Miroslav Hacek, informed the Ministry of Economy of Armenia. The agreement envisages the development and diversification of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries in the economic sectors of mutual interest. The document also envisions the establishment of an Armenia-Slovakia intergovernmental commission. The signing of this document was preceded by a discussion between Minister Kerobyan and Ambassador Hacek on the prospects for the development of trade and economic relations between the two countries. Brussels is not the platform where the Armenian-Azerbaijani and Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh)-Azerbaijani issues will be resolved in the current situation. Political analyst Argishti Kiviryan stated about this in the TALK TIME program of Armenian News-NEWS.am, commenting on Wednesdays meeting in Brussels between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyevand mediated by European Council President Charles Michel. "This region is still in the Russian zone, Russian peacekeepers are deployed in Artsakh, Russian soldiers are standing at a number of sectors of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. At the moment, all those who stand on the border are the 'godfathers,' to put it harshly, of this case. But what is the interest of Brussels, Western circles? On the one hand, this is an attempt to prove that they exist. On the other hand, to develop the situation and check what opportunities there are, as theyeither Brussels or the Westare not globally interested in the Artsakh or the Armenian-Azerbaijani issues. They are interested in what situation can be created here to force Russia to leave the region," Kiviryan said. According to him, this situation has worsened ever since the current Ukrainian war. "We see that this is the objective of the West. Their main objective here is to 'poison' the lives of the Russians here," the analyst said. The situation has become tense at France Squarein downtown Yerevanwhere the opposition forces of Armenia had placed the national flag of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) during Tuesdays rally. A citizen did not allow the members of the Sasna Tsrer pan-Armenian movement to approach the flag of Artsakh. There are a large number of special police forces at France Square. The members of the Sasna Tsrer pan-Armenian movement had painted this flag Friday. According to the respective statement of this movement, they thus removed the white part separating Artsakh from Motherland Armenia. In response, the opposition had held a rally and placed a new flag of Artsakh at France Square. Gor Abrahamyan, Advisor to the Prosecutor General of Armenia, had informed that the footage of painting the national flag of Artsakh was sent to the police to prepare materials for a criminal procedure. STEPANAKERT. An enlarged meeting of the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) government, chaired by President Arayik Harutyunyan, was held Saturday, Armenian News-NEWS.am has learned from the Office of the President's. First, the head of state presented the latest military and political developments in Artsakh, then noted the main things to be done in the system of state governanceand in accordance with the logic of the present-day situation. "We are in favor of a stable and lasting peace. But we cannot bargain for the demand of our peoplerenouncing the right to self-determination," the Artsakh President said, adding that given the new geopolitical realities, a number of changes will be made as needed to the government's agenda. According to President Harutyunyan, discussions with Artsakhs political forces will begin in the near future to form a joint political agenda, which will be based first of all on the risks expected from the external security challenges facing Artsakh. "It is not about forming a coalition government. But we all realize that we need strong inner unity. Therefore, I also urge all members of the government, all circles of our society to stand with each other so that we can successfully overcome the problems facing our state and people," said the Artsakh President. Also, Arayik Harutyunyan noted that the Artsakh government is going through severe savings of financial resources, but this does not mean that the approved programs will not be implemented. In addition, the President of Artsakh gave a number of instructions to those in charge of the relevant organizations on the matters discussed in the enlarged meeting. The Polish authorities are freezing relations with Hungary because of its position on the events in Ukraine, said Polish Deputy Prime Minister Jarosaw Kaczynski. He noted that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban needs an ophthalmologist to see Bucha, the RT Telegram channel reports. He added that the restoration of relations is possible only after a change in the assessments of the war in Ukraine. Earlier, a representative of the Hungarian Cabinet of Ministers said that paying for Russian gas in rubles would not violate the sanctions. This was stated by the representative of the Cabinet of Ministers of Hungary Zoltan Kovacs. According to him, Russia and Hungary have a bilateral contract, and the issue of the currency with which payment will be made, according to him, is technical. Before that, the head of the European Commission warned Hungary about the risk of violating sanctions against Russia. Prior to this, Ukraine and the West accused Russian troops of being involved in the deaths of civilians in Bucha. Russia denies these allegations. The Kremlin described the accusations as an attempt to disrupt negotiations between Kiev and Moscow, MK reports. Sweden's second largest opposition party, the Swedish Democrats, may change its position and support the idea of the kingdom joining NATO if neighboring Finland follows this course, party leader Jimmie Akesson told Svenska Dagbladet newspaper. Swedish Democrats is the second largest opposition party in the country. If it supports the idea of Sweden joining NATO, this initiative will be able to get a parliamentary majority. Earlier, the Finnish government announced that it would review steps in the coming weeks regarding the country's possible accession to the alliance. After the beginning of the events around Ukraine, the idea of NATO membership, judging by the polls, is finding more and more support among the population of Sweden. So, according to a survey by the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet and the Demoskop agency, published on March 4, the share of supporters of Sweden's entry into NATO by that time for the first time amounted to 51%, that is, more than half of the country's population, writes Deutsche Welle. As an undergraduate student at Mount St. Marys University, Nicholas Starvaggi, C21, through a combination of on-campus research and internships, gained the skills and discipline to propel himself toward success as a Ph.D. student at Texas A&M University. That success has resulted in the receipt of the prestigious 2022 National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship. Starvaggi became the third Mount alum in four years to receive this highly competitive award, joining Dylan Holden, C18, and Sarah Bonson Krueger, C17, as fellowship recipients. Mount senior Mary Yenca, C22, and alumna Julia Baer, C21, received honorable mention awards in 2022. The NSF fellowship recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported STEM disciplines pursuing research-based masters and doctoral degrees at accredited U.S. institutions. The fellowship includes three years of research stipends and tuition reimbursements totaling $138,000. Starvaggi joins a group whose members include 42 Nobel laureates and more than 450 members of the National Academy of Sciences. As honorable mention awardees, Baer and Yenca receive access to cyberinfrastructure resources through the Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment (XSEDE), a virtual system where scientists interactively share computing resources, data and expertise. This level of success is only possible through the ongoing, substantial efforts of the faculty to mentor students both day to day in the laboratories and through these intensive application processes, said Dean of the School of Natural Science and Mathematics Christine McCauslin, Ph.D. Its a labor of love and speaks to the kind of investment Mount students get from their faculty to promote their personal and professional success. Nicholas Starvaggi Starvaggis Mount experience illustrates McCauslins comments. As a freshman, he became involved with the research of Assistant Professor of Chemistry Isaac Mills, Ph.D., involving transition metal complexes for light-driven reactions. This opportunity exposed him to practical, inorganic chemistry and led to internships at Los Alamos National Laboratory in the summer of 2019 and Minerals Technologies, Inc. the following summer. The Office of Competitive Fellowships not only guided Starvaggi through the application process for a Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, which he won in 2020, but also provided feedback on a draft of his NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF-GRFP) application. The discipline I've gained through research on campus and at external institutions has prepared me to achieve success as a Ph.D. student at Texas A&M University, said Starvaggi. He expressed his indebtedness to Mount faculty, especially Assistant Professor of Science Isaac Mills, Ph.D., his research advisor, and Associate Professor of Biology Kathryn Dye, Ph.D., his academic advisor, as well as Associate Professor of History Jamie Gianoutsos, Ph.D., director of the Office of Competitive Fellowships, and Associate Professor of Science Garth Patterson, Ph.D., a member of the Fellowships Faculty Advisory Committee. Starvaggi also thanked Amanda Graff, Ph.D., from Los Alamos, John Hockman of Minerals Technologies; Emily Pentzer, Ph.D. of Texas A&M; and many others who have supported him throughout his academic journey. My success is their success; I would not be the individual and scientist I am today without their constant support, many words of encouragement, and consistent dedication to excellence for their students, said Starvaggi, who was a member of the Honors and Fellowships programs as well as a NCAA DI swimmer during his time at the Mount. As part of the Pentzer Group, Starvaggi is focusing on the development and modification of colloidal particles for the stabilization of fluid-fluid interfaces. The Pentzer Group uses fundamental organic synthesis to develop carbon-based materials with tailored, novel properties for specific applications in the areas of energy harvesting and storage. The NSF-GRFP will provide me with extraordinary leverage to pursue my research interests in graduate school and beyond, Starvaggi said. Sarah Bonson Krueger Kruegers fellowship in 2018 allowed her to complete her Ph.D. at University of Illinois, where she worked to develop molecular therapeutics for Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1), a form of muscular dystrophy. In the group of Steven C. Zimmerman, Ph.D., she synthesized and tested novel nucleic acid-targeting agents for the treatment of this disease. The Mount was integral in my development as a person and a scientist, and provided an environment in which I was able to discover, learn and grow my passion for chemistry, Krueger said. Particularly, the Mount science faculty engrained in me the importance of asking questions and continually pursuing truth. When I applied for the NSF GRFP, the faculty and the fellowships office helped me through several rounds of revision to my application materials. I am incredibly grateful for the support of the Mount faculty and fellowships office, even after I graduated, and their help in obtaining my GRFP award. While she had multiple opportunities as she finished her doctoral work this academic year, Kruger was drawn to the Mount by the strong sense of community and is returning to the university in Fall 2022 to join the science faculty. I could not be more excited to join this team, Krueger said. Not only are the faculty deeply committed to the education of their students, but the students are also invested in their learning. She provided two examples from her visit to the Mount last fall that resonated when making her decision. In giving a research talk, Krueger noticed how engaged students were in the material and the insightfulness of their questions. She also enjoyed her interactions with the students who approached her after the talk. The other thing that was really apparent in my visit was that the Mount faculty are actively dedicated to making their research groups, classrooms and teachings labs the very best they can be for the students every day. Krueger shared. Dylan Holden Holden, a 2021 NSF GRFP Fellow, began pursuing a doctorate in analytical chemistry from Purdue University in 2019. A biology, chemistry and philosophy major at the Mount, he was a researcher in Professor Pattersons lab and won the Seton Prize for the highest GPA in the biology major. Guided by the Office of Competitive Fellowships, Holden was a finalist for a Marshall Scholarship. In his undergraduate years, he also founded the Archer Addiction Foundation to advocate for improved state and local policy on accessibility of medical and counseling substance abuse treatment. At Purdue, Holden conducts groundbreaking research in the Aston Laboratories for Mass Spectrometry under principal investigator R. Graham Cooks. The Mounts Professor Patterson also worked in Cooks lab as a doctoral student at Purdue. Mary Yenca Pleasantly surprised to learn that honorable mention came with access to cyberinfrastructure resources, Yenca, a Mount senior, plans to pursue a Ph.D. at Texas A&M University in organic chemistry focusing on sustainable polymer synthesis. She became interested in this research area after the completion of a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville last summer. I appreciate the incredible support and encouragement I received from the many professors of the science department and the Office of Competitive Fellowships while applying for this award and waiting for the results, Yenca said. Dr. Patterson, Dr. Mills, and Dr. Gianoutsos, to name only a few, were instrumental during the application process, providing me with feedback and resources to make my application even more competitive. I feel very lucky to have been taught and supported by the amazing faculty of the science department at the Mount. Julia Baer Also an honorable mention honoree, Julia Baer, C21, is pursuing a doctorate in ocean sciences at the University of California Santa Cruz. A double major in biology and chemistry at the Mount, Baer, like Starvaggi was a 2020 recipient of a Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. The Office of Competitive Fellowships assisted Baer in her applications for the Goldwater, Fulbright Research Study Award for which she was a semifinalist, and NSF GRFP in 2021. Baer also was an honorable mention awardee in 2021. During her time at the Mount, Baer conducted summer research on the microbiome of blue mussels at the University of Connecticut Avery Point through the Research Experience for Undergraduates program and performed computational protein docking experiments in the lab of Assistant Professor of Chemistry Patrick Lombardi, Ph.D. At least 52 dead after strike on Ukraine station At least 52 dead after strike on Ukraine station A missile strike on a train station in eastern Ukraine killed dozens on Friday, as civilians raced to evacuate, fearing a looming Russian offensive in the region. World leaders condemned the attack in Kramatorsk, the capital of Donetsk, with US President Joe Biden accusing Russia of being behind a "horrific atrocity" that the French condemned as a "crime against humanity." At least 52 people including five children were killed, the regional government said, while President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported 300 wounded, saying the strike showed "evil with no limits". Zelenskyy said the bombing had been reported in Russia before the missiles had even landed and called for "a firm global reaction to this war crime" and more weaponry to counter Moscow's aggression. "I am sure that the victory of Ukraine is just a matter of time and I will do everything to reduce this time," he added. Journalists saw the bodies of at least 30 people under plastic sheets next to the station, amid pools of blood and bags nearby packed with the remains of a large rocket. Body parts, broken glass and abandoned baggage lay scattered around the station and across the platform. "I'm looking for my husband. He was here. I can't reach him," a woman sobbed, holding her phone to her ear. Another woman in a state of shock said: "I saw people covered in blood entering the station and bodies everywhere on the ground." Russia denied being behind the bombing, which came with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Kyiv for talks with Zelenskyy and to visit the scene of civilian killings in the town of Bucha. Russia faces "decay" because of ever tougher sanctions and Ukraine had a "European future", Von der Leyen said at a news conference with Zelenskyy. Six weeks into President Vladimir Putin's operation, Moscow has shifted its focus to eastern and southern Ukraine after stiff resistance ended plans to swiftly capture the capital Kyiv. Russian troops appear set on creating a long-sought land link between occupied Crimea and the Moscow-backed separatist statelets of Donetsk and Lugansk in Donbas, where civilians have been urged to flee heavy shelling laying waste to towns and complicating evacuation efforts. "There is no secret the battle for Donbas will be decisive. What we have already experienced all this horror it can multiply," warned Lugansk regional governor Sergiy Gaiday. In the south, the Black Sea port city of Odessa girded for rocket attacks, imposing a weekend curfew. Residents and Ukrainian officials returning after a Russian withdrawal from an area near Kyiv were taking stock of the scale of the devastation. Bucha, where authorities say hundreds were killed some with their hands bound has become a byword for the brutality allegedly inflicted under Russian occupation. But Zelenskyy warned worse was being uncovered. "They have started sorting through the ruins in Borodianka," northwest of Kyiv, he said in his nightly address. "It is much more horrific there. There are even more victims of Russian occupiers." Conflict in the area has wrought massive destruction and bodies are only now being retrieved, with 27 recovered from two destroyed buildings, according to Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova. Fresh allegations emerged from Obukhovychi, northwest of Kyiv, where villagers said they were used as human shields. Moscow has denied targeting civilians but growing evidence of atrocities has galvanised Ukraine's allies in the EU, which has approved an embargo on Russian coal and the closure of its ports to Russian vessels. The bloc has frozen 30 billion euros (US$32.6 billion) in assets from blacklisted Russian and Belarusian individuals and companies, it said on Friday. En route to Kyiv, Borrell told journalists the EU would supply 7.5 million euros to train Ukrainian prosecutors to investigate war crimes, which Russia is accused of committing. At the United Nations General Assembly, 93 nations voted on Thursday to suspend Russia from the body's human rights council prompting accusations from Moscow that the move was "illegal and politically motivated." "Russia's lies are no match for the undeniable evidence of what is happening in Ukraine," Biden said, calling the assault "an outrage to our common humanity". Ukraine has welcomed new pressure on Moscow but it continues to push for harsher sanctions and more heavy weaponry. "Either you help us now and I'm speaking about days, not weeks or your help will come too late and many people will die, many civilians will lose their homes, many villages will be destroyed," foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said after meeting Nato foreign ministers in Brussels. Britain said on Friday it was sending Ukraine more "high-grade military equipment" including Starstreak anti-aircraft missiles and 800 anti-tank missiles, while Slovakia said it had given Ukraine an S-300 air defence system. (AFP) Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who will face a no-confidence vote in the resurrected National Assembly on Saturday as per the Supreme Court verdict, said on Friday that he was "saddened" by the ruling but would respect it. In an address to the nation, Khan, however, rued that the top court did not consider the "foreign conspiracy" angle in its Thursday verdict and should have at least initiated a probe. "I respect the Supreme Court and the judiciary, but the apex court should have looked at the threat letter before issuing the verdict," Khan said, complaining that it did not take the matter of the "threat letter" seriously, Geo News reported. "There was foreign interference in Pakistan's no-confidence motion. I wanted the SC to at least look at it, it was a very serious allegation that a foreign country wants to topple the government through a conspiracy. "The SC could have at least asked for and looked at the document to gauge whether we're speaking the truth. I was a bit disappointed because this is a very big issue and there was no discussion on it in the SC." Citing his arrest under a previous regime, Khan said that he strongly believes that the judiciary is the guardian of justice in the country, but added that he was disappointed by the court's stand on the Constitution's Article 63 (A) regarding horse-trading. "The youth of Pakistan is our future and if they see leaders selling their conscience, what precedent are we setting for them," he asked. Even the MNAs who came on reserved seats were tainted by the malaise of horse-trading, he added. About the threat letter, he said that it could not be shared publicly as it is in code and if these codes are revealed, "all secret information of Pakistan will be unveiled". Khan also said that in the meeting of the Pakistani Ambassador to the US with a top US official, the latter had castigated his visit to Russia. He claimed that even before the no-confidence motion was filed against him, the US official had warned the Pakistani Ambassador that if Imran Khan manages to save himself, Pakistan will have to face "severe consequences", adding that the US seemed to know the opposition's plan in advance and also who would be the new PM. He said that the Ambassador was told that if Imran Khan is ousted, Pakistan will be spared no matter who takes the charge, and alleged that PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, "who apparently has prepared his sherwani for the oath-taking ceremony", was involved in this "foreign conspiracy". On Thursday, the Supreme Court of Pakistan declared "unconstitutional" NA Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri's ruling scrapping the no-confidence motion and the government's subsequent move to dissolve the National Assembly. It has ordered Assembly Speaker Asad Qasier to summon a session on Saturday and allow the vote on the no-confidence motion. Earlier in the day, Khan chaired a Cabinet meeting, following which Minister for Information and Law, Fawad Chaudhry, said a commission will be formed that would probe the "threat letter" and present its report within 90 days after investigating how many dissident MNAs were in contact with "foreign powers". He also said that the parliamentarians would be briefed regarding the details of the threat letter before the voting on the no-confidence motion. --IANS vd/arm ( 571 Words) 2022-04-08-23:02:03 (IANS) The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday approved a proposal for signing a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and the Financial Regulatory Commission, Mongolia (FRC). The proposed bilateral MoU would, in addition to contributing towards strengthening the information sharing framework leading to effective enforcement of securities laws, also help in establishing a technical assistance programme, according to an official statement released after the cabinet meeting. "The technical assistance programme would benefit the Authorities by way of consultations on matters relating to capital markets, capacity building activities and training programmes for the staff," it said. Financial Regulatory Commission, Mongolia, like SEBI, is a co-signatory to the International Organization of Securities Commissions' Multilateral MoU (IOSCO MMoU). However, the IOSCO MMoU does not have under its scope the provision for technical assistance. Established in 2006, the Financial Regulatory Commission (FRC), Mongolia, is a parliamentary authority mandated to supervise and regulate the non-bank sector; including the insurance and securities markets, and participants of the microfinance sector. The FRC is responsible for providing stable and sound financial markets. The Commission exercises power over non-bank financial institutions, insurance companies and intermediaries, securities firms, and savings and credit cooperatives. At the same time, it ensures the rights of individual financial market clients (securities holders, domestic and foreign investors, and insurance policyholders) and protects against financial malpractices. (ANI) Saraikela (Jharkhand)/Banka (Bihar) [India], April 9 (ANI/BusinessWire India): Oriano Clean Energy Private Limited, India's leading Cleantech Company, being into Development & EPC is awarded contract to build 30 (2 x 15) MWp of Solar PV projects in Bihar and 10.30 MWp in Jharkhand under Captive Open Access Mechanism for Shree Cement Limited (SCL). With this addition, the order execution of Oriano Solar stands at approximately 750+ MWp with 400+ MWp commissioned & balance under development & execution, thereby cementing its position as India's leading Cleantech Company. Oriano ranks top 10 Solar EPC companies in Utility Segment. Oriano is targeting a Solar portfolio of 1+ GW by 2022. The scope of work includes Design, Engineering, Supply of Balance of Plant Equipments Erection, Commissioning, Testing & PGT including civil construction work. The SCL project site is located in Banka, Bihar for 2 x 15 MWp and Seraikela Kharsawan, Jharkhand for 10.30 MWp. Speaking on the achievement, Lokendra Singh, Co-founder & Director, Oriano Clean Energy said, "We are pleased to announce the new win of this esteemed solar EPC contract from SCL. We are committed to the best of Industry Quality, HSE, Engineering & Business Practices and delivering high-performing Assets and Asset Management. Oriano is one of the largest players in C&I Open Access Segment in the country." Oriano is currently executing large-scale projects in Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Bihar & Jharkhand. Oriano is active in 12+ states in the country. Shree Cement Ltd., established in 1979, is today amongst the top 3 cement groups in India and has a consolidated cement production capacity of 46.4 million tonnes per annum in India and a power generation capacity of 762.7 megawatts out of which green energy generation is 211 megawatts, and solar & wind is 43.74 megawatt. The company with current market capitalization of INR 80,000 Crores is amongst the top 50 companies in India and is part of Nifty-fifty index. In terms of cost-efficiency, it is one of the lowest cost cement producers in India. The company also holds world records in project execution and is known for completing projects ahead of schedule. IRR of Shree Cement stock till 28th Feb. 2022, since its IPQ in 1985, stands at 25.72%. The company is considered one of the most efficient cement producers and has received highest 5-star rating by international benchmarking firm Whitehopleman, UK in 2015. It was the second-highest on carbon-related metrics in the world cement industry as per the latest sector report released by the CDP in 2015. It was the second-highest on carbon-related metrics in the world cement industry as per the latest sector report released by the CDP in 2015. It is the first cement company in India to produce synthetic gypsum to replace natural gypsum in cent manufacturing, an effort recognized by the Govt. of India as proven R&D. It is the first Indian cement company to join Cement Sustainability Initiative of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Switzerland. Shree Cement was also nominated as 'New Sustainability Champion' by the World Economic Forum in 2011 after screening of over 1 million companies across the globe. The company also has overseas operations in the UAE where it operates a 4.0 MTPA plant through subsidiary Union Cement Company. Shree Cement is also among the industry pioneers for the use of alternate fuel resources in the production of cement and today has one of the highest installed capacities of Waste Heat Recover Power Plants in the world cement industry. https:\\www.shreecement.com This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India) The negotiations between National Plant Protection Organisations of India and Canada on market access for Indian banana and baby corn resulted in Canadian market access for these commodities, it said. Manoj Ahuja, Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, met Cameron MacKay, Canadian High Commissioner in India, on 7th April here to discuss the issue. MacKay informed that the export of fresh baby corn from India to Canada may begin from April 2022 after updation of directive D-95-28: Plant Protection Import and Domestic Movement Requirements for Corn and the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS), according to a statement released by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. "Based on the technical information provided for fresh banana by India, Canada has approved banana for entry into Canada with immediate effect," it said. This decision of the Government of Canada would immensely benefit the Indian farmers growing these crops and would also enhance India's export earnings, the ministry added. (ANI) Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], April 9 (ANI/PNN): Zurich-based MedTech startup Sleepiz (Ltd) has collaborated with SMS Hospital, Ahmedabad, to introduce its innovative technology that can upgrade any general ward into a smart ward to enable early detection of Code blue in the hospital and save lives. Code blue, a medical term for sudden deterioration of a patient in a hospital ward leading to a life-threatening moment, is a pressing problem worldwide. Most of these deaths in hospitals can be prevented through timely intervention. However, with the current manual monitoring processes, it is very challenging to get notified of these events on time. Sleepiz uses smart medical devices and AI-driven algorithms to enable early detection of these events. Doctors and nurses get a real-time notifications on their phone in case a patient starts to deteriorate. Nurses can activate the immediate response team and take timely action to prevent such deaths. Sleepiz and SMS Hospital have partnered to bring this innovative technology to Ahmedabad. And, in just a month, they have impacted the lives of 58 patients with 191 timely actions. The device, Sleepiz One+, monitors three key vital signs of a patient - pulse rate, blood oxygen saturation, and respiration rate. The data is simultaneously transmitted to a cloud platform, which is collected, evaluated, and shared in real-time 24x7 by the Sleepiz CARE (Cardiorespiratory Evaluators) team with the physician. In case of any signs of deterioration in the patient's health, the physician is immediately alerted. "Sleepiz One+ is the world's first medically CEIIa certified device to monitor respiration in a non-contact manner. It is powered by an integrated SpO2 (Oxygen saturation) sensor and provides completely new insights from continuous data and trend analyses. Our continuous monitoring technology enables hospitals to provide care to patients like never before," said Dr Roshni Srivastava, Clinical Operation Manager of Sleepiz leading the partnership with SMS hospital. Using Sleepiz One+, any general bed can be converted into a step-down ICU or HDU (high dependency unit) in a simple and affordable manner. The device helps reduce the burden on hospitals and healthcare personnel by addressing the need for continuous monitoring of vital parameters and data-driven triaging of patients. "Sleepiz One+ is an extremely cost-effective and convenient device and has the potential to shape the future of healthcare. We are happy to collaborate with Sleepiz to bring this innovative solution to India and look forward to serving the people of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar," said Dr MM Prabhakar, Medical Superintendent of SMS Hospital. Sleepiz's vision of improving people's lives by creating the future of healthcare is already making a notable difference. More than 307 patients have been monitored for more than 7,776 hours using the device, with over 1,677 life-saving escalations in just two months. Sleepiz is driven by a mission to provide patient-centric disease management in hospital and homes through its innovation. It is now entering India to bring the innovation to the Indian healthcare system and impact the lives of millions of patients in the country. Sleepiz AG was founded in 2018 as a spin-off from ETH Zurich by Soumya Dash, Max Sieghold and Marc Rullan, and aims to improve people's lives by helping to shape the future of healthcare. Sleepiz brings its innovative contactless technology to improve patient outcomes, in a convenient and cost-effective manner. Sleepiz works with leading hospitals globally, including University Hospital Basel, Switzerland, Hirslanden Switzerland, and AIIMS Patna, India. The startup, which has over 60 employees, has raised over USD 9 million in investment capital to date and has received funding from institutions such as Innosuisse (Swiss Innovation Agency) and the European Commission. Investors include ZKB, Verve Ventures, an American health insurance company and four sharks of Swiss Shark Tank. This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN) New Delhi [India] April 9 (ANI/ATK): BJP has revived nationalism, good governance and cultural pride in the country. To strengthen this renaissance, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha has envisaged a Sushasan Yatra for the activists. Sushasan Yatra is a unique experiential learning program where BJYM office-bearers, especially at the district and mandal level, are given the opportunity to travel to different states to observe and learn from the progress and developmental work under Prime Minister Modi and BJP state governments. It aims at giving wide exposure to the BJYM cadre and expanding their horizon of imagination and aspirations while grooming them to be the leaders of tomorrow in their respective regions. The state of Karnataka hosted the inaugural delegation with National President of BJYM and MP Tejasvi Surya himself, leading the 40-member delegation from 17 states. With his works and his brilliant way of thinking, youth leader and an MP, Tejasvi Surya, has made politics alluring for the youth of the country. He has awakened a new political consciousness in the minds of the youth, this Sushasan Yatra, started under his leadership is a mirror of that political consciousness. During this four-day Sushasan Yatra, the delegation of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha led by Tejasvi Surya got the opportunity to visit the big industrial units Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Ola Future Factory and Pavagada Solar Park contributing to Atmanirbhar Bharat. Yuva Morcha workers from different parts of the country arrived to participate in Sushasan Yatra. This Sushasan Yatra started with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. HAL is playing an important role in making India self-reliant by realising the Make in India vision in the defense sector. With this, India will not only be able to meet its defense needs with indigenous weapons, but also there will be a boom of Make in India weapons all over the globe. The delegation interacted with the employees and experts working in HAL to know and understand their passion for service to the nation and their struggles. After HAL, Yuva Morcha workers along with Tejasvi Surya reached Ola Future Factory. Located in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu, Ola Future Factory is the country's leading electric scooter manufacturing factory. Ola's main objective through manufacturing electric scooters is to control carbon emissions by reducing country's dependence on petroleum products so that the dream of Green India can be realised. At its full capacity, this factory will provide employment opportunities to 10,000 women. In the course of Sushasan Yatra, delegation also got an opportunity to visit Pavagada Solar Park located in Tumkur, Karnataka. The park, which was completed in 2019, has the capacity of 2,050 MW and is spread over 53 square kilometers. It is the third largest solar park in the world. Pavagada Solar Plant is playing an important role in reducing dependence on conventional sources of energy. The delegation got first-hand experience of the start-up ecosystem of Bengaluru, manufacturing of Tejas at HAL, industry 4.0 at Ola Future Factory and Pavagada solar park. The delegation also visited Hampi, the capital city of the erstwhile Vijayanagar Empire, to understand the roots of the Indian urban governance and cultural and political foundations of modern India. Every month, BJYM delegations will visit different states to understand the transformation underway in India and forge stronger ties between BJYM state units to give them a national vision for the Amrit Kaal. This story is provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/ATK) Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has clarified there is no platform to facilitate rupee-rouble trade and the central bank is in discussion with all the stakeholders in this regard. Responding to a question during a press conference held on Friday, RBI Deputy Governor T Rabi Sankar said, "On the Indo-Russian trade, there is no platform that I am aware of. There are press reports, but there is nothing I am aware of." "Anything that we do will be sensitive to the sanctions. So nothing specific, I mean the war has obviously disrupted trade and payments. We are discussing with all stakeholders and remaining sensitive to sanctions. If and when anything is decided you will come to know," Sankar told reporters. It has been reported in a section of media that the RBI is in talks with Russia to develop a Rupee-Rouble transaction platform. Sankar also clarified that there is no new payment platform available between New Delhi and Moscow since the war erupted in late February. Any such payment mechanism involving rupee and rouble payments for imports and exports would help circumvent the sweeping economic sanctions imposed on Russia by the western nations, including freezing many key Kremlin officials' individual accounts and snapping Russian banks from the international payment gateway SWIFT. Reacting to the issue, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said the RBI would not do anything that goes against the sanctions. (ANI) New Delhi [India], April 9 (ANI/Target Media): This financial support is from Bahamian-based GEM Digital Limited, a digital asset investment firm. Zenith Chain, a Lithuania-based Blockchain Startup has signed an investment funding deal worth $35 million with GEM Digital Limited. The investment will serve as a medium to move the company from where it is currently to a much better position while the entire team continues to work tirelessly to further improve the business both in operations and overall management of the company, said the CEO, Jonathan Emmanuel. In his words, "This investment funding from GEM will help the company further improve on its existing products and help in the launch of new ones, thereby achieving its goal of creating blockchain solutions for extensive use and ultimately increasing user adoption." Zenith Chain is a blockchain technology startup with a vision of creating an affordable blockchain solution that offers speed and security while maintaining a near-zero fee for transactions. The establishment already ranks as one of the best startups in Lithuania. the blockchain is compatible with all current smart contracts built on the Ethereum network and also suitable for minting NFTs and developing decentralized crypto exchanges. Zenith Exchange: a cutting-edge new-age crypto exchange that offers secure trading. It is a regulated exchange platform that handles critical issues such as security, liquidity, and fiat to crypto and vice versa transactions, among others. GEM Digital Limited is a digital asset investment firm. Based in The Bahamas, the firm actively sources, structures and invests in utility tokens listed on over 30 CEXs and DEXs globally. Global Emerging Markets ("GEM") is a $3.4 billion, alternative investment group with operations in Paris, New York, and Bahamas. GEM manages a diverse set of investment vehicles focused on emerging markets and has completed over 500 transactions in 72 countries. Each investment vehicle has a different degree of operational control, risk-adjusted return, and liquidity profile. The family of funds and investment vehicles provide GEM and its partners with exposure to: Small-Mid Cap Management Buyouts, Private Investments in Public Equities and select venture investments. This story is provided by Target Media. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/Target Media) US reality TV star Khloe Kardashian was criticised for carrying her 3-year-old daughter True Thompson during the premiere event of her family's new reality series 'The Kardashians'. Responding to the photos clicked during the program on Thursday, a section of fans began targeting Khloe, accusing her of being overprotective towards her daughter. This wasn't particularly taken well by Khloe as she took to Twitter and slammed her critics with grace. "For the people who comment that I hold True too much... number 1 I'm gonna hold my baby until I can't hold her anymore. Number 2 when there's tons of cameras around, flashing lights, peps yelling things...I want my baby to feel safe. Worry about your own children. We good over here," the 'Good' American CEO tweeted on Friday. The red carpet premiere for their upcoming family reality show 'The Kardashians' on Hulu had taken place at Goya Studios in Los Angeles. The Kardashian family was present at the starry event with Khloe and daughter True sporting matching beige outfits. A major highlight of the event was the red carpet debut of Kim Kardashian and boyfriend Pete Davidson together, who walked hand-in-hand to the event. Khloe, the 37-year-old multi-millionaire, shares her daughter True with her ex-boyfriend Tristan Thompson, with whom she has had an on/off relationship since 2016. After the end of 'Keeping Up With The Kardashians', the new Hulu series 'The Kardashians' is set to release on April 14, with episodes dropping every Thursday after. (ANI) Morrison took to his Instagram handle and posted photos of the dishes he cooked for the curry night which were from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's homeland Gujarat. In the caption, he wrote, "To celebrate our new trade agreement with India, the curries I chose to cook for curry night tonight are all from my dear friend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Gujurat province, including his favourite Khichdi. Jen, girls and mum all approve." In the first picture, the Australian PM could be seen posing for a selfie with 'khichdi' being cooked on a stove in the background. The second image was a snap of the dishes he cooked for his curry night. ECTA is the first trade agreement of India with a developed country after more than a decade and provides for an institutional mechanism to improve trade between the two countries. Australia is the 17th largest trading partner of India and India is Australia's 9th largest trading partner. The ECTA is expected to almost double the bilateral trade from USD 27.5 bn (2021) to about USD 45 to USD 50 Billion in the next five years. ECTA is expected to create new employment opportunities, raise living standards and enhance the overall welfare of the people of both countries. Additional employment generation is expected to be 10 lakhs within the next five years. (ANI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray condemned the attack outside Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar's residence and directed the administration to take action against those who ignited the violence. A group of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) workers tried to enter Sharad Pawar's residence and held a protest by hurling stones and slippers at his place. "I had instructed the Home Minister to take stern action against those who incited or incited violence as well as those who incited it. No one should act in a way that endangers law and order in response to this heinous incident," Thackeray said. He said that attacking leaders or their residences have never been the culture of Maharashtra and the state has never ignored their demands despite continuous agitation. "The state government is taking all possible steps for the benefit of ST employees. The state government had never ignored their demands. We have given as many financial and service benefits as possible out of the feeling that the employees of the corporation are ours," the Chief Minister stated. Thackeray also said that the Mumbai High Court has been informed about the decisions taken by the state government for ST employees and it is also keeping an eye on all those cases and have given its verdict in this regard. "Information about this was submitted to the Mumbai High Court from time to time. The court also took note of this and asked the agitating employees of ST to return to work. While the news was reaching us that the staff had also welcomed it, a mob suddenly reached the residence of senior leader Sharad Pawar this afternoon and shouted slogans and hurled stones and slippers at his residence," he added. Further, Thackeray assured that the state government will always be with the ST workers and their families for their welfare. Mumbai Police have arrested as many as 105 people hours after hundreds of workers of the state road transport corporation held a protest outside Sharad Pawar's residence. The Police have registered cases against 105 people under different sections of IPC in connection with the protest outside the house of Pawar, the seniormost leader in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. The protest comes a day after the Bombay High Court asked the striking workers of the transport corporation to resume duty by April 22. MSRTC staffers have been agitating since late October demanding a merger of the corporation with the state government, which would give them better salaries and greater job security. (ANI) Karnataka government will establish the 'anchor bank' to ease the availability of financial help for women's self-help groups, said Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday. Inaugurating the 'Sanjeevini Saras-2022' national mela at Basavanagudi National College Grounds on Friday evening, Bommai said that the anchor bank will ensure the financial help within one-month duration thus enabling the SHG women entrepreneurs to commence their activities at the earliest. In the recent budget, an amount of Rs 500 crores have been earmarked to further strengthen women's self-help groups which are estimated to create four lakh self-employment opportunities, the chief minister informed. He further said that in the budget, the government has allocated Rs 47,000 crores for women's welfare and Rs 43,000 crores for children's welfare and the government will issue an order within a week to implement these intended programmes. Though the state stands in fourth place in the country in terms of per capita income, only 25-30 per cent are contributing to the GSDP, and the rest 70 per cent are working only for their livelihood, he said. Bommai asserted that the government is taking all measures to empower those who are in the 70 per cent group so that they also will be able to engage in economic activities which contribute to the GSDP. Among women, only 5-10 per cent are economically self-dependent. Despite women toiling hard in every sector, their effort is not being valued in a justifiable manner. Inclusive growth will become a reality only when women are actively involved in economic activities, he opined. The chief minister also mentioned that the transactions by SHGs have doubled as a result of linking them with e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart, etc. Dr Ashwath Narayan, Minister for Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood, in his introductory remarks said, the government aspires for equal distribution of resources by empowering women belonging to self-help groups. Ministers MTB Nagaraj, Shakarappa Munenakoppa, MLC A Devegowda, MLAs Uday B Garudachar, Ravi Subrahmanya, Actresses Lakshmi Gopalaswamy, Sonu Gowda, National Livelihood Mission Director Manjusri, ACS Selvakumar, ACS Vandita Sharma were among those who were present. Over 300 stalls set up by SHGs from 23 states will display and sell more than 150 different products till April 18, Bommai added. (ANI) A day after photographs of a group of semi-naked men including a YouTube journalist at a police station in Madhya Pradesh's Sidhi sparked controversy and raised questions about the police action, Director General of Police (DGP) Sudhir Saxena on Friday ordered an inquiry into the matter. Saxena has appointed senior IPS officer Amit Singh, who is posted in Bhopal, to supervise the investigation, a police spokesperson told IANS. The incident was reported from Madhya Pradesh's Sidhi district where a journalist along with others was protesting against the arrest of a theatre artiste identified as Neeraj Kunder, accused of using objectionable language against a BJP MLA and his family, and spreading fake news about the legislator. YouTube journalist Kanishk Tiwari who was among the men detained and stripped at the police station, told IANS that he and others were put in the lockup, abused, beaten up and forced to strip. "I had filed a report that was deemed to be against (BJP MLA) Kedarnath Shukla and because of that news, I was targeted," Tiwari said. Meanwhile, a video that surfaced on social media suggests that Tiwari along with others was protesting outside the police station. In the video, sloganeering was heard against MLA Shukla and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The police personnel present at the site were seen taking them to the police station. The video also shows that the protesters were thrashed by the police. After the photographs surfaced on social media, SHO Manoj Soni -- who has been suspended now, said: "They were not completely naked. We kept them in their innerwear in the lockup for security reasons so that no person hangs himself using the clothes." However, taking cognizance of the matter, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has directed the police to investigate the matter and take strict action against the police personnel who had forced the detained individuals to take off their clothes. Superintendent of Police, Sidhi, Mukesh Srivastava told the media that two SHOs -- Manoj Soni and Abhishek Singh, have been suspended. "I came to know that a high level enquiry has been ordered by the DGP and a senior officer Amit Singh will be investigating the entire incident," Srivastava added. Srivastava had on Thursday told IANS that an FIR was registered a few days ago against Kunder who had been allegedly abusing Shukla using a fake ID on the social media. Action was taken against him and he was sent to jail. --IANS pd/pgh/bg ( 424 Words) 2022-04-08-21:00:03 (IANS) Taking suo motu cognisance of a case wherein a journalist was allegedly chained to a hospital bed following arrest, the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) on Friday directed the police to submit a report within 15 days. "Taking cognisance of the matter suo motu, the Commission directs the inspector general of police, eastern range, Balasore to submit a report in the matter addressing the facts reported in the news items, more particularly justifying the reason for putting the victim under fetters in the hospital bed within 15 days from the date of receipt of the order," the OHRC said in its order. The Commission has also asked the chief district medical officer and the public health officer to submit a report on this case. Loknath Dalei, 50, a reporter of a regional media house, was allegedly thrashed by the cops at Nilagiri Police station, where he was called for reportedly abusing and assaulting a Home Guard. Later, he was taken to a hospital for treatment where his legs were allegedly chained by cops to a hospital bed. The Editors Guild of India on Friday expressed concern over this issue. In a press statement, the journalist's body urged the union home ministry to take immediate cognizance of the police excesses against journalists and civil society members. "At the same time strict action needs to be taken against those who misuse state power," it said. Journalists, political leaders and social activists of Odisha have strongly condemned this incident and demanded strong action against the involved persons. Meanwhile, a 'havildar' of Nilagiri police station has been suspended while inspector-in-charge (IIC) Draupadi Das and investigating officer Subarna Behera were transferred. Speaking to the media, Narasingha Bhola, IG of police, said that this incident is unfortunate, illegal and a violation of human rights. "We have taken this case very seriously and it is being investigated by a DSP-rank officer. The probe will find under which circumstances Dalei has been arrested and what prompted the police to put a chain on his leg," he said. Action will be taken whoever is found guilty in this case, he assured. --IANS bbm/pgh ( 366 Words) 2022-04-08-21:00:04 (IANS) The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is likely to approve the CRPF's proposal to procure new bullet proof vehicles for VVIP security, sources in the Ministry said. The Ministry is examining the proposal and soon will take a decision as this is an important component in the VVIP security, they said. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has recently sent a proposal for procuring 25 new bullet proof vehicles for the VIP protectees as the current vehicles used for providing security are old and have their limitations. Citing reasons for the procurement of the new vehicles, the officials in the Force said the present vehicles have a front-seat arrangement while the central-seating arrangement for VIPs will be safer from a security point of view. The vehicles used as of now, were not procured for VIP security purposes, the officials said. The sources in the Ministry also said that more vehicles will be procured and stationed at various formations of the CRPF across the country as many protectees have the all India security cover and in that case, the Force has to remain dependent on the bullet proof vehicles provided by the concerned states. The CRPF's VIP security wing has been providing armed security to a total of 117 protectees under various categories -- Z+, Z, Y+, Y and Z that includes high-profile leaders like Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP chief JP Nadda, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, MP Rahul Gandhi and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. --IANS ams/pgh ( 263 Words) 2022-04-08-21:16:04 (IANS) A court here on Friday turned down the bail plea of United Against Hate founder Khalid Saifi in a UAPA case in connection with an alleged larger conspiracy behind the northeast Delhi riots of 2020. Rejecting the bail application, Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat said: "I am of the opinion that allegations against the accused Khalid Saifi are prima facie true." Saifi's counsel Rebecca John, argued that he has been falsely implicated in this case and the entire case of the prosecution is unsubstantiated without any evidence to link with the communal riots of 2020. She also argued that other than the 'bald' statement made in the supplementary charge sheet, there was no evidence to show that Khalid Saifi met former JNU student Umar Khalid, another accused in the larger conspiracy case in December 2019, or Khalid gave him any direction to raise a protest site at Khureji. Opposing John's arguments, Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad said that there is sufficient material on record to establish that the accusation against Khalid Saifi is prima facie true and hence the bail application may be dismissed. Prasad further said the protests were not just about CAA or NRC but to embarrass the government and to take such steps that it get gets highlighted in the international media. After the detailed submissions, Saifi has been denied the bail. --IANS jw/pgh ( 242 Words) 2022-04-08-23:18:09 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday disbursed Rs 1,024 crores to the mothers of 10,68,150 students across the state under its flagship scheme Jagananna Vasathi Deevena which helps the students with boarding and lodging charges for 2021-22. "By depositing the financial assistance directly into mothers' accounts, they are now demanding accountability. It gives them the right to question the college management. We placed a great deal of responsibility on the mothers to deal with college and the children's future," Reddy said while addressing the students here. He further said that every student should be able to complete their education, and that is their right. "Our government will ensure that every child gets a quality education. They should be focusing only on the studies not perplexed about other issues," the Chief Minister stated. With the aim of no students being deprived of higher education due to poverty and parents should not sink into debts for education expenses for their children, the state government is crediting the amount directly to the bank accounts of mothers of the students under Jaganna Vasathi Deevena. Under the scheme, the government disburses the payment in two instalments every year so students could take care of their boarding and lodging expenses. Students of ITI are entitled to receive Rs 10,000, Polytechnic Rs 15,000, and Rs 20,000 for Degree, Engineering, and Medicine students. Taking a dig at the previous government, the Chief Minister said, "Recently, the government reimbursed a total fee of Rs 709 crores for the quarter October-December 2021 through Jagananna Vidya Deevena." "In 34 months of our government, Rs 6969 crore was deposited under Jaganna Vidya Deevena including the arrears of Rs 1,778 crore kept by the previous government and Rs 3,329 under Jagananna Vasathi Deevena," he added. (ANI) Two days after the registration of a case against BJP leader Kirit Somaiya and his son Neil Somaiya allegedly for financial bungling, the Mumbai police have summoned both of them to appear at the police station to record their statements on Saturday. Mumbai Police asked Kirit Somaiya to appear before Trombay Police Station today in connection with the alleged misappropriation of funds collected to save aircraft carrier INS Vikrant from scrapping. A case has been registered against Kirit Somaiya and his son Neil Somaiya allegedly for financial bungling on the complaint of a former soldier Baban Bhosle. Senior Police Inspector (PI), Rehana Sheikh said, "A case has been registered against Kirit Somaiya and Neil Somaiya under Sections 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 406 (Punishment for criminal breach of trust) and 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in the Trombay Police station in Mumbai for INS Vikrant financial bungling." After the Enforcement Directorate (ED) took action against Shiv Sena Leader Sanjay Raut in the money laundering case, Raut on Wednesday accused the BJP MP Somaiya of financial bungling, alleging that he had collected around Rs 57 crore from the people as part of a campaign to save the INS Vikrant, the fund wasn't submitted to the state exchequer. Further investigation is underway. (ANI) Congress Campaign Committee chairperson Madhu Goud Yaskhi on Friday hit out at the Central and Telangana governments over the paddy procurement issue and called it a "big scam". "In Telangana, we are facing a peculiar situation, the ruling party blames the Centre for procurement while the Centre says there is no ban on procurement. Both the TRS and BJP government are playing with the lives of farmers. Paddy Procurement should continue every season," Yaskhi told ANI. He further accused the state government of tricking the farmers on the subject. "Instead of solving the issue, the state government is fooling the farmers by colluding with Rice Millers. When the rice millers buy the paddy at Rs 400 less than the MSP, the CM later will come and buy the product at MSP. A big scam planned by the Chandrashekar Rao," hee added. Meanwhile, the Telangana government decided to stage a dharna in the national capital on April 11 to mark a protest against the Centre's paddy procurement policy. TRS MLC K Kavitha, who is the daughter of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, said in the national capital that if the Centre did not pay attention to the situation of the farmers of the state, they would be forced to agitate on the streets of Delhi. On March 24, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Piyush Goyal assured farmers of Telangana that there is absolutely no discrimination among the farmers from different states and added that some politicians in Telangana are misleading the farmers in the state. This statement comes from the Union Minister in light of the recent meeting with the delegation of Telangana Ministers and officials who had come to the national capital to press the demand that the Food Corporation of India should procure the entire quantity of paddy produced in the State. Telangana government has been demanding the Centre procure the entire paddy produced in the State. Last year, a delegation of Ministers from the State had even met union Ministers to make a clear announcement on paddy procurement, including the quantity. However, there has been no amicable solution obtained to the problem yet. (ANI) Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday held a meeting with BJP MPs from the state in the national capital to discuss the preparations for civic polls and organizational issues in the state. Along with CM Khattar, Haryana BJP President Om Prakash Dhankar, and MPs including Krishna Pal Gurjar, Ramesh Kaushik, Arvind Pandey, Dushyant Gautam DP Vats and others were present in the meeting. "We have discussed the upcoming municipal corporation elections and Panchayati Raj polls. There are some municipal bodies in every parliamentary constituency," the state BJP president told ANI after the meeting. Speaking about the preparation of civil polls in Haryana, he said that Mahila Morcha is trying to bring one lakh new members while Yuva Morcha is also engaged in the work. He also informed that BJP National chief JP Nadda will inaugurate the BJP office in Gurugram on April 14. "We have already discussed the ongoing standoff between Punjab and Haryana after both the State Assemblies passed resolutions claiming their right on Chandigarh," Dhankar said. Further, the Haryana BJP chief took a swipe at Aam Aadmi Party saying that it has won the Punjab Assembly elections under the pretext of exaggerated promises made to the public, adding the newly-elected government does not have enough resources to fulfil those commitments. Row over Chandigarh came to the fore after the Punjab Assembly last week passed a resolution reiterating the state's claim on Chandigarh. The move was made after the decision of the Central Government to implement Central Service Rules on Chandigarh employees. In an attempt to counter the resolution passed by Punjab Vidhan Sabha last week staking a claim on Chandigarh, the Haryana Assembly Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution moved by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar during a special session of the Assembly convened Tuesday. (ANI) Union Minister of Rural Development, Giriraj Singh on Friday, drawing an analogy between the '60 years of the Congress rule and eight years of the BJP government' at the Centre, said that the former built only 3.26 crore houses in their rule while Prime Minister Narendra Modi had built 3 crore houses only in eight years. Speaking to ANI, Singh said, "Everyone gave slogans, and someone gave 'Garibi Hatao', but they duped the poor. It is 60 years versus 8 years. A family ruled for nearly 60 years, it built only 3.26 crore houses under Indira Gandhi Awas Yojana. But PM Modi built 3 crore houses in eight years. He not only handed over keys to the women but also gave economic power through self-help groups." Earlier on Friday, PM Modi announced the completion of 3 crore 'pucca' houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for the poor and said that the houses have also become the "symbol of women empowerment". Under the PM Awas Yojana (rural), the construction of 2.52 crore houses has been completed. For this, the amount of Rs 1.95 lakh crore was sanctioned. As many as 58 lakh houses have been constructed under the PM Awas Yojana (urban) so far. An amount of Rs 1.18 lakh crore was sanctioned for the purpose. Every house comes with basic facilities including the gas connection under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, water connection and electricity. (ANI) As per officials, all the injured have been rushed to BL Kapoor Hospital. Ten fire tenders are present at the spot to douse the fire. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. More details into the fire mishap are awaited. In yet another fire accident that took place the same day, a fire broke out in a few shops and later spread across three buildings in the Azad market area of the national capital today which has now been brought under control. "The fire that broke out in a few shops in Azad Market today has been brought under control with the help of 20 fire engines. The fire was spread across 3 buildings," said Rajinder Atwal, Divisional Fire Officer, Delhi Fire Service. No casualties were reported so far. (ANI) The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) national general secretary Nara Lokesh, on Friday, stressed the need for stringent action to restrain the ruling Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) from misusing the public universities for providing jobs to its party activists in the private companies, in his letter to the Ministry of Education and the University Grants Commission (UGC). He urged the UGC to prevent the abuse of State universities for conducting politically motivated events and job melas in Andhra Pradesh. Seeking urgent action, Lokesh wrote separate letters to the Chairman of UGC as well as to the Secretary of the department of higher education, Ministry of Education. "The YSRCP job melas in educational institutions were in total violation of the constitutional principles and established ethical norms," he pointed out in the letter. Lokesh said, "on 1 April 2022, the then Rajya Sabha MP Vijaya Sai Reddy announced that their YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) will be conducting job melas in three universities, namely Andhra University (Visakhapatnam), Sri Venkateswara University (Tirupati), and Acharya Nagarjuna University (Guntur District)." The TDP MLC pointed out that Vijaya Sai had not hesitated to say that these job melas were their party activity being held under the orders of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, who was also the president of the YSR Congress. "These job melas are intended to benefit YSRCP cadre and those who worked for its win in the 2019 elections, the MP clarified. Lokesh said Vijaya Sai had also promised to provide 15,000-25,000 jobs at private companies for candidates with qualifications up to class 10 and above. He had also launched a website for this purpose. "This violates multiple constitutional principles. One, government institutions are being utilized for a YSRCP party activity. Two, by limiting the opportunities to only YSRCP party cadre and followers, the government is clearly neglecting lakhs of other graduates who remain unemployed." Nara Lokesh recalled that as per the report of the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), the unemployment rate among graduates in AP has risen to 35 per cent now. This was alarmingly the highest in South India and the fourth highest in India, said the TDP leader. In this situation, it is shocking that the ruling YSRCP is conducting a job mela meant only for its own cadre and followers, alleged Lokesh. Lokesh termed it 'unpardonable' that the YSRCP was giving a signal that party loyalty would be the foremost quality needed but not the right education and college background. "It would push our educational institutions into unwanted party politics. It is shocking that the ruling party of AP is resorting to such practices through its job melas, with active backing of the Chief Minister," said Lokesh. The TDP MLC urged for prompt action on this issue and immediate corrective action from the UGC failing which the YSRCP job melas would set a bad precedent for other States. "There should be no erosion of ethics and values in educational institutes," he added. (ANI) The family of the student from Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad who was shot dead in Canada's Toronto suspect robbery to be the motive for the killing. According to reports, the student identified as Kartik Vasudev had gone to Canada this January and was pursuing a course in Global Management. Vasudev who was killed following a shooting outside the Sherbourne subway station on Thursday evening worked part-time at a restaurant in Toronto. Ritesh Vasudev, the deceased's father told ANI that they came to know about the incident after receiving a call from the Toronto Police. "I think it is a case of robbery, somebody must have tired to snatch my son's bag... he had gone to Canada this January to study. He was also working part time in a restaurant. When he departed for his work and left the metro subway, somebody shot at him," Vasudev said. "We came to know that he was missing when we got a call from his friends telling us that he did not show up at the workplace. Upon enquiring, we came to know that there was a shootout and a picture of the bag he was carrying was published in the local newspaper. We received the call from the police informing us that he had been shot," he said. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday expressed grief over the death of Vasudev. Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar also offered his "deepest condolences" to the family. "Grieved by this tragic incident. Deepest condolences to the family," Jaishankar tweeted. The Indian Embassy in Toronto said that it is in touch with the family and would provide all possible assistance for the early repatriation of the mortal remains. "We are shocked and distressed at the unfortunate killing of Indian student Kartik Vasudev in a shooting incident in Toronto yesterday. We are in touch with the family and will provide all possible assistance in early repatriation of mortal remains," India in Toronto tweeted. (ANI) The Health Ministry on Saturday informed that over 17.54 crore unutilized COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with the states and Union Territories (UTs) to be administered. The health ministry said that 1,88,47,90,495 vaccine doses have been provided to States and UTs so far through free of cost channels and through the direct state procurement category. "More than 17.54 crore (17,54,52,896) balance and unutilized COVID Vaccine doses are still available with the States/UTs to be administered," the Ministry said. The nationwide COVID 19 vaccination started on 16th January 2021. The new phase of universalization of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from 21st June 2021. The vaccination drive has been ramped up through the availability of more vaccines, advanced visibility of vaccine availability to States and UTs for enabling better planning by them, and streamlining of the vaccine supply chain. As part of the nationwide vaccination drive, the Government of India has been supporting the States and UTs by providing them with COVID Vaccines free of cost. In the new phase of the universalization of the COVID19 vaccination drive, the Union Government will procure and supply (free of cost) 75 per cent of the vaccines being produced by the vaccine manufacturers in the country to States and UTs. (ANI) The Delhi High Court recently dismissed a plea moved by a fugitive accused challenging the extradition proceedings terming it 'premature'. The petitioner is an accused in a rape case lodged in London in May 2017. The petitioner had sought the quashing of extradition proceedings. Justice Asha Menon dismissed the petition moved by Jose Inacio Cota observing, "This court is of the considered view that this petition is premature." The bench observed, "It is clear from the submission made by the counsel for the petitioner, that the pleas taken here are precisely those which can be raised before the court dealing with extradition proceedings." Justice Menon also observed, "It will be most inappropriate for this court, at this stage, to comment on these aspects, in a manner pre-empting the Extraditing Court from applying its mind independently. That could be prejudicial to either or both sides." Advocate Arpit Batra, the counsel for the petitioner, had submitted that the extradition proceedings were liable to be quashed in as much as they have been initiated without due compliance of the Extradition Treaty between India and the United Kingdom (UK). The Counsel for the petitioner also submitted that no authenticated warrants of arrests have been issued by a Judge or a Magistrate or Competent Authority from the requesting State (UK) as mandate under treaty. It also does not contain the evidence against the petitioner of the commission of the offence, as required under the law of requested State (India), petitioner submitted. "The documents accompanying the Extradition Petition are Xerox copies and not the originals or the certified copies of the originals. The signatures appearing on the various documents were of different people and the signatures also appeared to be different," the counsel argued. Relying on the observation of the Delhi High Court in Srichand P. Hinduja and others V/S State matter, the counsel submitted, "since none of these documents were capable of being proved during trial, the extradition proceedings be quashed." On the other hand, Rekha Pandey, Special Public Prosecutor for the Central Government submitted that the petitioner has not chosen to appear before the Extraditing Court, where all the contention could be agitated. Hence, this petition should be dismissed. This case pertains to the case of alleged rape at Two Rivers Pub in London on 28 May 2017. On the request of the government of the UK, the extradition proceedings were initiated in 2021 pending before the Patiala House Court, New Delhi. (ANI) Lt Gen Pandey is presently commanding the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps. He is credited for carrying out extensive counter-terrorist operations in the Kashmir valley and reaching out to the local populace to maintain peace. Prior to his appointment as the Chinar Corps Commander in March 2021, he served as the Director-General Territorial Army of the Indian Army. Lt Gen Pandey has been appointed to the Army War College keeping in view his combat experience. He would be in charge of training youngsters for fighting the wars of the future. He would succeed Lt Gen VS Srinivasan who is the present Commandant of the Army War College in Mhow. The Army War College, Mhow (A.W.C.) is a defence service training and research institution of the Indian Army, which develops and evaluates concepts and doctrines for tactics and logistics for the army. The college trains officers of the Indian Army, as well as paramilitary forces. (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to embark on a two-day visit to West Bengal from April 16, which will be his first visit to the state after the last year's Assembly elections, said sources in the BJP. Shah is likely to hold a series of meetings with the party workers during his visit in the state. According to sources, the Home Minister is likely to visit the state on April 16 and 17. He is also likely to take part in the programme "Three Bigha Corridor" in Cooch Behar on April 16. The Union Home Minister is also likely to visit the BSF camp on the India-Bangladesh border, said sources. Sources further informed that Shah on April 17 is likely to visit Kolkata where he may hold a meeting with the party MLAs and top state leaders of the BJP. During the meeting, Shah is likely to take details on the internal evaluation of the state committee of the party on the outcome of the Assembly elections. Notably, the five-member panel set up by the BJP had submitted its report to the Union Home Minister on the Birbhum violence in which nine people were charred to death. In a view of the incidents in Birbhum, discussion on the law and order situation in the state is also likely to take place during the visit of Shah. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kirit Somaiya on Saturday filed an anticipatory bail plea in the Mumbai Sessions Court after he was booked in a case related to the alleged misappropriation of funds collected to save aircraft carriers INS Vikrant from scrapping. The hearing of his anticipatory bail plea is on April 11. Earlier on Thursday, a case was registered against former MP from Maharashtra Somaiya and his son Neil Somaiya for financial bungling on the complaint of a former soldier Baban Bhosle. The police summoned Somaiya and his son for questioning on Saturday. Earlier, Bhosle in a statement had said, "In 2013-14, BJP had launched a campaign to save INS Vikrant and collected money from people, which as per information from the Raj Bhawan no such money was received. It is found that Somaiya used the money for his business." After the Enforcement Directorate (ED) took action against Shiv Sena Leader Sanjay Raut in the money laundering case, Raut on Wednesday accused the BJP MP Somaiya of financial bungling, alleging that he had collected around Rs 57 crore from the people as part of a campaign to save the INS Vikrant, the fund wasn't submitted to the state exchequer. (ANI) The Kerala government has not been provided with any approval for proceeding with the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) or stone laying in the private lands for the SilverLine semi-high-speed rail project, an affidavit submitted in the state High Court by the Central government said on Saturday. It also made clear that neither the state government approached Railways for seeking permission, nor did it give any notice regarding the SIA or stone laying. After hearing all arguments, a single bench of Justice Devan Ramachandran reserved its judgment in a batch of petitions seeking to stop the stone laying procedures by the state government regarding the project. Earlier while hearing, the Court had asked the state, "is the state government the competent authority to conduct SIA for the project? Are the survey stones laid by the authorities permanent?" "This is a joint venture project of the Government of India and the Government of Kerala. The central government is also an equal partner in the project, so you hold equal responsibility to answer all the questions," the court told the Central government. (ANI) A Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander was killed in an encounter with security forces in the Sirhama area of Anantnag district in Jammu and Kashmir, he added. "One LeT terrorist from Kulgam was neutralized in Anantnag. We have information on the presence of one local terrorist and a Pakistani terrorist in Kulgam; the operation is underway. Now, 45 terrorists have been killed since January this year," Kumar told ANI. According to the police, the LeT commander has been identified as Nisar Dar. The internet has also been snapped in some parts of Anantnag for precautionary measures, said the police. As per the police, the encounter broke out early in the day between the security forces and the terrorists, and a search is still going on in the Sirhama area of Anantnag. More details are awaited. (ANI) The Union Minister of Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan met Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at his residence, on Saturday, to discuss the issue of promoting education and skill development in the state and assured that the 'Devbhoomi' will receive will all possible help from the Centre in the field of education. "Devbhoomi Uttarakhand will be given all the possible help from the Central Government in the field of education," said Pradhan. "The people of Uttarakhand are hardworking. To highlight the talent of the youth of the state, full assistance will be provided to the state by the central government in the field of skill development and entrepreneurship. Many efforts are being made by the government to highlight the talents of such talented people," he added. Dhami declared that due to the reason that various industries are being promoted in the state, a single-window system has been developed. "Along with employment, many efforts are being made by the state government to connect the youth and women with the motive of self-employment," Dhami said. The inclination of people towards self-employment has increased rapidly in the state. "Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttarakhand is progressing rapidly on the path of progress. The state is getting full cooperation from the central government in every field," the CM added further. State Cabinet Minister Dhan Singh Rawat was also present on the occasion. (ANI) The Congress leader said, "The foundation stone of India's strength and foreign policy, which the whole world, including Imran Khan, admires was laid by the first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru." Puniya said, "Governments in India kept coming and going but India's foreign policy remained independent, which is being praised all over the world." Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday lauded India during his address to the nation on the eve of a controversial no-confidence motion and said, "Indians are a 'khuddar quam' (self-respecting people). No superpower can dictate terms to India." The Pakistan PM said this in regard to India's independent foreign policy. (ANI) The IMD anticipated that in the coming few days, the temperature can rise much higher than normal in hilly districts of the state and hence, has issued a warning for the scorching heat in Uttarkashi, Tehri, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Pithoragarh, Almora, Bageshwar, Nainital and Champawat districts of Uttarakhand from April 9 to April 12. "This surge in temperature can also cause damage to the crops and vegetables," said Bikram Singh, a senior meteorologist. "The increased heat in the atmosphere is experienced due to forest fires in many areas of Uttarakhand, which has increased the risk of snow melting and avalanches in the area," it said. "In Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Pithoragarh and Bageshwar districts, there is a suspected danger of avalanches due to melting of snow in the high Himalayan regions (more than 3500 metres), he added further. The department has advised the farmers to irrigate regularly to avoid crop damage due to the scorching sun. (ANI) Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smriti Zubin Irani will chair the Zonal Conference of State Governments and Stakeholders of the North-East region in Guwahati on Sunday. The states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Sikkim and Nagaland will participate in the meeting. In order to ensure an optimum impact of the recently launched three Missions- POSHAN 2.0, Vatsalya and Shakti, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has initiated a series of Zonal Consultations with State Governments and Stakeholders in each region of the country, read a press statement by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The Zonal meeting in Guwahati is the third in the series. The first such meeting was held in Chandigarh on April 2 and the second in Bengaluru on April 4, 2022. Empowerment and protection of women and children who constitute 67.7 per cent of India's population and ensuring their wholesome development in a safe and secure environment is crucial for the sustainable and equitable development of the country and for achieving transformational economic and social changes. To achieve this objective, Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently approved three important Umbrella Schemes of the Ministry to be implemented in mission mode, viz., Mission Poshan 2.0, Mission Shakti and Mission Vatsalya. These 3 Missions will be implemented during the 15th Finance Commission period,2021-22 to 2025-26. The Schemes under the Umbrella Missions are Centrally Sponsored Schemes that are implemented by the State Governments/UT Administrations on cost-sharing basis as per cost sharing norms. Scheme Guidelines are being shared with the States/UTs. The prime objective of the Ministry of Women and Child Development is to address the gaps in State action for women and children and to promote inter-ministerial and inter-sectoral convergence to create gender equitable and child-centred legislation, policies and programmes and to provide women and children with an environment which is accessible, affordable, reliable and free from all forms of discrimination and violence. In this direction, the objectives under the schemes of the Ministry are sought to be achieved with the support of State Governments and UT Administrations which are responsible for the administration of the schemes on the ground. The objective of the Zonal Conferences is to sensitise State Governments on the 3 Umbrella Missions of the Ministry to facilitate proper implementation of the Schemes over the next 5 years in the true spirit of co-operative federalism to ensure that the transformational social change envisaged under the Missions is accomplished for the benefit of women and children of the country. Mission POSHAN 2.0 is an Integrated Nutrition Support Programme. It seeks to address the challenges of malnutrition in children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers through a strategic shift in nutrition content and delivery and by creation of a convergent eco-system to develop and promote practices that nurture health, wellness and immunity. Poshan 2.0 will seek to optimize the quality and delivery of food under the Supplementary Nutrition Program. Poshan 2.0 will bring 3 important programmes/schemes under its ambit, viz., Anganwadi Services, Scheme for Adolescent Girls and Poshan Abhiyan. (ANI) Addressing the conference, he emphasised the government's resolve for good governance. "On the auspicious occasion of Navaratri, it is our resolve and prayer that we should be able to give good governance to the people, successfully implement public welfare schemes and achieve the goal of building a self-reliant Madhya Pradesh," said Chouhan. He also directed the field officers for the implementation of the schemes and also lauded the government officials for maintaining law and order in Madhya Pradesh (MP). "Field officers are responsible for the implementation of the plans which are headed by the Collector and the Commissioner. Our officers have done a good job against the mafia for which I congratulate the collectors and commissioners," informed Chouhan through a virtual conference. The MP Chief Minister also highlighted the state government's work and progress. He further stated that such meetings are really necessary and can take the country forward. The officials, including the collector, commissioner, superintendent of police, and inspector general of police attended the meeting through a video conference. (ANI) The inauguration of the temple was also done by him in 2008 when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Based on suggestions given by the Prime Minister in 2008, the temple trust has expanded its scope into various social and health-related activities as well such as free cataract operations and free ayurvedic medicines for economically weaker patients. Umiya Maa is considered the clan-deity or 'kuldevi' of the Kadava Patidars. (ANI) Dadar Police reached the spot immediately and sent the body for post-mortem. Police did not suspect any foul play as no injuries were found on the body. However, they are awaiting the post mortem report. The deceased Mahesh Lal who hailed from Kolhapur district was working as a bus conductor in the MSRTC here, police said. He had come to Mumbai four days back to join the protest staged by transport workers here, outside the residence of Sharad Pawar on Saturday. Police registered a case of accidental death and further investigation into the case is underway. Meanwhile, Mumbai Police have arrested as many as 105 people in connection with the protest outside the house of Sharad Pawar, the seniormost leader in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, after hundred of workers of MSRTC tried to enter Sharad Pawar's residence and held a protest by hurling stones and slippers at his place. The protest comes a day after the Bombay High Court asked the striking workers of the transport corporation to resume duty by April 22. MSRTC staffers have been agitating since late October demanding a merger of the corporation with the state government, which would give them better salaries and greater job security. (ANI) After Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister's Office's (CMO) official Twitter account was hacked, the state government on Saturday said that strict action will be taken against the culprits after an investigation by cyber experts. "It is informed that there was an attempt to hack the official Twitter account of the Chief Minister's Office @CMOfficeUP last night by anti-social elements. Some tweets were posted by them which were recovered immediately. After the investigation of the case by cyber experts, the strictest action will be taken against the responsible," said the Uttar Pradesh government. The Twitter account of the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister's Office (CMO) was restored after it was hacked on Saturday. UP CMO (@CMOfficeUP) Twitter account has four million followers at present. The breach came to light when unknown hackers used the UP CMO Twitter handle to publish a post based on a tutorial called "How to turn your BAYC/MAYC animated on Twitter". In addition, a cartoonist picture was used as a profile picture on the UP CMO account. The unidentified hackers also posted a thread of some random tweets on the UP CMO account. (ANI) "It's personal and I don't talk about it, but I met a girl in Philadelphia in 1989, and we ended up spending the night walking around, flirting, doing things you would never do now. I was at that stage in life where I was open, so we just walked and got to know each other. I remember, even as we were walking, thinking, 'This could be a movie. Not the intrigue that happens after people kiss and sleep together, but this, this period of learning about another person.' Which is probably what makes me a boring partner and boyfriend in the real world throughout history! I'm never quite there for people, I'm never quite present. I'm always somewhere else." A total of 13 accused were arrested by Srinagar police in the case related to anti-national and provocative sloganeering inside Jamia Masjid after Friday prayers, said police on Saturday. According to an official statement, around dozens of persons started anti-national and provocative sloganeering, this was joined by a couple of others as well, while most of the gathering remained aloof. There was also an altercation between the persons indulging in sloganeering and the volunteers of the Intezamia committee of Jamia masjid who tried to stop such sloganeering and hooliganism. This created a situation of ruckus inside the mosque leading to clashes between them. Later the hooligans were dispersed outside the mosque by volunteers. Even after coming outside from one gate, more than a dozen among them tried to provoke others by sloganeering which failed and in 2-3 minutes they dispersed in hurry seeing police presence around. A case in this regard was registered in Nowhatta Police Station under sections 124A and 447 of the Indian Penal Code. The initial investigation suggests, that it was a well-planned conspiracy instructed by Pakistani handlers of terror outfits to disrupt Friday prayers in Jamia Masjid and create a law and order situation by provoking the attendees. Technical means were adapted by district police to identify these hooligans and raids were conducted at different locations which led to the arrest of two main instigators of the sloganeering. Basharat Nabi Bhat resident of Nowhatta's Hawal and Umar Manzoor Sheikh resident of Nowhatta's Bahuddin Saab (two main instigators) were apprehended and then later formally arrested in the case. Eleven (11) more accused were subsequently arrested in this case who were involved in the sloganeering and hooliganism inside the Jamia Masjid and at the gate. After the incident, the Srinagar police issued a warning that any such attempt to disrupt the peace will be viewed very seriously. "Srinagar Police informs all citizens that any attempt at disrupting peace will be viewed very seriously, strictest action under provisions of the law will be taken against all those who get involved in such illegal activities. In addition to this, no attempt at using religious places for furthering anti-national and terrorist agenda will be tolerated at all," said police. (ANI) Police have registered an FIR in an alleged three-year-old rape case after Delhi Court issued a bailable warrant against the Investigation Officer (IO) for non-appearance. The case pertains to a complaint lodged in 2019 for alleged rape and blackmailing by a priest. The accused in the matter is still absconding. Metropolitan Magistrate Renu Chaudhry issued a bailable warrant against a woman sub Inspector posted at Laxmi Nagar Police Station who was investigating the complaint lodged by the complainant. After the issuance of a warrant, the SHO appeared before the court and informed that the FIR has been lodged. The complainant moved an application before the Karkardooma Court, New Delhi for registration of FIR under sections of rape, extortion, abduction, criminal conspiracy and criminal intimidation. She has moved the court after failing to get an FIR registered. Advocate Pradeep Chauhan, counsel for the complainant had submitted that the accused priest Laxman committed rape upon the victim on the pretext of taking out evil from her body as a lump was developed on her neck. He very tactfully made her parents and sister go to Ashram at Faridabad to perform puja. The accused and complainant's family used to know each other as they often used to visit the Ashram. It was alleged that the victim was alone at her home to perform puja with a priest. The priest gave her barfi and kheer as prasad and she considered it prasad and consumed it. After consuming it, the victim became unconscious and the accused raped her. He also took pictures of the victim and blackmailed her on the basis of those pictures. The Counsel for the complainant also submitted that the accused extorted the money from her threatening to viral the pictures. The accused had extorted 10 Lakh rupees from the complainant. Then she was abducted by the accused on April 20, 2019, on the pretext of opening a new business. It was also alleged that the accused took the victim to the house of his sister and brother in law in Kamla Nagar Ghanta Ghar where her money was taken away by the relatives of the accused. She was then kept hostage in one or the other house. The complainant was forced to marry the accused to avoid any legal difficulties as her father was inquiring about her. Her father was told that his daughter is a major and she could not do anything she wants. One day, the complainant ran away from the hostage and reached her parents' house and then they lodged the complainant with the police. (ANI) Char Dham Yatra of 2022 will break all previous records said Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami adding that all records related to the hotel business, tourism and transport will be broken. "This time's Char Dham Yatra is going to break all the records. All the records related to the hotel business, tourism and transport are going to be broken, we have to be ready for it," Dhami said while addressing 'Tourism and Hospitality Conference-2022' in Dehradun. Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kedarnath in November last year, Dhami said that the Prime Minister had then said that the coming decade belongs to Uttarakhand and a large number of pilgrims will visit Uttarakhand over the next decade. The Prime Minister, during his visit to Kedarnath, had said that Uttarakhand will receive more tourists in the next decade than in the past century. During the event, Dhami also called for promoting the traditional 'Pahadi' cuisine of Uttarakhand. "Today, the distance from Uttarakhand to Delhi by road is 3 to 4 hours, in the coming days, this distance will be reduced to 2 hours," Dhami said. He also said that the road from Haridwar to Kashipur has also been approved. "In the coming days, the distance from Haridwar to Kashipur can be covered in 1- 1.5 hours," Dhami said. (ANI) The ninth month of the Islamic calendar is known as Ramzan and it's celebrated globally by Muslims. This Holy month is considered a time for fasting and introspection and to get together for a meal with family and friends. The meal that is eaten before sunrise is known as Sehri, while the night feast that marks the breaking of the fast is called Iftar. Traditionally, the fast is broken with dates and water followed by a light and nutritious meal. However, there are also some special dishes made only during Ramzan and enjoyed at Iftar get-togethers. Around the world, each culture has its own Iftar customs and traditions. Let's have a look at some of the unique ones below. Saudi Arabia The tradition of breaking the fast that is kept from morning to night is done by eating dates, Arabic coffee, soup, and fried or baked stuffed pastry along with several other dishes. One of the traditional dishes in the Western region of Saudi Arabia is foul and tameez, which is a combination of fava bean stew and tamees bread. In the eastern province, people break their fast with meat and vegetable stew known as saloona. The most famous Ramzan sweets in Saudi Arabia are Kenafa with cream, Qatayef with cream and Basbusa. Egypt Iftar is usually held at the house of the family's eldest member and streets are decorated with lanterns hung on the doors of each house. Most Egyptian families break the fast with a dish prepared from foul medames which is eaten with brown bread. As beans are healthy and not heavy on the stomach hence, in most homes they are mixed with hot oil, salt and pepper, but some people prefer to cook them with onion and tomatoes. Egyptians also make some special drinks called qamar al deenandarasyi, which is made from dry apricots that have been soaked all day. It's a delicious and healthy way to break the daylong fast. Another Ramzan speciality is the crescent-shaped bread or khaboos. Iran Fantastic stews, sweets, fresh dates, traditional Azari cheese with vegetables and nuts accompanied by a glass of tea to wash them down are what one can find on any dinner table in Iran during Ramzan. Other special dishes that are a must during Ramzan include sheer berenj and firni made from milk and rice, ash reshteh, a thick vegetable soup and a dish made from rice and lentils called adaspola. Iranians also make a saffron-flavoured halwa. Pakistan Preparations for iftar commence about three hours beforehand, in homes and at roadside stalls. The fast is broken by eating dates, or simply by drinking water if dates are not available. Savouries such as jalebis, samosas and pakoras are also served during Iftar. Several restaurants also offer iftar meals during this time. Right after Iftar, Tawarih, an 8 or 20 rakat Muslim prayer, takes place which is followed by people flocking to the local bazaar for the ChaandRaat festivities. Malaysia In Malaysia, Iftar is called 'berbuka puasa', which can be literally translated "to open the fast". After breaking the fast with traditional dates and water, people indulge in bandung drink, sugarcane juice, soybean milk mixed with grass jelly, nasi lemak, laksa, ayampercik, chicken rice, satay and popiah. Night markets are also popular dining spots after sunset, open to all, serving the masses as they break the daylong fast with affordable street food feasts. So feast and indulge in your favourite iftar delicacies this Ramzan as it is very important to replace the energy lost during the day and to start the next day of fasting well-hydrated. (ANI) "Their house is on Amrita Shergill Marg in Lutyens' Delhi, where Anand's parents Harish Ahuja, mother Priya Ahuja and grandmother Sarla Ahuja live. The theft incident in Sonam's in-laws' house took place in February," said Amrutha Guguloth, Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi. A complaint was made on February 23, 2022, that there was a theft at the residence of Harish Ahuja. "They complained that some cash and jewellery combined worth 2.4 crores was stolen. They had noticed it on February 11, 2022, but the complaint was filed on February 23, 2022. Immediately FIR was filed under section 381 IPC at Police Station Tughlaq Road and an investigation started. Teams have been formed and examination of the evidence is underway," said the officer. Police further said that the case has been transferred to special staff New Delhi district and they are investigating the matter. No arrest has been made so far. (ANI) Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Saturday announced that the common public will soon be able to visit parliament house as they could in the pre-COVID era. "Due to COVID pandemic, we had closed the visiting gallery of Lok Sabha and restricted entry in parliament premises. But, now things are getting better and Narendra Modi government is continuously working hard to vaccinate people. So, we are also thinking of opening the public gallery of Lok Sabha and hope it will be opened soon," Birla said at a public event in Guwahati Birla said parliament is the temple of democracy and people should know its history. Visitors will be required to follow the COVID-19 guidelines. Following the outbreak of COVID-19, entry to Parliament was restricted and members of the house were made to sit in the visiting gallery and maintain social distancing norms. (ANI) A day ahead of the 'precaution dose' being made available to all above the age of 18 years, the Centre on Saturday said that the private COVID-19 vaccination centres can charge only up to a maximum of Rs 150 as service charge for vaccination over and above the cost of the vaccine. The Centre also said that the precaution dose will be of the same COVID-19 vaccine as the one used for the administration of the first and second doses. The precaution dose will be available to the 18 plus population group from April 10 at all private COVID-19 vaccination centres. All those who are more than 18 years of age and have completed nine months after the administration of the second dose, would be eligible for the precaution dose. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Saturday held a meeting of all Health Secretaries of States and Union Territories regarding precaution dose for the 18-59 age group. "No fresh registrations would be required for precaution dose as all due beneficiaries are already registered on CoWIN," he said in an official statement. Bhushan also emphasized mandatorily recording all vaccinations on the CoWIN platform and both the options of "online appointment" and "walk-in" registration and vaccination will be available at the private COVID vaccination centres (CVCs). The private CVCs have to maintain the vaccination sites as per the operational guidelinesissued by the Ministry earlier. Healthcare workers, frontline workers and those aged 60 years or more will continue to receiveprecaution dose vaccination at any CVC, including free of charge vaccination at Government vaccination centres. The states were also advised to accelerate the ongoing free vaccination program through Government vaccination centres for the first dose and second dose to eligible population and precaution dose to healthcare workers, frontline workers and 60 plus population. India started administering precaution doses to frontline workers, healthcare workers, and those above the age of 60 years with comorbidities on January 10 this year. Later, on March 16, the vaccination drive for precaution dose was extended to all adults above the age of 60 years. (ANI) Appeal in Delhi High Court has sought directions issued to the Central Government to facilitate diplomatic interventions as well as negotiations with the family of the victim on behalf of Nimisha Priya to save her life by paying blood money (diyah) in accordance with the law of the land (Sharia Law) in a time-bound manner. The plea has been moved by the organization 'Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council'. Appellant also seeks direction to Union of India through the Ministry of External Affairs and Embassy of India Sana'a, Yemen camp office in Djibouti to make necessary arrangements for receiving the money collected / to be collected by the Petitioner in India and transfer the same to the account of the family of the victim in Yemen through the official/diplomatic channel if the family of the victim is ready to pardon her by receiving the blood money. The Central government on March 15 informed the Delhi High Court that bearing the fact that the convict, Nimisha Priya, is an Indian national, the government will take all proactive steps to institute an appeal before the next appellate forum in accordance with Yemen's prevalent law. After taking note of the submission of the Centre the court of Justice Yashwant Varma had disposed of the petition and said the concerned ministry is requested to duly pursue the remedy against the order of conviction as affirmed by the court of appeal. The High Court further requested the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to communicate to the concerned consulate to facilitate the travel of the petitioner as well as to provide help of interpreters if so required. In a Fresh appeal, Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council has sought direction to modify the order dated March 15, 2022, to the extent that an order or direction may be issued directing respondents to facilitate diplomatic interventions as well as negotiations with the family of the victim on behalf of Nimisha Priya to save her life by paying blood money in accordance with the law of the land (Sharia Law) in a time-bound manner. The plea states that an appeal court in Yemen on March 7, 2022, dismissed an appeal filed by Indian citizen Nimisha Priya, who has been sentenced to death for the murder of a Yemeni national in 2017. It is pertinent to mention that the option for blood money (Diyah) is kept open by the appeal court even while dismissing the appeal of Nimisha Priya. Nimisha stands accused of the murder of Talal Abdo Mahdi, a Yemeni national, who died in July 2017 after she allegedly injected him with sedatives to get to her passport that was in his possession. Nimisha was allegedly abused and tortured by Mahdi. In the appeal moved in Delhi High Court, the petitioner's lawyer, Subhash Chandran KR told the court that Nimisha Priya, after her sentence by a trial court in 2020, had filed an appeal against the death penalty in an appeal court in Yemen's capital. However, the appeal court has upheld the death sentence. "Though another chance of appeal to the Supreme Court still exists, Nimisha Priya is unlikely to be spared the punishment awarded by the lower court for the 2017 murder. The apex court rarely sets aside the verdict of the appeal court as it will only examine if any procedural errors affected the outcome of the case, not its merits. She can hope to come out of the death row even now only if the victim's family accepts blood money and she manages to get relief from legal procedures," the appeal said. "Neither Nimisha's family members nor the members of the Petitioner organization are able to travel to Yemen for negotiations at present as the respondents have declared a travel ban for Indians to Yemen since 2016," the petitioner said. "In this context, strong and timely interventions of Respondent Indian authorities to facilitate the negotiations are highly warranted considering the current socio-political situations in Yemen. The Petitioner and family of Nimisha are facing serious challenges to deal with the ongoing legal process there. Even the trial court judgment of 2020 has not been received yet. If the family of the victim agreed to pardon her by receiving "blood money" the petitioner is unable to pay the same as financial transactions to Yemen is also restricted by the Indian authorities," the appellant said. (ANI) A day after Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) employees staged a protest in front of Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar's residence, Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil urged employees to maintain peace in the state. Addressing the reporters today, Patil said, "Firstly, I appeal to the State Transport employees to maintain peace. ST employees should not get swayed by the misinformation propagated by a few people. There has been a security lapse somewhere. We will do a thorough investigation. Action will be taken against those held responsible." "Today, I had a discussion with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray regarding the incident. Action will be taken against whoever is found guilty in the investigation," he said. The State Home Minister added that the state government has already played its role in this matter, "All the demands of STs have been accepted except one demand. I urge employees not to get instigated by anyone, and not do anything that will cause problems in law and order situation in the state," he said. Mumbai Police has arrested as many as 105 people hours after hundreds of workers of the state road transport corporation held a protest outside Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar's residence. The Police have registered cases against 105 people under different sections of IPC in connection with the protest outside the house of Pawar, the seniormost leader in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. A group of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) workers tried to enter his residence on Friday. The protest comes days after the Bombay High Court asked the striking workers of the transport corporation to resume duty by April 22. MSRTC staffers have been agitating since late October demanding a merger of the corporation with the state government, which would give them better salaries and greater job security. (ANI) The police have recovered seven rifles, seven pistols, 14 magazines and 121 rounds of ammunition from them. A case has been registered against the arrested persons in Amritsar Police station under the relevant section of the Indian Penal Code, Punjab Police said in a tweet. Meanwhile, Bhagwant Mann's government recently ordered the formation of an Anti-gangster Task Force in the state which would be headed by an Additional Director General of Police (ADGP)-rank officer. The Punjab Government said that the eradication of organized crime is among its topmost priorities. The Task Force will have integrated collection of intelligence, manning and execution of operations, registration of FIRs, investigation and prosecution. (ANI) Known for both TV and film, Marlon Wayans added stand-up comedy to his repertoire a few years back and he comes to the Chicago Improv in Schaumburg for a series of shows this weekend. I used to talk about the state of the world, he said about his act. But the world is so messed up right now that its too easy to talk about and Id rather talk about me. So now I talk about myself. I think its more healing to people because its much more personal. So making myself laugh about things that are not so funny about my life, I enjoy that better the therapy of it. Advertisement A personal story that made news last week concerns a lawsuit brought by an actor who had a small role in A Haunted House 2, who claimed he was ridiculed by Wayans about his African American race and that the star compared him to Family Guy character Cleveland in a tweet. Though a court ruled that Wayans speech was protected activity, recently according to the Hollywood Reporter the California Supreme Court quietly told a lower appeals court to reconsider Wayans win. When asked to share a worst moment in his career, he did not mention the lawsuit; the news was reported after the Tribunes interview with Wayans and his publicist did not respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Instead, the story the youngest sibling of the multi-talented Wayans family told involved his brothers playing a prank on him. My worst moment The most cringe-y moment for me was when I first got in the industry and me and my brothers (Keenan and Shawn) were supposed to go to the Emmys. I had just done Mo Money (from 1992 starring older brother Damon) and it was my first season on In Living Color. Marlons Wayans plays multiple characters in the Netflix comedy "Sextuplets." (Netflix) "My brothers were making money at the time but I was not. We were supposed to present at the Emmys and before the show my brothers are buying these expensive suits. And Im like, Hey guys, why dont we just rent a suit? I made a couple thousand dollars on Mo Money, but theyre buying $2,000 suits. And Im like, dude, I only got 10 in the bank, Im not gonna spend two on a suit Im never gonna wear again. So Im like, lets just go rent (a tux). And they were like, Stop being cheap. And those suits are ugly. And I said, So lets make fun of the fact that Im in a ugly suit. Ill wear a really ugly suit thats too small for me and you guys can make fun of me. And theyre like, No, thats a bad idea. I called Damon who was sick at the time and I tell him the idea. And Damons like (imitating Damons voice): You know what? I think thats a good idea! So Damon calls Keenan and Shawn, and they decide theyre gonna pull a prank on me. That little suit I got, it looked like someone took a suit off of Urkel and put it in the dryer and put it on super hot (laughs) it was little as hell. Had two left shoes on. I went for it! So were at the Emmys and the announcer says, Please welcome to the stage, the Wayans brothers. And they walk out and then they go, Hey, wheres Marlon? And I come running out from backstage in this little suit and my brothers look at me, say nothing, and then look straight to camera and go: And the nominees are Advertisement "And Im like, what are you kidding me? They didnt even acknowledge it? So it just looked like I couldnt dress. And Im sweating profusely. Ive seen them do this to other people but not to me. And this man Shawn was part of it! Hes my best friend! And (earlier) he was like, Its gonna be great. And I was like, Are you sure? And he goes, I promise. And he gave me a big kiss on the lips and I know now, that was the kiss of death. From left, brothers Shawn and Marlon Wayans. (Getty Images) "Once I was out there, I knew that they were basically pulling a prank on me and you can hear me go Oh (shoot). On camera. At the Emmys. In front of 60 million people. I was so mad at my brothers. But that was a great lesson. To them the lesson was, dont be cheap. But no, the lesson was, never trust my brothers again. Older brothers suck. After, I was so mad I wanted to fight Keenan and Shawn. At one point Damon got out of his sick bed and he came to my house and did a handstand in that little suit just to make me laugh, but I was still so mad I wanted to fight him too! Are pranks common among the brothers? No. We play pranks on other people but I would never play a prank on my brothers because I know how evil they are and they would get me back. Plus, Im the baby you dont prank up, you can only prank down. So because Im the youngest, I get the worst of everything and I cant retaliate. Advertisement But you know what? I plan on outliving them all and when theyre buried, theyre all going to be buried in a little suit. Im going to rent them a little tux and put them in the casket. The takeaway Never. Trust. Them. Again. If their last name is Wayans, I aint trust them. I love em but I dont trust em. But it did make me go, I gotta make more money. Im never renting a little tux again. Next big event I went to, I wore a dope suit. It motivated me. People say, Why do you work so much? Because I never want to be in a position where I cant afford to buy a really dope suit and I have to wear a little suit to an Emmy awards show with my brothers ever again. Marlon Wayans is the youngest of the multi-talented Wayans siblings. (Jeff Schear, Getty photo) nmetz@chicagotribune.com The Jaipur district administration on Saturday imposed Section 144 CrPC till May 9 and suspended the gathering of crowds, protests, assemblies and processions without prior permission in the entire rural and urban area. The imposition of Section 144 comes in the wake of the Karauli riots that took place on April 2 during a religious procession. The Jaipur District Collector Anand Kumar Srivastava in an order dated April 9, said, "In view of the mass gatherings, assemblies, processions, and protests being held without permission, there are chances of the disturbance of law and order and traffic congestion. This may also lead to apprehensions of breach of public peace and adversely disrupting social harmony. In such a situation, preventive action is necessary immediately to maintain social harmony and public peace." It further says, "Therefore, in view of the above circumstances, I, Anand Kumar Srivastava, District Magistrate, Jaipur, in the exercise of the powers conferred under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, impose prohibitory orders prohibiting the gathering of crowds, protests, assemblies and processions without prior permission. The similar carried out by the Central government or state government remains debarred from following the prohibitory orders. Besides this, organising of marriage functions, mournings shall remain excluded from following the orders." He further said in his order that organising any such mass gathering, protests, assemblies and processions must be carried out with prior permission of Police authorities while following the required conditions. "Any person shall not be found carrying any arms or weapon in a public place. The order shall not comply with Police personnel, home guards, military, and persons of central government with a license to carry weapons on duty." "Possession and demonstration of explosives in public places must be prohibited," he said. The administration has also prohibited any objectionable sloganeering and singing or demonstration of similar activities. According to the order, no person or his group or representative shall use a DJ for any kind of religious or other function without permission. The use of loudspeakers in all public and religious places remains prohibited to curb noise pollution. Prior permission will be required to carry out the same allowed from 6 am to 10 pm. Any group, organisation or individual must not promote any material or content through social media; Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, WhatsApp, likely to hurt social, cultural or religious sentiments or incite communal violence. He further said, "If a person violates the above prohibitory orders, he may be prosecuted under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code." The order remains effective from April 9, 2022, till midnight May 9, 2022, he said. (ANI) Cab Auto Sanyukt Morcha (CASM) on Saturday announced that it will hold a strike in the Tri-city of Panchkula, Mohali and Chandigarh on April 12 to protest against the rise in fuel prices. CASM, in its official statement, conveyed that their livelihood is on the verge of closure due to the rising prices of petrol, diesel and CNG. "Neither their aggregator companies nor the administration takes care of us," it informed. "Notably, the UT administration only removes the notification of increasing the rate but does not make any effort to implement it. In such a situation, the auto and cab drivers on April 12, will hold a Chakka jam (no cabs or autos will run) in the Tri-city area. This protest will be a symbolic but peaceful demonstration. If the demands of the auto cab drivers are not accepted, even after the protest is over, then a decision on holding an indefinite strike soon will be taken soon," the notification conveyed. Today, petrol and diesel prices remained unchanged. Since March 22, fuel prices have seen a Rs 10 a litre jump after 14 revisions. Petrol in Delhi retails at Rs 105.41 per litre, while diesel is Rs 95.87 per litre to Rs 96.67. In Mumbai, petrol and diesel prices per litre stand at Rs 120.51 and Rs 104.77 respectively. Rates across the country vary from state to state, depending upon local taxation. (ANI) Deputy Chairperson of Maharashtra Legislative Council Neelam Gorhe on Saturday asked the Maharashtra government to provide an extra layer of security to Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, a day after Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) employees staged a protest in front of Pawar's residence. Addressing the reporters today, Gorhe said, "It looks like the protestors came with the intention of harming Pawar ji. The protestors damaged the doors at the entrance of his residence. In such a developing situation, Pawar ji and his family should be given an extra layer of security." "It has not come to my knowledge that protestors were carrying harmful weapons. But, if the investigation reveals that the protestors did carry harmful weapons, then it is an attempt to murder. Thus, the NCP chief should get an extra layer of protection," she said. A day after Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) employees staged a protest in front of Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar's residence, Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil urged employees to maintain peace in the state. Addressing the reporters today, Patil said, "Firstly, I appeal to the State Transport employees to maintain peace. ST employees should not get swayed by the misinformation propagated by a few people. There has been a security lapse somewhere. We will do a thorough investigation. Action will be taken against those held responsible." "Today, I had a discussion with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray regarding the incident. Action will be taken against whoever is found guilty in the investigation," he said. The state Home Minister added that the state government has already played its role in this matter, "All the demands of STs have been accepted except one demand. I urge employees not to get instigated by anyone, and not do anything that will cause problems in law and order situation in the state," he said. Mumbai Police has arrested as many as 105 people hours after hundreds of workers of the state road transport corporation held a protest outside Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar's residence. The Police have registered cases against 105 people under different sections of IPC in connection with the protest outside the house of Pawar, the seniormost leader in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. A group of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) workers tried to enter his residence on Friday. The protest comes days after the Bombay High Court asked the striking workers of the transport corporation to resume duty by April 22. MSRTC staffers have been agitating since late October demanding a merger of the corporation with the state government, which would give them better salaries and greater job security. (ANI) After Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasised the need to accept Hindi as an alternative to English and not to local languages, West Bengal Congress chief and MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Saturday termed it as "cultural terrorism" and refused to accept it. "We are not ready to accept it. This is cultural terrorism," Chowdhury told ANI when asked to comment on Amit Shah's pitch for Hindi. The Congress MP noted that very few people in the country speak Hindi and alleged that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is propagating its agenda of "Hindi, Hindu and Hindutva." Amit Shah on Thursday emphasized on the need to accept Hindi as an alternative to English and not to local languages. The Home Minister's remarks came when he was presiding over the 37th meeting of the Parliamentary Official Language Committee here on the Parliament premises. "Hindi should be accepted as an alternative to English and not to local languages," Shah said, adding, "unless we make Hindi flexible by accepting words from other local languages, it will not be propagated". He said that now the time has come to make the official language an important part of the unity of the country. Meanwhile, Shah said when citizens of states communicate with each other, it should be an Indian language whether it is regional or state-specific. (ANI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that it is our resolve to give good governance to the people of the state and it is our goal to change the lives of the people by ensuring effective implementation of development and public welfare schemes. "The responsibility of building a self-reliant Madhya Pradesh lies with the state-level officers as well as the officers posted in the districts. Mafias make the life of common man difficult. The campaign being run against the mafia and miscreants will continue in the state. Obeying the scepter is dharma.," he said ad per an official release by the state government. He congratulated the Collector and Superintendent of Police of the districts for maintaining better law and order. He said that the Collector-Commissioner conference is the medium of evaluation which will continue every month. We have to make the state's system the best in the country. The CM was addressing the Collector-Commissioner conference at Mantralaya today. Chief Secretary Iqbal Singh Bains, Director General of Police Sudhir Saxena were present. Additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries, all collectors, commissioners, inspector general of police and superintendent of police of all departments virtually connected through video conference. Initially, the compliance report of the instructions given in the video conference held on January 20 last was submitted. Chief Minister Chouhan said that land mafia and goonda elements will not be tolerated in the state. Proceedings should continue against them and they should be destroyed financially with strict legal action. He said that the fear of the mafias and their morale has to be shattered. Along with this, the morale of the common citizens should be given a boost, so that they themselves can raise their voice against the mafia and the oppressors. The Chief Minister said that the land freed from the mafia would be made available to the poor for housing. "This is the Madhya Pradesh model of establishing law and order and freedom from fear. An Impact assessment of the actions taken against the mafia in the state should be conducted. It was informed in the meeting that 1791 cases were registered in the state from January to March 31 while taking action against land mafia, goons and illegal encroachers. So far, 2244 acres of land has been freed by breaking 3814 illegal encroachments, which cost about Rs.671 crores. Maximum actions were taken in Bhopal, Khargone, Indore, Jhabua and Tikamgarh districts. Maximum 309 acres of land have been freed in Sehore district and 281 acres in Gwalior. The districts with weak action include Sagar, Shajapur, Katni, Narmadapuram, Satna, Shivpuri, Sidhi, Narsinghpur and Dindori, " he said. (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Bihar on April 22-23 to take part in a function held in the memory of Veer Kunwar Singh, one of the heroes of the Revolt of 1857, sources said on Saturday. The programme will be held at the birthplace of Babu Veer Kunwar Singh in the Bhojpur area of Jagdishpur. Though this programme is going to be held on April 23, sources close to ANI said that Shah will be reaching Bihar on April 22. Sources conveyed that by reaching a day earlier, Shah will hold a meeting with the organization leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party. "In the meeting scheduled with party workers on April 22, Shah can outline the programmes to be held in the coming days for the party," sources said. In the recent MLC elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party has performed well. The ruling NDA in Bihar came on the top in the Bihar Legislative Council polls held for 24 seats. Of the 24 MLC seats, the NDA won 13 (BJP 7, JDU 5 and RLJP 1) while the RJD could only manage 6 seats. Congress that contested the polls solo won one seat while one independent backed by it also secured victory. All the preparations for this program have been mostly completed at the organization level, sources said adding that this program will hold importance under the ongoing 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav'. Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is an initiative of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of independence and the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements. This Mahotsav is dedicated to the people of India who have not only been instrumental in bringing India thus far in its evolutionary journey but also hold within them the power and potential to enable Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of activating India 2.0, fuelled by the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The official journey of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav commenced on March 12, 2021 which started a 75-week countdown to our 75th anniversary of independence and will end post a year on August 15, 2023. (ANI) International issues should be resolved through mutual dialogue and diplomacy, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Saturday. Inaugurating the mid-year Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Executive Committee Meeting, which India is hosting for the first time, in Guwahati, he said that international peace and stability are essential for global prosperity. Referring to climate change, Birla emphasised on India's commitment towards achieving the targets approved under COP26. He also mentioned initiatives like the International Solar Alliance and expressed confidence about achieving the targets under the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Noting that India has democratic values, Birla said that Indian democracy is not only ancient but strong, mature, and vibrant. "Democracy is in our thoughts and actions. It has become a way of life. During these 75 years of our independence, our democracy has consistently gone from strength to strength. Confidence of our people in democracy has increased over the period of time," he stated. Highlighting India's success in conducting elections from Panchayat to Parliament, the Lok Sabha Speaker said that the country's perseverance and success in conducting elections to 800 parliamentary seats, nearly 4,500 Assembly seats and 2.75 lakh panchayats testify that Indian democracy is functional, progressive and successful. "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has emerged as a prosperous and developed country," he said. Emphasising that unity in diversity is India's greatest strength, the Lok Sabha Speaker said: "We are all united despite our linguistic, cultural, geographical and religious diversities. Democratic institutions of the Commonwealth countries are capable of withstanding any challenge. These countries should work with the collective goal of the welfare of humanity." Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who was also present at the meeting, during his address, said that it was a historic day for the state as it was for the first time that the Mid-Year Executive Committee Meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association was being held in India. Assam Legislative Assembly, is one of the oldest in India, second only to Uttar Pradesh Assembly, Sarma said. Remembering iconic state leader Gopinath Bordoloi, he added that during the last eight decades, the Assembly has witnessed many historic debates with several towering personalities. About the role of the Assembly in the State's development, he said that the Assembly has played a pioneering role in shaping the socio-cultural and academic edifice of the state while giving a major push to Assam's development narrative. According to Sarma, it has passed many historic bills leading to unprecedented changes in people's lives. CPA's Acting Chairperson and UK MP Ian Liddell-Grainger, enumerating several path breaking initiatives of CPA, said that he hoped deliberations of the mid-year CPA Executive Committee in Guwahati would go a long way in shaping strategies for global issues. Union Ministers, MPs, MLAs, Secretary General Lok Sabha Utpal Kumar Singh, state Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary and other dignitaries also participated in the event. The CPA Executive Committee meeting was held offline in Guwahati after three years due to the pandemic. Over 50 delegates from across the Commonwealth countries participated in the meeting physically and virtually. --IANS sc/sks ( 525 Words) 2022-04-09-21:07:17 (IANS) "Police also seized two rifles, one pistol, and one revolver apart from 185 live cartridges from their possession. ASP, Danapur, Abhinav Dhiman, said: "The arrests of the two persons were made under the special drive to check arms licenses of individuals. A large number of people are obtaining arms licenses from Jammu and Kashmir and procuring weapons without registering it with Bihar Police. "Such a practice is illegal as it creates fear among common people of Bihar. The arrest of two persons was done on the same charge. When they were asked to present a valid arms license before police, they presented the license of Jammu and Kashmir. When we checked with the database of Bihar Police, it was not registered here." Earlier, three more persons were arrested from the bank of Ganga river near Nasriganj Ghat on Friday. They were also having arms licenses obtained from Jammu and Kashmir. --IANS ajk/vd ( 190 Words) 2022-04-09-21:12:04 (IANS) Crew Dragon Endeavour docked to the orbital complex while the spacecraft were flying about 418 kms above the central Atlantic Ocean, NASA said in a statement. Dragon Endeavour's docking was delayed approximately 45 minutes as the space station teams, including mission controllers at NASA and SpaceX, worked to troubleshoot an issue preventing the crew members on station from receiving views from Dragon's centre line camera of the Harmony's modules docking port. "Mission teams worked to route video using a SpaceX ground station to the crew on the space station allowing Dragon to proceed with docking," said NASA. The Ax-1 crew members includes Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria of Spain and the US, Pilot Larry Connor of the US, and Mission Specialists Eytan Stibbe of Israel, and Mark Pathy of Canada. They lifted off on SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday. The crew was welcomed by Expedition 67 crew members, including NASA astronauts Marshburn, Raja Chari, and Kayla Barron, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Artemyev, Sergey Korsokov, and Denis Matveev. During their 10-day mission, the crew will spend eight days on the ISS conducting scientific research, outreach, and commercial activities. The crew has shared that they are bringing over 25 different scientific experiments to work on during their eight-day station stay. --IANS na/vd ( 270 Words) 2022-04-09-20:44:04 (IANS) Taking to Twitter, the Slovakian PM wrote, "I would like to confirm that #Slovakia has provided #Ukraine with an air-defence system S-300. #Ukrainian nation is #bravely defending its sovereign country." "It is our duty to help, not to stay put and be ignorant to the loss of human lives under #Russia's aggression," he added. This comes at a time when Russia was suspended from the UNHRC on Thursday following a UNGA vote moved by the US, which sought the country's suspension for perpetuating Human Rights violations during its ongoing conflict with Ukraine. With 93 countries voting in favour, 24 against and 58 abstaining on the resolution, UNGA suspended Russia from the Human Rights Council. The Russia-Ukraine war resulted in millions of refugees fleeing to nearby countries to the West, as well as thousands of civilian casualties. The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has reported a total of 3,838 civilian casualties since the start of the hostilities from February 24 to April 6. (ANI) Civilian evacuations moved forward in patches of battle-scarred eastern Ukraine on Saturday, a day after a missile strike killed at least 52 people and wounded more than 100 at a train station where thousands clamored to leave before an expected Russian onslaught. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy demanded a tough global response to Fridays train station attack in Kramatorsk, calling it the latest example of war crimes by Russian forces that should motivate the West to do more to help his country defend itself. Advertisement All world efforts will be directed to establish every minute of who did what, who gave what orders, where the missile came from, who transported it, who gave the command and how this strike was agreed, Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address, his voice rising in anger. Russia denied it was responsible and accused Ukraines military of firing on the station to try to turn blame for civilian casualties on Moscow. A Russian Defense Ministry spokesman detailed the missiles trajectory and Ukrainian troop positions to bolster the argument. Advertisement Western experts and Ukrainian authorities insisted that Russia launched the weapon. Remnants of the rocket had the words For the children in Russian painted on it. The phrasing seemed to suggest the missile was sent to avenge the loss or subjugation of children, although its exact meaning remained unclear. With trains not running out of Kramatorsk on Saturday, panicked residents boarded buses or looked for other ways to get out, fearing the kind of unrelenting assaults and occupations by Russian invaders that delivered food shortages, demolished buildings and death to other cities elsewhere in Ukraine. It was terrifying. The horror, the horror, one resident told British broadcaster Sky, recalling the train station attack. Heaven forbid, to live through this again. No, I dont want to. Ukraines state railway company said in a statement Saturday that residents of Kramatorsk and other parts of the countrys contested Donbas region could flee through other train stations. Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said 10 evacuation corridors were planned for Saturday. Russia has pulled its troops from northern Ukraine and put its focus on the Donbas after failing to capture the capital, Kyiv. Western military analysts said a long arc of territory was under Russian control, from Kharkiv Ukraines second-largest city in the north to Kherson in the south. But Ukranian fighters continued to repel attacks and hold ground, according to the Western assessments. On Saturday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Zelenkyy met in Kyiv in what Johnsons office said was a show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people. The unannounced visit that came a day after Johnson pledged another 100 million pounds ($130 million) in high grade military equipment to Ukraine. The train station attack came as Ukrainian authorities worked to identify victims and document possible war crimes by Russian soldiers in northern Ukraine. The mayor of Bucha, a town near Kyiv where graphic evidence of civilian slayings emerged after the Russians withdrew, said search teams were still finding the bodies of people shot at close range in yards, parks and city squares. On Friday, workers unearthed the bodies of 67 people from a mass grave near a church, according to Ukraines prosecutor general. Russia has falsely claimed that the scenes in Bucha were staged. Advertisement Ukrainian authorities and Western officials have repeatedly accused Russian forces of committing atrocities in the war that began with Russias Feb. 24 invasion. A total of 176 children have been killed in Ukraine since the start of the war, while 324 more have been wounded, the countrys Prosecutor Generals Office said Saturday. Ukrainian authorities have warned they expect to find more mass killings once they reach the southern port city of Mariupol, which is also in the Donbas and has been subjected to a monthlong blockade and intense fighting. As journalists who had been largely absent from the city began to trickle back in, new images emerged of the devastation from an airstrike on a theater last month that reportedly killed hundreds of civilians seeking shelter. Military analysts had predicted for weeks that Russia would succeed in taking Mariupol but said Ukrainian defenders were still putting up a fight. The citys location on the Sea of Azov is critical to establishing a land bridge from the Crimean Peninula, which Russia seized from Ukraine eight years ago. Some of the grisliest evidence of atrocities so far has been found in Bucha and other towns around Kyiv, from which Russian troops pulled back in recent days. An international organization formed to identify the dead and missing from the 1990s Balkans conflicts is sending a team of forensics experts to Ukraine to help put names to bodies. In an excerpted interview with American broadcaster CBS 60 Minutes that aired Friday, Zelenskyy cited communications intercepted by the Ukrainian security service as evidence of Russian war crimes. The authenticity of the recordings could not be independently verified. Advertisement There are (Russian) soldiers talking with their parents about what they stole and who they abducted. There are recordings of (Russian) prisoners of war who admitted to killing people, he said. There are pilots in prison who had maps with civilian targets to bomb. There are also investigations being conducted based on the remains of the dead. Many civilians now trying to evacuate are accustomed to living in or near a war zone because Moscow-backed rebels have been fighting Ukrainian forces since 2014 in the Donbas. The same week Russia invaded Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of areas controlled by the separatists and said he planned to send troops in to protect residents of the mostly Russian-speaking, industrial region. Although the Kramatorsk train station is in Ukrainian government-controlled territory in the Donbas, the separatists, who work closely with Russian troops, blamed Ukraine for the attack. Western experts, however, dismissed Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskovs assertion that Russian forces do not use Tochka-U missiles, the type that hit the station. The deaths of civilians at the train station brought renewed expressions of outrage from Western leaders and pledges that Russia would face further reprisals for its actions in Ukraine. On Saturday, Russias Defense Ministry tried to counter the dominant international narrative by again raising the specter of Ukraine planting false flags and misinformation. A ministry spokesman, Major Gen. Igor Konashenkov, alleged Ukraines security services were preparing a cynical staged media operation in Irpin, another town near Kyiv. Konashenkov said the plan was to show -- falsely, he said -- more civilian casualties at the hands of the Russians and to stage the slaying of a fake Russian intelligence team that intended to kill witnesses. The claims could not be independently verified. Advertisement Ukrainian officials have pleaded with Western powers almost daily to send more arms, and to further punish Russia with sanctions, including the exclusion of Russian banks from the global financial system and a total European Union embargo on Russian gas and oil. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said during a visit to Kyiv on Saturday that he expects more EU sanctions against Russia, but he defended his countrys opposition so far to cutting off deliveries of Russian gas. A package of sanctions imposed this week wont be the last one, the chancellor said, acknowledging that as long as people are dying, every sanction is still insufficient. Austria is militarily neutral and not a member of NATO. Nehammer was the latest in a parade of top leaders from the 27-nation EU to visit Zelenskyy. The head of the EUs executive arm, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, gave the Ukrainian president a questionnaire Friday that could lead to Ukraines membership in the 27-member-country bloc. Zelenskyy wryly promised to fast-track a response. Nepal has launched a new vaccine campaign introducing Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) into the routine immunization program targeting populations between 15 months to 15 years. The inoculation drive against the Typhoid started in support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and other partners including India. "Now the anti-typhoid vaccine are being rolled out across the nation. This campaign solely aims to protect children from typhoid as pollution is increasing along with contamination. These vaccines are now being provided by the Indian Government as assistance. This campaign started from April 8 and would run till May 1, 2022. The government has aimed to cover all the eligible children during this drive, not letting a single to be missed. Those between the age of 15 months to 15 years are being inoculated in this drive," Laxmi Manandhar, one of the health staff deployed by the Nepal Government told ANI. The three-week campaign, which will run from April 8 to May 1, 2022, aims to reach all children aged between 15 months and 15 years to quickly achieve wider protection from typhoid, increase the impact of the vaccine introduction and combat the rise of antimicrobial resistance. Over 50,000 vaccination sites have been established across rural and urban settings in the country, including schools. Immediately following the campaign, TCV will be introduced into the routine immunization schedule, and will be regularly administered to children at 15 months of age, stated a joint press release issued by partner organizations, Gavi, WHO and UNICEF. The campaign aims to reach 95% coverage of nearly 7.5 million children with the typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV) and simultaneously identify 'zero-dose' children and those that have missed other routine vaccines. Nepal is a typhoid-endemic country and is estimated to have one of the highest burdens of typhoid in the world. The nationwide introduction means children in the country under the age of 15 years will now be able to access the vaccine free of charge. "With this vaccine, I hope the children won't fall sick that quickly as before. I expect it to create immunity bolster their system so that they don't fall sick easily," Kamala Panta, a local denizen told ANI after having her child vaccinated. The TCV campaign will also strengthen and promote routine immunization in Nepal by identifying children aged 15 to 23 months that have missed other routine vaccines, and make sure they are able to access these vaccines and become fully immunized and protected, stated the release. Based on lessons learned during the successful Measles Rubella Campaign in 2020, the TCV campaign will also be used to identify zero-dose children - children who haven't received a single dose of the basic diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis-containing vaccines (DTP) vaccine. Zero-dose children face multiple deprivations and are markers of acute inequities. Children out of school will be identified through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and caregivers will be educated and informed about where to go for routine immunization through the support of local leadership and health workers. Good hygiene behavior will also be promoted throughout the campaign to help prevent the spread of the virus. Nepal is the fourth country supported by Gavi to introduce TCV into its routine immunization program. Pakistan, Liberia and Zimbabwe have all introduced the vaccine, with support from Gavi and partners including UNICEF. The Global Burden of Disease study estimated that in 2019, there were at least 82,449 typhoid cases and 919 typhoid deaths in Nepal. (ANI) Washington [US], April 9 (ANI/Sputnik): The United States expanded export controls on Russia's and Belarus' access to everything on the US commerce control list to now cover categories such as chemicals, materials processing components, and nuclear-related items, the Commerce Department said in a statement. "In response to the Russian Federation's (Russia) ongoing aggression in Ukraine following its further invasion of the country, as substantially enabled by Belarus, this rule expands license requirements for Russia and Belarus under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to all items on the Commerce Control List (CCL)," the Commerce Department said in a press release on Friday. The new rule also removes license exception eligibility for aircraft registered in, owned or controlled by, or under charter or lease by Belarus or a national of Belarus, the release said. As a result of the latest change, the restrictions will now cover all ten commerce control list categories (numbers 0-9). The Commerce Department is now tightening export controls across categories 0-2, which include items related to chemicals, microorganisms, minerals, fertilizer, materials processing parts like valves, along with dual purpose nuclear-related materials and equipment. Previously, the US export restrictions targeting Russia were in categories 3-9, which covered items related to electronics, computers, telecommunications, lasers, marine materials, and aerospace and propulsion materials. The United States and its European partners have imposed a series of sanctions and export controls on Russia over its opposition to Russia's special military operation in Ukraine. On February 24, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine after the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk requested help to defend them from intensifying attacks by Ukrainian troops. The Russian Ministry of Defense said the operation is solely targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure and the civilian population is not in danger. (ANI/Sputnik) Demonstrators are demanding to freeze Sri Lankan Prime Minister Rajapaksa's property in USA. Rajiv, a photographer said that Prime Minister's illegally occupied assets should be frozen and liquidated, he should not escape the country. "This is an opportunity to the whole world to give a message to the strong nation like - the UK, USA and EU - everyone to stand up and say if any politician is planning to rob any country's money and if they have a plan B to escape somewhere when thing s fall apart. It should be done," he said. The protesters also urged the Uniter Nations to freeze and send the money to the distressed people of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is battling a severe economic crisis with food and fuel scarcity affecting a large number of the people in the island nation. The economy has been in a free-fall since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sri Lanka is also facing a foreign exchange shortage which has, incidentally, affected its capacity to import food and fuel leading to the power cuts in the country. The shortage of essential goods forced Sri Lanka to seek assistance from friendly countries. (ANI) Recent clashes between the Pakistan army and the Taliban at Durand Line indicate a deep misunderstanding between them and leading Pakistan to revisit calculations about its future role in Afghanistan, according to media reports. Islam Khabar reported incidents of artillery firing across the border and dismantling of Pakistan checkpoints on the Afghan-Pakistan border. When the Taliban took over control of Afghanistan last August, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had famously congratulated Afghanistan for breaking the "shackles of slavery". However, the euphoric statements were widely seen as a show-off of Pakistan's confidence in reorienting Afghanistan's foreign policy as per its own needs, reported Islam Khabar. Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to register its strong protests with the Pak Embassy in Kabul over incidents of cross border/firing shelling. On April 1, 2022, the Afghan Ministry lodged a complaint with the Pak Mission over incidents of artillery shelling from across the Durand line and violation of Afghan airspace by Pak drones/helicopters during February and March 2022. A similar complaint was filed by the Afghan side in March 2022 revealing the direct involvement of the Pakistani Army in fomenting trouble at the borders, reported Islam Khabar. Afghan Foreign Ministry had alleged that Pakistan army officials were issuing warnings to the residents of Jaji Maidan District in Khost province to leave the area or face "serious consequences." It also observed that Pakistan border forces had resorted to firing, targeting residential areas along the Durand line. Pakistan's misadventures at the border appear to be a manifestation of its failure to take the Taliban administration under its control after the regime change. The incidents have resulted in a marked decline in the trust level between the two sides. This swift change in bilateral relations has led Pakistan to revisit calculations on its future role in Afghanistan including the assistance for the development and reconstruction of the war-torn and landlocked country. (ANI) One of the two imposters, who were impersonating the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents and were in touch with the agents of First Lady Jill Biden security, on Friday claimed ties with the Pakistan intelligence agency ISI. Arian Taherzadeh, 40, and Haider Ali, 35, were arrested by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Thursday for impersonating DHS agents for more than two years Haider told at least one witness in a federal court that he has ties with Pakistan's ISI. While the claim is being probed, the federal court said that it must be taken "literally and seriously". He was caught with a Pakistani National Identity Card in Washington while impersonating a federal agent. Several incriminating documents were seized from him by the FBI. More details surfaced when both the imposters were produced in the federal court. The court recorded evidence produced by the FBI against the imposters. Meanwhile, Taherzadeh told investigators that Haider Ali funded most of their day to day operations and he was not aware of the source of the funds. The FBI has launched an investigation into whether the employees of the White House accepted bribes. The two men, who were impersonating the DHS agents, admitted that they provided other federal agents in Washington DC with expensive apartments and offered them to purchase a weapon for a Secret Service agent assigned to first lady Jill Biden, according to an affidavit, reported CNN News. They claimed to have provided "rent-free apartments", costing more than USD 40,000 annually, each to a DHS employee and one of the US secret service members. The details were provided in the affidavit. According to the document, Taherzadeh allegedly provided one of the federal agents with a "rent-free penthouse apartment" for one year at a cost of about USD 40,200. The Secret Service in a statement told CNN, "The Secret Service has worked and continues to work with its law enforcement partners on this ongoing investigation. All personnel involved in this matter are on administrative leave and are restricted from accessing Secret Service facilities, equipment and systems. The Secret Service adheres to the highest levels of professional standards and conduct and they will remain inactive until the probe gets over in coordination with the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security." Both the men, while impersonating the federal agents, obtained handguns, assault rifles and other items. (ANI) Muslims from inside and outside the country will be able to perform the Hajj provided they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and no older than 65, said Saudi Arabia, reported Al Jazeera. Last year only a few thousand domestic pilgrims were allowed to perform the Hajj due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said in a statement that pilgrims from abroad must also present a negative COVID-19 PCR test and that there will be additional health precautions. The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and a once-in-a-lifetime duty for all able-bodied Muslims to perform if they can afford it. It is expected to take place in July this year. Before the virus emerged, some 2.5 million people used to travel every year to Saudi Arabia for Hajj. (ANI) Following the direction of the Supreme Court for taking up the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government, Members of Pakistan's National Assembly (MNAs) have begun arriving at Parliament House on Saturday. Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz, and other MNAs have started arriving at the National Assembly, reported Geo News. The Supreme Court had on Thursday ordered the incumbent government to face the no-confidence motion on Saturday. The court had turned down the ruling of the Deputy Speaker to reject the no-confidence motion on the grounds of the move being "unconstitutional" and brought as part of a "foreign conspiracy". The top court's directives came after Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial took suo motu cognisance of Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri's ruling and the subsequent dissolution of the National Assembly, declaring all the decisions unconstitutional. As per the order of the Supreme Court, voting is to be held at all costs today and in case the PM is voted out, the election of a new Leader of the House will be held during the same session. The voting on the no-confidence motion is at the fourth position in the six-point agenda issued for today. Speaker Asad Qaiser could not take up agenda other than voting on the motion and if he did not do so, he would have to face contempt of court proceedings, reported Geo News. It is pertinent to mention here that the Opposition has submitted the no-confidence motions against the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. However, Asad Qaiser can chair today's session according to the rules. The National Assembly officials told Geo News that according to the SC larger bench's written order, the NA Speaker has been made duty-bound to proceed with the no-trust motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government as per the April 3 agenda of the House. The NA officials said that the voting on the no-trust motion could take place within seven days of its submission and last Sunday (April 3) was the last day of voting. So, SC's larger bench ordered the Speaker to revive the April 3 agenda of the National Assembly and conduct voting on the no-confidence motion, they added. Therefore, today (April 9) will be considered the last day (seventh day) of voting on the no-confidence motion and it is essential to move with the set agenda, reported Geo News. The NA officials said if the no-trust motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan succeeds, the National Assembly session will be prorogued till Sunday for the election of the new Leader of the House and the National Assembly Secretariat would begin with its necessary documentation. The NA Secretariat has prepared forms for the nomination of the new Leader of the House and those forms would be issued as soon as the session is prorogued and scrutiny of the nomination forms will be completed till night and the list of the candidates for PM's slot will be issued at night and after that, the National Assembly will elect new Prime Minister on Sunday. The NA official said it was impossible to hold a debate on the issue of the letter shown by Imran Khan in its rally on March 27 in which he had alleged a foreign conspiracy to topple his government. They said the government will have to submit a separate resolution in the NA Secretariat for the debate on the contents of the letter and briefing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs secretary to the House and will have to seek the permission of the House if the House should be converted into a standing committee. The Opposition enjoys its majority in the House, so it can reject this resolution, reported Geo News. When asked if the government tried to get the voting on the no-trust motion delayed for a day or a week, the NA official said that in this situation, the Speaker would violate SC's larger bench order and should get ready to face a five-year disqualification and contempt of court. Despite Imran Khan-led PTI government's hectic efforts to avoid voting on the no-confidence motion, the National Assembly will decide the fate of the premier today. Meanwhile, the ruling party has prepared its strategy to scuttle the proceedings and delay the voting by asking its MPs to indulge in lengthy speeches on the 'foreign conspiracy", reported Geo News. The same was endorsed by Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chauhdry. Talking to Geo News, he said that the foreign secretary is going to brief the House on the "threat letter", so the voting on no-confidence may not happen and maybe deferred till next week. (ANI) Sri Lanka's main opposition party Samagi Jana Balwegaya (SJB) announced that it will move a no-confidence motion against President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's government if it fails to provide immediate relief to the people of the island nation adversely impacted by the economic crisis. "We have decided to bring a no confidence motion against Sri Lanka president Gotabaya Rajapaksa as he fails to address the country in connection with economic policies. We have called a meeting with all opposition leaders and will take a final decision on it soon," Sri Lanka Leader of Opposition, Sajith Premadasa told ANI. Further, he said opposition MPs have also discussed that there should be an end to the Executive Presidency and power should be divided in Sri Lanka between the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary. Earlier, opposition leader Sajith Premadasa had said that Sri Lanka must abolish the all-powerful Executive Presidency and strengthen Parliament without paving the way to a similarly dictatorial premiership while ensuring adequate checks and balances. "For nearly 20 years every leader promised to abolish the Executive Presidency but only strengthened it," Premadasa said in a strongly-worded speech in parliament on Tuesday reminding the Parliamentarians about the necessity to introduce a new electoral system. It is pertinent to mention that since the introduction of the presidential system in 1978, every election which ensued was fought on the promise to abolish the presidency. However, once elected all presidents chose to ignore the election promise. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan citizens continue to protest against the current government across the country and have raised demands to sack the President and Prime Minister. Sri Lanka is battling a severe economic crisis with food and fuel scarcity affecting a large number of the people in the island nation. The economy has been in a free-fall since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sri Lanka is also facing a foreign exchange shortage, which has, incidentally, affected its capacity to import food and fuel, leading to the power cuts in the country. The shortage of essential goods forced Sri Lanka to seek assistance from friendly countries. (ANI) People in the Pakistan Occupied Gilgit-Baltistan are holding protests against Pakistan as large chunks of areas belonging to villages have been given to the army for setting up various infrastructures for their new security unit created for the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. People are also raising their voices against the Pakistani government for forcibly taking away the ancestral lands of the locals and leasing them out to private contractors working with the Pakistani army. The people have taken to the streets demanding the revocation of licenses given to the private contractors, reported Islam Khabar. During the rally, the protesters said their region is a disputed territory and Pakistan was an illegal occupier and hence had no right to lease out their natural resources without the consent of the local communities. Major protests are being held in Thak Das and Maqpoon Das areas. The area has been razed to the ground, destroying houses, cattle shed, farms and other living spaces of traditional mountain villages. In a bid to give shape to these infrastructure projects the Pakistani regime is trying to silence the villagers who are protesting. The Pakistani government has been ruthlessly terrorising the villagers, issuing warrants to over 200 villagers for protesting against the army. The region is witnessing protests frequently and not a month passes in this beautiful mountainous area without local communities breaking out into protests, as per Islam Khabar. This is not only happening in Gilgit-Baltistan but also in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, and other cities where many youths from Gilgit Baltistan live and study. (ANI) Pakistan federal minister Fawad Chaudhry on Saturday said that voting on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan's government could be shifted to next week. As proceedings of the Pakistan National Assembly (NA) session began with the specific mandate to take up the no-confidence motion against the government and the election of the new leader of the House got underway today, Geo News reported that the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has prepared its strategy to scuttle the proceedings and delay the voting by directing MPs to give lengthy speeches on the 'foreign conspiracy" Talking to Geo News, the minister for information and law said that the foreign secretary will brief the House on the "threat letter", so the voting on no-confidence may not happen and may be deferred till next week. The publication stated that according to sources, despite the court's orders, the PTI-led government has planned not to conduct voting on a no-confidence motion today. They added that PTI members of the National Assembly have been directed to hold "long debates during the NA session," so the voting can be "avoided due to a shortage of time." In a historic judgment a day earlier, the Supreme Court of Pakistan had ordered National Assembly Speaker Asad Qasier to summon the session on Saturday (April 9) no later than 10:30 am to allow the vote on the no-confidence motion against the premier. The Supreme Court of Pakistan had also restored the National Assembly after it declared the government's decision to dissolve the assembly and NA Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri's ruling null and void and against the Constitution. On the other hand, the National Assembly secretariat urged members that the voting on the no-trust motion against PM Imran Khan must be conducted today, otherwise, the speaker can be charged with contempt of court. In the NA's six-point agenda issued Friday, voting on the no-confidence motion is at the fourth position, reported Geo News. Meanwhile, PTI's political committee, a day prior, had suggested that the party should hand down en masse resignations from the legislatures in the Centre, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, sources privy to the matter said. The suggestion came during the meeting of PTI's political committee chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan. Sources said that the meeting discussed the current political situation in the country and held consultations on whether to make the alleged foreign plot in the "threat letter" public. As per sources, committee members presented suggestions regarding the matter in light of the Secrets Act and judicial orders, reported Geo News. The committee suggested making the "threat letter" public, saying that since there is pressure from the public, a decision should be made through thoughtful consideration. (ANI) An Illinois judge issued a temporary restraining order Friday that prevents Chicago Public Schools from taking employment action against six teachers for refusing to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or undergo weekly testing. Advertisement CPS is the only school district left in the state thats still enforcing this. None of the rest of the school districts that are in this case are trying to get vaccination or testing compliance out of teachers, said downstate attorney Tom DeVore, who represents the six CPS teachers. They should drop it. CPS issued a statement late Friday on Sangamon County Circuit Judge Raylene Grischows decision: The district disagrees with the courts decision and will continue to fight against this lawsuit and the TRO, as we believe our current health and safety protocols are in the best interest of our students, staff and school communities. Advertisement The district said it intends to appeal the decision and will ask for the restraining order to be stayed. CPS announced an employee vaccine mandate in August, with allowances for medical or religious exemptions. The district later relaxed those rules, but said partially vaccinated and unvaccinated staff members had to test weekly for COVID-19. CPS says about 8.5% of its staff some 4,100 employees are required to test, according to district data. Grischow already issued a temporary restraining order against the district in February as part of a challenge to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzkers school COVID-19 policies such as universal masking, quarantining for unvaccinated close contacts of an infected person, and testing for unvaccinated staff members. DeVore, a Republican candidate for Illinois attorney general, said after that temporary restraining order was entered, two of his six clients continued to work at CPS without testing weekly. The other four teachers still tested, DeVore said. They continued to test because they were waiting for the process to go through the appeals court, and they were scared during that period of time, he said. The appellate court dismissed Pritzkers appeal of the temporary restraining order as moot because rules from the Illinois Department of Public Health requiring masking and other COVID-19 protocols had been allowed to expire. The Illinois Supreme Court declined to hear the case, vacating the temporary restraining order. Advertisement DeVore said the two CPS teachers who refused to test were told last month by the district to comply with the rule or risk being placed on a nondisciplinary administrative leave of absence without pay. CPS didnt end up taking action against these teachers, DeVore said. He said Friday he is prepared to add 13 CPS employees to his lawsuit. Legal pressure from DeVores fight with CPS over its coronavirus mitigation strategies helped spur the district to drop its mask requirement for most students and staff last month. tswartz@tribpub.com Zarifa Ghafari, the winner of the International Women's Rights award and one of Afghanistan's first woman Mayors of Maidan Shahr who defied the Taliban restrictions on Afghan women, continues to raise voice for the people of her homeland with her radio channel and humanitarian foundation. Now living in Germany, Ghafari with her foundation, the Assistance and Promotion of Afghan Women organization, continues to advocate for women's rights in Afghanistan. Ghafari fled Afghanistan after the Taliban took control of the country last August. In an interview with CNN, Ghafari defiantly said, "The Taliban cannot erase us, they can't. This is not like the 1990s or before -- they have to accept (women). They have no other choice." Ghafari said that her heart broke further when the Taliban went back on their much-anticipated promise to let girls above 6th-grade return to school in March. Her organization is building a centre in Kabul to provide basic tailoring, handcraft and secondary education classes to women as well as maternity care and general healthcare services. But Ghafari knows that her efforts alone are not enough. This week, as she accepted the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy's 2022 International Women's Rights Award, she urged the world to do something. "I urge you to do everything you can to take our people out of this predicament, and to raise your voices in support of humanity. The solution is not for all just sitting and sending statements. We need action at least after seven months of darkness for men and women of my country," she said in her acceptance speech at the UN. "My country has been at war for 40 years. Achieving peace in a country that has been at war for decades is never easy. It often involves making distasteful choices and speaking with people you find abhorrent. And yet there is no other way. That is how peace was achieved in Northern Ireland and in Yugoslavia, and I believe it is the only way it can be achieved in Afghanistan," she continued. In addition to prioritizing human rights and women's rights in any international talks with the Taliban, she asked world leaders to not close their doors to Afghans seeking safe shelter. Referencing the welcome many European countries are offering those fleeing wars in Ukraine, Ghafari added, "Our blood is not different by colour from Ukrainians". Ghafari fought for months to be allowed to actually take up the position of Mayor of Maidan Shahr following protests from locals. Melissa Mahtani, writing for CNN, said that Ghafari finally succeeded in changing some people's attitudes. Ghafari said that one of her fiercest critics told her years later that she had proved him wrong when he had told her she was nothing more than a little girl. "I was able to show the power and the ability of women and to prove that we can do anything. I showed people that it doesn't matter how many more times I get attacked, I will be still here because I think what I am doing is right," she said. In the aftermath of the Taliban taking control of Afghanistan and her father being murdered in 2020 along with multiple assassinations attempt, she fled in August 2021 making it out of the country by hiding in the footwell of a car. The Taliban regime which took over Kabul in August last year has curtailed women's rights and freedoms, with women largely excluded from the workforce due to the economic crisis and restrictions. (ANI) Deputy State Department spokeswoman Jalina Porter, in a press conference on Friday, rejected Imran's accusations and stated, "Let me just say very bluntly there is absolutely no truth to these allegations." Earlier, Imran Khan had accused the US of interfering in Pakistan's politics and plotting to oust his regime through a no-trust motion in the National Assembly. Jalina noted that Washington continues to follow the developments in Pakistan and it supports the constitutional process and rule of law in the country. "Of course, we continue to follow these developments, and we respect and support Pakistan's constitutional process and rule of law. But again, these allegations are not true," she concluded. (ANI) Joint Opposition in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly submitted a no-confidence motion against the province's Chief Minister Mahmood Khan to the Assembly secretariat. The motion was submitted on Friday. Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly Secretariat said that the Opposition's no-confidence motion against Chief Minister Mahmood Khan will be reviewed on Monday. The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) is the single largest party in the 145-member House with 94 members, while 51 legislators are on the Opposition benches. After scrutinising the legal aspects, the Speaker of the provincial Assembly will be consulted by the concerned officials. As far as voting is concerned over the no-confidence motion against the KP CM, Mahmood Khan said it will not be possible before May 10 after the scrutiny of the legal matters, reported ARY News. This comes in the aftermath of a no-confidence motion moved against Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) dispensation in Punjab. The Awami National Party (ANP) MPA Hussain Babab and other members of the provincial Assembly belonging to Opposition parties submitted the no-confidence motion against the Chief Minister in the Assembly secretariat. Before submitting the notice, the opposition parties held a meeting at the chamber of the opposition leader during which the strategy for the no-confidence motion was discussed. The motion submitted to the Assembly secretariat states: "We beg to move that leave may be granted under sub-rule (1) of rule 18D of the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Procedure and Conduct of Business Rules to move a resolution of no-confidence against the Chief Minister under Article 136 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan". The proposed resolution submitted by the Opposition members reads: "Whereas Mr Mahmood Khan has ceased to command the confidence of the majority of the members of this Assembly as the chief minister, it is hereby resolved that Mr Mahmoood Khan shall stand ceased to hold the said office." (ANI) After reports of her non-domicile status and alleged tax evasion, Akshata Murthy, the wife of British finance minister Rishi Sunak, claimed that she has been paying all taxes. Her spokesperson said that Akshata Murthy "has always and will continue to pay UK taxes on all her UK income". The clarification came amid reports that Akshata Murty holds a non-domicile status and has evaded paying taxes on her UK income as recently as April 2020, when her husband was already Chancellor of the Exchequer, reported SKY News. Indian-born Murty is the daughter of Narayana Murthy, the billionaire co-founder of tech giant Infosys and has a 0.9 per cent stake in the company worth hundreds of millions of pounds according to its latest annual report. Her spokeswoman said: "Akshata Murty is a citizen of India, the country of her birth and parent's home". She also stated that India does not allow its citizens to hold the citizenship of another country simultaneously. "So, according to British law, Ms Murty is treated as non-domiciled for UK tax purposes. She has always and will continue to pay UK taxes on all her UK income," clarified the spokeswoman. The revelations have also taken a political turn as the UK opposition party is asking the Chancellor to clear the air amid intensified allegations against his wife. The opposition Labour Party in the UK asked Sunak to explain the allegation of tax evasion. Labour's shadow economic secretary to the Treasury, Tulip Siddiq, said, "Rishi Sunak must now urgently explain how much he and his family have saved on their own tax bill while he at the same time was adding on to tax burdens of millions of working families, reported the news channel. The Liberal Democrats added that the Chancellor "needs to come clean about which country his family pays tax in abroad and if it is a tax haven". According to a poll, the Chancellor's popularity had plunged taking his popularity below that of Sir Keir (Labour Party Leader) for the first time. (ANI) Maryam Nawaz Sharif, vice president of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) on Saturday hit out at Prime Minister Imran Khan, calling him a "Psychopath" while asserting that he must not be allowed to take the nation down. Taking to Twitter, Maryam wrote, "One person who is not in his senses anymore cannot be allowed to wreak havoc & bring the entire country down. This is not a joke. He should not be treated as PM or ex PM, he must be treated as a PSYCHOPATH who just to save his own skin is holding the entire country hostage. Shame." Imran Khan was conspicuous by his absence in the National Assembly, which commenced its proceedings on Saturday to take up the no-confidence motion on the direction of the Supreme Court. The no-confidence motion is listed fourth on the day's agenda of the National Assembly. While the Opposition has come out in full force, very few members of the treasury benches were seen in attendance. Prime Minister Imran Khan was also not present in the House, reported Geo News. Taking the floor, the leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif hailed Thursday as a historic day when the apex court rejected the Deputy Speaker's ruling to reject the no-confidence motion. According to the PML-N leader, the SC decision had made Pakistan's future "bright", reported Geo News. He also thanked the Opposition leaders for leading protests against the erroneous ruling of the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly. He called upon the National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser to conduct proceedings in accordance with the SC's directives, stating that Parliament would be writing history today. "Today, Parliament is going to defeat a selected prime minister in a Constitutional manner," he declared. Shehbaz urged the Speaker to let bygones be bygones and to stand for the law and the Constitution. He urged the Speaker to play his role and get his name "written in history in golden words". "You must cash in on this moment with conviction and with your heart and mind. Don't act on the dictation of the selected Prime Minister," he urged Qaiser, adding that the apex court's directives were clear. Responding to Shehbaz's earnest plea, Qaiser assured the Opposition leader that he would conduct proceedings according to the law and the Constitution. "[But] the important thing is that there has been talk of an international conspiracy. This should also be discussed," he said, as the hall echoed with protests from the Opposition benches. This prompted Shehbaz Sherif to tell the Qaiser that he would be violating the court's directives if he would go down that road (foreign conspiracy). He also read out the court's directives regarding the convening of the session of the National Assembly. "Under the court's directives, you are bound to take up this agenda item and no other items. That is the intent of the order and you cannot deviate from it," he said, calling on the Speaker to hold voting on the motion forthwith. "The SC's orders will be followed in true letter and spirit," Qaiser replied, giving the floor to Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, reported Geo News. After what can perhaps be called the longest week in Pakistani politics in recent history, the National Assembly session to decide the fate of Prime Minister Imran Khan is currently underway. National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser is chairing the session which began at 10:30 am sharp, in accordance with the Supreme Court's directives. Lawmakers began arriving at Parliament House ahead of the session while television footage showed tight security arrangements in place in the capital. The united Opposition also held a meeting of its Parliamentary group that was chaired by PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and attended by 176 lawmakers, reported Geo News. The Opposition needs the support of at least 172 lawmakers from a total of 342 to oust the premier through the no-confidence motion. Despite the impression that the PTI has lost its majority in the lower House, the ruling party is still adamant that it would not leave the field open for the Opposition and has vowed to make things as difficult for them as they can by creating hurdles in the voting procedure and also preventing the election of Opposition nominee Shehbaz Sharif as the new leader of the House. Ahead of the session, on Friday, PM Imran had presided over a meeting of the party's Parliamentary group. Meanwhile, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has said the government would present the "threatening" cable -- purportedly containing evidence of a foreign plot against the government -- or its contents in the Assembly and will ask the Speaker for a debate on the issue. The joint Opposition, primarily the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and the PPP, had submitted the no-confidence motion against the premier with the NA Secretariat on March 8. (ANI) Negative social media has adversely impacted the tourism sector of Sri Lanka, which is battling its worst economic crisis, according to the Managing Director of Lanka IOC, a subsidiary of the Indian Oil Corporation. In an interview with ANI, the MD of the Lanka IOC Manoj Gupta said: "For ordering shipments Sri Lanka requires USD 30-32 million to open the Letter of Credit (LC) and it is an extremely difficult task to open such LC in Sri Lanka these days." "A single bank cannot open such a big LC of 32 million and for that, we need to contact at least four to five banks. We are grateful to the Central bank of Sri Lanka and other licensed commercial banks, who have enabled us to open LCs to import fuel shipments," he added. Noting the problem of non-availability of dollars, Gupta noted, "Banks are also telling us that they don't have any dollars left with them. Even after free float of the LKR (Sri Lankan Rupee), the banks still do not have the liquidity to offer." The managing director said that fortunately tourism had recently picked up but news articles on social media have adversely affected the sector. "After Covid pandemic, we were so happy, so proud, that every month thousands of tourists from across the globe used to come to visit the beautiful island. But some news articles on social media have made an adverse effect on the tourism industry due to which many bookings got cancelled. I strongly believe that this too shall pass and we will sail through the tough time. Social media plays a very important role because everyone is on Twitter and Facebook and it is the fastest mode of communication," he said while expressing hope for Sri Lanka's future. The MD of Lanka IOC added that they are supplying diesel to hotels, schools, airports, hospitals, embassies, and construction sites, among others. "The place we are sitting right now is the World Trade Centre in Colombo which is also getting diesel supply from us because there is power cut of several hours at times", Gupta said. "I do appreciate, that we may not be able to contribute to the requirements as needed, due to our limitations of scale, but to a large extent, we are trying to contribute to the best of our abilities. I am confident now that going forward, definitely, the situation will change for betterment. I would reiterate that the biggest problem is the availability of USD. At the same time, I am confident that the way we have sailed through the pandemic, we shall get over this tough and challenging phase too," Gupta said. (ANI) Maryam Nawaz Sharif, vice president of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), said that if Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan likes India so much then he should go back and leave Pakistan. While giving the example set by former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's resignation as per the Indian Constitution at a time when his government failed to win a confidence vote in the Lok Sabha (India's lower house) by a single vote, Maryam hit out at Imran's "planning and plotting". Maryam slammed Imran Khan, calling him a "Psychopath" while asserting that he must not be allowed to take the nation down. Taking to Twitter, Maryam wrote, "One person who is not in his senses anymore cannot be allowed to wreak havoc & bring the entire country down. This is not a joke. He should not be treated as PM or ex PM, he must be treated as a PSYCHOPATH who just to save his own skin is holding the entire country hostage. Shame." Imran Khan was conspicuous by his absence in the National Assembly, which commenced its proceedings on Saturday to take up the no-confidence motion on the direction of the Supreme Court. The no-confidence motion is listed fourth on the day's agenda of the National Assembly. While the Opposition has come out in full force, very few members of the treasury benches were seen in attendance. Prime Minister Imran Khan was also not present in the House, reported Geo News. Taking the floor, the leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif hailed Thursday as a historic day when the apex court rejected the Deputy Speaker's ruling to reject the no-confidence motion. According to the PML-N leader, the SC decision had made Pakistan's future "bright", reported Geo News. He also thanked the Opposition leaders for leading protests against the erroneous ruling of the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly. He called upon the National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser to conduct proceedings in accordance with the SC's directives, stating that Parliament would be writing history today. "Today, Parliament is going to defeat a selected prime minister in a Constitutional manner," he declared. Shehbaz urged the Speaker to let bygones be bygones and to stand for the law and the Constitution. He urged the Speaker to play his role and get his name "written in history in golden words". "You must cash in on this moment with conviction and with your heart and mind. Don't act on the dictation of the selected Prime Minister," he urged Qaiser, adding that the apex court's directives were clear. Responding to Shehbaz's earnest plea, Qaiser assured the Opposition leader that he would conduct proceedings according to the law and the Constitution. "[But] the important thing is that there has been talk of an international conspiracy. This should also be discussed," he said, as the hall echoed with protests from the Opposition benches. This prompted Shehbaz Sherif to tell the Qaiser that he would be violating the court's directives if he would go down that road (foreign conspiracy). He also read out the court's directives regarding the convening of the session of the National Assembly. "Under the court's directives, you are bound to take up this agenda item and no other items. That is the intent of the order and you cannot deviate from it," he said, calling on the Speaker to hold voting on the motion forthwith. "The SC's orders will be followed in true letter and spirit," Qaiser replied, giving the floor to Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, reported Geo News. After what can perhaps be called the longest week in Pakistani politics in recent history, the National Assembly session to decide the fate of Prime Minister Imran Khan is currently underway. National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser is chairing the session which began at 10:30 am sharp, in accordance with the Supreme Court's directives. Lawmakers began arriving at Parliament House ahead of the session while television footage showed tight security arrangements in place in the capital. The united Opposition also held a meeting of its Parliamentary group that was chaired by PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and attended by 176 lawmakers, reported Geo News. The Opposition needs the support of at least 172 lawmakers from a total of 342 to oust the premier through the no-confidence motion. Despite the impression that the PTI has lost its majority in the lower House, the ruling party is still adamant that it would not leave the field open for the Opposition and has vowed to make things as difficult for them as they can by creating hurdles in the voting procedure and also preventing the election of Opposition nominee Shehbaz Sharif as the new leader of the House. Ahead of the session, on Friday, PM Imran had presided over a meeting of the party's Parliamentary group. Meanwhile, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has said the government would present the "threatening" cable -- purportedly containing evidence of a foreign plot against the government -- or its contents in the Assembly and will ask the Speaker for a debate on the issue. The joint Opposition, primarily the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and the PPP, had submitted the no-confidence motion against the premier with the NA Secretariat on March 8. (ANI) The voting in the Pakistan National Assembly over the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected to be held after 8 pm (local time) on Saturday. The session was adjourned as the opposition parties continued to chant slogans, pressing for the taking up of the no-confidence motion, while Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was speaking in the National Assembly, local media reported. In an apparent move seen as part of the strategy of the ruling Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) to delay the proceedings, Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, while chairing the Saturday session to take up the no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government, said that the House should also hold a discussion on the issue of "international conspiracy." The Speaker's suggestion was met with strong protest by the Opposition MPs, who asked the Chair to stick to the mandate of the session spelt out by the Supreme Court. Urging the Speaker to carry out the proceedings of the House according to the norms of the Constitution, Shahbaz Sharif, Leader of Opposition in Pakistan National Assembly, stated, "I hope you (Speaker) will carry out today's proceedings of the House as per the Supreme Court order. I urge you to stand for the Constitution and law. You must catch this moment with your conviction." During the session, Foreign Minister and PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi made it clear that it is the duty of the government to defend the no-confidence motion. "It is the Constitutional right of the Opposition to move a no-confidence motion against the government, and it's the government's duty to defend it," he added. Proceedings of the Pakistan National Assembly session with the specific mandate to take up the no-confidence motion against the Imran Khan-led government and the election of the new leader of the House got underway on Saturday. Heavy security has been deployed outside the Pakistan National Assembly in Islamabad. Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz, and other MNAs are attending the session of the National Assembly, reported Geo News. The Supreme Court had on Thursday ordered the incumbent government to face the no-confidence motion on Saturday. The court had turned down the ruling of the Deputy Speaker to reject the no-confidence motion. The top court's directives came after Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial took suo motu cognisance of Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri's ruling and the subsequent dissolution of the National Assembly, declaring all the decisions unconstitutional. As per the order of the Supreme Court, voting is to be held at all costs today and in case the PM is voted out, the election of a new Leader of the House will be held during the same session. The voting on the no-confidence motion is at the fourth position in the six-point agenda issued for today. Speaker Asad Qaiser can not take up agenda other than voting on the motion, and if he did not do so, he would have to face contempt of court proceedings, reported Geo News. It is pertinent to mention here that the Opposition has submitted the no-confidence motions against the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. However, Asad Qaiser can chair today's session according to the rules. The National Assembly officials told Geo News that according to the SC larger bench's written order, the NA Speaker has been made duty-bound to proceed with the no-trust motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government as per the April 3 agenda of the House. The NA officials said that the voting on the no-trust motion could take place within seven days of its submission and last Sunday (April 3) was the last day of voting. So, SC's larger bench ordered the Speaker to revive the April 3 agenda of the National Assembly and conduct voting on the no-confidence motion, they added. Therefore, today (April 9) will be considered the last day (seventh day) of voting on the no-confidence motion and it is essential to move with the set agenda, reported Geo News. The NA officials said if the no-trust motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan succeeds, the National Assembly session will be extended till Sunday to complete the process for the election of the new Leader of the House while the Secretariat will undertake the necessary documentation. When asked if the government tried to get the voting on the no-trust motion delayed for a day or a week, the NA official said that in this situation, the NA Speaker would violate SC's larger bench order and should get ready to face a five-year disqualification and contempt of court. Despite Imran Khan-led PTI government's hectic efforts to avoid voting on the no-confidence motion, the National Assembly will decide the fate of the premier today. Meanwhile, the ruling party has prepared its strategy to scuttle the proceedings and delay the voting by asking its MPs to give lengthy speeches on the 'foreign conspiracy", reported Geo News. The same was endorsed by Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chauhdry. Talking to Geo News, he said that the foreign secretary is going to brief the House on the "threat letter", so the voting on no-confidence may not happen and maybe deferred till next week. (ANI) As the National Assembly session on the no-confidence motion against the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) resumed around 3:00 pm, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the former National Security Advisor (NSA) of the country Moeed Yusuf was categorically told by the US that Prime Minister Imran Khan should not go on his Russia visit. Qureshi was speaking on the no-confidence motion against the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He conceded that today is probably his last day as the Foreign Minister of Pakistan. "The National Security Advisor of the United States of America calls the National Security Advisor of Pakistan and says, do not go... categorically... where does this happen that a sovereign state is stopped from a bilateral visit and which self-respecting society accepts this?" Qureshi said. Imran Khan had made an ill-timed bilateral visit to Moscow on the eve of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Qureshi also talked about the accidental fire of a missile from India last month that landed in Pakistan, saying that the accidental firing could have led to an "accidental war". Earlier today, the session of the National Assembly was adjourned as the Opposition continued to chant slogans, pressing for the taking up of the no-confidence motion, while Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was speaking in the National Assembly, local media reported. In an apparent move seen as part of the strategy of the ruling Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) to delay the proceedings, Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, while chairing the Saturday session to take up the no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government, said that the House should also hold a discussion on the issue of "international conspiracy." The Speaker's suggestion was met with strong protest by the Opposition members who asked the Chair to stick to the mandate of the session spelt out by the Supreme Court. Pakistan's Supreme Court in a historic judgement on Thursday had called for the convening of the session of the National Assembly "not later than 10:30 am on Saturday" after setting aside the April 3 ruling of the Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri against the no-confidence motion on "Constitutional grounds". Declaring the ruling of the Deputy Speaker "to be contrary to the Constitution and the law and of no legal effect", the Court set aside all the subsequent steps taken, including the dissolution of the National Assembly, while also restoring Prime Minister Imran Khan and all the Federal Ministers to their respective positions as of April 3. The court also fixed the Saturday session with the conditions that the session cannot be prorogued unless the motion is voted upon, and in case Imran Khan loses the no-trust vote, the next PM has to be elected in the same session. (ANI) The Russian Ministry of Justice announced that it has revoked the registration of 15 representative offices of international organizations and foreign NGOs, including that Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. According to a ministry statement, the groups "were expelled after they were found to be in breach of the current legislation of the Russian Federation." Replying to this move by Russia, secretary-general of Amnesty International Agnes Callamard said, "Amnesty's closing down in Russia is only the latest in a long list of organizations that have been punished for defending human rights and speaking the truth to the Russian authorities." "In a country where scores of activists and dissidents have been imprisoned, killed, or exiled, where independent media has been smeared, blocked, or forced to self-censor, and where civil society organizations have been outlawed or liquidated, you must be doing something right if the Kremlin tries to shut you up," she continued. 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 provocations. In response to Russia's operation, Western countries have rolled out a comprehensive sanctions campaign against Moscow. (ANI) Xi talks with Philippine president over phone Xinhua) 09:15, April 09, 2022 BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday held a phone conversation with his Philippine counterpart, Rodrigo Duterte. During the phone conversation, Xi said that he still has fresh memories about Duterte's first visit to China in October 2016, which he called an ice-breaking trip and a milestone in the history of bilateral relations. In the past six years, Xi said, the two sides have followed the important consensus reached between the two leaders, and have persisted in promoting good-neighborly friendship and cooperation, properly handling differences, working together for common development, and getting rid of interference in bilateral ties, which is demonstrating a new situation of vigorous development. The two countries have established a comprehensive strategic cooperative relationship, deepened the synergy between the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and the plan of "Build, Build, Build," and jointly promoted cooperation in major programs such as infrastructure construction, with bilateral trade volume doubled during the period, he added. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Xi said, the two sides have stood by each other, safeguarded the safety of the lives of the people in both countries and their health, and worked to maintain the stability of the regional industrial and supply chains. The two sides' properly handling of the South China Sea issue has provided an important foundation for the China-Philippines friendly cooperation, benefited the two people and also effectively safeguarded regional peace and stability, Xi said. Xi stressed that China maintains the continuity and stability in its policy toward the Philippines, and is willing to work with the country to promote sustained and sound development of the bilateral relations so as to reach new levels. The Chinese side stands ready to continue to provide COVID-19 vaccines to the Philippines if needed, and strengthen bilateral cooperation in the research and development of specific drugs and in public health capacity building, Xi said. China is also ready to promote the construction of major projects and expand cooperation in trade, investment, education, as well as people-to-people and cultural exchanges with the Philippines, he said. China will also import more quality products from the Philippines, encourage Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in the Philippines, and contribute to the modernization process of the Philippines, he added. Xi stressed that the development of the current international situation has once again proved that regional security cannot be achieved by strengthening military alliances. The Chinese side is ready to work with the Philippines and other regional countries to uphold the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, take firm control over regional security, and jointly safeguard the hard-won peace and stability in the region so as to build a community with a shared future for mankind, he added. Duterte said he highly values his friendship and good relations with President Xi. Over the past six years, thanks to the joint efforts of both sides, people in the two countries have become more friendly toward each other, bilateral relations stronger and their cooperation more fruitful, and the Philippine people have truly felt the benefits of Philippines-China cooperation, he added. Thanking China for its vaccine support in the anti-pandemic fight as well as the timely help to the people affected by storms in his country, Duterte said China is a true and reliable friend of the Philippine people. The Philippine side is willing to consolidate its friendship and cooperation with China, continue to strengthen bilateral relations, learn from China's experience in poverty reduction, and promote cooperation in such fields as anti-pandemic, economy and trade, infrastructure, tourism and education, said the president. The Philippines also welcomes Chinese investment and cooperation in the country, which is of great significance for the Philippines to achieve its own development, he added. The Philippines is willing to work with China to properly address the South China Sea issue, set an example for the peaceful resolution of disputes, and maintain regional peace and stability, Duterte said, adding the Philippines is also willing to play an active role in the development of ASEAN-China relations. (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji) A former high school choir teacher in Aurora was in court Saturday, charged with having sexual contact with a 17-year-old student, the DuPage County states attorney office and Aurora police said Saturday. Nathan Bramstedt, 42, of Oswego, appeared before Judge Susan Alvarado, who set bond St. $500,000 Saturday during a hearing, according to a statement from the states attorneys office. Bramstedt must pay $50,000 to be released. Advertisement Bramstedt was taken into custody Friday afternoon and charged with nine counts of criminal sexual assault position of trust/authority and three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse position of trust/authority, the statement said. The alleged sexual assault came to light when the student, who was 17 at the time, reported it to authorities last year. Advertisement Bramstedt is accused of sexually assaulting the student on multiple occasions and at multiple locations at Metea Valley High School, where he was a choir teacher, from Feb. 2019 to June 2019, according to the statement. Aurora police and the DuPage County Childrens Center opened an investigation after the assault was reported. I want to commend the victim in this case for being brave and coming forward to report these horrible acts of sexual assault and allowing us to investigate this case to bring justice to her and her family, Aurora Police Chief Keith Cross said in the statement. Bramstedt, who was profiled in a 2018 story by the Naperville Sun, could face a minimum of 36 years in prison if he is found guilty of all charges. He is due in court on May 2 for arraignment. After the Pakistan National Assembly Speaker said that the House should also hold a discussion on the issue of "international conspiracy", Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari asserted that the Supreme Court has passed an order to vote on the no-trust motion against the Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday and anything against this order cannot be discussed. The voting in the Pakistan National Assembly over the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected to be held after 8 pm (local time) on Saturday. The session resumed after it was adjourned as the opposition parties continued to chant slogans, pressing for the taking up of the no-confidence motion, while Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was speaking in the National Assembly, local media reported. In an apparent move seen as part of the strategy of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to delay the proceedings, Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, while chairing the Saturday session to take up the no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government, said that the House should also hold a discussion on the issue of "international conspiracy." The Speaker's suggestion was met with strong protest by the Opposition MPs, who asked the Chair to stick to the mandate of the session spelt out by the Supreme Court. Urging the Speaker to carry out the proceedings of the House according to the norms of the Constitution, Shahbaz Sharif, Leader of Opposition in Pakistan National Assembly, stated, "I hope you (Speaker) will carry out today's proceedings of the House as per the Supreme Court order. I urge you to stand for the Constitution and law." During the session, Foreign Minister and PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi made it clear that it is the duty of the government to defend the no-confidence motion. "It is the Constitutional right of the Opposition to move a no-confidence motion against the government, and it's the government's duty to defend it," he added. Proceedings of the Pakistan National Assembly session with the specific mandate to take up the no-confidence motion against the Imran Khan-led government and the election of the new leader of the House got underway on Saturday. Heavy security has been deployed outside the Pakistan National Assembly in Islamabad. Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz, and other MNAs are attending the session of the National Assembly, reported Geo News. The Supreme Court had on Thursday ordered the incumbent government to face the no-confidence motion on Saturday. The court had turned down the ruling of the Deputy Speaker to reject the no-confidence motion. The top court's directives came after Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial took suo motu cognisance of Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri's ruling and the subsequent dissolution of the National Assembly, declaring all the decisions unconstitutional. As per the order of the Supreme Court, voting is to be held at all costs today and in case the PM is voted out, the election of a new Leader of the House will be held during the same session. The voting on the no-confidence motion is at the fourth position in the six-point agenda issued for today. Speaker Asad Qaiser can not take up agenda other than voting on the motion, and if he did not do so, he would have to face contempt of court proceedings, reported Geo News. It is pertinent to mention here that the Opposition has submitted no-confidence motions against the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. However, Asad Qaiser can chair today's session according to the rules. The National Assembly officials told Geo News that according to the SC larger bench's written order, the NA Speaker has been made duty-bound to proceed with the no-trust motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government as per the April 3 agenda of the House. The NA officials said that the voting on the no-trust motion could take place within seven days of its submission and last Sunday (April 3) was the last day of voting. So, SC's larger bench ordered the Speaker to revive the April 3 agenda of the National Assembly and conduct voting on the no-confidence motion, they added. Therefore, today (April 9) will be considered the last day (seventh day) of voting on the no-confidence motion and it is essential to move with the set agenda, reported Geo News. The NA officials said if the no-trust motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan is passed, the National Assembly session will be extended till Sunday to complete the process for the election of the new Leader of the House while the Secretariat will undertake the necessary documentation. When asked if the government tried to get the voting on the no-trust motion delayed for a day or a week, the NA official said that in this situation, the NA Speaker would violate SC's larger bench order and should get ready to face a five-year disqualification and contempt of court. Despite Imran Khan-led PTI government's hectic efforts to avoid voting on the no-confidence motion, the National Assembly will decide the fate of the premier today. Meanwhile, the ruling party has prepared its strategy to scuttle the proceedings and delay the voting by asking its MPs to give lengthy speeches on the 'foreign conspiracy", reported Geo News. The same was endorsed by Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chauhdry. Talking to Geo News, he said that the foreign secretary is going to brief the House on the "threat letter", so the voting on no-confidence may not happen and maybe deferred till next week. (ANI) The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday filed a review petition against the Supreme Court's verdict setting aside the National Assembly Deputy Speaker's rejection of the no-trust motion against Imran Khan, reported local media. The petition, filed against the April 7, 2022 verdict by the apex court, seeks a review of the ruling given by the five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, ARY News reported. According to the sources, the development came after Imran Khan finalized his consultations with legal experts over the matter. The government will plead for suspension of the verdict and for the National Assembly to be allowed to function according to the rules, reported the media outlet citing the sources. Notably, in the wake of the apex court's decision, Imran Khan chaired a meeting of senior party leaders and legal experts ahead of a National Assembly session for the vote on the no-confidence motion. He also had a telephonic conversation with National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser to discuss the strategy for the voting on the no-trust motion. Meanwhile, the National Assembly secretariat has made it clear to the speaker that violating the apex court's decision to hold voting on the no-trust move will lead to contempt of court proceedings. The secretariat officials have conveyed that implementation of the Supreme Court's decision is unavoidable, reported the media outlet citing the sources. "We have conveyed to the speaker that there is no way except voting on the no-trust move today. If there will be no voting then it will be tantamount to contempt of court," the media outlet quoted the officials as saying. The Supreme Court had on Thursday ordered the incumbent government to face the no-confidence motion on Saturday. The court had turned down the ruling of the Deputy Speaker to reject the no-confidence motion. The top court's directives came after Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial took suo motu cognisance of Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri's ruling and the subsequent dissolution of the National Assembly, declaring all the decisions unconstitutional. The court also fixed the Saturday session with the conditions that the session cannot be prorogued unless the motion is voted upon, and in case Imran Khan loses the no-trust vote, the next PM has to be elected in the same session. (ANI) Imran Khan's support for Russia is rooted in his antagonism towards the West, however, with the Pakistan army unwilling to alienate the West and the US, the premier will have to play a very delicate balancing act between the two sides to win the elections in the country, according to a media report. Notably, Imran Khan visited Russia in February despite being asked by the Western states to reconsider his trip and later rejected their message to call out Moscow in the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict asking if they considered Pakistan their "slave", however, the Pakistan army condemning Russia's aggression in Ukraine came as a blow to Khan's government, reported a UK-based media outlet. Pakistan has accused the West of "double standards" in its reaction to the Ukraine conflict citing the catastrophic wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with the underlying narrative of the West standing up for "white Ukrainians" and not for other victims of conflict, purely because of their ethnicity. The narrative has also been incorporated into Imran Khan's populist rhetoric. However, the Pakistan army undid Khan's efforts of friendship with Russia as Army chief General Qamar Bajwa unequivocally condemned Russia's aggression in Ukraine, satisfying the Western states pressing Islamabad to condemn the invasion. Referring to free speech laws allowing satire against Islam, Imran Khan has been consistent in saying that there's an ongoing "genocide" of Muslims in the West, clearly demonstrating his desire to suppress this freedom by exporting murderous Islamic blasphemy laws, reported the UK-based media outlet. However, he has been quiet on Russia's own anti-Muslim policies or even China's treatment of Uyghur Muslims because like Pakistan's subservience to China, Khan's shift towards China is rooted in economic and geopolitical gains rather than ideological affinity. However, according to the media outlet, the condemnation of satire against Islam is likely to allow Russian President Vladimir Putin space to push his nationalist, autocratic, agenda in the Muslim-majority areas such as Tatarstan where he is unlikely to face any resistance over the war in Ukraine because much of the narrative here is likely to remain on wars elsewhere, not perpetuated by Moscow. Meanwhile, with the Pakistan army going against Imran Khan's pro-Russia approach, the premier will have to be careful regarding his anti-West rhetoric to retain power in the country. (ANI) Amid a worsening economic crisis and political instability, Pakistani society is experiencing an increased radicalization at all levels, including even women, who are systematically indoctrinated in the thousands of women-only madrassas of the country, a report said. On March 29, in a female madrassa at Dera Ismail Khan in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, three female students attacked their 18-year-old teacher Safoora Bibi and mercilessly beheaded her at the gate of the madrassa. As per Pakistani media, one of the accused in a statement made by her at the police station said that some religious personality appeared in the dream of a relative- who is a 13-year-old girl- and said the teacher had "committed blasphemy against Islam against which the religious personality gave directions (in the dream) for beheading." The reason that Pakistan continues to grapple with extremist ideology is the fact that all the leaderships from past to present have been mollycoddling the fanatics of the town for political gains. Madrassas and mosque culture have pushed the country several centuries behind, rather into the world of jahiliya (ignorance), an International Forum for Rights and Security (IFFRAS) report said. Although there are no official estimates of madrassas in Pakistan, various scholars give a figure ranging from 32,000 to 70,000 madrassas, where around 2.5 million students get religious education. The Pakistan Education Statistics 2017-18 Annual Report published by the Academy of Educational Planning and Management reports around 31,000 registered Deeni Madaris, the report said. Around 2,000 of these are all-female madrassas. These madrassas have the objective of protecting women from getting "morally corrupted", the report said, adding that, there is an emergence of a conservative value system that promotes conventional roles for women in society with the religious organisations taking the onus upon themselves to "protect" women from the influences of liberal western values eroding society. One of the pamphlets from a Jamiat-i-Islami madrassa says, "the responsibility for promoting an Islamic society is upon women as some women have steeped in ignorance and have wandered too far from their religious duties. Hence, female madrassas will ensure high moral values," the report said. The Al Huda International Institute along with the Jamia-e-Hafsa are the propagators of the female Islamic education movement, apart from a few others like Minhajul Quran and Mawrid. They are pulling women to join Islamic education and remind them of their social purpose, the report said, adding that Jamia Hafsa has been standing in support of Tehrik-e-Taliban-Pakistan (TTP) and had even hoisted the Taliban flag and sang 'Salam Taliban' in 2021. Prior to this, there have been instances where the female scholars of Jamia Hafsa have vocally supported Daesh and asked Pakistan militants to join Islamic State fighters. This kind of female radicalisation has gone unchecked most of the time, and has become firmly rooted in society--as a result, Pakistan has emerged as a regressive and orthodox society, causing harm to those leading a progressive life by killing and punishment under the draconian blasphemy laws of Pakistan's constitution, the report said. For Imran Khan, who is busy saving his political career, this problem of radicalisation and extremism does not figure as a challenge, as compared to the so-called foreign conspiracy' to unseat him, which has made Pakistan an object of ridicule internationally. But for the rest of the region, this is a real issue as it has the potential to cause violence and instability, the report concluded. (ANI) While addressing the Pakistan National Assembly, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Saturday said that sabotaging the no-trust motion would imply contempt of court. Speaking in the National Assembly, Bilawal said that if voting does not take place it will be a violation of the constitution. He reiterated that the court has bound the speaker to not sabotage the no-trust vote. Bilawal said that if any conspiracy was being hatched against Pakistan before March 7, then it should have been aroused at that time. "Imran Khan came up with the idea of this conspiracy only when he lost the majority. Imran Khan is still not present in the House and cannot defend himself," said Bilawal. The Chairman of PPP slammed Imran Khan for "running away from transparent elections". After the Pakistan National Assembly Speaker said that the House should also hold a discussion on the issue of "international conspiracy", Bilawal asserted that the Supreme Court has passed an order to vote on the no-trust motion against the Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday and anything against this order cannot be discussed. The voting in the Pakistan National Assembly over the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected to be held after 8 pm (local time) on Saturday. The session resumed after it was adjourned as the opposition parties continued to chant slogans, pressing for the taking up of the no-confidence motion, while Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was speaking in the National Assembly, local media reported. In an apparent move seen as part of the strategy of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to delay the proceedings, Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, while chairing the Saturday session to take up the no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government, said that the House should also hold a discussion on the issue of "international conspiracy." The Speaker's suggestion was met with strong protest by the Opposition MPs, who asked the Chair to stick to the mandate of the session spelt out by the Supreme Court. Urging the Speaker to carry out the proceedings of the House according to the norms of the Constitution, Shahbaz Sharif, Leader of Opposition in Pakistan National Assembly, stated, "I hope you (Speaker) will carry out today's proceedings of the House as per the Supreme Court order. I urge you to stand for the Constitution and law." During the session, Foreign Minister and PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi made it clear that it is the duty of the government to defend the no-confidence motion. "It is the Constitutional right of the Opposition to move a no-confidence motion against the government, and it's the government's duty to defend it," he added. Proceedings of the Pakistan National Assembly session with the specific mandate to take up the no-confidence motion against the Imran Khan-led government and the election of the new leader of the House got underway on Saturday. Heavy security has been deployed outside the Pakistan National Assembly in Islamabad. Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz, and other MNAs are attending the session of the National Assembly, reported Geo News. The Supreme Court had on Thursday ordered the incumbent government to face the no-confidence motion on Saturday. The court had turned down the ruling of the Deputy Speaker to reject the no-confidence motion. The top court's directives came after Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial took suo motu cognisance of Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri's ruling and the subsequent dissolution of the National Assembly, declaring all the decisions unconstitutional. As per the order of the Supreme Court, voting is to be held at all costs today and in case the PM is voted out, the election of a new Leader of the House will be held during the same session. The voting on the no-confidence motion is at the fourth position in the six-point agenda issued for today. Speaker Asad Qaiser can not take up agenda other than voting on the motion, and if he did not do so, he would have to face contempt of court proceedings, reported Geo News. It is pertinent to mention here that the Opposition has submitted no-confidence motions against the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. However, Asad Qaiser can chair today's session according to the rules. The National Assembly officials told Geo News that according to the SC larger bench's written order, the NA Speaker has been made duty-bound to proceed with the no-trust motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government as per the April 3 agenda of the House. The NA officials said that the voting on the no-trust motion could take place within seven days of its submission and last Sunday (April 3) was the last day of voting. So, SC's larger bench ordered the Speaker to revive the April 3 agenda of the National Assembly and conduct voting on the no-confidence motion, they added. Therefore, today (April 9) will be considered the last day (seventh day) of voting on the no-confidence motion and it is essential to move with the set agenda, reported Geo News. The NA officials said if the no-trust motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan is passed, the National Assembly session will be extended till Sunday to complete the process for the election of the new Leader of the House while the Secretariat will undertake the necessary documentation. When asked if the government tried to get the voting on the no-trust motion delayed for a day or a week, the NA official said that in this situation, the NA Speaker would violate SC's larger bench order and should get ready to face a five-year disqualification and contempt of court. Despite Imran Khan-led PTI government's hectic efforts to avoid voting on the no-confidence motion, the National Assembly will decide the fate of the premier today. Meanwhile, the ruling party has prepared its strategy to scuttle the proceedings and delay the voting by asking its MPs to give lengthy speeches on the 'foreign conspiracy", reported Geo News. The same was endorsed by Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chauhdry. Talking to Geo News, he said that the foreign secretary is going to brief the House on the "threat letter", so the voting on no-confidence may not happen and maybe deferred till next week. (ANI) Amid one of the worst economic crisis in the country and a national emergency in force, the Sri Lankan Parliament is scheduled to convene on April 19. This will be the second conveneing of the Parliament following the imposition of a national emergency by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on April 1, after the first session was convened on April 5. The schedule of the meeting was decided at the Committee on Parliamentary Business held on Friday evening under Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Daily Mail Sri Lanka reported. "Parliament is scheduled to convene on April 19 at 10.00 am and from 11.00 am to 4.30 pm," an official statement said. The session is scheduled to be held till April 22. On April 3, 26 Sri Lankan Cabinet Ministers resigned en masse from their positions amid rising public anger against the government over the economic crisis. All 26 of them signed a general letter, consenting to resign paving the way for a new Cabinet to be formed. Although President Rajapaksa on April 4 named at least four ministers to maintain the legitimacy of the government until a full Cabinet was appointed, he has asked opposition members to join a unity government to deal with the economic crisis. President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Gotabaya Rajapaksa continue to occupy their offices despite large-scale protests across the country calling for their resignation. Amid the severe economic crisis, National People's Power (NPP) MP Vijitha Herath on Friday said that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa should be impeached if he on his own doesn't quit and the no-confidence motion be brought against the incumbent government. Sri Lanka is battling a severe economic crisis, with food and fuel scarcity affecting a large number of the people in the island nation. The economy has been in a free-fall since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the crash of the tourism sector. Sri Lanka is also facing a foreign exchange shortage, which has, incidentally, affected its capacity to import food and fuel. The country is facing long power cuts. The country is also witnessing protests over the government's handling of the worst economic crisis in decades. Yesterday, a protest was held outside the US Embassy in Colombo against the Sri Lankan government. (ANI) The United States on Saturday said it would allow for the voluntary departure of non-emergency staff to leave its Shanghai consulate amid a surge of infections in the locked-down megacity. In an advisory, the US raised concerns regarding the outbreak and China's control measures directly with government officials. "With this priority in mind, the Department of State, on April 8, 2022, allowed for the voluntary departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees, and family members of emergency and non-emergency U.S. government employees, from the Consulate General Shanghai consular district due to a surge in COVID-19 cases and the impact of restrictions related to the response of the People's Republic of China (PRC)," US embassy said in an advisory. The US mission said, "American citizens are asked to reconsider travel to the PRC due to arbitrary enforcement of local laws and COVID-19-related restrictions." Further, the advisory asked American citizens not to travel to the Hong Kong, Jilin province, and Shanghai municipality due to COVID-19-related restrictions, including the risk of parents and children being separated. "We are providing support to our U.S. citizen community throughout China. The Consular Section in Shanghai is currently closed to the public due to local COVID control measures and will open to the public as soon as permitted," the US mission said. The Chinese mainland reported 1,334 new locally-transmitted COVID-19 infections on Friday, low compared to Thursday's 1,540 cases, the National Health Commission said on Saturday. Of the locally confirmed cases reported on Friday, 1,015 were in Shanghai, 248 in Jilin, 13 in Zhejiang, and six in Beijing, according to Xinhua News Agency. The rest of the cases were reported in other 12 provincial-level regions. A total of 16 new imported COVID-19 cases were reported across the mainland. On Friday, 23,815 new asymptomatic carriers were reported in the China mainland, including the 23,737 cases from the local ones and 78 were the imported ones, according to the commission. (ANI) Even after three decades of the Tiananmen massacre, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) rules the nation with an iron fist and continues to systematically undermine the rights and freedoms of the people. Experts regard the Tiananmen massacre as a pivotal moment in the country's history where the Communist Party leadership set the stage for the next 30 years of its ruthless rule. On the night of June 3, 1989, the ruling CCP regime not only crushed a nationwide, peaceful protest but also strangled the hopes of any democratic reforms in the country. The military opened fire and killed untold numbers of peaceful protesters and bystanders. In Beijing, some citizens attacked army convoys and burned vehicles in response to the military's violence. "In the immediate aftermath of the Tiananmen massacre, the Chinese leadership launched a 'Patriotic Education Campaign' from kindergarten to university levels, according to Canadian think tank International Forum For Rights And Security (IFFRAS). "Students were forced to study the 'Outline on the Implementation of Patriotic Education.' Textbooks were changed to prove that China was a victim of the policies of the West and Japan. A 'rising China' against the rest of the world became the main theme," IFFRAS said. Even after 30 years, according to the think tank, cultural amnesia surrounded the bloody massacre. "Even decades after the incident, the actual number of the dead remained unknown. Families of the deceased couldn't mourn their dead while exiles couldn't return home even to attend the funeral. Countless were detained and sent behind the bars for years without any trial for just speaking about the incident," IFFRAS wrote. Further, the think tank said there is no mention of the massacre in school textbooks or in the media. "A systematic suppression and state-sponsored manipulation of history means the generation born after the incident hardly knows about its government's brutal crackdown on its own people. Hong Kong was the only place in the country where the massacre was being openly commemorated," it said. In Hong Kong, for three straight years, the authorities banned the annual vigil to commemorate the massacre, citing Covid-19 restrictions, even though the city has managed the pandemic well and social distancing rules have been eased. "The Pillar of Shame", a sculpture created by Danish artist Jens Galschiot to commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, had been on the University of Hong Kong (HKU) campus since 1997. Students traditionally cleaned the sculpture annually on 4 June to remember the events of Tiananmen Square. On October 8, 2021, the HKU decided to remove the sculpture from campus. The university explained its decision was based on a risk assessment and legal advice. Last December, the university removed the Pillar of Shame, citing potential safety issues and legal risks. The University's governing council said the statue would be placed in storage pending further legal advice. Later, the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Lingnan University, removed monuments commemorating the Tiananmen Square massacre from their campuses, citing similar reasons. (ANI) Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has called an emergency cabinet meeting on Saturday at a time when a crucial National Assembly session on the no-confidence motion is underway. Khan has summoned a special meeting of the federal cabinet tonight at 9 pm. He will chair the meeting where important decisions are to be taken, Geo News reported citing sources. While addressing the Pakistan National Assembly, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Saturday said that sabotaging the no-trust motion would imply contempt of court. Speaking in the National Assembly, Bilawal said that if voting does not take place it will be a violation of the constitution. He reiterated that the court has bound the speaker to not sabotage the no-trust vote. Bilawal said that if any conspiracy was being hatched against Pakistan before March 7, then it should have been aroused at that time. "Imran Khan came up with the idea of this conspiracy only when he lost the majority. Imran Khan is still not present in the House and cannot defend himself," said Bilawal. The Chairman of PPP slammed Imran Khan for "running away from transparent elections". The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday filed a review petition against the Supreme Court's verdict setting aside the National Assembly Deputy Speaker's rejection of the no-trust motion against Imran Khan, reported local media. The petition, filed against the April 7, 2022 verdict by the apex court, seeks a review of the ruling given by the five-member bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, ARY News reported. The development came after Imran Khan finalized his consultations with legal experts over the matter, the report added. The government will plead for suspension of the verdict and for the National Assembly to be allowed to function according to the rules, reported the media outlet citing the sources. Notably, in the wake of the apex court's decision, Imran Khan chaired a meeting of senior party leaders and legal experts ahead of a National Assembly session for the vote on the no-confidence motion. He also had a telephonic conversation with National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser to discuss the strategy for the voting on the no-trust motion. (ANI) The Taliban have denied reports that the United States conducted airstrikes on a weapons cache in Helmand and said the Islamic Emirate had detonated mines near the province, Afghan media reported. "The rumours that indicate an airstrike was conducted in Shurab of Helmand and that it inflicted casualties, are not true. However, old mines were gathered from several parts of Helmand, and we detonated them," said Inamullah Samangani, deputy spokesman for the Taliban, TOLOnews reported. Political analysts said that if the reports were true, the attack would be considered a violation of international law. This comes as former US President Donald Trump suggested that US troops have left major weapons in the country and might march back to recapture them, quoted TOLOnews. "A heavy explosion at a weapons depot at the Shurab military base took place on Wednesday last week, a source close to the Taliban said the blast was not caused by fire ... it was an airstrike that targeted the depot ..." Modern Diplomacy said. Back in time, similar strikes were carried out in Nowzad and Musa Qala'h districts in Helmand, and Tarink city. A radio tower belonging to the Taliban, and another IED were demolished during the assault. Quoting the sources, Khaama Press also reported an instance of a search operation conducted by the Afghan Special Forces for a suspected weapons cache in Ahmedabad district of Paktika province and discovered one magnetic mine and 16 mine controllers. (ANI) Becki Keltner holds onto an American flag presented to the family as pallbearers carry out the casket of her husband, Deputy Jacob Keltner, following the funeral service at Woodstock North High School on March 13, 2019. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune) A federal jury late Friday afternoon found a Springfield man guilty of second-degree murder in the shooting death of a McHenry County sheriffs deputy outside a Rockford motel in 2019. But the jurors found Floyd Brown, 42, not guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Deputy Jacob Keltner, indicating they did not believe the crime was premeditated. Advertisement The jury also returned guilty verdicts against Brown on charges of attempted murder, assault of a federal officer, possession of firearms and other weapons charges. Brown, wearing a shirt and tie and a face mask, as required in the federal court in Rockford, showed little reaction, but stood and stretched before being taken away to the federal Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago to await sentencing July 19. Advertisement The jurors deliberations came after closing arguments were presented Friday morning in the two-week trial. Prosecutors said Browns own words foreshadowed how he planned to kill police long before he shot and killed the deputy in Rockford. If you dont know me by now, you will ... before long, Brown said in a video recording on his cellphone about two weeks before the shooting. These (expletive) police want to make me famous, but Im gonna make they ass famous. McHenry County sheriffs Deputy Jacob Keltner. (McHenry County sheriffs office / AP) The video was played for jurors before they began deliberating Browns fate. Defense attorneys raised the question of reasonable doubt, suggesting that Browns gun may have accidentally discharged and shot Keltner when Brown jumped out a window. In December 2018, prior to the shooting, , Bloomington police tried to arrest Brown during the commission of a burglary. Brown sped away in his Dodge Challenger and crashed before escaping. Shortly after, Brown and his girlfriend began staying at the Extended Stay hotel in Rockford. On March 7, 2019, members of the U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force tracked Brown to the hotel, where a maintenance worker identified him as being in room 305, with his car parked out back. Officers sent a series of text messages to each other preparing to arrest Brown, with three officers at his hotel room door and two outside. Keltner was parked in the parking lot and said he would watch the rear door of the hotel and rear window of Browns room, and was aware the raid was imminent, but was not alerted when officers knocked on Browns door. Advertisement After an initial knock, Browns girlfriend opened the door a crack, but it was blocked by the hinge lock. A deputy pounded on the door and announced they were U.S. marshals with an arrest warrant for Brown, and called him to come out. Floyd Brown jumped from the third floor window of the Extended Stay America in Rockford on March 7, 2019. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) Deputies testified that they heard Brown call out, Dont open that door, and then a commotion inside before a flurry of gun shots were fired from inside the room. Ten bullet holes blasted through the door and walls of the room at waist and head height, missing the officers by inches. By his own testimony, Brown admitted firing the initial shots, saying he was afraid the police would shoot him. He said he then jumped through the window, landing in bushes below, where he said he briefly blacked out before fleeing. Deputies inside radioed for help, and Keltner had just dialed 911 for reinforcements when he was shot once through the back and head, and fell to the ground with his pistol holstered and his rifle not ready to fire. A guest at the hotel testified that he saw a man limp across the parking lot to his car and speed away. Brown led police on a long high-speed chase, exceeding 100 mph, before officers ran him off the road on I-55 near Bloomington, about 140 miles from Rockford. He kept driving through a farm field before his car struck a concrete ditch and came to a sudden stop. After a five-hour standoff in which police fired tear gas, Brown was arrested, and treated for injuries including a broken wrist, damaged heel and broken vertebra. A section of I-55 near exit 133 is shut down on March 7, 2019, as police attempt to apprehend Floyd Brown. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) Defense attorneys argued that Brown hurt himself when he jumped out the window, and could not have fired the shots that killed Keltner. Prosecutors countered Brown never could have driven his car so fast, executing 360-degree turns, with his injured wrist, and must have hurt it when he crashed into the ditch. They also said it was nonsense to think the gun fired twice on its own at Keltner. Advertisement While Brown admitted much of what happened, the verdict form covered eight counts and about 50 pages, and whether he preplanned his attack was a crucial point. With a charge of first-degree murder, prosecutors needed to prove Brown acted with malice aforethought, meaning that he premeditated his actions with an intent to kill. Brown showed his intent in his videos, in which he declared his hatred for police because he said they had messed with him since childhood, Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Paccagnini argued. Browns DNA was found on the AK-47 used to fire 10 shots in the room and two outside at Keltner, and he had another rifle and two 9 mm pistols, all with serial numbers obliterated to make them hard to trace, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. He also had searched on a laptop computer for cop get ambushed and killing cops, and watched videos of police being shot. He has thought this through, Paccagnini said. Brown testified that he was planning to turn himself in, but had to raise $20,000 for bond by selling his house. Advertisement Defense attorneys argued that when police knocked on the door, Brown had no time to premeditate a response, but was merely panicking. Rather than being guilty of first-degree or second-degree murder, defense attorneys said a third alternative verdict would be voluntary manslaughter, acting under the heat of passion. Keltners family members, including his wife, attended the trial. McHenry County Sheriff Bill Prim issued a statement welcoming the verdict, thanking investigators and supporters, and hoping it would help Keltners family take the next steps in healing. Jake is, and will always be, a hero, Prim said. Please keep the Keltner family in your thoughts as they continue to live with this unthinkable loss. It was a good day, U.S. Attorney John Lausch Jr. said, crediting state police with arresting Brown that day safely. This man was brought to justice. People go into law enforcement knowing that its a risky job, he said. They know theyre putting their lives on the line each and every day in order to keep others safe Advertisement Their family members know thats what theyre doing. When you have an event like this happen, it becomes real in a way you cant even imagine. I hope that the families in this case take some solace in this verdict today. rmccoppin@chicagotribune.com Moscow [Russia], April 9 (ANI/Sputnik): Russian Finance Minister Anatoly Siluanov said on Saturday that the five BRICS countries could mitigate the backlash of Western sanctions against Russia on their economies by pooling their efforts and using a range of financial instruments at their disposal. "The current crisis is man-made and BRICS countries have all the instruments necessary to mitigate its consequences for the national and global economies," Siluanov was cited as saying by the Russian Finance Ministry. The minister blamed economic sanctions on Russia for "destroying the foundation of the existing international monetary and financial system based on the US dollar" and urged BRICS to rely more on their national currencies in foreign trade, integrate payment systems and create an alternative to the SWIFT payment messaging platform. Central banks of BRICS countries -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- have already agreed to conduct the fifth test of a banking mechanism that will allow them to jointly pool "alternative currency" reserves to shield their economies from outside shocks, the ministry said. (ANI/Sputnik) Noting the consistent arbitrary arrests of Afghan journalists by the Taliban, the United Nations Assistant Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has expressed concern over the situation of media in Afghanistan, reported local media. The Taliban do not allow the detained journalists and media workers to contact anybody outside during their time in the Tablian custody, Khaama Press quoted UNAMA as saying. Citing the detention of Bismillah Watandost, a local journalist in Kandahar, who was in Taliban custody for 10 days and not allowed to make contact with anyone outside, UNAMA said that Watandost has been freed but other journalists have been taken to the Taliban's jails now. Notably, the reason behind the imprisonment of Watandost is yet not clear, according to the media outlet. The Taliban had earlier arrested three journalists and media workers in Kandahar who were released later. Further, as many as 114 cases of violations against the journalists have been recorded in Afghanistan in the past seven months, the media outlet reported citing Afghanistan's Independent Journalists Association, which has also expressed concern over the spike in the violations. Under the current Taliban regime, Afghan journalists suffer from various problems including censorship, restrictions, and access to information. According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), the Taliban have intensified attacks on media as the journalist in the country said that it's hard to report from Afghanistan anymore. According to the journalists, Taliban intelligence officials hold regular meetings with the media to inform them of any new rules. In some cases, journalists have reported that they have been harassed, beaten, and arbitrarily detained without explanation. Since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, restrictions on media have escalated, and hundreds of media outlets have closed. "The Taliban should end restrictions on music and other content and cease the arbitrary detention of media workers and journalists. They should ensure that journalists can report freely without fear of abuse, and hold Taliban security forces accountable for the arbitrary arrest and mistreatment of media workers," HRW said. (ANI) In an apparent acceptance of looming defeat in the no-confidence motion, two Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Fawad Chaudhry and Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday changed their Twitter bio to "former" federal minister. Imran Khan loyalists-- Chaudhry and Qureshi --changed their Twitter bio to "former" Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting and "former" Foreign Minister of Pakistan respectively. However, minutes later, Chaudhry restored his bio to its original state while Qureshi's bio still remains unchanged. The development comes as the proceedings of the National Assembly session with the specific mandate to take up the no-confidence motion against the Imran Khan-led government and the election of the new leader of the House, if the motion gets successful, is underway. Meanwhile, the voting in the Pakistan National Assembly over the no-confidence motion is expected to be held after 8 pm (local time) today. However, the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has filed a review petition against the Supreme Court's verdict setting aside the National Assembly Deputy Speaker's rejection of the no-trust motion. The Supreme Court had on Thursday ordered the incumbent government to face the no-confidence motion on Saturday. The court had turned down the ruling of the Deputy Speaker to reject the no-confidence motion. The top court's directives came after Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial took suo motu cognisance of Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri's ruling and the subsequent dissolution of the National Assembly, declaring all the decisions unconstitutional. The court also fixed the Saturday session with the conditions that the session cannot be prorogued unless the motion is voted upon, and in case Imran Khan loses the no-trust vote, the next PM has to be elected in the same session. (ANI) Known for defending, promoting and advancing Hong Kong's most controversial laws, the city state's former Secretary for Security John Lee is the most likely contender for becoming the next Chief Executive, taking over from Carrie Lam. The moment Lee declared his candidacy for the top post this week, the new rule imposed by the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) last year ensured that he would be sworn in on July 1, the Washington Post reported. Last year, Beijing overhauled Hong Kong's electoral system and specified that only "patriots", that is, those loyal to the Communist Party could run. The changes reduced the number of elective seats in the legislature, tightened rules on who could qualify and changed the representation of the committee that picks the chief executive. On Wednesday, Lee offered a preview of his approach in a six-minute announcement of his candidacy, saying that the opportunity "to serve the people of Hong Kong is a glory." "I shall inform you of my next move in detail," he said according to the report. Described as withdrawn, thoughtful and quiet, Lee joined the Hong Kong police force as a probationary inspector in 1977, then under British rule. In 2017, the current Chief Executive Carrie Lam promoted Lee to the secretary for security -- a move that set him on a trajectory to enforce and aid China's ambitions to rein in independent-minded Hong Kongers. Lee later visited China's northwestern Xinjiang region and reported to lawmakers that all counterterrorism measures he saw there were "humane" and experienced "worth studying" for Hong Kong. In early 2019, Lee helped Lam promote a controversial bill to allow extraditions from Hong Kong to mainland China. The legislation prompted anti-government protests that drew millions of people. Lee as the head of security oversaw the crackdown, in which officers were seen repeatedly violating internal rules on the use of force. Last June, Beijing appointed Lee as chief secretary, Hong Kong's second-highest political position. He became the first police officer to assume the role. Selecting a former police officer instead of a civil servant underscores that "Beijing believes candidates from the disciplined services are more dependable, as they exhibit more political loyalty," said Ivan Choy Chi-keung, a political scientist at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, referring to institutions such as the police, corrections and fire services, as quoted by Washington Post. "It is not important whether he (Lee) is down-to-earth, or humble or not," said Kenneth Chan Ka-lok, a former pro-democracy lawmaker and an associate professor at Hong Kong Baptist University. "What matters most is that Lee is a cadre appointed by Beijing. ... As long as he can serve his master well, Hong Kong's pro-establishment side will not have a voice that deviates far from his." Hong Kong, under the terms of its 1997 handover to China, was promised autonomy with "Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong." Representative elections are the end goal under the Basic Law which is Hong Kong's mini-constitution. The Chief Executive will be selected in May by a handpicked panel of about 1,500 members of the political and business elite known as the election committee. Only one candidate is approved by Beijing, according to local media. (ANI) Moscow [Russia], April 9 (ANI/Sputnik): Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov on Saturday said that the objective of the Russian military operation in Ukraine is to demilitarize it to make sure that it poses no threat to Russia. "Today it is extremely important to achieve demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, to consolidate Ukraine's nuclear-free status and its commitment to international agreements on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction," he told a virtual conference held by the Schiller Institute, a German think tank. "There should be no threats to the Russian Federation coming from the Ukrainian territory. This is the objective of our special military operation," Antonov added. (ANI/Sputnik) Conveying their apprehension over Imran Khan government's move to present the contents of the controversial "diplomatic cable" before the Parliament, Pakistan's Foreign Office warned that such a move would undermine the working of the missions abroad and also "damage" country's national interests. The under-fire Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government on Friday decided to present the contents of the letter in Pakistan Parliament, which Imran Khan claimed contained evidence of a foreign plot seeking a regime change in the country, The Express Tribune newspaper reported. Pakistan Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said that the "original records of the cipher, only available with the government, would be kept in front of Parliament". "The Foreign Office thinks overwhelmingly that (Pakistan) foreign secretary shouldn't make public the contents of the (coded) telegram dated March 7," an unnamed official in Pakistan's Foreign Ministry, told Geo News on the request of anonymity. "The ambassadors should be encouraged to share their assessments based on their interactions with their interlocutors of the host countries, and any step contrary to this would be detrimental to the national interest," the official pointed out. "This is practiced all over the world. Nowhere in the world, an ambassador's cable is ever released for political purposes. There is not a single example of this," he added. Last week, Imran Khan asked Pakistani President Arif Alvi to dissolve the Parliament following the dismissal of the motion of no confidence in Khan as unconstitutional. Information Minister Fawad Hussain said Khan will continue his duties under Article 224 of the basic law. The decision to cancel the no-confidence vote was challenged in court by the opposition. The Supreme Court ruled to hold the voting, scheduled for Saturday. Khan, in turn, said the opposition's motion was an attempt by foreign powers to depose him. (ANI) Ahead of the no-trust vote in National Assembly, the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has submitted a reference against 20 defiant party members to assembly speaker Asad Qaiser with an aim to get them disqualified, reported local media. The reference, filed on the behalf of PTI chairman Imran Khan under Article 63(A) of Pakistan's constitution, was handed over to the speaker by the party's chief whip Amir Dogar, reported The Nation. The disqualification is being sought on the fact that the dissident members were elected on PTI's ticket, according to the text of the reference. The development comes as the National Assembly members are yet to cast their votes on the no-confidence motion despite the passage of several hours of the proceedings. Notably, even without the support of the dissident members, the joint Opposition has the numbers to oust Imran Khan. Meanwhile, according to National Assembly Secretariat sources, the session will likely continue till midnight. Further, Imran Khan has summoned a meeting of the federal cabinet at 9 pm. The Supreme Court had on Thursday ordered the incumbent government to face the no-confidence motion on Saturday. The court had turned down the ruling of the Deputy Speaker to reject the no-confidence motion. The top court's directives came after Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial took suo motu cognisance of Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri's ruling and the subsequent dissolution of the National Assembly, declaring all the decisions unconstitutional. The court also fixed the Saturday session with the conditions that the session cannot be prorogued unless the motion is voted upon, and in case Imran Khan loses the no-trust vote, the next PM has to be elected in the same session. (ANI) Johnson said that he has travelled to Ukraine to meet President Zelenskyy in person and show solidarity with the Ukrainian people. "Today I met my friend President @ZelenskyyUa in Kyiv as a show of our unwavering support for the people of Ukraine. We're setting out a new package of financial & military aid which is a testament of our commitment to his country's struggle against Russia's barbaric campaign," Johnson tweeted. The Embassy of Ukraine to the United Kingdom tweeted a picture of Boris Johnson sitting alongside Zelenskyy in an office. This visit comes as the Johnson government has announced defensive aid to Ukraine with a new 100m package. The new support will include: more NLAW anti-tank missiles, additional Javelin anti-tank systems, additional loitering munitions, additional Starstreak air defence systems, and additional non-lethal aid including ballistic helmets, body armour and night-vision goggles. This package amounts to more than 100 million and has been designed in consultation with the Armed Forces of Ukraine to ensure that it meets their military needs. This builds on the 350 million of military aid and around 400m of economic and humanitarian support that the UK has already provided. As well as providing bilateral lethal aid, the UK Armed Forces - alongside Polish, US and international partners - have established an International Donor Coordination Centre in Stuttgart. This plays a leading role in the international effort and ensures that the military aid delivered to Ukraine is as coordinated and effective as possible. The team from 104 Logistics Brigade was established following the first International Donor Conference convened by the Defence Secretary in February. UK Prime Minister: "Putin has steeled our resolve, sharpened our focus and forced Europe to begin to rearm to guarantee our shared security." (ANI) A former University of Kansas (KU) professor has been convicted by a federal jury after he deliberately concealed that he was also employed by a government-affiliated university in China while working on US government-funded research at KU. Feng Tao, aka Franklin Tao, 50, of Lawrence, Kansas, worked as a full-time professor at KU. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in 2018, Tao accepted a position with Fuzhou University in China that designated him as a Changjiang Scholar Distinguished Professor. The position's guidelines required him to be a full-time employee of Fuzhou University. "The Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) required faculty to file annual reports to notify of any outside employment that did or could impact duties as a conflict of interest. Tao didn't seek permission from KU before entering the agreement with Fuzhou University, didn't notify KU about the employment, and lied to conceal the employment," the Department of Justice said in a statement. In December 2018, the defendant moved to China to work full-time at Fuzhou University, while falsely telling KU administrators that he was in Europe. As a KU faculty member, Tao conducted research under contracts between the KU and two U.S. government agencies, the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). According to the justice department, Tao caused KU to submit to DOE and NSF hundreds of thousands of dollars in reimbursement requests for expenditures associated with the grants. Tao repeatedly certified electronic documents indicating he read and understood the federal government and KU's policies and that he had made all necessary disclosures. Tao faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to USD 250,000 for wire fraud, and up to 10 years and a fine up to USD 250,000 on each of the program fraud counts. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case. (ANI) The Taliban summoned the diplomats of the Iran embassy in Kabul to discuss the situation of Afghan refugees in Iran, reported local media. "The second deputy political minister of political affairs of the Foreign Ministry, Faizanullah Nasiri, met officials from the embassy of Iran in Kabul and discussed the misconduct of the Iranian border forces with the Afghan refugees," read a statement from the Taliban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to Tolo News. Notably, over 2,200 Afghan refugees were deported by Iran in the last 24 hours and the number of Afghan deportees by Iran surpassed 14,000 last week, the media outlet reported on Friday citing the Ministry of Refugee and Repatriation. However, the Iran embassy's press counsellor has said that the Taliban should provide an environment conducive to avoiding the migration of people from Afghanistan. "Around seven to eight million Afghan nationals went to Iran. The Afghan government should facilitate an environment so the people (Afghans) will not go to Iran," the media outlet quoted Sayed Abas Badrifar, the Iran embassy's press counsellor, as saying. Earlier, a viral video had been circulating on social media platforms that showed how Afghan refugees were being "harassed" in the neighbouring country Iran. The video circulated showed the Afghan refugees being tortured and misbehaved in public. The Afghan refugees flew to Iran seeking shelters after the Taliban takeover last August.Many of them do not have the legal documents or visas which leads to their harassment, reported Tolo News. However, the Iranian Embassy in Kabul refuted the claims and called the video fake. Since the Taliban took over, Afghanistan has not only seen a mass exodus but also the illegal crossings of Afghans into neighbouring countries like Iran via Nimroz province and Turkey. It also led to the killings of nearly 100 of them by the Iranian forces and were later deported to Afghanistan, reported Tolo News. (ANI) Two men and a 17-year-old boy were fatally wounded overnight Friday into early Saturday morning on the South Side, Chicago police said. The latest homicide happened shortly before 2:30 a.m. Saturday in the 9500 block of South Sangamon Street in the Longwood Manor neighborhood. Advertisement Police said a 17-year-old boy was standing on the drive way of a residence when shots were fired, striking him to the chest. He was taken by Chicago Fire Department paramedics to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn where he was pronounced dead, police said. He was identified as Lee Carter Jr. , of the same block where he was shot, according to the Cook County medical examiners office. Advertisement Friday night, a 27-year-old man was fatally wounded in the 2000 block of West 35th Street in the McKinley Park neighborhood. Police said the victim was discovered lying on the sidewalk around 10:30 p.m. with a gunshot wound to the neck. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Earlier Friday, another man was fatally wounded in the Woodlawn neighborhood in the 1500 block of East 61st Street. Shortly before 8 p.m., a 29-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman were involved in a fight with several people when shots were fired. The man suffered a wound to the head, and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. The woman suffered a wound to the right hand, and was listed in good condition at the same hospital, police said. The deceased victim was identified as Darius Sanders but no home address was listed, according to the medical examiners office. No one was in custody for any of the shootings and detectives were investigating. Tel Aviv [Israel], April 9 (ANI/Sputnik): The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have raided on Saturday the Palestinian city of Jenin and a refugee camp by the same name on the West Bank following a terrorist attack by a Palestinian gunman in central Tel Aviv. "The Israel Defense Forces is currently operating in the city of Jenin and in the refugee camp," the military said in a statement. The Israeli media reported that the country's special forces surrounded the house of the gunman, demanding his relatives, suspected of assisting him, surrender, but were met with an armed resistance. "Gunmen are firing at IDF soldiers and border police conducting a counter-terrorist operation in the refugee camp and in the city of Jenin, putting their lives at risk. In response, the fighters are shelling armed attackers," the statement said. The Palestinian health ministry said one Palestinian was killed, and another 13 were injured in the operation in Jenin, while the Israeli side have not reported any casualties yet. On late Thursday, a Palestinian opened fire in a bar on Dizengoff Street in downtown Tel Aviv. Two 27-year-old residents of Kfar Saba died immediately, four others were taken to a hospital in critical condition, one of them died. In total, 12 people were injured in the shooting. (ANI/Sputnik) Asserting that the recollection of the Tiananmen Square massacre still haunts the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), a media report said that the party is making attempts to erase the memory of the ruthless political crackdown from public memory. Last December, authorities in Hong Kong removed the 'pillar of shame,' an iconic memorial dedicated to the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989, Hong Kong Post reported. The memorial was designed by Danish sculptor Jens Galschiot symbolized the ruthless killings committed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) in June 1989 when thousands of students gathered in central Beijing demanding political reforms and democracy. Chinese state television reinforced the propaganda by beaming images of violence committed by these 'counter-revolutionaries' against the PLA in various parts of the capital. However, the party is still unsure whether its propaganda has worked, the report said. The CCP has made many attempts to erase the incident from public consciousness over the years by creating a sort of 'cultural amnesia,' the report said. Chinese history textbooks rarely mention the incident and instead focus on historical incidents which portray China's experience of being a victim of foreign subjugation. Likewise, textbooks in Hong Kong included for the first time reference to the massacre in 2004 but excluded any reference to the violent crackdown of the democracy movement or the fact that unknown numbers of students, Beijing residents, and soldiers were killed when the military moved into the city centre, the report further said. Every year when the anniversary of the massacre approaches, there is a usual crackdown on human rights activists, and authorities ensure that the day passes like any other day. Pro-democracy activists used to hold an open candlelight vigil till about 2019. The city's pro-democracy activists regarded this open celebration of the massacre as a sign of defiance against the CCP and Beijing, which flexed muscles over the city's residents. But in the last two years, citing the Covid-19 pandemic, authorities have disallowed any gathering. Following the removal of the 'pillar of shame', a few days later, Lingnan University in the city took down the Tiananmen Square Massacre sculpture for the "general interest of the university community." Chinese-born New Zealand artist Chen Weiming's 'Goddess of Democracy' sculpture was also removed from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Ironically all these authoritarian moves come when China has exercised a great degree of repression in Hong Kong, in what was once an 'oasis of liberty,' in the desert of authoritarianism, the report said. While economic realities may have changed, in many ways, politically, things have remained the same for those on the mainland. In 1989, ordinary Chinese lacked the right to vote and could not freely criticise the government. Three decades later, the situation is the same, the report further said, adding that, the CCP's heavy hand has extended beyond its borders to intimidate, threaten, and cajole those who criticise its human rights record and its repression in Tibet, Xinjiang, and Hong Kong. (ANI) "This war will be won on the battlefield. Additional EUR500 million from the #EPF are underway. Weapon deliveries will be tailored to Ukrainian needs," Borrell said on Twitter. He suggested that the EU also increases sanctions pressure on Russia, in particular in the energy sector. "On Monday, I am convening an EU Foreign Affairs Council to discuss next steps," Borrell said. On Friday, Borrell and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kiev in order to assess the situation and exchange views with the Ukrainian leadership. The delegation also visited the town of Bucha, where the Kiev regime had staged a provocation against the Russian military. On February 24, Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine after recognising the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent republics. In response, the EU rolled out a comprehensive sanctions campaign against Moscow, which includes airspace closures and restrictive measures targeting numerous Russian officials and entities, media and financial institutions. (ANI/Sputnik) Festivities have returned to Nepal after the COVID-19 pandemic third wave, as one of the biggest chariot festivals celebrated in Kathmandu valley--Seto Macchindranath Jatra started on Saturday. In the three-day-long chariot procession, honouring the god of rain is also known as 'Jana Baha Dyah Jatra', a skyscraping chariot of Seto Machindranath is taken from one place to another. Each day when the chariot reaches its terminus, a group of soldiers fires their rifles into the air. Hundreds of devotees flocked to Tindhara Pathsalain Durbarmarg where the chariot was being built for the procession last week. In view of the festival, restrictions availing to COVID-19 have been lifted by the local authorities. "Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic a large number of devotees use to participate but after the pandemic, the number of devotees decreased. The organizing committee has arranged sanitisers and is also following precautionary measures," Rajib Raj Upadhyay, member of the fair organizing committee told ANI. In the past 24 hours, the country recorded a total of 13 new cases of coronavirus out of which 12 were detected through the RT-PCR method and one through the antigen method. According to the Ministry of Health and Population, no one died due to coronavirus in the past 24 hours. The COVID-19 death toll in the country stands at 11,951 to date. Currently, there are 637 active cases in the country as 44 infected patients recovered in the past 24 hours. (ANI) Pakistan Supreme Court and Islamabad High Court convened for midnight sitting to take action if the orders to complete voting on a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan are not implemented, according to media reports. Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial has decided to open the Supreme Court's doors amid the current political situation, Geo tv reported citing sources. Following the government's tactics to delay the voting on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, a larger bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan is set to hold a hearing in relation to the matter. The apex court's five-member larger bench -- headed by Justice Bandial and comprising Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Aijazul Ahsan, Justice Mazhar Alam, and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel -- is expected to hear the case, Geo tv said. The chief justice has instructed the relevant officials of the top court to open the doors at 12am, sources said, as the National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser is yet to allow voting on the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan. Meanwhile, Islamabad High Court's doors are also being opened on the instructions of IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah, as per sources. Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) late Saturday night filed a petition in the apex court for the implementation of its order issued on April 7. On March 30, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had hoped the Prime Minister would not make a "secretive" memo public that, according to the government, "threatens" Pakistan's sovereignty. In a written order, IHC Chief Justice had said the court is confident that as an elected Prime Minister (Imran Khan) would not disclose any information or act in breach of section 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, or violate the oath taken by him under the Constitution. "Any decision taken by the Prime Minister has to be in consonance with his obligations under the Official Secrets Act, 1923 and in letter and spirit of the oath of the office," the written order had read, Geo tv reported. Pakistan's Supreme Court in a historic judgement on Thursday had called for the convening of the session of the National Assembly on Saturday after setting aside the April 3 ruling of the Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri against the no-confidence motion on "constitutional grounds". Declaring the ruling of the Deputy Speaker "to be contrary to the Constitution and the law and of no legal effect", the Court set aside all the subsequent steps taken, including the dissolution of the National Assembly, while also restoring Prime Minister Imran Khan and all the Federal Ministers to their respective positions as of April 3. In an address to the nation on Friday, Khan reiterated his allegations that a senior US diplomat threatened regime change in Pakistan. (ANI) Pakistan's Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Hussain expressed regret on Sunday as the voting on no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan began in the National Assembly and said "return of looters a good man sent home". "Sad day for Pakistan.....return of looters a good man sent home," Fawad Hussain tweeted. Pakistan Muslim League's (N) Ayaz Sadiq is chairing the session in the Pakistan National Assembly and voting on the no-trust vote has begun. This vote comes after National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser resigned from his post, saying he could not take part in a foreign conspiracy to oust Imran Khan, Dawn newspaper reported. "In line with our laws and the need to stand for our country, I have decided that I can't remain on the position of speaker and thereby resign," he said. After weeks of drama, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser agreed to hold voting on the no-confidence motion after he was warned by assembly officials regarding the violation of the court's order, Geo News reported. Earlier, Qaiser had refused to allow the voting, saying that he shares a 30-year-long relationship with Imran Khan, who he cannot betray. The crucial session of the house began at 10:30 am (11:00 IST) with Speaker Qaiser, a senior member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's party, in chair. Since then, the session was adjourned thrice for one reason or another. Imran Khan tried to block a no-confidence motion last week and dissolved the lower house of parliament, but Pakistan's top court ordered on Thursday the vote would have to be held by Saturday. The Pakistani National Assembly had a total strength of 342 members, with the majority mark being 172. The PTI-led coalition was formed with the support of 179 members, with Imran Khan's PTI having 155 members, and four major allies MQM-P, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) having seven, five, five and three members respectively. The opposition party had moved the no-trust motion against the PM on March 8. (ANI) Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif, who is currently the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, is all set to become the next Prime Minister as the ruling Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government was voted out after losing the no-confidence motion. The voting on the no-confidence motion resulted in Imran Khan-led PTI losing with 174 votes in favour of the no-confidence motion. Sharif's candidature as the Opposition's choice for the Prime Ministership was revealed by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari during a joint press conference of the opposition parties on March 30. He's likely to be elected as the new PM in the same National Assembly session which has seen Imran Khan ousted from power after the country's Supreme Court turned down the rejection of the Opposition's no-confidence motion by the Deputy Speaker of the House. Pakistan's Supreme Court in a historic judgement on Thursday had called for the convening of the session of the National Assembly "not later than 10:30 AM on Saturday" after setting aside the April 3 ruling of the Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri against the no-confidence motion on "Constitutional grounds". Declaring the ruling of the Deputy Speaker "to be contrary to the Constitution and the law and of no legal effect", the Court set aside all the subsequent steps taken, including the dissolution of the National Assembly, while also restoring Prime Minister Imran Khan and all the Federal Ministers to their respective positions as of April 3. The court also fixed the Saturday session with the conditions that the session cannot be prorogued unless the motion is voted upon, and in case Imran Khan loses the no-trust vote, the next PM has to be elected in the same session. Shehbaz Sharif, born in an industrialist family in Lahore in 1950, is the younger brother of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who has served for three terms. Shehbaz Sharif has been the Chief Minister of the crucial Punjab province of Pakistan for three terms. Having made a reputation as an administrator, Shehbaz Sharif had staked claims for the Prime Minister's chair in August 2018. But the decision of the Bilawal Bhutto-led PPP to abstain from the PM vote in the last hour paved the way for the comfortable election of PTI's Imran Khan as the Prime Minister. Shehbaz Sharif had then settled as the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly. A graduate of the Government College University, Lahore, Shehbaz Sharif initially joined his family's steel business, while also becoming the president of Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industries in 1985. The political fortunes of the Sharif family rose considerably in the 1980s under the dictatorship of Zia-ul-Haq, with elder brother Nawaz Sharif inducted into the Punjab Provincial Cabinet as Finance Minister in 1983. Shehbaz Sharif entered the Punjab Provincial Assembly in 1988 while he was elected to the National Assembly in 1990. In 1993, he again stood for a Provincial Assembly seat and became leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly. He became the Chief Minister of Punjab for the first time after the 1997 elections. However, his term was cut short by Pervez Musharraf's military coup of 1999 after which he became the CM of the Punjab province again in 2008, returning from almost a decade long political exile. Shehbaz Sharif was elected unopposed as the President of PML-N in February 2018 following his elder brother, and then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's disqualification from holding key positions after being implicated in the 'Panama Papers'. Like his elder brother, Shehbaz Sharif also faces serious corruption charges. In December 2019, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) froze 23 properties belonging to Shehbaz Sharif and his son, Hamza, accusing them of money laundering. He was arrested by the NAB in the same case in September 2020 and incarcerated pending trial. In April 2021, the Lahore High Court released him on bail in the money laundering case. The factors favouring the younger Sharif, however, include the Opposition unity against Imran Khan's 'vindictive politics' as well as the tactic support of the military establishment, which seems to be keen to unseat Imran Khan from power, especially after his recent vitriolic comments against the US, including raising the foreign conspiracy charge. With the Sharif family set to return to power in Pakistan amid the fast-deteriorating economic situations and political instability, it is to be seen if Shehbaz Sharif infuses fresh energy into the system, or the much-tainted family continues to resort to its old ways. (ANI) Imran Khan has left Prime Minister's residence on late Saturday night minutes before he was ousted as Pakistan Prime Minister after losing the trust vote in the National Assembly. PTI's Senator Faisal Javed Khan said in a Tweet that he saw off Pakistan premier Imran Khan from his official state residence. "Just saw off Prime Minister Imran Khan from Prime Minister House. He walked out gracefully and didn't bow down. He has lifted the entire Nation. Feeling proud to be a Pakistani and blessed to have a leader like him. Pakistan Khan - Imran Khan," tweeted Faisal. The voting on the no-confidence motion against the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government began in the country's National Assembly late on Saturday night. "174 members have recorded their votes in favour of the resolution. Consequently, the resolution of no-confidence against Imran Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan has been passed by a majority of the National Assembly," said PML-N's Ayaz Sadiq who chaired the session after Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser and Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri tendered their resignations ahead of the voting. Pakistan's Supreme Court, in a historic judgement on Thursday, had fixed the convening of the session of the National Assembly "not later than 10:30 AM on Saturday" after setting aside the ruling that Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri had delivered during the April 3 session of the National Assembly which had rejected the no-confidence motion on "constitutional grounds". Declaring the ruling of the Deputy Speaker "to be contrary to the Constitution and the law and of no legal effect", the Court set aside all the subsequent steps taken, including the dissolution of the National Assembly, and restored Prime Minister Imran Khan and all the Federal Ministers to their positions as of April 3. The court also fixed the Saturday session with the conditions that the session cannot be adjourned unless the motion is voted upon, and in case Imran Khan loses the no-trust vote, the next PM has to be elected in the same session. The Opposition parties in Pakistan need the support of at least 172 members in order to make the no-confidence motion successful. (ANI) Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Saturday hailed the adoption of a no-confidence vote against Imran Khan as he asked the members of the Pakistan National Assembly to mark 10th April 2022, as an important date in country's history. After weeks of high octane political drama, Imran Khan's ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government was ousted from power on Saturday. The voting on the no-confidence motion was finally held after the House re-convened after midnight. As many as 174 members in the 342-strong house voted in favour of the resolution. "174 members have recorded their votes in favour of the resolution, consequently the resolution for the vote on no-confidence against Imran Khan, the prime minister of Pakistan, has been passed by a majority," said Pakistan Muslim League's (N) Ayaz Sadiq, who was chairing the session in the National Assembly. Addressing the Pakistani parliamentarians after the motion was passed against Imran Khan, Bilawal Zardari recalled what had happened on April 10 and said on this day, Pakistan approved the 1973 Constitution. "On April 10, 1986, Benazir Bhutto ended her self-imposed exile and arrived in Lahore to launch her struggle against former Pakistan President Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq," he said, "Today [on] April 10, 2022, we welcome [you] back to the purana Pakistan," said Bilawal in the Pakistan National Assembly. "I have a message for the Pakistani youth that they should never give up on their dreams as nothing is impossible. Democracy is the best revenge," he added. Prior to assuming office in 2018, Imran Khan had vowed to create a "naya Pakistan" --- one with zero corruption and prosperous economy. However, as time went by there were fewer takers of this empty sloganeering. The voting on the no-confidence motion was undertaken with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ayaz Sadiq chairing the session after Speaker of the House Asad Qaisar resigned after a meeting with Imran Khan. On a dramatic day, the session of the National Assembly was adjourned shortly after convening in the morning amid ruckus in the House. The House reconvened at around 2:30 pm (local time) and was further adjourned after speeches were made by the Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and several Opposition leaders including Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The House reconvened at around 7:30 pm, only to be further adjourned after an hour of proceedings. The Assembly was finally convened after midnight following the Speaker's resignation. Imran Khan had also called in a Federal Cabinet meeting at 9 pm, leading to speculations over whether the vote on the no-confidence motion will be held by on Saturday, as per the directions of the Pakistan Supreme Court. Pakistan's Supreme Court in a historic judgement on Thursday had called for the convening of the session of the National Assembly "not later than 10:30 AM on Saturday" after setting aside the April 3 ruling of the Deputy Speaker Qasim Khan Suri against the no-confidence motion on "Constitutional grounds". Declaring the ruling of the Deputy Speaker "to be contrary to the Constitution and the law and of no legal effect", the Court set aside all the subsequent steps taken, including the dissolution of the National Assembly, while also restoring Prime Minister Imran Khan and all the Federal Ministers to their respective positions as of April 3. The court also fixed the Saturday session with the conditions that the session could not be prorogued unless the motion is voted upon, and in case Imran Khan lost the no-trust vote, the next PM had to be elected in the same session. (ANI) One person was taken to the hospital after crashing into a light pole and knocking a transformer over in Pittsburghs Arlington neighborhood. 911 confirmed to Channel 11 that police, fire and EMS were on the scene for an incident in the 2300 block of Arlington Avenue. The call came in at 7:35 a.m. Our crew at the scene saw that the light pole was tilted and the transformer knocked to the ground. Dispatch also confirmed that one person was injured in the crash. Theres no word on the extent of their injuries. TRENDING NOW: I need a favor: Tiger Kings Joe Exotic writes letter to Ben Roethlisberger 13-year-old boy killed in crash in West Pike Run Township Trafford woman suspected of dealing drugs is behind bars, denied bail VIDEO: Residents concerned over potential placement of traffic cameras in Beaver County DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts A man was left in critical condition Saturday afternoon during a shooting that also injured a 21-year-old woman near King Drive in the Bronzeville neighborhood, Chicago police said. Shortly before noon, the people were sitting in a vehicle in the 300 block of East 47th Street when a gunman approached and fired shots into the vehicle, police said. Advertisement The man suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his body, and was taken in critical condition to the University of Chicago Medical Center. The woman was injured in the head by bullet fragments and was taken to the same hospital where her condition was stabilized, police said. The block is usually bustling with shoppers on Saturday from King Drive to Wabash Avenue. Advertisement No one was in custody and detectives were investigating. Mountain Lupine Bloom in Redwood National Park Nicholas Motto/Getty Images National parks wow no matter the month, but there's something particularly special about wildflower season. Pops of purple, blue, white, and gold bring magic to some of America's most surreal landscapes. Even better, the kaleidoscopic blooms hint to warm weather on the way. If you're planning a trip around those spring and summer colors, bookmark these 10 best national parks to visit during wildflower season. Note that you can keep these wildflowers protected and thriving for future park visitors by following Leave No Trace guidelines, including staying on the trail. Glacier National Park Wildflowers grow at elevation in Glacier National Park, Montana Getty Images Fields of glacier lilies. A profusion of purple asters. These are among the nearly 1,000 species of wildflowers that grace Glacier National Park between spring and summer. Come spring, lower elevations such as Lake McDonald impress with spectacular blooms. Summer warmth brings floral hues to higher-elevation spots; the state's beloved glacier lilies grow between 3,000 to more than 7,000 feet. Try hiking trails like the Highline, Hidden Lake, and Lake McDonald to admire the colorful views. Great Smoky Mountains National Park There's a reason the Smokies are on every bloom enthusiast's wish list: With more than 1,500 flowering plants, Great Smoky Mountains National Park boasts the most flower species across all U.S. national parks. Plus, the flowers bloom here for the majority of the year. The color profusion kicks off with ephemerals like lady slipper orchids, which appear from February through April. By summer, black-eyed Susans, coneflowers, and a sea of other wildflowers steal the show. A soothing expanse of yellow witch hazel ends the year, from October through January. Don't miss the park's floral festivities at the annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in late April. Wildflower trails abound in the park as well. Shenandoah National Park By spring, Shenandoah's cheery flora bounces back in full force. More than 850 plant species bring a mosaic of colors between March and August, with blooms that transition from violets and large-flowered trillium to columbine, touch-me-nots, and sunflowers. Soak up the splendor via one of Shenandoah's wildflower vantage points. This includes low-elevation spots like Mill Prong and Hughes River during the early spring, and the ever-scenic Skyline Drive in late spring through summer. Story continues Mount Rainier National Park Person walking through flowers are arctic lupine, magenta paintbrush and beargrass in Mount Rainer National Park Rene Frederick/Getty Images With a splash of violet in the foreground and a snow-capped peak not far behind, Mount Rainier National Park's blooms promise to leave you awestruck. Admire these magenta, gold, and blue shades throughout the park's subalpine meadows in late July and August. Some of the best spots to enjoy the show include the photogenic Reflection Lakes trail, and the sweeping Grand Park meadow, where wildflowers stretch to nearly the base of Mount Rainier. Cuyahoga Valley National Park Ohio's fertile soil makes it a prime place for growing. In fact, northeast Ohio's Cuyahoga Valley National Park alone has 10 operating farms, from berry farms to a working vineyard. With that in mind, it only makes sense that Cuyahoga Valley's wildflowers dazzle just as well. The park sees spring to late summer blooms, with everything from Virginia bluebells to violets to goldenrods bringing these glacier-carved landscapes to life. Catch the Brandywine Gorge Trail or the Kendall Lake Loop to admire the blooming beauties. Saguaro National Park Cacti thrasher bird on blooming cactus in Saguaro National Park Getty Images Poppies and desert chicory are among the many species that add vibrancy to Saguaro National Park's desert landscape. The park's primary wildflower season runs from spring through early fall; the displays are most vibrant after steady rains late in the year, as was the case with its "banner year" for blooms in 2019. Even if the conditions aren't perfect, Saguaro flowers impress throughout the year, adding contrast to the park's signature attraction: colossal cacti. See wildflowers on trails like Bridal Wreath Falls and Valley View Overlook. Redwood National Park Mountain Lupine Bloom in Redwood National Park Nicholas Motto/Getty Images California's colossal redwood trees are impressive enough, but add a carpet of colorful wildflowers beneath them and it's serious scenery overload. Redwood National Park's wildflower blooms emerge between January and September. That means, for the majority of the year, you can appreciate the eye-popping colors. Spring welcomes blooms like periwinkle forget-me-nots and golden mission bells, while California poppies and western dog violets last into late summer and fall. Some of the best wildflower hikes include the Trillium Falls, Lady Bird Johnson Grove, and Redwood Creek trails. Pinnacles National Park Pinnacles National Park's towering bulbous rocks are nothing if not dramatic, and a splash of wildflowers takes that wow factor up a notch. In this California national park, you can admire wildflowers from March through May, when 80% are in bloom. Flower species here run the gamut. Early blooms include bush lupine and black sage, and hotter months bring orchids, buckwheat, and roses. Catch the views from routes like Moses Spring Trail and Old Pinnacles Trail Loop. Crater Lake National Park Red Indian Paintbrush and mountain ranges at Crater Lake National Park, Oregon Getty Images Crater Lake National Park's limited growing season means blooms have a short window, roughly July to October. But those months alone make Crater Lake one of the best national parks for wildflower views. The flora stretches from low-elevation forests up to the towering Mount Scott stratovolcano, the park's tallest point. See the vibrant hues via Lady of the Woods Trail, Annie Creek Canyon Trail, and Discovery Point Trail. Death Valley National Park Death Valley isn't on our list because of its blooming frequency; it's here because catching a wildflower show in the park is a rare but truly incredible experience. The extreme, dry park needs nearly perfect conditions including fall rains for a super bloom of desert golds to paint the valley. Rangers keep visitors apprised of the latest wildflower conditions. And, while the chances of spotting a super bloom here may be rare, trust us: It's worth the wait. Two young adults accused of vehicular homicide in Glynn County pled guilty on Friday, the district attorney announced. Twenty-four-year-old Madisyn Anne Culpepper and 20-year-old Austin Blake Moore were both sentenced to prison following their guilty pleas. Culpepper was arrested after she was involved in a crash on Lakes Drive on Feb. 3, 2019. Police say the victim, 15-year-old Jacob Butts, was riding his skateboard home that night when he was hit and killed by Culpepper. PREVIOUS STORY: Glynn Academy student dies after being hit by car, 21-year-old woman arrested Culpepper failed to stop at the crash and continued on to Baumgardner Road and U.S. Hwy. 82 where she got into a head-on collision with another vehicle. She was arrested after the second crash and her blood-alcohol level was 0.22, according to police. She faces eight years in prison and seven years of probation for vehicular homicide, as well as an additional five years in prison for a hit-and-run charge. Moore will face eight years in prison and seven years probation for vehicular homicide. Police say Moore was racing another vehicle on U.S. Hwy. 520 and West Flanders Drive on May 12, 2019. Officers pursued Moore and he attempted to flee, crashing into a wooden fence. His passenger, 14-year-old Kylie Burgess, was killed in the crash. His other passenger, 18-year-old Armen Jordan, was seriously injured. PREVIOUS STORY: Family of teen killed on Mothers Day has message ahead of summer vacation In addition to his 15-year sentence, Moore will face another eight years in prison followed by seven years in probation for the charge of serious injury by vehicle. STAY UPDATED: Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on breaking stories Quintez Brown, a racial justice activist, faces a life sentence after being federally indicted for allegedly shooting at Louisville mayoral candidate, Craig Greenberg. Louisville, Kentucky activist Quintez Brown on Friday pleaded not guilty after a federal grand jury indicted him for allegedly shooting at a Democratic mayoral candidate. According to The Louisville Courier-Journal, Brown faces a life sentence after being charged with interfering with a federally protected right and using and discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. He is accused of shooting at and attempting to kill Craig Greenberg, a candidate for elective office. Feds charge Quintez Brown, the BLM activist and former @JoyAnnReid show guest, in the attempted killing of Louisville mayoral candidate Craig Greenberg. Prosecutors say Brown intended to intimidate Greenberg off the campaign trail https://t.co/4j1fAC9ODu pic.twitter.com/C09XUHU8tJ Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) April 7, 2022 Making his first federal court appearance on Friday, Brown filed the plea through his legal team in attendance, including defense attorney Rob Eggert, who said on Thursday that the indictment had racial and political motivations, the outlet reported. Also representing Brown was defense attorney Patrick Renn, who later accused the Greenberg campaign of exploiting the shooting case for political gain. During the trial, Magistrate Judge Colin Lindsay reportedly ordered Brown to appear at a follow-up hearing at 1 p.m. on Friday, April 15, until which Brown will be detained. Representatives of the Greenberg campaign did not immediately respond to the Courier-Journals request for comment. Footage allegedly showing Brown firing at Greenberg on Wednesday, Feb. 14 was used in a campaign advertisement for the candidate, which Renn criticized strongly during the hearing, per the Courier-Journal. Story continues The ad additionally featured emergency dispatch audio and photographs depicting the scene, none of which had been officially released by the police department, the outlet reported. He pulled out a gun, aimed it directly at me, and opened fire We are very blessed to be here today. Louisville Mayoral candidate Craig Greenberg (D) details being the target of a shooting at his campaign headquarters pic.twitter.com/dne5gV0buF The Recount (@therecount) February 15, 2022 We are lucky that we made it, and that everybody in that room is safe and can move forward together, says Greenbergs wife, Rachel, during the minute-long TV spot, per the outlet. She continues: Many people that are struck by violence dont have that luxury. Craig understands that, and as mayor, Craig is ready to take action. Per the Courier-Journal, photos of bullet holes in what is reportedly Greenbergs office wall, and of Greenberg wearing a sweater with a reported bullethole torn in it while standing aside Louisville Metro Police officers are shown in the ad as well. The ad additionally frames the event in the context of Louisvilles violent crime crisis, the Courier-Journal reported. Renn accused the campaign of strategically airing the commercial soon after being tipped off to the timing of Browns arrest on the evening of Feb. 14, because the commercial started the same day as the arrest here. The outlet reported that further political attention was brought to the case when Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell publicly complained about Brown being released on home incarceration and about the fact that a nonprofit was able to post his $100,000 bail. McConnells office has not responded to requests for comment. Craig Greenberg, a Democratic candidate for mayor of Louisville, Kentucky, says a gunman walked into his campaign office and fired at him Monday. Greenberg says one of the bullets grazed his sweater, but no one was hurt. pic.twitter.com/4gDaHppbrp CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) February 15, 2022 As previously reported, on the night of Feb. 14, Brown allegedly went to Craig Greenbergs campaign headquarters and began firing at the Democratic mayoral hopeful and his staffers, who managed to close the door and hide under desks. Per reports, Brown was apprehended less than a half-mile from the office carrying a loaded 9mm magazine in his pocket. He was also in possession of a handgun, a case and additional magazines, per previous theGrio reporting. According to Eggert, he was dragged from his grandmothers home dressed in pajamas as a helicopter circled overhead. Eggert has maintained that mental health issues were the root cause of the alleged violent actions of the young racial justice activist, per reports. Louisville writer & activist Quintez Brown, 20, has been missing since Saturday, when he was asked to leave Algonquin Park Pool in West Louisville by LMPD. Heres a thread of what has happened to protestors active in the aftermath of Breonna Taylors murder: pic.twitter.com/r6L3yG2j8R Joy Priest (@Dalai_Mama_) June 25, 2021 Two days after the shooting, Brown was released from jail after the Louisville Community Bail Fund posted a $100,000 bail. The local group raises money to free defendants in criminal cases and connect them with pretrial support resources, the Courier-Journal reported. TheGrio is now on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Activist suspected of shooting at Louisville mayoral candidate pleads not guilty to federal charges appeared first on TheGrio. The Daily Beast Getty ImagesAmber Heard sobbed uncontrollably on the stand Thursday as she recounted a wild fight with her then-husband Johnny Depp in Australia in which he allegedly penetrated her vagina repeatedly with a liquor bottle, leaving her retching and bloodied.The March 2015 trip for the filming of Pirates of the Caribbean 5 was tumultuous from the start, Heard said during her second day of testimony in the trial over Johnny Depps $50 million defamation lawsuit. One day, after he had been drinking, Sarah Kearns At risk of mixing metaphors, every dog will have his day in court, but not every dog is as fortunate as Jade, Sandy and Mel. Those three Boxer dogs were defendants in the Ashland County Common Pleas court in January 1948. The dogs shared the limelight with Louis Bromfield, a bestselling author and conservationist who lived at Malabar Farm. Bromfield, who was a Boxer enthusiast, came to Ashland to testify on behalf of the dogs that stood accused of killing sheep the previous year. The Lake Township trustees had filed a case against the dogs owners, Todd and Sadie Chesrown. They sought to recoup the $75 that had been paid to the owner of six sheep that had been killed. (That $75 would be approximately $750 in 2018.) More: ASHLAND MEMORIES: Eakins killed by members of his own gang The plaintiffs also asked the court to order the dogs to be destroyed. Judge Edmond H. Savord of Sandusky presided over the case, which was prosecuted by C. W. Chorpening. Attorney Robert Lett represented the Chesrowns and their dogs. It was a big deal when Louis Bromfield made public appearances in Ashland Photographers snapped photos of Bromfield as he entered the courthouse along with the defendants. Bromfield was then quite famous. His many books included a Pulitzer winner, and he had a Hollywood movie to his credit. He was the kind of celebrity who rubbed shoulders with Hollywood stars. It was a big deal when Louis Bromfield made a public appearance in Ashland. It had all started on a July day in 1947, when Claude Hopkins heard a commotion in the fields and followed the sound of barking to find three dead ewes and their lambs. He was the only witness who saw the dogs at the scene of the crime. A large part of the county dog wardens duties in those days was to investigate livestock killings and to ensure that owners were compensated. These funds came from dog license fees. On the first day of trial, dog warden Carl Koegler testified that he had removed a wooly substance from the female dogs stomach. The defense countered that the wool had come from the dogs bedding, and that she probably had ingested it while cleaning up a litter of pups. Story continues The second day of the trial opened with a dramatic flourish. Attorney Lett had four dogs paraded into the courtroom, and asked the sole witness to identify the dogs he had seen at the crime scene. He was able to correctly identify just one. Courtroom packed when Louis Bromfield took the stand The courtroom was packed as Louis Bromfield took the stand as a Boxer expert and testified to the innocence of the three dogs on trial. First, he said the Boxers typically short snout made it impossible for them to mutilate sheep as the ones in question had been. He also affirmed the gentle, protective nature of the Boxer. He suggested that no Boxer who had recently given birth would have left her pups for more than five minutes, and therefore Jade could not have been one of the sheep killers. A month later, Judge Savord ruled that the court did not have the jurisdiction to order any dogs killed. Moreover, he found that the evidence was insufficient to convict Jade, Mel and Sandy specifically. Therefore, the Chesrowns did not have to reimburse the township for the farmers dead sheep. Ironically, the three Boxers died of natural causes before the initial ruling was finally upheld following appeals. This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: ASHLAND MEMORIES: Dogs on trial after sheep killing A disgraced policeman admitted that Demetric Simon was framed after he and his partner planted evidence A disgraced former Baltimore Police sergeant testified Tuesday against his ex-partner in a corruption trial. As reported by the Baltimore Sun, former detective Keith Gladstone testified that he and another disgraced former detective, Carmine Vignola, agreed to lie and plant evidence to frame Demetric Simon. Simon was run over by former Sgt. Wayne Jenkins with his car off Belair Road in 2014. Jenkins allegedly requested a BB gun as a cover-up to plant on Simon. Gladstone received the gun from another officer before planting it on the victim, The Sun reported. Simon wrongly spent almost a year in jail and is suing the city for $17 million. 8 years ago today, four BPD officers, Wayne Jenkins, Keith Gladstone, Carmine Vignola, and Robert Hankard, conspired to plant a replica gun on Demetric Simon in order to cover Jenkins' reckless misconduct. pic.twitter.com/BGTGnQQKgu Baltimore Crime Museum (@museum_crime) March 26, 2022 Gladstone and Vignola were so paranoid about being caught for their misdeeds, they would only discuss the case while inside a swimming pool out of fear of being secretly recorded, according to WJZ. Gladstone pleaded guilty in 2019 for his role in the conspiracy to violate Simons civil rights. He is now a key witness in the governments case against former Detective Robert Hankard, who is accused of falsifying police reports and providing the BB gun used to frame Simon for crimes he did not commit. Prosecutors granted Gladstone immunity as part of his plea agreement, and his testimony exposed a web of corruption and lies involving several Baltimore Police officers. Gladstone said in court that it was common practice for officers inside the department to steal money and narcotics from drug dealers. Story continues A Baltimore City police officer at Camden Yards on Aug. 25, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) Oftentimes officers used the stolen cash to pay police informants. Gladstone testified that not only did he steal money for his personal use, but Hankard and Jenkins did so as well. He also admitted in court to being an armed cocaine trafficker for fellow officers. Hankard is accused of civil rights violations, planting evidence, falsifying records, and lying to a grand jury. Deb Katz Levi from the public defenders office listened in to some of convicted fmr Baltimore Det. Carmine Vignolas testimony against his partner and was struck by the nonchalant falsifying of arrest reports, how normal it was to lie. Past story: https://t.co/14ijTlrMtA @wjz pic.twitter.com/BUvPa4bqc6 Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) April 6, 2022 Deborah Katz Levi of the public defenders office was stunned by testimony that supervisors knowingly signed off on falsified police reports. When I was sitting in the courtroom and Im listening to Mr. Vignola say that they would sign them as a matter of course without reading them, I mean, my head was in my hands and Im looking around the room, Levi told WJZ Investigative reporter Mike Hellgren. Does everybody else feel the same sense of shock and really deep dissatisfaction about the fact that peoples lives are ruined by a statement of probable cause? When you are arrested in Maryland, it can take 30 days to decide if your case is indicted. In that time, people lose their jobs. They lose their apartments. They lose their clothes, she said. A life can be ruined for any kind of arrest let alone certainly a fraudulent arrest. Its just deeply sad that this goes without real repercussions for human beings. Hankard, who maintains his innocence, faces a maximum sentence of 55 years in prison if convicted. Jenkins was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2018. TheGrio is now on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Baltimore ex-cop testifies against former partner, admits planting evidence, stealing cash and drugs appeared first on TheGrio. As a financier working in Russia beginning in the 1990s, American-born Bill Browder soon learned that theft was rampant among oligarchs profiting from the privatization that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union. While investigating a $230 million tax fraud perpetrated against his company, Browder's lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, was imprisoned, tortured and killed by Russian authorities. In response, Browder advocated for passage of the Magnitsky Act, aimed at freezing the assets of those involved in human rights violations. The Magnitsky Act has expanded beyond the United States to other nations around the globe and has made Browder a target of the Kremlin. Browder has followed his New York Times bestseller "Red Notice" with a new book, "Freezing Order: A True Story of Money Laundering, Murder, and Surviving Vladimir Putin's Wrath" (both published by Simon & Schuster, a division of Paramount). Read an excerpt from "Freezing Order" below, and don't miss correspondent Seth Doane's interview with Bill Browder on "CBS Sunday Morning" April 10! / Credit: Simon & Schuster When we started investigating the $230 million tax rebate fraud that my lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, was killed over, we'd had no idea that it would lead to any of these world-shaping developments or these unthinkable Russian reactions. Why hadn't Putin just thrown a few of his low-level officials under the bus for murdering Sergei? Why would he put a dead man on trial for the first time in Russian history? Why would he ruin his relationship with the West over the Magnitsky Act? Why would he hack Western elections? Why is he so committed to fomenting chaos? Now we knew. There weren't just millions of dollars at stake. Or even billions. There was likely more than $1 trillion at stake. And Putin will do anything to protect this. This amount of money also helped explain why so many people had been murdered. People like Sergei Magnitsky, Boris Nemtsov, Alexander Perepilichnyy, and Andrei Kozlov. It also explained why the Kremlin had attempted to kill Vladimir Kara-Murza and Nikolai Gorokhov. Story continues As despicable as Putin and his regime's behavior is, none of this can happen without the cooperation of Western enablers. Lawyers like John Moscow and Mark Cymrot, spin doctors like Glenn Simpson, politicians like Dana Rohrabacher, and executives like those at Danske Bank these people, along with many others, lubricate the machine that allows Putin and his cronies to get away with their crimes. Nor can these crimes happen without the acquiescence of timid and ineffective governments that refuse to follow their own laws and stated values. Let's take Britain, just as one example. The largest amount of money associated with the $230 million crime didn't end up in New York or Spain or France or Switzerland, but right in my adopted hometown: London. This money has been used to purchase property and luxury goods, and despite all the evidence I've presented to British law enforcement, Parliament, and the British press, to this day not a single money laundering investigation connected to the Magnitsky case has been initiated in the United Kingdom. As you've followed me through this story, you might have wondered, "The odds are so impossibly long, and there are so many risks. ... Why does he do all of these things?" At first, I did them because I owed it to Sergei. He had been killed because he worked for me, and I couldn't let his killers get away with it. As with the theft of my childhood flute, but on an infinitely grander and more meaningful scale, I have been compelled to get justice. As the theft of my flute showed, this inclination toward justice is part of who I am. It's in my nature. To reject it would have poisoned me from the inside. Then, as things escalated, it also became a fight for survival. Not only for myself and my family, but for my friends and colleagues, and all the people who were helping Sergei's cause inside of Russia. But in the end, I've done these things because doing them is the right thing to do. For better or worse, I've been obsessed with this cause since the moment of Sergei's death. This obsession has affected every facet of my life, and all of my relationships, even those with my own children. These effects haven't always been for the better. But this obsession has also introduced me to remarkable people who have not only changed my life, but the course of history. Most important, my obsession has created a legacy for Sergei so that his murder wasn't meaningless, unlike so many others. At the time of writing, there are Magnitsky Acts in 34 different countries: the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, the 27 countries of the European Union, Norway, Montenegro, and Kosovo. This doesn't take into account the British Overseas Territories and Crown Protectorates of Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey, the British Virgin Islands, and the Cayman Islands. New Zealand and Japan are on deck. More than 500 individuals and entities have been sanctioned using these laws. In Russia, these include Dmitry Klyuev, Andrei Pavlov, Pavel Karpov, Artem Kuznetsov, and Olga Stepanova and her husband, along with 35 other Russians involved in Sergei's false arrest, torture, and murder as well as the $230 million tax rebate fraud. But not only Russians. Magnitsky sanctions have now been applied to the Saudi assassins responsible for the murder and dismemberment of journalist Jamal Khashoggi; the Chinese officials who set up the Uighur concentration camps in Xinjiang; the Myanmar generals responsible for the Rohingya genocide; the Gupta brothers, who stripped the South African government dry; and hundreds of others for similarly pernicious acts. For every person or organization that has been sanctioned, there are thousands of human rights violators and kleptocrats who are waiting in terror to see if they will be sanctioned next. There's no question that the Magnitsky Act has altered behavior and been a deterrent for would-be murderers and thieves. I can't bring Sergei back. And for that, I carry a heavy burden that will never go away. But his sacrifice has not been meaningless. It has saved, and will continue to save, many, many lives. If Russia ever has a real democratic reckoning, future Russians will expand on these legal monuments by building physical ones to a true hero: Sergei Magnitsky. For now, though, the fight goes on. From "Freezing Order: A True Story of Money Laundering, Murder, and Surviving Vladimir Putin's Wrath" by Bill Browder. Copyright 2022 by Bill Browder. Reprinted by permission of Simon & Schuster, Inc. All Rights Reserved. For more info: "Freezing Order: A True Story of Money Laundering, Murder, and Surviving Vladimir Putin's Wrath" by Bill Browder (Simon & Schuster), in Hardcover and eBook formats, available via Amazon and Indieboundbillbrowder.com Richest people in the world British Prime Minister Boris Johnson met face to face with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday, a surprise visit that marks the latest show of solidarity with the former Soviet state as it continues efforts to beat back a Russian invasion. Andriy Sybiha, deputy head of the Ukrainian presidents office, confirmed on Facebook that Zelensky and Johnson met. Right now Boris Johnsons visit to Kiev began with a tet-a-tet meeting with President Zelensky. Great Britain leader in defense support of Ukraine. The leader in the anti-war coalition. Leader in sanctions on Russian aggressor, Sybiha said. In his own post to the social media outlet, Zelensky said that Johnson is one of the most principled opponents of the Russian invasion and a leader in sanctions pressure. A Downing Street spokesperson told The Washington Post that the British leader traveled to Ukraine to show solidarity with the Ukrainian people. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer also met with Zelensky on Saturday, according to the Ukrainian leader. Discussed with Karl Nehammer strengthening sanctions pressure on Russia, supporting the energy, oil embargo on the aggressor, our EU membership. The world must do everything it can to stop war. We appreciate Austrias support on this journey, Zelensky said in a post on Facebook, showing the two holding a press conference together. Thank you for the open and honest conversation and the friendly welcome in Kyiv @ZelenskyyUa. Austria knows what the Ukrainian people are currently suffering. We will help where we can to alleviate humanitarian suffering and end this war, Nehammer said on Twitter. The arrival of the British and Austrian leaders comes one day after several other European leaders came to meet with Zelensky. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Commission Vice President Josep Borrell Fontelles both met with the Ukrainian president on Friday. Story continues Indeed, I started my day today with a visit to Bucha because being in Bucha and seeing what has happened, you can tell that our humanity was shattered in Bucha, von der Leyen said during a press conference on the day. And it is right and just that the world has voted to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council, von der Leyen added. The leaders promised to provide an added 500 million euros for the Ukrainian military and start on a sixth wave of sanctions. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Editors note: An earlier version of this story indicated one person was shot, based on information provided by authorities. This story has since been updated to reflect new information gathered on scene. Boston police are investigating a double shooting that took place in the citys Roslindale neighborhood shortly before 10 p.m. Friday. It happened in the area of 4137 Washington St. at the ALFA gas station, according to police. When officers arrived on the scene, they found two people had been shot. One of the victims an adult man -- was taken to an area hospital with undisclosed injuries. The other shooting victim died at the scene, according to police. Investigators said they are interviewing several witnesses who were at the scene at the time of the shooting. I know there were witnesses there, said Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden. That has to be scary for anyone who is in the process of getting gas when something like this happens. Boston Police said they do not believe this incident was random, but do not currently have anyone in custody. Its an active investigation, it does not appear to be a random act of violence at this time, said Boston Police Deputy Superintendent James Miller. As always, we are looking for the publics help. If anyone has any information, you can call our homicide unit at 617-343-4470. This double shooting happened hours after another shooting up in Revere. Ive said it before and Ill say it again: We have too many guns on our streets right now and were seeing it play out right now, said Hayden. I just came from Revere, came here, this is a very tragic incident. One is no longer with us and were going to have to do our best to lay hold of all of this. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Then-Ald. Daniel Solis, shown in 2012 during a City Council meeting, has been charged with one count of bribery. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) Former Chicago Ald. Daniel Solis, who turned government mole to help federal investigators build cases against Ald. Edward Burke and ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan, has been charged with a bribery count. The bare-bones, one-count criminal information alleged Solis, who abruptly retired as 25th Ward alderman in 2018 before his cooperation with the FBI was revealed, corruptly solicited campaign donations from an unidentified real estate developer in exchange for zoning changes in 2015, when Solis was head of the City Council Zoning Committee. Advertisement Those general allegations had already been made public by attorneys for Burke, who revealed in a court filing in 2020 that Solis had cut a deal with the U.S. attorneys office known as a deferred prosecution agreement that meant he likely would escape conviction for his alleged misconduct. As part of the deal, Solis was to be charged with taking campaign cash from a developer, but the U.S. attorneys office agreed to drop the case if he continued to cooperate in the ongoing investigations, according to that filing. Advertisement The U.S. attorneys office has neither confirmed nor denied the existence of a deferred prosecution agreement with Solis, but the charge filed Friday is likely the first step to finally putting it on the record. Sources told the Tribune the case had been brought before a federal magistrate judge, and that its three-year window was scheduled to run out this year, meaning it would have to be extended. The information had not been uploaded to the U.S. District Court docket as of Friday evening, and an arraignment date had not been set. A spokesman for U.S. Attorney John Lausch declined to comment Friday. Solis attorney, Lisa Noller, could not immediately be reached. Former Ald. Daniel Solis, shown in 2012 during a City Council meeting, has been charged with one count of bribery. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) Solis agreement was believed to be unprecedented for a public official allegedly caught betraying the public trust but then again, so was his cooperation. By secretly recording conversations with Burke and Madigan over the phone and in person, Solis was in uncharted waters even in a state with a long history of government cooperators, becoming a linchpin in a sprawling investigation that targeted two old-guard members of the Chicago Democratic machine. The deferred prosecution agreement means Solis will not only escape any jail time hes likely not going to be prosecuted for the crime at all. Whats more, the deal could allow the 72-year-old Solis to keep collecting his nearly $100,000 annual city pension, which could easily bring in a sizable sum from the taxpayer-funded system over the remainder of his lifetime. Advertisement Last, year, the Tribune interviewed nearly a dozen longtime members of the citys legal community, including several who worked on public corruption cases for the U.S. attorneys office, and none could remember such an arrangement being made for a public official caught abusing their office. Solis work as an FBI mole began in mid-2016, when he was confronted by investigators who had secretly listened in on hundreds of his phone calls over the course of nearly a year, including conversations where the alderman solicited everything from campaign donations to sexual services at a massage parlor, court records show. From August 2016 to May 2017, Solis wore a hidden wire and secretly recorded meetings with Burke, the then-powerful Finance Committee chairman and dean of the City Council. Many of the early conversations had to do with the massive renovation of the old main post office in Solis 25th Ward, which had also been a focus of the investigation of Solis, according to court records. Those conversations, in which Burke allegedly talked about how he could use his position as Finance Committee chairman to push the developer to hire Burkes private real estate tax firm, formed the backbone of prosecutors first request to a federal judge to tap Burkes City Hall telephone lines on May 1, 2017, according to court records. Some of the conversations Solis allegedly recorded with Burke have already entered the citys political corruption lexicon, including one on May 26, 2017, when Solis told Burke hed recently spoken with the post office projects developer. So, did we land the, uh, the tuna? Burke asked, according to the indictment. Advertisement Later in the conversation, Burke said he wanted to meet with the developer himself, and promised Solis there would be a day of accounting for him if Burkes law firm wound up getting the developers business. Solis entered into his deferred prosecution agreement with the government on Jan. 3, 2019, the day after Burke was first charged, according to Burkes lawyers. Burke was indicted five months later on racketeering conspiracy and other charges alleging a host of corrupt schemes, including the allegations involving the old main post office deal. He has pleaded not guilty. Meanwhile, Solis was also recording Madigan, the longtime House speaker and head of the Illinois Democratic Party and at the time widely considered the most powerful politician in the state. According to the blockbuster 22-count racketeering indictment filed against Madigan last month, many of the recordings made by Solis centered on the sale of a piece of state-owned land in Chinatown that developers purportedly wanted to turn 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. Solis recorded numerous conversations with Madigan as part of the Chinatown land probe, including one where the speaker told Solis he was looking for a colleague to sponsor a House bill approving the parcels sale, according to the indictment against Madigan. Advertisement I have to find out about who would be the proponent in the House, Madigan allegedly told Solis in the March 2018 conversation. We gotta find the appropriate person for that. I have to think it through. The indictment also alleged that Madigan met with then Gov-elect J.B. Pritzker in December 2018 in part to discuss a lucrative state board position for Solis, ostensibly as a reward for helping Madigan win law business. Before that meeting, Solis allegedly recorded Madigan telling him the speakers communication with Pritzker did not need to be in writing, according to the indictment. I can just verbally tell him, Madigan allegedly said. Later in that same conversation, Madigan was recorded asking Solis to help steer insurance business to Madigans son, the Tribune has reported. Madigan has pleaded not guilty, and his son, Andrew, has not been charged. Solis cooperation, meanwhile, is at the center of pending motions by Burkes attorneys to have evidence gleaned from the wiretaps on Burkes cellphone and City Hall offices thrown out of court. Advertisement They accused prosecutors of directing Solis to have scripted interactions with Burke and lie about the post office deal to curry favor with the government in his own case. At the time, Solis himself had been recorded committing a number of different crimes, the defense motion stated. The government did not disclose that it instructed a desperate (Solis) to record his conversations with Ald. Burke, even though (Solis) told the government that he had no knowledge of Ald. Burke ever having been involved in corrupt activity in the 25 years they served together on the City Council, their motion stated. Burkes lawyers alleged that despite Solis best efforts, Burke never agreed on tape to provide any official action in exchange for private business. But in a filing earlier this year, prosecutors dismissed that notion, saying that the undercover recordings and other evidence revealed at least 23 instances in which Burke talked with Solis about an illegal scheme to extort legal business related to the post office project. U.S. District Judge Robert Dow is expected to rule on the motion soon. jmeisner@chicagotribune.com Advertisement rlong@chicagotribune.com By Rozanna Latiff and Ebrahim Harris MERSING, Malaysia (Reuters) -A Dutch teenager who disappeared after going diving off the coast of Malaysia is dead, according to his father who was found drifting at sea on Saturday, officials said. Fourteen-year-old Nathan Renze Chesters and his British father Adrian Peter Chesters, 46, were in a group of four who went missing on Wednesday afternoon on a training dive near Tokong Sanggol, a small island off the southeastern town of Mersing. The elder Chesters and Alexia Alexandra Molina, 18, from France were rescued by fishermen at around 1 a.m. (1700 GMT on Friday) off Indonesia's Bintan island, southeast of Singapore, and some 100 km (60 miles) south of where they went missing, officials said. The group's instructor, Kristine Grodem, 35, from Norway, was rescued on Thursday. Nathan, whose body has not been recovered, was confirmed to have died by his father, "as he was too weak and could not survive," the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency said in a statement. Police had said Indonesian authorities would take over the search for the teenager as he had likely drifted into their waters. "We believe there is a high likelihood that he is no longer in Malaysian waters based on the movement of sea currents, as well as the time and location where the other victims were found," Mersing district police chief Cyril Edward Nuing told reporters. Malaysian assets would be on standby to help, he said. Grodem earlier told officials the group surfaced about an hour into their dive on Wednesday but could not find their boat. She was later separated from the others after being caught in strong currents. The boat operator who took them to the dive site was detained after testing positive for drugs, police said. (Reporting by Rozanna Latiff and Ebrahim Harris; Editing by Robert Birsel and William Mallard) The Cherokee Nation Outpatient Health Center in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. (Photo/Darren Thompson) Tahlequah, Okla.The nations most populous federally recognized Tribe also boasts the largest, by square footage, and most comprehensive health center operated by a Tribe in Indian Country. The Cherokee Nation Health Services (CNHS) is the largest tribally-operated health care system in the United States. It opened Cherokee Nation Outpatient Health Center, a 469,000-square-foot, four-story outpatient health facility, on the campus of the W.W. Hastings Hospital campus in Tahlequah in October 2019. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the health center hasnt reached full capacity since its opening, said Executive Director of Health Services Dr. R. Stephen Jones. The pandemic has caused many healthcare organizations to provide healthcare to patients through telehealth, including the Cherokee Nation. However, the challenge with telehealth for Cherokee Nation is a patients ability to access a broadband connection in a rural part of eastern Oklahoma. We are transitioning to providing more services in person, Dr. R. Stephen Jones told Native News Online. More people are feeling safer coming in to our facilities over the last three months, but we are still working on a hybrid model of in-person or telehealth. In addition to the state-of-the-art outpatient center in Tahlequah, the Cherokee Nation currently has four other expansion projects at other outpatient clinics throughout the region in Vinita, Nowata, Muskogee, and Ochelata. The Cherokee Nation has invested more than $12 million in these locations. All four locations are expanding patient access to care, said Jones of each expansion project. The tribe has more than $300 million in healthcare infrastructure and is planning to break ground this November 2022 on a new $400 million 375,000-square-foot, six-story hospital to replace the 40-year-old W.W. Hastings Hospital that was built in the 1980s to serve 60,000 patients per year. The CNHS has reported that in recent years the hospital is serving upward of 500,000 patients per year. Story continues One of the most important things we are doing right now for the Cherokee Nation is healthcare, said Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation Chuck Hoskin, Jr. said in an interview with Native News Online. My predecessor did an amazing job of improving our health care clinics and were trying to fill the gaps of meeting the needs of our community. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Currently, the hospital is in the schematics stage, where each department of the hospital provides input on design and functionality of the facility. When completed, the hospital will connect by way of a skybridge to the Cherokee Nation Outpatient Health Center and both facilities will have direct access to each other. When completed, the hospital will be entirely owned and operated by the Cherokee Nation. The growing healthcare campus is welcoming, well-manicured, visibly state-of-the-art, and includes the first medical school on Tribal land in history. Through a partnership with Oklahoma State Universitys College of Osteopathic Medicine, the Cherokee Nation established the first tribally affiliated college of medicine in the nation. It opened with an inaugural class of 54 in August 2020 with 20 percent of its opening class American Indian. The goal of the Cherokee Nations health department is to care for people cradle to gravefrom the time citizens are born and until they pass away. Unlike private health systems, CNHS doesnt have to sell services to its patients and can focus more on the quality of healthcare. We will be as good as stewards as we can with the resources that are provided to us, said Jones of how the organization provides healthcare. We dont have to worry about our doctors selling services, they get to treat people how they were trained to treat them and what their needs are. We can be as good, or better, as any other healthcare system in the nation, Dr. Jones said of CNHS. The Cherokee Nation Health Services doesnt serve the public, however. Some services are provided only to members of the Cherokee Nation, but many other services such as routine checkups are available to any member or beneficiary of a federally recognized tribe. The Tahlequah based Cherokee Nation has 410,402 Tribal members throughout the world. Enrollment for the Tribe has increased since the end of 2021 and is anticipated to continue to increase due largely to Hoskins June 1 deadline to disperse American Rescue Plan Act funding of $2,000 per member. Its the first time the Tribe has attempted a disbursement to its entire membership. Our population has gone up rapidly and has challenged our system compared to what were used to processing, said Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. to Native News Online. A lot of people are applying to be Cherokee. About the Author: "Darren Thompson (Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe) is a freelance journalist and based in the Twin Cities of Minnesota, where he also contributes to Unicorn Riot, an alternative media publication. Thompson has reported on political unrest, tribal sovereignty, and Indigenous issues for the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, Indian Country Today, Native News Online, Powwows.com and Unicorn Riot. He has contributed to the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Voice of America on various Indigenous issues in international conversation. He has a bachelor\u2019s degree in Criminology & Law Studies from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. " Contact: dthompson@nativenewsonline.net The Cyberspace Administration of China announced it plans to regulate tech algorithms more tightly. Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images China's internet regulator is cracking down on possible harm by tech company algorithms. It wants to send officials to inspect tech firms in person. China has acted to rein in its most powerful tech firms over the last two years. China has attacked what it describes as possible abuse of algorithms by its internet giants and plans to dispatch government officials to conduct in-person inspections. The Cyberspace Administration of China, the country's state-controlled internet regulator, said ina statement Friday that it would target "large-scale websites, platforms and products with big influence" but did not call out any particular companies. We first saw the news via Bloomberg. The regulator wants China's tech firms to submit their algorithms for review to prevent "abuse" and "bad information", according to a Google Translate translation of its statement. If officials decide a company's algorithms are somehow flawed or illegal, firms face unspecified penalties. Most tech firms that offer up content recommendations be it Google's search engine, the News Feed on Facebook, or TikTok's For You Page rely on algorithms to surface results. This latest announcement by China's regulator is intended to bring its biggest tech firms in line with its algorithmic management rules, rolled out earlier this year. These, according to Stanford's DigiChina project, prohibit algorithmically generated fake news, or using algorithms to cement a monopoly. They are also intended to curb online addiction, disruption of social disorder, or hurt China's national security, Bloomberg reported. Intervening in algorithms is the latest attempt by China to rein in the growing power of its major tech companies, which include online retail giant JD.com, TikTok parent firm ByteDance, and payment and commerce conglomerate Alibaba. Thanks to the huge popularity of their apps and sites, and China's growing connectivity, these firms have turned their respective founders into billionaires. Story continues But China is keen to retain central control of its internet, targeting how these firms collect data; where and how they can list; and, seemingly indirectly, applying pressure on their ultrawealthy founder-CEOs. JD.com founder Richard Liu, ByteDance cofounder Zhang Yiming, and Su Hua, founder of TikTok's main rival Kuaishou, have all stepped down from leadership roles at their respective companies within the past two years. The internet regulator said it had interviewed reps from major firms including JD.com, Tencent, Alibaba and others over recent sweeping job cuts, Bloomberg also reported. China is not the only nation to be concerned by tech company algorithms, a flashpoint for for lawmakers concerned about everything from online child sexual abuse to free speech on social media. The UK this month introduced its Online Harms Bill, a wide-ranging piece of proposed legislation that targets how algorithms disseminate illegal or harmful content. The proposed law mentions the word algorithm at least 11 times. And US lawmakers introduced a bipartisan bill in February, the Social Media NUDGE Act, to force companies to slow down the sharing of misinformation through algorithms. Read the original article on Business Insider n this handout photo provided by A.M.P.A.S., Chris Rock is seen backstage during the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood. Al Seib /A.M.P.A.S. via Getty Images Chris Rock said he won't speak on the infamous Oscars slap "until I get paid." "I'm not talking about that until I get paid. Life is good," he said, per the Palm Springs Desert Sun. It comes after Rock was slapped by Will Smith at the 94th Oscars last month. Comedian Chris Rock said he would not talk about the controversial Oscars slap until he gets paid, according to the Palm Springs Desert Sun. "I'm OK, I have a whole show, and I'm not talking about that until I get paid. Life is good. I got my hearing back," Rock said at his show in Indio, California, on Friday, per the outlet. While on stage to present an award during the 94th Oscars last month, Chris Rock made a joke aimed at Jada Pinkett Smith's bald head. "Jada, I love you, 'GI Jane 2,' can't wait to see it," Rock said before Will Smith walked on stage and slapped Rock during the live broadcast before returning to his seat. Smith, who later won the award for best actor, apologized to the Academy during his acceptance speech and later to Rock in a March 28 statement on Instagram. "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 like to publicly apologize to you, Chris," Smith said. Pinkett Smith has been candid about her journey with alopecia, an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss. On Friday, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences announced that the "King Richard" actor would be barred from all Academy events, including the Oscars, for 10 years for his actions which he said he accepts, according to a statement provided to CNN. Following the Oscars dispute, tickets sales for Rock's 2022 "Ego Death World Tour" went through the roof. Unlike his brother, Rock has yet to fully address the situation but during his stand-up show in Boston, Rock made his first public remarks at The Wilbur. "I'm still processing what happened," Rock reportedly said. "So at some point I'll talk about that shit. It'll be serious. It'll be funny, but right now I'm going to tell some jokes." Read the original article on Insider Apr. 8LIMA The competency of a Lima man to stand trial remains undetermined following a hearing held Friday in Allen County Common Pleas Court. Terrance Irons, 33, was indicted in October in two separate cases on charges of aggravated robbery, a felony of the first degree, and felonious assault, a second-degree felony. The indictment alleges that on or about Aug. 15 Irons did commit the offense of theft and inflicted or attempted to inflict serious physical harm on Shane Davis. According to court records, police received a 911 call on Aug. 15 when Davis reported he had been robbed at gunpoint and that the suspects had struck him with the gun. Davis told police he was meeting a friend, Delmar Jones, to sell a book bag. He met Jones and two other subjects one of whom was Irons when Jones produced a handgun and pointed it at Davis' head. The two struggled and Jones struck him with the gun, Davis told police. Davis was taken to a hospital and received five staples in his head as a result of the attack. The other person present during the robbery was later identified as Chad Knerr, who admitted to police he was involved with the robbery. The felonious assault charge alleges that on Feb. 21 of last year Irons did cause serious physical harm to Bobby Golden. Irons had previously been found not competent to stand trial during an evaluation requested by his attorney. A follow-up evaluation performed at the Northwest Ohio Psychiatric Hospital found that Irons' competency had been restored. Judge Terri Kohlrieser took under advisement to report from the hospital and said she would rule at a later date on the competency issue. Irons was mostly non-verbal throughout the hearing, nodding in response to the judge's questions. Reach J Swygart at 567-242-0464. swab test sample during COVID-19 crisis Getty COVID-19 cases are rising once again in some major cities. Although much of the country has seen a plateau in positive cases after the omicron variant surged through the U.S. late last year, cities like New York City and Washington D.C. have been seeing an alarming uptick in cases over the last few weeks likely because of the highly contagious BA.2 subvariant hitting the Northeast. According to data from the New York Times COVID tracker last updated on April 8, positive cases have increased 51 percent over the last two weeks in New York City, with an average of 1,572 cases reported per day. While cases have noticeably increased, the death rate for the city has fallen 53 percent, as well as hospitalizations, which have fallen 17 percent. RELATED: COVID Nurse Struggles with PTSD After Seeing Her Patients Die: 'I Wonder Why I'm Still Breathing' The state of New York itself is also seeing a rise in cases, reporting a 58 percent increase from the average two weeks ago, but has seen a 7 percent decrease in deaths. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free weekly newsletter to get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday. Washington D.C. is seemingly being hit hard by the next wave of the coronavirus, reporting a whopping 106 percent increase in positive cases since the average two weeks ago, per the NTY. Death rates have remained roughly the same, but hospitalizations have decreased by nearly 40 percent. RELATED: Even Mild Cases of COVID Can Increase the Risk of Blood Clots for 3 to 6 Months, Large Study Finds As D.C. is one of the areas that has been greatly affected by COVID-19, a slew of political figures have announced they have contracted the virus over the last few weeks. RELATED VIDEO: Doctor Says Fully Vaccinated People Are Going to Test Positive with Omicron: 'Our New Normal' On March 22, Hillary Clinton revealed she had tested positive for COVID, writing in a tweet, "I've got some mild cold symptoms but am feeling fine. I'm more grateful than ever for the protection vaccines can provide against serious illness. Please get vaccinated and boosted if you haven't already!" Story continues The same day, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki revealed she had also tested positive for COVID after meeting with President Joe Biden ahead of their trip to Europe. On Thursday, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi also shared her positive diagnosis. "After testing negative this week, Speaker Pelosi received a positive test result for COVID-19 and is currently asymptomatic," her spokesman, Drew Hammill, wrote on Twitter. "The Speaker is fully vaccinated and boosted, and is thankful for the robust protection the vaccine has provided." "The Speaker will quarantine consistent with CDC guidance, and encourages everyone to get vaccinated, boosted and test regularly," Hammill continued. As information about the coronavirus pandemic rapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from the CDC, WHO and local public health departments. PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMe to raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, click here. A U.S. District Court judge said he needed more information before making a decision on federal prosecutors' pretrial detention request on Friday for both men who are charged with impersonating a federal officer. Arian Taherzadeh, 40, and Haider Ali, 35, were both arrested on Wednesday at a luxury apartment in the Navy Yard area of Washington, D.C. after the Federal Bureau of Investigations executed a search warrant with the assistance of multiple other government agencies. Magistrate Judge Michael Harvey said during a detention hearing on Friday that he needs more information about Ali's travel history to Pakistan and Iran, additional details about "United Special Police LLC," which Taherzadeh allegedly controls, as well as detailed information about Taherzadeh's history as a deputized special police officer with the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C. Prosecutors say that at some point, Taherzadeh was a deputized police officer, but said that the designation came with very limited abilities. Harvey said that this case is "complicated," adding he hasn't seen one similar before. WASHINGTON D.C. MEN WHO ALLEGEDLY POSED AS FEDERAL AGENTS HAD STOCKPILE OF WEAPONS, NEW FILING SHOWS The detention hearing will continue on Monday at 3:30 p.m. Prosecutors requested that the two men be detained prior to their trial, arguing that Ali is a flight risk and Taherzdeh could attempt to obstruct justice. In the government's motion for detention, prosecutors say that the men's impersonation scheme was "sufficiently realistic to convince other government employees, including law enforcement agents, of their false identities." Prosecutors allege that the individuals "compromised" Secret Service personnel who have access to the White House "by lavishing gifts upon them, including rent-free living." During the Friday detention hearing, government prosecutors said that this is a "very serious" case. Story continues "This is not a case of someone guarding your local Starbucks, the amount of equipment they had," the prosecutor said. "This is not just two people dressing up for Halloween your honor, this is very serious." The two men face up to three years in jail as well as a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted. The two men are accused of impersonating Department of Homeland Security employees and gave U.S. Secret Service agents gifts, including iPhones, apartments, and televisions, according to officials . In one instance, Taherzadeh provided a Secret Service agent with one rent-free three-bedroom apartment, valued at $48,240. The Secret Service agent stayed at the apartment from February 2021 to January 2022, according to prosecutors. On Wednesday, federal law enforcement officers recovered multiple firearms as well as ammunition while executing a search warrant. According to a court filing by federal prosecutors on Wednesday morning, "numerous electronic devices" were also found, including a "significant" amount of surveillance equipment, 30 hard drives, a machine that creates and programs Personal Identification Verification cards, and blank cards with chips. Passports belonging to Ali were also recovered, and show two visas from Iran. Prosecutors say that the first visa authorized travel to Iran from July 31, 2019 through October 28, 2019, and the second from October 28, 2019 through January 25, 2020. The passports also contain visas from Pakistan. DC MEN WHO ALLEGEDLY POSED AS FEDERAL AGENTS UNDER SCRUTINY FOR POSSIBLE FOREIGN TIES Federal prosecutors also allege that Ali told two witnesses that he has some type of connection with the Pakistani Intelligence Service, the Inter-Services Intelligence. Ali allegedly made multiple trips to Doha, Qatar since 2019, according to prosecutors. Taherzadeh and Ali's alleged impersonation of Department of Homeland Security employees began to unravel when a United States Postal Inspector arrived at their apartment complex to investigate an alleged assault which involved a United States Postal Service carrier, according to prosecutors. The case was then handed to the Federal Bureau of Investigations. According to a court filing, the men identified themselves as federal government employees to the inspector, and residents at the apartment complex said that they believe the two men had access to their personal information. One witness, who is a member of the Secret Service, said that Taherzadeh had access to "all floors of the apartment," including some restricted areas. The witness says that Taherzadeh was able to get this access by speaking with the apartment complex's management and identifying himself as a federal agent. Fox News has confirmed that of the four Secret Service agents suspended in connection with the investigation, two of them worked for the uniformed division, and one of the agents' duties was in the vicinity of the residence of Vice President Harris, but not on her person detail. A separate Secret Service agent who is now suspended was assigned to the Presidential Protective Division of First lady Jill Biden, and sources tell Fox News that it's possible this agent filled in for agents close to President Biden at times but was not on the president's regular security detail. Fox News' David Spunt contributed to this report The Daily Beast U.S. MarshalsThe getaway car Alabama prison guard Vicky White used to escape with a murder inmate has been found about 100 miles away in Tennessee, a small breakthrough in the escalating manhunt for the missing pair.Vicky White, 56, and Casey White, 38, who are not related, had developed a special relationship before she signed him out of lockup a week ago under the guise of taking him to a court appointment that actually did not exist.Authorities say the two had unusual contact since 2020 tha Illinois state Rep. Thaddeus Jones, who doubles as the mayor of Calumet City, is under federal criminal investigation for tax issues involving his campaign funds, according to a law enforcement source and records obtained by the Tribune. The U.S. attorneys office issued a grand jury subpoena in January to the Illinois State Board of Elections seeking records on three campaign funds controlled by Jones, according to a copy of the subpoena provided to the Tribune via an open records request. Advertisement The subpoena, dated Jan. 7, was pursuant to an official criminal investigation and sought quarterly campaign reports dating back to 2015 for the funds Jones for Mayor, Jones for State Representative, and Citizens for Jones, which is a political action committee that Jones heads. Then-Calumet City Ald. Thaddeus Jones leaves the Downey Park polling place after voting in 2003. Jones, who is now a state representative, is under investigation over tax issues involving campaign funds, according to sources. (JOHN SMIERCIAK / CHICAGO TRIBUNE) The grand jury asked for underlying data supporting the quarterly reports, as well as emails or other communications that election officials had with Jones or the funds, and any and all complaints filed against the committees, according to the subpoena. The FBI was the underlying investigative agency on the investigation, according to the document. Advertisement The law enforcement source told the Tribune that authorities are investigating tax issues stemming from the transfer of money between Jones and his campaign funds as well as other potential financial matters. No charges have been filed. A graduate of Bloom Trail High School with a degree in criminal justice from Loyola University Chicago, Jones is the latest member of the Illinois General Assembly to face a federal investigation. The investigation comes to light as Jones, a Democrat from Calumet City who has represented the 29th legislative district since 2011, is running for reelection in a contested race in the June 28 primary. He was elected mayor of Calumet City last year and before that was the first Black alderman of the suburbs 3rd Ward. Jones, who was participating remotely Friday in the final day of the General Assemblys spring session, said he had no comment in a statement sent to the Tribune on Friday. Meanwhile, campaign records show Jones wife, Saprina Jones, resigned as chairperson of the Jones for Mayor committee less than two weeks ago, as did the committees treasurer, Daniella Drummond. Jones filed amended articles naming himself to both positions. On Wednesday, Jones political action committee submitted a series of amended campaign committee statements for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021, that contained updated loan repayments that were incorrectly reflected as expenditures instead of debts and removed inadvertently reported contributions. The changes, according to the filings, were Per State Board of Elections notice. The election board on Thursday supplied the Tribune with copies of the hundreds of pages of records it sent to the U.S. attorneys office in response to the January subpoena. Advertisement Among the documents were previously undisclosed details of a 2017 hearing on a complaint alleging Jones improperly reported tens of thousands of dollars in loans to and from his campaigns and spent political cash on personal expenditures. The complaint, filed by Calumet City Aldermen DeAndre Tillman and James Patton, outlined a series of questionable expenditures by Jones campaigns, including outings to Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs games, and nearly $7,000 spent between 2014 and 2016 at a south suburban Hooters restaurant. Payments to the Jones Foundation, a charity Jones founded and is currently headed by his wife, were also illegally reported, according to the complaint. The records show Jones was represented at the June 2017 hearing by high-powered Democratic election attorney Michael Kasper, who argued it was not unusual to spend that much money at the Hooters given that it was over 33 months and that the complainants characterization that it amounted to an excessive number of visits was a subjective term. Following the hearing, the board ruled there was not enough evidence to support most of the allegations, the records show. Jones was not fined and was told instead to amend his campaign filings to come into compliance. While the details of the 2017 hearing were kept private under state campaign rules, the Jones Foundation came under public scrutiny around the same time when an investigative report in The Daily Southtown detailed the charitys inconsistent filing of financial documents, borrowing from Jones political campaign committee and unpermitted solicitation of donations. Jones refused to comment for that story, though in a letter to the state attorney generals office he defended the organization and threatened legal action against the Southtown reporter. Days later, he announced on social media that he was stepping down from his role on the charitys board, though he did not explain why. Advertisement Over the past few years, two members of the House, Democrats Luis Arroyo and Edward Acevedo, both of Chicago, were recently convicted in separate cases, while another, Annazette Collins, also of Chicago, is awaiting trial on tax-related counts. In the state Senate, former state Sen. Tom Cullerton, a Democrat who was also village president of Villa Park, resigned and pleaded guilty last month to ghost payrolling charges, while ex-Sen. Terry Link, a Democrat from Waukegan, and the late Democratic Sen. Martin Sandoval of Cicero were also forced out of office and later convicted of federal crimes. Chicago Tribunes Gregory Pratt contributed. jmeisner@chicagotribune.com dpetrella@chicagotribune.com jgorner@chicagotribune.com Ron DeSantis Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said at a press conference Friday that if Democrat Stacey Abrams wins Georgia's upcoming gubernatorial election, it will lead to serious tensions between the two states, The Hill reported. "If Stacey Abrams is elected governor of Georgia, I just want to be honest, that will be a cold war between Florida and Georgia," DeSantis said. "I can't have Castro to my south and Abrams to my north, that would be a disaster. So, I hope you guys take care of that, and we'll end up in good shape." Cuba's current leader is Miguel Diaz-Canel. Raul Castro stepped down as first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba in 2021, having succeeded his brother Fidel in 2011. Abrams, a former Georgia state legislator, is facing a rematch with Gov. Brian Kemp (R), who narrowly defeated her in 2018. According to Fox News and NPR, Abrams never conceded the 2018 election. Instead, she made a carefully worded statement acknowledging "that former Secretary of State Brian Kemp will be certified as the victor" while also accusing Kemp of voter suppression. Former President Donald Trump is backing former Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) in his primary campaign against Kemp, who Trump has condemned as a "turncoat" for refusing to overturn President Biden's narrow 2020 victory in Georgia. Kemp currently leads both Perdue and Abrams in the polls. You may also like Hawaii's Brian Schatz lays into Josh Hawley on Senate floor: 'Completely ridiculous' The best starting Wordle word has been revealed Jimmy Kimmel mocks police threat from 'sweet little snowflake' Marjorie Taylor Greene, reports her to Batman Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis delivers remarks at the 2022 CPAC conference at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando. Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images Gov. Ron DeSantis predicted a cold war between Florida and Georgia if Stacey Abrams wins the governor's race. He went on to reference Raul Castro, former communist leader of Cuba, during his speech. Both Abrams and DeSantis are running election campaigns in their respective states. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said that a southern "cold war" could happen if Stacey Abrams wins Georgia's governor's race in November. During a press conference Friday in Gulf County, Florida, while promoting a workforce development event, DeSantis spoke about the race in Georgia, seemingly encouraging Georgia residents to make sure they cost Abrams the election. "If Stacey Abrams is elected governor of Georgia, I just want to be honest, that will be a cold war between Florida and Georgia," he said. "I can't have Castro to my south and Abrams to my north, that would be a disaster," he said, adding: "So I hope you guys take care of that and we'll end up in good shape." DeSantis was apparently referencing Raul Castro, the former Cuban president who retired in April 2021. Abrams is running against incumbent Gov. Brian Kemp and former Sen. David Perdue in Georgia for the midterm elections in November. Abrams ran for governor in a highly publicized race in 2018 but lost to Kemp. DeSantis is also running his own race as he seeks reelection for governor of Florida. In late March, he signed into law a controversial bill commonly known by critics as the "Don't Say Gay" bill. The bill, touted as a tool for parental rights in schools, is just one of the numerous bills affecting LGBTQ rights across the country. Abrams and DeSantis could not immediately be reached for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider Detroit a majority Black metropolitan city of more than half a million residents became the largest U.S. city to challenge the national headcount of the 2020 census, with local officials claiming that nearly a tenth of its population was left out of the final totals, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In its filing to the bureau last week, Detroit claimed that at least 8% of occupied homes in 10 of Detroit's neighborhoods were undercounted and that the data, which is collected every decade, is inaccurate. The discrepancy was revealed in December after an independent analysis conducted by the University of Michigan and Wayne State. The Census Bureau now has an obligation to set the record straight, Mayor Michael Duggan said in a letter to the bureau, adding that a lack of resources and an insufficient number of counters throughout the city resulted in an inaccurate figure that is likely to have a chilling effect on the Michigan city for the next decade. In the letter, provided by Duggans office to Yahoo News, the mayor provides evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that he claims shows the bureau undercounted the number of occupied housing units, the overall number of housing units and the population of Michigans largest city. A sign used at a promotional event for the U.S. Census in Times Square in New York City in 2020. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters) Results of the 2020 census determined that Detroit had a population of 639,111 residents, while estimates from 2019 placed the citys population at just over 670,000 residents. Reynolds Farley, a census expert and retired professor of public policy and sociology at the University of Michigan, told Yahoo News that the significant discrepancy in numbers showed a "dereliction of duty" on the part of the bureau. This census was deficient in Detroit, Farley said. They didnt plan well in Detroit." Farley believes that the bureau relied too heavily on online collection methods, in a city where about a quarter of the population did not have access to high-speed internet as recently as 2016. He also claims that not enough employees were in the field to collect data. As a former Michigan counter in the 2000 and 2010 census cycles, Farley believes the bureau was simply not up to the challenge. Story continues Detroit is one of more than 20 cities and counties that have officially challenged the 2020 census thus far. Challenges are rarely successful, however. The General Motors world headquarters is the tallest at the Renaissance Center in the skyline of Detroit's downtown, as pictured in 2008. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) The results of the census results have a far-reaching impact throughout the federal government and American society. The data, collected once a decade, is used to determine how much political representation communities receive, how electoral districts are drawn and how more than $1.5 trillion in federal funding is allocated across the country for basic services like education, food and health care. In Detroit, the city gets $600 per person for every resident from the state of Michigan, according to Farley. If the 30,000 resident undercount is correct, the city would be underfunded in excess of at least $18 million. Policy experts say that potential discrepancies in the data as substantial as this one create a cycle of disproportionate allocation of resources. [The census] is the foundation of our democracy, Kelly Percival, senior counsel and census expert at the Brennan Center for Justice, told Yahoo News last month. And so when we know inequalities are happening like this, we're baking inequity into our democracy from the start if we dont fix this problem. The census is prone to undercounting communities of color for a range of reasons, including the increased difficulty of reaching some populations and public mistrust of government surveys and agents. But according to Percival, the 2020 census was only the second since World War II to be measurably less accurate than the one before it. Detroit election workers count absentee ballots for the 2020 general election at TCF Center on Nov. 4, 2020. (Photo by Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images) Disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic added an additional obstacle to the latest census, which was conducted during the first year of the viruss spread, when many people moved locations unexpectedly and were less likely to open their doors to government canvassers. Detroit was the car manufacturing capital of the world early in the 20th century, becoming the fourth most populated city in the U.S. in the 1920s. In 2013, it became the largest U.S. city to file for bankruptcy. Since then, the city has had the highest rate of concentrated poverty of the 25 largest metropolitan areas in the United States, with an inner-city area whose population is 78% Black. The city has been working to turn itself around, and has many new restaurants and bars, a growing art scene and a revitalized downtown area. But a study from Michigan State University revealed that much of the progress has been limited to a 7-square-mile radius, in a city of 139 square miles. The census bureau maintains that data collection was not drastically different this cycle from collections in the past. The challenges are pretty consistent from decade to decade in getting people to respond to a survey and participate, Jennifer Reichert, chief of the Decennial Census Management Division of the Census Bureau, told Yahoo News. A mural titled "Eminem" by Jose Felix Perez and Michael Vasquez in the Eastern Market in Detroit in July 2019. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images) Despite the known undercount issues, the bureau says the tallies will not be adjusted. While acknowledging the challenges of the most recent census, Farley said he believes the bureau should have predicted the issues in advance and made greater efforts to get an accurate count of the entire population, or as he put it, "not just people who fill out the form." "There wasnt appropriate outreach, it appears, and you have to put extra resources where its going to put people to count them, he added. _____ Cover thumbnail photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images Gov. Mike Dewine has announced that the Ohio Department of Public Safety will begin collecting protective gear to send to Ukraine. The protective gear would be sent to the Ukraine Civilian Territorial Defense. In March, Dewine asked local and state law enforcement agencies to provide a list of surplus or expired, but still functional protective gear that could be donated to Ukraine. >> Ohio lawmakers weigh in on US involvement in war in Ukraine More than two dozen agencies responded offering about 75 ballistic and riot helmets and over 800 pieces of body armor, according to a release. This is Ohios opportunity to provide civilian humanitarian aid to help the innocent Ukrainians who are voluntarily putting their lives at risk on the front lines. If any other law enforcement agencies have unneeded protective gear, there is still time to take part in this important statewide donation effort, DeWine said in a release. Law enforcement agencies that did not respond to the March request but would like to donate protection gear should contact their nearest Ohio State Highway Patrol Post for information. Valerii Apetroaiei / Getty Images/iStockphoto Whether you buy a car new or used, the dealer might try to load you down with add-ons and accessories of every sort -- and they're likely to tell you that it will only add a few dollars to the monthly payment if you fold it into the cost of the loan. See: 15 Great Cars To Own for More Than 15 Years Find Out: 30 Biggest Do's and Don'ts When Buying a Car In truth, add-ons can quickly tack hundreds or thousands of dollars extra onto the sticker price. Some might be dealer add-ons that they try to slip past you. Others they'll try to sell you outright. Before you buy, know which car ad-ons you don't want to buy at the dealership. Lepro / Getty Images/iStockphoto Roof-Rack Accessories Factory crossbars and roof-rack accessories cost more than aftermarket brands, and they only fit that specific vehicle. If your surfing, kayaking or road-tripping adventures require roof storage, brands like Thule and Yakima cost less, function as well or better and can be removed and adapted to almost any vehicle you buy in the future -- all without a big dealer markup. MarioGuti / Getty Images/iStockphoto Key Protection Losing your car keys was always a headache, but with remote entry and remote start devices, laser cutting and high-end fobs, today it's not just an inconvenience, but it's a hefty expense. Replacing sophisticated key systems, particularly on luxury cars, can cause hundreds of dollars, which your car insurance is likely not to cover -- and dealers know it. Some dealers offer key protection, a separate insurance policy just for your keys. That, too, can easily cost more than $100, which is an unnecessary expense for an unlikely event. Instead put that money into a savings account, which you should do anyway to budget for unforeseen mishaps, like losing your keys. Marina Khromova / Getty Images/iStockphoto Windshield Protection The ACE Group is one of the many companies that offer windshield insurance coverage to car dealers to sell to their customers at a markup -- it says "maximize your profits" right on their website. Yes, windshields can sometimes break, and yes, they're expensive. The truth, however, is that modern resins can fix the most common cracks, and windshields rarely have to be fully replaced. If you're truly worried, you'd be better served by budgeting for repairs like broken windshields than handing over money to your dealer as an add-on for a service you'll likely never need. Story continues ViktorCap / Getty Images/iStockphoto Tire Protection Like windshield protection, the odds favor the dealer with extended tire warranties. Virtually all tires come with prorated warranties that cover craftsmanship defects, which are very rare. Your dealer might try to sell you an extended warranty that covers what standard prorated warranties do not for, say, $10 per tire. First of all, some tires come with more inclusive warranties and even if they don't, the cost of a standard new tire isn't particularly high when you factor in the $40 you didn't spend on unnecessary protection. Vera_Petrunina / Getty Images/iStockphoto Dent Protection Like windshield protection and key protection, a long line of little-known and sometimes-shady third-party companies offer dent and ding coverage to dealers as an upsell to push on their customers. These companies sell the plans for $300-$500 to the dealer, who then sells the plan to unsuspecting buyers for anywhere from $600-$1,500 -- pure profit for no work. The dealer also has no further responsibility and doesn't aid processing claims. You get an 800 number to call to deal with a company you've probably never heard of before. You'll likely have little or no say in who fixes your car, and you'll almost certainly learn that there's plenty that isn't covered. Pattanaphong Khuankaew / Getty Images/iStockphoto Credit Insurance Your dealer also might try to talk you into credit insurance, which comes in the forms of credit life insurance, credit disability insurance, involuntary unemployment insurance and credit property insurance. They all serve the same purpose: to continue making your car payments if you lose your job, become disabled or die. There are few reasons to get credit insurance and many reasons not to. If you think it's right for you, you'll almost always do better buying through your own insurance company with no dealer markup. Also, it's illegal for dealers to tell you they can't sell you a car or approve a loan unless you buy this optional coverage. tommaso79 / Getty Images/iStockphoto GAP Insurance Guaranteed asset protection (GAP) insurance is less scammy than the previously mentioned "coverage" plans that dealers often push. If you total a car shortly after financing it, your insurance company will compensate you for the value of the car, which, thanks to depreciation, is often less than what you owe on the loan. GAP coverage is designed to fill that gap, and in some cases, it makes sense to buy it -- but buy it from your insurance company. When you buy it from a dealer, it will almost certainly be more expensive and, here again, you'll wind up dealing with an unfamiliar company you've never heard of if you ever need to cash in on it. Hirurg / Getty Images/iStockphoto Extended Warranties Like GAP insurance, extended warranties can serve a legitimate purpose, but in almost all cases, you'd be better served to put that money into an interest-bearing savings account set aside for repairs. Extended warranties are designed to stretch your coverage beyond the expiration of your bumper-to-bumper warranty, which is usually three years or 36,000 miles. The truth is, much of the cost goes to the salesperson's commission, most people never wind up using them, and they cost more than the price of the average repair. vgajic / Getty Images Car Alarms and Trackers Most cars come with security systems or even trackers. When they don't, dealers often try to sell them as an add-on. That, in many cases, is because car dealerships install alarms to prevent theft on the dealership lot, which means it's already installed in the car. Instead of uninstalling it and letting you drive off with the car, this upsell allows them to sell cheap alarms and trackers at a premium and also charge you for installation. You can almost certainly do better buying a system on your own and paying a much lower installation fee to your local mechanic. mbtphotos / Getty Images Paint Sealants Modern cars receive factory paint jobs that are designed to withstand the elements -- they have sealants and antirust properties built-in. Paint protection can cost several hundred dollars and it's almost never worth the expense. Wash your car regularly and your paint will last the life of your car in almost all conditions. algre / Getty Images/iStockphoto Fabric Protection The same rule applies to fabric and upholstery protection, which is applied by the manufacturer and built into the price of the car. According to Edmunds, this service can cost $195 or more. If you really feel you need extra protection because you have a dog or messy children or whatever, spend a few bucks on a bottle of spray-on Scotchgard, which is essentially what the dealer is offering anyway. venusvi / Getty Images/iStockphoto Nitrogen-Filled Tires Another add-on that's trending is nitrogen-filled tires, which your dealer will tell you is less susceptible to temperature-based pressure expansion and reduction. It's also supposed to bleed from your tires more slowly than regular air. Edmunds reports that its own research says it makes almost no difference in real-world conditions and that the service costs roughly $100. Regular air is free -- or close to it if you're in a pinch and need to stop at a gas station. Shutterstock.com Window Tints/Clear Protection You might be in the market for window tints or clear UV protection, but don't let the dealer sell it to you as an add-on. Chances are they don't do the work themselves and instead farm it out to the lowest bidder. You, of course, reap none of those savings -- the difference is pure dealer profit. Check online reviews for local service companies and you'll almost certainly pay less for work done by a company whose reviews you had a chance to research for yourself. bfk92 / Getty Images/iStockphoto Door Edge Protector You can pick up a DIY door edge protector kit for less than $10 on Amazon, yet according to Edmunds, dealers commonly charge $169. In theory, door edge protectors keep vulnerable door edges from chipping and scratching. The truth is, modern paint can resist most of this yesteryear type of damage, but if you want the peace of mind, it's an easy, cheap, tool-free DIY job. Shutterstock.com Service and Maintenance Packages Service and maintenance packages aren't always, or even usually, a rip-off. Dealers make a lot of money in their service departments, and they'd obviously love to sell you a car and service it as well, both while under warranty and beyond. This incentivizes good service, as does the fact that good service means you're more likely to come back and buy your next car there, as well. The problem is, buying a car is a ton of information to process on its own and you can opt into the service plan at any time. If they offer you a maintenance package, ask for the details in writing, say you'll think about it and take a few days to look it over and decide if it's worth it. kitzcorner / Getty Images/iStockphoto Upgraded Floor Mats Your dealer might try to talk you into "heavy-duty" or "all-weather" mats. Regular floor mats often come standard from the factory, and in that case, the dealer might not be able to remove them for a discount. That, however, is different than upgrading to a more rugged version at the cost of hundreds of dollars extra, which you might pay for a full set of custom, laser-measured mats from a company like WeatherTech. If you must have generic heavy-duty mats, they're easy to find online with a two-digit price tag. Photoservice / Getty Images/iStockphoto Appearance Packages Among the most common and costly dealer add-ons are so-called "appearance packages," which often take the form of pinstriping or some other graphic design. While it appears to come from the manufacturer, dealers -- particularly used car dealers -- can add them on themselves, try to pass them off as standard and outrageously upcharge for them. Edmunds reports seeing appearance packages for $279. Jaloplink reports seeing them cost as much as $2,000. Vajira Thongsom / Getty Images/iStockphoto Mudflaps Passenger cars don't need mudflaps, despite what your dealer tells you about paint and undercarriage corrosion. Those who have them often find that they catch and trap sand and salt, causing more corrosion than they prevent. Large trucks are an exception, but not most standard trucks or SUVs. Find out if your state requires them on SUVs or standard trucks before letting a dealer explain why you can't go without them. If you really want them, you'll find, as with so many add-ons, that you can buy them and have them installed cheaper somewhere else. Chansak Joe / Shutterstock.com Trunk Trays Trunk trays are formfitting rubberized cargo liners for your trunk or the back of your hatchback or SUV -- they sometimes come with raised cargo blocks. They protect against spills, upholstery tears and other damage, and they're certainly not a bad idea -- provided you pay $200 or so for one online or at your local auto parts store. What you shouldn't do, however, is let a dealer talk you into buying one from them for upwards of $700, which isn't unheard of, according to MotorTrend. rukawajung / Getty Images/iStockphoto Color-Changing Valve Stem Covers You might encounter a dealer who promises magic in your tires in the form of color-changing valve stems that change from green to red when your tires need air, all for the low price of between $40-$100 for a set of four. First of all, most new -- or newish, even -- cars come with low-tire-pressure indicators on the dashboard. Even if yours doesn't, the two tools that have worked for time immemorial -- your eyes and a pressure gauge -- will serve the exact same purpose. More From GOBankingRates Photos are for illustrative purposes only. As a result, some of the images may not reflect the products listed in this article. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Dont Get Suckered Into Paying For These 20 Useless Things at Car Dealerships Henry Paterson, aka Jack Higgins Henry Patterson, the best-selling author of The Eagle has Landed, has died aged 92, his publisher has said. Patterson, who began writing when he was a teacher, penned 85 novels between 1959 and 2017. HarperCollins said Patterson died at his Jersey home surrounded by family. The Eagle has Landed, about a Nazi plot to kidnap Sir Winston Churchill in World War Two, written under the pseudonym Jack Higgins, sold more than 50 million copies and became a film. The 1976 screen adaptation starred Robert Duvall, Donald Sutherland and Sir Michael Caine. Patterson sold more than 250 million books over his career, with his other works including Comes the Dark Stranger, Hell is Too Crowded and To Catch a King. Patterson was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, and grew up in Belfast before moving to Leeds. He wrote novels in his spare time after becoming a teacher and received a 75 advance for his first novel, Sad Wind from the Sea, in 1959. His final book, The Midnight Bell, was published in 2017 and was a Sunday Times bestseller. HarperCollins said that by the time his last novel came out, they referred to him simply as "the legend". HarperCollins chief executive Charlie Redmayne described Patterson as a "classic thriller writer: instinctive, tough, relentless", adding his novels "were, and remain, absolutely unputdownable". Jonathan Lloyd, Patterson's literary agent, also paid tribute, saying: "I had the privilege of being at Collins Publishers when we received the manuscript of The Eagle has Landed. "We all knew, with a rare certainty, that we would be publishing an instant classic." Patterson is survived by four children from his first marriage - Sarah, Ruth, Sean, and Hannah - as well as his wife, Denise. BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Donors including the Canadian government and the European Commission on Saturday pledged a combined 9.1 billion euros in donations, loans and grants to support refugees fleeing the war following Russia's invasion. The fundraising event in Warsaw, Poland, yielded 1.8 billion euros to support internally displaced people inside Ukraine, and 7.3 billion euros for refugees who have fled the country to neighbouring states. Governments, companies and individuals together pledged 4.1 billion euros in donations, which will be distributed largely via the Ukrainian authorities or the United Nations. The remaining 5 billion euros were loans and grants from EU financial institutions - including a 4 billion euro programme to help provide housing, education and healthcare for refugees arriving in EU countries. "We stand by your side, be it now in the times of war, be it with the refugees, but most importantly after this war has been won by Ukraine, for the time for reconstruction and rebuilding the country," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who visited Kyiv on Friday and co-hosted the event with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. More than 4 million people have now fled Ukraine to seek shelter in EU countries, while 6.5 million people have fled their homes but remain inside Ukraine, the European Commisison said. (Reporting by Kate Abnett; Editing by Angus MacSwan and Christina Fincher) (Bloomberg) -- Former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng was in a squalid prison in Southeast Asia for his role in the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal when his New York lawyer gave him a way out. Most Read from Bloomberg He persuaded Ng to come to the U.S. first for trial, rather than wait for the completion of the case in his native Malaysia. He did, and lived in New York free on bond for almost three years. On Friday, Ng was convicted of conspiring to violate anti-bribery laws and launder money and now faces a prison term as long as three decades. Read More: Roger Ng Found Guilty in 1MDB Fraud Scheme I told him youd be far better off in the United States, where we have a real system and a real trial, defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said after the verdict. Ive rethought that decision ten thousand times. It took its toll. Agnifilo said his client last saw his daughter Victoria when she was 6 years old, after Malaysia barred Ngs wife, Hwee Bin Lim, from leaving the country. Lim was allowed to leave only for the New York trial, after the U.S. gave her a safe passage letter agreeing not to prosecute her. She testified in her husbands defense. 1MDB is a personal disaster in the life of that family, Agnifilo said. Read More: 1MDB Bankers Wife Says Truth Will Save Him Ng, formerly Goldman Sachs Group Inc.s head of investment banking in Malaysia, had been locked up for six months in Kuala Lumpur when he agreed to waive an extradition fight and travel to Brooklyn in U.S. custody. On his arrival, he was released on a $20 million bond and had to wear an electronic ankle bracelet to track him while he awaited trial. Following the verdict Friday, he was allowed to remain free pending his sentencing. Story continues Agnifilo, who vowed to challenge the conviction, said he and Ngs lawyers in Malaysia are coordinating their efforts on his next legal steps. I have faith in our system, because Im from here, he said. I think he still does, even though hes not from here. Read More Goldmans Failure to Heed 1MDB Red Flags Offers Lessons to Banks Goldmans Most Notorious Banker Turns Star Witness in 1MDB Trial After 1,000 Days, Goldman Banker to Stand Trial for 1MDB Scandal Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. By Jonathan Landay and Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was ousted from office in a no-confidence vote in parliament in the early hours of Sunday after three years and seven months in power. A new government will be formed most likely under opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif, after parliament reconvenes on Monday to vote for a new prime minister. The nation of more than 220 million people lies between Afghanistan to the west, China to the northeast and India to the east, making it of vital strategic importance. Since coming to power in 2018, Khan's rhetoric has become more anti-American, and he expressed a desire to move closer to China and, recently, Russia -- including talks with President Vladimir Putin on Feb. 24, the day the invasion of Ukraine began. At the same time, U.S. and Asian foreign policy experts said that Pakistan's powerful military has traditionally controlled foreign and defence policy, but Khan's sharp public rhetoric had an impact on a number of key relationships. Here is what the upheaval, which comes as the economy is in deep trouble, means for countries closely involved in Pakistan: AFGHANISTAN Ties between Pakistan's military intelligence agency and the Islamist militant Taliban have loosened in recent years. Now that the Taliban are back in power in Afghanistan, and facing an economic and humanitarian crisis due to a lack of money and international isolation, Qatar is arguably their most important foreign partner. "We (the United States) don't need Pakistan as a conduit to the Taliban. Qatar is definitely playing that role now," said Lisa Curtis, director of the Indo-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security think-tank. Tensions have risen between the Taliban and Pakistan's military, which has lost several soldiers in attacks close to their mutual border. Pakistan wants the Taliban to do more to crack down on extremist groups and worries they will spread violence into Pakistan. That has begun to happen already. Story continues Khan had been less critical of the Taliban over human rights than most foreign leaders. CHINA Khan consistently emphasised China's positive role in Pakistan and in the world at large. At the same time, the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which binds the neighbours together was actually conceptualised and launched under Pakistan's two established political parties, both of which are set to share power in the new government. Potential successor Sharif, the younger brother of three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, struck deals with China directly as leader of the eastern province of Punjab, and his reputation for getting major infrastructure projects off the ground while avoiding political grandstanding could in fact be music to Beijing's ears. INDIA The nuclear-armed neighbours have fought three wars since independence in 1947, two of them over the disputed Muslim-majority territory of Kashmir. As with Afghanistan, it is Pakistan's military that controls policy in the sensitive area, and tensions along the de facto border there are at their lowest level since 2021, thanks to a ceasefire. But there have been no formal diplomatic talks between the rivals for years because of deep distrust over a range of issues, including Khan's extreme criticism of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his handling of attacks on minority Muslims in India. Karan Thapar, an Indian political commentator who has closely followed India-Pakistan ties, said the Pakistani military could put pressure on the new government in Islamabad to build on the successful ceasefire in Kashmir. Pakistan's powerful army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa said recently that his country was ready to move forward on Kashmir if India agrees. The Sharif dynasty has been at the forefront of several dovish overtures towards India over the years. UNITED STATES U.S.-based South Asia experts said that Pakistan's political crisis is unlikely to be a priority for President Joe Biden, who is grappling with the war in Ukraine, unless it led to mass unrest or rising tensions with India. "We have so many other fish to fry," said Robin Raphel, a former assistant secretary of state for South Asia who is a senior associate with the Center for Strategic and International Studies think-tank. With the Pakistani military maintaining its behind-the-scenes control of foreign and security policies, the change of government was not a major concern, according to some analysts. "Since it's the military that calls the shots on the policies that the U.S. really cares about, i.e. Afghanistan, India and nuclear weapons, internal Pakistani political developments are largely irrelevant for the U.S.," said Curtis, who served as then-U.S. President Donald Trump's National Security Council senior director for South Asia. She added that Khan's visit to Moscow had been a "disaster" in terms of U.S. relations, and that a new government in Islamabad could at least help mend ties "to some degree". Khan has blamed the United States for the current political crisis, saying that Washington wanted him removed because of the recent Moscow trip. Washington denies any role. (Additional reporting and writing by Sanjeev Miglani; Editing by Mike Collett-White, Nick Macfie and Jonathan Oatis) Illinois U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, who has polled potential voters about a possible bid for Chicago mayor in 2023, launched a new political campaign committee Friday. The North Side Democrat, who represents the 5th Congressional District, named the committee Quigley for Chicago and paperwork states the purpose of the committee is To Support Mike Quigley for Public Office. Quigley declined to comment Friday afternoon. Advertisement The committees creation does not mean Quigley will run for mayor. But creating such a committee with the Illinois State Board of Elections is a necessary step for local candidates to run for office and use to pay for political polling in a local race such as mayor. Thats because Quigleys other political committee, which he uses to run for his congressional seat, cannot be used for polling or any other costs tied to a possible mayoral run. U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley at the Chicago Board of Elections on Jan. 27, 2020. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune) Quigley has been Illinois 5th District congressman since 2009 when he replaced Rahm Emanuel, who stepped down from the seat to be President Barack Obamas chief of staff. Emanuel then ran for mayor in 2011. Quigley serves a district that covers North and Northwest Side neighborhoods as well as suburbs in west Cook County. Advertisement The creation of the committee comes days after Ald. Raymond Lopez, 15th, announced he was running for mayor next year. Chicago Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara has also said he plans to run for mayor. Sign up for The Spin to get the top stories in politics delivered to your inbox weekday afternoons. Meanwhile, businessman Willie Wilson, whos recently made headlines for gas giveaways, is set on Monday to announce whether he will join the race. Many other names have been discussed as possible 2023 mayoral candidates, including Chicago Ald. Roderick Sawyer, 6th, and Ald. Brian Hopkins, 2nd. Others include former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas, state Reps. Kam Buckner and La Shawn Ford, Chicago Teachers Union Vice President Stacy Davis Gates, former city Building Commissioner Judy Frydland and Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has not formally declared that she will run for reelection but it is widely expected that she will seek a second term. In January, she told the Tribune her work as mayor isnt done and Im yielding to no one. ayin@chicagotribune.com gpratt@chicagotribune.com A Boston man is facing federal charges in connection with a drug and sex trafficking hub that authorities say was run out of a tent at Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, known as Mass and Cass. Jonathan Vaughan, 35, known as Ason, has been indicted on three counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, two counts of transportation of an individual for purposes of prostitution and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, according to the U.S. Attorneys office. Federal authorities say Vaughan recruited and trafficked three women to engage in commercial sex acts through threats of force, fraud and coercion. Around October 2021, Vaughan took two of the women to another state for the purposes of prostitution, according to the U.S. Attorney. Federal authorities say Vaughan was found with 15 bags of cocaine when he was arrested Oct. 13. Sex trafficking is a heinous crime that inflicts immeasurable pain and trauma on victims and communities, U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins said in part. Vaughan allegedly preyed on and exploited multiple vulnerable victims, by coercion and by force, to engage in sex acts for his own financial benefit. He profited off of peoples pain. Authorities allege Vaughan preyed on women throughout Massachusetts, particularly in Boston and on Cape Cod, dating back to at least 2019. For several months in 2021, Vaughan maintained a tent at Mass and Cass, which he used as a hub for dealing drugs and recruiting and trafficking women, according to the U.S. Attorney. Federal prosecutors allege Vaughan forced at least two women to solicit themselves in areas like Mass and Cass, Broadway in Chelsea and Times Square in Manhattan, NY. He is also alleged to have taken women to hotels in Boston, Chelsea, Saugus, the Cape and Queens and Manhattan, NY, according court documents. Vaughan recruited women on Mass and Cass and in Downtown Crossing, as well as over the internet, federal authorities say. Prosecutors allege Vaughan used physical and sexual violence to manipulate and assert control over them. Story continues Jonathan Vaughan is accused of sexually exploiting vulnerable women through force and coercion, and transporting them to other states, said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. Anyone who commits this heinous crime should know the FBIs Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force will rigorously pursue them, while providing their victims with the resources they need to recover from the trauma they have suffered. Vaughan will make an initial appearance in federal court on April 11. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW The shipments comprised paintings, statues, and antiques. Photo by Emanuele Cremaschi/Getty Images Finland will return seized Russian artwork worth around $46 million, Reuters reported. Earlier this month, Finnish authorities seized three shipments being transported to Russia. New legislation that will come into effect on April 9 will allow the release of the pieces. Finland will return a multimillion-dollar collection of artwork to Russia after Finnish customs officers seized it, Reuters reported. Finnish customs officials confirmed the news about the seizure earlier this week. According to Bloomberg, the pieces were being returned to Russia from museums in Italy and Japan, where they had been temporarily loaned. The artworks were instead taken into custody by Finnish authorities to determine whether they could be classified as luxury goods. This made them vulnerable to economic sanctions imposed on Russia, following its invasion of Ukraine. Reuters reported that legislative changes that exclude cultural artworks from being seized under European Union sanctions will come into effect on April 9 when the Finnish foreign ministry will permit customs officials to release the artwork. Russian culture minister Olga Lyubimova confirmed the pieces would return to Russia over the weekend, per Reuters. The shipments comprised paintings, statues, and antiques. Bloomberg and Reuters reported that they were worth $46 million but Finnish customs enforcement director Hannu Sinkkonen said they "cannot be valued; they are priceless," a local China-based media outlet reported. "Professionals have been consulted in the moving and storage of the goods," he said. "We are not going to open the packages." Per the local outlet, the artworks being returned from Italy originated from collections in some of Russia's leading art galleries including The Hermitage Museum and Tsarskoye Selo state museum in St. Petersburg. The other pieces returning from Japan apparently came from Moscow's Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts. Story continues Russia has been the target of foreign sanctions since it invaded Ukraine in an unprecedented attack. While the penalties imposed by Western nations have targeted the Russian economy, they've also taken aim at Russia's wealthiest individuals. From yachts to private jets, many Russian oligarchs have had their luxury assets seized amid the war. One sanctioned Russian oligarch reportedly broke down in tears over their inability to book private jets, while another said he didn't know how to live after being hit with the sanctions. Read the original article on Business Insider Support local journalism. Become an all-access digital subscriber to any of our Florida publications. Florida hospitals reported a record low number of COVID-positive adult patients in intensive care units this week as another coronavirus wave forms, in line with experts' expectations. ICU staff tended to an average of 96 patients each day this week, data collected Friday by the U.S. Health and Human Services shows. That's the lowest seven-day average the federal agency has logged since record keeping began in July 2020. Other medical staff tended to an average of 681 total COVID-positive patients each day, also the lowest level on record. Should you worry about BA.2? COVID-19: Here's what experts say to expect as BA.2 omicron subvariant spreads across Florida COVID booster shot: COVID vaccine: Seniors 50+ can get second booster but most Floridians skipped first COVID-19 charts: See the latest coronavirus data for Florida Florida Health Department officials logged an average of 10,674 new cases each week since publishing their last pandemic report March 25. That's the first time new weekly cases have been on the rise since the week ending Nov. 26. The latest wave of infections is being fueled by the so-called "stealth omicron" subvariant of the coronavirus, officially known as BA.2. It has been found in an estimated 68% to 76% of COVID tests that detect variants, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported April 2. Gov. Ron DeSantis watches Jessica Brown, 77, receive the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine from nurse Sherry Phillips in this 2020 photo at the Kings Point clubhouse in Delray Beach. Scientists expect upswing from BA.2, but not a severe surge Scientists and medical experts have said that while they expect another spate of infections driven by BA.2, it should prove less severe than past versions of the virus because most people have been vaccinated or infected by the main omicron strain. Hospitalizations have yet to surpass their March 25 levels even as cases rise. Florida's Health Department has logged 5,862,817 COVID-19 infections in residents since the start of the pandemic. Story continues About 3.8% of COVID-19 tests statewide came back positive during the past week, the state Health Department reported Friday. That's 1.5 percentage points higher than the level logged two weeks prior. COVID-19 deaths in Florida down to pre-omicron lows Some places are experiencing bigger spikes in positivity. Six percent of Palm Beach County tests came back positive, nearly double the 3.1% during the week ending March 25. New COVID-19 deaths statewide have nearly subsided to pre-omicron lows. The state logged an average of 256 deaths a week since March 25, the lowest estimated weekly level since Jan. 7, before the surge of omicron deaths. Fatalities can take weeks to be processed and enter official statistics. Florida's coronavirus death toll stood Friday at 73,538 residents. The state added just 10,825 new vaccinations a week, on average, since March 25, the lowest estimated weekly increase since shots started rolling out. How safe are Floridians from COVID?: State overcounts vaccinations by 600,000 people Florida has logged record low weekly increases in vaccinations since Feb. 11, as the omicron wave receded. State health officials claim 15,474,298 residents have received at least one shot. But that number is inflated by at least 600,000 because vaccine providers have erroneously classified out-of-staters as Floridians when they log new shots in a state database. Gov. Ron DeSantis and state health officials have no plans to investigate or fix this statistical error. To stay connected with our comprehensive coverage of COVID-19 in Florida, sign up for our USA TODAY Network-Florida Coronavirus Watch newsletter. Chris Persaud is The Palm Beach Post's data reporter. Email him at cpersaud@pbpost.com. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida COVID case counts rise as BA 2 variant causes wave, not surge The Republican Party of Palm Beach County has received $118,250 from Friends of Mark Foley and held its recent fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago. Lynne Sladky/AP Photo Republicans are calling Democrats "groomers" for supporting school instruction on sexual orientation. But ex-Rep. Mark Foley, who sent sexually explicit messages to underage pages, donated big money to Florida Republicans. Some returned the cash, but others have accepted it. Prominent Republicans have slammed critics of Florida's new sex education bill that critics call "Don't Say Gay" as "groomers" and "pedophiles." But some Florida Republicans are meanwhile accepting financial contributions from the old campaign committee of an ex-congressman who sent sexually explicit messages to underage boys working as congressional pages. Former Republican Rep. Mark Foley, who resigned his West Palm Beach district seat over the 2006 messaging scandal, has made $118,250 in donations and sponsorship to the Republican Party of Palm Beach County since 2010 through his ex-campaign committee Friends of Mark Foley for Congress. Foley's most recent donation to the Republican Party of Palm Beach County came in January, when his campaign committee gave $15,000, according to an Insider analysis of filings from the Federal Elections Commission. Palm Beach County encompasses Mar-a-Lago, the private luxury club former President Donald Trump calls home. Mar-a-Lago is also where the county Republicans held their annual Lincoln Day fundraiser in March. A representative who answered the phone for the Republican Party of Palm Beach County said it was not the group's policy to talk to the media and "there is no comment." The organization's chair, Michael Barnett, did not respond to emailed questions and did not return a phone call. The Republican Party of Palm Beach County appears to have previously welcomed Foley into its fold, honoring him in 2019 with a service award at its Lobsterfest dinner in Boca Raton, the Florida Sun Sentinel reported. In remarks at the event, Trump confidant Roger Stone called Foley a "great American patriot" and "a man who doesn't need to apologize because let he who is without sin cast the first stone." Story continues Earlier this week, the Republican Party of Palm Beach County implored its Facebook followers to "Reclaim our School Board" on issues from "woke activism" to "parental rights." The terms are nebulous, but tend to tap into simmering frustrations on the right that say schools have failed to seek permission from parents when they teach about race relations, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Republican Party of Palm Beach County/Facebook Education issues have become a blazing campaign subject in Florida ever since Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law limiting instructions about sexual orientation and gender in schools, particularly among students in kindergarten through at least third grade. Critics, who say the language is too vague, have called it the "Don't Say Gay" law while some of its defenders in the Republican Party and conservative media have countered that it should be called the "Anti-Grooming Bill." Foley was not charged with a crime and said he never had sexual contact with the underage pages, who worked in the US Capitol aiding lawmakers and learning about the legislative process. Foley did not respond to Insider's inquiry. Some lawmakers didn't cash the check Florida House members who have received campaign donations from Foley's committee since 2016 include Republicans Mike Caruso, who received $2,000, and Rick Roth, who received $5,000, but neither responded to Insider's questions about the donations. Foley also donated $4,130 to the Palm Beach Republican Club, which did not respond to Insider's inquiries. When Foley earlier this year donated $25,000 to Palm Beach State College to help launch a scholarship in his name for police academy recruits, the college publicly lauded it. But not every political organization or candidate who received a check accepted it. Rusty Roberts, a longtime US House aide now running for Congress himself, received a $1,000 donation in March but returned it. "Mr Foley's check was part of a larger group of checks deposited by the campaign administrative staff," Jim Huckeba, Roberts' treasurer, told Insider. "When the candidate learned of the contribution in March, he instructed me to return the contribution to Mr. Foley with his appreciation." Back in 2016, Rep. Brian Mast, a Republican of Florida, received $2,000 from Foley's campaign committee but publicized that he never cashed the check. His campaign spokesman, Brad Stewart, confirmed the campaign never cashed the check and did not want nor accept Foley's donations. Mast has been vocal about supporting Florida's school legislation, imploring critics on Twitter to "stop trying to force your views on sexuality onto our children!" Former Congressman Mark Foley has been donating money to charity and political groups through his ex-campaign committee, Friends of Mike Foley. Theo Wargo/WireImage 'Zombie campaign' Soon after resigning from Congress, Foley went to rehab for alcohol misuse and emotional issues. His lawyer disclosed that the former congressman had been molested by a Catholic clergyman when he was a teenager, and that Foley was gay exposing what had already been an open secret on Capitol Hill and in Florida politics. Foley is now a lobbyist. As of the first three months of this year meaning 16 years after leaving office the Foley campaign committee still had $426,289.38 in cash on hand, filings show. Foley left Congress with a seven-figure campaign cash reserve. His old campaign committee remains technically active a situation, seen among many former members of Congress, that good-government organizations have dubbed "zombie campaigns." Legally, Foley's campaign committee can continue to make political and charitable donations and could conceivably disgorge the remaining cash to the US Treasury's general fund. But Foley isn't permitted to spend the money on himself. A screenshot of Friends of Mark Foley for Congress' most recent campaign committee spending report covering the first three months of 2022. Federal Election Commission In a 2020 letter to the FEC, Foley's treasurer, Donna Foley Winterson, said Foley didn't intend to run for office again and planned to terminate the account after filing his 2022 tax returns, adding that "a balance deemed adequate to fulfill our 2022 income tax liability will be retained." Over the years, Foley has slowly but steadily donated his committee's surplus funds to numerous other causes, from the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC, to food banks and the gay chorus Voices of Pride in Palm Beach. Foley told the Sun Sentinel in 2019 that he at times missed being in public service. "This was my life for so many years," he said. "And you know it's hard to be in a room with people that were your huge supporters and you let them down. So, there's a bit of, you know, sadness." Former Congressman Mark Foley (red shirt middle of frame) sits in the audience as Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump looks back at the crowd during his campaign event at the BB&T Center on August 10, 2016 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Joe Raedle/Getty Images 'Grooming' emerges as GOP attack While the Republican Party of Palm Beach County appears open to having Foley participate in conservative politics, other factions of the party are weaponizing terms such as "groomer" and "pedophile" following the dispute over Florida's Parental Rights in Education Act the bill critics call "Don't Say Gay." DeSantis' allies in his office, in conservative politics, and in media outlets such as Fox News have accused opponents of the law of supporting "grooming" children. The term "grooming" typically refers to pedophiles who try to gain the trust of their underage victims so they'll accept sexual assault without telling an adult. The pro-Republican Political Action Committee American Principles Project used the term "groomed" in a recent fundraising email and several opinion pieces in conservative news outlets have called the legislation the "Anti-Grooming Bill." Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican of Georgia, said she planned to introduce a national version in Congress. This week on Conservative America's Voice she called Democrats "the party of pedophiles." While Republicans are doubling down on the legislation, insisting that parents should be informed about their children's schooling and any questions they might have about their gender identity and sexuality, Democrats and LGBTQ+ rights organizations say they worry about outing students to families who aren't accepting or might even be violent. Read the original article on Business Insider A global pledging event for Ukrainian refugees called "Stand Up for Ukraine" has raised 10.1 billion euros ($11 billion), European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said in Warsaw on Saturday. "The 'Stand Up For Ukraine' campaign has raised 9.1 billion euros for people fleeing bombs, inside and outside Ukraine, with an additional billion pledged by EBRD (the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development)," von der Leyen said. The event, convened by the EU and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, was to raise money for internally displaced people in Ukraine and refugees from the war-ravaged country, organisers said. More than 4.4 million refugees have fled Ukraine since the Russian invasion began on February 24. Most of them have headed to EU countries including neighbouring Poland, which has taken in more than 2.5 million refugees so far. The event, partnered by the Global Citizen movement battling poverty, comprised a social media rally on Friday and a pledging conference on Saturday. Artists including Elton John, Alanis Morissette, Billie Eilish, Annie Lennox and Chris Rock joined the campaign alongside global leaders pledging for their countries. "We are devastated to see the suffering of people in Ukraine as this conflict unfolds," Elton John said on Facebook. The 75-year-old rock legend called on his fans to "help people whose lives have been turned upside down and leave everything behind for a safer life. "No one should have to experience this kind of tragedy," John said. Von der Leyen hailed the income from the event as "fantastic" at Saturday's pledging conference in Warsaw. As part of the fundraising efforts, the European Investment Bank (EIB) announced on its website a four-billion euro programme "to support EU Member States hosting Ukrainian war refugees and to develop vital social infrastructure". EIB President Werner Hoyer said "the horror we are witnessing strengthens our determination to act". Story continues The European Commission alone has pledged a billion euros, of which 600 million will go to Ukrainian authorities and 400 million to "the frontline states that are doing such an outstanding job in helping the refugees that are coming," von der Leyen added. In a statement, she promised that "more will come. "The solidarity of countries, companies and people worldwide offers some light in this dark hour," von der Leyen added. "And once the bombs have stopped falling, we will help the people of Ukraine rebuild their country. We will continue to Stand up for Ukraine." The Warsaw conference was also addressed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. "Ukrainian courage has already united the whole democratic world," he said in a video message, calling on the West to apply more sanctions on Russian banks and stop buying Russian oil. frj/pvh/jj CONAKRY (Reuters) - Guinea's former president, Alpha Conde, ousted in a military coup in September, returned to the country on Friday after a trip to the United Arab Emirates for a medical check up, the interim government said. Conde, 84, who is under house arrest in Guinea but is allowed to receive visitors, left the West African nation in January after the junta allowed him to travel on medical grounds. "The former president will remain in Guinea for as long as his health permits", the junta said in a late night statement read on national television. "His integrity and dignity will always be respected." Guinea's coup was condemned by regional neighbours and the international community, and led to its suspension from the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States. The 15-nation bloc imposed sanctions on the country and has given the interim government an April 25 deadline to lay out a timeline for a return to constitutional rule, or face harsher penalties. Conde, who had been in power since 2010, was accused of endemic state corruption and angered his opponents by changing the constitution to allow himself to stand for a third term, sparking mass protests. (Reporting by Saliou Samb; Writing by Sofia Christensen; Editing by Sandra Maler) Kate Sharma and Anthony Bridgerton. Netflix Insider spoke with "Bridgerton" intimacy coordinator Lizzy Talbot about this season's sex scenes. Talbot revealed that the hardest part of filming sex scenes for the show is the Regency costumes. The buttons, gloves, and corsets take so much work they schedule time to remove them during filming. There's many things to consider when filming a sex scene for TV. But it's even harder to capture moments of passion when you're dealing with a lot of clothes and a lot of buttons. Insider recently spoke to "Bridgerton" intimacy coordinator Lizzy Talbot, who choreographs all the steamy scenes for the popular Netflix series. And Talbot revealed that the hardest part of filming passionate scenes for the show which takes place in the 19th century is taking off the Regency-era costumes. "A huge part of doing any intimacy scene in the Regency period is how to get the costumes off, because they're not easy," Talbot said with a laugh. "They were often dressed by other people, so all of the fastenings are at the back," she explained of the era's attire. "That's always a real challenge because you're now working with two characters who aren't potentially used to undressing the opposite sex in that way." Netflix It can definitely get tricky, but Talbot said Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley who play enemies-turned-lovers Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sharma actually helped choreograph their big sex scene in the second season. "Jonny and Simone both had really wonderful suggestions on how to get out of their own costumes, because obviously they get in and out of them all day, every day," she said. "It was really cool to see them suggest how gloves come off, how they wanted to very intentionally pull down stockings, and remove shoes and take off shirts." It took two days to film episode seven's pivotal sex scene, and Talbot said that was partially due to the difficult costumes. Story continues "These sex scenes can take a long time, and we're working very intentionally with Regency costumes which all have to be reset as well," she said. "Every take, if you take something off, you have to schedule time to put it on to take it off again. So they aren't short scenes to film by any stretch of the imagination." Kate Sharma and Anthony Bridgerton on "Bridgerton" season two. Liam Daniel/Netflix Upon its premiere in 2021, "Bridgerton" was praised for being one of the few shows on TV that dared to show sex solely through the lens of female pleasure. And Talbot told Insider that director Cheryl Dunye wanted to stay true to that vision in season two. "She was so intentional about making sure that we weren't going to get into penetrative sex, which I certainly appreciated because that was my take on it too," Talbot said. "We were going to see it again from an angle of female pleasure, and she was so supportive and on board with that." Talbot said Bailey and Ashley were also "so perfect with each other" during the passionate scene, truly working as a team. "It's always amazing when you get to work with actors who take care of their scene partners," she said. "Jonny brings such an air of joy to the scene that it doesn't get intense and it doesn't get fraught, and he's very intentional about that. And Simone approached the scene with such confidence and real grace, and just a beautiful physicality." Read the original article on Insider Idahos Supreme Court put a temporary halt on the states newly passed six-week abortion ban on Friday. The law, which was signed by Gov. Brad Little (R) last month, bans abortions after six weeks and allows family members to sue a person who performs an abortion after the legal time frame. The Idaho Supreme Courts decision will block the law from going into effect pending further review. It was set to take effect April 22. The court gave the state until April 28 to respond to the ruling. Although Little said he supported the ban on abortions in the law, he expressed reservations about its civil enforcement mechanism. While I support the pro-life policy in this legislation, I fear the novel civil enforcement mechanism will in short order be proven both unconstitutional and unwise. Deputizing private citizens to levy hefty monetary fines on the exercise of a disfavored but judicially recognized constitutional right for the purpose of evading court review undermines our constitutional form of government and weakens our collective liberties, Little wrote. Planned Parenthood, which sued to block the abortion ban, celebrated the courts decision on Friday. Patients across Idaho can breathe a sigh of relief tonight, Rebecca Gibron, interim CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawaii, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky, said in a statement. We are thrilled that abortion will remain accessible in the state for now, but our fight to ensure that Idahoans can fully access their constitutionally protected rights is far from over. Anti-abortion lawmakers have made clear that they will stop at nothing to control our lives, our bodies, and our futures. Planned Parenthood will continue fighting for every persons ability to access basic health care, no matter their race, zip code, or economic status. We look forward to our day in court, she continued. The decision comes as the Supreme Court is set to weigh on Mississippis 15-week abortion ban later this year. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. MILAN (Reuters) - Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said on Saturday he was deeply disappointed and saddened by the behaviour of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The tycoon, who for years enjoyed a close friendship with the Russian leader, said Putin had to take full responsibility in the eyes of the world over the invasion of Ukraine. "I got to know him 20 years ago and he had always seemed to me a man of democracy and peace... what a pity," Berlusconi said, addressing a convention of his conservative Forza Italia party in Rome. The comments were the first time Berlusconi has spoken in public of Putin since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. The Kremlin calls the action a "special operation" aimed at demilitarising and "denazifying" its neighbour - which Ukraine and its allies have dismissed as a baseless pretext for war. Berlusconi, who in 2015 called Putin "undoubtedly the number one among world leaders", once described the Russian leader, 69, as being like a younger brother. The two visited each other in Russia and in Italy and have been photographed in the past giggling during official visits. Berlusconi, aged 85, was prime minister for several stints: 1994-95, 2001-2006 and 2008-2011. "The attack on Ukraine, instead of bringing Russia into Europe has thrown it into the arms of China... what a pity, what a pity," he said. (Reporting by Stephen Jewkes; Editing by Frances Kerry) You are here: China The border city of Ruili in southwest China's Yunnan Province on Friday put the province's first mobile makeshift hospital into use, admitting five COVID-19 patients, said local authorities. Covering more than 3,600 square meters, the hospital consists of 170 cabins with 100 beds, including 10 beds for intensive care patients. Equipped with medical equipment such as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) devices and ventilators, the hospital can carry out remote consultations with hospitals in Ruili and Kunming, the provincial capital. It marks a major step in strengthening Yunnan's ability to respond to public health emergencies. Apr. 9Seventeen years after he first asked the Marietta City Council to approve the construction of a wedding hall on his property, Waleed "Lee" Jaraysi's lot at 555 Commerce Avenue remains a vacant parking lot. But next week, he'll return to the council and ask them to greenlight construction of a four-story building that would house office, retail and restaurant space. Jaraysi spent years unsuccessfully fighting the city in various courts the last time he tried to build a multi-story building there. He is now seeking five variances that would enable him to build a 22,800-square-foot building at the property near the intersection of South Marietta Parkway and Franklin Gateway, just west of Interstate 75. Jaraysi, who owns the neighboring Nazareth Plaza strip mall, would build a four-story structure, according to city staff's review of the case. The first floor would contain a "retail store/meat store," the second floor would be a restaurant, and the third and fourth floors would be offices. While the property is zoned for commercial use, Jaraysi would need variances that waive setback requirements along South Marietta Parkway, as well as reduce the number of required parking spots from 89 to 69. Another variance would allow an existing, nonconforming sign that advertises Nazareth Plaza to stay put. Without a variance, nonconforming signs must be removed if the property they sit on is redeveloped. The fifth variance would allow the maximum building height to be 92 feet, instead of 75 feet. While the occupied part of the building would top out at 75 feet, Jaraysi wants to build a decorative tower at the top of the structure. The site plan labels the project "Nazareth Tower." Jaraysi, a Christian Arab, hails from Nazareth, Israel. "Looks like a nice tower, just like other buildings you see, they have a nice decoration on top of their building. ... That represents the holy land, you know, Nazareth is the holy land," Jaraysi said in an interview. Story continues Jaraysi first received permission from the council to build a wedding hall on the site in 2005. But the same year, the city halted construction on the building after discovering the structure being built was nearly triple the size of the 8,700-square-foot building that had been approved. The city sued Jaraysi in 2007, petitioning the court to declare the building a public nuisance and order it demolished. A Cobb County Superior Court judge granted the city permission to demolish the building in 2010 and issued a restraining order barring Jaraysi from interfering with the demolition. By the end of the saga, the U.S. District Court judge for the Northern District of Georgia, the Cobb Superior Court, the Georgia Court of Appeals and the Georgia Supreme Court had all either ruled against Jaraysi or declined to hear his case. Jaraysi also was ordered to pay the city tens of thousands of dollars for its legal fees. "I have no problem with the city," Jaraysi said Friday. "A few things happened before, I don't know whose fault it is. But you know, I'm OK now." The property has been listed for sale at various times over the years. Many council members were not elected officials when Jaraysi last sought to build something. Councilman Johnny Walker joined the council in 2014, around the time Jaraysi's legal battle was wrapping up. "I don't remember. It's been a long time," Walker said. "We haven't dealt with him in a long time ... But I remember it was a mess." Councilman Joseph Goldstein, whose district includes the property, would only say that he'd keep an open mind about the proposal until the public hearing on Wednesday. Could the troubled property, which for years was home to a partially built "eyesore," finally be developed? "Everybody has a chance. Until I see the project I can't really tell you," said Walker, who hadn't yet reviewed the application. "I don't know what he's asking for yet, but we'll be fair to him." The City Council is scheduled to meet Monday at 5:15 p.m. for its work session at City Hall. It is scheduled to meet Wednesday at 7 p.m. for its regular meeting, including a public hearing on Jaraysi's case. Jimmy Kimmel (L), Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R). Randy Holmes/ABC via Getty Images, Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/AP Photo Jimmy Kimmel said Marjorie Taylor Greene was "a snowflake and a sociopath" for reporting him to police. Kimmel had criticized Greene, and joked: "Where is Will Smith when you really need him?" In response, Greene said she reported Kimmel's "threat of violence" to Capitol police. TV host Jimmy Kimmel said Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is a "sociopath" for reporting him to the police after making a joke about her. "She's dialing 911 because she got made fun of. She's a snowflake and a sociopath at the same time," he said on his show "Jimmy Kimmel Live" on Friday night. On Tuesday, Kimmel mocked Greene on his show for calling three GOP senators "pro-pedophile" for saying they would vote for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's confirmation to the Supreme Court. "Wow, where is Will Smith when you really need him?" Kimmel said, seemingly referring to the actor slapping comedian Chris Rock onstage at this year's Oscars. The Georgia congresswoman responded on Twitter by accusing Kimmel of a "threat of violence" and said that she had reported him to Capitol police. Kimmel responded by tweeting: "Officer? I would like to report a joke." The late-night TV host doubled down on his criticisms of Greene on his ABC show on Friday, describing her as "probably the worst woman in American politics" and calling her out for complaining about threats of violence when she has previously endorsed assassinating top Democratic politicians. Kimmel also poked fun at Greene who called on Capitol police for help after being one of a handful of Republicans to vote against awarding them a Congressional Gold Medal for their work during the January 6 Capitol riot. Story continues On Thursday, a spokesperson for Greene's office told Insider that it "takes all threats of violence towards the Congresswoman very seriously." "Last night, Jimmy Kimmel called for violence to be committed against Congresswoman Greene. It will not be tolerated," the statement continued. A spokesperson for the US Capitol Police told Insider on Thursday: "We cannot confirm or discuss any potential investigations." Read the original article on Business Insider Jussie Smollett has been out of jail for three weeks and has now released a new song called "Thank You God." The former "Empire" star shared the single on his Instagram account, which according to his bio is "currently run by" the Smollett family. In the caption of the post, it's noted that "100% of the profits will be donated" to Rainbow Push Coalition, the Illinois Innocence Project and Secure the Bag Safety. The one-minute preview on social media starts with a clip that reads: "CHANNELING THESE THOUGHTS THE BEST WAY I KNOW HOW. LOVE YOU - JUSSIE." Smollett then sings: "Its like theyre hell-bent on not solving the crime / Taking out the elements of race and trans and homophobia thats straight taking lives / But turn around and act like Im the one that killed the strides." JUSSIE SMOLLETT RELEASED FROM JAIL: WILL HE SUCCESSFULLY APPEAL CONVICTION? LEGAL EXPERTS WEIGH IN Elsewhere on the track, he says, "Some people searching for fame / Some people chasing that clout / Just remember this ... this aint that situation / You think Im stupid enough to kill my reputation." "Just simply to look like a victim / Like it's something fun / Y'all better look at someone else / You got the wrong one." Jussie Smollett has been out of jail for three weeks and has now released a new song called "Thank You God." Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images On March 16, Smollett was released from Cook County Jail in Chicago, Illinois, after a court gave the OK pending an appeal of his conviction. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER He had spent six days behind bars of his 150-day sentence after he was convicted of lying to Chicago police about being the victim of a hate crime in 2019. The actor was convicted on five felony counts of disorderly conduct for lying to police. Last month, an appeals court, in a 2-1 decision, said Smollett could be released after posting a personal recognizance bond of $150,000, meaning he doesn't have to lay down money but agrees to show up for court as required. Story continues During his sentencing, Smollett maintained his innocence. Reps for Smollett did not immediately respond to Fox News' request for comment. Fox News' Lauryn Overhultz and The Associated Press contributed to this report Members of the New Kensington-Arnold Education Association and the New Kensington-Arnold School District reached a tentative agreement, averting the strike that teachers had planned to participate in on Monday. From the School Districts viewpoint, the primary purpose of these negotiations was to determine the long-term financial projections necessary to meet the costs of instruction for the next five years. A priority for the district was to limit cost increases to the district over the life of the contract. In salary, the Association will receive an average 3.5% increase each year for the life of the contract. Health insurance premiums, the single sticking point left prior to the tentative agreement, will increase for NKAEA members to an average of 11.8% per year for the life of the contract. Together, the Association and the District worked to create financial success for the district in the future, the release said. NKAEA President Ashley Pujol said in the release, We are pleased to have secured a five-year deal that offers stability to our members. Our students are most important, and our team kept that as our focus. Through the negotiations process over the last year, NKAEA is proud to say that we kept the values of our New-Kensington-Arnold community, while we sought a fair and equitable contract. Board vice-president Terry Schrock said they look forward to working together to move the district toward its academic and fiscal goals and they will continue working together to meet students needs. Schrock also said in the release, We want to thank everyone for their efforts in resolving this matter in a mutually beneficial manner. The release also said the NKAEA represents 151 teachers and education professional staff, including nurses and school counselors, at the New Kensington-Arnold School District. According to the release, both parties still need to ratify the agreement. TRENDING NOW: Steelers QB Dwayne Haskins hit and killed by vehicle in South Florida Saturday morning 'Incredibly tragic': Steelers fans react to death of Dwayne Haskins Ben Roethlisberger, teammates, sports world react to death of former teammate Dwayne Haskins VIDEO: Marthas Run returns to remember a local slain FBI Special Agent DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts NEW YORK (AP) Actor Kevin Spacey asked a judge Friday to throw out a sex abuse lawsuit that his lawyers say was unjustly brought by an actor who alleges he was abused when he was 14 by Spacey at a 1980s party. The lawyers wrote in papers filed in Manhattan federal court that the allegations made by Anthony Rapp are false and never occurred. Rapp has appeared in Rent on Broadway and in Star Trek: Discovery on television. The actor claimed Spacey, referenced in court documents as Kevin Spacey Fowler, surprised him at a party 34 years ago by picking him up, putting him on a bed and putting some body weight against him before the actor wriggled out with no resistance during an encounter that lasted less than 30 seconds, the lawyers said. The lawyers argued that the alleged encounter cannot qualify as sexual abuse under New Yorks laws because the only alleged contact with an intimate part of the body by Spacey was when his hand grazed Rapps buttocks when the older actor picked him up. Rapps deposition in the case confirmed there was no touching that would constitute criminal conduct, and there was no other evidence that would suggest any fleeting contact between Spaceys hand and Rapps buttocks was for the purpose of sexual gratification or to degrade or abuse Rapp, the lawyers wrote. The lack of evidence means Rapps claims for assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress must fail, the lawyers said. They said Spacey flatly denies that any of what Rapp described took place and insists he had no sexual interest or desire in Rapp at that time or any time. Lawyers for Rapp did not immediately respond to a request for comment. When Rapp first spoke publicly of his claim in 2017, others went public too and Spaceys then-celebrated career abruptly halted. At the time, Spacey issued a statement saying he didnt remember the encounter but apologized. Spacey won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in American Beauty, a 1999 film in which he played a frustrated suburban father who lusts after his daughters best friend. Story continues In recent filings, Rapps lawyers have asked to transfer the case to state court, saying Spacey cannot prove he has been living in Maryland and qualifies for the diversity of citizenship necessary to remain in federal court. In fact, they argue, he has been mostly living in London since 2003. They said he only lived in Maryland when he was acting in his Emmy-winning role in House of Cards from 2014 through 2017. He was fired from the show days after Rapp went public and former show workers claimed that Spacey made the production a toxic workplace and one ex-employee alleged the actor sexually assaulted him. In November, an arbitrator said Spacey and his production companies must pay the studio behind the Netflix political thriller $31 million because of losses they incurred after his firing. Spacey appealed the decision to a panel of three more private arbitrators, who found for the plaintiffs, making the decision final, and public. A criminal case brought against him, an indecent assault and battery charge stemming from the alleged groping of an 18-year-old man at a Nantucket resort, was dismissed by Massachusetts prosecutors in 2019. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted this week to ban official travel to the states of Florida and Texas over policies and legislation that target treatment for transgender youth and the teaching of LGBT issues in schools. On Tuesday, the board unanimously approved a motion directing the chief executive officer to suspend all travel to the two states for county business until the policies are suspended or repealed, according to a video of the boards meeting. Hilda Solis, a board supervisor who sponsored the motion, said, It was really frightening whats happening across our country, adding that members of her family are in the LGBT community. These young people [are] trying to live out their best in life, and were robbing them of it when we impose these kinds of mandates, Solis said. Im just glad Im not planning to go anytime soon to Texas or Florida. Specifically, the motion cites an order by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) that directed the Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate the parents or guardians of transgender youth who have received gender-affirming care. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (D) previously stated that puberty blockers and other treatments for transgender youth amount to child abuse. The deeply harmful impacts that this order will bring about cannot be overstated, the motion, authored by Solis and Sheila Kuehl, stated. Such an order flies in the face of all that we know about best practices when it comes to supporting children and young adults to discover who they are and feel secure in their sense of self. The motion also cited legislation signed into law by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) last month dubbed the Parental Rights in Education Act, also known by critics as the Dont Say Gay bill, which prohibits the discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten through third grade. Story continues Republicans argue that parents, not teachers in a classroom, should be discussing such topics with their young children. According to Tuesdays motion, Los Angeles County lawmakers countered both policies as transphobia and homophobia taking root in some conservative states across the country. The county legislators said Floridas law will perpetuate a culture of bullying, secrecy, shame, and fear. Abbotts directive is tied up in court after a Texas judge voted to block the state from carrying out the order. In Florida, LGBT groups are suing over the new law. Other states are introducing increasingly restrictive laws targeting the LGBT community, including Alabama, which on Friday criminalized gender-affirming care for transgender and nonbinary youth. Los Angeles Countys ban will apply until the suspension or repeal of the policies in Florida and Texas or until the countys Chief Executive Officer determines that the failure to authorize such travel would seriously harm the Countys interests. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. How far off is Pacific Edge Limited (NZSE:PEB) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model is the tool we will apply to do this. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex. Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you. Check out our latest analysis for Pacific Edge Crunching the numbers We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 Levered FCF (NZ$, Millions) -NZ$24.5m -NZ$11.4m -NZ$8.90m -NZ$3.30m NZ$5.60m NZ$16.1m NZ$23.3m NZ$30.7m NZ$37.8m NZ$44.1m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ 62.97% Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 44.69% Est @ 31.9% Est @ 22.94% Est @ 16.67% Present Value (NZ$, Millions) Discounted @ 5.6% -NZ$23.2 -NZ$10.2 -NZ$7.6 -NZ$2.7 NZ$4.3 NZ$11.6 NZ$15.9 NZ$19.8 NZ$23.1 NZ$25.5 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = NZ$56m Story continues After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.0%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 5.6%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2031 (1 + g) (r g) = NZ$44m (1 + 2.0%) (5.6% 2.0%) = NZ$1.3b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= NZ$1.3b ( 1 + 5.6%)10= NZ$723m The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is NZ$779m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of NZ$1.0, the company appears about fair value at a 0.2% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. dcf Important assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Pacific Edge as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 5.6%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.848. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. Next Steps: Although the valuation of a company is important, it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For Pacific Edge, we've put together three relevant aspects you should consider: Risks: For instance, we've identified 4 warning signs for Pacific Edge (1 shouldn't be ignored) you should be aware of. Future Earnings: How does PEB's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every New Zealander stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. 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. On Friday, April 4, Louisiana State University President William Tate visited LSU Health Shreveport and LSUS. During his visit, he spent the morning exploring the new LSUHS Center for Medical Education, which is currently under construction with a price tag of $74 million. And, late Friday morning he attended the LSU Board of Supervisors meeting at the LSUS campus. During that meeting, members of the state legislature and local citizens spoke and advocated more funding and attention in the northwest region. The call to action comes in response to a recent floor speech in Baton Rouge. Shreveport Representative Thomas Pressly said, "the LSU system has been great at building up some of its campuses. It has become clear that LSUS and the health science-based in Shreveport the third-largest city in the state are both not a priority for the LSU leadership of yesterday, today and tomorrow." Louisiana Representative Thomas Pressly speaking about the need for allocations of funds for northwest Louisiana flagship campuses. In 2019, LSU launched a $1.5 billion campaign to support flagship campuses such as LSU AgCenter, LSU Alexandria, LSU Eunice, LSU Health New Orleans, LSU Health Shreveport, LSUs Pennington Biomedical Research Center and LSU Shreveport. In that campaign LSUS, LSUA and LSUE would receive $29 million, while LSU Baton Rouge alumni association would receive $27 million. More: LSU Health Shreveport Celebrates Construction Milestone at the Center for Medical Education Tate said, "fundraising is driven by private individual interest. So, when people give their money they don't just give it to LSU and we get to disperse it as we choose." "In 2019 LSU had embarked on a fundraising campaign of $1.5 billion, it was a system-wide effort that effort included $27 million for the alumni association and new facilities in Baton Rouge on the alumni portion of the school. Where Shreveport's campus had less than $20 million, that was to be raised and allocated for our campus in Shreveport. That is a challenge certainly for fundraising. My view is that LSU helped set those priorities and donors are willing to help give to the priorities that are made," Pressly said at the meeting. "I believe Shreveport and northwest Louisiana has to be a priority for our state." Story continues LSU President William Tate speaking about the allocations of funds for northwest Louisiana flagship campuses. The meeting closed with future plans for discussions on how LSU can better serve these campuses. LSUS Chancellor Larry Clark said, "there's a lot of caring and from that can come solutions. There's not an agreement on exactly what that solution looks like but I think anytime there is a chance you can see people talking about what's important that's a great day for LSUS." Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: LSU President made a visit to northwest Louisiana Pittsburgh police said they arrested a man in connection with an assault in Pittsburghs Hazelwood neighborhood on Friday. Police responded to the call in the 5000 block of Gloster Street around 9:20 a.m. When officers arrived at the scene, a woman stated that a man she knew had attacked her. Police saw her injuries while EMS evaluated her and two juveniles at the scene. The three are listed in stable condition. Police said the man at the scene was arrested and charges are pending. TRENDING NOW: I need a favor: Tiger Kings Joe Exotic writes letter to Ben Roethlisberger 13-year-old boy killed in crash in West Pike Run Township Trafford woman suspected of dealing drugs is behind bars, denied bail VIDEO: Residents concerned over potential placement of traffic cameras in Beaver County DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts The plan to hold a public hearing in the United States on the so-called "Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act" exposes the hypocrisy and absurdity of the US legal and judicial system and its penchant for misusing long-arm jurisdiction, a Xinjiang government spokesman said on Friday. Xu Guixiang, spokesman of the government of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, made the remarks at a news conference in the regional capital of Urumqi, ahead of the public hearing called by the US Department of Homeland Security, to be held on Friday morning eastern time. Xu said the planned hearing has grouped a batch of so-called witnesses who have no knowledge of the facts in Xinjiang to discuss measures to prevent the import of Chinese "forced labor" goods into the US. This move reeks of long-arm jurisdiction and is a ploy to cover up the US' actual intention of suppressing Xinjiang in the name of "the rule of law" and "justice", he said. Xu also said the accusation of "forced labor" is completely fabricated. Compared with other parts of China, Xinjiang is an economically underdeveloped region. Local people hail from several ethnic groups and have a strong intention to change their lives through employment. In response, the regional government has rolled out a series of policies to protect people's right to work and live a good life. He said some in the US and the West like attacking Xinjiang's labor policy without full knowledge of the facts. "Everyone tends to work where they can earn more, so the government provides assistance to find better jobs and earn stable income in economically developed provinces and cities," he said, adding the supportive policies are in line with Xinjiang's situation and honor the free will of workers. With the implementation of preferential policies, income of the people in Xinjiang has been greatly boosted. Data show that Xinjiang laborers working outside of the region can earn an annual income of 40,000 yuan ($6,284) per capita and those seeking jobs elsewhere within the region can earn 30,000 yuan, both much higher than the income generated by farming at home, he said. Wang Jiang, a professor from the Institute of China's Borderland Studies, Zhejiang Normal University, said for some time, the US has been smearing Xinjiang's measures against terrorism as "human rights violations", "large-scale forced labor" and "genocide". Based on these accusations, the US has abused its long-arm jurisdiction through legislation, sanctions, export controls and other means. The US "Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act", which took effect in December, presumes that "all products produced in Xinjiang use 'forced labor'", which is based on false assumptions and evidence. The legislative process is highly politicized and driven by interest groups, posing serious implications for global industrial chains in sectors like cotton textiles and photovoltaics, as well as causing serious damage to US-China relations, Wang said. The concept of long-arm jurisdiction to some extent extends the scope of application of US state-to-state law. However, the US applies it to international affairs, in an attempt to convert it into a tool to impose unilateral sanctions and interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. In doing so, the US presumes it can exercise "jurisdiction" over other countries by invoking its domestic law, Wang said. "A series of legislation and long-arm jurisdiction measures, including the 'Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act', are fundamentally attempts to undermine Xinjiang's prosperity and stability and contain China's development by political manipulation and economic bullying," he said. Elida Turahmaiti, a human resources supervisor of a clothing company in the Ili Kazakh autonomous prefecture, said it is "extremely absurd" for the US to impose sanctions on her company based on "forced labor" accusations. The company makes gloves and masks for overseas markets, and employs 320 people of six different ethnic groups from across China, including Han, Uygur, Kazakh, Hui and Xibe. The company signs labor contracts with all employees, constantly improves their working environment, provides free lunch and transportation and fully supports the families of employees. Over the past five years, the company has donated materials and renovated houses for employees with difficulties and organized a variety of activities for employees to feel at home, she said, adding that the quality of her own life has also improved greatly thanks to working here. With a low unemployment rate, "help wanted" signs can be seen in many store windows around Marion County and hundreds of local job listings can be found on employment websites. During the pandemic, the unemployment rate in Marion County has ranged from a high of 15.9% reported in April 2020 at the height of state-mandated shutdowns to a low of 3.3% reported in December 2021. Over the first two months of 2022, the jobless rate in Marion County has remained steady at 4.2%. Currently, there are 347 manufacturing jobs and 334 healthcare jobs listed on the Ohio Means Jobs website. More than 2,500 jobs across all sectors are currently listed on the website. All of those jobs are located within 20 miles of Marion. Marion County Job and Family Services (JFS) Director Roxane Somerlot said the issue of helping the local businesses in need of employees to fill their job vacancies is a primary concern for the agency. "The question that is asked all the time is where are the people," Somerlot said. "A couple of things come to mind. When the health emergency hit, we found just a certain segment of the economy was impacted, but not the economy as a whole. The service economy was impacted initially, but not, for instance, the manufacturing economy. "In fact, during the pandemic certain segments were booming and they were adding jobs that they didn't have before the pandemic. They added lines because the demand for their products was increased during the last two years. Companies were not just trying maintain the status quo, they were trying to grow in the context of a labor shortage." Somerlot noted that the childcare crisis plaguing Marion County and other communities across the nation has also contributed to an employee shortage in some sectors of the economy. Some parents with young children have been forced to either stay home or change jobs due to the lack of childcare available. "We haven't recovered in terms of our childcare infrastructure," she said. "We lost two childcare centers (Epworth Preschool and Daycare and Berean Preschool and Daycare) during the pandemic that have not reopened. Childcare workers in general have left that industry and have not returned. It's been an infrastructure problem in terms of childcare, but then we've seen an expanding economy in certain segments. It's really multifaceted in my opinion. There are a lot of moving parts." Story continues More: Childcare crisis in Marion: Pandemic leaves facilities short-staffed Some businesses in Marion County, mainly in the manufacturing and industrial sector, have advertised hourly wages in the $20 or higher range with sign-on bonuses of $1,000 in an effort to attract people to fill vacant or newly created positions. Somerlot said the "frenzy" period of businesses offering the higher starting wages and bonuses has subsided somewhat, although average entry level wages have remained high. Ronald Meade, workforce development and supportive services administrator for Marion County Job and Family Services, said the agency has engaged in the employee recruitment process for some employers in the area. He said businesses have offered higher wages and bonuses mainly for positions that require certain skills, specialized training, or previous experience. In the effort to fill the current positions as well as cultivate a qualified workforce for the future, Meade said Marion County JFS is working closely with local education leaders. "We are hitting the schools really hard as far as developing pathways for local careers," he said. "We have so many opportunities here in Marion that it's unreal. So we have been in the schools providing information for the students, anywhere from the eighth grade on up to let them know about everything that's available here. We're looking down the road to grow our labor pool locally." Somerlot added that Marion County employers have been eager to partner with Marion County JFS, area school districts, and higher education institutions in Marion County to create a qualified workforce. "They're ready and willing to make some investments there, to be more aligned with our K-12 school population in building the pipeline," she said. "It doesn't solve the immediate need for labor, but I do think we've seen that our businesses recognize that they need to develop a workforce pool early. It's very competitive." Somerlot and Meade noted that some businesses have been forced to evolve in different ways in order retain current employees and attract new workers. "Retention is recruitment" has become the mantra for many employers, Somerlot said. "I've seen many companies adapt the way they're doing business," Meade said. "One of the top three reasons for employment is work-life balance. So we see a lot of businesses adapting to accommodate to that. While a lot of businesses already had that philosophy in place, we are seeing quite a few more make that change to meet the needs of all of their employees." Somerlot said some local manufacturing companies in particular have adjusted their shifts to accommodate their employees. "Companies are looking at every way that they can retain and attract the talent that they need," she said. Email: ecarter@gannett.com | Twitter: @AndrewACCarter This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Marion County's unemployment rate is low, and many jobs are available The mayor of the besieged city of Mariupol said that roughly 31,000 residents have been forcibly deported and sent to Russian "filtration camps" in occupied eastern Ukraine. Mayor Vadym Boychenko said in a Telegram post Friday that he had "verified" that Ukrainians from the southern port city were being taken "at gunpoint" to a camp in Novoazovsk a Ukrainian border town 35 miles from Mariupol and just 9 miles from the Russian border. RUSSIA INVADES UKRAINE: LIVE UPDATES Novoazovsk is located in the Donetsk Peoples Republic a breakaway region in Ukraines most eastern front that has been backed by Russian forces and engaged in armed conflict with the Ukrainian army since 2014. Just days before the February invasion, the Russian State Duma passed a bill officially recognizing the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, which was then signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Boychenko said Ukrainians have been at the camps for weeks. "Filtration is very strict - fingerprints are taken, as well as biometrics. They force people to sign various documents," he described, according to a translation by a Ukrainian news agency. The mayor noted that government employees have been treated particularly harshly. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said this week that she has seen "credible reports" that support the filtration camp claims and noted that Ukrainians are being separated from their families and stripped of their passports and identification cards. RUSSIAN CREMATORIA OPERATING IN MARIUPOL: 'THIS IS THE NEW AUSCHWITZ,' MAYOR SAYS "I do not need to spell out what these so-called filtration camps are reminiscent of. Its chilling, and we cannot look away," she said in an address to the UN Security Council, alluding to Nazi-era concentration camps. "Every day we see more and more how little Russia respects human rights." Story continues The Mariupol City Council has estimated that over 100,000 residents are still trapped inside the partially occupied city, but evacuation efforts remain stalled. Humanitarian corridors have allegedly been agreed to by Russian troops, but aid organizations have been unable to reach the city that has been rocketed by shelling for more than six weeks. Boychenko said in late March that 90 percent of all residential buildings had been destroyed and thousands are without water, electricity or heat. An estimated 5,000 Mariupol residents have been killed according to the mayor, and reports have surfaced that a mobile crematorium is being used by Russian troops to cover up their alleged war crimes. "The world has not seen the scale of the tragedy in Mariupol since the existence of the Nazi concentration camps. Russia-occupation forces turned our entire city into a death camp," Boychenko said this week. "This is the new Auschwitz and Majdanek." The U.S., NATO and Ukraine have warned that Russia is looking to launch a "major offensive" in eastern Ukraine after it failed to take the capital city of Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has vowed to keep fighting Russian forces as they prepare for a brutal fight in the Donbas region. New York AG Letitia James on Friday asked a judge to compel Cushman & Wakefield to turn over documents. The firm handled appraisals for 40 Wall Street, Trump National Golf Club in LA, and the Seven Springs estate. James accused the firm of illegally withholding docs related to financial dealings involving the properties. New York Attorney General Letitia James is chasing more Trump documents this time from the former president's real estate appraisers. On Thursday, James had asked a Manhattan judge to impose a $10,000-per-day fine on Donald Trump for what she calls his failure to comply with her lawful subpoena for documents. On Friday, she asked the same judge to force Chicago-based appraisal powerhouse Cushman & Wakefield to turn over documents she accused them, too, of illegally withholding. "Cushman & Wakefield's work for the Trump Organization is significant to our ongoing investigation into Donald J. Trump and the Trump Organization's financial practices," she said in a statement Friday night. The firm performed appraisals on three Trump-owned properties that James' office is investigating, according to court papers that detail James' request of Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron to compel their compliance. One is Seven Springs, a property on 212 acres in Westchester County, north of New York City. Court documents showed Trump received a $21.1 million deduction on his 2015 taxes by donating a 158-acre easement on the property to a conservation trust, The Washington Post reported in 2020. James' office is probing whether Cushman & Wakefield inflated the value of the easement. A second property is Trump National Golf Club in Los Angeles, where the former president received another write-off by donating an ocean-front easement that had been assessed by Cushman & Wakefield. James accused Trump of pocketing a federal tax benefit totaling more than $5 million using "misleading" valuations of that easement, which she said failed to fully take into account that the property is prone to landslides. Story continues The third property is 40 Wall Street, a 70-story skyscraper. The New York AG is investigating whether Cushman & Wakefield inflated the property's value in connection with a 2015 mortgage loan refinance on the building and in other business deals. James' subpoena also requires the firm to turn over information about the firm's larger business relationship with the Trump Organization. A previous order by Engoron had required the appraisal firm to turn over all documents requested by James no later than October 2020. A representative of Cushman & Wakefield could not immediately be reached for comment. Company lawyers previously said the subpoenas are overly broad and that it has already turned over all relevant documents. Engoron has yet to rule on James' request for the $10,000-a-day fine. Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump, Jr. are appealing the judge's February order that they comply with James' demand for their depositions. Read the original article on Business Insider Israeli security forces raided the flashpoint West Bank district of Jenin on Saturday killing a Palestinian and wounding 12 others, after vowing there will "not be limits" to curb surging violence. The operation, which lasted several hours, came after a gunman from Jenin went on a shooting rampage in a popular Tel Aviv nightlife area on Thursday evening, killing three Israelis and wounding more than a dozen others. Following the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett gave security agencies "full freedom" to end deadly violence that has surged since March 22 "in order to defeat terror". "There are not and will not be limits for this war," Bennett said. On Saturday, the army said security forces had launched the operation in the city of Jenin, in the north of the occupied West Bank, its adjacent refugee camp and nearby villages. The Palestinian health ministry said at least one Palestinian was killed by Israeli gunfire, while the Red Crescent said 12 others were wounded. The Islamic Jihad militant group said that one of its fighters, whom it identified as 23-year-old Ahmed al-Saadi, died during clashes in the camp. A crowd of mourners marched through the streets carrying Saadi's body on a stretcher covered with the group's flag. - 'Armed assailants' - Palestinian security sources said part of Saturday's operation was to identify the home of the Tel Aviv assailant ahead of demolishing it. Human rights activists have repeatedly denounced Israel's policy of demolishing the homes of Palestinian attackers, saying that those affected are often relatives or neighbours unconnected to the crime. Israel says it acts as a deterrent. The Israeli army said troops and border police were "conducting counterterrorism activity" in the Jenin area, when gunmen had opened fire "endangering their lives." In response, troops opened fire "towards the armed assailants", the army said, adding there were no casualties in Israeli ranks. Story continues "An M16 assault rifle used by an assailant to attack the troops was confiscated." The Jenin refugee camp is a stronghold of armed factions, where three other Palestinians linked to an anti-Israeli attack were killed by the army last week. Saturday's raid comes a day after Israel said it had killed Raad Hazem, 28, the alleged Tel Aviv attacker. In addition to giving security forces free rein to curb a surge in violence, Bennett on Friday ordered the closure of the Jalameh checkpoint between the Jenin area and Israel. On Saturday evening, the Israeli defence ministry body responsible for civil affairs in the Palestinian territories (COGAT) announced the closure of a second checkpoint in the area and an "intensification" of checks. "We will do whatever it takes, whatever is necessary, for however long and wherever needed, until both safety and the sense of security are restored," army chief Lieutenant General Aviv Kochavi told soldiers in the West Bank, in a video released by the military. On Friday, the father of the Tel Aviv attacker, Fathi Hazem -- a retired Palestinian security forces officer according to Palestinian sources -- struck a defiant tone. Speaking to hundreds at the family home in Jenin, he said the Palestinian people were looking for "freedom and independence". - Ramadan violence - A total of 14 people have been killed in attacks in Israel since March 22, including some carried out by assailants linked to or inspired by the Islamic State group. Over the same period, at least 10 Palestinians have been killed, including assailants. Islamic Jihad and fellow Islamist movement Hamas praised the Tel Aviv attack -- drawing criticism from the UN -- but did not claim responsibility. Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas denounced the Tel Aviv attack, while the United States stressed anew its support of key ally Israel. The Tel Aviv attack killed three Israeli men: childhood friends Tomer Morad and Eytam Magini, as well as father of three Barak Lufan. It came amid heightened tensions during Ramadan, after violence flared during the Muslim holy month last year leading to 11 days of devastating conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. Earlier this month, Israeli security forces killed three Islamic Jihad militants when they came under fire during an operation to arrest them in Jenin. The raid, in which four Israeli soldiers were wounded, followed another deadly attack on March 29 in Bnei Brak, a largely ultra-Orthodox Jewish city near Tel Aviv. The Palestinian assailant, who had also come from Jenin, shot dead two Israeli civilians, two Ukrainians and an Arab-Israeli policeman. gl-ja/lg/kir Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego, where immigrant detainees awaiting court proceedings are housed. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / San Diego Union-Tribune) As COVID numbers have declined in the U.S. weve lifted masking, vaccination, social distancing and testing mandates across the country. People are going to concerts and ball games, eating dinner in restaurants and sending their kids to school normally. The message is clear: America has reopened. But there is an important set of spaces that remain in strict lockdown: immigrant detention centers. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, part of the Department of Homeland Security, suspended visitation at immigrant detention facilities in March 2020 due to COVID-19. For more than two years, no one other than attorneys no family members, friends or volunteer advocates has been allowed to enter these sites or visit those held there. The only connection migrants in ICE detention centers have to their families and friends is through emails, video and phone calls and physical letters. However, those detained may fear that these forms of communication, as opposed to face-to-face visits, will be closely monitored. In any case, as virtual classes and work meetings have proved for so many people throughout the pandemic, online interactions are not an equal substitute for in-person interaction. Being held in an immigration detention facility is not a punishment for breaking a law. Migrants are waiting for the adjudication of their immigration cases in civil court. Many are asylum seekers and more than 60% of those held have no prior criminal record. But while immigration detention is not supposed to be a punitive prison sentence, it is still a form of incarceration. Most of those detained are navigating a confusing bureaucracy. Investigations and lawsuits uncovered patterns of substandard medical care, sexual abuse and solitary confinement in immigrant detention centers during the Obama and Trump administrations. Despite efforts to improve the problems, reports of abuse continue under the Biden presidency. All those held in ICE detention centers live confined in limbo, at best repeating daily routines controlled by the facilitys staff. Story continues Being denied visitors only exacerbates that limbo. ICE recognizes what it calls the considerable impact of suspending visitations, and after the lockdowns of the past two years, the ill effects of isolation should be clear to all of us. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes in its guidance on management of the virus in correctional and detention facilities that restrictions on visitation and programming are known to lead to negative impacts on mental health and well-being. Visitors, whether family members, friends or volunteers, provide important social and emotional support for migrants in the indeterminate world of detention. Volunteer-driven programs, such as Freedom for Immigrants, train networks of people who visit with and advocate for people held in these facilities. Organizations like these can also help to hold those who abuse detained migrants accountable by bringing attention to the suffering many in detention facilities have endured. When ICE first suspended visitation, COVID-19 cases were spreading in nursing homes, prisons and other congregant settings including immigration detention centers. It was clear the virus was dangerous and easily transmissible. But a policy decision that was inevitable in the spring of 2020 isnt justifiable now. Federal prisons allowed in-person visitation again only seven months after suspending it in those facilities. With vaccines, distancing and masking, even a detention center can be open to visitors and operated safely. Most of us have been able to get back to some sort of normalcy and to safely see the people who matter most to us. Those detained deserve an end to their isolation too. The Biden administration and ICE need to reopen immigration detention facilities for visits from advocates and loved ones. Luis A. Romero is an assistant professor of comparative race and ethnic studies at Texas Christian University. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Supporters of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan rally in Islamabad Asad Zaidi/Bloomberg via Getty Images Members of Pakistan's opposition called for the arrest of Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday after the embattled leader's allies in parliament continued to block a no-confidence vote that the country's Supreme Court had ordered to proceed, NDTV reports. Government sources told Al Jazeera just after 10:00 p.m. local time that the vote would not take place on Saturday. Per NDTV, local news reported that a "prisoner van has reached the assembly amid speculations that the Speaker and Deputy Speaker could be arrested if the vote is not held by midnight." Supreme Court of Pakistan must take immediate suo motto notice of brazen violation of its decision & order arrests of Imran Khan, Speaker & Deputy Speaker before he blows everything up. Bureaucracy/administrations should refuse to comply with any orders coming from the government Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) April 9, 2022 Khan said Friday that he will not step down if he loses the no-confidence vote. The vote, which Khan is expected to lose after several defections within his governing coalition, was originally set for April 3 but was blocked by the deputy speaker of Pakistan's parliament, after which Khan attempted to call for new elections. The country's Supreme Court subsequently ruled that blocking the vote was unconstitutional and ordered parliament to reconvene. The vote was scheduled for Saturday but was delayed again by Speaker Asad Qaiser, an ally of Khan. Khan claims that he is the victim of a regime change conspiracy orchestrated by the United States to install an "imported government," a charge the U.S. denies. According to Al Jazeera and the English-language Indian newspaper The Tribune, the chair of the Pakistan People's Party has accused Khan of seeking military intervention to keep himself in power, while PPP Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar has called on Pakistan's army chief to "play his role" presumably by deposing Khan if the prime minister continues to defy the Supreme Court. Story continues Pakistan has fallen repeatedly under military rule since gaining independence in 1947. No prime minister has ever completed a full five-year term. You may also like The best starting Wordle word has been revealed Hawaii's Brian Schatz lays into Josh Hawley on Senate floor: 'Completely ridiculous' NBC News staffers reportedly miffed about MSNBC's planned Psaki hire Betty White fans, get your wallets ready. Betty White's memorabilia from her time on "Golden Girls," her diamond set wedding band from her third husband, Allen Ludden, her awards and more are going to be up for auction in the fall. Actress Betty White poses for a portrait on the set of the television show From September 23 to 25, fans will get the chance to bid on more than 1,500 items that once belonged to White, including her fine jewelry, scripts and personal items. The auction will be held at Juliens Auctions in California, which is known as the "auction house to the stars." In 2009, Juliens Auctions made the Guinness Book of World Records when they sold Michael Jacksons white glove for $480,000. The sale made it the most expensive glove ever sold at an auction. Before White's memorabilia hits the auction block, it will be put on display at the Museo de la Moda in Santiago, Chile, and The Museum of Style Icons at Newbridge Silverware in Kildrae, Ireland, before arriving at Juliens Auctions for a three-day display. If you're interested in bidding on anything from White's estate, then you can do so by registering online at JuliensAuctions.com or in person at the event. In December 2021, White died at age 99. "I thought she would live forever, her agent and close friend Jeff Witjas told NBC News at the time. I will miss her terribly and so will the animal world that she loved so much." White was known for her successful TV and movie career and her work as an animal rights activist. The actor was best known for starring on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" from 1973 - 1977 and "The Golden Girls" from 1985 - 1992." In 1995, White was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame where she was celebrated for her entertaining Hollywood career. White has won five prime-time Emmys and two day-time Emmys. Betty White was a beloved national treasure and a cross-generational icon who made us laugh for eighty years with her illustrious work on film, radio and television classics such as 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' and 'The Golden Girls, Darren Julien, CEO of Juliens Auctions said in a statement. We are honored to work with her Estate in this exclusive presentation of these precious artifacts and personal mementos from her storied life and career which will be offered for the first time at auction to the public, museum curators and her legions of fans worldwide. Related: Photographer Lelanie Foster is getting her flowers after capturing a historic portrait of judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who just became the first Black woman to be appointed to the Supreme Court. Today the White House partnered with photographer, Lelanie Foster, from the Bronx, NY to take Judge Jacksons first portrait following her historic bipartisan Senate confirmation, a White House official said in a statement to Blavity. Fosters photo is being shared widely across the internet. Oprah is among the prominent figures who has praised the portrait. As she shared the photo on Instagram, Oprah cited the poem I Am a Black Woman by Mari Evans. I am a Black woman, the poem reads. Tall as a cypress. Strong. Defying place and time. And circumstance. Assailed. Impervious. Indestructible. Look on me and be renewed. Oprah said the poem feels extremely defining in this moment. Fosters photo is also featured on Beyonces website. Foster, a New York native, is known for capturing Black beauty in her pictures. According to the photographers bio, much of her work is focused on themes of identity, sisterhood, beauty, and community. The young artist showed off her work in Queen & Slim when she was chosen to visually interpret the movie through her photography. Foster has also displayed her work in several commercial, fashion and documentary projects. In addition, she has been featured in publications by Nike, The New York Times, Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Chanel and many others. Foster spoke to Ebony Magazine after capturing the historic photo of Jackson. Anytime we see a Black woman, in front and in these kinds of situations, it becomes incredibly affirming. For us to see them recognized, celebrated and honored is beautiful, she said. For me to be just a piece of that and to have spent that time with Justice Brown Jackson in this moment that celebrates her is so special. I feel like I, too, am seen and heard in this way for such a positive reason. It makes me reflect on how important this is for all Black women to see these moments exist. Its encouraging. Story continues Foster was ecstatic, floored and shocked when she was asked to capture Jacksons photo. A phone call came in from my agent telling me that this opportunity came up on the heels of one of historys biggest moments and she asked Are you ready? the artist said. The opportunity came after Foster recently photographed Black women attending Harvard Law School, Jacksons alma mater. So, it is a very full circle moment and Im filled with so many different emotions. I feel very honored and embraced by a community of Black lawyers at this time, Foster said. Sharing the photo on her own Instagram page, Foster said it was an honor, your honor. Today we made history. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lelanie (@lelanief) For Foster, exploring Black womanhood and identity through photography gives her a really intimate access and space to connect with her subjects. I always go into all of my projects with this feeling of honoring and celebrating whos in front of the lens, she told Ebony. Every single time Im on a shoot, it comes with that same kind of energy and frame of mind. Photography also gives Foster an opportunity to make a mark and to create an image that gets out there into the world, an image that can be celebrated today and always. All visuals are so importantso for me to be able to have the power to create intimate, celebratory imagery of black women is highly important, she said. Flash China on Friday lashed out at the United States for prisoner abuse at "black sites," calling its "enhanced interrogation techniques" brutal and horrifying. The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has set up these black sites in many countries under the pretext of its "War on Terror." Alleged terrorists are secretly placed in arbitrary detention and confessions are extorted by torture, which has drawn widespread criticism from the international community, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told a regular press briefing. The Guardian reported that, according to a newly declassified report, a detainee at a secret CIA detention site in Afghanistan was used as a living prop to teach trainee interrogators, who lined up to take turns at knocking his head against a plywood wall and dousing him with ice-cold water. The torture has left him devastated both physically and mentally. "The notorious Guantanamo Bay, the Bagram prison in Afghanistan and the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq are caught up in prisoner abuse scandals, with the use of brutal and horrifying 'enhanced interrogation techniques,' including waterboarding and sleep deprivation," Zhao said. Zhao called the black sites "typical examples of the U.S. trampling on the rule of law and violating human rights." He said the report from the Costs of War Project of the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University released at the beginning of 2022 noted that, following the 9/11 attacks, the U.S. orchestrated a system of black sites in at least 54 countries and regions across the world. Over 100,000 people were detained at these sites, including Muslims, women and children. U.S. taxpayers are spending 540 million U.S. dollars a year just to detain prisoners at Guantanamo. "However, not a single U.S. official has so far been held to account for devising, authorizing or implementing the secret detention and torture program," Zhao said. He said the U.S. government has gone even further to cover up and deny its crimes against and violations of human rights. In 2020, after the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) noted that the U.S. forces and the CIA may have committed war crimes with prisoner abuse in Afghanistan, the U.S. leveled sanctions and imposed visa restrictions on several officials, including the chief prosecutor of the ICC. In 2021, after the UN Committee Against Torture said that the CIA black sites are rife with torture, the U.S. government refused to disclose relevant information, citing confidentiality. "Facts speak louder than words," Zhao said, noting that the U.S. black sites around the world fully indicate that the U.S. has no right to point a finger at any other country in the name of democracy and human rights. "What the U.S. should do is immediately abolish its black sites all over the world, earnestly reflect on its crimes, apologize to and compensate for the victims, and hold those who authorized and carried out torture accountable," Zhao said. Apr. 8City police have released photos of the two suspects in Tuesday's theft at Darrell's Diamonds in The Meadows shopping center on the city's east side. The images taken from surveillance cameras show the two men walking together inside the atrium and walking separately outside the shopping center. The images were released early Friday afternoon on the THPD Facebook page with the message: "THPD Detectives are seeking the identity of these individuals in reference to the theft that occurred at the Meadows Shopping Center. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective David Thompson at 812-244-2246." Police have said one of the suspects entered the jewelry store prior to 3 p.m. and took merchandise before fleeing The Meadows. The suspects met up and ran from the scene as store owner Darrell Bemis followed them outside. Bemis fired multiple shots from a handgun, police said. Bemis has been charged with criminal recklessness in connection with discharging his firearm in a reckless manner that endangered pedestrians and motorists. Lisa Trigg can be reached at 812-231-4254 or at lisa.trigg@tribstar.com. Follow her on Twitter at TribStarLisa. An initiative intended to provide support and resources to veteran-owned businesses has been launched. In 2019, the Pickerington Area Chamber of Commerce started EDGE, which stands for Engage, Discuss, Grow, Educate and is a peer-to-peer support and mentoring program designed to push personal and professional growth by fostering close business relationships among chamber members. On March 18, the PACC held its first meeting for the Veterans EDGE program, which mirrors the original EDGE program, and is designed to support veteran-owned businesses and businesses that employ veterans. Pickerington Area Chamber of Commerce logo "It's an opportunity for veteran business owners or business owners who employ veterans to get together and talk about our businesses and help each other," said Danny Dickerson, founding member of the Veterans EDGE program and owner of Rising Eagle Property Services LLC. "It's an opportunity for veterans in the business community to get together and support each other." The Veterans EDGE group has six members, Dickerson said, and meetings are planned 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. the third Thursday of each month at Operation Meraki, 12933 Stonecreek Drive. Interested business owners can attend two meetings at no cost. After that, the cost is $300 a year or $25 a month, which goes to support PACC programs. Dickerson retired from the U.S. Army in 2018 after 25 years, including tours in Iraq (2003) and Afghanistan (2015). He said he hopes Veterans EDGE gives business owners the confidence to discuss challenges they're facing because issues will be shared with other vets. Through the discussions, members can help others in need find support for everything from mental-health issues to small-business grants and successful business models. "It's different when you're talking to other veterans," Dickerson said. "You just understand each other. "By targeting vets, we're narrowing our focus to a specific group of people we think can support each other more." Story continues Michael Thomas, a member of the PACC Board of Directors, chair of the PACC Veterans EDGE committee and founder and executive director of Operation Meraki, is a first responder who spent more than 10 years in the U.S. Army. He said after he left the military, he struggled to find work, lived in his car and battled post-traumatic stress disorder and night terrors. Thomas said the program will help veterans who own businesses learn their value and strategies for success, in addition to getting them the support and resources they need to compete in the business world. "It's part of the community that's starting to thrive," Thomas said. "I don't think veterans need to be civilians after their service is through. "I think they need a new mission." Thomas said the Veterans EDGE program supports the nonprofit Operation Meraki's mission to reintegrate veterans into the workforce. He added that both his organization and the Veterans EDGE program provide resources, including for workforce development and wellness. "We want to create sustainable, workable employees and, potentially, entrepreneurs that will help Ohio and other states ... to build a viable workforce," he said. "I want to improve veteran businesses in the community, and I want to connect with them and get them better resources. "Ultimately, the goal is to cultivate the veteran business community and see if we can get more businesses into the community and then help them succeed." Janis Francis, a member of the PACC Board of Directors and owner of The Humble Crate, Artisan Marketplace at 18 E. Columbus St., said she hopes the Veterans EDGE program will operate similarly to the original EDGE program. "The point of the (EDGE) group is for businesses in all stages of growth and development to help each other," Francis said. "Seasoned business owners, as well as brand new business owners, will certainly benefit from this group." Information about the Veterans EDGE program can be found at pickeringtonchamber.com/events/details/pacc-veteran-s-edge-group-15749. nellis@thisweeknews.com @ThisWeekNate This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Program launched to provide support to veteran-owned businesses in Pickerington Russian President Vladimir Putin instated a new commander to lead operations in Ukraine as officials warn Moscow is looking to shift its focus in eastern Ukraine after more than six weeks of war. Gen. Alexander Dvornikov, commander of Russias southern military district (SMD), will now lead the invasion, first reported the BBC late Friday. RUSSIA INVADES UKRAINE: LIVE UPDATES Image released by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense on Thursday Feb 17, 2022 shows the frontline of Donbas, a conflict area with the Russian-backed separatists, during President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's visit to the Donetsk region in the east of Ukraine. EYEPRESS via Reuters Connect Dvornikov not only has known experience in Russias campaign in Syria, but also led military exercises in southern Russia last year, right along Ukraines border with the Donbas region. A western official told the outlet that the change in command will improve Russias flagging invasion after it failed to take the capital city of Kyiv despite weeks of shelling and attempts to push ground forces across the country. "Unless Russia is able to change its tactics, it's very difficult to see how they succeed in even these limited objectives that they've reset themselves," the official said. But Russia has made greater advances in the south and east of Ukraine an advancement that senior U.S. defense officials have said is largely due to its illegal eight-year occupation of areas like Crimea. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned this week that Russia is looking to focus its efforts on a "major offensive" in eastern Ukraine, where Russian-backed forces have been fighting the Ukrainian army since 2014 in the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics. The breakaway regions are located along Ukraines eastern border in an area known as the Donbas. Six months before Russia invaded Ukraine under the guise of a "special military operation," Dvornikov directly oversaw military exercises that practiced "combined arms operations from August 9 to September 15" in southern Russia, according to the Institute for the Study of War. The exercises reportedly included "tactical tasks" involving "motorized rifle, tank, and artillery battalions" in coordination with attached specialized units. Story continues RUSSIA TO MOBILIZE 60,000 RESERVISTS AS IT SETS ITS SIGHTS ON EASTERN UKRAINE: SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL The specialized units focused on "biological, radiological, and nuclear" defenses. Reconnaissance, logistics electronic warfare, medical training, aviation and military police exercises were also held. "Warships from the Caspian Flotilla and the Black Sea Fleet, naval infantry, and at least 80 fixed and rotary-wing aircraft" also participated in the exercises, noted the report. The trainings occurred along Ukraines eastern border as well as in occupied Crimea and parts of occupied Georgia. The report noted that Russian forces looked to practice joint operations based on lessons learned from experiences in Syria. The U.S. and NATO have pledged to increase military support as officials warn the war in eastern Ukraine is expected to become increasingly brutal. "This will be a knife fight. This could be very bloody and very ugly," a senior U.S. defense official told reporters Friday. "The Russians are limiting their geographic aims, and they still have a lot of combat power available to them." European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, Slovakia's Prime Minister Eduard Heger and Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stand next to a mass grave as they visit the town of Bucha, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, outside of Kyiv, Ukraine April 8, 2022. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko The official said the U.S. believes Russia is looking to add 60,000 recruits to its war effort as it hones in on eastern Ukraine an area roughly the size of West Virginia. U.S. and NATO security officials have warned the war in Ukraine could continue for months, if not years to come. Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family marked the first anniversary of Prince Philip 's death on Saturday. The Duke of Edinburgh, and the queen's husband of 73 years, died on April 9, 2021, at Windsor Castle. He was 99. Early Saturday, the queen shared a video montage to the British royal family's official Twitter account showing photos of Philip throughout his life, from his childhood, to his service in the navy, his wedding to the queen, and touching moments with his four children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It also included a poem titled "The Patriarchs: An Elegy" by the U.K.'s Poet Laureate Simon Armitage. PRINCE HARRY JOKES THAT HIS ARMY INSTRUCTOR USED TO SHOUT AT ME SO MUCH AHEAD OF INVICTUS GAMES "Remembering His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh on the first anniversary of his death," the tweet reads. It was also shared by Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Prince William and Kate Middleton. According to People magazine, the reigning monarch, who will soon turn 96, and the rest of the royal family will spend the day "privately." A celebration of Prince Philip's life was held eight days after his death in 2021. The royal funeral was attended by his and the queen's four children -- Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward -- as well as Charles's wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; Anne's husband Timothy Laurence and Edward's wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex. MEGHAN MARKLE SEEKS TO TRADEMARK THE WORD ARCHETYPES FOR HER NEW SPOTIFY PODCAST Philips grandchildren -- which include Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, Prince William, Prince Harry, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn also were in attendance. Prince William's wife, Kate Middleton, Zara Tindall's husband, Mike Tindall, Princess Eugenie's husband, Jack Brooksbank and Princess Beatrice's husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, also joined their royal spouses at the family event. Story continues During the service, Queen Elizabeth II, who is known for not showing too much emotion in public, sat alone in St. George's Chapel during the funeral. Philip married then-Princess Elizabeth in 1947 and is the longest-serving royal consort in British history. Prior to the ceremony, members of the military gathered in ceremonial formation in the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle prior to the funeral procession. Philips coffin was carried to St. Georges Chapel on a modified Land Rover, which he designed himself. The Duke of Edinburgh served in the Royal Navy for 12 years. Military personnel had a large role in honoring him despite the attendance limit due to coronavirus restrictions in England. Pallbearers placed Prince Philips casket onto a modified Land Rover, designed by the Duke of Edinburgh, himself. The late duke was fond of Land Rovers and drove them for much of his life. The ceremony marked the first time Harry reunited with his family since his and wife Meghan Markel's tell-all interview to Oprah Winfrey that was viewed by nearly 50 million people globally. QUEEN ELIZABETH WASNT SUPPOSED TO BE CAPTURED WITH PRINCE ANDREW AT PRINCE PHILIP SERVICE, PHOTOGRAPHER SAYS In February of last year, Philip was admitted to a London hospital after feeling unwell. On March 3 2021, he underwent a procedure for a pre-existing heart condition at St. Bartholomews Hospital before being transferred back to King Edward VII hospital on March 5 and ultimately released home on March 16. In a rare interview for a television documentary to mark his 90th birthday in June 2011, he said, "I reckon I've done my bit. I want to enjoy myself for a bit now. With less responsibility, less rushing about, less preparation, less trying to think of something to say. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "On top of that, your memory's going. I can't remember names. Yes, I'm just sort of winding down." He was the second person ever to bear the title "Duke of Edinburgh," the first being his great-great-uncle, Prince Alfred Ernest Albert. Republicans are pouncing on the Biden administrations recent decision to scrap a Trump-era pandemic border policy, launching a multi-pronged attack against Democrats in Congress, in the courts and on the campaign trail. Earlier this month, three Republican attorneys general filed a lawsuit arguing its illegal for the administration to rescind the CDCs Title 42 policy, which allows for the expulsion of migrants to stop the spread of Covid-19. Among their arguments was that the administration failed to evaluate the impact on states if theres a surge in border crossings. Republicans national campaign arms, as part of their strategy to take back the House and Senate in Novembers midterms, have signaled a new push to highlight the policy in their outreach to voters, particularly in swing states and districts near the U.S.-Mexico border. The policy change has also shot to the forefront in individual campaigns, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts attempt to beat back a challenge from former Rep. Beto ORourke. The effort speaks to a broad belief among Republicans that the Title 42 decision can focus voters attention on one of Democrats longstanding political vulnerabilities immigration and help them secure statehouses, take back control of Congress and stifle the presidents agenda over the next two years. Lawmakers and Republican strategists are openly discussing tying the policy change to a range of other concerns voters associate with the border, from the smuggling of fentanyl and other drugs to violent crime to the spread of communicable diseases besides Covid. This is a massive political loser for Democrats, said Zack Roday, a Virginia-based GOP strategist who works on campaigns around the country. In border states we have an opportunity to talk about it in a localized way because it's so relevant to those communities. And in places like Colorado, where we have a lot of House and Senate races, theres been a lot of debate over fentanyl sentencing, so we can link it to that. Really, no matter where you are, this touches on the safety issues that independent voters list as one of their top concerns. Story continues The issue has also rocked Capitol Hill. Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked $10 billion in Covid aid from moving forward until theyre guaranteed a vote on an amendment that would reinstate Title 42 a move Democrats leaders are keen to avoid as it would highlight divisions in their caucus over the issue. Amid the stalemate, the chamber punted consideration of the critical funding until after Congress two-week recess. Im sure [Democrats] dont want to vote on it because it may make a difference on whether theyre a senator or not in the future, said Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.), one of the lawmakers demanding the amendment vote in exchange for approving Covid aid. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), who supports the additional Covid money, agreed with Brauns assessment, calling Title 42 kryptonite for Democrats. And late last week, several Democrats from swing states, many of them running for reelection this November, joined with Republicans on a bill that would keep the restriction in place until at least 60 days after the federal government terminates the national emergency declaration for Covid-19. In the House, dozens of Republicans led by the conservative Freedom Caucus took to the floor on Wednesday to demand a vote to reinstate Title 42, arguing doing so would protect all Americans from Bidens border crisis. Other Republicans are demanding oversight hearings. Many Democrats argue that these are bad-faith attacks that are holding up key Covid aid while hundreds of Americans still die every day from the virus. They attack President Biden on the border and on immigration saying that he's doing nothing, then they turn around with the repeal of Title 42 and say that he needs to restore what he was doing because it was working, said Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas). They cannot have it both ways. But some Democratic strategists fear the White House in pledging to end the policy in May is handing Republicans an easy talking point ahead of a historically tough election for the presidents party. The lack of policy details is causing big political challenges for our party, said John LaBombard, a political strategist at ROKK Solutions and recent senior staffer to Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.). The administration has a real opportunity to ensure that when Title 42 is lifted there is a plan in place thats more than lip service. The fact that were seeing a growing chorus of border state Democrats and Republicans speaking up more and more forcefully tells me such a plan is not currently in place. Democratic lawmakers, public health experts and immigration advocates have long argued that the policy is illegal and does nothing to stop the spread of Covid-19. It is, they say, an anti-immigration measure that strips migrants of their right under international law to apply for asylum in the U.S. Over 1.7 million migrants have been expelled under the order since it was enacted in 2020, the vast majority under President Joe Biden. The CDC announced on April 1 that it would stop expelling migrants on May 23, saying that allowing them into the U.S. immigration system no longer poses a threat to Americans health as Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations drop. The announcement coincided with the Biden administrations plea to Congress for billions more to bolster Covid-19 testing, vaccine supplies and therapeutics, as well as their warnings that the highly transmissible Omicron subvariant BA.2 is spreading fast within the U.S. a mixed message Republicans were quick to highlight. Its utterly insane that the administration claims to be concerned about Covid at the same time theyve decided to throw open the doors to illegal aliens who are Covid positive, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told POLITICO. It makes no sense. Sen. Bob Menendez, who has been calling for the end of Title 42, says such attacks are disingenuous. The CDC has relaxed multiple pandemic orders in the past few months, he said in a statement to POLITICO. Republicans, who have openly opposed public health measures like mask mandates, are clearly in favor of Title 42 because they view it as an immigration restriction. The GOP is also pressing the issue in federal court. On April 3, the Republican attorneys general of Arizona, Missouri and Louisiana sued the Biden administration for ending the order, alleging that it violated the Administrative Procedure Act by failing to conduct the required comment and notice process. They argued lifting the order threatens states with the costs of a potential surge in migration and called it plainly at war with the governments other Covid-19 protocols. Both Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt and Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich are running for the Senate in November. Every state is now a border state, Schmitt said in a statement to POLITICO. With the flood of illegal drugs like fentanyl and increased human trafficking and smuggling coming across the border, every state is affected by the Biden Administrations porous border and lax border policies. On Thursday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced he also plans to challenge the CDC order under the APA. Christopher Hajec, director of litigation at the Immigration Reform Law Institute in Washington, D.C., and outside counsel for the state of Texas in the case, told POLITICO the administrations decision to end Title 42 is arbitrary and capricious and runs counter to its other Covid mitigation mandates. The numbers of people coming in are going to be staggering, Hajec said. The best way to get the cases back up is to let in huge numbers of people. Arguing that a federal pandemic mitigation measure should remain in place is a departure for all four attorneys general, who have sued the Biden administration over vaccine and mask mandates. Brnovich declined to comment. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landrys office did not respond to requests for comment. If the courts rule in favor of the states in either case, it could set off a complicated legal battle. Last month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled that it is illegal for the administration to use Title 42 to expel migrant families back to places where they might face persecution and torture. If the CDC is mandated to continue Title 42 by another court, the ACLU, which represented the families in the D.C. case, has said it will fight that decision. No matter the outcome, GOP strategists say the Republican campaign reflects what voters want and will ramp up in the weeks ahead. A recent Morning Consult-POLITICO poll shows that 56 percent of all voters disagreed with Bidens decision to sunset the policy, making it his least popular policy decision to date, according to Morning Consults tracking. When I heard that the administration was going to stop Title 42, my first thought was, When you're in a hole, stop digging, said GOP pollster Whit Ayres. The administration is incredibly vulnerable on the whole immigration issue. Even a year ago, when Joe Biden had majority job approval, his approval on immigration was somewhere around 40 percent. This latest step throws fuel on the fire. Residents who live along Archdale Drive in south Charlotte are fed up with street racing, speeding and reckless driving. All of the day, resident TJ Kolleh said. All hours of the day. PAST COVERAGE: Kolleh told Channel 9 anchor Genevieve Curtis that residents often hear cars engines that treat the road like a racetrack. Kolleh and his neighbors are concerned about safety, in addition to the ongoing disturbances. He has seen seven crashes into neighbors properties over nine years. Its very risky, Kolleh said. Kids ride their bikes up and down the street. Homeowner Kathryn Pruitt has watched cars crash into her retaining wall four times in 2 1/2 years. Either someone is going to get severely hurt or killed, Pruitt said. The city wont cover the costs, including the last time it happened two weeks ago. Pruitt said she is constantly on edge and is worried someone will crash into her home. Curtis was interviewing Pruitt Friday night when a car sped down the hill crossing the center line. Does it make you think you think about moving? Curtis asked. Absolutely, it does! Pruitt said. Pruitt said her and other residents have asked Charlotte-Mecklenburg police to step up patrols in the area, but the residents said they have not seen that happen. Every once in a while, I will see law enforcement in the church parking lots, Pruitt said. But Ive never seen them pull someone over on Archdale. Pruitt has also asked city leaders to add speed bumps or a stop sign. However, she was told Archdale Drive is an emergency road and those safety measures would slow down first responders. [WANT TO WATCH ON OUR STREAMING APPS? CLICK HERE] Residents in the area said they will continue to try to find a way to keep their neighborhood safe from cars racing along the road. (Watch the video below: Newly released 911 calls give clearer picture of street racing crash that killed 6-year-old boy) By Mari Saito BUCHA, Ukraine (Reuters) - Before the war in Ukraine, Bohdan Zubchuk's job as a community police officer involved patrolling the quiet streets of Bucha outside Kyiv and dealing with petty crime, while handling minor complaints from residents. Walking down a street where the bodies of multiple victims were found after Russian troops retreated late last month, the 29-year-old said his hometown and his job would never be the same. "We will never forget everything we saw here, this will stay with us for our whole lives," he said. The town became known around the world after images emerged of dead civilians in the streets last week, triggering an international outcry. Since the Russians left, Zubchuk said he and his fellow community police officers have been tasked with assisting traumatised survivors with everything from receiving humanitarian aid to checking for unexploded ordnance around town. Ukrainian officials say hundreds of civilians have been found dead since the Russians' withdrawal. The deputy mayor of Bucha has said 360 civilians were killed during the Russian occupation. Reuters could not independently verify those figures. Russia, which has repeatedly denied targetting civilians since the Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, has called the allegations that Russian forces executed civilians in Bucha while they occupied the town a "monstrous forgery" aimed at denigrating the Russian army. Reuters has witnessed the remains of five victims in Bucha who were shot through the head. One had his hands tied behind his back. Another his feet tied. Reuters has not been able to independently determine who was responsible. By Saturday, local workers and residents had already removed the bodies from the street, but there were still patches of ash and charred cement left behind from shelling. "Every time I patrol this street I'll be thinking back about what happened here," Zubchuk said. Story continues On Friday, forensic investigators began the exhumation of remains from a mass grave in Bucha, carefully lifting bodies out of a muddy trench to examine and identify them. In the weeks following the arrival of Russian forces in Bucha, Zubchuk said he and his fellow officers hid in basements and continued working until they fled the city with their families. Zubchuk said Russian soldiers were scouring the town for local police officers and men with military experience during the occupation. AN 'ISLAND' OF CALM Elsewhere in Bucha on Saturday, volunteers in bright vests swept up debris and workers in hard hats removed what remained of destroyed Russian tanks with heavy cranes. Moscow calls the war a "special operation" to demilitarise and "denazify" its neighbour. Ukraine and its allies say this is a baseless pretext for war. Valerie Lysenko was one of many residents who returned to Bucha to see the damage first hand. Lysenko said she fled her hometown a little over a week after Russian troops rolled into Bucha. Before the war Lysenko said she was always inviting her friends to visit Bucha, telling them it was an "island" of calm outside of Kyiv with beautiful parks and great infrastructure. Now, the name of her town had become synonymous with war and the suffering of civilians. "The only thing they know (of Bucha) is people dead, people with their hands tied, people tortured, murdered and this just breaks my heart," she said. "If I say I'm in pain it's only one percent of what I'm feeling," she said. (Reporting by Mari Saito and Herbert Villarraga; Editing by Frances Kerry) The Center Against Sexual and Family Violence unveiled an exhibit Friday showcasing sexual assault survivors' descriptions and the clothing that they were wearing at the time of the attacks. The exhibit, "What Were You Wearing?" challenges preconceived notions that assaults happen because of the clothes victims were wearing, a news release from the center said. "Respect Boundaries" is the theme for this year's Center Against Sexual and Family Violence exhibit "What Were You Wearing?" during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The exhibition showcases survivors' descriptions and their clothes when they were assaulted. To commemorate Sexual Assault Awareness Month throughout April, the center will focus on bringing awareness to sexual violence. Its theme, Respect Boundaries, seeks to raise awareness on the importance of talking, building, honoring and respecting boundaries without pressuring someone to change their minds. In the news release, the center said consent is a clear and concrete example of what it takes to end sexual harassment, abuse and assault. "Respect Boundaries" is the theme for this year's Center Against Sexual and Family Violence exhibit "What Were You Wearing?" during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The exhibit showcases survivors' descriptions and their clothes when they were assaulted. Last year the center reported receiving more than 4,000 calls on its crisis Hopeline, of which 521 where directly related to sexual assault. It provided hospital accompaniment advocacy to 215 sexual assault survivors and advocated for safety and justice for an additional 859 El Paso survivors. Attendees read survivors' descriptions of what they were wearing when they were sexually assaulted at the "What Were You Wearing?" exhibit on Friday at the Center Against Sexual and Family Violence in El Paso. The center's theme for Sexual Assault Awareness Month is "Respect Boundaries." The centers 24-Hour Crisis Hopeline is 915-593-7300 or 1-800-727-0511. The center is a nonprofit organization with a mission to confront and prevent domestic violence and sexual assault, in all its forms, as an advocate for safety and justice through intervention, education and community collaboration. More: Man bit officer trying to stop assault on woman at West Side Walmart, El Paso police say More: Arkansas man sentenced to 50 years in prison in sexual assaults of children at Fort Bliss More: Man sentenced to prison in connection with sexual assault of a child on Fort Bliss A sexual assault survivor's words placed in front of the clothes she was wearing at the time of the attack say: "A Bohemian skirt and top. Nothing fancy. Id worn that outfit a dozen times before. I always thought I was safe because I didnt wear 'those' kinds of clothes. I guess my rapist didnt get the memo." This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: 'What Were You Wearing?' exhibit shows sexual assault victims' clothes Facts about Russia-Ukraine conflict: Russia hopes to end its operation "in foreseeable future" Xinhua) 10:13, April 09, 2022 BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Relevant parties are working to broker a peaceful solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The following are the latest developments: Russia hopes that its special military operation in Ukraine will end "in the foreseeable future," Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday. The operation is continuing and Russia's goals are being achieved, while substantive work is being carried out both in the military sphere and at the negotiation table, Peskov said at a daily briefing. In an interview with the Sky News on Thursday, Peskov said that "our military are doing their best to bring an end to that operation. - - - - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday hailed the visit of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the European Union's (EU) foreign policy chief Josep Borrell to Kiev as a signal of support for Ukraine, the state-run Ukrinform news agency reported. "This is a very strong signal that Ukraine and the European Union are together," Zelensky said at the joint press briefing with von der Leyen and Borrell in Kiev on Friday. Von der Leyen said that Ukraine is welcomed in the European family and handed over a questionnaire to Zelensky, the completion of which is a necessary step for granting the status of an EU candidate. - - - - The Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday that it is expelling 45 Polish diplomats in response to the expulsion of the same number of Russian diplomats from Poland last month. The ministry said it had summoned the Polish ambassador and declared 45 employees of the Polish Embassy in Moscow and of Polish consulates in Irkutsk, Kaliningrad and St. Petersburg "personae non gratae" who must leave Russia by April 13. On March 23, the Polish Foreign Ministry ordered 45 Russian diplomats to depart within five days as part of a coordinated action by Western countries to expel several hundreds Russian diplomats since the start of a special military operation in Ukraine. (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji) Flash There will be an uptick in cases of COVID-19 over the next few weeks in the United States and it is likely there could be a surge in the fall, Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has said. "I think...that over the next couple of weeks, we are going to see an uptick in cases - and hopefully there is enough background immunity so that we don't wind up with a lot of hospitalizations," a CNN report quoted Fauci as saying in a Bloomberg TV interview on Wednesday about the prospect of another wave of COVID-19 from BA.2 or another variant, given the level of immunity believed to exist in the country today. The top doctor reiterated that the United States often follows other countries, offering the UK, which also has the BA.2 variant, as an example. He said that as well as a pullback on many mask mandates and restrictions for indoor settings, there has been a waning of immunity. "Those conditions are also present in the United States," he said. "So, I would not be surprised if we see an uptick in cases. Whether that uptick becomes a surge where there are a lot more cases is difficult to predict." Asked whether it should be expected that this fall will look like the past two and if people should be bracing for something around October, Fauci said that he thinks "it is likely that we will see a surge in the fall." (Reuters) - European Union countries sharing borders with Russia and Belarus have barred some cargo vehicles registered in the two countries from entering since Friday due to sanctions, the Russian customs service said on Saturday. The EU on Friday formally adopted new sanctions against Russia, including bans on the import of coal, wood, chemicals and other products, while also preventing many Russian vessels and trucks from accessing the bloc. Vehicles used as international transport that have Russian and Belarusian number plates will not be able to move goods on EU territory, the Russian customs service said. "According to available information, the restrictions do not yet apply to road freight transport delivering pharmaceutical, medical, food and agricultural products, including wheat, as well as the delivery of energy, non-ferrous metals and fertilisers," the customs service said. Transit from Russia to Kaliningrad - Russia's exclave on the Baltic Sea sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania - was still open for vehicles registered in Russia. (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Alex Richardson) By Janis Laizans MEDYKA, Poland (Reuters) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Saturday that Russian forces appeared to have committed war crimes by targeting civilians in Ukraine, but she said lawyers must investigate the alleged incidents. Leaving Ukraine after a visit, she said she had seen with her own eyes on Friday the destruction in the town of Bucha near Kyiv. A forensics team began exhuming a mass grave on Friday containing the bodies of civilians who local officials say were killed while Russians occupied the town. "My instinct says: If this is not a war crime, what is a war crime, but I am a medical doctor by training and lawyers have to investigate carefully," von der Leyen told reporters on board a train leaving Ukraine on Saturday. "I saw the photos, (Ukrainian prime minister) Denys Shmyhal showed me: Killing people as they are walking by. We could also see with our own eyes, that the destruction in the city is targeted into the civilian lives. Residential buildings are no military target", she said, referring to Bucha. Moscow has rejected allegations by Ukraine and Western nations of war crimes and has denied targeting civilians in what the Kremlin calls a "special military operation" to demilitarise and "denazify" its neighbour. The Kremlin said on Tuesday that allegations that Russian forces had executed civilians in Bucha were a "monstrous forgery" aimed at denigrating the Russian army. On Friday, the same day that von der Leyen and Josep Borrell, the EU's chief diplomat, visited Kyiv and its outskirts, Ukraine and its allies blamed Russia for a missile attack that killed at least 52 people at Kramatorsk train station in eastern Ukraine. The Russian defence ministry was quoted by RIA news agency as saying the missiles said to have struck Kramatorsk station were used only by Ukraine's military and that Russia's armed forces had no targets assigned in Kramatorsk on Friday. Story continues Von der Leyen said the EU is working with Ukraine in a joint investigation team to gather evidence of possible war crimes for use in future court cases. "It is extremely important that it is well documented, to prevent defeats in court because the evidence is not good enough," von der Leyen said. The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, said last month he had opened an investigation into possible war crimes in Ukraine. (Reporting by Janis Laizans; Writing by Kate Abnett; Editing by Angus MacSwan and Frances Kerry) Forbidden Kingdom, ridden by jockey Juan Hernandez, wins the Grade II San Felipe Stakes horse race on March 5 at Santa Anita. Forbidden Kingdom is the second favorite for Saturday's Santa Anita Derby. (Benoit Photo / Associated Press) As horse racing enters its final weekend of major Kentucky Derby prep races, all eyes are on the Santa Anita Derby, with a look to both the quality and quantity of the field. It seems the race has become a victim of its own success. There are two statistics that seem to be in conflict but are inexorably intertwined. Of the eight final win-and-youre-in Kentucky Derby preps, the Santa Anita Derby, with six starters, stands out with the fewest number of entrants. The next lowest number is eight in Saturdays Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. Thats a negative. Yet the race also stands out for sending the horse that was pronounced the winner on race day in Louisville in five of the 10 previous years. Thats a positive. Field sizes in stakes are really different than field sizes up and down the card, former longtime Santa Anita executive Alan Balch said. One of the greatest Santa Anita Handicaps ever (1988) had four horses in it. And I remember some of the big shots on our board were horrified by this and [racing secretary] Mr. [Frank] Kilroe telling me they just dont understand, youve got Alysheba, Ferdinand, Super Diamond and Judge Angelucci. Who is going to hook up with that group?" Alysheba won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, Ferdinand was another former Kentucky Derby winner, Super Diamond was a winner of eight of his last 11 races, and Judge Angelucci a multiple stakes winner coming off a win in the San Antonio. Temperate Sil, who did not have those credentials, scratched before racing that day, proving the theory. Balch, executive director of the California Thoroughbred Trainers, sees the same factors in play today. You have somewhat the similar situation with the Santa Anita Derby where you have monsters in here," he said. "And this race has produced a lot of horses who have gone on to the Kentucky Derby and won the Derby, even if they didnt win the Santa Anita Derby, like Ferdinand" in 1986. Saturdays Santa Anita Derby, part of a 12-race, seven-stakes card, has two monsters and one monster in waiting. Story continues Messier is the even-money favorite by virtue of winning the Robert B. Lewis Stakes by 15 lengths. He hasnt raced since Feb. 6 and will be making his first start for Tim Yakteen after being moved from Bob Bafferts barn so that the colt could earn Kentucky Derby qualifying points. Baffert is serving a 90-day suspension as the result of Medina Spirits positive test for an anti-inflammatory that's not legal on race day. John Velazquez will ride Messier. The 6-5 second choice is Forbidden Kingdom for trainer Richard Mandella and jockey Juan Hernandez. He won his last race, the San Felipe Stakes, by 5 lengths. Tabia, at 4-1, is the unknown factor. He also moved to the Yakteen barn from the Baffert barn. The $1.7-million purchase, bought by Medina Spirit owner Amr Zedan, has run only one race, a maiden special he won by 7 lengths. Mike Smith picks up the ride from Velazquez. First place is worth 100 points, second is 40 points and third is 20. Twenty points may not be enough to get into the Kentucky Derby unless several horses drop out. Yakteen has a third horse in the race, Armagnac (20-1), who also came over from Baffert. The remaining two horses are trained by Doug ONeill, Happy Jack (20-1) and Win the Day (20-1). The Santa Anita Derby will be the sixth race. The accommodation was made so that it would be part of a national NBC telecast that also includes the Wood and Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland. Despite his temporary absence, Baffert remains a dominant force in shaping Southern California racing and field sizes in major stakes races. There is definitely a Bob Baffert factor, said Gary Fenton, chairman of the Thoroughbred Owners of California. Hes always had a strong string of 3-year-olds and some always end up in the Santa Anita Derby. Hes actually got so many, he spreads them around because we are on an island. If you are on the Derby trail, and you are not an island, you have a bunch of different choices. That includes California, but if you know Bob is going to be there [with one of his best horses], it factors into your thinking and you go elsewhere. Chris Merz, Santa Anitas director of racing, illustrated what the absence of a strong Baffert horse can mean and why field sizes are affected by his presence. In 2017, "when I was stakes coordinator and Mastery was supposed to be the next coming of Secretariat," he said, racing secretary "Rick Hammerle and I knew if that horse ran in the Santa Anita Derby, we would be lucky to get five horses. But, he was hurt after the San Felipe and the Santa Anita Derby was a 13-horse field. California is called an island because it is not easy to ship a horse to another major track. If you are on the East Coast, you can easily van horses up and down the seaboard. If you are in California, it almost always involves a plane, which is another issue. Tex Sutton Equine Air Transportation has been the major carrier of horses but last spring needed a new lease on a dedicated transport plane and FAA approval. It is expected to resume its travel this summer. In the meantime, horses have been booked on FedEx planes, which is more expensive and less convenient. Tex Sutton is more flexible for timing, Merz said. They modify planes to make them more horse friendly. Its tough with FedEx if you have a really high-strung horse because you cant send your groom on that plane. We have lost horses coming into our stakes because they felt it would be too high risk without their groom on the plane. With Tex Sutton you can use your groom. There is little question the winner of Saturdays Santa Anita Derby will be marked as the favorite to win the Kentucky Derby and there will be a plane ride involved. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Scottie Scheffler seized the lead of The Masters with a second-round 67 (Getty Images) As the wind swirled around Augusta and the low scores dried up in the gusts, the World No. 1 emerged to find the birdies required to seize control of The Masters. Scottie Scheffler, with wins in three of his last five starts, will take to the final group on Saturday with a five-shot lead over the field, after what was a fraught and difficult day that tightened the chasing pack heading into the weekend, but left one man stood above the rest. No one thought it would be possible to take such a healthy lead into the third round after a day like this. Indeed, a five-shot lead at the halfway stage is the biggest in Masters history. No one saw that coming. It was thought a round of level par would have kept plenty of those in the field in contention - but that was before Schefflers magnificent back nine. Many were unable to keep with the pace, especially those caught by the worst of the conditions, as Scheffler pulled away with a string of birdies on his final holes. Cameron Smith and Danny Willett were among those to fall away from the top of the leaderboard. Rory McIlroy could not find momentum to get his challenge on track. Charl Schwartzel, Shane Lowry and Hideki Matsuyama rose, and amongst it all Tiger Woods battled on to ensure that he made the cut - which remains as remarkable a story as any that will be produced at this opening major of the year. There were moments where it looked like Woods, after the exertions of Thursdays stunning return, would fall away completely. The five-time Masters champion made four bogeys in his opening five holes and twice found himself at +3. The response to that adversity was just as impressive to his previous round of 71, as he made consecutive birdies at the 13th and 14th to pull himself back and continue his remarkable story. Scheffler, who was playing in the final group and will be doing so again on Saturday, made a patient start after bogeying the 1st but inspired play after the turn moved him to a score of -8 that did not look reachable earlier. He will be joined in the final group by Schwartzel, the 2011 Masters champion, who despite carrying little form ino the tournament soaked up some birdies before they for a while seemed to disappear in the conditions. Story continues The early window for scoring was short lived. Of the early moves, Jon Rahm opened with back-to-back birdies to get to level par. McIlroy took advantage of his first par 5 to join him. Collin Morikawa looked to have been heating up as he hit the turn with consecutive birdies to get into the red for the first time this week. Earlier, Dustin Johnson was purring as his tee shot at the par-3 4th landed within six feet to move within a shot of the lead. But the conditions were changing and the wind was starting to pick up. As McIlroy took a long stare at the flag at the 3rd after it changed direction, it was clear Augusta was baring its teeth. McIlroy faltered and Johnson had a little mid-round crisis around the turn, which is where the wind was swirling and gusting with menace. Tiger Woods will continue his story into the weekend (Getty Images) Sungjae Im, the overnight leader at -5, made it there at level par for the day, recovering from an opening bogey, but his back nine would be an eventful ride. Dropped shots at the 10th and 12th were rescued by sensational birdies at the 13th and 16th, but even they were sandwiched between finding the water for a bogey-six at the par-5 15th. As Im held the lead at -3 it opened up the competition to even those who started the day in the positive figures. He was joined by Schwartzel who got out early to post a three-under-69. Its getting harder, he said of the wind from the safety of the clubhouse. I think we had some fortune teeing off earlier. Its going to be a tough afternoon. And so it proved. Smith bogeyed the 1st, an improvement on his double bogey there yesterday, but a second bogey at the 4th saw him relinquish the lead. For a player who came into the week in such promising form and who appeared to master the greens in between his first and last holes on Thursday, such a round was unexpected, even if he did get back to -2 with improved play later on. In stepped Willett, the 2016 Masters champion on the hunt for another taste of victory at Augusta, who birdied the 2nd to take the outright lead. Johnson held it together on the back nine with a string of pars to remain firmly in contention at -2, or so it seemed based on those early scores. Morikawa birdied the 16th to post a handy round of 70, although would have been wondering what could have been after a bizarre error with his usually trusty irons led to a bogey after finding the water at the 11th. That was also where McIlroy met his undoing, a double-bogey six puncturing his chances, before he played out his round under par to finish +2 overall. He has already conceded that his wait for a Masters title will extend to another year. Shane Lowrys 68 was one of the rounds of the day (Getty Images) For a moment, three former Masters winners shared the lead as defending champion Hideki Matsuyama joined Schwartzel and Willett, but it would not last for long. WIllett landed in trouble with his approach at 10 before the 11th found another victim, his putt running through the green. Three bogeys in a row were capped at 12 and in such a tight leaderboard he plummeted down. A tricky day, he later admitted. Matsuyamas control of Augusta from last year appeared to be continuing and the defending champion hitting the front seemed to be an ominous sign for the rest of the field, although Scheffler was unmoved. The American rounded the front nine with a pair of birdies to hit the front and when the pressure moments came he held his nerve. A testing uphill putt on the lightning 11th green saved par before he drilled his approach to within 12 feet of the hole at the 12th to set up birdie. Another followed at the 13th after finding his ball amongst the photographers on his approach, only to get up and down in two. He was thriving in his status as the World No. 1, just as Lowry was also beginning to have some fun. After a bogey at the first left him at +2, he quietly got to work down the front nine before a chip-in for birdie at the 10th to move him into the red ensured he could not slip under the radar any longer. He then played the par 5s to perfection. Afterwards, the former Open champion said it was one of the rounds of his life. But the afternoon was Schefflers. He also picked up shots at the par-5s, before a brilliant birdie at 16 made a mockery of the earlier difficulties experienced throughout the course. The green jacket is now his to lose. The South Carolina Senate has passed a bill that would ban businesses from refusing to serve people who havent gotten the COVID-19 vaccine and prevent public employers from requiring the shots. The Senate approved the bill 29-12 on Wednesday. Senators made changes to a House bill which that chamber passed in December, meaning the proposal returns to the House to see if it accepts those changes. Senators initially put in a large unemployment tax penalty for private businesses that fired unvaccinated workers. But instead they compromised to allow fired workers to collect unemployment benefits, retroactive to the last nine months. ALSO READ: Transgender athlete ban heads to South Carolina Senate floor Opponents of the Republican-backed bill questioned why a group that typically says government shouldnt tell businesses what to do is taking up this fight. Supporters of the bill said they were trying to protect the choice of people who dont want to take the COVID-19 vaccine. The proposal bans state and local governments and public schools from requiring vaccines for their employers, contractors or students and also says first responders cant be fired for refusing a COVID-19 shot. The House can either agree to the Senates changes, sending the bill to Gov. Henry McMasters desk, or insist on its version of the bill, meaning a small group of House members and senators will have to work on a compromise between the two versions. (WATCH BELOW: South Carolina schedules 1st execution with firing squad ready) The strategy chief hire aims to increase dialogue with Starbucks baristas amid union drives. AP Starbucks will hire a strategy chief amid more bids for unionization by baristas, per The WSJ. Starbucks' CEO previously said that the chain was "being assaulted by the threat of unionization." Baristas are seeking improved pay, better treatment, and a say in company strategy. Starbucks is adding a strategy chief as the group grows increasingly anxious at the pace of its cafes' unionization efforts, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday. The publication reported that the coffee chain would bring in Frank Britt as a new senior executive to specialize in worker relations. It comes as CEO Howard Schultz, who returned to Starbucks as CEO on Monday, continues to make his opposition to unionization known. Six branches in New York State voted on Thursday and Friday to join the Starbucks Workers United union, with two stores in Rochester voting 10-3 and 13-11 and one in Buffalo 18-1 earlier this week. More votes are planned next week in Massachusetts, Virginia and Oregon branches. In total, The WSJ reported that more than 180 of the chain's 9,000 corporate stores had petitioned for union votes. Starbucks did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment made outside of normal working hours. Unionization drives in the US are picking up momentum, with Amazon's workers in Staten Island, New York, last week becoming the first to unionize. The company is planning to appeal against the decision, however. According to Starbucks Workers United, baristas are seeking improved pay, better treatment and working conditions, and a bigger say in the company's overall strategy. Last summer, Starbucks announced it was raising wages for its employees to a minimum of $12 an hour to come into effect from last October. In its 2021 annual report, the company said the average hourly wage of its retail employees would be nearly $17 by summer this year. Insider's Grace Dean reported in February that former and current workers said they were being mistreated by rude customers as pandemic restrictions lifted. Story continues The hiring of a strategy chief is expected to increase dialogue between management, unions, and workers after recent hostilities, as the group sought to prevent union drives. In February, Insider reported that Starbucks had fired "several" employees seeking to unionize in Memphis, Tennessee, after they had let a TV crew into a branch. In his first Town Hall meeting since being reinstated as Starbucks CEO, Schultz said Starbucks was "being assaulted by the threat of unionization." His comments were captured in a video posted to Twitter by US labor group More Perfect Union on Monday. Schultz also said that Starbucks would never have been able to expand in the face of unions, and that the company's pro-worker stance meant it "does not need someone in between us and our people." A spokesperson for Starbucks said: "With Howard's return as CEO, we are deeply engaged in work to reimagine the partner (employee) and customer experience. We are excited to welcome Frank who brings deep workforce development expertise to Starbucks as a part of the efforts underway." Read the original article on Business Insider The union representing Starbucks workers continues to grow every week. Workers at all three of the coffee chains locations in Ithaca, New York, voted almost unanimously to join the union Workers United on Friday. The election results for the trio of stores were 19-1, 13-1 and 15-1. Meanwhile, workers at a store in Overland Park, Kansas, voted 6-1 in favor of unionizing, although several ballots have been challenged and could still change the outcome. The union said it expects to prevail once the National Labor Relations Board, the federal agency that oversees union elections, has reviewed the eligibility of the challenged votes. The election wins Friday came on the heels of three other victories the day before, when workers at a group of Starbucks stores in the Buffalo and Rochester areas of New York all voted to unionize. Following this weeks vote counts, the campaign known as Starbucks Workers United has won 16 elections and lost only one, and now represents hundreds of workers in several states. All told, the campaign has filed for elections at roughly 200 stores around the country, making it likely many more will choose to unionize. Starbucks has roughly 9,000 corporate-owned stores in the U.S., and these are the first in the country to have union representation. High-profile union backers including Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) congratulated the campaign on its success Friday, with Sanders calling it an enormous inspiration to workers all across the country. THREE MORE enormous victories for @SBWorkersUnited! This movement of workers standing up and asserting their right to dignity and respect on the job has been an enormous inspiration to workers all across the country. Onward! https://t.co/qJYPQk17Jo Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) April 8, 2022 Starbucks has opposed the union campaign and held meetings with workers urging them to vote against the union. The company has managed to delay elections by filing appeals with the NLRB, arguing that workers should vote in elections on a regional basis, rather than for individual stores, but the labor board has rejected Starbucks arguments. Story continues The company has fired several workers who happen to be union activists, including seven from a store in Memphis, Tennessee. Workers United has filed charges with the labor board arguing that the firings are retaliatory and meant to purge union supporters from the ranks. Starbucks has said it fired the Memphis workers because they violated company policy by allowing nonemployees into the store outside of work hours. Bloomberg reported Friday that the labor board has determined the Memphis firings were illegal and intends to pursue a case against Starbucks unless the company chooses to settle. The labor boards actions could result in workers being reinstated on the job. The Starbucks campaign has filed for union elections at roughly 200 stores around the country. The Starbucks campaign began last year in Buffalo, where workers unionized the first store in December. The organizing effort has spread like wildfire since then, with the union announcing new election petitions every week. Former longtime CEO Howard Schultz recently returned to the helm of the company as it battles the organizing drive. In a recent talk with employees, Schultz said he was not anti-union, yet described the union campaign in dark terms. We cant ignore what is happening in the country as it relates to companies throughout the country being assaulted, in many ways, by the threat of unionization, he said. The Starbucks union effort coincides with a growing organizing campaign at Amazon. The tech giant recently saw its first U.S. warehouse unionize when workers at the JFK8 facility in Staten Island, New York, voted 2,654 to 2,131 in favor of joining the new Amazon Labor Union. Workers there overcame an intense anti-union campaign waged by Amazon managers and outside consultants. Amazon has already signaled it intends to challenge the vote and have the election results thrown out. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - The leader of Sweden's second-biggest opposition party will, should neighbour Finland apply to join NATO, suggest that his party change its stance towards favouring a Swedish membership, he told daily Svenska Dagbladet. A change of stance by the Sweden Democrats party would mean a swing to a parliamentary majority in favour of long-neutral Sweden joining the alliance. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has prompted the two countries to consider joining, although Sweden is more hesitant than Finland which has a 1,300 km border with Russia. The Finnish government has said it would clarify next steps in the coming weeks regarding a possible decision to seek membership. "Then (if Finland applies) my ambition is to go to the party council with a request that we change our mind," the paper on Saturday quoted Sweden Democrats party leader Jimmie Akesson as saying in an interview. "What's changed now is that Finland is very clearly moving towards a NATO membership and there are many indications this may happen in the near future. That, and the fact Ukraine, which is not a NATO member, is completely alone, has made me turn." The nationalist Sweden Democrats said last month, after a poll showed a majority of Swedes for the first time in favour of joining NATO, that it was reviewing its stance. (Reporting by Anna Ringstrom; Editing by Angus MacSwan) Flash Russia hopes that its special military operation in Ukraine will end "in the foreseeable future," Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday. The operation is continuing and Russia's goals are being achieved, while substantive work is being carried out both in the military sphere and at the negotiation table, Peskov said at a daily briefing. In an interview with the Sky News on Thursday, Peskov said that "our military are doing their best to bring an end to that operation." "And we do hope that in coming days, in the foreseeable future, this operation will reach its goals or will finish ... by the negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian delegations," he said. Moscow and Kiev have conducted several rounds of peace talks to seek a political settlement to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, which has intensified over the past month. The outcomes of these talks, as delegations from both sides have indicated, are expected to lay an important foundation for the de-escalation of tensions between Russia and Ukraine, but key divergences have yet to be resolved. Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Getty Images The marquee TED conference kicks off this Sunday in Vancouver, with more than 1,000 power brokers gathering to toss around world-shaking ideas. But among the futurists and physicists and artists, the sold-out event will also function as a reunion of sorts for the late sex offender Jeffrey Epsteins web of connections. According to a private app that lists the conferences attendees and speakers, a portion of which was revealed to The Daily Beast, those with alleged ties to Epstein include Bill Gates, former MIT Media Lab director Joi Ito (listed as a remote attendee), Elon Musk, Google founder Sergey Brin, computer scientist Danny Hillis, and former Gates adviser Boris Nikolic, who was named as a backup executor in Epsteins last will and testament. The breadth of connections demonstrates just how much influence Epstein was able to cultivate in the years before he was found dead in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019. Each person had a different level of proximity to Epstein. Gates, for instance, met with the disgraced financier numerous times, as The Daily Beast has previously reported. Hillis, meanwhile, got to know Epstein in the years before his 2008 guilty plea; the pair used to gab about currency trading. He has something a physicist would call physical intuition, Hillis told New York magazine of Epsteins investing prowess in 2002. That year, Epsteins accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell sent packages via FedEx to a number of people including Hillis, according to testimony at the British socialites criminal trial in December 2021. The scientist also met with him as recently as 2015, according to a 2020 report from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Epsteins ties and donations to the school. MIT Media Lab Rocked by New Jeffrey Epstein Revelations Epstein himself attended the TED conference over the years, including in 2002 and 2011, and at least tried to mingle with attendees in 2013. In the early 2000s, TED coincided with the Edge Foundations ultra-exclusive billionaires dinners, run by literary agent John Brockman, which Epstein and his inner circle attended. TED was hard to get into, yet Jeffrey could show up with 11 people and they would all get passes, one former regular at the conference told The Daily Beast, adding that the multimillionaire once brought an entourage that included young women, with his assistant Sarah Kellen and former model Kelly Bovino among them. Story continues Indeed, some acquaintances of Epstein claim they met him at TED. When Nathan Myhrvold, former chief technology officer at Microsoft, was asked about his association with Epstein in 2019, his spokesperson told Vanity Fair: Back in the day Epstein was a regular at TED conferences and he was a large donor to basic scientific research, so while Nathan knew him and has socialized with him, thats exactly where their association ends. The MIT report also stated that Linda Stonea longtime associate of Epstein, former Microsoft executive, and member of the MIT Media Labs Advisory Councilintroduced the financier to Ito at TED in February 2013. The document added, however, that several witnesses claimed Epstein was barred by the conference organizers from attending the TED Conferences; and so Epstein instead met people in the hallways or in a hotel lobby. The individuals mentioned in this story did not respond to emails about whether they would attend this years conference, save for Hillis, who confirmed he would be there. The event remains highly exclusive. A membership at TED (assuming ones application is accepted) starts at $5,000. A $250,000 option includes five years of membership, special concierge services, and extra opportunities to mingle with speakers. Jeffrey Epsteins Sick Story Played Out for Years in Plain Sight This years five-day event kicks off with appearances from the likes of Gary Kasparov, Pulitzer winner Alison Killing, and Olympian Allyson Felix, and concludes with a farewell picnic. The conference is unlikely to highlight the controversial associations of some of its members. Bill Gates is listed as a speaker on the TED 2022 website, though he is not included in the conferences published schedule. (TED did not respond to an email seeking clarification.) The billionaire previously spoke at TED in 2015 about the potential risks of a global pandemic. Gates Epstein links are now well documented. They reportedly met for the first time at the financiers New York City townhouse, three years after Epstein had pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor. The pair stayed in touch; Gates even hitched a ride to Florida on Epsteins private jet in 2013, as The New York Times reported in 2019. (His spokesperson insisted that he didnt know Epstein owned the plane.) Sources previously told The Daily Beast that Gates enjoyed holding court at Epsteins Manhattan lair, which he allegedly saw as an escape from his toxic marriage. The high-powered philanthropist also hoped that the wealthy sex offender could help him obtain the Nobel Peace Prize, according to former Gates Foundation staff. Gates ex-wife, Melinda, said in a televised interview last month that his meetings with Epstein were partly to blame for the demise of their marriage. She claimed she met Epstein exactly once and immediately determined that he was abhorrent. Nikolic, a former adviser to Gates, also spent time with Epstein and reportedly acted as an intermediary between the two men. The biotech venture capitalist met Epstein through Melanie Walker, a neuroscientist who worked at the Gates Foundation starting in 2006. The Times published a photo of Nikolic at Epsteins New York mansion in 2011. He posed for the photo alongside Gates, then-JPMorgan executive Jes Staley, and former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers. Days before Epstein died in 2019, he signed a last will and testament that named Nikolic as a backup executor to his roughly $600 million estate. Nikolic declined to take on the position and said he was shocked to learn he was named in the document. I was not consulted in these matters and I have no intent to fulfill these duties, whatsoever, Nikolic said in a statement. Musk, for his part, met Epstein at a dinner event several years ago organized by LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman. He acknowledged to Vanity Fair that he went to Epsteins house for about half an hour, but said he did so at the urging of his ex-wife, who was curious about meeting this strange person for a novel she was writing. Melinda Gates Warned Bill About Jeffrey Epstein Another report in Insider suggested that Epstein set up Musks brother with a woman in an attempt to gain closer access to the billionaire. That report also alleged that Epstein had received a private tour at Musks rocket company, SpaceX, a claim Musk denied. Musk also reportedly attended a dinner event with Epstein in California in 2011, alongside Sergey Brin and other tech luminaries. No surprise: they had assembled for a TED conference. As for Ito, the entrepreneur resigned from MITs Media Lab in the fall of 2019, when Epsteins donations and access to prestigious universities were under increased scrutiny. (Ito wasnt the only MIT researcher to enjoy Epsteins largesse. The late computer scientist Marvin Minsky received at least $100,000 from Epstein for research, and professor Seth Lloyd, who visited Epstein while he was on work release in Florida in 2008, snagged at least $225,000.) Ito cultivated Epstein as a Media Lab donor after meeting him at TED in 2013, and from that point through 2017, the financier made six donations totaling $525,000. Ito held out hope that Epstein might make donations in the millions, MITs report on Epstein states. In 2018, Ito tried unsuccessfully to get $1.5 million from Epstein to fund research by Media Lab scientist Caleb Harper, who created a personal food computer but which apparently didnt function as advertised. Harper gave a TED talk about his device in 2015, and video of the event has since been removed from TEDs website. Ito attended meetings with Epstein, one of which included actor Woody Allen, and visited several of his homes. Epstein would bankroll two of Itos personal ventures, too, providing $250,000 for a company formed to commercialize technology created at the school and dropping $1 million into a $9-million private investment fund run by Ito. MITs report indicated that Ito claimed Epsteins investments were being held in escrow and that he was attempting to eject Epsteins money from those ventures. The sex predator also claimed in 2014 to arrange anonymous million-dollar donations to MIT from his billionaire friends: Gates and hedge-funder Leon Black. Gates denied ever donating money at Epsteins request, while Black hasnt commented on the allegation. Days after Epsteins jailhouse suicide in August 2019, Ito published a mea culpa on MITs website. I met Epstein in 2013 at a conference through a trusted business friend and, in my fundraising efforts for MIT Media Lab, I invited him to the Lab and visited several of his residences, Ito said in the statement. I want you to know that in all of my interactions with Epstein, I was never involved in, never heard him talk about, and never saw any evidence of the horrific acts that he was accused of. Prior to resigning from his post, Ito also vowed to raise an amount equivalent to Epsteins donations that he said he would give to charities supporting survivors of trafficking. The Daily Beast could not immediately confirm if he followed through. Ito is now an adviser at the Center of Complex Interventions, which is funded by a company Ito co-founded, the Reid Hoffman Foundation, and the Sergey Brin Family Foundation. Hoffman has also apologized for funneling Epsteins money to MIT. Still, Ito may face trouble making a comeback. When the @TEDpartners Twitter account shared a post tagging him in January, users began to take swipes at the scholars Epstein donations. Ditch the pedo money laundering criminal or expect a total boycott, one person replied. Another observer fumed, um... why you promoting people associated with Epstein? Is that the future everyone wants? And in a sign that TED understands the bad optics, the Twitter post was subsequently removed. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. A Texas man who shot and killed a man at a Burnsville hotel last summer after acting paranoid and claiming the government was coming to get him was found not guilty by reason of mental illness Friday, authorities said. Ricky Eloy Ramirez, 25, of Houston, was charged in the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Sheldon Jeremy Williams, of South Carolina, on July 23. Ramirez had waived his right to a jury trial on his defenses of not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental illness, according to Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena. According to the criminal complaint, Ramirez was in town with his girlfriend and father. The men had just started working the day before. Both the girlfriend and father told police that Ramirez had been fine, but then on July 22, his behavior changed. He became paranoid. He armed himself with a gun and said the government was coming to get him, the complaint states. When he was arrested, police heard him say that someone in a room at Burnsville Inn & Suites had an AR and they have 100 more. Police found no evidence to support his claim and Ramirezs father said he did not believe anyone was out to get his son, the complaint stated. On July 23, Burnsville police were called after a report of shots fired. Hotel personnel told police there was a man running around on the second floor. Officers found Ramirez standing in the hall talking on a phone with a handgun near his feet, according to the complaint. When officers asked who had been shot, Ramirez pointed to Williams and said, Him right there. I shot him, the complaint said. Williams, who had been shot six times, was pronounced dead at the scene. Hotel video surveillance showed Ramirez walking around the second floor hallway near Williams room. When the Williams came out into the hallway, Ramirez is seen firing the gun multiple times before Williams drops to the ground, according to the complaint. On the video, it did not appear that Williams had a weapon of any kind in his hands, the compliant states. Related Articles A 26-year-old Texas woman was finally released from jail Saturday after she was arrested and charged with murder for what authorities called a self-induced abortion. Lizelle Herrera was arrested Thursday and held two nights in jail after officials said she intentionally and knowingly cause[d] the death of an individual by self-induced abortion, according to a spokesperson for the Starr County Sheriffs Office. No details about the abortion or fetus were provided. On Sunday, Starr County District Attorney Gocha Allen Ramirez told Texas Public Radio that he filed a motion to dismiss the murder charge against Herrera. Ramirez said the instance was not a criminal offense under state law, according to TPR. Herrera was released on bail, which was set at $500,000, and has retained legal counsel, according to a statement from La Frontera Fund, an abortion assistance fund based in the Rio Grande Valley, which organized a protest Saturday morning outside the Starr County Jail in Rio Grande City. Breaking News!!! Lizelle has been released on bail and has secured legal counsel. With permission from her family, Frontera Fund has started a legal defense and reconciliation fund to support Lizelle and her family. Donate here https://t.co/BgqPHA4NON#Justice4Lizelle Frontera Fund (@LaFronteraFund) April 9, 2022 Rockie Gonzalez, founder and board chair of Frontera, called the arrest inhumane. Criminalizing pregnant peoples choices or pregnancy outcomes, which the state of Texas has done, takes away peoples autonomy over their own bodies, and leaves them with no safe options when they choose not to become a parent, Gonzalez said Friday, Texas Public Radio reported. URGENT ACTION Show up in support of Lizelle Herrera who is being wrongfully charged with murder. Join us TOMORROW, 4/9/22 at 9AM, at Starr County Jail to call out the unjust incarceration of Lizelle Herrera.#FreeLizelle#FronteraFundRGV#StopPolicingOurBodiespic.twitter.com/Kr25QU7z0s Frontera Fund (@LaFronteraFund) April 9, 2022 University of Texas Law Professor Stephen Vladeck told The Associated Press that Texas law exempts Herrera from a homicide charge for aborting her own pregnancy, so its difficult to understand how she could be charged with murder for a self-induced abortion. Story continues Homicide doesnt apply to the murder of an unborn child if the conduct charged is conduct committed by the mother of the unborn child, Vladeck said. The arrest represented a further chilling crackdown on women in Texas and a disturbing challenge to the inviolability of an individuals own body. It follows last years passage of the harshest reproductive rights law in the nation, which allows abortions for only a few weeks after pregnancy, before the detection of an embryos so-called heartbeat actually a cluster of cells that emit electrical signals. Thats before most people typically even know theyre pregnant. The law, which has inspired several copycat bills in other states, provides no exceptions for pregnancies caused by rape or incest. It allows private citizens to sue anyone who performs an abortion or aids and abets a procedure. That includes the families or friends of rapists who impregnate a woman against her will. The law has forced thousands of women to travel out of Texas to obtain abortions if they can afford to do so. A study last month at the University of Texas at Austins Policy Evaluation Project found that from last September to December, nearly 1,400 Texans each month were traveling to neighboring states for abortions. Another study in the Journal of the American Medical Association by a University of Texas researcher found a surge in the number of Texans requesting abortion pills from the overseas nonprofit Aid Access. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... KVEO reported that Texas police arrested a 26-year-old woman for allegedly performing a self-induced abortion. It is unclear was prompted the arrest, but Texas has moved to enact restrictions on access to abortions. "This arrest is inhumane," pro-choice advocates said following reports of the arrest. A woman in Texas was arrested and charged with murder after performing a self-induced abortion, according to local police. The Starr County Sheriff's Office arrested 26-year-old Lizelle Herrera on Thursday after she "intentionally and knowingly cause the death of an individual by self-induced abortion," a police spokesperson told KVEO, a local news affiliate of both NBC and CBS. It is unclear was prompted the arrest, but Texas has moved to enact restrictions on access to abortions. A law, called SB 8, prohibits anyone from obtaining an abortion after six weeks of pregnancy. That's a point at which most people do not yet know they are pregnant. It was passed last year in the state. Individuals, including doctors, who violate the law can be sued, which would likely result in a minimum of $10,000 in statutory damages per abortion. Abortion clinics in Texas have tried to block the law in court, arguing it would prohibit care for "at least 85% of Texas abortion patients." Herrera is being held in custody at the sheriff's office on a $500,000 bond, according to KVEO. La Frontera Fund, an abortion assistance group based in the Rio Grande Valley area, planned a protest Saturday outside the jail where Herrera is being held. "This arrest is inhumane. We are demanding the immediate release of Lizelle Herrera.' said Frontera Fund founder Rockie Gonzalez said, according to Texas Public Radio. "What is alleged is that she was in the hospital and had a miscarriage and divulged some information to hospital staff, who then reported her to the police." The Starr County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment asking for more information on the incident. Story continues "This is a developing story and we don't yet know all the details surrounding this tragic event," Gonzalez told Texas Public Radio. "What we do know is that criminalizing pregnant people's choices or pregnancy outcomes, which the state of Texas has done, takes away people's autonomy over their own bodies, and leaves them with no safe options when they choose not to become a parent." When SB 8 was introduced, abortion clinics in states neighboring Texas told Insider they were flooded with requests for reproductive healthcare from people who could no longer acquire it in Texas. Read the original article on Business Insider Tiger Woods did not putt as well Friday as he did in the first round of the Masters, above reacting to a missed birdie attempt on the 16th green. (David J. Phillip / Associated Press) Tiger Woods proved again Friday that his reconstructed legs can take the punishment of walking Augusta National. And at least at the midway point Scottie Scheffler is threatening to run away with the Masters. On a blustery day when gusting winds pushed golf balls in all sorts of unpredictable directions, Scheffler showed why hes ranked No. 1 in the world and has won three tournaments in the last six weeks. While players all around him saw their rounds flutter away in the breeze, Scheffler shot a five-under-par 67 two strokes better than his outstanding Thursday round to take a five-shot lead into the weekend. It was a heady performance for a player who, having surveyed the early scores Friday, said he would have been satisfied with an even-par afternoon round. The front nine was such a grind, said Scheffler, who overcame two early bogeys with seven birdies the rest of the way. The wind was crazy. There was some times where we saw the sand blowing up out of the bunkers out there. It was ridiculous. I think we were a little bit fortunate that it did die down a little bit towards the end of the day. As expected, Woods attracted the biggest gallery by far as he continues his stunning comeback from a catastrophic rollover car accident 14 months ago. He appeared to swing more freely Friday and hit 10 of 14 fairways, and though he struggled with four bogeys in the first five holes, never veered irrevocably off course. He finished with six bogeys and four birdies, and is one-over par well below the four-over cut line. The five-time Masters winner has made the cut at Augusta 22 times in a row, the longest active streak by far. The Masters record of 23 is held by Fred Couples and Gary Player. Scottie Scheffler did not allow a little sand to stop him from taking a five-stroke lead after the second round of the Masters. (Jae C. Hong / Associated Press) The Saturday forecast calls for temperatures in the 50s and winds up to 16 mph. Tomorrow is going to be tough, Woods said. It's going to be windy. It's going to be cool. It's going to be the Masters that I think the Masters Committee has been looking forward to for a number of years. We haven't had it like this. Story continues It's going to be exciting, and it's going to be fun for all of us. Some familiar names didnt make the cut. Among the players who failed were Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka, Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau. Justin Thomas recovered from an opening-round 76 to share low-round honors with Scheffler at 67. It was just one of those weird days yesterday where I just couldn't get focused, he said of his Thursday performance. I couldn't get into the round. I just couldn't get into the moment, which is sad and a bummer on the first round of the Masters. But I'm really proud of myself. I very easily could be going home right now, and not only am I not, but I'm in a really good spot going into this weekend. Thomas is at minus-one, as is Collin Morikawa, who followed a 73 with a 70. He has won two majors the 2020 PGA Championship and last years British Open and said hes just angling to be within striking range in his final nine holes of the tournament. It's been a lot about winning, and that's nothing wrong against that, but sometimes you have to put things in perspective and just give yourself a chance and just let things kind of fall out from there, he said. Hopefully by Sunday we can do that. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Local authorities and charities say lone children are arriving in the UK without any adult who has parental or caring responsibility for them (AP) Lone children fleeing Ukraine are being housed with adults under the UKs refugee schemes scheme without proper checks taking place, The Independent can reveal. More than 200,000 Britons have signed up to the government programme which allows UK sponsors to match with Ukrainians fleeing the war. In total 1,200 refugees have arrived under the scheme so far, while a further 10,800 have come under the family scheme, which allows Ukrainian refugees to join relatives in Britain. But while the government claims unaccompanied children are not eligible for either scheme, The Independent is aware of cases in which minors have been granted visas and arrived in the UK without a legal guardian. Authorities warn that gaps in the vetting process mean cases are falling through the net, prompting concerns about exploitation and trafficking, with more than 4.5 million Ukrainian children displaced in recent weeks, some of whom have been separated from parents and family. The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents councils, said authorities had seen lone children arriving without any adult who had parental or caring responsibility for them. The Independent is raising money for the people of Ukraine if you would like to donate then please click here for our GoFundMe page. Refugees from Ukraine in temporary accommodation in Krakow, Poland (Anadolu Agency via Getty) Lisa Nandy, Labours shadow levelling up secretary, said local authorities and charities were getting far too little information and support on how to respond. Describing the situation as disgraceful, she added: This was always a risk with this DIY refugee scheme. The government should have taken charge of matching sponsors to refugees from day one. Before Michael Gove launched Homes for Ukraine he didnt even pick up the phone to councils and charities the people who would be responsible for looking after vulnerable children. The LGA said it was unclear if councils were expected to take unaccompanied children into care. In one case, an unaccompanied child recently arrived in Redbridge council after being matched with an unrelated adult under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Story continues The council said it did not have safeguarding concerns about the case, but that it would follow up with the Home Office to better understand what safeguarding checks were done when agreeing to the match. Britons have been opening their homes to refugees but the process has been criticised as DIY (PA Wire) When an application is made to the Homes for Ukraine scheme which can only happen once the applicant has found a sponsor who can host them in the UK the match appears on a portal that local councils can access so that they can begin carrying out safeguarding checks. But the LGA has said that in some cases councils are only being told who is arriving in their local area once matches have been made and visa granted, with many reporting significant issues with the data. The organisation also called for councils to be given advance notice of new arrivals under the family scheme, in particular if there are individuals or families with vulnerabilities, to enable local services to meet their needs. Kevin Bonavia, of Lewisham Council, said some locals had tried to match with unaccompanied minors, adding: Fortunately none have been approved as yet, but were worried that they will be and we will need to scramble to intervene. Weve heard of this happening in another council, so its a real concern. We cant allow vulnerable children to fall through the net. Sian Summers-Rees, of charity City of Sanctuary UK, described one case of a couple that applied to sponsor two 17-year-olds they met via social media, and were reportedly told when they contacted Home Office that the children were eligible under the sponsorship scheme. The ones coming to our attention are people who are well-intentioned, but obviously theres a massive concern that there are people who are signing up to it for sinister reasons. There are serious exploitation and trafficking concerns, she said. We also know of cases where minors have arrived with people who are not their parents or carers. Steve Crocker, of the Association of Directors of Childrens Services, said the Ukraine schemes were not designed with unaccompanied children in mind. He said: We continue to raise the need for any current and future arrangements for Ukrainian refugees to be child-focused and for local authorities to get necessary information, including about the age of arrivals, as soon as possible so that we can plan accordingly, and so childrens needs can be met in the short and long term. A government spokesperson said councils should use normal safeguarding processes if an unaccompanied Ukrainian child arrives. This map shows the extent of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (Press Association Images) Claire OMeara, of Unicef, said: Whilst the scheme offers a valuable route for those fleeing the war, it has not been designed to support unaccompanied children who require additional care and support. There is a fine balance between getting children to safety as quickly as possible whilst doing so in a way that does not cause further harm or trauma. Unaccompanied children must therefore only be brought to the UK where it is in their best interests to do so, and their safety can be ensured. A government spokesperson said safeguarding checks were in place and would ensure visa applications from unaccompanied minors were not approved by the Home Office. The Independent has a proud history of campaigning for the rights of the most vulnerable, and we first ran our Refugees Welcome campaign during the war in Syria in 2015. Now, as we renew our campaign and launch this petition in the wake of the unfolding Ukrainian crisis, we are calling on the government to go further and faster to ensure help is delivered. To find out more about our Refugees Welcome campaign, click here. To sign the petition click here. If you would like to donate then please click here for our GoFundMe page. Vernon Jones speaks to a crowd at a rally featuring former US President Donald Trump on September 25, 2021 in Perry, Georgia. Sean Rayford/Getty Images Vernon Jones, the self-proclaimed "Black Donald Trump," made the comments on Steve Bannon's podcast. He claimed that civil rights for gay people aren't the same because "they can actually change." Jones, who is running for Georgia's 10th district, is backed by former President Donald Trump. Georgia Republican congressional candidate Vernon Jones said Thursday that civil rights for Black people don't apply to gay people because "they can actually change" to become straight, HuffPost reported. "Let me tell you, civil rights for Blacks and gay rights for gays are two different things," Jones said during an appearance on Steve Bannon's "War Room" podcast. "I don't know what you are unless you tell me what you are if you're gay, but when I walk into that room, you can tell that I'm Black," Jones said. "I'm Black from cradle to grave. Let's not get that confused, but they can actually change." Jones also claimed that people can "go from being straight to being gay to being transgender and all these other genders." He added, "But when you're Black, I don't have a choice. When did gays come over here on ships?" Jones doubled down on this argument on Twitter, saying comparing being Black to being gay is a "damn lie." Vernon Jones For Congress (@VernonForGA) April 9, 2022 The Democrat-turned-Republican is running for Georiga's 10th congressional district. Jones, the self-proclaimed "Black Donald Trump," pledged his support for the former president while serving as a Democrat in the state House of Representatives. Election records, however, show Jones cast a Democrat Party ballot on election day for the presidential primary, per The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Former President Donald Trump endorsed Jones in February, praising him as "an American-first fighter." Read the original article on Business Insider The Memphis Police Department (MPD) is asking for the publics help to locate two men who allegedly robbed a man of money. On April 7, officers responded to the 3600 block of Mendenhall Road at the McDonalds just after 3 p.m. for a robbery. The victim told police that two men came to McDonalds so he could buy a car. According to a release, the suspects requested to see the money for the car and when the victim showed the suspects the cash, one of the suspects pulled a black handgun and demanded the money. Both suspects left the area with the money in hand and never showed the car, police said. Anyone with information about this incident should call CrimeStoppers at 528-CASH. Download the FOX13 Memphis app to receive alerts from breaking news in your neighborhood. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD Trending stories: (Reuters) - The White Houses top Asia official is set to travel to the Solomon Islands in a rare high-level visit that underscores alarm in Washington over the Pacific nations security pact with China, the Financial Times reported on Friday. Citing four people familiar with the plan, the newspaper said Kurt Campbell will fly to the Solomon Islands this month and is expected to travel with Daniel Kritenbrink, the top State Department Asia official. (Reporting by Vishal Vivek in Bengaluru; Editing by William Mallard) (Reuters) -Britain's Boris Johnson, one of Ukraine's staunchest backers, flew to Kyiv on Saturday to pledge tighter sanctions on Russia and offer President Volodymyr Zelenskiy more defensive arms, a move the Ukrainian leader said others should follow. At a meeting shrouded in secrecy until Johnson appeared in the Ukrainian capital, the two leaders cemented the close ties they have nurtured since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. The move caps weeks of lobbying by Johnson to meet Zelenskiy. With both men standing at podiums in front of cameras, they praised each other for their cooperation since the Russian invasion, which Moscow calls a "special operation" to demilitarise and "denazify" its neighbour. Zelenskiy rejects the description, saying Russia is bent on destroying his country. "We must put more and more pressure on the Russian Federation, work harder to help the people of Ukraine defend it against the Russian Federation, and step up sanctions," Zelenskiy said. "Other democratic Western states should follow the example of Great Britain. It's time to impose a complete ban on Russian energy supplies, and increase the delivery of weapons to us." Johnson replied: "Together with our partners, we are going to ratchet up the economic pressure and we will continue to intensify, week by week, the sanctions on Russia." He added that the measures would include moving away from the use of Russian hydrocarbons. Earlier, his Downing Street office said Britain would provide the country with 120 armoured vehicles and new anti-ship missile systems. Johnson's aides say the two leaders have spoken almost daily since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The British leader, under pressure over alleged parties at his Downing Street residence during a COVID-19 lockdown, has been vocal in his support of Zelenskiy. Earlier on Saturday, the Ukrainian leader's office published pictures showing the two men chatting across a table. Story continues Johnson met Zelenskiy "in a show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people", a Downing Street spokesperson said. On Zelenskiy's Telegram channel, Johnson was described as "one of the most principled opponents of the Russian invasion, a leader in putting sanctions on Russia and providing defensive support to Ukraine". (Reporting by Pavel Polityuk, Elizabeth Piper, William Schomberg and Natalia Zinets; Writing by Nerijus Adomaitis; Editing by Angus MacSwan, Alex Richardson and Jan Harvey) Flash The White House held an event Friday afternoon to mark the Senate confirmation of the first African American woman for the Supreme Court. U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris showed up at the South Lawn, alongside Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, in front of a cheering crowd. Biden underlined in his remarks that Jackson "showed the incredible character and integrity" in the face of a contentious confirmation in the Senate. "I knew the person I nominated would be put through a painful and difficult confirmation process," the veteran Democrat continued. "What Judge Jackson was put through was well beyond that." Jackson, emotional at the event, said that "it is the greatest honor of my life." The Senate confirmed Jackson for the nation's highest court in a 53 to 47 vote, which fell largely along party lines. Republicans explained their opposition by casting doubt on Jackson's judicial record, accusing her of leniency in cases, in attacks that Democrats have rejected. Biden announced in late February the nomination of Jackson, 51, to succeed liberal Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, who is about to retire this summer. It was one of Biden's major promises to fill a potential Supreme Court vacancy with an African American woman, which arguably helped turn his 2020 campaign around and set him on a path to the White House. Jackson, who has sat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit since June 2021, won't be sworn in until after Breyer formally retires. Born in Washington, D.C. but raised in Miami, Florida, Jackson received her law degree from Harvard University and graduated cum laude in 1996. Earlier in her legal career, she worked as an assistant federal public defender in D.C. and served as vice-chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission for four years. Jackson also served more than eight years as a judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia before being elevated to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. The Supreme Court is the final appellate court of the U.S. judicial system, with the power to review and overturn lower court decisions, and is also generally the final interpreter of federal law, including the country's constitution. The justices have life tenure and can serve until they die, resign, retire, or are impeached and removed from office. This year, the Supreme Court will rule on cases involving a series of major issues, including abortion, affirmative action, and guns. Court watchers have argued Jackson is expected to vote very similarly to Breyer and her ascension won't change the Supreme Court's ideological balance, in which conservatives have a 6-3 majority over liberals. KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Civilian evacuations moved forward in patches of battle-scarred eastern Ukraine on Saturday, a day after a missile strike killed at least 52 people and wounded more than 100 at a train station where thousands clamored to leave before an expected Russian onslaught. In the wake of the attack in Kramatorsk, several European leaders made efforts to show solidarity with Ukraine, with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson visiting Kyiv the capital city that Russia failed to capture and where troops retreated days ago. Johnson met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a surprise visit in which he pledged new military assistance, including 120 armored vehicles and new anti-ship missile systems. Zelenskyy noted the increased support in an Associated Press interview, but expressed frustration when asked if weapons and other equipment Ukraine has received from the West is sufficient to shift the war's outcome. Not yet, he said, switching to English for emphasis. Of course its not enough. Zelenskyy later thanked Johnson and Nehammer during his nightly video address to the nation. He also thanked the European Commission president and the Canadian prime minister for a global fundraising event that raised more than 10 billion euros ($11 billion) for Ukrainians who have had to flee their homes. He added that democratic countries are united in working to stop the war. Because Russian aggression was not intended to be limited to Ukraine alone. ... The entire European project is a target for Russia. Zelenskyy repeated his call for a complete embargo on Russian oil and gas, which he called the sources of Moscow's self-confidence and impunity. More than six weeks after the invasion began, Russia has pulled its troops from the northern part of the country, around Kyiv, and refocused on the Donbas region in the east. Western military analysts said an arc of territory in eastern Ukraine was under Russian control, from Kharkiv Ukraines second-largest city in the north to Kherson in the south. But counterattacks are threatening Russian control of Kherson, according to the Western assessments, and Ukrainian forces are repelling Russian assaults elsewhere in the Donbas. Story continues Ukrainian authorities have called on civilians to get out ahead of an imminent, stepped-up offensive by Russian forces in the east. With trains not running out of Kramatorsk on Saturday, panicked residents boarded buses or looked for other ways to leave, fearing the kind of unrelenting assaults and occupations by Russian invaders that brought food shortages, demolished buildings and death to other cities. It was terrifying. The horror, the horror," one resident told British broadcaster Sky, recalling Friday's attack on the train station. "Heaven forbid, to live through this again. No, I dont want to. Ukraines state railway company said residents of Kramatorsk and other parts of the Donbas could flee through other train stations. Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said 10 evacuation corridors were planned for Saturday. Zelenskyy called the train station attack the latest example of war crimes by Russian forces and said it should motivate the West to do more to help his country defend itself. Russia denied responsibility and accused Ukraines military of firing on the station to turn blame for civilian casualties on Moscow. A Russian Defense Ministry spokesman detailed the missiles trajectory and Ukrainian troop positions to bolster the argument. Major Gen. Igor Konashenkov alleged Ukraines security services were preparing a cynical staged media operation in Irpin, another town near Kyiv, intended to attribute civilian casualties to Russian forces falsely, he said and to stage the slaying of a fake Russian intelligence team that intended to kill witnesses. The claims could not be independently verified. Western experts and Ukrainian authorities insisted that Russia attacked the station. Remnants of the rocket had the words For the children in Russian painted on it. The phrasing seemed to suggest the missile was sent to avenge the loss or subjugation of children, although its exact meaning remained unclear. Ukrainian authorities have worked to identify victims and document possible war crimes in the country's north. The mayor of Bucha, a town near Kyiv where graphic evidence of civilian slayings emerged after Russian forces withdrew, said search teams were still finding bodies of people shot at close range in yards, parks and city squares. Workers unearthed 67 bodies Friday from a mass grave near a church, according to Ukraine's prosecutor general. Russia has falsely claimed that the scenes in Bucha were staged. Ukrainian and Western officials have repeatedly accused Russian forces of committing atrocities. A total of 176 children have been killed, while 324 more have been wounded, the Prosecutor Generals Office said Saturday. Speaking to AP inside the heavily guarded presidential office complex in Kyiv, Zelenskyy said he is committed to negotiating a diplomatic end to the war even though Russia has tortured Ukraine. He also acknowledged that peace likely will not come quickly. Talks so far have not included Russian President Vladimir Putin or other top officials. We have to fight, but fight for life. You cant fight for dust when there is nothing and no people. Thats why it is important to stop this war, he said. Ukrainian authorities have said they expect to find more mass killings once they reach the southern port city of Mariupol, which is also in the Donbas and has been subjected to a monthlong blockade and intense fighting. As journalists who had been largely absent from the city began to trickle back in, new images emerged of the devastation from an airstrike on a theater last month that reportedly killed hundreds of civilians seeking shelter. Military analysts had predicted for weeks that Russia would succeed in taking Mariupol but said Ukrainian defenders were still putting up a fight. The city's location on the Sea of Azov is critical to establishing a land bridge from the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia seized from Ukraine eight years ago. Many civilians now trying to evacuate are accustomed to living in or near a war zone because Moscow-backed rebels have been fighting Ukrainian forces since 2014 in the Donbas, a mostly Russian-speaking, industrial region. Ukrainian officials have pleaded with Western powers almost daily to send more arms and further punish Moscow with sanctions, including the exclusion of Russian banks from the global financial system and a total EU embargo on Russian gas and oil. Nehammer said during his visit to Kyiv that he expects more EU sanctions against Russia, but he defended his countrys opposition so far to cutting off deliveries of Russian gas. A package of sanctions imposed this week wont be the last one, the chancellor said, acknowledging that as long as people are dying, every sanction is still insufficient. Austria is militarily neutral and not a member of NATO. Johnson's visit came a day after the U.K. pledged an additional 100 million pounds ($130 million) in high-grade military equipment to Ukraine. Johnson also confirmed further economic support, guaranteeing an additional $500 million in World Bank lending to Ukraine, taking Britains total loan guarantee to up to $1 billion. ___ Anna reported from Bucha, Ukraine. Robert Burns in Washington, Jill Lawless and Danica Kirka in London 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 Maryana Berezhnytska didn't think she would ever see atrocities like the ones Russian troops are purported to have committed against civilians amid the war in Ukraine, where she lives with her daughters, 9 and 11. I never thought that there would be a war in our country and that my children would live in fear, she said, speaking from Lviv last week through Facebook Messenger. Berezhnytska and her children are afraid to go outside during the day, and even more fearful at night, tortured by the sounds of sirens. There is no normal life for them. Like all children in our country, she said. All the time we are afraid. Berezhnytska would like to flee Ukraine, joining the more than 4.3 million people who have already left since Russia invaded on Feb. 24. Ideally, she and her girls would relocate to New York, where her mother lives. Both were elated when President Joe Biden announced plans to welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainians and others fleeing the country into the United States. But their initial excitement has waned as the announcement has been slow to materialize. I was very happy when I heard about the opportunity to go to my mother, but it turned out that it was unrealistic for a while, she said. I dont know how long to wait, but Im afraid its too late. Advocacy groups and refugee resettlement agencies said key details are still missing on how and when the U.S. will allow more Ukrainians into the country, including reuniting with families living in the United States. The Biden administration said in late March that the Ukrainians and others would be allowed in to the U.S. through a range of pathways, including the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, nonimmigrant and immigrant visas, and other means. There will also be a focus on welcoming Ukrainians who have family members in the U.S, according to the administration. Additional details are expected in the coming weeks. "This is not something that Poland or Romania or Germany should carry on their own," Biden said in Brussels last month. "This is an international responsibility." Story continues NBC News reported last month that it was unclear what authority Biden would use to expedite the entry of Ukrainians. The White House was considering both humanitarian parole, a presidential authority that does not guarantee permanent legal status, and the Priority-2 designation program, which has been used for Afghans and others escaping war zones, they said. Image: Ukrainians Gather At Border In Mexico With Hopes Of Entering United States (Mario Tama / Getty Images) At a time when a quarter of the population is displaced, the 100,000 commitment cant be aspirational, said Krish OMara Vignarajah, the president and CEO of the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, a refugee resettlement agency. It needs to be the bare minimum of what we do. So, the question is, what comes next? Other outstanding questions include whether the commitment is time-bound, what exact pathways the administration will use and how, and will there be a focus on certain populations, among others, she said. Naomi Steinberg, vice president of policy and advocacy of HIAS, a Jewish American humanitarian organization, said one of the groups "we think should not be forced or should not have to wait in Europe are those with family reunification cases, because clearly they have loved ones here who desperately want them to come. "We need to make sure that these family reunification cases come through the U.S. refugee resettlement program," she said. "We want the administration to rely heavily on resettlement versus humanitarian parole," which does not confer a path to lawful permanent residency or a path to citizenship. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to request for comment. The plea for a more definitive plan comes as new gruesome details about Russia's war in Ukraine have been revealed. Earlier this week, grisly images emerged of slain civilians throughout the city of Bucha, and on Friday, Ukrainian officials said at lesat 50 people, including children, were killed when two rockets hit a railway station in Kramatorsk in the Donetsk region as thousands were trying to evacuate. More than 1,600 civilians have been killed and more than 2,200 injured since Russias attack began, the United Nations said Friday, adding that it believes the actual figures are considerably higher. This week, the mayor of the besieged port city of Mariupol said at least 5,000 people have died since Russia invaded. Residents walk in Bucha, Ukraine (Chris McGrath / Getty Images) As some Ukrainians continue to wait in Ukraine or other parts of Europe, others have resorted to attempting to cross the U.S. southern border to claim asylum a dangerous process that also does not guarantee permanent protections. When families are fleeing a war, receiving protection shouldnt be means-tested, Vignarajah said. I think thats where were gravely concerned. Advocates said the administration should also be doing more to address the immigrants who have been waiting to enter the U.S. after fleeing violence in their home countries. Last week, the administration announced that families and single adult asylum-seekers who had been turned away at the southern border since the start of the pandemic will have their chance to enter the U.S. and make an asylum claim starting May 23. There are currently thousands of migrants living in poor conditions and camps in northern Mexico after being turned back from crossing under the rule, known as Title 42. Vignarajah said that inequity is inappropriate anywhere, especially when it comes to life and death decisions." She said that new U.S. Refugee Admissions Program data showed that the U.S. resettled only 12 Ukrainians in March. Clearly, there is more work to do, she said. In Ukraine, Berezhnytska said she wants people "to know that our children are deprived of childhood and that we just want to save their lives, that they are innocent of what is being done. "We are not asking for money or things. We are asking for help to reunite with a family that will take care of us," she said. "Just give us this chance as soon as possible." Her mother, Lidiya Volosyanko, a sixth grade teacher at a Ukrainian school in New York City, said through tears, I hope that I can save their lives, for my daughter, for my grandkids. I pray every single day, she said. BERLIN (Reuters) - Volkswagen has rejected a shareholder proposal for it to explain how its lobbying activities align with its climate goals - something two of the carmaker's leading competitors have already promised to do, one of the investors said on Friday. A filing by a group of seven shareholders said that while Volkswagen does disclose its trade association memberships, it should go further and say whether the associations' aims are compatible with its emissions-cutting targets. Fellow carmakers Mercedes-Benz and BMW have already committed to doing that. "The Board is failing to deliver transparent oversight of the company's climate lobbying," said Charlotta Sydstrand, sustainability strategist at Swedish pension scheme AP7, one of the shareholders involved in the proposal. Her comments were included in a statement issued by the Church of England Pensions group, which also backed the filing. The statement said Volkswagen had rejected the proposal on the grounds that the issue was deemed to be beyond the competence of the general meeting. Volkswagen was not immediately available for comment. Other supporters of the proposal included Britain's biggest listed asset manager Schroders and a range of Swedish pension funds. Pressure by investors on climate-related issues is growing rapidly. Last week, 34 investors managing more than $7 trillion in assets warned 17 of Europe's largest companies, including Volkswagen, they could challenge board directors over their accounting of climate risks. (Reporting by Victoria Waldersee and Simon Jessop; Editing by Helen Popper) NextShark Indonesian officials announced on Friday that a Russian influencer and her husband will be deported from Bali after they staged a naked photoshoot on a sacred 700-year-old tree three years ago. Alina Fazleeva, who has over 18,000 followers on Instagram, staged a nude photoshoot in 2019 at a weeping paperbark tree inside Babakan temple grounds in the Tabanan Regency. In Balinese Hindu culture, elements of nature, such as trees and mountains, are considered a sacred home for the gods. Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards 2022 (7:30 p.m., Nickelodeon) - Children choose favorites from across the worlds of film, television, music, pop culture, animation and more. Miranda Cosgrove and Rob Gronkowski host from Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. Fallen Angels Murder Club: Heroes and Felons (8 p.m., Lifetime) - In this new movie, members of the Fallen Angels Murder Club search for answers surrounding the mysterious death of one of their own. Hollis (Toni Braxton) soon finds herself at the center of the investigation when a journalist whos reporting on the murder also winds up dead. Kelly Hu and Yanic Truesdale also star. Royal Runaway Romance (8 p.m., Hallmark) - Sparks fly between a princess and her bodyguard after her budding romance with an artist fizzles out. She Went Missing (10 p.m., Lifetime) - A reporters long-dormant stalker reemerges when she returns to her hometown to investigative the disappearance of her childhood best friend. 48 HOURS (10 p.m., CBS) - Correspondent Peter Van Sant investigates the death of a Texas man, Jamie Faith, and the twisted tale behind his murder. Jamie Faith and his wife, Jennifer, set out from their Dallas home on an early morning dog walk on Oct. 9, 2020. Moments after they left home, Jamie was shot dead and Jennifer Faith was unharmed. It was a murder that stunned their friends and neighbors. The community rallied around Jennifer, raising more than $60,000 in a GoFundMe account to help her and her daughter make up for Jamies lost income. But investigators learned that Jennifer had been in constant contact with a man she dated in high school, Darrin Lopez, and they found a gun with Jamies blood on it inside Lopezs home. She also used some of the money from the GoFundMe account to shower Lopez with cash, airline tickets and gifts. Saturday Night Live (11:30 p.m., NBC) - Jake Gyllenhaal hosts and Camila Cabello performs. Some programming descriptions are provided by networks. By Karen Freifeld and Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) -New York state's attorney general is seeking to compel real estate company Cushman & Wakefield to comply with subpoenas in connection with its civil probe into the Trump Organization, according to court filings on Friday. Attorney General Letitia James has been investigating former U.S. President Donald Trump's business practices for three-and-a-half years, with a focus on whether his company misstated the values of its real estate properties to obtain favorable loans and tax deductions. James said on Friday that Cushman had conducted appraisals for several Trump Organization properties, including the Seven Springs estate in New York's Westchester County, the Trump National Golf Course in Los Angeles, and 40 Wall Street in downtown Manhattan. James' office is seeking to determine whether the appraisals prepared by Cushman were fraudulent or misleading, but Cushman has refused to comply with a subpoena issued in February 2022 and has only partially complied with an earlier subpoena, according to a filing. "While Cushman initially expressed its desire to comply with OAG's subpoenas, the company nonetheless withheld hundreds of responsive documents and instructed four witnesses not to answer numerous questions based on meritless privilege assertions by the Trump Organization," the filing from James' office read. A Cushman spokesperson said the filings did not accurately characterize the company's responses. "Any suggestion that Cushman & Wakefield has not responded in good faith to the Attorney General's investigation is fundamentally untrue," the spokesperson said in a statement. "We stand behind our appraisers and our work." Cushman said in January 2021 that it had cut ties with the Trump Organization. Trump, a Republican who lost his bid for re-election in November 2020, denies wrongdoing and has dismissed James' probe as a politically motivated witch hunt. James, a Democrat, is running for re-election for her post. Story continues James' pursuit of Cushman's records comes after she asked a New York judge to hold Trump in contempt of court for not turning over documents she subpoenaed, and to fine him $10,000 for each day he does not comply. On Friday, New York State Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron said he would hold a hearing on April 25 on whether Trump should be held in contempt. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Leslie Adler and Richard Pullin) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a virtual address on Friday that a Russian strike at a train station in the eastern city of Kramatorsk is a war crime, adding that those involved would be held accountable. During his remarks, Zelensky confirmed a previous tally from a Ukrainian official that 50 people had died as a result of a rocket attack, including five children. The station was being used to assist in civilian evacuations. The Ukrainian president said that dozens more are severely injured and are currently being treated at the hospital. This is another war crime of Russia, Zelensky said, adding that everyone involved will be held accountable. All the worlds leading powers have already condemned Russias attack on Kramatorsk. We expect a firm, global response to this war crime. Like the massacre in Bucha, the missile strike on Kramatorsk must be one of the charges at the tribunal, which is bound to happen, he added. On Friday, Ukrainian officials and global leaders condemned the missile attack at the train station as footage and photos circulated on social media showed people lying on the ground, personal belongings strewn and infrastructure damaged. The move came one day after the United Nations General Assembly voted to suspend Russia from its Human Rights Council amid outrage over atrocities in places such as Bucha that Russia allegedly committed. This is yet another horrific atrocity committed by Russia, striking civilians who were trying to evacuate and reach safety, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Friday when asked about the missile strike. Where we are now is were going to support efforts to investigate this attack as we document Russias actions, hold them accountable, she added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy seen on March 10, 2022. Office of the President of Ukraine Zelenskyy said the worst conversation he's had since the war started was with an EU politician. Zelenskyy told BILD the politician who he did not name asked him to prove the war was not staged. "He basically said: Show us proof that all this was not staged. That your people really died." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the worst conversation he's had since the war in Ukraine started was with a European Union politician that asked him if the war was staged. "There was a bad situation with a leading EU politician. I don't want to talk about it. He basically said: Show us proof that all this was not staged. That your people really died," Zelenskyy said in an interview with BILD reporter Paul Ronzheimer on Friday. Zelenskyy refused to name the politician or when exactly this conversation happened, but his remarks come after a number of atrocities across Ukraine. On Friday, two Russian rockets hit a train station in Kramatorsk, Donetsk, killing at least 50 people and injuring 100 others. Pavlo Kyrylenko, the governor of the Donetsk region, which is a part of the Donbas region, said five of those killed were children. Zelenskyy told Ronzheimer that he doesn't think Russian President Vladimir Putin "understands at all what is happening." "I'm sure he has no clue what is actually happening. He has given his order but does not know just how many people die every day and what is happening in reality. How many people, how many children die, how many buildings are destroyed, are burnt to the ground," Zelenskyy said. "He doesn't know about all this and he doesn't want to know. He just needs a result." The attack in Kramatorsk followed news that the bodies of hundreds of civilians were found in the Ukrainian suburb of Bucha. Zelenskyy told Ronzheimer that there's more destruction yet to be found. "Some towns were destroyed completely. Some towns simply don't exist anymore no more buildings, no more people. I do not know what we will find there," he said. BILD is owned by Axel Springer, Insider's parent company. Read the original article on Business Insider Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to BILD reporter Paul Ronzheimer. BILD Zelenskyy warned on Friday of a "big war" in Donbas like "the world has not seen in hundreds of years." Russian forces are regrouping for a new eastern offensive after failing to conquer Kyiv. Speaking to BILD, owned by Axel Springer, Insider's parent company, Zelenskyy said Ukraine will defend the country "until the end." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday warned of fighting in Donbas that could result in the biggest war in centuries. Speaking to the German newspaper BILD, owned by Axel Springer, Insider's parent company, Zelenskyy predicted intense fighting in the coming days. "It could be a big war in Donbas like the world has not seen in hundreds of years," he told BILD reporter Paul Ronzheimer. "We will go on defending our country until the end," the Ukrainian president continued. This chilling forecast echoes what Ukraine's foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba told NATO members on Thursday. "The battle for Donbas will remind you of the second world war," Kuleba said. He used this warning to immediately call on Western allies to provide more heavy weaponry, including air defense systems, artillery, armored vehicles, and jets. Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces are regrouping for a new eastern offensive on the Donbas region after failing to capture Kyiv. President Zelenskyy was speaking in the aftermath of a Russian rocket attack that hit a train station in eastern Ukraine that was packed with people who had fled their homes. More than 50 people were killed. The attack took place Friday morning in Kramatorsk, a town in Donetsk, an oblast that is also home to pro-Russian separatist forces. Donetsk is part of the Donbas region. Donbas incorporates Luhansk and Donetsk, which runs from outside Mariupol in the south to the northern border. Even before the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Ukraine had fought Russian-backed separatists in the region since 2014. Story continues Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday they were "expecting a major offensive" in Donbas imminently. Stoltenberg told reporters that a battle could last for "weeks, but also months, and possible also for years." The US is giving intel to Ukraine for operation in Donbas in advance of the battle, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Thursday. Ukraine's deputy prime minister Iryna Vereshchuk has encouraged Ukrainians living in the east to escape while they still can. She said civilians "will come under fire" if they do not flee. Read the original article on Business Insider Flash The Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday that it is expelling 45 Polish diplomats in response to the expulsion of the same number of Russian diplomats from Poland last month. The ministry said it had summoned the Polish ambassador and declared 45 employees of the Polish Embassy in Moscow and of Polish consulates in Irkutsk, Kaliningrad and St. Petersburg "personae non gratae" who must leave Russia by April 13. On March 23, the Polish Foreign Ministry ordered 45 Russian diplomats to depart within five days as part of a coordinated action by Western countries to expel several hundreds Russian diplomats since the start of a special military operation in Ukraine. Also on Friday, Russia announced the expulsion of two Bulgarian diplomats in response to Sofia's move last month. The fallout from two violent incidents last month involving multiple students at Amherst County High School was addressed publicly during the Amherst County School Boards April 7 meeting. William Wells, assistant superintendent of Amherst County Public Schools, said two assaults took place at the high school on March 25, and students who witnessed them recorded them and posted videos on social media. Students involved in the assaults faced disciplinary action by the school division, and the Amherst County Sheriffs Office announced on its official Facebook page the investigation led to four male juveniles facing criminal charges. Two 14-year-olds and two 16-year-olds, none of whom have been named by law enforcement because of their ages, have each been charged with assault and battery as well as abduction, according to the sheriffs office. One of the 14-year-olds involved faces two counts of assault. School officials also did not name the students and Wells said more specifics would be given in a closed session. Generally, specific discipline matters are rarely addressed in the open during school board meetings but the March 25 incidents rose to a level that garnered much attention and led to a public address from the division, as well as a call to community action to prevent future similar incidents. Our schools are microcosms of the greater community, Wells said. Issues in our community will find their ways into our schools. When theres illegal activity in our community, there is a chance some of that activity will manifest itself in our schools. He referenced community concerns of gang activity and a definition of a gang by the federal departments of justice and homeland security as an association of three or more individuals whose members collectively identify themselves by adopting a group identity whose purpose is in part to engage in criminal activity, which uses violence or intimidation to further its criminal objectives. During our investigation we have determined that one of the assaults at the high school on March 25 would meet the definition detailed above, Wells told the board. We have also determined that some individuals involved in these incidents do identify with a known gang that operates in Amherst County and in Lynchburg. Additional students have stated they are not members of the gang but do associate with those members while at school and in the community. Some students have posted photos and video of themselves on social media wearing gang-related clothing and using known gang signs, Wells said. The incidents at the high school did not involve different groups or gangs confronting each other. It was one group of students assaulting an individual student due in part to statements made about one of the members through social media by that student, Wells said. This issue is more than just a school issue. It is a community issue. We have the students from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The rest of the day they are with parents and guardians. We will take responsibility for what occurs within our schools, but we need our families and our community members to do their part and take responsibility for what takes place when the students leave our facilities. Some parents dont realize their students are involved in such behavior until an incident, such as the assaults at the high school, occurs, Wells said. I urge our parents to look at students social media accounts and have conversations about acceptable behavior, Wells said. In a March 29 news release, Amherst County Sheriff E.W. Viar asked students to immediately report such incidents to school personnel or a school resource officer and advised parents to reinforce to their children that filming such incidents and posting them online could have negative consequences for them as well. Incidents like this are taken seriously by the Amherst County Sheriffs Office and our officers will continue to do what is necessary to ensure safety in our schools, the release said. Wells said in the 2018-19 school year, 45 students were engaged in fights and six in assaults at ACHS, explaining a fight is considered an incident where both are engaged and an assault is an attack on another. In 2019-20, there were 27 students engaged in fights and two in assaults at ACHS, a year where in-person instruction closed in mid-March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, 11 students have engaged in fights and six have been involved in assaults at ACHS, he said. Since the events of March 25, high school administrators have emphasized a need for teachers to step up their presence in the halls and in monitoring bathrooms, Wells said. Abby Thompson, the boards chair, said such activity has no place in the schools or the community. We come to school to learn and we need to do so in a safe and caring environment. And we just want to assure you that is our first priority, Thompson said to the public, later adding: Our parents need to be helping us setting expectations for their children when they are in school. We will not tolerate it. We need to be on the same page. There is plenty the community can do to help with this issue, Vice Chair Chris Terry said. There is a responsibility that starts in the home. Board member Ginger Burg said the board and division will do whatever it takes to ensure every child each day feels safe in the schools. Its a very concerning topic, violence in schools, said board member Eric Orasi. Were not going to be able to get past this on our own. We need community support; we need the parents involvement. Its going to take everybody to make it happen. 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 judge found a Liberty University professor not guilty Friday of a misdemeanor count of sexual battery after more than two hours of testimony in Lynchburg General District Court. William Atwell, 58, of Lynchburg, was arrested Nov. 20 by LU police and pleaded not guilty to the charge. He has worked at LU from 2013 to the date he was accused of sexually assaulting a female student, Nov. 19, and has served as associate professor of American Sign Language Interpretation. Atwell, who is deaf, maintained his innocence during a trial before Judge Randy Krantz. The woman who accused him testified she had known the professor since August 2019 and she worked at Liberty University when the incident took place on campus, after which she reported it to police. She testified Atwell told her the day of the incident, just before Thanksgiving break, it would be a long time without my hugs and asked another female student to leave when he asked the complaining witness into his office. According to her testimony, he touched her inappropriately and without permission in two embraces within a short span of each other, including a storage room area. She testified she was scared, in shock and communicated in sign language to ask what he was doing. She was surprised when he said, What do you want? She left the building using the elevator while he took the stairs because she wanted no more physical contact, according to her testimony. Another female student testified Atwell asked her to leave the two of them, which she thought was odd, and she questioned why a male professor would do that. That witness testified she saw them hugging and it felt off, adding she never saw him embrace another student like that. Chuck Felmlee, Atwells defense attorney, argued there was zero evidence of anything sexual being said by his client. I dont think theres been evidence it was intentional touching, Felmlee said. Theres no evidence there was force, that he threatened her. Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Chelsea Webster argued the contact was intentional and he used the professor-student relationship as a form of intimidation. Its contact with him she did not want, Webster said. A previous felony charge of abduction against Atwell in connection with the case was dropped in January. Through a sign language interpreter, Atwell testified he didnt touch the student inappropriately and he did not tell the other student to leave them by themselves. Shes my student and I have high respect for my students, Atwell testified. He testified hugging is a gesture in the deaf community of saying goodbye and he didnt treat her any differently than other students. Krantz said his ruling of not guilty does not mean the physical exchanges Atwell had with the complaining witness were proper or excused. He then took up a request for a protective order, a civil matter, and granted it for 90 days with an opportunity to extend it. The facts and circumstances of this case are concerning, the judge said in granting the protective order. The complaining witness testified she is scared of Atwell and doesnt want him back on the LU campus. Atwell has been suspended from LU since his arrest and his contract is up for renewal this summer, Felmlee said while arguing against the protective order on the basis his client is not a physical threat. Its up in the air on what his future is at LU, Felmlee said in court. 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. CANBERRA, Australia The first of 20 Bushmaster armored vehicles has left Australia for Ukraine, one week after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy specifically requested the Australian-manufactured four-wheel drives. A Boeing C-17 Globemaster transport jet that can carry four Bushmasters left the east coast city of Brisbane for Europe on Friday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said. The 20 Bushmasters cost 50 million in Australian dollars, which is $37 million in U.S. dollars. The vehicles are in addition to $116 million in Australian dollars ($87 million in U.S. dollars) in military and humanitarian aid previously committed to Ukraine. Zelenskyy requested Bushmasters when he made a video address to the Australian Parliament on March 31. And as soon as he asked, we said yes, Morrison said. KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR: Ukraine girds for renewed Russian offensive on eastern front Congress votes to suspend Russia trade status, enact oil ban Ukraine appeals to NATO for more weapons Russia is moving troops and focus toward the east, but that strategy carries risks as well U.N. General Assembly votes to suspend Russia from UN rights council Ukrainian refugees find quickest route into US goes through Mexico Seeing Bucha atrocities is turning point for media, viewers Russia makes debt payment in rubles, a move that could result in historic default Go to https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine for more coverage OTHER DEVELOPMENTS: WASHINGTON The Biden administration on Thursday announced it is levying sanctions against Russias largest military shipbuilding and diamond mining companies. The move blocks their access to the U.S. financial system as the United States looks to exact more economic pain on President Vladimir Putin for the invasion of Ukraine. Alrosa is the worlds largest diamond mining company and accounts for about 90% of Russias diamond mining capacity, according to the U.S. Treasury Department. Alrosa generated over $4.2 billion in revenue in 2021. Diamonds are one of Russias top 10 non-energy exports by value. The State Department also said it was blacklisting the United Shipbuilding Corporation, as well as its subsidiaries and board members. The moves against the two-state owned companies come a day after the U.S. announced it was targeting the two adult daughters of President Vladimir Putin, two of Russias largest banks and banning new American investment in Russia. LVIV, Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday night that work has begun to dig through the rubble in Borodianka, another city northwest of Kyiv that was occupied by the Russians. He also said it is much scarier there, with even more victims of the Russian troops. In his daily nighttime video address to the nation Thursday, Zelenskyy said the Russians were preparing to shock the world in the same way by showing corpses in Mariupol and falsely claiming they were killed by the Ukrainian defenders. Meanwhile, Bucha Mayor Anatoliy Fedoruk said Thursday on Ukrainian television that investigators have found at least three sites of mass shootings of civilians during the Russian occupation. Fedoruk said hundreds have been killed and investigators are finding bodies in yards, parks and city squares. PHOENIX A Ukrainian diplomat pleaded for the United States to send weapons to his beleaguered nation in a speech to the Arizona Legislature on Thursday. Dmytro Kushneruk, Ukraines consul general in San Francisco, told Arizona lawmakers that Ukraine needs three things to repel Russian invaders and prevent more civilian deaths weapons, weapons and weapons. Kushneruk said its a war for the soul of humanity and time is of the essence as Russia regroups for an expected offensive on the Donbas region of Eastern Ukraine. According to Kushneruk, prompt American help will save civilian lives and he pleaded for people not to look away even as the war drags on. Kushneruk said Ukraine needs planes, anti-aircraft systems, heavy artillery, tanks, rockets systems and long-range missiles that can target Russian ships in the Black Sea. The speech continued the outreach by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys government to political and cultural institutions around the world. WASHINGTON President Joe Biden calls the United Nations vote Thursday to suspend Russia from the bodys Human Rights Council a meaningful step by the international community. He also said that it further demonstrates how Russian President Vladimir Putins war has made Russia an international pariah. The U.N. General Assembly voted Thursday to suspend Russia from the U.N.s leading human rights body over allegations of horrific rights violations by Russian soldiers in Ukraine. The vote on Thursday was 93-24 with 58 abstentions The United States and Ukraine have called Russias alleged rights violations tantamount to war crimes. In a statement, Biden said the images out of Bucha and other areas of Ukraine as Russian troops withdraw are horrifying and an outrage to our common humanity. BRUSSELS European Council president Charles Michel says the blocs top diplomat has proposed adding an additional 500 million euros ($544 million) to Ukraine under the European Peace Facility, the fund which has been used for the first time during the war to deliver defensive lethal weapons to a third country. The EU has previously agreed to spend 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) on military supplies for Ukrainian forces in an unprecedented step of collectively supplying weapons to a country under attack. EU countries and NATO have so far excluded the option of a direct military intervention in Ukraine. Once swiftly approved this will bring to 1.5 billion the EU support already provided for military equipment for Ukraine, Michel said in a message posted on Twitter in which he thanked EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell. The proposal needs to be approved by the 27 EU countries. The EU said the instrument should help Ukraine armed forces defend the countrys territorial integrity and sovereignty and protect the civilian population. The World Health Organization has verified more than 100 attacks on health care in Ukraine since the country was first invaded more than a month ago, the organizations top official said Thursday. At least 103 attacks on hospitals and other health-care facilities in the country, and at least 73 were killed and 51 injured in those incidents, said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking at a news conference in Washington, D.C. The toll includes medical workers as well as patients, he said. He praised the United States for supporting international health efforts in Ukraine, including the delivery of more 180 metric tons of medical supplies to hard-hit areas. We are outraged that attacks on health care (in Ukraine) continue, he said. BRUSSELS European Union nations have approved new sanctions against Russia, including an EU embargo on coal imports in the wake of evidence of torture and killings emerging from war zones outside Kyiv. The ban on coal imports will be the first EU sanctions targeting Russias lucrative energy industry over its war in Ukraine, said an official on condition of anonymity because the official announcement had not yet been made. The EU ban on coal is estimated to be worth 4 billion euros ($4.4 billion) per year. In the meantime, the EU has already started working on additional sanctions, including on oil imports. Reported by Raf Casert. PARIS -- The International Energy Agency says its member countries are releasing 60 million barrels of oil from their emergency reserves on top of previous U.S. pledges to take aim at energy prices that have soared since Russia invaded Ukraine. The Paris-based organization said Thursday that the new commitments made by its 31 member nations, which include the United States and much of Europe, amount to a total of 120 million barrels over six months. Its the largest release in the groups history. Half of that will come from the U.S. as part of the larger release from its strategic petroleum reserve that President Joe Biden announced last week. The IEA agreed last Friday to add to the amount of oil hitting the global market. It comes on top of the 62.7 million barrels that the agencys members said they would release last month to ease shortages. WASHINGTON The U.S. Congress has overwhelmingly voted to suspend normal trade relations with Russia and ban the importation of its oil, ratcheting up the U.S. response to Russias invasion of Ukraine amid reports of atrocities. House action came Thursday after the Senate approved the two bills and the measures now go to President Joe Biden to be signed into law. Biden has already taken executive action to ban Russian oil, liquefied natural gas and coal to the United States. The legislation puts the effort into law. The bill to end normal trade relations with Russia paves the way for Biden to enact higher tariffs on various imports, such as certain steel and aluminum products, further weakening the Russian economy under President Vladimir Putin. It also ensures Belarus receives less favorable tariff treatment. The bills also provide the president with the authority to return normal tariff treatment for Russia as well as resume trade in Russian energy products subject to certain conditions. LONDON - Polands President Andrzej Duda and U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson have discussed the need for ending imports of energy sources from Russia as a form of tough sanctions on Moscow for its brutal invasion of Ukraine. Following his talks with Johnson Thursday, Duda said they also analyzed a proposal for Europe to levy additional taxes on Russian gas, oil and coal until the imports are ended. The U.K. said it will stop importing Russian coal and oil by the end of this year and gas imports will cease soon after. Poland is to end Russian coal imports by May, gas by the years end and oil in 2023, possibly. Russia is not a credible partner and we should not assume that it will ever be, Duda told reporters. NICOSIA, Cyprus - Ukraines president has asked Cypriot lawmakers to ratchet up pressure on Russia by shutting Cypriot ports to all Russian ships, and to stop granting Russian businessmen conveniences including Cypriot citizenship. Addressing the Cypriot Parliament Thursday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the east Mediterranean island nation for its humanitarian and financial aid and spoke of the destruction and death the Russian invasion has wrought. He warned that the killings of civilians that happened in the town of Bucha may be happening elsewhere. Zelenskyy also pleaded for backing from Cyprus in Ukraines bid to join the European Union. He said EU membership for Ukraine would help strengthen the 27-member bloc. STOCKHOLM European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has urged European Union members to stay together and not decide unilaterally on imposing sanctions against Russia. We have been successful by being together. My plea is that we move forward together, von der Leyen said during a visit to Stockholm where she met with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson. The EU chief on Friday will travel to Kyiv to meet Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. On Saturday, she attends a pledging event in favor of Ukraine in Warsaw, Poland. PODGORICA, Montenegro NATO-member Montenegro is joining a number of countries that expelled Russian diplomats over the past week. The foreign ministry said in a statement Thursday that the four diplomats have a week to leave the small Balkan nation. The decision is based on information provided by security authorities about the diplomats activities in Montenegro, the ministry said. No other details were immediately available. Montenegro last month expelled another Russian diplomat. Local media said at the time that he was believed to be an intelligence officer. Montenegro is not a member of the European Union but has joined Western sanctions against Moscow. UNITED NATIONS -- The U.N. General Assembly has voted to suspend Russia from the U.N.s leading human rights body over allegations of horrific rights violations by Russian soldiers in Ukraine, which the United States and Ukraine have called tantamount to war crimes. Russia is the second country to have its membership rights stripped at the Human Rights Council, which was established in 2006. In 2011, the assembly suspended Libya when upheaval in the North African country brought down longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi. The vote on Thursday was 93-24 with 58 abstentions. That is significantly lower than votes on two resolutions the assembly adopted last month demanding an immediate cease-fire in Ukraine, withdrawal of all Russian troops and protection for civilians. Both resolutions were approved by at least 140 nations. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield launched the campaign to suspend Russia from its seat on the 47-member Human Rights Council in the wake of videos and photos of streets in the Ukrainian town of Bucha strewn with corpses of what appeared to be civilians after Russian soldiers retreated. The deaths have sparked global revulsion and calls for tougher sanctions on Russia, which has denied its troops were responsible. WASHINGTON The U.S. moved Thursday to choke off U.S. exports to three Russian airlines as part of what officials described as an unprecedented enforcement action. The Commerce Department said the move would prevent the Russian national flag carrier Aeroflot, Utair and Azur Air from receiving items from the U.S., including parts to service their aircraft. The actions, known as temporary denial orders, do allow the Commerce Department to grant exceptions when the safety of a flight would be at risk. The orders extend for 180 days, though they can be renewed. The private sector has also taken its own action against Russian airlines in response to the war against Ukraine, with Delta Air Lines in February suspending its codesharing partnership with Russian national airline Aeroflot. LONDON -- Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday announced plans to build more nuclear power plants, boost renewable energy production and further tap domestic oil and gas reserves to help the U.K. reduce its dependence on Russian energy following the invasion of Ukraine. Johnson announced the strategy three weeks after he said Western countries had made a terrible mistake in failing to wean themselves off Russian energy following Russian President Vladimir Putins 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. The goal is to build eight new nuclear reactors by 2050, tripling U.K. production of nuclear energy to 24 gigawatts, or a quarter of projected electricity demand. In addition, the strategy targets a 10-fold increase in production of electricity from offshore wind farms and an unspecified boost from onshore wind farms in a limited number of supportive communities. The government also announced a new round of licensing for oil and gas projects in the North Sea, saying these fuels would be key to U.K. energy security and as a transition to low-carbon renewable energy. Other elements include promoting solar power and increasing hydrogen production for use in fuel cells. WARSAW, Poland A surgeon in Poland says a seriously wounded 13-year-old boy from Ukraine will require long, specialized treatment for the injuries he suffered in the early days of Russias invasion. Pediatric surgeon Professor Jan Godzinski, of the T. Marciniak hospital in Wroclaw said Thursday that a detailed diagnostic scan has been performed on the very serious injuries that Volodymyr, or Vova, has suffered to his back, spine and facial nerves. Vova was injured and his father was killed in late February when the car in which the family were trying to flee Ukraines capital of Kyiv was shelled by Russian forces. Doctors in Kyiv were able to save his life, and he was later transferred to Lviv, but he is now in a wheelchair due to the spine injuries and one side of his face is paralyzed. Some shrapnel particles in his body still need to be removed, Godzinski said. What moved me most was that he smiled when we told him we will be able to help him, Godzinski said on Polands private TVN24. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is calling for his country to be included in negotiations about ending the war in Ukraine. There can be no negotiations without the participation of Belarus, Lukashenko said at a meeting Thursday of his national security council. There can be no separate agreements behind the back of Belarus. Russia has launched missile attacks on Ukraine from Belarus and Russian troops invaded Ukraine from Belarus. There has been no confirmation of claims that Belarusian forces entered Ukraine. ANKARA, Turkey Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says scenes that have emerged from the Ukrainian town of Bucha, which was recaptured from Russian forces, have cast a shadow over negotiations between Russia and Ukraine but says the sides must continue to talk under all circumstances. Speaking after a NATO foreign ministers meeting on Thursday, Cavusoglu said he told his Ukrainian counterpart that Turkey was prepared to host possible peace talks. The only way is diplomacy, he told Turkish journalists in Brussels. Turkey, which has maintained its close ties with both Moscow and Kyiv, has hosted a meeting between the two countries foreign ministers as well as talks between the two negotiating teams. The minister said Turkey was also talking with both Russia and Ukraine about the possible evacuation of civilians from the besieged city of Mariupol by sea. BRUSSELS Ukraines foreign minister says hes cautiously optimistic that some NATO member countries will increase their weapons supplies to his country, helping it resist Russias invasion, but he urged swift decisions and action. Speaking Thursday after talks in Brussels with NATO foreign ministers, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba declined to say which countries would be providing equipment or what kind they would be, but he said the weapons must get to Ukraine quickly as Russia gears up for a new offensive in the eastern Donbas region. Kuleba said: Either you help us now, and Im speaking about days, not weeks, or your help will come too late. HELSINKI Finland and Estonia say they are jointly planning to rent a floating liquefied natural gas, or LNG, terminal to ensure gas supply in the two countries in efforts to break energy dependence on neighboring Russia. Finnish Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintila and his Estonian counterpart Taavi Aas said in a statement Thursday that a movable off-shore LNG terminal would offer a quick solution in guaranteeing gas supply in the two European Union members separated by the Baltic Sea. Due to the war in Ukraine, we must prepare for possible interruptions of gas import through pipelines from Russia, Lintila said, adding that a floating LNG terminal is an efficient way to secure gas supply, including in industry. BRUSSELS The Group of Seven major world powers are warning Russia they will keep ramping up sanctions until its troops leave Ukraine and that those responsible for alleged war crimes will be prosecuted. G7 foreign ministers vowed Thursday to sustain and increase pressure on Russia by imposing coordinated additional restrictive measures to effectively thwart Russian abilities to continue the aggression against Ukraine. Western nations have already slapped several rounds of sanctions on Russia, including on President Vladimir Putin, his family and associates, but have been reluctant to hit the countrys energy sector. The G7 ministers, meeting on the sidelines of NATO talks in Brussels, say they are taking further steps to expedite plans to reduce our reliance on Russian energy, and will work together to this end. Following allegations this week of war crimes in the city of Bucha, the ministers insist that those responsible for these heinous acts and atrocities, including any attacks targeting civilians and destruction of civilian infrastructure, will be held accountable and prosecuted. They also repeated warnings about the use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons, saying that any use by Russia of such a weapon would be unacceptable and result in severe consequences. MOSCOW Russias top diplomat has accused Ukraine of derailing talks with Moscow by changing its negotiating stance. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Thursday that Ukraine had walked back its proposal that international guarantees of its security dont apply to Crimea. Russian annexed the Black Sea peninsula in 2014 and wants Ukraine to acknowledge Moscows sovereignty over it. Lavrov also accused Ukraine of modifying a provision in a draft deal it had submitted earlier that said that military drills on Ukrainian territory could be organized with the consent of all guarantor countries, including Russia. Lavrov added that Russia intends to continue the talks despite the Ukrainian provocations. There was no immediate response to his claims from the Ukrainian government. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says Russia intends to respond to U.S. sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putins daughters as it sees fit. Russia will definitely respond, and will do it as it sees fit, Peskov said Thursday. The U.S. on Wednesday announced that it is sanctioning Putins two adult daughters as part of a new batch of penalties on the countrys political and economic systems in retaliation for its alleged war crimes in Ukraine. Peskov told a conference call with reporters that the sanctions add to a completely frantic line of various restrictions and the fact that the restrictions target family members speaks for itself. ATHENS, Greece Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country needs anti-aircraft defense systems, artillery systems, munitions and armored vehicles to hold Russias invasion at bay. The sooner Ukraine receives this help, the more lives we can save in Ukraine, Zelenskyy said in an address to Greek parliament Thursday. Zelenskyy emphasized the destruction wrought on the southern port city of Mariupol, home to a sizeable Greek-Ukrainian community, and urged Greece to help prevent the same fate befalling Odesa, another Ukrainian port city with deep ties to Greece. The Ukrainian president called for sanctions on all Russian banks and a ban on Russian ships from entering ports as a way of hindering Russias ability to finance the war. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. The Council Bluffs Community Development Department will host Chippers Party, an educational, family-oriented event to increase awareness about the Citys Lead Hazard Reduction Grant Program. Chippers Party will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. on May 9 at the Council Bluffs Public Library, 400 Willow Ave., in Meeting Room B. Chipper, the programs mascot, is chipping in to help prevent lead poisoning in Council Bluffs, the city said in a release. Chippers Party will feature educational activity stations, prizes, raffles, cotton candy, popcorn, a coloring mural, face painting, balloons and a photo booth with Chipper. The event is free and designed for kids under the age of 6. Siblings are welcome. According to the city, children under 6 are most susceptible to lead poisoning. Lead was used in paint until 1978. Side effects from childhood lead poisoning include damage to the brain and nervous system, slowed growth and development, learning and behavior problems and hearing and speech problems. The city was awarded a $2.3 million grant to remove lead paint in homes built before 1978. The program is available to eligible homeowners and renters. Thus far, the Citys Lead Hazard Reduction Grant Program has successfully mitigated lead risks from 11 Council Bluffs homes. We have enough funding to make improvements to about 100 homes, Housing and Economic Development Planner Lora Flom said in a release. We hope to identify a few more qualified families at Chippers Party, but we also hope many families attend and then tell their friends and neighbors about the program. The grants can be used to make improvements such as new windows, doors and paint. Depending on the total expense of removing lead hazards, there may be additional money to correct electrical and radon issues and add smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. In addition to the Lead Hazard Reduction Program, the Council Bluffs Community Development Department offers other housing assistance grants, including the Affected Properties Program and Safe Housing Program. This program isnt just for parents or homeowners; grandparents and caregivers and tenants can also qualify, said Flom. Find Chippers Party on Facebook (https://fb.me/e/1rbx1Ywh9) and follow along for regular updates. Learn more about the Lead Hazard Reduction Program at www.councilbluffs-ia.gov/2358. A distraught teenage boy is led away in handcuffs by a deputy sheriff as firefighters use the Jaws of Life to pry open the crushed passenger side door of his car. A mother, wailing in grief, is held back by another deputy as she tries to get to her teenage daughter, still trapped in the deformed wreckage, her condition unknown. An injured wife is lifted into the back of an ambulance, her husband still sitting behind the wheel of their car, limp and lifeless. These were just a few of the scenes that played out Friday morning in the Treynor High School parking lot as students silently bore witness to the potential dangers of driving while distracted. Our goal is to put an end to death and injury caused by all manner of unsafe driving behaviors, Treynor Community School District Technology Director Shelly Bailey told the eighth through 12th grade students during an assembly in the school auditorium after the staged collision. This event today is an effort to make an impact to show you the staggering scene that takes place when an accident happens. Accidents that cause injury or death affect not only the people directly involved in the incident, but also family and friends whose loved ones were hurt by someone elses carelessness, something victim impact speaker Andyn White knows all too well. Andyn was in third grade when her older brother Tristan was struck and killed by a vehicle being driven by a distracted driver. Tristan was a freshman at Treynor in November 2015 when he was jogging with friends along a gravel trail, training for the upcoming wrestling season. He was six days away from turning 15. Now a freshman herself, Andyn doesnt want anyone else to go through what she and her family endured. Dont be the person whos on your phone while driving, Andyn said at the assembly. Dont be the person that drives intoxicated. Dont be the person that takes someones life away. You are being trusted by the state and by your family to not harm others. Please drive like the person in the car next to you is someone you love. After Tristan Whites death, members of the community, including Bailey, formed a local chapter of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending unsafe driving behaviors. Student members of KKAD25 created the scenario that played out in the high schools parking lot. They worked with Traynor Fire and EMT, Pottawattamie County Sheriffs Office and Iowa State Patrol to create a realistic situation for their peers to act out, and for the first responders to use as a training exercise. We wanted it to be a real experience for everybody, said senior Norah Beekhuizen, who served as director for the student actors. And the next time you get into a car, I want you to think, Im gonna turn my phone over, Im not gonna look at it. Or if youre with your friends, youre with your siblings, like, Im gonna focus on driving. The emergency personnel who participated in a Q&A after the mock crash provided the students with a number of sobering statistics about their age group when it comes to driving. Ninety-four percent of crashes are human error, Iowa State Patrol Trooper Ryan DeVault said. Seven teenagers per day die in car crashes across the United States. Teen drivers ages 16-19 are three times more likely to be involved in a crash than any other age category. And thats without the cell phone distraction, without any other contributing circumstances. Other statistics provided by DeVault include: For every passenger in the vehicle, you are five times more likely to be involved in a crash In 2020, 5,000 people were killed in crashes that involved cell phone use If you text and drive, you are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash Before heading outside for the mock crash, students watched a three-minute short film made by senior and KKAD25 Student Coordinator Payton Chapman and the students who portrayed the drivers and passengers during the live event. In the car full of teenagers, senior Tyler Reelfs played the driver who was ultimately taken away in handcuffs. Junior Addy Schnepel was a passenger in Reelfs car who had to be extracted with the Jaws of Life, and Keelea Navara, a senior, was in the backseat of Reelfs car and died on impact. In the other car was a family, with sophomore Alek Bain driving and playing the father. Fellow sophomore Chloe Pryor played Bains wife, and junior Amelia Hedrick played their daughter. For more information on KKAD25, visit keepkidsalivedrive25.org. 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. DES MOINES President Joe Biden appears to be headed back to Iowa for the first time since his election in November 2020. While the White House as of Friday afternoon would not confirm the trip, the Iowa Democratic Party issued a statement trumpeting Bidens upcoming visit to Iowa. The White House declined to confirm a report from the Des Moines Register that Biden plans to visit Des Moines on Tuesday. Without confirmation from the White House, no details about Bidens visit were immediately available. Biden has traveled to other states in recent months to tout federal infrastructure funding. And infrastructure was the theme of the Iowa Democrats statement about Bidens visit. Iowa will receive roughly $5 billion over five years in new federal funding under the bipartisan infrastructure bill, the White House said when the bill was being approved by Congress. Im thrilled to welcome President Biden back to Iowa, Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Ross Wilburn said in a news release. Thanks to President Bidens leadership, we now have the tools to repair Iowa's roads and bridges, connect our rural communities with high-speed internet access, clean up our drinking water, and provide tens of thousands of Iowans with access to affordable health care. Biden may also talk about corn-based ethanol, a key issue in the countrys top corn-producing state. According to a spokesman for POET, a biofuels company based just across Iowas northwestern border in Sioux Falls, S.D., Biden is expected to announce a federal waiver that would clear the way for gas stations to sell the E15 blend of ethanol year-round. Currently, E15 cannot be sold in Iowa during the summer months Biden was last in Iowa on Oct. 30, 2020, for a campaign event at the Iowa State Fairgrounds just four days before the general election. While Biden lost Iowa by 8 percentage points, he defeated Republican incumbent President Donald Trump for the White House. That was Bidens only visit to Iowa during the general election campaign. He was a frequent visitor to Iowa in the months leading up to the February 2020 Iowa caucuses, in which he finished fourth behind Pete Buttigieg, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. As Republicans like (Gov.) Kim Reynolds and (U.S. Sen.) Chuck Grassley repeatedly turn their backs on Iowans and take credit for programs passed by Democrats, Im eager for Iowans to hear directly from our Commander-in-Chief how Democrats are lowering costs for working families, delivering for rural communities, and building a better Iowa, Wilburn said in his statement. Republican Party of Iowa State Chairman Jeff Kaufmann also issued a statement about Bidens pending visit, noting Bidens low job approval numbers here. Just 35 percent of Iowans approve of Bidens performance as president while 59 disapprove, according to the most recent Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll, from early March. Id like to welcome Joe Biden back to Iowa, a state he lost by eight points, and where his popularity has sunk even lower today, Kaufmann said in the statement. Iowans and Americans are worse off than they were a year ago because of Biden's out-of-touch policies and broken promises. Maybe a trip back to Iowa will be just what Joe Biden needs to understand what his reckless spending, big government policies are doing to our country. Flash "Nothing is ending, neither the COVID-19 nor the pandemic," said Debora MacKenzie, a leading science journalist who currently lives in France. She addressed the false narratives about COVID-19 during an interview with GDToday, saying, "Lots of governments in the west use slogans such as 'living with COVID' to make their citizens happy but we need to make sure that people have access to the truth." MacKenzie has been reporting on emerging diseases for more than 30 years and wrote a book to explain how COVID-19 turned into a global pandemic as early as 2020. She recently published an article on the Guardian, challenging the false narratives about COVID that caused needless deaths and calling for rethink of epidemic control in the era of Omicron. Is Omicron a big flu? What are the facts behind the "living with COVID" slogan? If we could lift control measures? GDToday tries to shed light into these questions through the exclusive interview with Debora MacKenzie. COVID is a lot worse than flu There have been growing calls in Europe to treat coronavirus as an endemic illness, like the flu since January 2022. An article published on Lancet indicates the impacts of future SARS-CoV-2 transmission on health will be less and suggests the death toll from Omicron seems to be similar to the level of a bad influenza season. However, MacKenzie stressed that COVID-19 is much worse than flu because it's more contagious and much more dangerous. "If you caught COVID before vaccination, you would be on average 10 times more likely to die than if you caught flu. If you were over 60, you would be 20 times more likely to die with COVID than flu," she said. Although Omicron is milder and the chance of dying is much lower if people are vaccinated, MacKenzie added the speed with which Omicron infects people is, in fact, pushing up the total number of deaths. According to the UK's Office for National Statistics, the total number of deaths whose underlying cause was a main respiratory disease increased to 9,641 since the first week of January in 2022, 50 percent higher than in a typical flu season despite lower levels of social mixing. In addition, MacKenzie highlighted long COVID as a substantial difference between COVID and flu. The term "long COVID" is commonly used to describe symptoms such as persistent fatigue, breathlessness and brain fog which continue or develop after acute COVID-19. One in three people who survived COVID-19 suffered from long COVID, a study published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed. "Lots of people have trouble getting medical assistance when they feel tired all the time after recovery," said MacKenzie. "Sometimes the symptom is serious, sometimes it's not, but it's a burden of disease when you look at it as a country. There will be an awful lot of sick people!" MacKenzie pointed out that there are lots of false narratives about COVID-19 on social media, and people believe in these narratives out of emotion instead of facts. "Some are afraid of the deadly virus while others are tired of the pandemic, therefore some politicians repeat these lies for people's support," she said, "I don't think all governments in the west really understand that they have to take on board that Omicron is so contagious." German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach admitted that he had made a mistake by suggesting an end to mandatory quarantine on April 6, saying, "Coronavirus is not a cold. Ending mandatory isolation sent the wrong signal that the pandemic was over and the danger was past but in fact more than 300 people were still dying a day." "Living with COVID" doesn't mean completely relax Living with COVID is a statement of reality that has been known by scientists for a long time considering the virus is not going away, but now some countries use "living with COVID" as a slogan trying to tell people to relax and lift control. MacKenzie stressed that we should not completely relax, saying, "We have means and policies prior to live with COVID." "We need masks, social distancing, vaccination, and hopefully we can develop more drugs. I think we have been neglecting these measures when a country in the West says we're living with COVID," said MacKenzie. "If we relax too much, especially with Omicron, we still run the risk of getting so many cases that our health systems can't cope with." What worries MacKenzie is that the virus keeps evolving. "We don't know if the virus will become more deadly or if it's learning to evade vaccine. If that happens, we have to put the control back in very quickly. If we dismantle our testing, we might not be able to put them in again so quickly," she said. "It's crazy that Britain has shut down its free testing because they will not know where the virus is, or what it's doing." Moreover, MacKenzie considered high vaccination rate as a vital prerequisite for the "living with COVID" slogan. "You might be able to say it in London but not in Lagos and a lot of the world." Our World in Data shows 78.6 percent of the population received the first dose and 57.8 percent were given a booster in the UK while 10.2 percent had the first dose and 0.4 percent were given the booster in Nigeria. When talking about living with COVID, MacKenzie said developed countries have to decide what they can do to help developing countries build up health systems and make sure they can afford vaccine. "It's not just a moral thing because COVID operates on a planetary scale. If the virus keeps circulating among people who haven't been vaccinated, it will have the chance to get back at infecting people who have been vaccinated. Reports also show rich countries are losing billions in trade because the economic disruption in poor countries costs much more than vaccine." Is it possible to control virus spreading with minimized cost? MacKenzie considered China did a brilliant job to contain COVID through isolation and contact tracing in 2020, as a result of which, it has less economic damage and far fewer deaths. However, she highlighted Omicron spread much more quickly than previous variants so we need to rethink how we can control it. "It's difficult to control Omicron through contract tracing and isolation but there are things that China can do and it's actually doing. When there is an outbreak, they do partial lockdowns and shut down some businesses, working hard to get people tested, diagnosed and taken care of," she said, "you are doing that flexibly now and I think it will be the future." China has been sticking to the life-first approach over the past two years, which is frequently questioned and misunderstood by many countries which pivoted to "living with the virus" and eased restrictions. According to Liang Wannian, head of China National Health Commission's COVID-19 task force, putting life first does not mean "no infection" as currently we are unable to ensure that not a single local case occurs, but having the capacity to mount a swift, targeted response early in a new outbreak. "Every country will have the right to manage the pandemic in the way it fits. Different countries will open up at different times in terms of the local way to do things, its culture and local governing structures," she elaborated. "There is always a balance between the cost of control and the effectiveness and the cost of lifting control and the consequences. Governments now are having to think in terms of the changes in the virus and get the balance." Canary-based carrier Binter has announced the launch of a new air route connecting Gran Canaria to Fez from next July. Between July 2 and September 17, the airliner will operate the air connection every Saturday between the two cities, the company said in a statement. The flights will be provided by an ATR 72 aircraft with a capacity of 72 passengers. As part of a strategic partnership with the Moroccan National Tourist Office, Binter continues to develop and strengthen its links to Morocco and has increased its capacity to the Kingdom for the summer of 2022 with more than 34,000 seats. Part of this partnership, Binter had already launched the Gran Canaria-Guelmim air route and will connect the city of Marrakech with the Portuguese island of Madeira (Funchal) with two weekly flights from July 3, 2022. Currently, the company connects the Canary Islands to the Moroccan cities of Agadir, Dakhla, Laayoune, Guelmim and Marrakech. Spanish airline Air Europa has also announced its return to Morocco with the resumption of flights between Madrid and Marrakech. The company operates two flights per week between its base in Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suarez and Marrakech-Menara airport on Sundays and Thursdays. The reopening of this air link is part of the growth plan activated by the company, which seeks to adapt the activity to market needs and demand and gradually return to full operation, Air Europa said in a press release this week. This air route, which was launched in 2017, has always been efficient before the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, Air Europa said, adding that it is convinced that it will continue to be so. Air Europa is offering more than 32,500 seats to North Africa this year and expects an average occupancy rate of around 75% in the coming months. Due to drought conditions and extreme fire danger, many Nebraska state recreation areas and some wildlife management areas are temporarily banning campfires until further notice. Although everyone should be cautious when using fire throughout Nebraska, the list of areas with temporary closures includes: Southwest Region: Medicine Creek, Red Willow, Swanson, Enders, Sutherland and Buffalo Bill SRAs. Southern Panhandle Region: Lake McConaughy, Lake Ogallala, Lake Minatare and Wildcat Hills State SRAs, and Ash Hollow State Historical Park. Central Region: Sherman and Victoria Springs SRAs. A temporary burn ban already is in place at Calamus SRA, under the authority of local officials. Where fires still are allowed, campers and hunters should apply proper safety practices by properly extinguishing campfires and keeping a bucket of water nearby. Hunters taking to the field for Saturdays youth shotgun season opener are urged to use caution and avoid open fires for camping or cooking. You are clearly a super-user of NUVO.net. Thats a good thing. It means you depend on independent and local news sources to keep you informed. You are a smart person. Coincidentally, independent and local news sources depend on you too. Youve read 25 articles this month and now, wed like you to be join our mission and become a NUVO Supporter. For as little as $4 a month, you can keep us alive and fighting -- and can have unlimited access to the independent news that cant be found anywhere else. A mixed-use development featuring a restaurant and upscale condominium units is being planned to replace a building on North College Street that last housed Bourbon Street Bar. Stacy Norman Architects presented an initial concept of the development to Auburns Downtown Design Review Committee on Tuesday, with the project poised to include a two-floor restaurant and bar and up to six condominium units on three more floors, with a rooftop terrace to top the building off. I think what were seeing is that on the non-student side of housing, theres an interest for people to be downtown, Stacy Norman, head of the firm that bears his name, told the Opelika-Auburn News. I think the owner saw that and ... (its) why hes interested in providing a building like this. The existing building, which is at 103 N. College St., will be demolished sometime this year after being vacant since 2020, when Bourbon Street permanently closed its doors. It served for years as a popular bar and music venue among students. Norman said the development is planned to be about 75 feet tall and thus meets Auburns building height limits. The condominiums will include balconies and be reachable by an elevator or stairs. He said prospective residential tenants are already reaching out to the developer, Ben Giles, and that if requested, one of the condominium units could take up a full floor. We have a two-bedroom option, a three-bedroom option, and then the full floor would be a four-bedroom option, Norman said. Then weve reserved the first and second floor as the restaurant and bar area. A separate architectural firm in Atlanta will design the restaurant, Norman said. He added that talks are ongoing with potential restaurateurs to lease the space but that hes not aware of a chain or franchise that would be occupying the space, which in the artists rendering is called The Kick Six Restaurant & Grill. The rooftop terrace will serve primarily as a seating area for restaurant patrons, though because of the building height limitation, Norman said nothing fixed can be added to the terrace like a bar or restrooms. Theres no parking spaces adjacent to the development, so 12 spaces on East Magnolia Avenue will be leased from Auburn United Methodist Church for at least the next 10 years for tenants to use, according to Norman. Stacy Norman Architects previously took on design work downtown, with the Thomas Building on Toomers Corner currently occupied by PNC Bank and residential tenants, and Norman said his firm hopes to take design cues from the building for the new mixed-use project. It certainly wont be a copy of (the Thomas Building), but it would be how we try to break down floor-by-floor, he said. With the floor lines, were looking at ways to add some sort of banding to it so its not just one uninterrupted single texture or color. The design includes windows on all sides of the building, and Norman said he was questioned by the DDRC on the future of those on the north and south sides of the building if neighboring properties were to also be build up. We physically cant take the windows out because of our fire rating ... so the simpler thing would be to just cover over them, he said. Norman said Giles plans to receive a demolition permit and a building permit in the next three to four months in order to demolish the existing building and begin construction on the new development by the end of the summer. Our guess is its going to be 12-16 months of construction ... (but) under the conditions we are right now its hard to judge that in terms of availability of materials, delays and things like that, Norman said. Construction will be led by Batson-Cook Construction, but Norman said demolition and construction costs have yet to be determined. 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. looks like she did the Wrong thing Reply Thread Link Heyoooooooo Reply Parent Thread Link lmao Reply Parent Thread Link fuck lol Reply Parent Thread Link There is so much going on in that cover. Reply Thread Link Holy shit. This is insane. That message is crazy Reply Thread Link Okay I just saw the cover. Now I know why I've never heard of her. That cover is atrocious. Reply Parent Thread Link Wait wth. How old is this article? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link that cover omg Reply Thread Link why is there a stuffed animal on it Reply Parent Thread Link I read the blurb on Amazon... I think it's supposed to represent the cop's baby daughter who's battling leukemia. Reply Parent Thread Link That is high art. Reply Parent Thread Link God lmao Reply Parent Thread Link wat lmaooooooo Reply Parent Thread Link That cover is fucking hilarious. The death is awful. Killers who post/talk about their victims is so fucking creepy. Like, not only did you kill someone, but now you're messing with their loved ones? Burn. Reply Thread Link It seems really callous and cold, but I guess if you were in her position you'd have no other choice but to make a statement like that to try and save face? Reply Parent Thread Link I think sometimes they repress the knowledge of what they did and convince themselves they really don't know what happened. then again, psychopaths. Reply Parent Thread Link He was probably trying to get away with murder. A lot of murdered go to their victim's vigil or even pretend to search for them with the family. It's really fucked up Reply Parent Thread Link And then after it all came out, trying to blame his wife for killing the daughters, so he killed her. That's straight-up sociopath stuff. Reply Parent Thread Link yeah, men who kill their families say this shit on the regular. It's fucked Reply Parent Thread Link I feel like she kind of has to talk about him. It would be kind of weird if she just pretended like it didn't happen and she didn't notice that she no longer had a husband. Anyway, the message she wrote was actually vague enough to apply to the real situation. Like she probably was overwhelmed that day after becoming a murderer and wanted some time to herself to start functioning normally. Reply Parent Thread Link This video is crazy how she can't help smiling Reply Parent Thread Expand Link There was a murder here where the husband killed his wife and pretended to be her on facebook for like a month Reply Parent Thread Link Theres a case in Bethesda where a guy murdered his pregnant girlfriend and was at all the press conferences acting all bereaved. All the while, the cops and the parents of the murdered woman knew he had something to do with it, but to not rouse his suspicions they acted along with him. At one of the press conferences, the father was patting the guys back to pretend to comfort him. Then he was finally arrested and he was supposed to have his first court hearing a couple of days ago, but he hung himself instead. Welp. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link damn wtf Reply Thread Link What the...what is actually going on with this lady's face? I feel like I'm being mindfucked right now because there's so much going on, like so much actual face, but everything is just smack-dab in the center like one of those Woll Smoth memes? How does that even happen? Well, whatever the answer may be, this woman is sociopathic TRASH and needs to be locked away for life. Reply Thread Link She looks like a frond 4 sho but no one wants to be her frond. Reply Parent Thread Link Too much head, not enough face Reply Parent Thread Link a more bloated 45 Reply Parent Thread Link My first thought was thank god its not Lisa Kleypas and Im definitely ashamed of it Reply Thread Link Lol same. Reply Parent Thread Link i had the same thought but for tessa dare lmfao i'm new to reading romance i need to check out lisa kleypas Reply Parent Thread Link that expression is my cat's face when she has to poop Reply Thread Link Reading this... https://www.koin.com/news/crime/one-person-shot-to-death-at-oregon-culinary-institute/1214548933 ...he sounded like a good person who truly loved and cared for his students/community. Leaving him there to be found by his students? JFC. So much to unpack. Reading this......he sounded like a good person who truly loved and cared for his students/community. Leaving him there to be found by his students? JFC. Reply Thread Link LMAOOOOO there is absolutely nothing RIGHT about that cover. Fuck. Is she gonna write a book based on this in prison? Reply Thread Link "It's alleged that Nancy shot Daniel twice in the heart and spine with his back turned to her as he was filling buckets of ice at the culinary institute that he worked for." The couple had met in the early 90's when Daniel was Nancy's teacher at the same Oregan Culinary Institute where he would die." Aww that's so sad! You're loved one is the one doing this to you :((((( So dirty and low!! and damn in the same place they met.....usually that makes it super personal when they shoot you in a very important spot. Besides the financials......was he cheating on her and that's why she chose that place? Not that I'm blaming him or saying that's a justifiable action. Cause if it was cheating......lol I'm not for cheating but maybe her ass deserved it cause she's clearly a fucking psycho! Reply Thread Link That's gross to say maybe he cheated. You wouldn't say that if it was a wife who got murdered instead. Reply Parent Thread Link I already stated that it's not a justifiable action or supporting it. I'm just wondering if that was also a thing cause a lot of women will shoot their husbands over it. I've heard of many cases of people murdering their spouses in the spot they met which is why it came to my mind. It's more an assumption than actually thinking it's that. I was never said it was right or blaming him. "You wouldn't say that if it was a wife who got murdered instead." There's a lot of men who do. And if the said women did....not a justifiable reason to kill someone either. Leave or divorce their asses is a more normal response. Edited at 2022-04-09 02:29 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link If the motive was $$, and she sold life insurance, she would be very well aware that if a person should die at work there is a pay out of additional $$. At my previous job I had a policy that if I died at work (which felt like a real possibility given the crazy people I dealt with) my beneficiary would/could receive $50,000 in life insurance benefits. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link it was to claim worker's compensation Reply Parent Thread Link what the fuck. wow. Reply Thread Link I am impressed with her defense strategy regarding the gun, labeling it as research for her d-list romance novels. Was it really integral to the story to buy and fire a gun?! Reply Thread Link Not defending her at all.... I have to admit I would laugh at my google searches for writing. I write a historical/modern fanfics that deal with murder, drugs, etc... I wonder if the gov is allowed to just look at all your shit online, someone would thing I'm planning on killing someone in modern and two hundred years ago. Reply Parent Thread Link researching firearms and buying one are two very different things though Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Oh, if were talking Google searches used as evidence Im beyond fucked lol But to actually purchase items as research just seems silly. Reply Parent Thread Link Welldamn. She is fucking cold blooded. I know its trendy to shit on men nowadays (and the patriarchy deserves it) but Jesus Christ! Did he even deserve it? There have been no reports of abuse or cheating. And for money? Girl, you wouldve got more in the divorce. Reply Thread Link I feel like if there was evidence of abuse the defense would've claimed it looooooooong ago!! But it's been 4 years now since the murder. Reply Parent Thread Link 4 years?! Yeah. Shes done. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link so she claimed she was at home but there's video of her driving past his work? well... imagine her poor lawyers finding out she literally wrote a blog on how to kill your husband... Reply Thread Link Yeah I kept thinking "there's CCTV almost everywhere....did she think this was a 50s?". Reply Parent Thread Link She watched Basic Instinct and was all "hey, there's my alibi...I'll write about it first" Reply Parent Thread Link She probably did it, but I also could see all that being an unfortunate series of coincidences. Reply Thread Link it sounds likely that they can match the bullets that killed him to her gun Reply Parent Thread Link It seems unfair that the jury can't know about the blog post. Reply Thread Link I wonder what the reasoning behind that decision was? :( Reply Parent Thread Link I wanna know the reasoning too. Reply Parent Thread Link Didn't Sharon Stone's character in Basic Instinct write her book about the murders before she committed them and somehow that's what got her out of it? I haven't seen that movie in a long ass time. Reply Parent Thread Link I haven't read the blog post, but if the post is not actually similar to the murder it's probably more prejudicial than probative, which is the threshold for admitting evidence. Reply Parent Thread Link I feel like I want to write a paper about this case for class. How do you fuck up so dammn hard and literally telegraph the whole thing, then and still cant let the jury know about it Reply Thread Link me: wow wtf how have i never heard of this? also me: left a comment on the first page in the original post about this... Reply Thread Link lol same! I saw my own comment from 2018 staring back at me! Reply Parent Thread Link Girl boss shit! Reply Parent Thread Link Well, they say you should write what you know Reply Thread Link So weird seeing this on ONTD, on the local news every night. Its sad what people are willing to do just for money. Reply Thread Link Wow they had actual liquid money with them so they werent that financially ruined? It said they seemed to be recovering. Money makes people lose their fucking heads, its evil. Reply Thread Link IDK, in your 60s, having 10k to your name is basically nothing. Life don't get cheaper when age-related health issues start cropping up. I feel like she looked at the rest of her life and thought "I'm either gonna die poor and destitute OR I'm gonna murder my husband and make a quick buck" which is.................a choice, I guess. This story really is wild Reply Parent Thread Link I think you're right. In the article, it mentioned that Daniel was instructing extra classes to save up so that he could retire. The other ONTD post mentioned that he was found by his students. Reply Parent Thread Link Nancy claims in her essay that she thinks a lot about murder because she's a romantic suspense writer. I can't at this "reason." Reply Thread Link I never understand why people think they can scam an insurance company. The fucking effort they put in to not paying for legitimate claims is next level - you think they're not going to investigate your ass? They'd rather pay a private investigator to sit in their car all day and wait for you to leave your house than pay you for literally anything. You could break both arms and a leg and be seen hobbling out of your home pushing a bag of trash to the curb with your crutch while you balance on your good leg and they'd be like - "You're literally fine!!!!!!!!! BENEFITS DENIED!" Reply Thread Link This literally happened to my aunt and uncle. A PI watched her got to work and go home and do regular mom errands for months while my uncle recovered. And the payout wasn't even that huge for them. Reply Parent Thread Link It has been exactly six weeks since Russia invaded Ukraine, with no end in sight to one of humanity's biggest existential crises in modern times. In response to Russia's unprovoked and unjustified war, the United States and the West have hit the rogue nation with a plethora of sanctions, with the latest announced just days ago mostly targeting Russia's financial sector. But so far, Russia's pivotal energy sector has largely been spared. With the exception of Lithuania and Poland as well as self-sanctioning by refiners and bankers, no country has yet to announce a ban on Russia's energy products. So far, Russian oil and gas exports to the EU remain largely unchanged since only the Baltic States have announced a 100% ban on Russian energy imports. Poland, a major thoroughfare for Russian energy supplies, has also been more proactive than most after it took steps to block Russian coal imports and announced steps to halt Russian oil imports by year-end. Poland--home to the ~1.3mb/d Druzhba pipeline that carries Russian crude to several points in Poland, Germany, and the Czech Republic--directly consumes ~330kb/d of Russian crude and imports ~9.4mt of Russian thermal coal in 2020, accounting for ~5% of Russian exports. The EU currently gets about 40% of its natural gas from Russia, which powers everything from household heating to factory production, and makes up around 25% of the bloc's total energy consumption. But that could soon change. The flow of "bloody money" to Russia must stop, Kyiv's mayor has said as the West prepares new sanctions on Moscow after dead civilians were found lining the streets of a Ukrainian town seized from Russian invaders. Since Russian forces withdrew from northern Ukraine, turning their assault on the south and east, grim images from the town of Bucha near Kyiv, including a mass grave and bound bodies of people shot at close range, have prompted international outrage. The experts are now saying that the atrocities against Ukrainian civilians revealed by the withdrawal of Russian forces from areas north and east of Kyiv have made it very likely that EU countries will impose sanctions on Russian oil in the coming months. In the United States, Treasury secretary Janet Yellen has warned of "enormous economic repercussions" from the Ukraine war. The million-dollar question right now is how disruptive a total ban on Russian energy commodities will be on Russia's economy. Unfortunately, a ban on Russian oil and gas by the U.S. and the EU might not be as damaging to Russia as the west hopes, with the presence of heavily discounted Urals proving too irresistible for some. India's Surging Imports From Russia India has never been a big buyer of Russian crude despite needing to import 80% of its needs. In a typical year, India imports just 2-5% of its crude from Russia, roughly the same proportion as the United States did before it announced a 100% ban on Russian energy commodities. Indeed, India imported only 12 million barrels of Russian crude in 2021, with the majority of its oil coming from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Nigeria. But reports have now emerged of a "significant uptick" in Russian oil deliveries bound for India. Matt Smith, the lead oil analyst at Kpler, has told CNBC that since the beginning of March, five cargoes of Russian oil, or about 6 million barrels, have been loaded and are bound for India. In other words, India has imported half as much crude from Russia in one month as it did in an entire year. And, it could be all about the money. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), Urals crude from Russia is being offered at record discounts. Ellen Wald, president of Transversal Consulting, has told CNBC that a couple of commodity trading firms--such as Glencore and Vitol--were offering discounts of $30 and $25 per barrel, respectively, two weeks ago for the Urals blend. Urals is the main blend exported by Russia. The experts say simple economics is the reason why White House pressure to curb purchases of crude oil from Russia have fallen on deaf ears in Delhi. "Today, the Government of India's motivations are economic, not political. India will always look for a deal in their oil import strategy. It's hard not to take a 20% discount on crude when you import 80-85% of your oil, particularly on the heels of the pandemic and global growth slowdown," Samir N. Kapadia, head of trade at government relations consulting firm Vogel Group, has told CNBC via email. Still, it will not be lost on many readers that India has maintained a cozy relationship with Russia over the years, with Russia supplying the Asian nation with as much as 60% of its military and defense-related equipment. Russia has also been a key ally on crucial issues such as India's dispute with China and Pakistan surrounding the territory of Kashmir. China To The Rescue? But India might not be the lone pariah helping finance Putin's illegal war. Given China's experience with evading sanctions, you would expect it to be among the first countries lining up to lap up those cheap barrels of Urals. After all, it's a badly kept secret that Beijing has been using all sorts of clandestine means aka 'cloaking' to import cheap Iranian oil ever since it was sanctioned in 2011. China is already Russia's biggest oil customer, importing an average of 1.72 mb/d in 2021. Related: Worlds Richest Have Taken A $400 Billion Wealth Cut Amid Ukraine Crisis However, Reuters has reported that China's crude imports from Russia in the first two months of the year actually declined 9.1% to 1.57 mb/d. But this has got little to do with China suddenly acting sanctimonious or moral compunction. Rather, the notable decline has been caused by Beijing's crackdown on smaller independent refiners aka the teapots. In a dramatic reversal of fortunes, back in June, Beijing announced huge cutbacks in import quotas for the country's private oil refiners. According to Reuters, China's independent refiners were awarded a combined 35.24 million tons in crude oil import quotas in the second batch of quotas this year, a 35% reduction from 53.88 million tons for a similar tranche a year ago. The big reduction came as part of a government crackdown on private Chinese refiners known as teapots, which have become increasingly dominant over the past five years. The move is intended to allow Beijing to more precisely regulate the flow of foreign oil as it doubles down on malpractices such as tax evasion, fuel smuggling, and violations of environmental and emissions rules by independent refiners. China's teapots have been steadily grabbing market share from entrenched state players such as China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (NYSE:SNP), also known as Sinopec, and PetroChina Co. (NYSE:PTR) ever since Beijing partially liberalized its oil industry in 2015. Teapots currently control nearly 30% of China's crude refining volumes, up from ~10% in 2013. But make no mistake about it: China has never been one to let a good crisis go to waste, and is widely expected to capitalize on the ongoing snafu. "China is still importing Russian oil, but would likely increase its purchases if it can pay in yuan and at discounts. Basically, Russia is pressured because it is having difficulty selling its oil. China really would prefer much cheaper oil prices are way too high even in the $90 range that's too high for China," she added. If they can buy Russian oil at a discount, and some of these discounts are pretty significant--$30 off the benchmark, then I really don't see what would be stopping China from purchasing a lot of Russian oil," Wald has told CNBC in an email. Another big reason: Chinese refiners love ESPO crude. The ESPO (Eastern Siberia Pacific Ocean) oil pipeline is one of several outlets for Russian crude. The 4,188km-long pipeline with a capacity of 58 million tonnes a year is even longer than the Yamal-Europe pipeline and exports crude oil from Russia to the Asian Pacific markets of Japan, China, and Korea. ESPO could provide a lifeline for Russia in the event flows through the Yamal and Druzhba pipelines are halted. Yamal connects Russian natural gas fields in the Yamal Peninsula and Western Siberia with Poland and Germany through Belarus, while the Druzhba pipeline delivers crude oil from Russia to Poland and Germany through Belarus, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic via Ukraine. Luckily for the west, the IEA says uptake of heavily discounted Russian crude remains limited so far, with Asian oil importers for the most part sticking to traditional suppliers in the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa. Further, Russia is likely to struggle to fill the gap left by a ban on imports by the west, with the IEA estimating that as much as 3 million barrels a day of Russian oil supply will be shut in starting from April, while commodity analysts at Standard Chartered said it could take years for Russia's vast energy empire to fully recover, if ever. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Hackers aligned with Russia broke into the social media accounts of dozens of Ukrainian military officers and were working to upload videos of defeated and surrendering Ukrainian soldiers when the plot was disrupted, according to a report Thursday from Meta that details a troubling increase in social media disinformation this year. The report from the owner of Facebook and Instagram found a surge in content linked to Russia's invasion of Ukraine as well as new cases of domestic disinformation and propaganda in countries around the world, suggesting that tactics pioneered by foreign intelligence agencies are now being used more widely. While much of the public attention in recent years has been focused on foreign interference, domestic threats are on the rise globally," said Nick Clegg, Meta's president for global affairs and a former British deputy prime minister. Russia and its allies are major players, according to the report, with groups linked to the Kremlin spreading disinformation about its invasion of Ukraine while amplifying pro-Russian conspiracy theories at home. Meta traced the effort to take over the social media accounts of dozens of Ukrainian military leaders back to a shadowy hacker organization known as Ghostwriter, which previous research has linked to Belarus, a Russian ally. Ghostwriter has a history of spreading content critical of NATO, and also has tried to hack email accounts. This is a tried-and-true thing that they do, said Ben Read, director of cyberespionage analysis at Mandiant, a prominent U.S. cybersecurity firm that has tracked Ghostwriter's activities for years. Last year Mandiant said digital clues suggested the hackers were based in Belarus, though EU officials have previously blamed Russia. Belarus and Russia have not responded to the claims. The report outlined other disinformation efforts tied to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, including one involving dozens of fake accounts that spread anti-Ukrainian rhetoric. Another network filed thousands of fake complaints about Ukrainian Facebook users in an effort to get them kicked off the platform. That network hid its activities in a Facebook group supposedly dedicated to cooking. Within Russia, the Kremlin has blocked hundreds of news sources and websites, including Facebook and Twitter, and threatened jail time to anyone who tries to report on the war. In the place of accurate journalism, the state-controlled media have pumped out discredited conspiracy theories about Ukrainian Nazis or secret U.S. bioweapon labs. Meta and other big tech companies have responded by removing or restricting Russian state-run media, by targeting disinformation networks and by labeling content it does not remove. Twitter this week announced it would also label state-controlled media from Belarus. The prevalence of Russian-linked propaganda and disinformation on social media shows that a more aggressive response is needed, according to the Center for Countering Digital Hate, a London-based nonprofit that supports greater social media regulation. A study by the group found numerous Facebook mentions of Russia's discredited bioweapon conspiracy theory. Despite taking action against state channels under enormous pressure, Meta is failing badly to contain major disinformation narratives that benefit Putins regime, said Imran Ahmed, the center's CEO. Meta said it would be rolling out additional policies in the coming weeks and months to make sure it stays ahead of groups looking to exploit its platforms. Nathaniel Gleicher, Meta's head of security policy, noted that groups looking to spread disinformation and propaganda are adapting their tactics too. We would expect them to keep coming back," Gleicher said. Klepper reported from Providence, Rhode Island. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Students will no longer be able to say they were defending themselves as a reason why they were involved in a fight under the Omaha Public Schools revised student code of conduct. The update is just one of several small changes the school board will consider as the district goes through its annual revision of the code. If approved, the changes would go into effect for the 2022-23 school year. Anne MacFarland, student and community services coordinator for OPS, presented the proposed revisions to the school board Monday. They include updated terms for the violation of fighting, serious. A serious fight includes mutual physical combat between at least two students that causes injury or a large disruption, depending on how many people are involved. Students who commit this violation can also face severe consequences if they dont stop fighting when a staff member intervenes. MacFarland told the board that the district wanted to make sure students realize self-defense would not be a valid excuse for fighting. I just have to speak very plainly in many situations where students have been involved in fights, the first response is I was defending myself, I didnt start it, MacFarland said. MacFarland said the responsibility is on school staff to investigate the incident if a student says they were defending themselves in a fight. Board member Spencer Head said at Mondays meeting that he understands the districts rationale behind adding to the violation terms. But he asked: If a student is actually attacked, would both the victim and the perpetrating student receive the same disciplinary action? Disciplinary action depends on the investigation, MacFarland said. The district looks at a students disciplinary record, which might help determine if the fight was the result of a targeted attack say the perpetrating student had been documented picking on the same student before. OPS then decides what interventions and resources set out in the code would be best for the situation. Was it a defensive posture, trying to stop it and get away and get some assistance, or are you turning it around and using it as your excuse to take (them) out as well? MacFarland said. How can we really work with the student to develop those skills so that it doesnt escalate into students getting harmed, a large disruption to the environment and then having to remove students from the situation or the school? MacFarland stressed that the district takes a teaching and learning approach to behavior with the student code of conduct. The student code is different from a criminal or civil code because district officials cant expect the policies to be all inclusive. Instead, its a guideline that drives the expectations for each school, she said. Other proposed changes include adding more information about social emotional learning, reorganizing the code and policies, and amending definitions. MacFarland said the revised code would also include more references to the violation of recording cellphone video without consent from administration. This would also include recording other students without their permission. Students have been routinely posting videos of other students, including recordings of school fights, on a variety of public and private social media accounts dedicated to OPS schools this year. It is seeming as though we are seeing a lot more cellphone video from students and others on our campuses, she said. The committee in charge of revising the student code of conduct every year includes school principals of all levels, teachers, Omaha Education Association leadership, administrators and other staff members. Students throughout the discipline process and families do communicate regularly with our school leaders as well as with our district office about things that they wish they would have known or maybe we should consider, so we gathered all of that input, MacFarland said. MacFarland said the proposed code revisions will be considered at the next OPS meeting on Monday, April 18, at 6:30 p.m. in the Teacher Administrative Center, 3215 Cuming St. 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. A committee of 15 Omaha residents will soon meet to consider changes to the citys charter. Every 10 years, a charter convention made up of members appointed by the mayor and Omaha City Council is held to review and suggest changes to the document that establishes the organization and procedures of city government. Typically made up of 25 members, the 2022 committee will be made of 15 Omahans, with eight appointed by Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert and one appointed by each of the seven council members. The decision to appoint 15 rather than 25 members was recommended by the city law department, said Carrie Murphy, a spokeswoman with the Mayors Office. Councilman Brinker Harding, who served as chairman of the convention when it was last formed in 2013, said Tuesday that the smaller number may be more productive. Having 25 members was a little onerous, and I think having a 15-member board still is representative, Harding said. Stotherts nominees for the convention are: Negil McPherson Jr., human resources manager with Green Plains DeJuan Reddick, executive director of the Hope Center for Kids John Fox, owner of John Fox Design Armando Salgado, owner of LingoDocs Marketing Paul Kratz, retired city attorney Julia Plucker, attorney and lobbyist Jorge Sotolongo, vice president of NAI NP Dodge Andrew Prystai, owner of Event Vesta The City Councils nominees are: Rev. J. Scott Barker, appointed by City Council President Pete Festersen Maxwell Morgan, owner of Kush Konsolidated, appointed by council member Juanita Johnson Tim Pendrell, Nebraska legislative aide, appointed by council member Danny Begley Janet Bonet, court interpreter and neighborhood leader, appointed by City Council Vice President Vinny Palermo Kathleen Kauth, owner of K.T. Beck Enterprises, appointed by council member Don Rowe Mike Kennedy, attorney, appointed by council member Brinker Harding Angie Quinn; Baxter Auto Group, appointed by council member Aimee Melton The convention will hold its first meeting May 16. Convention members will consider amendment proposals from the mayor, City Council and residents. Amendments to the charter passed by the convention will be sent to the City Council for approval, then appear on the ballot in November. A 25-member charter convention in 2013 approved proposals to switch to a biennial budget cycle, sync city elections with state elections, and formally add sexual orientation and gender identity to the charters employment anti-discrimination clause, among others. Shortly after the 2013 committee finished its work, Stothert publicly expressed disappointment that members didnt approve a proposal related to the citys benefit plan. That proposal called for a switch from a defined-benefit pension plan to a defined-contribution system. The convention also rejected Stotherts proposal to remove the fire chiefs civil service protection. In a statement Wednesday, Stothert said she appreciates the willingness of the 15 members to volunteer their time. The volunteer members represent a diverse group of citizens who bring experience in business, labor, nonprofits, neighborhood leadership and government service to the convention, Stothert said in an emailed statement. I appreciate your willingness to participate in this important review and encourage you to listen to all points of view and have a thorough dialogue. Correction: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Rev. J. Scott Barker. 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. HONG KONG (AP) Hong Kongs former No. 2 official John Lee on Saturday formally declared his candidacy for the upcoming leadership election, entering the race for chief executive viewed by many as Beijing's preferred candidate. Lee said at an online news conference that he would stand for the election on May 8 after the Chinese government approved his resignation, which he submitted last week, as the city's chief secretary for administration. He said a new government under his leadership would safeguard the rule of law and the one country, two systems framework in the city that allows Hong Kong to govern semi-autonomously and enjoy certain freedoms not found in mainland China. This decision is made out of my loyalty to my country, my love for Hong Kong, and my sense of duty to the Hong Kong people, Lee said. Lees candidacy comes after current leader Carrie Lam announced she would not run for a second term, following a rocky five years in power that spanned the COVID-19 pandemic, a crackdown on political freedoms and Beijings rapid and growing influence over the territory. Lee, 64, is a staunch advocate of the citys national security law, which has been used since 2020 to target pro-democracy activists, supporters and media, diminishing freedoms promised to Hong Kong during Britains handover to China in 1997. Experts in the city see a potential administration under Lee as a signal that Beijing could further tighten its grip on the semi-autonomous Chinese city. The chief executive will be voted in by an election committee of about 1,500 people, a majority of whom are pro-Beijing. The new leader will take office on July 1. Lee spent the early years of his civil service career as a police officer and steadily climbed the ranks. He became Hong Kongs security minister in July 2017 under Lams administration, and last June was promoted to chief secretary for administration. Lee was a key figure in proposing contentious legislation in 2019 that would have allowed suspects in Hong Kong to be extradited to mainland China. He later oversaw a police crackdown on demonstrators after the proposed bill sparked months of massive anti-government protests in 2019. After the protests were snuffed out, Lee was an outspoken supporter of the national security law imposed on the city, which outlaws subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces in the citys affairs and has been used to suppress dissent. Over 150 people have been arrested since the law was implemented. In 2020, the U.S sanctioned Lee, together with Lam and other Hong Kong and mainland Chinese government officials, for undermining Hong Kongs autonomy and restricting the freedom of expression or assembly. Next month's election will be the first since Hong Kongs electoral laws were amended last year to ensure that only patriots loyal to Beijing can hold office. The changes make it difficult for pro-democracy supporters to run for chief executive. Hong Kongs leader is chosen every five years, although the selection process is carefully orchestrated behind the scenes by Beijing. The four chief executives selected since Hong Kongs handover have all been candidates seen as favored by Beijing. Lee said he would focus policymaking on ensuring that Hong Kong remains competitive globally and bolster its role as a gateway and bridge between our country and the world. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. States with some of the nation's strictest abortion laws are also some of the hardest places to have and raise a healthy child, especially for the poor, according to an analysis of federal data by The Associated Press. The findings raise questions about the strength of the social safety net as those states are poised to further restrict or even ban abortion access following an expected U.S. Supreme Court decision later this year. The burden is likely to fall heaviest on those with low incomes, who also are the least able to seek an abortion in another state where the procedure remains widely available. Mississippi has the nation's largest share of children living in poverty and babies with low birth weights, according to 2019 data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Centers for Disease Control, the latest available. Texas has the highest rate of women receiving no prenatal care during their first trimester and ranks second worst for the proportion of children in poverty who are uninsured, the data show. Laws from both states are at the center of the nationwide fight over abortion access. The Supreme Court's conservative majority signaled willingness in a Mississippi case to gut or strike down Roe v. Wade. Abortion Social Safety Net Bill Lambert, right, Phil Walk, center, and Brenda Serrato demonstrate in January 2015 outside of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Anti-abortion lawmakers there say they will further promote adoption and foster-care programs if abortion is banned, as well as funding alternatives to abortion programs. If Roe is overturned, 26 states are certain or likely to quickly ban abortion, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a think tank that supports abortion rights. Many of those states ranked poorly in measurements that nonpartisan advocacy groups consider key to ensuring children get a healthy start. Data analyzed by the AP illustrates the hurdles pregnant women and their children face in states with the most stringent abortion restrictions and how access to resources can lag behind that of states that also have more permissive abortion laws. Jazmin Arroyo, a 25-year-old old single mom in Kokomo, Indiana, had to stop working as a receptionist after her first child was born because she couldn't afford day care. Arroyo found a job as a restaurant host, but it didn't offer insurance and her second child has a heart defect. She now has thousands in unpaid medical bills. "I never could have imagined how hard it would end up being," she said. Indiana has the second-highest rate of women 18% who don't receive prenatal care during their first trimester and has a high percentage of children in poverty without insurance, more than 9%. The AP analyzed figures from several federal government agencies in seven categories metrics identified by several nonprofits and experts as essential to determining whether children get a healthy start. Abortion Social Safety Net Leslie Rosas, 15, leaves the mobile health clinic with her one-month-old daughter, Cielo Angela Carrizalez, after their checkup in 2006 at the Generally, states that had passed preemptive abortion bans or laws that greatly restrict access to abortion had the worst rankings. Alabama and Louisiana joined Mississippi as the top three states with the highest percentage of babies born with low birth weights. Texas, Indiana and Mississippi had the highest percentage of women receiving no prenatal care during their first trimester. In response to AP's findings, many conservative state lawmakers said women can give their newborns up for adoption and said they would support funding increases for foster-care programs. In Oklahoma, GOP Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat said he would work to increase salaries for child-welfare workers and state money for adopting foster parents. "There's going to be a commitment there, but it won't be a new commitment. It will be a continuing effort on our part," he said. Some Democratically controlled states with more permissive abortion laws also measured poorly in some categories. New Mexico ranks third highest for the share of its children living in poverty, Delaware ranks fifth highest for the percentage of women who receive no early prenatal care and California is among the top five states between Oklahoma and Arkansas for the share of women and children on food stamps. Those states are generally outliers. Overwhelmingly, the data show far more challenges for newborns, children and their parents in states that restrict abortion. Abortion restrictions and troubling economic data aren't directly linked, but finances are a major reason why women seek abortions, according to research by Diana Greene Foster, a professor of reproductive science at the University of California, San Francisco. Children born to women who were denied an abortion are more likely to live in a household where there isn't enough money for basic living expenses, her work has found. Texas last year passed an unusual law that leaves enforcement of an abortion ban after six weeks to civilians a law the Supreme Court largely left in place. Maleeha Aziz, an organizer for the Texas Equal Access Fund, had an abortion when she was a 20-year-old college student, after birth control failed. She's also experienced a condition called hyperemesis gravidarum, which causes persistent, extreme nausea and vomiting. "I was a vegetable. I could not move," said Aziz, who later had a daughter. "Pregnancy is not a joke. It is the hardest thing that a person's body will ever go through." In Texas, 20% of women don't get prenatal care in their first trimester, according to pregnancy-risk assessment data collected by the CDC in 2016, the most recent data available from that state. The lack of prenatal care increases the risk of the mother dying or delivering a baby with low birth weight. Texas abortion foes also point to a program called Alternatives to Abortion. As with similar groups in other states, it funds pregnancy counseling, adoption services and classes about life skills, budgeting and parenting. "This social service network is really critical in our mind to right now supporting pregnant women and expecting families," said John Seago, the legislative director for Texas Right to Life. Most such groups, known generally as crisis pregnancy centers, are not licensed to provide medical care. Grief, disbelief and exhaustion coursed through the small towns and rural areas of south-central Nebraska on Friday after an explosive wildfire led to the death of a local fire chief and left multiple families homeless. The wildfire in Gosper and Furnas Counties has burned nearly 30,000 acres, officials said Friday afternoon. Eight houses and 48 outbuildings were destroyed in the blaze. The fire still was not contained Friday evening. The fire began around noon Thursday about 7 miles southwest of Elwood. Nebraska State Fire Marshal investigators determined it was caused by strong winds blowing a dead tree into a power line. Winds in the area were blowing in excess of 60 mph Thursday. Thursday afternoon, Elwood Volunteer Fire Chief Darren Krull was killed and Phelps County Emergency Manager Justin Norris was critically injured in a collision between their vehicle and a water truck on U.S. Highway 283 about 8 miles north of Arapahoe. The driver of the truck was not injured. Fire and smoke had created zero-visibility conditions by the time of the crash, said Cody Thomas, a spokesman for the Nebraska State Patrol. The crash was reported at 5:10 p.m. Krull and Norris were among hundreds of people volunteer firefighters, farmers and others who came from across south-central Nebraska and north-central Kansas to battle the blaze. Crews from about 40 area fire departments helped in the effort. They were supported in neighboring communities by volunteers who made meals, provided water and gathered emergency supplies. The wildfire prompted the evacuation of the village of Edison, home to about 150 people. The evacuation order, announced Thursday, was lifted Friday. Local residents say firefighters successfully funneled the fire between Edison and Arapahoe, which are in the Republican River valley. Jodie Fawl, a spokeswoman for the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, said Gov. Pete Ricketts issued an emergency declaration Friday morning, which freed up state assets. The Nebraska National Guard sent a crew to help fight the fire on the ground and at least one helicopter to help douse it with water from the air. Krull, 54, of Elwood, was a passenger in the Ford Expedition that was being driven by Norris, 40, of Holdrege. Norris was taken the Cambridge hospital with life-threatening injuries. He later was transferred to a hospital in Kearney and then to Creighton University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy. He was listed in serious condition there Friday. The Nebraska Legislature held a moment of silence Friday in honor of Krull. Officials first learned of the fire early Thursday afternoon when a call came in about a ditch fire, Gosper County Sheriff Craig Ward said. Then, he said, it took off through the hills and the canyons and the fields. Ward said the flames, fanned by high winds, caused damage for miles and miles, destroying whole farmsteads in the process. Ive never seen anything like it in 25 years of fire service and law enforcement, he said. The rural home of Donna and Terry Tannahill was among those threatened by the fire. Their neighbor wasnt so lucky. Donna Tannahill, who is city clerk and treasurer for the town of Arapahoe, said the fire came within half a mile of their home. At night, she said, she could see the fire burning just over the hill from her home north of town. I cant even begin to describe what it was like, she said of the winds, flames and the effort to fight the fire and the outpouring of help. Her husband was among those working the fire lines. Crews would get the fire under control and move south to fight another hot spot only to have it break out again north of them, she said. The area hit by the fire is a mix of farmland and pastures and is somewhat rugged. Among the losses, Tannahill said, have been livestock that have been unable to escape. Emergency crews cut fence lines to allow cattle and other animals to flee. Once the fire is out, local residents will have to round up and return animals to their rightful owners. The Kearney Hub reported that a fire disaster relief fund has been set up at First Central Bank. Monetary donations can be dropped off at any of the banks five locations in Cambridge, Arapahoe, Edison, McCook and Curtis. Aaron Mangels, lead meteorologist in the Hastings office of the National Weather Service, said the potential for problems will continue into the weekend. Winds will be less worrisome, he said, but it will be incredibly dry, which makes it easier for ignition. The National Weather Service is warning that much of the state will remain at critical risk of wildfires Saturday, with problems potential continuing into early next week. Due to the risk of fire, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission said some parks and recreation areas were prohibiting campfires indefinitely. Virtually all of Nebraska is in drought or near drought. The area where the fire occurred is classified as being in severe drought, according to the National Drought Mitigation Center, housed at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. They have been dealing with drought all winter, Mangels said. It has been incredibly dry. 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. Nancy Gaarder Nancy Gaarder helps cover public safety and weather events as an editor on The World-Herald's breaking news desk. Follow her on Twitter @gaarder. Email: nancy.gaarder@owh.com Follow Nancy Gaarder 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 LINCOLN State Sen. Mike Flood accepted the Nebraska Republican Partys nomination Saturday to appear on the ballot for a special election to fill the remainder of former Rep. Jeff Fortenberrys term in the U.S. House of Representatives. The development, announced at the state GOP headquarters in Lincoln, could set the stage for a preview of the November general election, depending on the outcome of the May 10 primary. I want to just say how honored I am to be the choice of the Nebraska Republican Party for this June special election, Flood said after the nomination was announced. Flood, a Norfolk senator who had already secured the backing of Republican leaders including Gov. Pete Ricketts and former Gov. Dave Heineman, stands a strong chance of winning the GOP primary race. On the Democratic side, Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln is favored to win the primary. If that happens, Flood and Pansing Brooks will square off in the Nov. 8 general election. But first, they will face each other in the June 28 special election to fill the remaining term vacated by Fortenberry. Fortenberry, of Lincoln, was convicted on March 24 of three felonies related to illegal campaign contributions. He announced his resignation two days later. Fortenberry had represented Nebraskas 1st Congressional District since 2005. He is scheduled for sentencing in federal court on June 28 the same day as the special election and has said he intends to appeal. On Tuesday, the Nebraska Democratic Party announced Pansing Brooks as its nominee for the special election. The state GOPs executive committee was tasked with selecting a nominee to appear on the ballot for the special election. In addition to Flood, John Glen Weaver, a recently retired Offutt Air Force Base lieutenant colonel, also expressed interest in the nomination. Both Flood and Weaver received a nomination from a member of the committee at the start of Saturdays meeting, and delivered brief remarks before the committee voted. In his address to the committee, Flood focused on his background as a small-business owner and state senator, including six years as the Legislatures speaker. Flood cited his work on tax cuts, anti-abortion legislation, support of the Keystone XL pipeline and support of the death penalty as evidence of his conservative track record. He also said, if elected, he will work to fight inflation, increase border security and push for a strong military. We must win the House back this November, Flood said. And I believe the battle for the House of Representatives runs right through Nebraskas 1st Congressional District. Weaver, in his address, focused on his 22 years of military service and his ability to bring a fresh perspective to Nebraskas representation in Congress. That a Republican will win is a given in this heavily red district, Weaver said. Its about choosing the best representative and Republican candidate, conservative Republican, possible to fight for the conservative interests of Nebraskans in Congress. The committee chose Flood in a 24-5 paper ballot vote, with those joining the meeting virtually sending in votes by email. In announcing Flood as the partys nominee, Nebraska GOP Chairman Dan Welch said the party has faith in Floods track record and ability to win on June 28. At Saturdays meeting, Flood said his campaign has raised over $700,000. I have no doubt that the Republicans in Nebraska will unite behind Mike and he will soundly defeat Sen. Pansing Brooks in this special election, Welch said. Flood has served in the Legislature for roughly a decade. He won election twice and represented his district from 2005 to 2013, when term limits barred him from seeking a third term. He returned to the Legislature in 2021 after winning an uncontested race in 2020. He is an attorney and owns the News Channel Nebraska media chain. Flood announced in January that he would challenge Fortenberry in the Republican primary. At the time, Fortenberry was determined to keep his House seat. His campaign launched ads questioning Floods conservative credentials. The federal jurys guilty verdicts ultimately brought an end to that effort. However, Fortenberrys name will still appear on primary ballots for registered Republicans in the 1st District. His resignation came after the deadline for candidates to be removed from the ballots. The 1st District 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. This story has been updated since it was originally published. 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. This weeks tragic wildfire, which claimed a local fire chiefs life, incinerated homes and killed livestock, has been a reminder of how quickly the weather is changing to deadly consequence, fire experts say. Severe drought and strong winds set the stage for the fast-moving fire, which consumed an estimated 30,000 acres of south-central Nebraska in a little over 24 hours. Much of the state remains at extreme risk of additional fires this weekend, according to the National Weather Service, and Nebraska could be facing a higher-than-average fire risk into midsummer. Already, virtually all of Nebraska is suffering from the drought that has gripped the western half of the U.S. The stage for this fire was set by a dry winter that saw little snow cover, and seasonally strong winds fanned the flames once the spark was lit. The spring green-up has yet to occur, so vegetation remains tinder-dry. Climate scientists and fire experts have been saying for years that drought and fires are becoming more extreme with climate change. Its pretty well understood, that global warming is fueling a growth in explosive wildfires, said Darren Clabo, state fire meteorologist for South Dakota. Across the central U.S., from north to south, wildfires have been a problem this winter and spring. Our weather is becoming more conducive to large fire growth because its warming, especially in the winter, Clabo said. In early December, a fast-moving fire left a smoldering mess in Denton, Montana, where 25 homes and numerous businesses and other buildings burned. Also in December, a freak storm fueled a fire that burned more than 120,000 acres in Kansas, killing hundreds of cattle (that storm generated record December tornadoes in Nebraska and Iowa). In March, a deputy sheriff was killed and at least 50 homes burned in a fire that consumed at least 130 square miles west of Dallas. Even in the Omaha metro area, off-season grass fires have been a problem, especially along the citys Interstates. Smoky traffic jams have backed up traffic and contributed to a handful of crashes. Thursdays death resulted from a collision of vehicles responding to the fire. Elwood Volunteer Fire Chief Darren Krull was killed and Phelps County Emergency Manager Justin Norris was critically injured in the crash. Absent humans and apart from climate change, winter into early spring isnt a time when fires naturally occur, Clabo said. Thats because naturally occurring fires typically are sparked by summertime lightning. Instead, the spark for fires at this time of year tends to be human activity. State Fire Marshal investigators said the fire was caused by strong winds blowing a dead tree into a power line. Warm, dry winters set the stage for fire because grasses and other vegetation are exposed to drying winds and become even easier to catch fire, said Clabo and Mark Svoboda, director of the National Drought Mitigation Center housed at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Additionally, the exposed soil can dry out more easily, which exacerbates arid conditions. The chief ingredients for explosive fires are dry fuels, low humidity and strong winds. Weve seen this coming, and then throw in the high winds, Svoboda said of Thursdays winds, which gusted in excess of 60 mph. This has been the perfect recipe, Svoboda said. The concern is for not only now, but Nebraska is at high risk through at least the end of July. This isnt going to be a spring concern, a one-off kind of thing. The six months from October through March rank eighth warmest and 17th driest on record for Nebraska, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. Thats based on 127 years of data. Clabo said theres another problem with fires this time of year: The nations firefighting forces arent at full strength. Because wildfires require such a massive response, many agencies cooperate to put them out. But the federal government doesnt ramp up its resources and firefighting crews until summer. Likewise, Nebraska, which has significantly beefed up its firefighting capacity, had yet to put in place its seasonal contract for firefighting airplanes. About 40 agencies and the Nebraska National Guard assisted in fighting the fire. In the long term, Nebraskas climate scientists have been warning since at least 2014 that the state should prepare for more frequent severe droughts and the resulting consequences. That was the year UNL released a climate study calculating that 2012, the states hottest, driest year on record and its most devastating fire year was likely to become a routine occurrence in the decades ahead. One of the key unknowns about the potential for future fires in a given area is what the landscape itself will look like, Clabo said. Given projected increases in temperature, its possible that Nebraska grasslands could transition to the type of sagebrush prairie common in eastern Wyoming and Colorado, Clabo said. Svboda pointed to a report that has indicated Nebraska should look south to Oklahoma to get a sense of what its weather and landscape is likely to look like in the decades to come. Another unknown is how winds might change. Global warming brings increased energy to individual storm systems, creating the potential for more powerful winds, even in areas where its not raining or snowing. Just as strong winds made Nebraskas catastrophic nighttime flood of 2019 more terrifying, violent winds sent this weeks fire convulsing across the landscape. Local Weather Get the daily forecast and severe weather alerts in 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. NORMAL It was on Snapchat where University High School junior Sirihaasa Nallamothu discovered how a girl suffering from postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome can faint sometimes without warning. Nallamothu followed videos documenting the girl as she passed out from vasovagal syncope while making dinner, or panicked as her symptom began while driving. Nallamothu said those reels were sad, and they inspired her to start brainstorming ways to help out people with POTS, which affects 1 to 3 million Americans. She then learned she was the first to collect research done on humans. I thought there maybe would be some sort of data set for me to use online, but its such an under-researched field, so no one has ever done it before, she said. Nallamothu joined other high school students Saturday morning at the Hancock Stadium club room in Normal to present her project. She was among 24 other teams that made it to the finals in this years Celebrating High School Innovators competition, which tasks young students with creating new products, solving major social problems and changing the world. Without exception, these high school innovators make amazing things happen, said Paul Ritter, CHSI director and ecology teacher at Pontiac Township High School. He added each team is passionate about something different. Winners earn a cash prize and scholarships. However, Ritter continued, the real prize for the students is getting to meet each other and share ideas. While several dozen teams showed up in person, at least another three dozen participated virtually, from as far away as Turkey. Project ideas included enhanced mobility canes, liquid screen protectors for mobile phones, eco-friendly sneakers, governance proposals for Mars colonization and more. These kids are setting the stage for the future, said Ritter. Their innovations are leading the way and theyre proof that our future is in great hands. Nallamothu said her idea was to use biomarkers and machine learning to try to predict fainting symptoms within 15 minutes of happening. To do that, she collected data on blood pressure, heart rate, blood volumetric pressure, accelerometer readings and electrodermal activity, or how much a person sweats. She said shes in her second phase of research, with 10 people whove given permission to collect their health data. Nallamothu hopes to have her predictive algorithm working in July. She plans to study computer science in college. Keep I-55 clean Three seniors at Pontiac Township High School are aiming to clean up Interstate 55 in Livingston County. Molly Masching, Ashlyn Bernard and Georgie Dinardi linked up with the Illinois Department of Transportation to study where and why more litter is being found near the highway. Masching said they hypothesized more trash was ending up on the north side of the interstate, because their county has a large landfill nearby and the majority of traffic comes from the north. After recording collected amounts of trash, they found their theory was correct. Were meeting with the Livingston County Board and the Livingston County Landfill to start our plan of action, Masching said. While the project has not yet concluded any corrective actions to recommend, Masching said theyre looking at enforcing existing regulations that require covering truck beds with tarps, staying under a weight limit or using new linings. Bernard pointed to a net they brought with their presentation, explaining that holes in the net could let loose small pieces of litter. Its something that we see every day, said Masching. Next-gen irrigation Khushi Shah, an Illinois Math & Science Academy student hailing from Peoria, is developing a smart irrigation system for her project. She said it optimizes water use while minimizing consumer costs through the use of sensors and a mobile or web app. It has the potential to save 4.5 to 13 billion liters of water daily out of 450 billion that are used for irrigation, said Shah. She said her system combines information from a global weather and plant database with a sensor that monitors moisture levels in soil, and then automatically engages irrigation systems when needed. While shes using another sensor brand, Shah hopes to develop her own in the future. She said shes passionate about technology, sustainability and entrepreneurship. This is a great way for me to combine all of those interests, she said. Her father, Vaibhav Shah, was there Saturday to support her. He said he never had these opportunities when he was a kid. I'm super excited to see her getting into this technology and trying to solve the problems that I have seen in my life, living in India and other places where water is not easily available, he said. The proud dad also said the future is in good hands. Later on Saturday afternoon, Shah was named as one of the top five winners in the contest. In no specific order, the other four were: IMSA student Dhruv Patel, of Elk Grove Village; Barrington High School student Sahil Mittal, of Barrington; IMSA student Umika Arora, of Morton Grove; and BHS student Ryan Tripathy, of Barrington. This article has been updated to reflect contest results that became available after press time. Contact Brendan Denison at (309) 820-3238. Follow Brendan Denison on Twitter: @BrendanDenison Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 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. Our Bloomington-Normal peaceful prosperity bubble is shattered on a too frequent basis, as gunfire blasts the night and another young person dies. Understanding why is reason enough to support Bloomington council member Mollie Wards proposal for a special commission on gun violence. There is only one problem with Wards proposal it needs to cross Division Street and include Normal and McLean County. Guns are not just used for robberies, drug dealing or other criminal activity, they are fired off randomly in personal feuds and self-assertions where the victim might be random. Too frequently its young men who are the victims and perpetrators. On October 30, 2018, Trevonte Kirkwood was walking his neighborhood, when he was shot by Jordyn Thornton. Prosecutors charged that 22-year-old Thornton, who was convicted on February 22, 2022, was trying to prove his violence credibility. Normals 20-year-old Dylan Meserole, a high school athlete, lost his life on February 12 in Bloomington. Tragedy struck again on March 10 when six-year-old Matthias Clemons and his mother, Brittney Harmon, were killed in a domestic abuse; the attacker, Lawrence D. Clemons III, then shot himself. The family and friends hearts torn by senseless violence will never fully heal. Law enforcement is always trying to connect the puzzle pieces, vigilant for illegal possession, too often called out late at night when gunfire is reported and shells are scattered on a neighborhood street. Police know well how shadow purchases, gun theft and handguns end up in youthful hands. Tough enforcement is one issue, but Wards proposal asks us to dig deeper. Law enforcement will do all they can. There is more that we as a community can do. What is lacking, particularly in a young mans life, that a gun makes that person feel empowered? What alternatives are lacking that young people turn to firearms? I may be on Medicare, but I do remember what the teen world is like. A young mans body is growing, the hormones are raging and there is a yearning for respect. A strong family, school achievement, a job, sports, arts, drama, music can channel that energy positively. Awards and commendations create self-esteem and give life purpose. In the 1980s our community enjoyed a federal program, the Summer Youth Employment Program. Local youth mowed lawns, washed windows, and created art for area schools and non-profits while earning minimum wage. Hundreds participated. Teachers were counselors and those with academic needs spent half the day in the classroom, half on the job. Instead of wandering the streets, young people earned a wage, learned some basic workplace skills like punctuality and had cash in their pocket. Like many programs, this opportunity disappeared with federal budget cuts. Stopping gun violence and particularly identifying youthful patterns is worth community involvement. No neighborhood can claim 100 percent safety. Law enforcement is dispatched after the incident. We need to reach our youth before the 911 call. Wards proposal for an intensive, short-term effort might spur us to dig deeper, understand the challenges and dynamics, and hopefully mean fewer funerals and tragic headlines. Mike Matejka lives in Normal and is co-chair of the Not In Our Town effort. Mike Matejka lives in Normal. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 100 years ago April 9, 1922: The city council has adopted an ordinance that standardizes the building of sidewalks. The new law will require 10 bags of concrete per 100 square feet of new sidewalk. Some contractors have been skimping, trying to get away with using only eight bags. 75 years ago April 9, 1947: It was an open-and-shut case at the Mansfield village jail, which was offered for sale a few days ago. Bids were opened, and the sale will soon be closed. Adjoining property owner Frank Grey bought the long unused jail for $375. Theres no word on his plans for it. 50 years ago April 9, 1972: A car carrying two Wenona women went out of control in Minonk and crashed into a pond. Two Normal men in a car behind them tried to rescue them but the car sank. Others went for help but it was all for naught. Both women drowned and recovery took three hours. 25 years ago April 9, 1997: A man threw a firebomb into an Urbana courtroom, injuring three people. Police later arrested a 37-year-old suspect in a motel. No charges have been filed and the motive for the attack is unknown. Area sheriffs agree the same could happen elsewhere in Central Illinois. Compiled by Jack Keefe; jkeefe@coldwellhomes.com. The star -studded event of the 6th edition of the Ghana Beverage Awards (GBA) successfully held at the Kempinksi Gold Coast City Hotel last Friday left patrons wanting more with Coca-Cola carrying the night as winner of the coveted Product of the Year Category. Coca-Cola beat compelling beverage brands such as Vitamilk, Alomo Bitters, Blue Skies Fruit, Bel Aqua Active and Verna Natural Mineral Water to emerge winner in the keenly contested Product of the Year category. Other companies and beverages awarded on the night included Liberty Industries Ventures Kpoo Keke and Twellium Industrial Companys Rush Energy Drink. Receiving the award, Corporate Affairs Director for West Africa Equatorial Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Bethel Yeboah, expressed gratitude to the organizers and the GBA Committee for recognizing their hardwork for the year under review and according them the needed recognition whiles thanking consumers for their loyalty. It is truly a great honour to receive this award. We are excited about this achievement. On behalf of the management of The Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Ghana Limited, I say thank you to all whose contribution have made this possible. To our cherished consumers, we are especially grateful for your loyalty and patronage which has brought us this far. He added, The beverage industry has over the years undergone a lot of dynamism in terms of consumer preferences. For us at The Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Ghana Limited, this is a clarion call for us in many ways as the awards goes to fan aflame the spirit of innovation within us so we can continue to stand tall in providing Ghanaians with the needed refreshment and nutrition. Taking his turn, Ernest Boateng, Chief Executive Officer for Global Media Alliance, congratulated The Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Ghana Limited for grabbing the topmost award while lauding all stakeholders for supporting the awards scheme. It truly feels like yesterday when the first edition of the Ghana Beverage Awards was held in 2016. Being in the sixth year, we believe as organizers that Ghana Beverage Awards has indeed come a long way. Undoubtedly, the successes chalked over the years could not have been possible without the support of our stakeholders and industry players whose participation and interest in seeing that GBA grows to the level where it will be widely known locally, in the sub-region and internationally knows no boundaries. Permit me to also congratulate The Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Ghana Limited, producers of Coca-Cola for coming tops in the keenly-contested Product of the Year category. It is well-deserved, he said. Ghana Beverages Awards is organized under the theme Inspiring Excellence in Ghanas Beverage Industry. In the last six years, the awards scheme has been instrumental in shining a spotlight on the local beverage industry, while promoting both local and foreign beverages as well as the participation of small-scale beverage enterprises in Ghana. It has remained a force to reckon with through its contribution to ensuring that beverage-manufacturing companies are compliant with the highest standards of practice in the production and delivery of their products. GBA is proudly supported by the Food and Beverage Association of Ghana (FABAG), Consumer Protection Agency (CPA), Food Research Institute (FRI) under CSIR, Perception Management International (PMI), Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture, and the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA). Its media partners are Citi FM, Happy FM, YFM, Akonoba FM, Neesim FM, Bolga Neesim FM-Tamale, ETV Ghana, Net 2 TV, Oman FM, Mx 24, Business and Financial Times, Daily Guide and Ghanaweb. Below is the full list of winners Energy Drink of the Year: Rush Energy Drink Bitters of the Year: Alomo Bitters Carbonated Soft Drink of the Year: Coca-Cola Dairy Product of the Year: Hollandia Yoghurt Fruit Drink of the Year: Ceres Fruit Juice International Liquer of the Year: Seagrams Imperial Blue Whisky International Beer of the Year: Heineken International Spirit of the Year: Jameson Irish Whisky New Beverage of the Year: Sahara Solace RTD of the Year: Django Ginger Ale Cocoa/Chocolate Product of the Year: Vitamilk Choco Liquer of the Year: Kpoo Keke Spirit of the Year: Darling Lemon Drink CSR Company of the Year: Coca Cola Bottling Company of Ghana Manufacturing Company of the Year: Twellium Industrial Company Water of the Year: Verna Mineral Water Beer of the Year: Guinness Foreign Extra Stout Product of the Year: Coca-Cola Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) in the Central region has said the menace of illegal mining (galamsey) continues to militate ruthlessly against its operations in the region, particularly at their intake points. Mr Kwasi Abrebrese, the Regional Chief Manager of the Company, claimed that galamsey was now more rampant than it was in the past and the company struggled to extract water for treatment at some production plants due to the extremely muddy state of the water source. He was addressing the media in Cape Coast after a closed-door stakeholder meeting with the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) following a similar meeting between the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Commission. The meetings were part of the Commissions stakeholders engagement with utility providers and consumers in the region to assess their performance and identify and improve areas of challenge. In a dire situation, you may not get enough water to even extract before you start the production process. So, for some of our production centres, there is no water to produce. For some, we even must do desilting at the edges of the intake to create more room for the volumes to build up, Mr Abrebrese said. He explained that GWCL was forced by the situation to introduce more chemicals in the water, albeit cautiously, to keep water flowing to its customers, adding to its production cost. According to the GWCL Regional Chief Manager, production was always interrupted for maintenance works due to the filth in the water that clocked their machines, citing Sekyereheman as the most affected. So, we must break production and clean our filters before we restart production. When you should have done 24 hours of continuous pumping, you may have to do 12 hours or less, he noted. The acute water shortage in some parts of the Central Region and the brownish water that flows through peoples pipes in some communities have been an issue of major concern to many. Mr Abrebrese, therefore, called for a concerted effort by citizens and government to combat the canker to forestall a looming water crisis in the country. We will be glad if we see all of ourselves as stakeholders in ensuring that a day will not come that Ghana will import water. We are praying that citizens should promptly report so that we fight some of these things which may, eventually, affect the whole country, he appealed. Dr Ishmael Ackah, Executive Secretary, PURC addressing the challenges raised by GWCL, advised the company to engage the public on galamsey to develop localized strategies to get quality water. For areas without water at all, he encouraged GWCL to expedite its provision and installation of reservoirs in such areas for them to get reliable supply of water. To deal with overbilling and its attendant drama with consumers, Dr Ackah urged the water providers to meter all customers to resolve the situation. On the operation of ECG, Dr Ackah observed that aside from illegal connections, burnt poles due to agricultural activities was a key problem sending the investment of ECG in the region down the drain. He observed that the burning of poles affected electricity services to many communities and implored citizens to desist from the act, adding that it was their collective responsibility to protect the poles and the metres. When ECG does the wrong thing, report to us and we are going to engage them and make sure they deliver the service. He urged consumers to be alive to their civic responsibility of protecting government property for their own good. 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 The University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) has conferred an honorary Doctor of Science degree on the Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies (JGC), Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong. He was honoured in recognition of his outstanding contributions to environmental sanitation and higher education in Ghana and beyond. The Chairman of the Council of the UHAS, Justice Victor J.M. Dotse of the Supreme Court, and the Vice-Chancellor of UHAS, Professor John Owusu Gyapong, together with decorated Dr. Siaw Agyepong with the honours last Saturday at the second session of the 6th UHAS Congregation at Ho, Volta Region. Some 692 students were awarded degrees in various academic disciplines at the event. After receiving the honours, Dr. Siaw Agyepong thanked God for his life, stressing that he was very humbled by the honour done him by the university. I also want to thank the UHAS Council Members, my wife, Mrs. Adelaide Agyepong, my children, management and staff of the Jospong Group of Companies and everyone who has invested in my life, he expressed. He disclosed that his group will present a cheque of US Dollars 100,000 to the UHAS to set up an award scheme for research. A citation accompanying the honour said: The University of Health and Allied Sciences is, therefore, proud to be associated with you and delighted to honour you this 9th day of April 2022, with the Honorary Doctor of Science degree (honoris) causa) for your excellent leadership; for your innovative business solutions that continue to add value to the everyday lives of Ghanaians; for your service and care to countless communities all over Africa, and for the integrity in which you walk as you represent us globally. It continued your contributions to environmental sanitation and higher education in Ghana and beyond are unmatched in scope, and have been accurately described as phenomenal. The citation said over the years your visionary leadership has brought us the Jospong Group of Companies, which has earned you global recognition for job creation that has improved thousands of household incomes. Further, it also described Dr. Siaw Agyepong as the embodiment of the UHAS core values of Excellence, Innovation, Integrity, Service and Care. Earlier, in a brief motivational speech, Dr. Siaw Agyepong admonished the graduates to put God first in all their endeavours and chosen careers. However, he cautioned that the pull him syndrome and other demonic forces were still operational in the country. Practically, God has been my strength, he asserted. Again, he encouraged the students to look as far as they can see, using how God blessed Abraham enormously to buttress his point. He told the graduates to always leverage and treasure the opportunities they have and those that will come their way. Be ready to learn, explore and also teach others, stressing that from today watch things twice. he charged the students. A former student of the Royal Technical Institute at Nungua in Accra, Dr. Siaw Agyepong studied for the City and Guilds of London Certificate, which he completed in 1990, graduating with an Electrical Engineering Technician (Part II) Certificate. He became a Chief Executive Officer at the age of 25, and helped to transform his mothers exercise-book business into Jospong Printing Press in 1995. He has proven to be a visionary leader with a remarkable knack for recognising business opportunities and building strategic partnerships to implement his vision. In 2006, Dr. Siaw Agyepong revolutionised waste management in Ghana with the introduction of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, now a leader in the waste management space of the country. He is the founder and Executive Chairman of JGC with 60 subsidiaries, with core staff members of over 6000, 55000 operatives, and creating over 250000 job opportunities for people of different ages, genders and cultures. Dr. Siaw Agyepong is an international conference speaker on private sector development, waste management, wastewater management, and the impact of sanitation on public health. He has held and continues to hold various positions and serve on boards in a number of public, private and international institutions, including being a member of the Annual New Year School Corporate Advisory Team of the University of Ghana, and; Vice-Chairman of the Enterprise Development the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). He also serves as an advisory biard member of the Harvard Centre for African Studies and is a member of the Veritas Society. He is currently the President of the Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA). For his enormous contributions in the environmental sanitation space, Dr. Siaw Agyepong has won several awards. In 2008, former President John Agyekum Kufuor conferred on Dr. Siaw Agyepong the Award of the Order of the Volta, which was followed by the Best Entrepreneur of the Year 2010 by the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Ghana. The University of Ghana, Legon in 2013 also conferred the Platinum Vessel Award on him in recognition of his meritorious selfless services and contribution to national development. Other awards won by Dr. Siaw Agyepong are Most Influential African Business Leader of the Decade (2021); CEO of the Decade (2021); Induction Into the Hall of Fame 2021, and; Entrepreneur of the Year 2021. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Mrs. Sika Ramatu Lawson, a Project Electrical/Instrumentation Engineer at the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), has encouraged girls and young ladies not to fear to venture into the study of science and technology and its related field of work. She said it is not impossible for the girl-child or a woman to venture into science or technology, what they had to do was to put aside fear over the perception that some classified fields or professions were only for males. She said society needed to support females in such fields at all levels by providing them with equal opportunities to propel them to reach the top. Mrs. Lawson stated this at the eleventh monthly stakeholder engagement seminar organized by the Ghana News Agencys Tema Regional Office, which is a platform rolled out for state and non-state actors to address national issues. The stakeholder engagement was also used to climax the GNA Tema Regional Offices month-long activities to mark the 2022 International Womens Day celebration. Speaking on the topic: Prospects of women in the oil refinery sector: Womens contribution to the success story of the Tema Oil Refinery, Mrs Lawson observed that most of the females often tilt toward administration and related fields deemed as soft due to lack of support and encouragement from families, friends, peers and the society. She said it was about time that women working in technical outfit and holding bigger positions come together to work towards propelling the younger ones into such fields. The TORs Electrical/Instrumentation Engineer encouraged girls not to give up on their dreams, saying, anything you are good at, pursue it, it only takes a little effort to reach your dreams. She said women engineers like herself had broken the boundary and proved themselves in the oil refinery sector even though it was a predominately male-oriented field of work. Mrs. Matilda Adane Okrah, TOR Maintenance Planner, contributing to the discussion said the female population ratio of TOR in the past compared to the current, was encouraging, revealing that at a point in time there was only one female engineer amongst the host of men. She said it was worthy that TOR now had several gallant ladies who were applying modern technology in various positions as technicians and engineers, chemists, and laboratory technicians, among others for the successful running of the only refinery in Ghana. Touching on breaking the bias, which was the theme for this years International Womens Day, Mrs. Okrah said the COVID-19 pandemic made the world to have a feel and hear the stories of how women had been taking care of the home and still took care of their work. I am sure the men with the little they experienced with the kids at home during the pandemic may have changed their mindset about women, she noted. 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 A Member of the Finance Committee of Parliament, Isaac Adongo, has described the economic lectures presented by the Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as one bordering on intellectual dishonesty. According to him, the vice president, whom he christened "Walewale Adam Smith", has refused to take "wise counsel" on how he can be assisted to revive the country's ailing economy, and is rather embarking on a lying-spree masked as an economic lecture. Dr Bawumia, on Thursday, delivered a speech on the economy at National Tertiary Students Confederacy (TESCON) Training and Orientation Conference, and highlighted some digitization interventions by the incumbent government that, to him, is saving the country huge sum of monies and quickly transforming the economy. In a brutally-frank lecture on Ghanas economy from 1990 till date, he reminded Ghanaians that although times may be hard now, the Akufo-Addo administration inherited an even more dire situation and successfully moved the country onto a path of growth until the whole world was blindsided by the Covid 19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict and locally, the banking sector clean up. Not long ago, we had felt similar despair. The fear of losing our lives to a pandemic and the near halt to our economy as we battled to survive each day. Some years ago also we had been confronted by very dire economic circumstances. The joblessness of our youth, years of lights out that impacted adversely on businesses and jobs, the disappointment of dealing with a collapsed national health insurance system and inability to access health care, the bane of the cash and carry system, a nearly collapsed national ambulance system, freeze on public sector employment, an almost collapsed banking sector and so on . . . . . The government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo put in much effort to turn things around and elevate the standards of living of the Ghanaian people above what the situation used to be at the time this government was formed in 2017 . . . Together as a country, we proceeded to fix the economy. We made great gains and the records attest to this. Prior to the Coronavirus pandemic which has impacted all economies in the world, we stabilized the economy, and achieved great strides. The relatively strong performance of the economy, among other things, led to Ghana becoming the destination of choice for Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in West Africa according to the 2019 World Investment Report by UNCTAD. In the midst of the current economic challenges we face, we are putting in place the key pillars for the economic transformation of Ghana. We may not yet be where we want to be, and we may be buffeted by the winds of the pandemic and the war for yet a little while, but we have made a great start and, together, we shall finish what we started, he stated. But speaking on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, Hon Adongo, who is also the Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, was emphatic that the lecture was just another avenue to lie to Ghanaians and slammed Dr Bawumia for attributing the country's economic woes to the conflict in Eastern Europe. To him, the ineptness of the NPP to tackle the economy is "legendary". "This government has just emboldened their incompetence with this lecture which did not provide any pragmatic solutions to the current challenges the country is facing. "Why do they continue to blame their inefficiencies on something else? For example, why do you blame the escalation of food prices on the Russia-Ukraine war? How often do Ghanaians add wheat to their staple food? Is this not the same government that said they had abundance of food to feed the whole country through their planting for food and jobs programme? You see, when you lie about things you have not done your own failed policies will expose you. "The inept administration of the NPP government is legendary. What Bawumia did at the economic lectures is nothing new but another avenue to lie to Ghanaians," he added. Watch video below Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video President Akufo-Addo on Monday was interviewed on the BBCs Focus on Africa show where he spoke about the Electronic Transaction levy (E-levy), the economy, the countrys tourism sector and others. It may be recalled that in 2016, the then President John Mahama also had a similar interview which generated a lot of criticism and debate in the country especially the bit on corruption. Former Central Regional Minister, Kwamena Duncan on Wednesday's edition of Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo' sought to do a comparison between the two interviews. According to him, "the difference is clear. The President was in his elements; he was animated despite how the journalist (Peter Okwoche) was asking the questions...and so there's no doubt; if you compare this to what we saw some time ago, the difference is so huge" Listen to him in the video below Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Sammy Gyamfi, the Communications Director of the National Democratic Congress, is up in the trends on social media following a verbal exchange with the Dean of the Graduate School of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Professor John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor. Sammy Gyamfi on TV3s Key Points program tackled the Professor Mawutor over some defence he mounted for Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumias speech at the National Tertiary Students Confederacy (TESCON) National Conference on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Sammy Gyamfi contested claims by the lecturer and questioned the veracity of some of the things he said on the show. Sammy Gyamfi described some of the claims by Dr Bawumia as The Vice President who is not willing to accept responsibility for his own economic mismanagement and the failings of this government. That 129-page speech is full of blatant falsehoods and a litany of excuses that do not hold water. The use of cooked figures and false statistical data to create an impression this government has done better when the true facts rather show that this country has had its economy deteriorated in the last five years. Gyamfis performance on the show appears to have excited some viewers who have taken to social media to praise him. Sammy Gyamfi is very smart and intelligent,he chooses Npps argument and rubbishes it and then quote law to finalize it#TheKeyPoints pic.twitter.com/ygqrO68nrQ With All Due Respect (@cdzas) April 9, 2022 I watched him, he was on top of issues Prince (@princeaneze1) April 9, 2022 Lucid thinker, super smart I like his ending submission Mrmohammed Salihu (@mrmoh_salihu) April 9, 2022 Is Sammy Gyamfi a god? The guy is smart, intelligent and on top of issues. Great gift to Ghana #thekeypoints Makafui Theodore (@MakafuiTheodore) April 9, 2022 Please Mr. Sammy Gyamfi don't worry yourself to be explaining or giving any sources when you know that you are speaking with someone who's government is deeply buried in pure mismanagement of state funds. Npp has nothing to offer us. #TheKeyPoints Camara Ibrahim (@CamaraI94183962) April 9, 2022 King Sammy Gyamfi silencing the co-panelists with facts and documents. You can only hate Sammy Gyamfi for debating if you have NPP DNA . #TheKeyPoints ENAM (@EnamKem) April 9, 2022 Source: twitter/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 Director of the UP Institute of Maritime Affairs and the Law of the Sea Professor Jay Batongbacal talked about the maritime issue on the South China Sea, and the challenges it continues to pose, saying the Duterte administration, with its dilly-dallying position on the disputed waters paved the way for China to exploit its natural resources, which puts the country's food security. (Photo: Yahoo Philippines) A maritime law expert warned that Chinas illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the South China Sea could threaten the Philippines long-term food security. UP College of Law Professor Jay Batongbacal, director of the UP Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, said that the Duterte administration, with its dilly-dallying position when it comes to the issue, paved the way for China to exploit the natural resources in the South China Sea, which the Philippines owns by right. This has contributed to the decrease in the catch of our fishermen which we are hearing from them straight from the communities, Batongbacal said. Our fishermen are saying that theyre no longer catching fish in this area. Batongbacal said that contrary to what President Rodrigo Duterte always says that there is not much to fish in the area, in reality, 30 percent of the countrys captured fisheries come from the South China Sea. These are all indications that the fisheries really are now strained, or perhaps on the brink of collapse, he said, noting that the country is now exporting galunggong (round scad) which, before, are readily available and the cheapest fish in the market. Thats why, according to him, the Philippines must cooperate with other countries to resolve this issue, since IUU fishing is a problem that other countries in the region face as well. This is happening all over the world, it is a global problem, so many countries are willing to cooperate in order to address this IUU fishing, he said. Batongbacal also said that the Philippine government must invest in surveillance infrastructure to monitor and regulate fishing in the South China Sea. We need to also strengthen our law enforcement activities in the West Philippine Sea to at least discourage this excessive overfishing and ultimately control it, keep it down to a sustainable level, Batongbacal added. Marvin Joseph Ang is a news and creative writer who follows developments in politics, democracy, and popular culture. He advocates for a free press and national democracy. The views expressed are his own. Watch more videos on Yahoo: MANILA, PHILIPPINES - APRIL 08: Urban poor residents re-enact the Passion of the Christ while protesting the rising prices of fuel and commodities ahead of holy week, on April 8, 2022 in Manila, Philippines. The country's oil prices have already increased at least ten times since January and made worse by the recent war in Ukraine. Urban poor groups are demanding a government subsidy on oil prices to keep prices affordable for the public. (Photo by Jes Aznar/Getty Images) The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday (April 7) cautioned the Philippines of a possible surge in COVID-19 cases, especially with the unsafe gatherings and social mixing expected until the end of the election season. In a statement, Acting WHO Representative to the Philippines Rajendra Yadav noted that Filipinos will observe Ramadan and Holy Week and engage in election-related activities from April to May. Everyone should at least wear a mask and get booster shots of COVID-19 vaccines, as prescribed by the government, to prepare for and possibly avoid a potential surge, said Dr Yadav. The organization recommended house-to-house vaccination on priority groups, particularly senior citizens and indigents, that remain unvaccinated to achieve high coverage with the primary series and booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines. There are three reasons for providing COVID-19 vaccine booster doses. First, current evidence shows that protection provided by the vaccines against infection or disease, particularly severe disease, wanes gradually. Second, there could be reduced protection against more transmissible Variants of Concern over time. And third, some risk groups may not develop adequate protection from the recommended primary series of the existing vaccines, the representative said. According to the latest government data, 67 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated. However, the government is still facing challenges in reaching vulnerable senior citizens. LGUs need to implement a more targeted approach of closer-to-home and mobile vaccinations to reach these vulnerable individuals. We cannot continue waiting for them to come to the health facilities, WHO reiterated. The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has earlier laid out its plans to make voters safe in the upcoming elections, including creating a medical advisory board. COMELEC Commissioner Aimee Neri said that the purpose of the board is to provide additional support in revisiting Covid-19 related guidelines. Story continues The commission will reportedly partner with health and medical groups to setup medical desks that will help respond to the health-related issues of voters most specifically those belonging to the vulnerable group during election day. Pola Rubio is a news writer and photojournalist covering Philippine politics and events. She regularly follows worldwide and local happenings. The views expressed are her own. Watch more videos on Yahoo: Credit: CC0 Public Domain Most simulations of our climate's future may be overly sensitive to Arctic ice melt as a cause of abrupt changes in ocean circulation, according to new research led by scientists at the University of WisconsinMadison. Climate scientists count the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (or AMOC) among the biggest tipping points on the way to a planetary climate disaster. The Atlantic Ocean current acts like a conveyor belt carrying warm tropical surface water north and cooler, heavier deeper water south. "We've been taught to picture it like a conveyor belteven in middle school and high school now, it's taught this waythat shuts down when freshwater comes in from ice melt," says Feng He, an associate scientist at UWMadison's Center for Climatic Research. However, building upon previous work, He says researchers are revising their understanding of the relationship between AMOC and freshwater from melting polar ice. In the past, a stalled AMOC has accompanied abrupt climate events like the Blling-Allerd warming, a 14,500-year-old, sharp global temperature hike. He successfully reproduced that event using a climate model he conducted in 2009 while a UWMadison graduate student. "That was a success, reproducing the abrupt warming about 14,700 years ago that is seen in the paleoclimate record," says He, now. "But our accuracy didn't continue past that abrupt change period." Instead, while Earth's temperatures cooled after this abrupt warming before rising again to plateau at new highs for the last 10,000 years, the 2009 model couldn't keep pace. The simulated warming over the northern regions of the planet didn't match the increase in temperatures seen in geological archives of climate, like ice cores. In a study published this week in the journal Nature Climate Change, He and Oregon State University paleoclimatologist Peter Clark describe a new model simulation that matches the warmth of the last 10,000 years. And they did it by doing away with the trigger most scientists believe stalls or shuts down the AMOC. Warming temperatures on Earth's surface cause sea ice in the Arctic Ocean and the Greenland Ice Sheet to melt, releasing fresh water into the ocean. Scientists widely believed that the freshwater influx disrupts the density differences in the North Atlantic that make the AMOC's north-bound water sink and turn back south. "The problem," says He, "is with the geological climate data." Though the climate record shows an abundance of freshwater that came from the final melting of the ice sheets over North America and Europe, the AMOC barely changed. So, He removed the assumption of a freshwater deluge from his model. "Without the freshwater coming in making the AMOC slow down in the model, we get a simulation with much better, lasting agreement with the temperature data from the climate record," He says. "The important result is that the AMOC appears to be less sensitive to freshwater forcing than has long been thought, according to both the data and model." This is particularly important to climate models that evaluate how the AMOC will respond to future increases of freshwater from ice melt. "It's built into many models," He says. "Future global warming from increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere melts sea ice, and the freshwater from the melting ice is believed to cause the AMOC to weaken." The widespread consequences of a drastic weakening of the AMOC include rapid sea-level rise on the eastern coast of North America, cooling over Europe that could disrupt agriculture, a parched Amazon rainforest and disruption of Asian monsoons. The new modeling study anticipates a much smaller reduction in AMOC strength, but that doesn't rule out abrupt change. "We suggest until this challenge is solved, any simulated AMOC changes from freshwater forcing should be viewed with caution," He says. "We can't be certain why the AMOC shut down in the past. but we are certain it did change. And it can change again." Explore further Ocean current system seems to be approaching a tipping point More information: Feng He et al, Freshwater forcing of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation revisited, Nature Climate Change (2022). Journal information: Nature Climate Change Feng He et al, Freshwater forcing of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation revisited,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41558-022-01328-2 Native and invasive Phragmites australis. Credit: Dassanayake Lab The Mississippi River Delta is home to the world's largest contiguous swath of Phragmites australis, or more commonly known as the common reed. But the plant that can grow to nearly 20 feet tall and has been a critical component in stabilizing the state's coast against erosion is not actually native to Louisianawell, not entirely. There are multiple P. australis genotypes. P. australis subspecies, or ssp., americanus is the native subspecies in the U.S. and Canada. However, Phragmites australis ssp. australis originated in central Europe and was subsequently introduced to the U.S. where it is now considered to be one of the most problematic invasive species in North America. What has perplexed environmental researchers is the invasive ssp. australis has displayed capabilities beyond that of the native ssp. americanus in its ability to thrive in the wetlands, especially around the Great Lakes, often growing up to be much taller and denser, and in turn, disturbing the native ecosystem. In a newly published study in Molecular Ecology, and recently featured in an edition of The Scientist, LSU researchers collaborated with Tulane University and the U.S. Geological Survey to study the genomic bases of P. australis and to investigate what exactly makes the invasive reed grass subspecies thrive in wetlands, in comparison to its native counterpart. Samples were used from sites located around the Great Lakes region for this pioneering genomic study, though the plant can be found growing throughout North America. "We are trying to understand the genomic basis for invasiveness in plants," said Dong-Ha Oh, research assistant professor in the Dassanayake Lab in LSU's Department of Biological Sciences and lead author of the paper. This project resulted in the first genome reference for this globally recognized invasive plant that can be used by plant scientists studying evolution of invasive traits as well as scientists designing genetic-based strategies to manage invasive plants in conservation biology. The study also included a comparison of gene expression data, or comparative transcriptomics. When used with the newly assembled genome, it suggested that genes associated with pathogen and defense responses were highly expressed in the invasive subspecies continuously, while similar genes in the native subspecies were found at much lower expression levels and were only induced when there was a pathogen. "We are seeing a built-in defense response in the invasive plants that is much higher than in the native plant," said Maheshi Dassanayake, associate professor in the LSU Department of Biological Sciences and a corresponding author of the paper. "For example, if we give both of these plants a pathogen and then test what happens, we see the native one acting drastically to respond to the attack, while the invasive one just doesn't care because it always has its shields up." Chathura Wijesinghege, a graduate student in the Dassanayake Lab contributed to this work by tracing the evolutionary history of Phragmites and closely related grasses. Dassanayake was invited to collaborate on an existing project between Tulane's Keith Clay and USGS's Kurt Kowalski that funded a genome project with a goal to design genetic control measures that can differentiate native subspecies from the invasive sub-species without causing unintentional damage to native fauna and flora. "The USGS recognized the management need and initiated analysis of the genetic makeup of Phragmites as part of the new study," said Kowalski. "This cutting-edge research provides a roadmap for further development of species-specific treatments to control invasive Phragmites and offers insights into how it compares to other grasses." The Dassanayake Lab analyzed the invasive plant's genome using LSU's High Performance Computing services and revealed a unique history of genome-wide duplication events that likely provided novel genetic material for the divergence of the invasive and native subspecies. After identifying reference genes in the genome, the group looked at their expression in the native subspecies in comparison to the invasive. "[This invasive reed subspecies] is destroying ecosystems that have been adapted to the native reeds, and [the USGS] wants to find out some biological solution that avoids the use of generic herbicides or labor intensive-mechanical removal," Oh said. "If we just leave it, perhaps in hundreds of years the ecosystem may eventually adapt to this invasive species, but we may likely lose much of the local biodiversity in the meantime. So, plant biologists and conservation biologists can work together to find effective and sustainable solutions to control this problem before irreversible damage is observed to our native communities." Explore further Study uncovers mystery of the invasive common reed More information: DongHa Oh et al, Novel genome characteristics contribute to the invasiveness of Phragmites australis (common reed), Molecular Ecology (2021). Journal information: Molecular Ecology DongHa Oh et al, Novel genome characteristics contribute to the invasiveness of Phragmites australis (common reed),(2021). DOI: 10.1111/mec.16293 OncoOne Presents Preclinical Proof of Concept Data for its Next-Generation oxMIF-targeted Monoclonal Antibody ON203 at the AACR Annual Meeting Details Category: Antibodies Published on Saturday, 09 April 2022 18:37 Hits: 837 VIENNA, Austria I April 08, 2022 I OncoOne, a biotechnology company focused on discovering precision medicines for cancer and autoimmune diseases, announced today the presentation of preclinical proof-of-concept data on its lead candidate ON203, a therapeutic monoclonal antibody targeting oxMIF, and the radiodiagnostic 89Zr-ON102, at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2022, held from April 8-13, in New Orleans, Louisiana. ON203 demonstrated tumor growth suppression in two cancer mouse models and superior tumor cell killing effects in vitro as compared to a first generation anti-oxMIF antibody which had reached clinical evaluation. Conference participants can access the data in both a poster format and an online oral presentation via the conference website. The poster #313 will be presented on Sunday, April 10 in the poster session Antibodies and Immune Therapies, from 1:30 5:00 pm CDT. OncoOne has applied its drug discovery and development expertise combined with a unique depth of knowledge on the potential of oxMIF, the disease-related isoform of the highly prevalent cytokine, MIF, to develop ON203 as a valuable potential treatment for solid tumors, said Randolf Kerschbaumer, PhD., CEO of OncoOne. The preclinical data presented at AACR further validates our approach as we prepare to initiate the evaluation of ON203 in a Phase I clinical trial in patients with solid tumors. Alexander Schinagl, PhD., CTO of OncoOne added: The concept of targeting oxMIF is gaining attention, as demonstrated by this weeks publication of the redox dependent oxMIF structure by Erin Skeens and coworkers in the Cell Press journal, Structure.1 The poster entitled Novel bioengineered monoclonal antibodies targeting oxidized macrophage migration inhibitory factor as anti-cancer therapeutics and diagnostics highlights the improved properties of OncoOnes next-generation anti-oxMIF antibodies, as compared to the first generation anti-oxMIF antibody that was well tolerated in Phase I and II clinical trials. Bioengineering significantly reduced hydrophobicity of ON203 and ON102, leading to improved stability and strongly reduced aggregation but retaining specificity and the low nM affinity for oxMIF. This resulted in an improved biodistribution and tumor retention in mice harboring solid tumors of the colon. In vivo studies of ON203 in mouse models of prostate cancer further demonstrated significantly improved efficacy, showing that ON203 effectively suppressed tumor growth without acute signs of toxicity. OncoOne will advance ON203 toward the clinic as a highly optimized oxMIF targeting treatment option for patients with solid tumors as a monotherapy and in combinatory approaches with other immunotherapies or checkpoint inhibitors. The poster will be available on OncoOnes website upon conclusion of the AACR 2022 Annual Meeting. *** About OncoOne OncoOne seeks to overcome the limitations of targeting macrophage migration inhibitory factor by harnessing the high tumor-specificity of the disease-related isoform, oxidized macrophage migration inhibitory factor (oxMIF). The Company is focused on developing multiple proprietary drug modalities to leverage oxMIFs potential as a target for systemic treatment of colorectal, ovarian and lung cancers, as well as for chronic inflammatory diseases. Equipped with a successful track-record in early-stage drug development, as well as a deep understanding of the target itself, OncoOnes leadership will advance a pipeline based on oxMIFs promise in oncology and other disease areas. www.oncoone.com 1Skeens et al., Redox-dependent structure and dynamics of macrophage migration inhibitory factor reveal sites of latent allostery, Structure (2022), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.str.2022.03.007. SOURCE: OncoOne From The Post-Star in 1972: Man in His Element classes at Glens Falls High School organized a number of Earth Week activities April 17-22. In previous years, just a single Earth Day was held, The Post-Star reported on April 15. Students were encouraged to ride bicycles to and from school, and those who drove automobiles were singled out by placing symbolic pollution tickets on vehicles parked outside the school, The Post-Star reported on April 20. Students were encouraged to wear sneakers or soft-soled shoes and not to slam lockers in order to reduce noise pollution. The city Department of Public Works collaborated with the high school in holding a litter-collecting challenge in which high school, junior high and elementary student bodies competed. The volume of litter collected by students at each school was weighed to determine the winner. Students also planted flowers, urged their peers to quit smoking, and arranged for the schools incinerator to be shut down for the week. Downtown: Western Union Telegraph Co. requested Federal Communications Commission permission to close its office at 138 Glen St., the only company-operated office between Albany and Montreal. Nelson E. Varney, manager of the Glens Falls office, said that a few years ago there were six full-time employees in the office, eight in the summertime. Now he is the only full-time employee. Under the plan, Tri-County Cab would become an independent Western Union agency. April 15 Downtown: Mary Travers Morning Glory, Deep Purples Machine Head and Neil Youngs Harvest, were among the record albums on sale for $3.17 each at Grants discount store on Glen Street, Glens Falls, where the Hudson Avenue entrance to the Centennial Circle roundabout is now. April 13 Social scene: Stan Gericke and his Orchestra were set to perform music for the 42nd annual Glens Falls Policemens Ball on May 6 at the Knights of Columbus hall at the corner of Warren and Center streets. April 12 On stage: Phil Smith and Becky Dayton were cast in the lead roles for the upcoming Glens Falls Operetta Clubs (now Glens Falls Community Theater) production of the Woody Allen comedy, Dont Drink the Water, May 4-6 at the Glens Falls High School auditorium. April 20 At the movies: The Hospital, starring George C. Scott, was held over for a third and final week at Cinema I in Queensbury. April 12 Sports trivia: New York Yankees pitcher Fritz Peterson was set to sign to sign autographs April 24 at Glen Ford in South Glens Falls. April 22 Sports trivia: Glens Falls High School track and field star Herman Johnson set a new school record for the triple jump with a tremendous leap of 45 feet, 10.5 inches in a double dual meet against CBA and Vincentian Institute. April 24 Editorial: Word that a Fairbanks, Calif., publication called the Good News Paper is going out of business arouses mixed feelings because such a paper was a mixed blessing. The Good News Papers publisher, Bill Bailey, thinks his publication proved that good news is needed. No one disputes that. Without a little hope to lighten the gloom of unrelieved news about death and taxes and chicanery in high places, and all the rest of it, what a sad world this would be. Yet, it would be sad, too, though in a different sense, were the press to offer the public only pleasant, uplifting items. An honest mirror must be held up to mankind as a first step toward improvement of the human condition. Were all for good news but in realistic proportions. April 17 Quotable: The breathtaking beauty of the Lake George scenery and the magnificence of the worlds great operatic music have always seemed to be made for each other. David Lloyd, general director of the Lake George Opera Festival, April 24 Maury Thompson was a Post-Star reporter for 21 years before he retired in 2017. He now is a freelance history writer and documentary film producer who routinely researches historic newspapers of the region. Maury Thompson was a Post-Star reporter for 21 years before he retired in 2017. He now is a freelance history writer and documentary film producer who routinely researches historic newspapers of the region. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Warren County Health Services confirmed 48 new COVID cases on Friday. Half of these cases stemmed from at-home test results. The seven-day rolling positivity rate for the county is 4%, according to Health Services. The county reported that the number of county residents hospitalized is back up to four, one more than Thursdays report. There have been 158 new cases of COVID over the last five days, according to county data. New York state recently authorized Warren County to issue a second vaccine booster shot. The next vaccine booster clinic has been scheduled for Tuesday, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., at the countys Municipal Centers Human Services Building. The clinic will offer Moderna shots. Registration is required, and can be done online, here: https://on.ny.gov/3x9JRiR. To check whether someone is eligible for an additional booster shot, visit https://covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/booster-doses. Washington County There were 12 new confirmed cases of COVID out of 251 administered tests in Washington County as of Friday morning, according to state data. The seven-day rolling positivity rate is 3.2%. According to state data, 62.5% of Washington Countys population are fully vaccinated and have received the first booster shot. Capital Region/statewide There are 52 COVID patients currently hospitalized throughout the Capital Region, according to Warren County data. There were 262 new COVID cases out of 5,621 administered tests throughout the region as of Friday morning, according to state data. The rolling positivity rate for the region is 4.5%, and statewide that rate is 3.6%, according to state data. According to state data, 73.9% of New Yorks population are fully vaccinated and have received the first booster shot. Love 0 Funny 8 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 Wednesday, April 6, was the birthday of a woman of no importance. The beginning of this womans biography notes the rise of political extremism in an earlier era on the back of propaganda, sloganeering, and ruthless media manipulation. In what became known as the decade of lies, truth, and trust were falling victim to fear, racism, and hatred. Virginia found herself in a ringside seat as the increasingly fragile ideal of democracy failed to find champions with alternative answers. The story and the birthday belong to Virginia Hall. She was born on this day in 1906. I learned about Hall while reading her biography A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II by Sonia Purnell. Hall, who later married and took the last name Goillot, grew up in Baltimore. After attending college and graduate school, she went on to study and travel in Europe in the early 1930s, eventually taking a secretarial position with the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw, Poland. Halls dream was to become a diplomat. She studied foreign languages and became fluent in French, German and Italian. While on assignment in Turkey, the 27-year-old Hall was in a hunting accident. She shot herself in the foot. Gangrene set in and she ultimately required a below-the-knee amputation. She was fitted with a wooden prosthetic leg, which she affectionately nicknamed Cuthbert. Once recovered, she applied to the Foreign Service multiple times and was informed that only the able-bodied need apply. Shortly after the start of World War II, Hall drove ambulances for the French Army. She was eventually accepted by the British Special Operations Executive, which trained her in clandestine tactics, communications, weapons and other resistance activities. She spent 13 months in France between 1941 and 1942, organizing spy networks, running safehouses and delivering important intelligence to the British government under the cover of being a New York Post reporter. In 1942, the Gestapo sent out an urgent transmission about the woman Germans nicknamed the limping lady: She is the most dangerous of all Allied spies. We must find and destroy her, according to the biography. While Nazi Germany occupied France, Hall needed to escape through the Pyrenees Mountains into Spain on what is known as the Freedom Trail. The journey was 44 miles long, with elevations as high as 6,000 feet. During the course of the war, more than 2,000 experienced mountain guides and civilians who were escaping through the Freedom Trail were captured and executed by the Nazis. Despite her disability, Hall walked the trail and made it to safety. She ultimately joined the Office of Strategic Services, the precursor to the CIA, which sent her back to France in 1944 to again take up the cause of the resistance. In 1945, Hall was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for her heroic actions during the war. She was the only woman to receive the award in World War II. Even though it was a prestigious honor, she requested the ceremony be held in secret because she wanted to continue working as a spy. She continued her intelligence work for the CIA even after the war had ended and retired in 1966, when she reached the mandatory retirement age of 60. In 1957, Hall married Paul Goillot, who was also a former OSS operative. They lived in Barnesville, Maryland, until her death on July 8, 1982. Hall was smart, brave, resourceful and fearless, and came to embrace her disability. She also eschewed publicity. Halls niece, Lorna Catling, told CNN in 2019 that Hall was not the least bit interested in fame or recognition. She did her work because she loved the excitement of it all. She was an outdoorsman and an extremely good organizer, and she just wanted to do her job. Currently, importance seems to be defined by how many followers a person has on social media, how many retweets, mentions, or downloads a person gets, or how many times a person appears in the media. Those metrics can measure how famous a person is, but not someones importance. Through a lot of her life, the early life, she was constantly rejected and belittled, Purnell told NPR. She was constantly just being dismissed as someone not very important or of no importance. Thus the books title. Halls legacy can teach us that significance is more than who you are. It can be the work you do, the lives you touch, or in Halls case, the lives you save. Or fighting for truth, equality and democracy. Perhaps the best birthday gift for Virginia Hall Goillot would be to redefine what it means to be important. Lynn Schmidt is a columnist and editorial board member of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 LOS ANGELES Nearly two weeks after Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars over a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Friday it is forbidding Smith from attending any academy events, including the Oscars, for 10 years. The board has decided, for a period of 10 years from April 8, 2022, Mr. Smith shall not be permitted to attend any academy events or programs, in person or virtually, including but not limited to the Academy Awards, the organizations President David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson said in a open letter to members following a meeting of the organizations 54-member board. This action we are taking today in response to Will Smiths behavior is a step toward a larger goal of protecting the safety of our performers and guests, and restoring trust in the academy. We also hope this can begin a time of healing and restoration for all involved and impacted. The decision comes one week after Smith who went on to win the lead actor Oscar less than an hour after striking Rock resigned from the academy. I will fully accept any and all consequences for my conduct, Smith said in a statement announcing his resignation, calling his actions shocking, painful, and inexcusable. By resigning, Smith preempted what many expected to be his potential suspension or expulsion from the academy. But the organization, under pressure to hold Smith accountable for the violent outburst that derailed the Oscars and stunned millions of viewers, was determined to press ahead with the disciplinary proceedings it announced the day after the ceremony. In the run-up to the board meeting Friday which was moved up from April 18 following Smiths resignation questions swirled over what steps the academy would take to punish one of the film industrys most bankable and generally well-liked stars. The organizations code of conduct, enacted in 2017 following the Harvey Weinstein sexual misconduct scandal, gives academy leaders wide latitude in the disciplinary measures they can undertake for violations of the groups standards, ranging from a simple reprimand to expulsion and loss of eligibility to receive future Oscars. In the wake of the Oscars, the academy faced fierce criticism over its handling of the incident, with many questioning why Smith was not removed from the Dolby Theatre after striking Rock and yelling profanities from his seat. In a statement last week, the organization said Smith was asked to leave the ceremony but refused, even as it expressed some misgivings over its own decisions that night. But conflicting accounts quickly emerged, with Smiths camp disputing the nature of the academys request, further muddying the picture of what happened backstage in the tense and chaotic minutes after the altercation. In its letter Friday, academy leaders expressed regret over their own handling of the incident and expressed gratitude to Rock for maintaining his composure under extraordinary circumstances. During our telecast, we did not adequately address the situation in the room, Rubin and Hudson wrote. For this, we are sorry. This was an opportunity for us to set an example for our guests, viewers and our academy family around the world, and we fell short unprepared for the unprecedented. Since adopting its code of conduct, the academy has expelled only three people: Weinstein, director Roman Polanski and comedian-author Bill Cosby. Weinstein and Polanski still have their Oscar trophies. The organization has only revoked one Oscar in its nearly centurylong history, taking back the award for the 1969 documentary, Young Americans after it was deemed to be ineligible for that years honor. For Smith and the academy, the fallout from the incident has been severe, opening up an unprecedented rift between the organization that serves as the public face of the film industry and one of that industrys biggest stars. It remains to be seen whether that rift can be repaired. Speaking to the L.A. Times in advance of Fridays meeting, one academy governor, who declined to speak on the record due to the sensitivity of the situation, expressed hope that the boards decision will help close one of the ugliest chapters in the organizations history: Its about moving forward. We love our show and we have to be protective of the academy. I think we have to do what feels right. The wind was whipping and the sun was still bright when Ken Johnston and Deborah Price started a 165-mile Walk to Freedom from the beach at Cape May, at the Sunset Pavilion, last Saturday afternoon. They are walking to Burlington in a segment-walk over the next several weekends and expect to finish by May 8. The goal is to resurrect the voices and memories of the people who history has forgotten, and to recognize the families that were separated and reunited by their love for each other and their quest for freedom, said Johnston, who lives in West Philadelphia, near Cobbs Creek. Johnston, 60, has completed several long-distance walks over the past five years. His first walk in 2017 in Massachusetts, where he once lived, was for health and personal reasons. In 2018, he completed a 400-mile solo trip from Selma, Alabama, to Memphis, Tennessee, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It was his first Walk to Freedom march. In 2019, he walked 71 miles across Northern Ireland, from Belfast to Derry, commemorating the 1969 Peoples Democracy March. And at Christmas 2019, he began a walk following Harriet Tubmans journey from Maryland to Philadelphia. Because of COVID-19, he did not complete his walk to Harlem in New York until 2021. Johnston embarked on the latest walk to honor Tubman because this year marks the bicentennial anniversary of her birth in March 1822. They will follow the general routes of people who were freedom seekers, not runaway slaves, as most historians have called those fleeing captivity. But Johnston said he also wanted to call attention to the people whose names and stories are not remembered as much as Tubmans. For instance, their walk will include stops by the Peter Mott House in Lawnside, Camden County, where Mott, a free Black American preacher, and his wife, Eliza, gave shelter to freedom seekers. They also will stop by Jacobs Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Mount Laurel, Burlington County, and at the historic Timbuctoo Village, where free and formerly enslaved people formed a Black settlement in 1826. Cape May may receive $240,000 to repair fire damage to historic Black church CAPE MAY Cape May County is set to provide Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church with $ There also will be visits to sites in Salem and Elsinboro Township in Salem County and Greenwich, including Springtown, in Cumberland County. Johnston said abolition activists, free Black men and women, Quakers and Native Americans all provided shelter and food to those escaping slavery. People can keep up with the 165-journey by visiting Johnstons Our Walk to Freedom blog. Tubman in Cape May There is evidence that freedom seekers from Maryland crossed the Delaware Bay and landed at the beach near Sunset Pavilion. But there is no evidence that Tubman crossed the bay with them, said Cynthia Mullock, executive director of the Harriet Tubman Museum in Cape May. Cape May, police union reach agreement on new contract CAPE MAY An agreement has been reached between the city and its police union, officials sa We do have evidence that she was working here in 1852 as a domestic worker and cook for families and hotels. It was more likely that Tubman worked most closely with Philadelphia-based abolitionists, such as Stephen Smith, a wealthy lumber company owner who had a summer house in the beach town, across the street from the current Tubman museum at 632 Lafayette St. Mullock said that although Tubman may not have crossed the bay something some historians have not ruled out it is more likely that Tubman and other abolitionists helped those who did land at Sunset Pavilion beach to make their way north through New Jersey and on to New York or Canada. At the Tubman museum, Johnston and Price were joined by two other walkers, Rebecca Perrone, a Willingboro City Council member, and William Calvin, her fiance. They left the museum by 6 p.m. Saturday for the hard part of the 15-mile journey to Cape May Court House. An Inquirer reporter found them along Route 9 heading north about 8 p.m. It was dark as traffic whizzed by. They didnt arrive in Cape May Court House until about 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Johnston said last Sunday. Johnston said the first leg of the 165-mile trip from Cape May is the only segment that was scheduled to be conducted at night. We wanted to simulate the way the freedom seekers would have traveled, Johnston said. They would have traveled by night to avoid being captured. Strangers on a trail Just three months ago, Johnston and Price, who lives in Willingboro, Burlington County, were strangers. They met when Johnston, who works in human resources, visited the Underground Railroad Museum in Eastampton, near Mount Holly, to research his South Jersey walk. Gov. Murphy pledges millions for Wildwood Boardwalk repairs WILDWOOD Like thousands of other visitors to the Wildwoods Boardwalk on July 4, Gov. Phil Price, 65, who has worked as a bank examiner and regulator, volunteers at the Underground Railroad Museum. Price was so intrigued as Johnston described his plans that he invited her to come along. On Sunday morning, Price and Johnston started out from Cape May Court House with the sky overcast and a few sprinkles of rain. They were joined later by Perrone and Calvin, who caught up with them while they were stopping to talk to people along the way. As they began walking last Sunday, they decided to walk only eight miles to Dennisville, rather than the previously announced 15-mile destination to the Delmont section of Maurice River Township. From the road, as they approached Route 47, Price said, This walk is becoming very therapeutic for me. We are looking at the environment, looking at the greenery thats out here. The color of the muddy waters. Its been beautiful, she said. People have been supporting us by flashing their lights, or stopping to talk with Ken. They met one woman picking dandelions who talked with them about the walk. For Price, the walk meant reflecting on how the past, the meaning of the walk to freedom by people who had been enslaved, has meaning for news of today. I found myself not only thinking about Harriet, but a lot of the folks who are on the same mission trying to get freedom today. I thought about the Ukrainian women, carrying their children and trying to escape the war, I thought about the people in Mexico, trying to cross the border, and the people in Haiti, all needing freedom. So many things cross your mind. The co-founder and CEO of Landline, which is partnering with American Airlines to connect Atlantic City International Airport with Philadelphia International Airport, sees his bus routes as wingless flights. We dont think of ourselves as an airport shuttle but as an extension of the airlines network. We are just using an airplane that doesnt fly, David Sunde, 30, who founded the company in 2018 with Ben Munson, 35, said Friday. His companys service is booked on aa.com as a leg of the American Airlines journey, and buses are boarded on the tarmac like a flight would be. Once regulatory approvals come through from the federal government, American clients will not only check bags and check in at ACY, but will also go through Transportation Security Administration checks at the smaller airport, Sunde said. They will board a bus at a gate on a tarmac, just like they are boarding a flight, and be taken directly to the gate at PHL. A spokesperson for the South Jersey Transportation Authority, which runs the airport, said the agency has shared information on its incentive program with American Airlines, for their review and consideration, but did not say whether the company will receive any incentive payments or credits. American Airlines will use buses for hops to Philadelphia American Airlines is hitting the road. The airline announced a deal Thursday with a bus company that will drive passengers to and from Philadelphia and two airports that are less than 75 miles away. American says it will help connect more travelers to its international flights in Philadelphia. The bus service will start June 3 between Philadelphia International Airport and airports in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Atlantic City, New Jersey. They'll be operated by a company called Landline, which has a similar deal with United Airlines in Denver. American Airlines will incur fees, as would any other commercial airline, said Atlantic City International Airport Director Tim Kroll, but he could not provide estimated revenues. The authority has subsidized airlines in the past, but that has been for flights out of the airport. Landlines first partner was Minnesotas Sun Country in 2019, Sunde said. It now services seven cities across Minnesota and Wisconsin, connecting them to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. In that market, it also runs a door-to-door individualized service. We also have a partnership with United in Colorado, Sunde said. Clearing TSA at a smaller airport is a new service not offered elsewhere, Sunde said, although the company plans to offer it in more places when approvals come in. Even before getting approvals, though, on the return trip to ACY, American customers will catch their bus from Philadelphia at a gate on the tarmac. They will not have to negotiate through the airport to make the connection. JetBlue makes offer for Spirit Airlines, could spark bid war JetBlue Airways has offered to buy Spirit Airlines for about $3.6 billion and break up a pla You never have to leave Philadelphia airport, its like connecting to another flight, Sunde said. The bus will have a small Landline logo on it but will be branded American, Sunde said. Sunde started his career in aviation doing route planning, he said. I noticed how challenging it was becoming to sustainably serve short-haul routes, Sunde said. I started asking why we are constrained to just using airplanes. In three years, the company has made strides and hopes to convince people that mixed modes of transport are the way of the future, he said. Sunde is hoping for quick regulatory approval of having American customers go through security at ACY. Until that comes through, customers will check bags and check in at ACY but get dropped off at the departure areas to go through TSA at Philadelphia, he said. Polistina bill to fund airport transport projects clears committee TRENTON A bill to give the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority the ability to financ Either way, there is stress relief, Sunde said. Im on my way, my bags are done and gone, thats 85% of it, he said. Its a low-tech solution to an interesting problem, said Tony Marino, a local analyst and former deputy director for the New Jersey Expressway Authority, the precursor to the SJTA. I like the idea. They are trying to take advantage of existing infrastructure namely the Atlantic City Expressway. Its unlike pie in the sky plans to connect the Atlantic City airport to the rail line, Marino said. That idea to me is too expensive. But Marino does not think it will help boost tourism. The concept of three buses a day, thats a total of 105 possible passengers (coming to Atlantic City), Marino said. Even if every one is a tourist, its hardly more than a dribble of what casinos need to get a benefit. Marino said he has seen surveys of ACY users, and more than 80% are local people using the airport to travel away from Atlantic City. The remainder are relatives coming to visit, Marino said. Tourists willing to fly to a gaming destination will go to Las Vegas, New Orleans or the Gulf states, he said. Almost all tourists who come to Atlantic City do so by car from a radius of 200 to 250 miles, Marino said. He sees the Landline/American Airlines service as mainly a benefit to those who live in South Jersey, especially if the federal government gives its approval to letting people go through the TSA check at Atlantic City. Those are nitty gritty issues they have to solve to become a success, Marino said. Thats a service thats good to provide, but it shouldnt be confused with being a boon to tourism and Atlantic City and the casino industry. Frontier Airlines buying Spirit in $3B low-cost carrier deal Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines are proposing to combine in a $2.9 billion deal that w Its great news for expanding use of the facility, but other developments there have the potential to bring in good-paying jobs outside of the tourism and gaming industries, said Lauren Moore, executive director of the Atlantic County Economic Alliance. The SJTA has put out a request for proposals to develop 400 acres in the northwest section of the airport for cargo and maintenance activities, Moore said Friday. The draft site plan shows this site could hold up to 1.5 million square feet of cargo and hangar space here, Moore said. Thats pretty significant thousands of jobs. Proposals are due May 11, Moore said, and he cant wait to see what comes in. We expect part of the proposal to have rail freight off of the Atlantic City Rail Line, Moore said. Ecommerce has exploded really during the pandemic. They are built out to the fence at Newark and Philly, its our time to create a cargo city at ACY. He and officials from the county and SJTA have been working for years to bring cargo and maintenance operations to ACY. The development of the 400 acres, which was put aside as a bird sanctuary for decades, will take time, Moore said. To build out that much space its going to be done in phases over a period of time, Moore said. Im excited and anxious to see the proposals that come in and how they would build out the space. Until those bigger projects come through, South Jersey residents can celebrate smaller victories like a new way to connect with flights in Philadelphia. Sunde said Landline is the only company currently building out a multimodal transportation system for airlines. The entire trip is like another connecting flight, Sunde said, so if the bus is delayed by traffic it is a delay of an American route, so customers will be put on the next flight free of charge. People who drive themselves and get stuck in traffic can lose the value of the ticket. Its like a little hidden insurance policy, Sunde said. REPORTER: Michelle Brunetti Post 609-841-2895 mpost@pressofac.com Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. MORNING SUN Morning Sun Elementary School Principal Steve Hollan listened Wednesday as many of the estimated 50 teachers and area residents who attended the regular Morning Sun School Board meeting offered him their support. Using his principal report portion of the meeting agenda, Hollan spent over 16 minutes listing and challenging the issues that led to a March 31 request from Superintendent Mike Peterson and other school officials for the principal to resign. I do not plan on submitting any letter of resignation, he said at the 14-minute point. The crowd exploded in applause. Reading from a packet that included his summary of the issues, references to relevant school policies, minutes of school board meetings and other documentation, Hollan criticized Peterson and the school board for seeking his resignation. He pointed out that Peterson had made that request before several points of concern had even been disclosed to him. Those points included: Feelings by the school board that Hollan was pitting the staff against it and was undermining its authority by personally buying items and donating them to the school to create the perception the board would not. People had overheard Hollan saying he was doing everything he could to protect the day care. He was causing tension that had never been present before. He was making decisions and taking action without going through the proper channels. Hollan suggested Peterson and the board had failed to provide him with due process to rebut the assertions, which he claimed were based on rumors and hearsay, or failed to follow established board policies. For the record, I wish to document that I have had no personnel evaluation since I started in this position, said Hollan, who is in his second year as the elementary schools principal. He said that violated school policy and his contract as a probationary administrator. Another key point, a charge of harassment, had been investigated by the schools attorney, who had determined the incidents cited had not risen to the level of harassment. Hollan suggested those accusations came from a non-academic employee upset after Hollan parked in a parking space the employee considered his own, although the school has no designated parking spaces except for drivers with a handicap placard. More than a dozen people spoke to the issue during the public portion of the meeting. Most supported a statement in support of Hollan presented by the teaching and support staff, but some agreed with the call for resignation. Hollan said after the meeting he appreciated the support and felt the next step would be up to Peterson and the school board. Ive already said what Im going to do, he said. School board president Ashley Sweibohmer declined to comment, while Peterson said the board would now need to determine its next move. He said if the board decided to terminate Hollan it would need to notify him by May 15. That is five days after the boards next scheduled meeting on May 10, so a special meeting might be necessary. Peterson declined to comment on any of the specific topics Hollan raised, saying they touched on personnel issues. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Armed with grant money, Humility Homes and Services plans to buy 60 housing units in its bid to end homelessness in the Quad-Cities, nearly doubling the social service organizations housing portfolio. In all, Humility Homes received more than $4.2 million from various agencies to help address an affordable housing shortage documented by several Quad-Cities organizations. "This is an important step in addressing the gap we have," said Leslie Kilgannon, director of the Quad Cities Housing Council. "We have about 6,600 units we need in that extremely low-income category." The bulk 35 of Humility Homes new housing units will be supportive housing, which combines services such as help with physical disabilities or health needs as well as mental illness or substance abuse treatment. The goal of supportive housing is to keep people who face challenges qualifying or keeping other housing in a stable place while they transition from an emergency shelter to more permanent housing. Those units will help individuals and families for up to four years. Executive Director Ashley Velez said the four years wasn't a "magic timeline" but once tenants were able to move into more permanent housing, Humility Homes can help another group of people. For the past 15 years, Humility Homes operated 20 units of supportive housing, Velez said. But the need has grown beyond that supply. "There's this bracket of individuals who have remained stagnant on what we call our coordinated entry or they're coming back into homelessness because you're not putting them in the right housing situation," Velez said. "For this funding, we're going to be able to target individuals who we know only need a couple of years." To provide the 35 supportive housing units, Scott County awarded Humility Homes $3.1 million from its allotment of federal COVID-19 relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. The other 25 units will provide more permanent affordable housing options for low-income families, including households that rely on federal housing vouchers to pay rent. For that, the Ryan Foundation, a philanthropic organization in Omaha, awarded Humility Homes $500,000 to buy 12 units. A $250,000 grant from the Regional Development Authority will purchase seven units, and Scott County Regional Authority granted $250,000 for six units. Two grants from Amerigroup Anthem Foundation ($50,000) and Community Resources Corporation ($25,000) will go toward rehabbing homes. What is supportive housing? On West 15th Street, a house converted into a three-family building, is likely to greet new occupants later this year. Humility Homes purchased the converted house in March. Inside, light wood-like laminate flooring and like-new cabinets fill the kitchens. Humble Dwellings, a small nonprofit that furnishes and decorates homes for people starting over in the Quad-Cities, arranged and decorated beds, couches and tables in the bedrooms for an open house Humility Homes plans to hold with the public and stakeholders later this month. We want to showcase what we mean by affordable housing. Some people think of run-down housing projects. We want to show you, you would feel proud to call this place home, Velez said. The three units two one-bedrooms and one two-bedroom will become three of the organization's 35 supportive housing units, where households would pay no more than 30% of their income for rent. Velez said Humility Homes coordinated with partners such as Davenport-based Vera French Mental Health Center and UnityPoints Robert Young Center in Moline for mental health and substance-abuse support and treatment as well as Imagine the Possibilities, an eastern Iowa organization that offers services for people with disabilities. Velez added that stable housing made people feel safe and secure, changing mindsets from purely survival mode to focus on stabilizing and improving their lives and getting involved in the community. She said Humility Homes was in the process of hiring four extra people to manage the added workload: an extra maintenance worker, two service coordinators and a supervisor to oversee the housing department. Velez said grant funding would cover the positions for the next four years and Humility Homes would need to find new sources of funding for the added positions at that time. So far, Velez said, Humility Homes has purchased 24 new units for supportive and mission-focused housing, about 40% of the planned acquisition, which she said she hopes will be phased over the course of the next year. A tight housing market, though, could change those plans. Many of the units in the purchase plan, Velez said, are from local landlords looking to retire or reduce their portfolio. She said Humility Homes looked for buildings and units that would not require costly upgrades. Some have needed painting, one needed reinforced stairs and another needed a new furnace, which Humility knew ahead of time. "We've looked at probably over 200 units so far," Velez said. "So, we're not just taking anything. We're being very cautious and strategic on what we are buying and how that fits into our mission, how that fits into the housing stock." Recalling the collapse of John Lewis Community Services in 2008, Velez said Humility Homes is in a much more stable financial position to expand than the failed homeless services organization. John Lewis over-leveraged debt on building new properties and imploded. Humility of Mary volunteered to take on running the organization's emergency shelter, which it continues today. The difference, Velez said, lies in oversight by Humility's board, different administrative leadership and the fact that Humility is paying in full for the properties with the grant money received. "We're not taking out mortgages. We're not taking out loans," Velez said. "All of these are cash purchases. And we're purchasing good-quality units that are already up to date or need very minor fixes. And so, we looked at quality and ones that still have 10 to 15 years of longevity or more. We look at engine furnace, hot water heater, electrical and all those really expensive items, just like if you're going to purchase your own home." Humility Homes & Services board member Rich Clewell said he was confident Humility Homes' strategies and leadership wouldn't lead to the fate John Lewis suffered. Ultimately, he said, the goal of the organization, which was started by the Sisters of Humility of Mary 35 years ago, is to end homelessness in the Quad-Cities, and restore dignity and hope to those who've experienced it. "We all feel this tremendous responsibility," Clewell said of the board members. "We would not want to let the sisters down in terms of what theyve told us we need to do to help the homeless population of the Quad-Cities. Thats why we have to succeed." Kilgannon called Humility a well-run organization and said she's glad to see governments support adding affordable housing. Recently, the Davenport City Council approved the sale of 42 scattered city-owned housing sites to three affordable housing and social service organizations. "Between Humility and these 42 housing units, we are holding steady and increasing the number of affordable units," Kilgannon said. "There's a lot of good stuff happening in affordable housing. We just need to do more of it." 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. APRIL 15 Albany United Methodist Church, 502 First St., will have a Good Friday service on April 15 at 6:30 p.m. Easter Service will be at 10:15 a.m. on the shores of the Mississippi River at the Village Lions Club pavilion behind Village Hall, Albany. APRIL 16 RiverBend Bronze, a Quad Cities handbell ensemble, presents a concert at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 16, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1330 13th Street, Moline. The concert is free, though a free-will offering will be accepted. The concert features Lenten and Easter music and secular pieces reflecting the spirit of exploration. The ensemble will honor the late Cynthia Dobrinski, handbell composer and arranger, and perform two original works under the baton of past director and composer James Bawden. RiverBend Bronze is a volunteer ensemble of 20-handbell ringers. Find them online at www.riverbendbronze.org or follow the ensemble on Facebook at facebook.com/riverbendbronze/. APRIL 17 Christ United Methodist Church Carbon Cliff, 106 2nd St., will have a 7 a.m Easter Sunrise Service with breakfast to follow. There will also be an 11 a.m. service. All are welcome. APRIL 19 Come to the Quiet: Pat Shea, April 19, 9:30 to 3:30 p.m., Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, 2664 145th Ave., Wheatland, Iowa. Come to the Quiet is an opportunity to step away from daily routines. Fee: $35 includes lunch. For information visit www.theprairieretreat.org or call 563-374-1092. APRIL 21 Meet the Author (ONLINE ONLY): Hildegard of Bingen: A Saint for Our TimesUnleashing Her Power in the 21st Century: Matthew Fox, April 21, 6 to 8 p.m. Hildegard implores all of us to live in integrity with our espoused principles. We will explore and discuss some of her rich teachings. Fee: $20. For information visit www.theprairieretreat.org or call 563-374-1092. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 An East Moline man wanted for his involvement in an Oct. 2 shooting of another man in East Moline was taken into custody this week and made a first court appearance. Khalil Rashad Johnson, 24, who also is on probation in Rock Island County, made a first appearance Tuesday in Rock Island County Circuit Court. Johnson is charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, a Class X felony under Illinois law that carries a prison sentence of 6-30 years. Johnson also is charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm, a Class 1 felony that carries a prison sentence of 4-15 years, and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, a Class 4 felony that carries a prison sentence of 1-3 years. During his first appearance, Rock Island County Circuit Judge Carol Pentuic scheduled a preliminary hearing on the charges for April 19. Pentuic kept Johnsons bond at $100,000, cash only. Johnsons first appearance on the shooting-related charges included a first appearance on a July 1 complaint for resisting a police officer, also a Class A misdemeanor. East Moline Police Lt. Jason Kratt said at the time that at 9:51 p.m. Oct. 2, a Saturday, officers were sent to the 2100 block of 9th Avenue for a person who had been shot multiple times. A crime scene was located in the 1500 block of 9th Avenue. The Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigations unit processed the scene. The victim was taken to Genesis Medical Center, Silvis, and underwent surgery for serious injuries. Johnson has been on the run until his arrest earlier this week. As for Johnsons probation, during a hearing June 30 in Rock Island County Circuit Court, Johnson, whom Circuit Court electronic records have listed as living in East Moline, was sentenced to a concurrent sentence of 12 months on probation for domestic battery and criminal damage to property. Both of those charges are Class A misdemeanors that also can carry a jail sentence of up to one year. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A Sterling man on parole from the Illinois Department of Corrections is facing allegations that he sexually abused a girl under the age of 13 in 2020. Aurelio A. Mancera, 30, is charged with four counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a victim under the age of 13. Each of those charges is a Class X felony under Illinois law that carries a prison sentence of six to 30 years. Mancera also is charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim under the age of 13. Each of those charges is a Class 2 felony that carries a prison sentence of three to seven years. The abuse is alleged to have occurred in January of 2020, while the investigation began in June 2021. Mancera was arrested Thursday by Sterling Police. He posted 10% of a $100,000 bond, or $10,000, and was released from custody pending a first appearance on the charges scheduled for May 9 in Whiteside County Circuit Court. On Sept. 1, 2010, during a hearing in Whiteside County Circuit Court, Mancera was sentenced to a total of 19 years in prison after pleading guilty to one count each of aggravated arson, residential arson and aggravated battery. In October of 2008, Mancera and another teen, Joel Fargher, were arrested for setting fire to a Sterling home and some Halloween decorations. In November of 2009, Mancera was charged with aggravated battery in a public place. After pleading guilty to the charges, Mancera was sentenced to 14 years in prison for the residential arson, a concurrent 10-year prison term for the aggravated arson and a consecutive five-year prison term for the aggravated battery conviction, according to circuit court electronic records. Mancera was paroled from the Taylorville Correctional Center on Sept. 20, 2019, according to Illinois Department of Corrections electronic records. His parole was to end Sept. 22, 2022. Fargher, 32, was sentenced to 17 years in prison after pleading guilty to a charge of aggravated arson and two concurrent six-year prison terms after pleading guilty to knowingly damaging government property and damaging a school, according to circuit court records. Fargher was paroled from the Lincoln Correctional Center on Dec. 8, 2020, according to Illinois Department of Corrections Electronic records. He is on parole until Dec. 8, 2023. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 5 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A Scott County Jury on Friday found a Riverdale man guilty of voluntary manslaughter in connection with the shooting death of his nephew in December of 2019. Brian Francisco Duque, 54, is scheduled to be sentenced June 17 in Scott County District Court. His trial began Monday. Duque was charged with first-degree murder in the Dec. 7, 2019, shooting death of 32-year-old Terry Warner. Jurors, however, convicted Duque on the lesser included offense of voluntary manslaughter. Duque and Warner had been arguing before the shooting occurred. Scott County Sheriffs deputies were called to the scene, 1147 Fenno Drive, at 1:26 p.m. Both Warner and Duque lived in the home. Responders began to give Warner CPR, but he succumbed to his wounds. Warner was shot once with a Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun. Voluntary manslaughter is a Class C felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of 10 years. Duque also will receive credit for the time he has served in the Scott County Jail awaiting trial. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 1 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A parolee from the Illinois Department of Corrections charged in the March 2020 shooting death of a 25-year-old East Moline man pleaded guilty Friday to a charge of second-degree murder. Lamont L. Williams, 27, had been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the death of 25-year-old Demetrius Tucker on March 16, 2020. During a plea hearing in Rock Island County Circuit Court, Williams pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. The first-degree murder charges were dropped in accordance with the plea agreement. Sentencing is scheduled for 9 a.m. June 6 in circuit court. Williams faces a prison sentence of four to 20 years. He will receive credit for time served in the Rock Island County Jail while awaiting trial and sentencing. Tucker was shot at about 3:30 p.m. in the 1000 block of 51st Avenue, East Moline. Officers found Tucker lying in the street. He was taken to Genesis Medical Center, Silvis, where he died. Williams, of Rock Island, was arrested by U.S. Marshals April 5, 20 days after the shooting. This is Williams' second conviction for second-degree murder. According to Illinois Department of Corrections electronic records, at the time of the shooting, Williams had been on parole out of Hill Correctional Center in Galesburg. He had been released Aug. 2, 2019, after serving about six years of an 18-year-prison sentence for second-degree murder. His parole was to end Aug. 2, 2021. Williams was one of five people implicated in the Sept. 7, 2012, shooting death of 17-year-old Kion Lewis in the 1000 block of 11th Avenue in Rock Island. Tucker, also, was on parole out of the Illinois Department of Corrections at the time he was shot. Tucker was serving a sentence for attempted robbery and unlawful restraint out of Cook County. He had been in the Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill before being paroled. At the time of his death, Tucker was about three months away from being released from parole. His parole was to have ended June 20, 2020. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SPRINGFIELD Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Friday named a former Cook County judge and the chief of staff of his Republican predecessor to the Illinois Prisoner Review Board. Both of those appointees, ex-Cook County Judge Robin Shoffner and Republican former Gov. Bruce Rauners chief of staff Rodger Heaton, passed unanimously through committee on Friday night and received full Senate approval in the early hours of Saturday morning along with two other appointees who were awaiting action. Appointees to the PRB have drawn heavy Republican scrutiny in the past year as the Senate delayed hearing several of Pritzkers appointees to the board that determines the release conditions of those held in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Last month, two appointees, Jeff Mears and Eleanor Kaye Wilson, failed to win Senate approval. A third appointee, Oreal James, resigned. Those members had received scrutiny for granting release to convicted killers of law enforcement officers or other controversial parole actions. Pritzker also pulled the appointment of Max Cerda, a convicted murder, after it appeared it would not have the votes to win Senate approval. Criminal justice advocates and Pritzker had warned that the dysfunction at the board would cause it to be unable to serve important functions, including determining whether to revoke parole, as the board lacked the quorum needed to act. Those failed confirmations, coupled with the pulled appointment and resignation, led to postponement of the April clemency docket. As of Friday, the PRB website said it had been postponed until May 26, as the addition of the two members will bring the board up to the eight members needed for a quorum. Heaton served from 2005 to 2009 as U.S. Attorney for Central District of Illinois after he was appointed by President George W. Bush. In 2015, Heaton joined the Rauner administration where he served as homeland security advisor and director of public safety before becoming chief of staff in 2017. Heaton graduated from the University of Illinois and Indiana University School of Law. Shoffner is a partner in the Chicago law firm of Nathan & Kamionski. She served several years as a civil trial judge in Cook County. She also served as a trial attorney for the city of Chicago. Shoffner has an undergraduate degree in journalism from the University of Missouri and a law degree from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. She was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1990. Shoffner will fill the vacancy of former Prisoner Review Board member Virginia Martinez, a Rauner appointee. Heaton will replace Joseph Ruggiero. Last month, Pritzker pulled the appointment of Ruggiero for the second time before a Senate confirmation vote. Ruggiero, 62, served for three years after his appointment by Rauner. Three board members LeAnn Miller, Jared Bohland and Ken Tupy were still awaiting Senate approval before Friday. Tupy and Bohland were recommended by the Senate Executive Appointments Committee unanimously and were approved with Heaton and Shoffner early Saturday. Miller was previously recommended by the committee but did not receive a vote Saturday. One of Pritzkers most vocal critics on the PRB issue, Sen. Jason Plummer, R-Edwardsville, said in a statement released on Friday that the PRB is a critical to Illinois public safety and hes glad to see the vacancies addressed. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 DES MOINES President Joe Biden plans a visit Tuesday to Menlo, a small community just west of Des Moines, a White House official said this weekend. Biden will speak about his administrations plans to address rising costs to consumers and highlight investments in infrastructure, particularly in rural communities, the official said. Menlo is a town of 345 people, about 45 miles west of Des Moines in Guthrie County. More details about the trip will be released in the coming days, the White House official said. It will be Bidens first trip to Iowa for the first time since his election in November 2020. Biden has visited other states to tout the bipartisan infrastructure bill that was passed in November. Iowa will receive roughly $5 billion over five years in new federal funding under the bipartisan infrastructure bill, the White House said when the bill was being approved by Congress. Im thrilled to welcome President Biden back to Iowa, Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Ross Wilburn said in a news release issued Friday, when news of Bidens pending visit first broke. Thanks to President Bidens leadership, we now have the tools to repair Iowa's roads and bridges, connect our rural communities with high-speed internet access, clean up our drinking water, and provide tens of thousands of Iowans with access to affordable health care, Wilburn said. Biden was last in Iowa on Oct. 30, 2020, for a campaign event at the Iowa State Fairgrounds just four days before the general election. While Biden lost Iowa by 8 percentage points, he defeated Republican President Donald Trump for the White House. That was Bidens only visit to Iowa during the general election campaign. He was a frequent visitor to Iowa in the months leading up to the February 2020 Iowa caucuses, in which he finished fourth behind Pete Buttigieg, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. As Republicans like (Gov.) Kim Reynolds and (U.S. Sen.) Chuck Grassley repeatedly turn their backs on Iowans and take credit for programs passed by Democrats, Im eager for Iowans to hear directly from our Commander-in-Chief how Democrats are lowering costs for working families, delivering for rural communities, and building a better Iowa, Wilburn said in his statement. Republican Party of Iowa State Chairman Jeff Kaufmann also issued a statement Friday about Bidens pending visit, noting Bidens low job approval numbers here. Just 35 percent of Iowans approve of Bidens performance as president while 59 disapprove, according to the most recent Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll, from early March. Id like to welcome Joe Biden back to Iowa, a state he lost by eight points, and where his popularity has sunk even lower today, Kaufmann said in his statement. Iowans and Americans are worse off than they were a year ago because of Biden's out-of-touch policies and broken promises. Maybe a trip back to Iowa will be just what Joe Biden needs to understand what his reckless spending, big government policies are doing to our country. When addressing ways to lower consumer costs, Biden may talk about corn-based ethanol, a key issue in the countrys top corn-producing state. According to a spokesman for POET, a biofuels company based just across Iowas northwestern border in Sioux Falls, S.D., said the company hopes Biden will announce a federal waiver that would clear the way for gas stations to sell the E15 blend of ethanol a higher blend than the 10 percent ethanol fuel commonly available year-round. Currently, E15 cannot be sold in Iowa during the summer. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Red Cloud Indian School wants to help Lakota people reclaim their language and culture, and it is one step closer through its Lakota Immersion program. The kindergarten through 12th grade program officially began in 2018 at the school with teachers developing their own curriculum based on South Dakota education standards. Members of the city council and Human Relations Commission-Mniluzahan Okolakiciyapi Ambassadors (HRC-MOA) learned about the program Thursday during an all-day trip to the Pine Ridge Reservation. The trip was coordinated with the school. Sierra Conch, Lakota language literacy project coordinator for the school, said the curriculum also includes information about Lakota culture, teachings and stories. She said she thinks the education system was traditionally designed to fail Indigenous students. "It was designed to industrialize and assimilate who we are, so us dismantling that traditional education system and rebuilding something based on our teachings and our language and who we are is necessary for our Indigenous youth to thrive," she said. Students up to the fifth grade level have participated in the program. Classes, including science and math, are taught in Lakota by second language teachers and homework is done in Lakota. Tashina Banks Rama, executive vice president of the school, said they are committed to the immersion program not only because Lakota is their ancestral language but because it's a part of reckoning for the school. Banks Rama said Red Cloud used to be the Holy Rosary Boarding School, which was started in 1888 and operated until 1980. She said the school is starting a reckoning process called "Truth in Healing," which allows families and members of the public to look through the school's records to understand their history. "While we were a boarding school all of those years, the goals and objectives of that policy was to terminate our language, our culture and our ways of life," she said. "Today, the Red Cloud of today, is very much about revitalizing language, culture and we live that every day in our classrooms and the immersion program." Assistant superintendent Matthew Rama said students in the program have also learned English despite not being taught it in school, and that students test better in each subject compared to traditional English learners. Conch said the program has been incredibly successful, but the most challenging thing is creating the curriculum while learning the language. "A lot of our teachers, including myself, are learning the language as we go because of the lack of fluent speakers," she said. "The average age of fluent speakers in our community (are in their 50s to 70s), so that's been a struggle." Conch said they now have a lot of reusable materials for younger grades, but sixth through 12th grade curriculum has yet to be created. 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 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. PIERRE | A lawmaker who said he gave legal advice to Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg following a fatal car accident says he will not vote on whether to impeach Ravnsborg when the House convenes next week. Republican Rep. Scott Odenbach sent a letter to the House speaker which says he plans to recuse himself from the vote and won't attend the proceedings in Pierre Tuesday. Odenbach says he will do so to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. Odenbach, who at the time was running for the House seat he eventually won, says Ravnsborg reached out to him for input on a public statement that was released two days after the attorney general struck and killed Joe Boever, a pedestrian who was walking along a rural highway in September 2020. Odenbach, a Spearfish attorney, told North Dakota special agents that he gave Ravnsborg advice on the wording of the statement, according to audio released recently with the file on the House impeachment committees findings, South Dakota Public Broadcasting reported. The attorney general has cast Boevers death as a tragic accident and pleaded no contest last year to a pair of traffic misdemeanors in the crash. Ravnsborg initially reported the crash as a collision with an animal and has said he did not realize he struck a man until he returned to the scene the next day and discovered his body. Criminal investigators doubted that account, but prosecutors said they were unable to prove that Ravnsborg realized he killed a man the night of the crash. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 South Dakota is a great place to raise your family. Its a beautiful state with now hiring signs in every window. Raising your family in South Dakota should be an obvious choice. But for many working families looking to move to South Dakota or stay in South Dakota, they can find a job but not an affordable place to live. In our small towns, it can be nearly impossible to find a place to live. Think about a De Smet Bulldog who goes to college, graduates, and wants to move back home. In our 21st century economy, finding a job that will let them work from anywhere isnt the problem. The problem is that when they open Zillow, the few houses available in De Smet all cost $250,000 or more. Its no wonder South Dakota ranks high on the list for brain drain as our young people leave the state. Housing isnt just a problem in our small towns. According to a 2021 housing needs report by Augustana University, the city of Sioux Falls is short 4,500 housing units. And Rapid City is seeing a shortage of around 3,500 housing units, according to the Rapid City Strategic Housing Initiative & Trust Fund. In total, South Dakota is short over 10,000 housing units. The housing shortage across South Dakota is causing a huge uptick in prices. Even if that young family returning to De Smet can find an available home, its probably not affordable. Unless we invest in workforce housing, this housing shortage will only grow as more people and businesses move to our state. This year, the South Dakota Legislature had a few opportunities to address our housing shortage. Legislators passed HB 1033 to establish a grant process for infrastructure related to housing developments, but SB 65, which would open up funds for affordable housing through the American Rescue Plan, failed in the House due to Republican opposition. Every Democrat voted in favor of investing in affordable housing, but Republicans stood in the way. Legislators should be focused on solving the important everyday issues facing South Dakotans. Through the American Rescue Plan, the Biden Administration provided an opportunity for South Dakota to invest in solving our housing shortage, but Republican legislators stood in the way of common-sense solutions. The lesson here is clear: if you want your legislators to deliver for you on the important issues facing South Dakota, like our housing shortage, vote for Democrats. With more Democrats in Pierre, bills like SB 65 will become law and improve the lives of all South Dakotans. Randy Seiler is the Chair of the South Dakota Democratic Party. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 When it comes to reintroducing fire onto the landscape, sometimes the windows of opportunity are very small. That window for the Bitterroot National Forests popular Bass Creek Recreational Area came down to a single day. And so on Friday, firefighters from the Bitterroot Forest were joined by smokejumpers and researchers from Missoula and a crew from the Idaho Panhandle to burn over 600 acres on the park-like ponderosa pine stand. With drip torches filled with a mixture of diesel and gasoline, the firefighters spread out about 20 feet apart and drew lines of fire across the hillsides. With this years crop of grass already turning green and the heavier fuels still a bit damp from a soaking earlier in the week, the fire for the most stayed close to the ground as it burned in a mosaic pattern across the landscape. A storm blew through Friday night that dropped both rain and snow on the 600-acre burn. The Bass Creek Recreation Area will reopen to the public on Sunday, April 10. Bitterroot Forests Stevensville Ranger Steve Brown said it wasnt easy squeezing in this prescribed fire on the districts most popular recreation area this year. The green-up started about two weeks early this year, Brown said. That green grass is like a wall of water. While the burning along the ground didnt burn the larger downed fuels, Brown said it was doing a good job in cleaning up the pine tree litter of pine needles and cones. A ponderosa pine forest can produce upward of 3,000 pounds of that material a year. Stevensville District Assistant Fire Management Officer Jon Devino said Bass Creek is a challenging place to use prescribed fire because almost as soon as the snow comes off the grass begins to turn green. The area was thinned in 2013. In 2017, firefighters did an emergency underburn in the area to help slow the southern progression of the 57,000-acre Lolo Peak fire. We were able to hold the line here on the Lolo Peak fire because of the thinning that had been done earlier, Brown said. Otherwise that fire would have burned further south. Devino said the effort Friday at Bass Creek was a maintenance burn. It's something that were trying to do more of in our low-lying forest types, he said. The high-frequency, low-intensity fires reduce the growth of new saplings and clear the forest floor of fuels These were types of fires those forest types saw historically. Brown said the agency has learned that its not enough to just thin the forest. Fire has to be re-introduced at regular intervals too. Last years 414,000-acre Bootleg fire near Beatty, Oregon provided land managers with real-life examples. Brown said there were areas that burned that had not been treated at all; some that were thinned but didnt have any prescribed fire; and some that thinning and prescribed fire had been employed. The areas that had no treatment were the most severely burned. The fire didnt get into the crowns of the forest in the areas that had been thinned, but it burned hot enough along the ground to kill trees. Those areas where both thinning and prescribed fire happened suffered the least damage to the forest, Brown said. Ideally, Brown said the Forest Service will do another maintenance prescribed fire in the Bass Creek Recreation Area in seven years. 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. Stevensville School is holding a school election this spring for three trustee positions for three-year terms. Candidates are incumbents Stephanie Esch and Kristopher McKoy and challengers are Billy Donaldson, Tony L. Hudson and Frances "Frannie" Schmitz. The three that receive the most votes will be selected as trustees. The candidates responses to these questions are below: Why are you running for school trustee? What specific challenges do you see for your school? How would you address them? My name is Stephanie Esch. I am the mother of three children at Stevensville Schools. I work as a ranch manager. I have enjoyed serving as a dedicated school volunteer for many years and as a member of the board of trustees since May 2021. I have a Bachelor of Social Work with work experience in the field. This year on the school board has been an incredible learning curve. I have had the opportunity to learn the complex inter-workings of providing public education for the kids in our community. I have specifically worked to understand funding and spending, and how policy can both shape and be responsive to the needs of our district. I am continuously impressed by the incredible skill, dedication, knowledge base and heart that our staff shows up to work with each day. I deeply engaged in the process of selecting our new superintendent. I am honored to get to listen to educators discuss theory and techniques to problem solve and to cultivate positive change. This is a hard time for school districts. Funding and staffing shortages are affecting everyone. Stevensville is no exception. These past two years of COVID life has been taxing for all, but especially for our school staff. It is vital that as a school board, we continue to learn, listen and perform our job well and efficiently. This provides a solid framework that our school, our staff and families can rely on and trust. This year the school board has initiated the process of strategic planning. This tool establishes objectives and pathways to obtain them through community engagement. It is a significant undertaking to manifest creative community supported solutions. I am very proud to be a part of this process and believe it will aid the school in the long term. My name is Tony Hudson. I am a 63-year-old third generation Montanan, self-employed rancher and contractor who moved to Stevensville in 1974. Some of my concerns regarding schools are undermining of parents, robbing children of their self-esteem, lack of emphasis on work ethic and fiscal responsibility. The relationship between school and parents is near the top of the list. There are no quick fixes or silver bullets to resolve those issues. I believe these issues will only be resolved through respectful, sincere dialogue. I also believe it is of utmost importance to engage the public for support. The Stevensville School is our school. These are our children and grandchildren. They are the future of our community and our community will live with the consequences. In closing, I will leave you with a story that has had a profound effect on my life. One day a small child came home from school with a letter to his mother. He gave it to her and said his teacher had given it to him. He asked his mother what it said. She struggled to hold back tears as she read it to him. It says your son is genius and our school it too small. We dont have good enough teachers. You must teach him yourself. Many years later, after his mother had passed away, he found the letter his teacher had written. Thinking fondly of his mother, he opened the letter and re-read it. It said your son is mentally-deficient and will not be permitted to attend this school. He became emotional and wrote in his diary, Thomas Edison was a mentally-deficient child whose mother turned him into the genius of the century. I can help but wonder how many Thomas Edisons we have failed in every sense of the word. I would be both honored and humbled for your vote. Kristopher McKoy I am a fifth generation Montanan, born and raised in Northwest Montana. I have two children who attend Stevensville Middle School and are active in school and community programs. I manage the Montana division of a commercial design and construction firm. I work with schools across the state helping improve their facilities. Ive been fortunate in my role as trustee to be able to participate and lend my knowledge to our current renovation project here at the Stevensville schools. Why do you want to run? I come from a family of teachers. Ive always had a calling to get involved in my local public school to support the teachers and students. It has been a privilege filling the trustee position through the many challenges weve faced as a school community these past two years. We have made huge strides in updating our facilities and building pride in our school. I want to continue to be a part of what we are building. What is the biggest issue facing your school? Schools, including ours, are faced with many challenges with a lot of them stemming from funding shortfalls. Our school is challenged by ever increasing operating costs with funding that rarely keeps pace. My experience in managing a successful business gives me the tools and experience to make educated, cost-effective decisions with our limited funds. We need to continue our mission to provide quality facilities paired with our first class teachers and administration so we can continue to provide the best education and opportunities for our students. I am committed to always optimize and leverage the resources we have to their fullest. I would appreciate your vote to retain me as a trustee. Billy Donaldson, 53, employed by Farmers State Bank, Mortgage Services 1) I am running for school trustee simply out of a desire to serve. I have no particular agenda or axe to grind, I just want to offer whatever skills, experience and time I have to help make the Stevensville School District the best it can be. 2) Some specific challenges that I see are the lack of sufficient finances and an overall lack of passion and enthusiasm in and for the school. I remember a time when the school was the hub of the community and people would talk about and get behind the school and its activities whether they had kids there or not. I think it would be cool to see that again. 3) How to address these particular issues? Good question. I don't have a magical formula to fix these challenges, but I do believe the answer can be found through discussion and brainstorming with community members, staff and students. And then just taking some of those ideas and giving them a try! Frances "Frannie" Schmitz At 52 years old I am grateful to be able to say I have been a stay-at-home mom for the majority of my children's lives. My husband Keith and I have five children that have graduated from Stevensville and a freshman son who is excited to follow in his siblings' footsteps by graduating a Yellowjacket in three short years. One of my many goals has been to attend as many district school board meetings as possible and I am happy to say I don't miss many. I feel attending these meetings has given me a better understanding of the joys and challenges that face our current trustees. I bring to the board relationships I have made with community members through my volunteering efforts. We need to make sure we are offering our students courses that will allow them to not only attend college but enter the work force as quickly as possible. Many school districts around the country have students that graduate with an associate's degree. In order for this to happen our district needs to have good working relationships with local businesses, colleges and professionals that can help guide not only implementation of programs but help mentor our students. New and improved programs cost money much like teacher pay raises. Our country is experiencing an increasing teacher shortage. We must ensure that we have a competitive salary base in order to recruit new teachers while also holding on to the amazing teachers we already have. As a trustee I will ask that we thoroughly exam our budget to work toward these needed improvements for our students as well as teacher pay raises. In order to educate students to the best of our ability we must be able to keep and continue to attract the best educators. *** The Stevensville School District in conjunction with the local American Legion will host a school board candidate forum from 7-8 p.m. in on April 13, in the school multi-purpose room (Building D). All trustee positions are for the combined Stevensville High School and Stevensville Elementary School Districts. The high school trustee position representing the Lone Rock School District does not expire in this election cycle. All candidates will be asked the same questions by a moderator. Following the forum, light refreshments will be provided. Ballots will be mailed out on April 15 and the deadline for returning ballots is May 3. The polls will not be open. Ballots can be returned by mail or in-person to Ravalli County Elections Office, 215 S. 4th St., Suite C, Hamilton. To ease the travel for voters living in the north valley, on Election Day only ballots can be dropped off at the Florence-Carlton School Administration Building, 5602 Old U.S. Highway 93, Florence. The Ravalli Republic will publish candidate profiles for school and college board elections in upcoming editions. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Florence School board decided on a new superintendent and Corvallis Superintendent Jon Konen resigned this week. The Florence-Carlton School District will have a new superintendent beginning July 1. On Wednesday, after the candidate interviews, the Florence Carlton School District Board of Trustees met, selected Todd Fiske and passed a motion to allow Elizabeth "Bea" Kaleva permission to negotiate a contract with Fiske, who accepted the initial offer. Fiske is currently superintendent of the Mountain View School District in Grangeville, Idaho. Before that, he was the superintendent of West Valley School District in Kalispell for 12 years. He has a bachelors degree in elementary education from the Montana State University, Northern and a masters degree in educational leadership from the University of Montana. FCSD Board Chair Kim Bauer said all three of the top candidates had amazing qualities that they could bring to our great community and school district. The board has chosen Mr. Todd Fiske and we are now in contract negotiations and will be looking forward to those talks and do not anticipate any issues, Bauer said. We are very excited about this new chapter for the school and the community. The Corvallis School District Board of Trustees accepted the resignation of Superintendent Jon Konen in a special board meeting Thursday and will take internal applications to fill his position by Tuesday, April 12. In his letter to the board, dated April 4, Konen said he is resigning on June 30. It is with great heartache that I believe the philosophical differences between myself and the School Board are too vast and resigning is what is best for the vision of the Corvallis School Board, Konen wrote. He continued by saying he has grown professionally and praised the professional relationships and friendships he made during his tenure. Over 50 educators and community members attended the meeting in the high school library. They spoke about the positive impact Konen has had on the school, staff and students. CSD Board member Becky Anderson thanked Konen for his two years of outstanding work on behalf of the school. He has contributed a lot to Corvallis and I know that he is not here to hear this and I wish he was, but he has made a lot of valuable contributions, Anderson said. CSD Board member Dan Wolsky agreed. I think he came into a tough situation with COVID, Wolsky said. The school board had Kaleva, the school attorney, talk about the selection process and options for hiring a replacement. Given the time of year we are in there are two options, one is to look for an interim for next year and the second is to do a search, Kaleva said. As for a full search at this time of year, you wont get the quality of candidates that you would like to see in a school this size. She explained that the interim process has two options, checking within the school to see if there are qualified candidates or seeking a qualified candidate outside the staff but in the geographic area. That is most often a retired superintendent that is willing to come in for a year but either way I suggest you get moving fairly quickly, Kaleva said. Most folks are under contract already and the folks who are still looking are going to be locked down in the next three or four weeks. She recommended not spending the money for a full search at this time. The board decided to first search internally for a qualified, certified and willing candidate, then will look elsewhere if necessary. Letters of interest and resumes are due by a special board meeting on Tuesday, April 12, when the board will decide the next steps. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 2 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. Peyton Seymour seems to have welding in his blood. The 16-year-old sophomore from Butte can rattle off the names of one relative or another who are skilled welders. He is taking classes now that he hopes will someday lead him to be an underwater welder. Emma Edwards may surprise you. The 16-year-old Great Falls High School student is taking welding as well. She said she also drives race cars, Midwest Modifieds, in her spare time. They were among the 254 students from throughout Montana who were in Helena this week as part of the SkillsUSA Annual State Leadership and Skills Conference at Helena Colleges airport campus. SkillsUSA serves middle school, high school and college post-secondary students preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled-service occupations. It involves more than 333,527 students and instructors annually. Its the first time the event was held in Helena. It had been held at Montana State University Northern for nearly 45 years, said Mary Heller, the state director for Skills USA, a nonprofit formerly known as VICA (the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America). She said students can start with the program in fifth grade and continue through high school. Heller said it was time for the event to be held elsewhere in the state and noted Helena is more centrally located than Havre, which is home to MSUN. She said they have committed to hold the event at the Helena campus for five years. Weve had nothing but overwhelming support, she said of the move. Sandra Bauman, dean and chief executive officer of Helena College, said they were honored to host the event. As a public two-year college, we recognize our responsibility to meet the needs of our whole community students and employers by providing high quality education that meets the workforce needs of our state," she said in an email. "We could not be more supportive of the mission of Skills USA and the commitment these students make to participate." Over the course of 2 1/2 days, the students from 48 school chapters throughout Montana competed in skills such as architectural drafting, automotive, cabinet making, milling, welding and woodworking. But there were other job skills featured as well, such as extemporaneous speaking, job interviews and job skill demonstrations. The event started Thursday and runs through Saturday afternoon. Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras was the keynote speaker on Thursday. The winners will go on to the national competition in June. Heller said Pacific Steel donated all of the metal to be used for welding and the Montana Automobile Dealers Association was treating the students to a barbecue dinner Friday. She also noted donations from Dick Anderson Construction, Boeing and General Distributing. Edwards, who was competing in welding and prepared speech, said she liked the event. I like being here and meeting people who like the same trades I like, she said, adding she was fairly certain the experience would help her to get a good job. Seymour served as parliamentarian at the conference. His job was to keep meetings and speeches focused, on track and complying with rules. He was competing in prepared speech and basic welding. He said he likes welding because of the creativity involved with it and said a lot of opportunities will await him once he gets his degree. Rob Hunter, automotive teacher at Flathead High School, said he has been involved with the conference for 26 years, and started when he was in high school. Its good for me and its good for students, he said. It sets the bar high for all kids, even the ones who arent here. Paul Nicholson, a CNC Milling instructor at Helena College, was onsite to run the SkillsUSA competition. I like the challenge it gives the students, he said. It gives them the chance to show what they can do and gives them a chance to grow. Assistant editor Phil Drake can be reached at 406-231-9021. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Chinese experts share experience with Lao peers on COVID-19 testing, treatment Xinhua) 10:37, April 09, 2022 VIENTIANE, April 8 (Xinhua) -- A team of Chinese experts went to the Mahosot Hospital in Lao capital Vientiane for exchanges over COVID-19 testing and treatment on Friday. The six-strong Chinese expert team inspected the testing capacity and equipment of the hospital, while Khaysy Rassavong, the deputy director general of the hospital gave an introduction on the nucleic acid test in the hospital and learned about the practices and opinions of the Chinese counterparts at this regard. Khaysy expressed gratitude to the Chinese experts for sharing their experience and know-how on the treatment and testing of the virus. "The exchange has brought a lot of new information to our hospital," he told Xinhua. After arriving in Vientiane on Feb. 7, the experts of medical testing and traditional Chinese medicine who are all from southwest China's Yunnan Province, besides making every effort to complete their main job to assist in the nucleic acid testing of Chinese air passengers in Laos, have been actively engaged in exchanges with their Lao colleagues. Earlier on March 11, the Chinese experts went to the Lao Ministry of Health to communicate with various departments under the ministry, including those in charge of infectious disease control, medical treatment, food and drug administration and the national center for laboratory and epidemiology. Deputy Minister of the Lao Health Ministry Phaivanh Keopaseuth thanked the experts' work and hoped that they would give more guidance to the Lao side on the formulation of nucleic acid testing standards and testing technologies. (Web editor: Zhao Tong, Bianji) getty images Last month, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued guidance titled The COVID-19 Pandemic and Caregiver Discrimination Under Federal Employment Discrimination Laws. While the title of guidance focuses on the pandemic, caregiver discrimination can be much broader than those arising due to COVID-19. No federal discrimination law protects an employees right to engage in caregiving of others, and thus employees do not generally have a general right to reasonable accommodation to handle caregiving duties. Employees in Virginia who work for an employer that employs six or more employees have a right to reasonable accommodation for their own disability or pregnancy, but not to care for others. Employees may be entitled to leave to care for others under the more restricted Family Medical Leave Act, which provides for unpaid leave of up to 12 workweeks for certain documented medical reasons for the employee, or to care for the employees spouse, child or parent. This law is more restricted because the organization where the employee works must employ at least 50 or more employees within a 75-mile radius and the employee must have worked for the organization at least one year, worked 1,250 hours in the preceding 12 months, and leave can only be taken for certain limited reasons. Apart from rights under the FMLA, an employer discriminates against an employee if it treats employees who need to be a caregiver disparately and based on a protected characteristic such as gender, race, sexual orientation or age. Many times the discrimination results from stereotypes and assumptions about caregiving responsibilities. For example, if an employer refuses to hire or promote a female based on assumptions that, because she is female, she would (or should) focus primarily on caring for her young children while they attend school remotely, or on caring for her parents or other adult relatives, the employer has engaged in unlawful discrimination. Employers also may not penalize female employees more harshly than similarly situated male employees for absences or missed deadlines due to pandemic-related or other caregiving duties. Sometimes employers make seemingly well-intentioned employment decisions, such as declining to assign female caregivers to demanding or high-profile projects that might require overtime or travel, and this can also violate federal law. It is equally unlawful to discriminate against male caregivers based on gender-based stereotypes, including based on assumptions that men are breadwinners and women are caretakers. The guidance explains, It would be unlawful for an employer to deny men leave or permission to work a flexible schedule to care for a family member with COVID-19 or to handle other pandemic-related caregiving duties if the employer grants such requests when made by similarly situated women. It also would be unlawful, for example, for an employer to refuse requests for exceptions from return-to-work policies or attendance policies made by men with caregiving responsibilities, based on their gender. Employers also must not treat LGBTQI+ applicants or employees differently or more burdensome as it relates to caregiving, including any requirement of proof of marital or other family relationship with the individual needing care, if such requirements are not imposed on other employees who make such requests. It would also be unlawful to unilaterally require pregnant workers to telework or adjust their schedules to keep them safe, even if they are made for purportedly benevolent reasons, the EEOC explains. Employers should be consistent in providing leave to recover from COVID-19. If leave is provided, for example, to a Black female, it should similarly be provided to a white male who needs the same accommodation. As for older workers, however, the EEOC notes that employers may, at their discretion, grant older workers requests for leave, flexible schedules, telework, or other arrangements to enable them to perform pandemic-related caregiving duties. The ADEA does not prohibit employers from treating older workers more favorably than younger workers because of the older workers age, although some state laws may not allow age-based favoritism of older workers. Consistent with all federal and state discrimination laws, employers are not required to excuse poor performance resulting from caregiving responsibilities. An employer, for example, can discipline an employee who is repeatedly tardy even if those attendance infractions are due to pandemic-related caregiving obligations, so long as the employee treats other similar situations equally. Employers should implement policies around leave and attendance, and be consistent in accountability of those expectations. Employers also should provide training and guidance to managers around implicit bias and stereotypes that too often infiltrate decision-making in organizations. Tracey Williams helped her parents through one of the darkest periods in their lives: the loss of her 18-year-old brother, Xzavier Hill, who was shot and killed by Virginia State Police just 15 months ago. Now, shes gone. We comforted each other, Tiara Williams said of her 19-year-old daughter who was killed Thursday night in a collision with a Richmond police SUV. I dont know what I would do without her because thats my heart. Losing her ... I dont know what ... I dont know what now. Tracey Williams was in the passenger seat of her boyfriends Buick when the collision occurred Thursday at 10:42 p.m. in the intersection of Bells and Castlewood roads, a block west of Richmond Highway in South Side. Police said officers Richard Johnson and Dquan Walker were responding to a call for a burglary in progress in the 1500 block of Clarkson Road, about 3 miles west of the collision. Jeremiah Ruffin, 18, Williams boyfriend of two years, remains hospitalized in serious condition. Both Ruffin and Williams were ejected from the vehicle, police said. Neither was wearing a seat belt. The two officers suffered serious head injuries, said Police Chief Gerald Smith during a news conference Friday morning. Their SUV was knocked off the road into two poles and came to rest by a fence. Johnson was driving, and Walker was a passenger. They are in stable but serious condition, said Smith, adding that he hoped they would be released from the hospital later Friday. Right now, they are kind of addled, the chief said. Once they have clear thinking, they will be interviewed. Police have not determined who had the right of way or how fast either vehicle was going, but Smith said both vehicles the Buick and the officers marked Ford Explorer entered the intersection at about the same time and collided. They had authorization to run blue lights and sirens, Smith said Friday of the officers. Later, though, he said investigators dont know for sure that the police SUVs lights and siren were engaged. We are asking for help, said Smith, asking anyone who witnessed the crash or has cameras in the area to contact police. No one stayed on scene, but that doesnt mean that no one was there. The family, too, is searching for answers. Were just trying to get to the point where we can get some kind of closure not even closure, just like answers, said LaToya Benton, the mother of Xzavier Hill. She has been asking questions of state police since her son was shot in Goochland County in January 2021 after a high-speed chase. She recently won a court ruling that ordered the troopers who shot her son to answer her. Tiara Williams said police left a business card with her Friday morning, but shes called multiple times with little to no answer. Thats not enough, said LaTonya Snow, aunt to both Xzavier Hill and Tracey Williams. How are you going to leave a mother like that? Tiara Williams, who was surrounded by family at her South Richmond home on Friday evening, said she identified her daughters body by a tattoo she was getting on her chest of her brother. Thats how I knew it was her, she said. Her husband, Steven Hill, was beside himself with emotion. As he cried, family held his shaking body. Those are the tears of a broken father, said Michelle Nowell, Williams cousin. Were still in hell, Snow said. *** This is the second fatal crash involving police in the region in as many weeks. Last week, Henrico County police officer Trey Marshall Sutton, 24, was one of four people injured in a three-vehicle accident along U.S. 301 near the intersection of Chamberlayne Avenue and Wilkinson Road. He died from his injuries early the next day. This is a traumatic incident for this community and region as a whole, because there are so many eerie similarities to the accident in which we lost Officer Trey Sutton from Henrico, Smith said. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved. Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney issued a statement Friday morning: It was heart-wrenching to learn last night that a family has lost a loved one while another life hangs in the balance. We ask that Richmonders keep the families of those involved in this deadly accident in their thoughts and prayers, as well as the two officers who were injured. Anyone with information regarding this collision is asked to contact Detective W. Kress by calling (804) 646-0280. Three years ago, Herb Jones vowed to never run for Congress, but that was before supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in a vain attempt to block certification of the election of Democrat Joe Biden as president of the United States. That was too much for Jones, a retired U.S. Army officer who had served two tours in the Iraq War and whose maternal grandfather had been lynched in South Carolina. I watched these traitors and thugs try to overturn the election, he said indignantly. Jones, 63, of Providence Forge is the Democratic nominee to challenge Rep. Rob Wittman, R-1st, who is seeking a ninth term in a newly configured district that now includes parts of Chesterfield and Henrico counties, as well as New Kent and part of Hanover, under a political map approved by the Virginia Supreme Court in late December. I think its more competitive than it was before, especially with Henrico and Chesterfield, he said. But Jones has no illusions about what hes up against in challenging Wittman, in his 16th year in Congress and with more than $752,000 in the bank at the end of last year. New fundraising totals are to be released at the end of this week. Wittman, who formally announced his re-election bid last month, was born in Washington and raised in Henrico County. He noted in a statement that with the addition of parts of Henrico and Chesterfield counties, I look forward to representing my childhood home. Wittman recalled that he grew up working as a short-order cook for Shoneys restaurant in Henrico, and that he also worked stints for the Richmond Braves selling tickets and then as the mascot. He said he also once was a bag boy at Lukhards Market in Richmond and a parking lot attendant at Kings Dominion. The district is solidly Republican, voting for Trump in the 2016 presidential election and giving Republican Glenn Youngkin a 16-point margin in his gubernatorial victory last fall, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. The districts voters are about 72% white and 13% Black. Its not going to be easy, Jones said, but its not going to be easy for Wittman, either. The odds are steep enough that Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th, decided not to run in the reconfigured 1st, even though it now includes her current home in western Henrico. Instead, Spanberger is running for a third term in the newly configured 7th District, now anchored in Northern Virginia and the Fredericksburg area. Jones chuckled and compared the impending campaign to Spanbergers race in 2018, when she unseated Rep. Dave Brat, R-7th, in a district that had been controlled by Republicans for decades. He did not want to allow Wittman to win an uncontested election. I dont think anybody should run unopposed, he said. Jones has political experience. He served three terms as elected treasurer in New Kent and unsuccessfully challenged Sen. Tommy Norment, R-James City, then majority leader, for his Senate seat in 2019. Norment raised eyebrows by removing his opponents name from a list of appointments by Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat who had nominated Jones to serve on the Virginia Military Advisory Council. Had he just left it alone, I wouldnt have gotten any attention, Jones said. Ultimately, Norment won by more than 19,000 votes. Jones grew up in Roanoke and attended Appalachian State University in western North Carolina, where he earned a degree in health care management and joined the ROTC. He spent 10 years of active duty in the Army, ultimately being posted at Fort Lee near Petersburg, where he earned a masters degree from the Florida Institute of Technology as part of the services long-term civilian training program. He joined the Army Reserve and began a long career in the financial services industry, including a stint as director of investor relations at Colonial Downs Inc., the former publicly traded company that owned the horse track in New Kent. After the terrorist attacks on the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001, Jones was called back to active duty in the Army, serving two tours in Iraq. He retired, but spent two years directing logistics operations as a civilian for the Army in Afghanistan. Now, he runs Pyramid Technology, a limited liability company he started with his brother to provide IT support, project management and logistics consulting. Jones is critical of Wittman, whom he contends has paid lip service to expanding broadband internet service in rural parts of the district and has neglected infrastructure, such as the widening of Interstate 64 between Richmond and Williamsburg. Wittman joined three other Virginia Republicans in voting against the $1 trillion Infrastructure Investment Act that Biden signed into law last fall. Wittman has said he strongly supports investments in roads, bridges, passenger rail, broadband and other pillars of the package. But he contended that most of the $550 billion in new spending in the bill wont go to traditional forms of infrastructure, but instead to what he called priorities of the Green New Deal that progressive Democrats advocate to combat climate change and protect the environment. Jones other concerns are the opioid crisis afflicting much of Virginia and access to health care. He faults Wittman for voting against legislation last month to cap the price of insulin. Climate [change] is an issue, and there are things that need to be addressed now, he said. Were in a critical time in the history of our country, Jones said. We need people who have ideas and solutions who are willing to act. By Rebecca Butler and Jim Beckner In the early 1990s, Sister Josepha Haskins drove across state lines to pick up samples of medication for her patients. As the story goes, she stuffed the medicine in trash bags, piling them high in her pickup truck to maximize space. She then headed back to the Tri-County Health Clinic, which she founded in Richlands, not far from the West Virginia border. The return trip was not without drama. Down the road was a police checkpoint, giving pause to the nun, who also served as the clinics pharmacy technician. Worried officers would find the bags of medicine suspicious (even though the transport was legal thanks to an interstate agreement), Sister Josepha turned to find another route an abrupt move that alerted the officers. They pulled her, and the truck full of prescription drugs, over. Thankfully, a quick explanation from the nun and possibly the help of a silent prayer earned the officers trust. She was allowed to proceed. Decades later, the anecdote is firmly entrenched in clinic lore. Sister Josepha passed away in 2016 after a lifetime of serving the community. But her drive and commitment to caring for others endures at the Tri-County Health Clinic, just as it does across Virginias 60 free and charitable clinics. Over the years, countless people helped create the states strong network of free clinics. These spaces are deeply rooted in their communities and help local residents live healthier lives. By and large, they are modern facilities, staffed with compassionate medical professionals and volunteers. The providers skill and care help people navigate a range of medical conditions, from regular wellness checkups to chronic illnesses like diabetes, heart disease and hypertension. The nation recently recognized Womens History Month, and the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics team used the time to reflect on some of the incredible women, like Sister Josepha, who helped shape the states health care safety net. Free clinics are so firmly rooted in our communities that it can seem as if they always have been a part of our history. However, most of them did not take shape until a few decades ago. Virginias first free clinic the Fan Free Clinic in Richmond (now called the Health Brigade and led by Karen Legato) opened its doors in 1970. This was thanks in no small part to the organizational prowess of Mary File Clem, who was a driving force behind its creation. Shortly afterward, a young carpenter from Roanoke named Henry Bell volunteered at the Richmond clinic, and was inspired to open a similar organization in Roanoke. After partnering with his surgeon father and forming a board of directors, Estelle Nichols Avner accepted the opportunity to serve as the Bradley Free Clinics volunteer director. Avner eventually became full-time director and was an inspirational force for other free clinics across Virginia and the country. She co-penned A Free Clinic: Starting Out a book detailing best practices for starting and operating a clinic. More than 3,000 copies were printed, providing a road map that helped open facilities in Chicago; Spartanburg, South Carolina; and Kennebunkport, Maine, among other places. She retired in 2014 after leading the Bradley Free Clinic for 40 years. In 1990, many clinics struggled to recruit physicians due to concerns that Good Samaritan laws didnt cover volunteer medical professionals. Attorney General Mary Sue Terry stepped up and helped extend state liability coverage to free clinic physicians through legislation in the General Assembly. Our modern network of clinics is indebted to another influential woman who helped direct important corporate dollars. Wilda Ferguson led community relations at Blue Cross Blue Shield (now Anthem) in the 1990s. Assisted by Charlotte Charlie Carnes, Ferguson created a grant program to fund clinic startup costs and annual operating budgets. This corporate philanthropy helped birth clinics throughout Virginia, via grants that continue to have a lasting impact. A roster of incredible women also was responsible for a legacy of health care firsts in Virginia. Among them is Annette Suarez, former clinic director at Fan Free Clinic, who served as first executive director of the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics. The organization itself was a first the first statewide institution of free clinics. It served as a model for other states and the national association. After years of advocacy as leader of the Virginia Healthcare Foundation, which provides funding to support clinics, Deborah Oswalt was a driving force behind Virginias Medicaid expansion in 2019. She helped connect thousands of people to health coverage for the first time in their lives. More than 1.4 million Virginians are enrolled in Medicaid and the Childrens Health Insurance Program today. Another pioneer was Zakia McKensey. While working at Health Brigade, she helped create the states first transgender clinic, giving people access to hormone replacement therapy and other resources in a safe, affirming environment. The clinic continues to be an important resource for the Richmond regions transgender and nonbinary community. Many incredible people helped build the strong network of free and charitable clinics that operate across Virginia today; and the work of clinics has never been more important. The states efforts to expand health care coverage have been life-changing for many. Even so, more than 200,000 Virginians do not have health insurance. In a practical sense, clinics are helping uninsured and underinsured people access preventive and lifesaving care, while reducing costly emergency room visits. Most importantly, they are helping people live longer and healthier lives. Its an impact were all proud of. When it comes to serving the needs of vulnerable people, Virginias free and charitable clinics are unstoppable. We continue to be thankful for the many leaders who help ensure all Virginians can access the care they deserve. On a historic day in which she took her daughter thrift shopping, Mychael Jefferson-Reese could not have been more fashionably attired. Im wearing my confirm KBJ shirt today, the public defender said, joy palpable in her voice. Shed been at home earlier Thursday when Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the first Black woman to sit on the Supreme Court. Although the confirmation was a fait accompli, it was hard for me to believe that she would be confirmed until she was confirmed, Jefferson-Reese said. And to watch the first Black female vice president read that to the Senate was amazing. ... Its a moment in history. Soon, America will have an associate justice on the Supreme Court who not only looks like Jefferson-Reese, but is a former federal public defender. Not since Thurgood Marshall, the first Black associate justice, retired in 1991 has the Supreme Court had someone in its ranks who represented indigent criminal defendants. The high court has historically been the terrain of former prosecutors in a criminal justice system fraught with racial inequities. You can argue the intentionality, but America undeniably gets the system it creates. Jefferson-Reese, 43, began her law career as a civil litigator in Ohio before returning to Virginia to work in the Petersburg Public Defenders Office and later in the Richmond Public Defenders Office. Last year, she took the job as the chief public defender in the new Chesterfield County Public Defenders Office, representing people who otherwise could not afford a lawyer. The bench needs to be as diverse as the people it serves, said Jefferson-Reese, a graduate of Chesterfields Meadowbrook High School, the University of Richmond and the University of Dayton School of Law. Doing that work gives you a different view on humanity, and I think that perspective is desperately needed on the bench. Anytime opportunity expands enough to shatter a glass ceiling, Im here for it. Thursday was a supreme moment for the American dream. Today, there are millions of girls across America watching Ketanji Brown Jackson, and thinking that could be me, said state Sen. Jennifer McClellan of Richmond in a statement Thursday. The history made today isnt just about breaking a glass ceiling for Black women, its about building a ladder to lift up those who follow. This is a momentous day for our nation that will be remembered for years to come. Unable to mount a substantive argument against Jacksons confirmation, some Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee settled for political grandstanding. Their interrogations, largely irrelevant to the matter at hand, attempted to provoke the nominee with spurious attacks or tarnish her with guilt by association with, well, Blackness. In the favorite dog whistle of the political right, they sought to conflate KBJ with CRT. By the numbers, Jacksons nomination was settled business in a Senate controlled by Democrats. The Supreme Courts ideological profile will remain unchanged, with Jackson replacing the retiring liberal associate justice Stephen Breyer. The hostility on display was performative and pointless, beyond the spectacle of the blatant disrespect of a Black woman with impeccable credentials and as we witnessed unflappable judicial temperament. If Republicans were truly interested in the rule of law, theyd be all in on the congressional investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection instead of attempting to obstruct it. And theyd be alarmed, as we all should be, that the wife of associate justice Clarence Thomas avidly participated in attempts to overturn a presidential election. Instead, they took the low road during this moment of Black Girl Magic. African American women, to paraphrase Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., werent going to let the Judiciary Committee nastiness steal Thursdays joy. McClellan said she choked up when she told her children, ages 11 and 6, the news of our next Supreme Court justice. As a Generation X Black female lawyer raised by educators who endured Jim Crow, it was quite an emotional moment, McClellan said. Not only because she is the first, but because she reflects my perspective. I could never relate to a U.S. Supreme Court justice before. And for someone in my profession, this is a profound moment. When McClellans parents were children, they did not believe it was possible for our nation to have a Black man as president, a Black woman as vice president or a Black woman as a Supreme Court justice, she said. But they raised McClellan to believe that one day it would be possible. And now it has come to pass for her children. Indeed, it was Vice President Kamala Harris, whose parents were Jamaican and Indian immigrants, who presided over Jacksons confirmation. The change McClellan speaks of elates some folks, alarms others, and fuels still others to violence and insurrection. What we should fear most is stunted dreams and stymied possibility. That could be me, when realized, is what makes America great. Over the past decade, Shockoe Bottom and the adjacent Shockoe Slip districts have been undergoing a renaissance. With a beautifully renovated Main Street Station, the promise of a proposed national slave museum and heritage campus, plus loads of mixed-used development emerging, the neighborhoods are poised to become among Richmonds most unique. On any given Friday or Saturday evening, restaurants and bars are teeming with customers. As spring heats up into summer, crowds flocking to welcoming spots in the area, such as the 17th Street Market, surely will grow. For the densely populated neighborhoods, its cause for both elation and pause from local businesses. A few entrepreneurs shared their sentiments last month during a community panel hosted by Richmond BizSense that focused on the future of Shockoe Bottom. Excited about the coming changes to the area, they noted there is a great need for more basic city services, improved infrastructure and police patrols. There are no trash cans in my neighborhood; there is refuse all over the place and very little, if any police presence of any kind, the preventative kind, said Kelly Justice, who owns Fountain Bookstore, in Shockoe Slip on East Cary Street. Owner since 2008, Justice continued saying theres buckling in the sidewalks and around the tree wells, other problems with some cobblestones. If someone has had too much (to drink) those two things dont go very well together, she said. Charles Macfarlane, a longtime developer and owner of Macfarlane Partners LLC added: The issues that were dealing with today are the same issues that we dealt with 20 years ago. A couple of initiatives I was involved in one called Clean up the Bottom that dealt with code enforcement and graffiti removal trash cans and public safety, tree wells, crosswalks, signage, and then enforcement of parking, he said. Shockoe Bottom is evolving. However, crime in Richmond also is keeping pace with gun violence escalating. Citywide, as of April 3, there have been as many as 12 homicides, with some 146 incidents of aggravated assault this year, according to weekly crime data compiled by the city. As reported in The Times-Dispatch last month, there were as many as six shootings, with at least two of them fatal. Earlier this month, a 30-year-old man was fatally shot in the popular destination, in the 100-block of North 19th Street. Before it gets worse, now would be a good time for the city to bolster patrols there. Richmond Mayor Levar Stoneys proposed budget for fiscal year 2023 that begins July 1, has a full-on plan to increase wages for city police officers. It calls for pumping in $17.4 million to boost the starting pay for police and fire personnel from $44,000 to $51,900. That puts those pay rates on par with places like Henrico County, the highest in the region, and competitive with other regional and statewide departments, according to city budget documents. Additionally, Stoneys proposal equates to a 10% raise for 95% percent of hundreds of city police officers, 83% of whom would net increases of 15% or more. The citys proposed spending plan for FY 2023 also sets aside nearly $28 million, over the next five years, to develop an Enslaved African Heritage Campus. The funding would be for planning, designing, acquiring land for and constructing a multi-use enslaved African cultural and heritage park-like campus, as stated in the citys proposal. The proposed heritage campus, a 9-acre swath of land that includes the African Burial Ground, is meant to place a spotlight and memorialize the areas history, when it was premier hub for slave traders. Plans also are in the works for a $200 million national slave museum all of which if executed, promises to bring more foot traffic to an already congested district. With more than 820 full-time job equivalents in the Richmond Police Department, there are some 137 open public safety positions and turnover is frequent, as reported last month in The Times-Dispatch. Its not clear how many of these positions are sworn police officer roles. While police officers deserve pay raises and new recruits increased minimums, how many new officers will be hired when the fiscal begins in July? Bringing new recruits should help to reallocate officers into the precincts where the needs are the greatest. A city spokesman said the department is actively recruiting. Businesses not only want to see more police; they want law enforcement to have a real rapport with the community. Seasonal unrest on Fridays and Saturdays is something that we need to have the political will to address, said Brian White, who runs Main Street Realty. I dont think anybody wants heavy-handed policing. Thats not appropriate. But I think other cities have managed to find the balance. Since the 1990s, Whites company has developed more than 1,500 housing units in the Shockoe Bottom area, he told the panel last month. White shared that in other metropolitan areas, such as Austin, Texas or Nashville, Tennessee, police are present among the nightlife crowds. He continued, saying, police officers should be friendly, welcoming and engaging the crowds but also letting the public know they are there to help, as well as, to set an expectation. We want you to come down here, we want you to have fun but we need you to know, we need a standard of behavior for all, White said. The proprietor of Black-owned Stockpile Mens Boutique, Benjamin W. Harris Jr., agrees some policing is needed. We have transients that almost camp out in certain places, and set their drinking containers, says Harris, whose shop is on East Main Street. If we see it every day, the police see it every day. That definitely needs to be addressed. Especially with the new walking traffic thats going on, we dont need potential customers to be harassed. Business owners are optimistic about the continued economic potential of the Shockoe Bottom/Slip neighborhoods. It is time for more patrols around the historic neighborhood, but hopefully more police wont mean unnecessary profiling, but rather add a layer of safety. Lisa Vernon Sparks After running into a series of roadblocks this year, Mountain Valley Pipeline has won approval to bore under about 180 streams and wetlands it must cross to complete the natural gas pipeline. In a unanimous order Friday afternoon, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission authorized what is essentially one piece of the construction that remains unfinished due to adverse court rulings. FERC amended its 2017 certificate perhaps the most important approval among more than a dozen federal and state permits to allow Mountain Valley to tunnel below some water bodies, rather than digging a trench along their bottoms to bury a 42-inch diameter pipe using whats called an open-cut process. Mountain Valley still lacks authorizations from other agencies to ford the remaining streams and wetlands by open cut, and to pass through the Jefferson National Forest. Also unresolved is the projects impact on endangered species. The pipeline, which cuts through Southwest Virginia, nonetheless applauded FERCs order. This is another important step forward in MVPs project completion and, as a critical infrastructure project, is essential for our nations energy security, reliability, and ability to transition to a lower-carbon future, Natalie Cox, a spokeswoman for the joint venture, wrote in an email Saturday. In its 72-page order Friday, FERC found that boring under water bodies would cause less environmental damage than the open-cut method. The commission had initially approved the method in 2017 for nearly 1,000 crossings, but those plans ran into legal challenges from environmental groups. Todays order amending Mountain Valleys certificate will almost certainly represent an improvement over the status quo, FERC Chairman Richard Glick and member Allison Clements wrote in a concurring opinion. Glick and Clements have previously voiced concerns about FERC putting the cart before the horse by approving work on the pipeline before the developer had obtained all of its required permits from other agencies. Those concerns may be heightened when, as here, the permits and authorizations needed to develop the project have been vacated several times by the courts, the opinion stated. But this case is different, Glick and Clements concluded, for three reasons. First, the amendment will actually reduce environmental damage. Second, no additional land would have to be taken by eminent domain for the almost entirely constructed pipeline. And thirdly, they wrote, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down a permit for the pipeline to pass through the national forest, in part, because the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management did not first consider FERCs environmental analysis of boring under streams. It was appropriate to allow the crossings, the opinion stated, so that BLM can have the benefit of FERCs analysis to satisfy the courts remand. One week after it struck down the Forest Service permit in January, the Fourth Circuit invalidated a biological opinion from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which had determined that two endangered species of fish the Roanoke logperch and the candy darter would not be jeopardized by running a large pipeline through their habitat. That decision, in turn, led the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to delay its decision on Mountain Valleys latest application for a set of permits needed for the open-cut stream crossings. The cascading loss of permits led pipeline opponents to call on FERC to issue a stop-work order for the pipeline. But no construction, except for erosion and sediment control maintenance, is currently underway. And FERC showed little willingness in its order Friday to revisit its past rulings. In addressing opponents arguments that the project is not needed, FERC stood by its 2017 finding of a public market for the 2 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas the pipeline will transport from northern West Virginia to connect with an existing line near the North Carolina line. As for concerns about Mountain Valleys environmental track record, the commission said state regulators in Virginia and West Virginia have already addressed hundreds of violations of erosion control measures, which allowed muddy runoff to be washed from construction sites. No additional action by the commission is necessary, the order stated. Mountain Valley says it has completed more than half of the 1,000-some water body crossings. Plans now call for crews to bore under the Roanoke River as it flows east of Elliston along the Montgomery-Roanoke county line. FERCs order applies to 183 water bodies, which would entail crossings at 120 locations. The authorization contains a number of conditions, including one that states that boring under the streams cannot start until the Army Corps approves the open-cut process for the remaining water bodies. That permitting process has been slowed by the Fourth Circuits striking down of the biological opinion from the Fish and Wildlife Service. Also last week, FERC defended an October 2020 decision to give the company another two years to complete the project. The Sierra Club and other environmental groups are asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to reverse that ruling. Oral arguments were Thursday. A written decision will likely come in the next month or two. The evidence is clear every setback MVP faces, every permit vacated, and every investor shying away from the project confirms what we have believed since the projects inception: this unnecessary, fracked gas pipeline has no place in our communities, the Sierra Club said in a statement. Its time MVP sees the writing on the wall and ends this beleaguered project. 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. An 81-year-old man is dead after his car was struck by a vehicle being pursued by police on a car chase of just over 100 miles that began in Halifax County and ended in Patrick County on Friday afternoon. Bobby Wayne Gammons, 81, of Mount Airy, North Carolina, died at the scene on U.S. 58 in Patrick County after his 2005 Toyota Corolla was struck head-on by a 2010 Toyota Corolla driven by Christine S. Barnette, 41, of Cary, North Carolina, a Virginia State Police release stated. State Police Sgt. Dennis McBride said Barnette was airlifted to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital with life-threatening injuries and Gammons was declared dead at the scene. Barnette is facing charges of breaking and entering, reckless driving, defrauding an innkeeper, felony eluding police, trespassing and vehicular homicide, the state police release stated. A pursuit was initiated in Halifax County, passed through Pittsylvania County, Henry County, the City of Martinsville and Patrick County, said McBride at the scene. The driver of the vehicle crossed the median and went westbound in the eastbound lane and struck another vehicle head-on. Park rangers had found Barnette earlier in the day inside an unoccupied, unrented cabin in Staunton River State Park near Scottsburg. Barnette was able to escape the cabin and get into her vehicle and speed away with park rangers in pursuit, the state police release stated. The Halifax County Sheriffs Office joined the pursuit and attempted to use their vehicle to force Barnette to stop, but Barnette escaped the attempted containment by striking one of the deputys vehicles with her car, the release said. Patrick County Sheriff Dan Smith said at about 1 p.m., the Patrick County 911 center received a call that the Martinsville Police Department and the Virginia State Police were in pursuit of Barnette driving recklessly at high speeds on U.S. 58 coming in to Patrick County from Henry County. Smith said his deputies and state police troopers tried multiple times to disable Barnettes car with spike strips, but Barnette managed to avoid each attempt. The sheriffs office shut down the intersection at Walmart in an attempt to prevent a crash, Smith wrote by email. After the suspect vehicle came through the intersection at Walmart, it veered into the oncoming, eastbound lane near Patrick County Family Practice and collided with another vehicle. Smith didnt say what speeds Barnettes car reached during the chase, but they were too high to employ a pursuit intervention technique maneuver when the pursuit entered Patrick County. It was blatantly obvious that she was not going to stop her erratic and reckless behavior, Smith wrote by email. The reckless, careless and selfish actions of one person took the life of a totally innocent person today and that is sickening. The law enforcement officers from the three agencies involved did everything possible to try and prevent the tragedy that occurred and our hearts are broken for the innocent life that was lost. McBride said the tragic incident puts a strain on law enforcement who must divert resources to the Martinsville Speedway for race weekend. The race puts a strain on us and requires a lot of attention from every agency around Martinsville, said McBride. When something like this happens we have to pull those resources. Were looking at a long day with the race anyway and now weve got this added on us. It does stretch us pretty tight. 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. RICHMOND A longtime Richmond police officer, who was interim chief for 11 days at the height of the civil unrest of 2020, is now suing Mayor Levar Stoney and current Chief Gerald Smith for wrongful termination, after a judge recently ruled that the city was immune from liability. William Jody Blackwell, who lives in Chesterfield County, initially filed a complaint last July seeking $5 million in damages from the city. But Judge William R. Marchant ruled last month that the city is protected by sovereign immunity, a legal doctrine 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. But Marchant, in his March 24 ruling, said alleged wrongdoing would only survive a plea of sovereign immunity if the suit was against individuals, not the city and said he would allow Blackwell, and his attorney, Scott Crowley, to file an amended complaint, which they did Friday. In the new complaint, Blackwell alleges Stoney and Smith violated state law and policy when he was fired in retaliation because he refused an order of Stoney that Blackwell have his officers stand guard over the emergency removal of Richmonds city-owned Confederate monuments. Blackwell told Stoney at the time that it was 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. On July 26, 2020, 11 days after first naming Blackwell interim chief, Stoney asked Blackwell to step down. Stoney then installed Smith as chief effective July 1, 2020, the same day the city removed a statue of Stonewall Jackson from its pedestal. Blackwell returned to his former rank of major, and it wasnt until February 2021 that Smith fired him, at Stoneys direction, the suit claims. In addition to losing pay and benefits as a result of being wrongfully terminated, Blackwell also will suffer the forfeiture of tens of thousands of dollars of future pension benefits, the court document said. Blackwell was only 18 months from his pension being fully vested. A spokesman for Stoneys office declined to comment on Friday. LYNCHBURG A judge found a Liberty University professor not guilty Friday of a misdemeanor count of sexual battery after more than two hours of testimony in Lynchburg General District Court. William Atwell, 58, of Lynchburg, was arrested Nov. 20 by LU police and pleaded not guilty to the charge. He has worked at LU from 2013 to the date he was accused of sexually assaulting a female student, Nov. 19, and has served as associate professor of American Sign Language Interpretation. Atwell, who is deaf, maintained his innocence during a trial before Judge Randy Krantz. The woman who accused him testified she had known the professor since August 2019 and she worked at Liberty University when the incident took place, after which she reported it to police. She testified Atwell told her the day of the incident, just before Thanksgiving break, it would be a long time without my hugs and asked another female student to leave when he asked the complaining witness into his office. According to her testimony, he touched her inappropriately and without permission in two embraces within a short span of each other, including a storage room area. She testified she was scared, in shock and communicated in sign language to ask what he was doing. She was surprised when he said, What do you want? She left the building using the elevator while he took the stairs because she wanted no more physical contact, according to her testimony. Another female student testified Atwell asked her to leave the two of them, which she thought was odd, and she questioned why a male professor would do that. That witness testified she saw them hugging and it felt off, adding she never saw him embrace another student like that. Chuck Felmlee, Atwells defense attorney, argued there was zero evidence of anything sexual being said by his client. I dont think theres been evidence it was intentional touching, Felmlee said. Theres no evidence there was force, that he threatened her. Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Chelsea Webster argued the contact was intentional and he used the professor-student relationship as a form of intimidation. Its contact with him she did not want, Webster said. A previous felony charge of abduction against Atwell in connection with the case was dropped in January. Through a sign language interpreter, Atwell testified he didnt touch the student inappropriately and he did not tell the other student to leave them by themselves. Shes my student and I have high respect for my students, Atwell testified. He testified hugging is a gesture in the deaf community of saying goodbye and he didnt treat her any differently than other students. Krantz said his ruling of not guilty does not mean the physical exchanges Atwell had with the complaining witness were proper or excused. He then took up a request for a protective order, a civil matter, and granted it for 90 days with an opportunity to extend it. The facts and circumstances of this case are concerning, the judge said in granting the protective order. The complaining witness testified she is scared of Atwell and doesnt want him back on the LU campus. Atwell has been suspended from LU since his arrest and his contract is up for renewal this summer, Felmlee said while arguing against the protective order on the basis his client is not a physical threat. Its up in the air on what his future is at LU, Felmlee said in court. Putin, Lukashenko should face war crime charges The images and verified reports of atrocities committed in Ukraine should mark the point of no return for relations with a Vladimir Putin-led Russia. As long as the bloody-handed dictator controls that nation, the United States must keep its back turned on Moscow. President Joe Biden is right. Putin is a war criminal who must be prosecuted for the crimes committed against the Ukrainian people. Over the weekend, Russian troops pulled back from the suburbs of Kyiv, leaving behind streets strewn with the bodies of civilians. Many appeared to have been gunned down as they walked or bicycled through Bucha, the town believed to have suffered the most victims. Some of the dead were found with their hands tied behind their backs, shot in execution style. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy toured the region and reported finding bodies in barrels, basements, strangled, tortured. Other accounts say girls and women were raped and killed, their bodies burned. At least 410 civilians were murdered, with independent journalists covering the war confirming many of the killings. Intentionally killing unarmed civilians is a violation of international law. Biden is asking that Putin face war crime charges before the International Criminal Court. The indictment should also extend to his sycophantic sidekick Alexander Lukashenko, the Belarussian president who is supplying troops and material to Russias war effort. The officers and soldiers carrying out the atrocities should be fully aware that they, too, will be held to account for their actions. Russia has been waging a merciless air attack against Ukraines cities, leading to the deaths of thousands of civilians. It has also prevented the evacuation of the bomb-ravaged port of Mariupol, and has blocked international aid from reaching trapped citizens. Putin perhaps thought he could roll over Ukraine, as he did Georgia and Crimea, and return to sit at the table of civilized nations as if nothing happened. That cant be permitted. Russia and Belarus must be fully shunned until Putin and Lukashenko are no longer in charge. The U.S. and its European allies should also be thinking longer term about a return to what basically must be a Cold War relationship with Russia. That means learning to live without the oil, grain and other resources Russia exports. The free world has become far too dependent on Russia and other oppressive regimes. The United States must never be in a position in which its economic interests discourage it from standing up to brutality. * * * Congress should get up to speed on weed Eighteen states all over the physical and political map, including California, Arizona, Virginia, Michigan, Montana, Illinois, Oregon, Nevada, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York, now permit the recreational use of cannabis, opting to regulate and collect taxes from adult use of the substance rather than continue to treat it as a problem to be contained through cops, courts, jails and prisons. Thirty-seven states have made medical marijuana legal. Yet the federal government still lists the weed as a Schedule I narcotic with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse, classifying it among the most dangerous substances in America. Anyone who isnt under the influence can see theres something very, very wrong with this picture. Fortunately, the U.S. House on April 1 did something about the biggest current disconnect in American politics, passing a bill to remove marijuana from the Drug Enforcement Administrations naughty list; let some pot convictions get expunged; and urge review of sentencing for weed-related crimes while making small businesses that sell the weed eligible for federal loans and services. Because of the federal prohibition, many financial institutions wont touch cannabis clients with a 10-foot pole. Nor can marijuana travel efficiently across state lines like almost every other product. Though it has some Republican support, the MORE Act is seen as a dead letter in the Senate. Democrats and Republicans in Congress, battling 20% approval ratings, should have no fear of doing what 68% of Americans, including 50% of Republicans and 71% of independents, say they want. Legalize it. New York Daily News * * * Montpelier board change made in bad faith For most of its two decades overseeing the sprawling Virginia estate of James Madison, the fourth U.S. president, the Montpelier Foundation had either zero or just one African American member of its governing board, whose authorized strength is 25 members. That was astonishing because Montpelier, in addition to being Madisons property, was also home to some 300 enslaved people over the course of more than a century who lived, worked in bondage and died there. So it was a momentous if overdue step forward last year when the foundation announced it would share power equally, and achieve parity on its governing board of directors, with descendants of enslaved people. Those descendants were represented by a committee, recognized by the foundation, that included dozens of prominent African Americans in academics, business, finance and other fields. At last, Montpelier, a 2,650-acre historic site and museum northeast of Charlottesville that annually hosts tens of thousands of visitors, would have leadership that reflected its legacy. That agreement has been shredded by the foundations white-dominated board. In an act of exceptionally bad faith, the board last month amended its bylaws so that it and not the committee it had recognized as the legitimate stakeholder representing descendants of the enslaved will decide which descendants are acceptable partners. To put it plainly, it is principally white people who will determine which Black people may join Montpeliers governing clique, and which may not. When the descendants committee last month submitted a list of 40 African American candidates, of whom 10 might assume seats on the board in order to achieve parity with white members, the board refused even to consider the names. Madison is a pivotal figure in U.S. history. He played a key role in drafting the Constitution, including the notorious compromise that enabled enslavement and accorded African Americans less than fully human status by determining that three-fifths of the enslaved population would count toward determining representation in the House of Representatives. It is sad that his estate should once again be an example of racial obtuseness. The Washington Post CALmatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California's state Capitol works and why it matters. Dan Walters has been a journalist for nearly 60 years, spending all but a few of those years working for California newspapers. A Ukrainian firefighter extinguishes fire inside a large food products storage facility which was destroyed by an airstrike on the outskirts of Kyiv (Vadim Ghirda/AP) (AP) It is not impossible that Russia will launch an attack which could hit Nato territory, a Cabinet minister admitted as fears rose about an escalation of the conflict in Ukraine. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky warned it was only a matter of time before the alliance was struck following a Russian attack on a base less than 15 miles from the border with Nato member Poland. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said he believed a direct attack on a Nato member was still very unlikely but warned it would trigger a response from the alliance, which has a policy of mutual defence. Mr Javid told BBCs Today programme: Weve made it very clear to the Russians even before the start of this conflict. Even if a single Russian toecap steps into Nato territory, then it will be considered an act of war. The attack on the Yavoriv base, which has previously been used by Nato to train Ukrainian soldiers, was one of the western-most targets struck by Russia during the invasion. (PA Graphics) (PA Graphics) Mr Zelensky, who spoke to Boris Johnson on Sunday, used the attack near the Polish frontier to renew his call for Nato allies to close the skies above Ukraine. Downing Street said the strike so close to a Nato member is deeply concerning and that the UK is seeking to build the broadest possible coalition against the Russian aggression. These strikes are deeply concerning, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said. We want everyone in the international community to condemn Putins barbaric acts. In other developments: The UK Government will set out further details of its sponsorship scheme allowing individuals and organisations to provide a home to Ukrainians fleeing the war, Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia will resume. Tomorrow, Deputy Prime Minister @dominicraab will visit the @IntlCrimCourt to offer the UKs support in gathering and preserving evidence for the investigation and prosecution of war crimes. More: https://t.co/qHw5qeWl6t https://t.co/bcr6YMlnZI Ministry of Justice (@MoJGovUK) March 13, 2022 Justice Secretary Dominic Raab was visiting The Hague on Monday to offer UK legal expertise and technical support to the International Criminal Court as it considers allegations of war crimes. Story continues The UK will supply Ukraine with more than 500 portable generators to provide energy for essential services, including at hospitals and shelters. NHS England will provide treatment for 21 Ukrainian children with cancer forced to flee Ukraine. The Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Bill is expected to clear Parliament and become law, increasing the powers available to sanction oligarchs with links to the Putin regime. More than 20 Ukrainian children will receive lifesaving cancer treatment in the NHS in England. Children and their family members will be supported by NHS clinicians to understand their health needs before continuing their care in NHS hospitals. https://t.co/Djat9A70lD pic.twitter.com/DlsS0G8Y3f NHS England and NHS Improvement (@NHSEngland) March 13, 2022 The escalation of the war in western Ukraine came as Mr Johnson prepared to host leaders from the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), an alliance of northern European nations. Representatives from Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway will attend the gathering on Monday and Tuesday. During a call with Mr Zelensky on Sunday, Mr Johnson said the UK would continue to pursue more options for bolstering Ukraines self-defence including at the JEF meeting on Tuesday. Mr Johnson said Russian president Vladimir Putins barbaric actions were testing not just Ukraine but all of humanity. An aerial view of refugees queuing for transport at the border crossing at Medyka, Poland (AP) (AP) People keen to offer refugees shelter in the UK can register their interest in sponsoring Ukrainians through the Governments new humanitarian scheme from Monday. Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, who is expected to give further details on Monday, said he expects the first refugees to use the new route will make their way to the UK by the end of the week. UPDATE on the Ukraine Family Scheme: , have been granted so far as of 3pm Sunday. It's free, grants leave for 3 years, gives those the right to live, work & study in the UK & access public funds. Full details & to apply: https://t.co/DFs1jNjVgE pic.twitter.com/YvP9y9nsIl Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) March 14, 2022 Under the new scheme, local authority areas will be entitled to more than 10,000 per Ukrainian refugee using the new route to the UK, while Britons offering to take in someone fleeing the war will receive a thank you payment of 350 per month. By 3pm on Sunday, 4,000 visas had been issued to Ukrainians seeking refuge in the UK under the existing family reunification scheme, the Home Office said. 1224 25 SEA TO SKY10 200 3D4600 II4 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 Dear Helaine and Joe: I was given this piece by my grandparents and am interested in knowing when it was made, where and why. Thank you, C. Dear C.: Some pictures may be worth a thousand words, but this particular picture's words are a little garbled. At one time vital information was on the label on the back, but now the small paper rectangle is not easy to read, at least not in the photographs we have. What we can decipher appears to be the word "Grenoble" and "1815," which may refer to Napoleon's visit to Grenoble, France, in 1815 when he was once again proclaimed emperor. We may or may not be reading this correctly because the scene appears to depict a rather common tavern interior with three men sitting at a table inscribed "1762" and a woman in a doorway. Instead of this having anything to do with Napoleon and his 1815 visit to Grenoble, it may just be a souvenir that represents a tale from popular literature or a folk tale or maybe just a romanticized scene of an 18th- or 19th-century tavern. Generally a piece like this would be called a "diorama," which in this case is a small-scale replica of a scene. (A diorama may also be a full-size 3D depiction, often found as museum exhibits or visual aids in a visitor's center of some sort of historical attraction.) The word "diorama" originated in 1823 in France when Charles-Marie Bouton and Louis Daguerre (of daguerreotype photography fame) created a full-sized theatrical attraction in Paris that made the audience feel as if they were experiencing a real scene when actually they were seeing cleverly lighted paintings on linen panels. This diorama is somewhat in the style of the Black Forest, which was a kind of carving that can be traced to an 1816 famine in Brienz, Switzerland. Looking for a way to buy food, the local woodcarvers began turning out furniture, household accessories and decorations that would appeal to tourists. Black Forest items were made primarily in Switzerland and Austria and consisted of such things as the familiar cuckoo clocks, boxes decorated with a variety of animals, benches supported by bears and figures of everything from human hunters to owls, wild boar, dogs and pheasants. Some items were very fanciful, while others were more practical. Some of the Black Forest dioramas were carved from single boards to form a 3D scene, but others appear to have had some assembly. Pine was often used, as was black walnut. The piece belonging to C. appears to have been made at least partially from black walnut and then painted. This example is probably from the last quarter of the 19th century (circa 1890) and at auction would probably sell for around $400. Its retail value would be in the $600 to $750 range. (Helaine Fendelman and Joe Rosson have written a number of books on antiques. Do you have an item youd like to know more about? Contact them at Joe Rosson, 2504 Seymour Ave., Knoxville, TN 37917, or email them at treasures@knology.net. If youd like your question to be considered for their column, please include a high-resolution photo of the subject, which must be in focus, with your inquiry.) 2022 Tribune Content Agency, LLC Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 You fill it with soap and water about 300 times a year, so it must be clean. Right? A case out of Germany, published by the American Society for Microbiology, says no. After babies in a German hospitals neonatal intensive care unit were found to have multidrug-resistant pathogens on their skin, inspectors went to work to find out why. The incubators and health care workers all tested negative, but Klebsiella oxytoca kept appearing on the babies. "Klebsiella oxytoca is emerging as an important bacterial isolate causing hospital-acquired infection in adults and having multiple drug resistance to commonly used antibiotics," the National Institutes of Health wrote. The source of the bacteria was finally traced to the detergent drawer and rubber seal of the energy-efficient washer in the hospitals laundry room. After the washing machine was removed, the contaminations stopped. They have not recurred. The case report notes the domestic washing machine at the hospital was not part of the institution's main laundry room. It was near the nursery for mothers to wash their clothes, and nurses used it to wash the knitted hats and socks they put on the babies. Energy-efficient washers are designed to clean in water that is cold or warm, saving the consumer money. The Department of Energy even recommends using cold water to do your laundry whenever possible. But, as CNN reports, studies have found the temperature needed for effectively killing possibly pathogenic bacteria is 140 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, which is considered hot water. As we've become more environmentally conscious, however, we've lowered the temperature of the water to save energy (and money). In Europe, for example, colored laundry is usually washed at temperatures between 86 and 104 degrees. In China, South Korea and Japan, cold water is preferred. "When you do your towels with a cold water wash it's hard to get them really clean because they're so thick," Dr. Charles Gerba, a microbiology professor at the University of Arizona, told CNN. "You've got to use hot water wash and dry it really well." If you don't, he said, "you'll get more E. coli on your face when you dry it with a towel than if you stuck your head in a toilet and flushed." 2022 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at ajc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 KYIV, Ukraine A missile hit a train station in eastern Ukraine where thousands had gathered Friday, killing at least 52 and wounding dozens more in an attack on a crowd of mostly women and children trying to flee a new, looming Russian offensive, Ukrainian authorities said. The attack that some denounced as yet another war crime in the 6-week-old conflict came as workers unearthed bodies from a mass grave in Bucha, a town near Ukraine's capital where dozens of killings have been documented after a Russian pullout. Photos from the station in Kramatorsk showed the dead covered with tarps, and the remnants of a rocket with the words For the children painted on it in Russian. About 4,000 civilians had been in and around the station, heeding calls to leave before fighting intensifies in the Donbas region, the office of Ukraines prosecutor-general said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who says he expects a tough global response, and other leaders accused Russias military of deliberately attacking the station. Russia, in turn, blamed Ukraine, saying it doesn't use the kind of missile that hit the station a contention experts dismissed. Zelenskyy told Ukrainians in his nightly video address Friday that great efforts would be taken to establish every minute of who did what, who gave what orders, where the missile came from, who transported it, who gave the command and how this strike was agreed to." Pavlo Kyrylenko, the regional governor of Donetsk, which lies in the Donbas, said that 52 people were killed, including five children, and many dozens more were wounded. There are many people in a serious condition, without arms or legs, Kramatorsk Mayor Oleksandr Goncharenko said. Even with 30 to 40 surgeons working, the local hospital was struggling, he said. Britain's Defense Minister Ben Wallace denounced the attack as a war crime, and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called it "completely unacceptable." "There are almost no words for it," European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who is on a visit to Ukraine, told reporters. "The cynical behavior (by Russia) has almost no benchmark anymore." Ukrainian authorities and Western officials have repeatedly accused Russian forces of atrocities in the war that began with Russia's invasion on Feb. 24 and has since forced more than 4 million of Ukrainians to flee the country and displaced millions more. Some of the most startling evidence of atrocities has come from towns around Ukraine's capital that Russian President Vladimir Putin's troops pulled back from in recent days. In Bucha, Mayor Anatoliy Fedoruk has said investigators found at least three sites of mass shootings of civilians and were still finding bodies in yards, parks and city squares 90% of whom were shot. Russia has falsely claimed that the scenes in Bucha were staged. On Friday, workers pulled corpses from a mass grave near a church in the town under spitting rain, lining up black body bags in rows in the mud. About 67 people were buried in the grave, according to a statement from Prosecutor-General Iryna Venediktova's office, which is investigating the deaths, and other mass casualties involving civilians, as possible war crimes. Like the massacres in Bucha, like many other Russian war crimes, the missile attack on Kramatorsk should be one of the charges at the tribunal that must be held, Zelenskyy said, his voice rising in anger late Friday. The killings around Kyiv were revealed after Russian forces pulled back after failing to take the capital in the face of stiff Ukrainian resistance. Russian troops have now set their sights on the Donbas, a mostly Russian-speaking, industrial region in eastern Ukraine where Moscow-backed rebels have been fighting Ukrainian forces for eight years and control some areas. A senior U.S. defense official said Friday that the Pentagon believes some of the retreating units were so badly damaged that they are "for all intents and purposes eradicated." The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal military assessments. The train station hit in Friday's missile strike is located in Ukrainian government-controlled territory, but Russia insisted it wasn't behind the attack. The Defense Ministry accused Ukraine of carrying it out in a statement carried by state news agency RIA Novosti, as did the region's Moscow-backed separatists, who work closely with Russian regular troops. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the country's forces "do not use" the type of missile that hit the station but experts said in fact they have used it during the war. A Western official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence, also said Russia's forces do have the missile used in the attack and that given the location and impact of the strike it was "likely" one of theirs, though they could not formally attribute it to Moscow. The strikes comes as Russia is concentrating equipment and troops and increasing shelling and bombing ahead of an expected onslaught, said Serhiy Haidai, governor of the Luhansk region, which lies in the Donbas. Ukrainian officials have pleaded with Western powers to send more arms and further punish Russia with sanctions in order to stop the offensive. NATO nations agreed Thursday to increase their supply of weapons, and Slovakian Prime Minister Eduard Heger announced on a trip to Ukraine on Friday that his country has donated its Soviet-era S-300 air defense system to Ukraine. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 LONDON (AP) The board chairman of Russian metals company Rusal has called for an investigation into events in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha, where Ukrainian officials say Russian troops killed civilians. Rusal Chairman Bernard Zonneveld, an independent non-executive director, did not address who was responsible or even directly say anyone was killed in Bucha, where Ukrainian forces and journalists discovered scores of bodies on streets and in mass graves after Russian troops withdrew. We believe that this crime should be thoroughly investigated, he said in a statement this week. We support an objective and impartial investigation of this crime and call for severe punishment for the perpetrators. Zonnevelds statement stood out because Russian companies have generally remained silent about the war amid rigorous suppression of opposition by Russian authorities and state-controlled media narratives in support of what the Kremlin calls a special military operation. Zonneveld said the company was interested in putting an end to the conflict in this European country as soon as possible and that reports from Bucha shocked us. The Kremlin has said the deaths were staged by the Ukrainians to denigrate Russian forces. Ukrainian officials and Western leaders say Russian troops committed the killings and that they constitute a war crime. The shocking images led to a series of new sanctions by the West. Rusals founder, Oleg Deripaska, has called for peace negotiations while another business figure, Roman Abramovich, has been seen attending negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian officials. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Party-line fights on Capitol Hill are as old as the republic, and they routinely escalate as elections approach. Yet three events from a notable week illustrate how Congress' near- and long-term paths point toward intensifying partisanship. THE SENATE'S SUPREME COURT BATTLE Democrats rejoiced Thursday when the Senate by 53-47 confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black female justice. They crowed about a bipartisan stamp of approval from the trio of Republicans who supported it: Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitt Romney of Utah. Yet by historical standards, the three opposition party votes were paltry and underscored the recent trend of Supreme Court confirmations becoming loyalty tests on party ideology. That's a departure from a decades-long norm when senators might dislike a nominees judicial philosophy but defer to a president's pick, barring a disqualifying revelation. Murkowski said her support for Jackson was partly rejection of the corrosive politicization" of how both parties consider Supreme Court nominations, which "is growing worse and more detached from reality by the year. Republicans said they would treat Jackson respectfully, and many did. Their questions and criticisms of her were pointed and partisan, with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., saying the Senate views itself as a co-partner in this process with the president. Yet some potential 2024 GOP presidential contenders seemed to use Jacksons confirmation to woo hard-right support. Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Josh Hawley, R-Mo., misleadingly accused her of being unusually lenient on child pornography offenders. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., suggested she might have defended Nazis at the Nuremburg trials after World War II, before she was born. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Richard Durbin, D-Ill., said some Republicans went overboard, as far as Im concerned, to the extreme, reflecting the reality of politics on Capitol Hill. Cotton was fundamentally unfair, but that is his tradition, said Durbin. SUPREME COURT BATTLES PAST Senate approval of high court nominees by voice vote, without bothering to hold roll calls, was standard for most of the 20th century. Conservative Antonin Scalia sailed into the Supreme Court by 98-0 in 1986, while liberal Ruth Bader Ginsburg won 96-3 approval seven years later. There were bitter fights. Democrats blocked conservative Robert Borks nomination in 1987 and unsuccessfully opposed Clarence Thomas ascension in 1991 after he was accused of sexual harassment. Hard feelings intensified in early 2016. McConnell, then majority leader, blocked the Senate from even considering President Barack Obama's pick of Merrick Garland to replace the deceased Scalia. McConnell cited the presidential election nearly nine months away, infuriating Democrats. Donald Trump was elected and ultimately filled three vacancies over near-unanimous Democratic opposition. Democrats opposed Brett Kavanaugh after he was accused of sexually assaulting a woman decades earlier, which he denied. They voted solidly against Amy Coney Barrett after Trump and McConnell rushed through her nomination when a vacancy occurred just weeks before Election Day 2020, a sprint Democrats called hypocritical. COVID SPENDING FIGHT, TRANSFORMED Senators from both parties agreed to a $10 billion COVID-19 package Monday that President Joe Biden wants for more therapeutics, vaccines and tests. With BA.2, the new omicron variant, washing across the country, it seemed poised for congressional approval. Hours later, bargainers led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, seemed blindsided when their compromise was derailed. Republicans wanted to add an extension of an expiring crackdown on migrants crossing the Mexican border that Trump imposed in 2020, citing the pandemics public health threat. Many Republicans were skeptical that more COVID-19 money was necessary. But their demand for an immigration amendment transformed a fight over how much more to spend on a disease that's killed 980,000 people in the U.S. into a battle over border security, tailor-made for GOP political campaigns ahead. Immigration divides Democrats, and Republicans believe the issue can further solidify their chances of winning congressional control in Novembers elections. Playing defense, Schumer postponed debate on the COVID-19 bill. Democrats deserved some blame for being outmaneuvered. House Democrats shot down a $15 billion agreement in March, rejecting compromise budget savings to pay for it. And in glaringly tone-deaf political timing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced April 1, just as bargainers were completing their latest compromise, that the Trump-era immigration curbs would lapse May 23. That gave Republicans an irresistible political gift to pursue. A MODERATE'S FAREWELL Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., announced his retirement Tuesday. He's the fourth of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump last year to say they won't seek reelection. Upton attributed his departure to running in a new district, but that didn't stop Trump from proclaiming: "UPTON QUITS! 4 down and 6 to go. The House impeached Trump over his incitement of supporters who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, but the GOP-run Senate acquitted him. Now in his 18th term, Upton's departure subtracts another moderate from a GOP that's shifted rightward in recent years, particularly when it comes to showing fealty to Trump. The pro-business Upton, 68, was a driving force on one law spurring pharmaceutical development and has worked with Democrats on legislation affecting energy and the auto industry. His bipartisan work and affability placed him in the ever-smaller group of Republicans who draw Democrats' praise. To him, bipartisan and compromise are not forbidden words," said Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich. PARTY DIFFERENCES, THEN AND NOW Pitched battles are now habitual over bills financing federal agencies and extending the governments borrowing authority. When those disputes are resolved and federal shutdowns and defaults averted, lawmakers hail as triumphs what is their most rudimentary task keeping government functioning. Despite the divisions over COVID-19 money and Jackson, there has also been cooperation. Congress overwhelmingly voted Thursday to ban Russian oil and downgrade trade relations with that country following its invasion of Ukraine. Theres progress on bipartisan trade and technology legislation, and a bipartisan $1 trillion infrastructure measure became law last year. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Employers are free to provide this benefit at their own expense. But only 1 in 4 U.S. workers, including federal employees, can take paid time off to care for a newborn or a newly adopted or fostered child. Thats problematic for many reasons, including the abundant evidence that paid leave boosts healthy childhood development and economic security. President Joe Biden has sought to expand access to paid family leave, initially through his Build Back Better package, which is now on hold. He reasserted his calls to do so in his March 2022 State of the Union address. Based on our extensive research regarding the connections between social policies and the happiness of families, were certain that expanding access to paid leave to more employees would make them happier. Children and unhappy parents Parents also experience more depression, loneliness and stress. Some scholars argue that a lack of government support for raising kids is causing this happiness gap. Only 6.3% of 3-year-olds and just over 33% of 4-year-olds nationwide are enrolled in a state-funded preschool program, although free early childhood education is becoming more common. Likewise, just nine states and the District of Columbia now provide paid family leave for new parents. In other words, most U.S. families are still being left behind. And without universal free pre-K or paid family leave, many parents are largely on their own in terms of finding and paying for private child care for young children. Paid family leave of at least a month can help parents to develop more fulfilling family relationships. For example, it can allow parents to spend more time reading and singing to their child, which benefits cognitive development. The effects of paid leave on the relationship between parents depends on who is taking the leave. If only mothers take family leave, then gender inequality in housework increases. But when fathers take paid leave, couples share their housework responsibilities and child care more equally. This is because when both parents take a leave after the arrival of a new child, they are more likely to establish household routines that result in an equal sharing of household tasks. One study found that when fathers were encouraged to take a parental leave, their participation in household tasks increased by 250%. When parents are free to take more time off work to care for their infants and newly adopted children with fewer financial costs and little fear of job loss and especially when dads are encouraged to take time off both children and their parents are happier. Global perspectives Through our research spanning 27 countries, weve found that parents in wealthy countries with weak safety nets such as the U.S. tend to be less happy than their counterparts in countries like Denmark where the government provides everyone with more support. This is one reason Finland, Norway and other nations with strong welfare states consistently rank at the top of the World Happiness Report, an annual assessment based on Gallup World Poll data. The U.S. ranks lower than would be predicted in that report given its economic standing, while the opposite is true in the case of Denmark, Canada, New Zealand and other welfare states. Weve also found that when governments step up their spending on social programs and adjust tax burdens to make the rich shoulder more of the costs of running the government, economic inequality declines. At the same time, the happiness levels of low-income and high-income people become more similar. Higher social spending especially increases the happiness of women with small children and people who are cohabiting but unmarried. Other international research shows greater economic and mental health benefits of paid leave for low-income families. Recent research by other scholars who study countries that have invested heavily in social welfare policies like paid family leave further supports our findings. Respondents in the worlds most generous welfare states were more satisfied with their work, health and family life than people in places with weaker safety nets. As one notable example, a recent study that one of us co-authored showed that the Japanese governments investments in generous paid leave for families with small children, access to child care, child allowances and free health insurance for children, as well as increased benefits for older adults, were associated with modest gains in overall happiness. These policies made significant differences for women with small children and older people, who became happier between 1990 and 2010. Losing benefits can decrease happiness In addition, there is evidence of what can happen when government benefits that meet many peoples needs are taken away. In the former German Democratic Republic, satisfaction generally rose between 1990, just before its transition to a free-market economy from a communist state, and 2004 in terms of the freedom to buy goods and services. On the other hand, that same study found that satisfaction in the place that also used to be called East Germany plummeted concerning health, work and child care. People had been guaranteed access to health care and child care, as well as job security, under communist rule but all of that changed when that system collapsed. Federal paid leave gives families a chance to find their footing after the arrival of a new child, without having to quit their job or take unpaid time off. It should come as no surprise that such a safety net would make families not only economically more secure, but happier too. ___ Get the best of The Conversation, every weekend. Sign up for our weekly newsletter. Hiroshi Ono receives funding from Japan Society for Promotion of Science. Kristen Schultz Lee does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. ___ Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Air travel authorities in Poland are warning travellers of possible flight delays and cancellations at Warsaw's airport due to a protest and some flight controllers quitting their jobs. The protest is a reaction to changes in the functioning of Poland's flight regulatory body amid allegations it was not properly ensuring airspace security. The controllers are also criticizing the new salary system. One in five controllers has resigned. A number of arrivals and departures were delayed by an average of 30 minutes Saturday at Warsaw's Frederic Chopin Airport. Poland's state auditing body has found irregularities in the regulatory body's work and a new boss was appointed March 31. Talks with controllers' unions are continuing. STORM LAKE, Iowa -- Studies show that pets help their owners relax, reducing their stress level, blood pressure and loneliness while boosting their mood. If you're skeptical of those findings, just step inside Calle Friesen's classroom or visit Melanie Hauser's office. Inside, you'll see students with huge smiles on their faces while cuddling, petting and scratching two pets who are building fan bases on the Buena Vista University campus. Friesen, an associate education professor, brings her trained therapy dog, Cooper, to class one day each week, and he also spends an hour in the school's counseling center. Across campus, you'll find Reepicheep, an orange tabby cat who comes to campus for an hour every week and roams the suite outside the office of Hauser, an associate chemistry professor and university chaplain. For students, Cooper and Reepicheep enable them to momentarily forget upcoming deadlines, homesickness or other worries. "It's really nice to have that interaction. He's definitely helped me lose some stress and relax in class," said Rachel Hardy, a senior from Adel, Iowa. The dog-loving digital media major had just finished scratching the soft, curly face of Cooper, an 85-pound sheepadoodle, a cross between an English sheepdog and a poodle. Tail wagging furiously, the 15-month-old certified therapy dog greets each student enthusiastically as he or she walks in the door, then spends the rest of class seeking affection and quietly giving plenty in return. Students can't help but look into his big, caring eyes and scratch his head while they listen to Friesen. They often later tell Friesen that Cooper boosted their spirits. "It happens almost every week," Friesen said. For Friesen, Cooper is a valuable tool, a classroom therapy dog who prepares her students, most of them future teachers, to encounter therapy dogs when they go to student teaching assignments or begin their careers. More Iowa schools are getting therapy dogs, Friesen said, because of their ability to de-escalate student anxiety and stress, helping them calm down. They also make excellent reading partners for children who are hesitant to read aloud in front of others, making no judgments of a student's abilities while they listen. "He's just going to cuddle up with you, heart to heart," said Friesen, Cooper's handler who began bringing him to campus last fall. Hauser had no such plans to bring a pet to campus five years ago, when a colleague found a stray kitten at the side of a Storm Lake street standing next to his mother, who had just been struck by a car. Hauser agreed to take the kitten in to be a buddy for her other orange kitten. Reepicheep, named after a character in C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia book series, soon wanted to be everyone's buddy. "I got him home, got him cleaned up, and he had personality right away," Hauser said. "He is the most mellow cat I've ever met. Nothing stresses him out." When Hauser became the campus chaplain in 2020, she thought a cat who's never stressed could help stressed-out college students. "I always thought this cat would be a great therapy cat. Everyone he meets is his best friend," she said. "I figured we'd give it a trial run, and he developed a fan base." Reepicheep made his debut this semester, and every Thursday afternoon, a handful of students, plus a few faculty and staff members, eagerly await the arrival of the cat who's become so popular he has his own Instagram account. "I was really interested because I really love cats and all animals," freshman criminology major Stephanie Redman, of Albert Lea, Minnesota, said when she saw the posters around campus in January notifying students of Reepicheep's office hour. "I have a cat at home, and I was kind of homesick for him. It's nice and calming to pet the cat, it's a stress reliever." Reepicheep strolls through the suite outside Hauser's office in typical cat fashion as if he owns the place. He stops and gives everyone a chance to shower him with attention, happily accepting belly rubs. "You can pick him up and he has no issues with it," said Andrew Fox, a sophomore digital media major from Omaha. "It helps me mentally." Friesen and Hauser love observing the positive impact their pets have on students. Both professors said they're considering expanding the hours their animals are on campus. "I'm excited that it's worked as well as it has," Hauser said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. LINCOLN, Neb. -- The Nebraska Supreme Court on Friday upheld the murder conviction of Andres Surber for the shooting death and dismemberment of an Emerson, Nebraska, man. Surber's attorney had challenged the admissibility of some of the trial evidence and a judge's ruling that Surber was mentally competent to stand trial. A Dakota County jury in September 2020 found Surber, 31, of Wakefield, Nebraska, guilty of first-degree murder, use of a firearm to commit a felony and felon in possession of a firearm for the Nov. 1, 2016, death and dismemberment of 42-year-old Kraig Kubik. Surber was sentenced to life in prison without parole for murder, plus 25-50 years on the other charges. His attorney, Todd Lancaster, of the Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy in Lincoln, on appeal challenged District Judge Bryan Meismer's ruling that Surber was competent to stand trial. Lancaster also appealed a decision denying a motion to suppress evidence from searches that found Kubik's severed arm and leg in the trunk of a car and other evidence found at a Wakefield residence. Surber's mental competency was an issue throughout the case. Diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar symptoms, Surber was twice ruled mentally incompetent to stand trial, but his competency was restored both times. Six days before trial, Lancaster again moved to have Surber's competency determined, and a state forensic psychiatrist testified the day before jury selection began that he did not believe Surber was competent. Based on his own observations of Surber, Meismer said he seemed to be following along with court proceedings and was actively engaged in discussions with this attorneys. Meismer ruled Surber was competent to assist in his own defense, and the trial proceeded. The Supreme Court said Meismer's observations, along with prior evidence of Surber faking his symptoms, provided sufficient evidence that he was competent to stand trial. "I disagree with it, but the Nebraska Supreme Court has the final say on Nebraska law," Lancaster said. Surber claimed self-defense, testifying at trial that Kubik pulled a gun on him after he had gone to Kubik's rural Emerson home late at night to discuss picking up a car he had sold to Kubik. Surber said he grabbed the gun from Kubik and shot him from inches away below his left ear. Surber said he panicked after realizing Kubik was dead, took the body to an abandoned family farm and cut up the body to hide it. Trial evidence showed that a fingerprint on a knife found on the ground near a car containing Kubik's severed arm and leg matched Surber's right thumb. Blood matching Kubik's DNA was found inside Surber's car, on his boots and a pair of pants. The gun used to kill Kubik was never found, and Surber testified he threw it in a creek. Lancaster challenged the legality of the searches that led to the discovery of the arm and leg in the car and bloody clothes found in a Wakefield garage. The evidence obtained from those searches should have been inadmissible at trial, he argued. The Supreme Court ruled that Surber waived any argument about the admission of the arm and leg because he testified himself that he dismembered Kubik's body and put the severed limbs in the car. "The introduction of evidence by the defense waives any objection to the earlier introduction of evidence on the same subject by the state," the court said, adding that if evidence of the bloody clothing should have been suppressed and was erroneously admitted, it was a harmless error because there was plenty of other evidence to support the jury's guilty verdicts. Surber now could file a federal habeus corpus appeal that would review the legality of his incarceration. He also could file for postconviction relief in state court, alleging that errors were made during his trial or his counsel was ineffective. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. WAYNE, Neb. -- Toni Rasmussen juggles many responsibilities as an ag education teacher and FFA advisor at Wayne High School. In a single day, she may teach about welding or food science, lead field trips or simply help students learn valuable life skills. "It's just an exciting career to be a part of," Rasmussen said. It's also a field that is in need of more teachers like Rasmussen as schools in Nebraska and across the country grapple with workforce shortages. Just this year, there were a record 65 ag education openings in Nebraska schools, with around 20 of those still vacant. Many of those teachers also double as a school's FFA advisor. It's a "crisis situation" for schools and the ag industry at large, said Stacie Turnbull, the state director of ag education for the Nebraska Department of Education. "The problem is we're kind of running dry," Turnbull said. In hopes of addressing the shortage, leaders from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Nebraska FFA made a plea for more ag educators Wednesday on East Campus. Officials also announced that UNL's College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources is adding three faculty members to tackle the issue. The three new positions, which will be based in Scottsbluff, Concord and Lincoln, will serve as "boots on the ground" to recruit potential teachers and advise new ones, officials said. "CASNR is doubling down, really, on how we're able to recruit, prepare and support teachers across Nebraska," said Matt Kreifels, the coordinator of UNL's ag education teacher preparation program. Ag is Nebraska's biggest industry, and a highly competitive one at that, Kreifels said. Many students who would qualify to be ag-ed teachers are also recruited to other fields, like agribusiness and animal and plant science. But for those drawn to the teaching profession, there are multiple ways to enter the field, Kreifels said. While UNL is the lone college in the state that certifies ag-ed teachers, the university has agreements with community colleges and the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture. Those agreements allow students to transfer community college credits to UNL and still graduate in four years. College grads with a bachelor's degree in an ag-related field may also qualify for a transitional certification at UNL. Teachers specializing in a different subject field can also earn an ag-ed certification. Officials also pointed to salary incentives, including additional compensation for serving as an FFA advisor or through extended contracts some districts offer. The plea for more ag educators comes as more than 5,000 blue-clad FFAers from over 200 Nebraska schools converge on UNL this week. The annual FFA state convention, which runs through Friday, is often a great recruiting tool to get students interested in teaching about ag, Turnbull said. Students take part in a career fair, competitions and a final ceremony at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Friday. This year's convention marks the first time FFA students have been able to gather in person since the pandemic began. The past two conventions were held virtually. "Having them here back on campus, it's the bread and butter of FFA," Rasmussen said. The FFA convention, along with last week's Family, Career and Community Leaders of America state meeting, will bring more than 8,000 visitors to the Capital City. The events are a "vital cog" for hotels and restaurants, said Jeff Maul, executive director of the Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau. The student conferences add up to a $1 million to $1.5 million boost to Lincoln's economy, Maul said. Many hotels are booked or near capacity, especially in the downtown area, he added. Over the past decade, the number of FFA chapters in Nebraska schools has grown from 133 to more than 200. This year, 11,000 students will take ag education courses. In order to sustain that growth, schools need quality teachers, Turnbull said. "It's a great career where you get to live out your passion every single day," she said. Contact the writer at zhammack@journalstar.com or 402-473-7225. On Twitter @zach_hammack Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A Friday evening fire at a single-family home in South Sioux City has left the place uninhabitable. According to a release from the South Sioux City Fire Department, a fire in the single-story house at 609 W. 22nd Street was called in just before 6 p.m. When crews arrived and got into the building, they found heavy smoke and a ceiling beam on fire. "SSCFD Crews extinguished the fire at the top of the basement stairs and in the kitchen area," the release said. Though the fire did enough damage to render the structure unlivable, the release did note that no one living there was reported to be injured. Per the release: The fire did about $45,000 in damage and is still under investigation. 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. LONDON (AP) U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer on Saturday joined the stream of European leaders showing their support for Ukraine by traveling to the nations capital for face-to-face meetings with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Johnsons surprise visit included a pledge of new military assistance, including 120 armored vehicles and new anti-ship missile systems. This came a day after he promised to send an additional 100 million pounds ($130 million) of high-grade military equipment to Ukraine, saying Britain wanted to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression. Johnson also confirmed further economic support, guaranteeing an additional $500 million in World Bank lending to Ukraine, taking Britain's total loan guarantee to up to $1 billion. Today I met my friend President @ZelenskyyUa in Kyiv as a show of our unwavering support for the people of Ukraine,'' Johnson said on Twitter. Were setting out a new package of financial & military aid which is a testament of our commitment to his countrys struggle against Russias barbaric campaign.'' The head of Ukraine's presidential office, Andriy Yermak, said the conversation was rich and constructive, but offered no details. An image of the two leaders meeting was posted online by the Ukrainian Embassy in London with the headline: Surprise, and a winking smiley face. The package of military aid Britain announced Friday includes more Starstreak anti-aircraft missiles, another 800 anti-tank missiles and precision munitions capable of lingering in the sky until directed to their target. Ukraine has defied the odds and pushed back Russian forces from the gates of Kyiv, achieving the greatest feat of arms of the 21st century, Johnson said in a statement. It is because of President Zelenskyys resolute leadership and the invincible heroism and courage of the Ukrainian people that Putins monstrous aims are being thwarted.'' As Zelenskyy makes a continuous round of virtual appearances to drum up support from lawmakers around the world, an increasing number of European leaders have decided the time is right to travel to Ukraines capital, Kyiv, for in-person talks. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was in Kyiv on Friday, following earlier visits from the Czech, Polish and Slovenian prime ministers. Nehammer met with Zelenskyy earlier Saturday and pledged that the EU would continue to ratchet up sanctions against Russia until the war stops. As long as people are dying, every sanction is still insufficient, he said, adding that Austrian embassy staff will return to Kyiv from western Ukraine. Von der Leyen, who heads the European Unions executive branch, travelled to Warsaw on Saturday to lead a fundraising event for Ukraine. She was joined by Polish President Andrzej Duda, with Zelenskyy and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appearing by video link. At the end of the 90-minute meeting, von der Leyen said 10.1 billion euros ($11 billion) had been raised for Ukrainian refugees. The event was held in Warsaw because more than 2.5 million of the 4.4 million people who have fled Ukraine since Russias invasion began Feb. 24 have entered Poland. Many have stayed, though some have moved on to other countries. Convened jointly by von der Leyen and Trudeau, the event sought to attract pledges from governments, global celebrities and average citizens. It ended with Julian Lennon singing his father John Lennons peace song Imagine," which he said is the first time he did so publicly. Julian Lennon posted on social media that he always said he would only sing the song if it was the end of the world. He says its the right song to sing now because the war on Ukraine is an unimaginable tragedy, and he felt compelled to respond in the most significant way that he could. Associated Press Writers Colleen Barry in Milan, Geir Moulson in Berlin and Monika Scislowska in Warsaw contributed. Follow all AP stories on the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 EDISON, Neb. (AP) Authorities announced Saturday that they are making headway battling a wildfire in southern Nebraska. The fire ballooned Friday to 30,000 acres, or about 47 square miles (122 square kilometers). But it hasn't spread further since then, the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency said in a Facebook post. The post said that crews, assisted by Nebraska National Guard helicopters, continue to monitor hot spots and mop-up the area. The blaze started Thursday after a dead tree was blown into a power line, with strong winds and dry conditions fueling its spread in Gosper and Furnas counties. The flames destroyed several homes, and a rural fire chief was killed while responding to the blaze as smoke from the fire cut visibility. The fire-damaged area remains in a red-flag warning until 9 p.m. Saturday because of dry, windy conditions. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Nebraska Legislature and Gov. Pete Ricketts placed a $328.5 million wager in the 2022-23 state budget, betting, as it were, that a new prison, a canal system that would move water from the South Platte River in Colorado to southwest Nebraska and a seven-mile long lake on the Platte River near Ashland will all come to fruition. None of three projects have yet been fully authorized. Nor have they made it through feasibility studies, design and, in the case of the canal, a legal challenge that is almost certain to come from the state of Colorado. The $53.5 million budgeted for the Perkins County Canal, which is the name under which it was authorized in the century-old compact with Colorado, would be enough for a feasibility study, design work, obtaining permits and, perhaps, the purchase of land. But it will be years before a single shovel of dirt will be turned for the canal, which, because of the Colorado challenge, its potential environmental impact and its minimum $700 million price tag has good odds that it will never be built at all. The lake, proposed by the Legislatures STARWARS committee to be a recreation and tourism magnet for eastern Nebraska, ala Northwest Iowas Lake Okoboji, stands a better chance of being built than does the canal. But its backers concede that it could be scuttled after its impacts on the Lincoln and Omaha water supply that is taken from the Platte and the environment have been studied. It, nonetheless, received $100 million in the budget. The project with the best odds of being built is a new prison. The budget sets aside $175 million for the prison that will be located near Lincoln or Omaha. But, critically, it does not authorize construction. That authorization must come from the Legislature and specifically address the purpose of building the new prison. Originally proposed by the Ricketts administration to add another 1,500 or so beds to the states overcrowded, dysfunctional prison system, the project rightfully generated skepticism, controversy and considerable opposition. So its intent was changed to replace the aging State Penitentiary, which estimates say would cost more to repair and rehabilitate than would a new prison. If the new prison is being built for that purpose, it must be made explicit in the authorization by requiring the penitentiary to be closed as quickly as feasible once the new prison is completed and occupied. The three projects are, in one sense, just a few drops in the bucket of the $9.8 billion budget. But theyre the biggest, most visible new spending proposals approved by the Legislature, all gambles that it will be years to see if they pay off. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Kathryn Hays has died, aged 88. The As the World Turns star passed away on 25th March but no cause of death has been revealed. The soap star - who worked on the long- running show for 38 years from 1972 to 2010- began her career the 60s with roles on shows such as Hawaiian Eye, Dr Kildare, Route 66, Bonanza and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. In 1966, Kathryn was cast as Elizabeth Reynolds in The Road West for 29 episodes. In addition, she starred in the 1968 episode of Star Trek named The Empath as the titular character named, who went by Gem. Throughout her career, Kathryn appeared in 40 different television series with her last being a 2007 episode of Law and Order: SUV. Her soap co-star Don Hasting paid tribute to their on-screen relationship saying they were like brother and sister. He said: Our relationship as Bob and Kim [Hastings] was as close as Kathryn and my relationship, except we were not married. We were more like brother and sister and we were great friends. Our biggest squabble was that she always wanted to rehearse and I wanted to take a nap. This is a huge loss to all who knew her. The sometime Broadway star - who tread the boards in Showboat and Follies - is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Sherri and Bob Mancusi, her three grandchildren Kate, Cameron and Garrett Wells and her great-grandson Jack. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Originally published on celebretainment.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. Dear Prudence is Slates advice column. Submit questions here. (Its anonymous!) Dear Prudence, I no longer feel sexually or romantically interested in my fiance, but I still love him very much. Hes my favorite person in the world, and the thought of not getting to see him every day feels really devastating, even as I feel increasingly stifled at the thought of carrying on an intimate relationship. Ive been struggling with depression, and I had hoped that I would feel more enthusiastic about the relationship again as that faded. But even as other parts of my life are getting back on track, my feelings towards my fiance arent. Advertisement Weve talked fairly openly about how rocky our relationship feels right now and that Im no longer sure if we have a future. We stopped planning the wedding, and pretty much took sex off the table when depression tanked my libido. But my fiance still openly hopes that everything will go back to how it was. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What I would most like is to say is: Lets break up but stay best friends. Lets be roommates and co-parent our dog and date new people and introduce them to each other and manage the inevitable weird feelings as they come up. But Im terrified that hed say no and Id lose him altogetherand even more terrified that hed say yes because he doesnt want to end things, and then resent me for it. So right now, Im not doing anything at all, just limping along in a relationship I secretly believe is doomed. Can you help me break this paralysis? Advertisement Advertisement Longing for That Awkward Sitcom Life Dear Longing, It sounds like youre farther along on the path toward a relationship dissolution than either of you is admitting right now. Yes, your fiance is openly hoping that things will shift back to what they were, but from the way your letter presents the situation, it seems that no one is under any illusions about the state of things. Youre terrified that your fiance wont want to carry on a platonic relationship, and youre terrified that hell go along with your wacky modern sitcom plan to appease you, but neither of the solutions you posed involved actually staying together. So the paralysis youre feeling is less about the misalignment between you and your fiance, and more about the misalignment between what you want (to break up) and what youre doing (staying together). Advertisement Advertisement Changing is okay and it doesnt make you the villain. From what youve written, it sounds like you have a communicative relationship with your fiance. Youre in a good spot, tough though it may be. But you want to be in an ideal spot, past all the messiness of breaking up. Thats where youre getting tripped up. You cant skip over the hard part, Im sorry to say. Advertisement Advertisement But, for a moment, lets fast-forward to the future youre secretly/not-so-secretly hoping for. Its possible that you will be able to have an amicable breakup, perhaps even stay roommates and friends. However, I think youre underestimating the impact of what you term weird feelings. Weird feelings are going to be the headline in your relationship for a while. They may be under the surfacethey are probably there nowbut theyll rise up after a breakup. This is normal and fine, though it may be hard to navigate. There may even be a period where it feels like you have lost himhe is allowed to be angry at you, or to find the immediate friends idea painful/weird/unhealthy, as many people would. There is no way to avoid these possibilities. But there are also possible futures where you are amicably paired as platonic life partners, talking about dates and co-parenting dogs. However, you cannot ever get to that place without stepping forward into this place that, by your account, youre already in. You have to have the big conversation. And then you have to wait and see and live. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dear Prudence, I am a 34-year-old American woman who has lived in Europe with my husband and daughter for the past eight years. During this entire time, I have worked for a woman, Jessica, who exhibits wildly toxic behavior. She criticizes everyone in the company regularly for failing to anticipate her wishes, changes expectations dramatically from week to week, and tries to pit staff against each other by complaining bitterly about everyone (literally) behind their backs. When we first moved here (before I understood the dynamic at play), I became friendly with her, and it led to a period of time in which I trapped myself in an unending dynamic of trying to finally be good enough to please her before her inevitably blowing up at me again. It took some time and a lot of work for me to extract myself from this closer relationship, but I have been able to get some distance over the past few years and have watched similar patterns play out with other coworkers with similar results. Advertisement Advertisement Based on a myriad of things coming together, including my job becoming increasingly unbearable, my family and I are returning to the U.S. this summer. This move is likely permanent, and I have begun looking for new jobs. When I gave my notice, my boss had a predictable fit, but has since more or less calmed down. Still, I didnt trust her not to sabotage my job search and only very reluctantly asked her to write a letter of recommendation for me, and made sure to get several back up letters just in case. Advertisement Yesterday, she sent me the letter she had written and it was glowing. Honestly, I am completely gobsmacked. I had no idea this whole time that she thought so highly of me, and feel really confused and disoriented, almost as if my memory of the last eight years with Jessica is false. Dont get me wrong, Im happy to have a good recommendation and I dont believe its inaccurate, but it has never been clear to me that she recognized any of the qualities she just described so eloquently in the letter. If she had told me half of the things that are in this letter, I might not be moving. It just feels so jarring, because I have been assuming that I was disappointing her, when apparently, I wasnt at all. What should I do with these feelings? Just try to move on? Chalk them up to her unpredictability? I almost feel guilty about leaving now. Advertisement Which Way Is Up? Dear Which Way, Take this letter as a reassurance (or perhaps assurance for the first time) that youve done a great job and also that youre making the right decision. If working with Jessica involves constantly trying to avoid blowups and fears of not being good enough, it sounds like shes more interested in maintaining a power imbalance than cultivating improved work performance. The fact that she was able to write so eloquently about those skills only backs that up. She knows youre good, and shes known it all along, but she withheld that praise from you. Thats cruel and manipulative. For eight years she kept this from you, and while we all own our feelings, its clear that she knew at least some of the effect her disapproval could have. Be glad she never let it slip how she felt. You might have never escaped her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Get Dear Prudence in Your Inbox We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. Dear Prudence, I inherited a townhouse from my late aunt in a city where the housing market has gone insane. It has three stories and over five technical bedroomsthe doors shut and there are private spaces. The result is that common areas are tiny. I charge my three roommates, who are lifelong friends, a pittance of rent compared to the market, and we have lived together without quarrel for six years. The problem is my younger sister went through an abusive relationship and escaped with her clothes and very small dog. She needs to finish her education, which isnt possible in our backwater hometown. So she moved in with me on the third floor. Before, I had a strict no pets policy, but this is my baby sister, and no one is allergic. Advertisement No one had an issue until Ally raised it. Ally is the disgruntled girlfriend of one of my roommates who I refused to let her move in with her emotional support husky. (And she expected to share half of my roommates rent.) Ally didnt move in and has never shut her mouth about it. She kept railing against me and my sister and says that I told my friend I was uncomfortable with Ally in our home. They accused me of discrimination. I was stung and reminded them they were on a month-to-month lease and could easily find something better if they were willing to pay. Except that they would be paying market rate. Which they cant. Advertisement Advertisement Weve been friends a decade, but they keep acting like a spoiled sour child, and it affects the mood of the house. This is my baby sister, and she is sharing my space. The third floor is mine, so she basically rooming with me. Also, small dog doesnt equal a husky. Why am I the bad guy and what can I do without being pushed further into that role? Advertisement Bitten Hand Dear Bitten Hand, Youre having what I call a Bennie from Rent experience. Everybody in Rent thinks Bennie is the bad guy because he was their friend and hung out in their weird singing diner with them and railed at the system. But then when Bennie let them move into the building that he owned and they agreed to pay Bennie rent, he had the audacity to want them to actually pay the rent. As the title song in Rent proclaims theyre not gonna pay rent! And thats the root of drama! Advertisement In your drama, Ally doesnt have a penny in this nickel and you are right to set a boundary. But youll be hard-pressed to find sympathy from your friends, because right now theyre not seeing you as a friend; theyre seeing you as a landlord. And the landlord is the bad guy. Everybody wants some force to rail against and to blame for their problems. Sometimes its the government or a higher power or the weather. And sometimes its the landlord. The landlord takes your money. The landlord wont let you be great. The landlord called the police on Maureens show. You may be charging them a pittance, as you write, but even a pittance is enough to build the narrative that youre the problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is not impossible to be friends with a landlord, of course. My old landlord was my dentist! He still sends me birthday texts. But you have to have some common agreements on whats appropriate behavior in your home. Id suggest you call a house meeting, only for people who live in the house. You dont need to defend your choices as it will likely only triangulate your sister in the situation. Instead, ask your friends if this living situation is working, if they feel respected. Answer the question for yourself as well. It may not solve everythingor anything. They may choose to stay mad. The characters in Rent never pay Bennie. But approaching this situation with emotional maturity and a desire to work as a community is the best you can do to keep your side of the street clean. Advertisement Advertisement Catch up on this weeks Prudie. More Advice Pay Dirt My partner is admittedly bad with money. Due to the pandemic, hes been out of work for a while and has been living off savings. I know he has debt, which hes looking to clear with some inheritance, but he wont tell me how this debt accrued. He was recently the victim of a scam that I tried to warn him about, but his desire to get out of his current situation overrode his best judgment, and he shut down my advice. Now hes a few thousand dollars down and devastated Update, April 11, 2022: Today Twitter announced that Elon Musk will no longer be joining Twitters Board. On April 4, it was announced that Elon Musk had bought a 9.2 percent stake in Twitter. A day later came the news that Musk was being appointed to Twitters board of directors. While everyone else was trying to process the worlds richest man buying a slice of his favorite megaphone, Ranjan Roy, author of the newsletter Margins, was formulating a theory: that the whole thing was wrapped up in Musks running fight with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The SEC has long wanted Musk to dial back the tweeting. Instead, hes been doing the opposite while and ramping up his legal fight with the agency. With his 9.2 percent stake and a seat on the board, Musk wont just own a chunk of Twitterhell have influence over it. But how much? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Fridays episode of What Next: TBD, I spoke with Roy about how Elon Musk is using Twitter to thumb his nose at federal regulators. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Lizzie OLeary: Back in December, Twitter embarked on a seismic shift. Co-founder and CEO Jack Dorsey left the company, and Chief Technology Officer Parag Agrawal took over. Does this feel like a new era for Twitter? Yeah, I think so. Jack Dorsey leaving clearly meant that things were going to change. Trump dominating it so heavily from 2016 to 2020 and essentially being the face of it, I think now it was a clean slate where there was no one account that dominated the entire platform. It was becoming a real company; it was finally growing up. Advertisement Advertisement If no account is dominating the whole platform the way Trump did, there is one that maybe comes close. Eighty million followers, an avid fan of Twitter polls. You know who Im talking about. So how does he use Twitter? How does Elon Musk use Twitter? I think he uses it perfectly. Tesla famously does not spend on marketing, does not have a PR department. He literally, with his account, replaces entire corporate functions. One of the most brilliant ways he uses it is in how he replies and how he elevates other accounts. Then once you elevate an account, they essentially remain loyal to you. People regularly tweet how proud they are that he replied directly to them. At every level he is the best user of the platform. Advertisement Advertisement For years, everything Musk tweets has been under scrutiny, in particular from the Securities and Exchange Commission. The SECs job is to make sure that if Musk tweets from the hip, whatever he says doesnt jeopardize the stock market or peoples investments. Advertisement Advertisement August 2018 was when it really started. Elon Musk had tweeted that hes considering taking Tesla private at $420 and then followed up and said that funding was secure. Those tweets sent Teslas stock flying. Then, the SEC saw them and sued Musk for misleading investors. In September 2018, the SEC and Musk had reached a settlement. First, Musk and Tesla each had to pay $20 million, which, for the now worlds richest man, obviously this stuff is nothing. Musk can no longer be the chairman of Tesla. And Tesla would have to put in place a process where any of Musks statementsblog posts or tweets or anything like thathad to go through some kind of a legal process to make sure that they were vetted. Everyone joked it was like Musks Twitter-sitter, his babysitter, overseeing his tweets. Advertisement Advertisement Based on his Twitter, it seems like Musk has not listened to his babysitter. In November 2021, he polled his followers on Twitter on whether he should 10 percent of his Tesla shares. They said yes, and Musk sold $16 billion in stock, which triggered a broad Tesla sell-off. Yet again, the SEC was not thrilled. It subpoenaed Tesla after he sent the poll. Why does the SEC get so upset by Musks use of Twitter? Advertisement Advertisement Imagine if Tim CookApples trading around $170 right nowcame out and out of nowhere said theyre taking the company private at $200, the stocks going to go crazy. Maybe it goes up in the short term, and then you find out its not true, and it collapses. If youre the CEO of a public company, you just cant make completely false or unpredictable statements about the entire financial future of your public company, when pension funds, peoples retirements, are all resting on these kind of tweets and these statements. Advertisement Advertisement Weve spent like a hundred years of financial market regulatory action to build a system of communications to regulate how executives can talk about their companies. Living in the U.S., you have such an advantage financially, in part because everyone in the world wants to be taking their companies public in our markets because they work so well. Thats the thing thats in danger right now. Do you think its fair to say that Elon Musk is thumbing his nose at those hundred years of rules of the road, by the way he tweets? Yes, of course. Remember, Elon Musk went on 60 Minutes and openly said, I do not respect the SEC. He tweeted shortly after their settlement, SECs a three letter acronym, middle word Elons, which I will let any listener figure out the Wordle puzzle there. Hes been very vocal that even in his recent court filings that the SEC is chilling his freedom of expression. He believes he should not be penalized for making public statements like he has in the past. Advertisement Advertisement In February things between Elon Musk and the SEC really heated up. Tesla disclosed the subpoena over the Twitter poll, then Musk and his lawyer claimed in a letter that the SEC was leaking information about him. On Twitter, he implied that the SEC was corrupt and colluding with hedge funds. In March, he filed a legal motion to have his original SEC settlement thrown out. What were you thinking while watching these developments? Im sitting there like, Why is he doing this? Even as of early March, Tesla, as a business, operationally, is humming along at the best its been doing in a long time. There was no reason he should be escalating this feud with the SEC and making such a big deal about it out of nowhere. They had this detente for a couple of years, and suddenly he started making moves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why do you think he was doing it? We have come to find out that Musk started buying shares of Twitter on Jan. 31. We know this from securities filings. Then Feb. 7, he starts this escalation with the SEC. He starts pushing it much, much faster. At the end of January, early February, he was also tweeting a lot about the Canadian truckers, freedom of speech. He has also equated this entire SEC enforcement saga around his freedom of speech being chilled. Whatever the exact catalyst waswas it the SEC? Was it the Canadian truckers?at some point he decided, Im going to become the largest shareholder of Twitter, I am going to get up myself on the board of Twitter, and Im going to escalate things with the SEC and make this something that either I have to win or lose, but somethings got to give. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You really think its that calculated? He couldnt just be a rich dude who wants to have fun on Twitter and decided to throw a lot of money at it? No, no. This is the most important part of this, writing a letter to a judge, filing a legal motion to throw out a settlement. The worlds richest man is in a fight with a government regulator over his usage of a specific platform. He just went and essentially bought the platform, or became the most powerful person within that company. That kind of behavior, its crazy in the U,S. In a functional capital market, these are the kind of things that you just would not normally think would happen. Advertisement Of course, theres plenty of discussion. Will he reinstate Trumps account? Will he go after Twitter employees if they make censorship decisions? Is he going to bring in new board members that are more favorable to his politics? Advertisement Do you expect him to throw his weight around on the board? I think he will throw his weight around because thats the fun thing to do. Again, remember, all of this over the last few months has been around this idea of censorship or his view of freedom of speech. I do think that this is a topic that is genuinely important to him. I cannot imagine why he would go through all of this to not exercise some power or strength around the topic. Advertisement Advertisement I mean, would you want to be the boring board member that goes up against Elon? Up to date, we have not seen anyone outspoken around the issues that plagued Twitter from the board, so I cannot imagine anyone would try to go up against him on anything. For a long time, if you have thought about tech companies, youve also thought about the extra voting power that founders have on their boards. In this case, it feels like the person whos going to have the extra power is not the founder. Is that a shift that we might see in other companies, or is this all very specific to these particular players in this drama? For context, theres this development over the last 10, 20 years in technology companiessuper voting shares, or different classes of shares for founderswhere it essentially gave them unchecked power. The amazing thing is Twitter is one of the few companies that now has not been built in this way. Its not Google, Facebook, Snapchat, any of these. Suddenly, it looks like maybe thats not the greatest thing, because thats why theyre in a bit of turmoil or there is not one central figure representing the platform who is able to stand up to this kind of behavior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What comes next from this battle between Musk, Twitter, and the SEC? What the SEC does is going to be the most important question, because remember, the SEC was going after Elon Musks ability to tweet for the last two years. Hes now the most powerful person in the company. Imagine they go to Twitters safety and protection team and say, Hey, you need to take these down because of reasons A, B and C from the U.S. financial legal framework, are you going to be the employee at Twitters safety team that does that? If he uses his account to continue to break securities laws in their view, what can they do? Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. As the needs of the community continue to increase, Lake Christian Ministries is looking to expand its longtime headquarters in what used to be Monetas downtown. Lake Christian Ministries announced a capital campaign to raise enough funds from the community to construct an additional building as well as renovate their headquarters. The expansion is expected to double the nonprofits space and provide the necessary room for staff and volunteers to support people in need in Franklin, Bedford and Pittsylvania counties. We dont have room to store anything right now, said Jane Winters, executive director of Lake Christian Ministries. The nonprofit is currently limited on what donated furniture and appliances it can take due to space needed to store food supplies. LCM is also currently unable to store large amounts of clothing. Winters said items like jackets that will not be needed for several months are currently being donated elsewhere due to lack of space with the hopes that more will be donated in the fall. Winters said the first phase of the proposed expansion includes the construction of the new facility that will serve as storage for furniture and clothing as well as a learning center for the nonprofits New Tomorrows program that works with individuals and families in need to assist them out of poverty. New Tomorrows was created to give folks the knowledge and tools to help them stand on their own. Winters said several local businesses have partnered with LCM over the years to provide jobs for those in need. Thats our main goal, Winters said. To get them to the point they dont need us anymore. The second phase will include the renovation of the current headquarters to include additional offices and meeting space. Approximately 1,500 square feet of space in the building is currently used to display available clothing. That space will be converted into offices once the clothing is moved to the new building. The headquarters has only two offices for interviews right now. The offices provide a space where community partners can speak privately with individuals or families who may be in need of help due to domestic violence or drug addiction. Winters said the offices allow people to open up without fear of others overhearingsomething that can be difficult with only two offices. We need a third and a fourth office right now, she said. The proposed new building will be constructed on property adjoining Lake Christian Ministries. The property was purchased late last year. A building on the property that was once a country store was torn down. This will be the first major renovation of the headquarters and expansion since Lake Christian Ministries moved into the building in 1998. LCM was first established in 1992 but wasnt provided with a main headquarters until the Cappellari family donated the former location of its home building center. The family later opened Capps Home Building Center in Westlake. Lake Christian Ministries originally came together when Bethlehem United Methodist Church, Morgans Baptist Church, Resurrection Catholic Church and Trinity Ecumenical Parish all joined together in an effort to provide assistance for people in need in the community. That assistance includes food donations as well as financial assistance. Winters said the needs have continued to increase in the community in the past 30 years. The needs have been even greater since the pandemic, she said. More than $270,000 in financial aid was provided to area families in 2020. Winters said that was a 138% increase over 2019, before the pandemic. Also in 2020, 182,440 meals were provided for more than 700 households in the three counties that surround Smith Mountain Lake. While the needs have been greater, Winters said the community has stepped up to provide donations to help keep Lake Christian Ministries going. We have a wonderful support system, she said. Winters is now asking for donations to help them expand their ability to provide services to the community. The current campaign has a goal of $700,000, and despite only being announced for a brief time, has already passed the halfway mark at $450,000 currently. Once the campaign reaches 80% of its goal, Winters said construction will begin on the new building. The final 20% will be needed to complete the renovations in the current building, she said. Winters said they would like to begin construction on the new building later this year with renovation on the current building taking place sometime next year. She said the current goal date to have everything completed is Dec. 31, 2023. PM Eduard Heger met highest state representatives of Ukraine during his visit to Kyiv. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled video //cdn.jwplayer.com/players/mZiF9jYz-59OQ4sBA.html "Thank you very much for supporting Ukraine in this war for freedom. Your government helps us and you are helping the ordinary, very brave Ukrainian people. Ukraine will never forget," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his video message to the people of Slovakia following his meeting with Slovak PM Eduard Heger in Kyiv on April 8. During his trip to Kyiv, Heger confirmed that Slovakia sent the S-300 air defence system to Ukraine, a significant contribution to protecting the Ukrainian civilians and strategic targets. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement "Ukraine will never forget," Zelensky said in his brief message to Slovakia. Heger also visited Bucha Heger travelled to Kyiv together with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and head of the EU's diplomacy Josep Borell. The Slovak prime minister was previously criticised when he declined the opportunity to travel to Kyiv in mid-March with his Czech, Polish and Slovenian counterparts. Now, his trip was linked to the decision to donate the air defence system S-300 to Ukraine. Heger also met with Ukrainian PM Denys Shmyhal, who took him and the two top EU politicians to the town of Bucha in the Kyiv region. Following his visit to Bucha, Heger stated that there is no other name for killing innocent civilians than war crimes. He later reported that his Ukrainian counterpart Shmyhal thanked him for the help Slovakia is providing, and for the European perspective that "gives them the power to fight", the Sme daily quoted Heger as saying. The Ukrainian diplomacy has used the visit to set the agenda of further sanctions against Russia and the possibility for Ukraine to be granted the EU membership. Ursula von der Leyen promised Zelensky that the EU will grant Ukraine a faster process of applying for the membership. Zelensky thanked the EU for the sanctions but said that they are not enough. Slovakia's security isn't compromised after it donated S-300 to Ukraine, Heger declared upon his return from Ukraine. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled "Ukraine is our neighbour and our friend. And it is good manners not to turn your back at your friend in need," PM Eduard Heger (OLaNO) told the press after his return from Kyiv on April 9. It is key for Slovakia that Ukraine wins this war and becomes a stable and prosperous country. "Only then will people in eastern Slovakia do much better, and will not have to leave their homes for work like they have done for decades," Heger said and noted that it is among the reasons why Slovakia needs to invest into Ukraine. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement He criticised the opposition for the "madness" it has unleashed during his trip to Ukraine. He insisted that Slovakia has never been as protected as it is now. "Slovakia will have four batteries of the Patriot system. We have never had anything like that before," Heger said. He went on to accuse opposition leaders Robert Fico and Peter Pellegrini of behaving like Russia's agents. He said he invites them to join him on a trip to Ukraine in the future to see what has been done there. Heger conveyed his impressions from his visit to Ukraine, where he said he saw the biggest horrors of war. He mentioned his visit to Bucha, where he said he saw the consequences of the cruelty of Russians. "This is the reality that is happening now, to our neighbour," Heger said. We have thought peace was a matter of course, but now we see it is not, and democracy needs to be defended with blood. "And they are not fighting just for themselves, they are fighting for us. If they fell on the first day, the Russian troops would be now positioned at our border." Apart from donating the S-300 air defence system, Heger also offered his Ukrainian counterpart the possibility to export the wheat from Ukraine by railway via Slovakia, since currently Ukraine is unable to export wheat by ships. He also declared Slovakia's readiness to push for Ukraine's EU membership. "Ukraine needs every ally and help from the democratic world," Heger stated. He added that the story of Slovakia's EU accession, after the authoritarian-leaning government of Vladimir Meciar fell in 1998, is an inspiration for Ukraine. "When I see the determination of Ukrainians in the past month, I am convinced they will prevail," Heger said. 1st Chongqing-Hanoi freight train launched Updated: 2022-03-28 english.liangjiang.gov.cn A new international freight train bound for Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, is launched in Guoyuan port, Liangjiang New Area on March 26. [Photo/liangjiang.gov.cn] The first China-Vietnam freight train departed from Guoyuan port in Liangjiang New Area, Chongqing bound for Hanoi on March 26, marking the launch of a brand-new route in the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. The train carried 43 containers of engines, printer paper, and other products valued at a total of $3.9 million, and has strengthened Chongqing's exchanges with ASEAN members. Along with the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement, cross-border transportation demand in western China is soaring. Before the launch of the freight train, cargo from Chongqing and Sichuan needed to be transferred to eastern ports before heading to Vietnam, and it took nearly 20 days to complete the journey. Now the shipping period has been shortened to just four to five days, saving on labor and other costs. "The new freight train satisfies the diverse transportation needs of clients and helps enterprises carry out multi-model transport activities in Guoyuan port, which will inject new vitality into foreign trade in Liangjiang," said Li Guoqiang, deputy director of the new area's free trade office. TRIPOLI, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Stephanie Williams, the adviser to the UN secretary-general for Libya, on Friday stressed the UN priority to hold general elections in the country as soon as possible. Williams made her remarks during a virtual meeting with a diverse group of nearly 40 young Libyans, the UN official said on her Twitter account. "In particular, I elaborated on the UN's efforts toward its current priority of assisting Libyans in holding credible national elections as soon as possible, based on a solid constitutional basis and electoral framework," Williams tweeted. During the meeting, young Libyans provided their perspectives on the current situation in Libya, discussing ways to tackle the country's difficulties in politics, economy, security and so on. Libya was expecting to hold presidential elections on Dec. 24, 2021. However, the elections were postponed indefinitely over technical and legal issues, according to the High National Elections Commission. More than 50 years removed from the days of the Phoenix Trotting Park, harness racing could be making a return to the Grand Canyon State. The board of Webis, the operators of California's Cal Expo racetrack, announced on Friday (April 8) that its subsidiary WatchandWager.com LLC has signed a contract with the owners of Arizona Downs racetrack in Prescott Valley, Arizona for a commercial lease to operate live harness racing, pari-mutuel wagering and food and beverage operations at the venue, subject only to regulatory approval. "This is a significant new contract for WatchandWager augmenting last weeks announcement of the extension of its contract to run live harness racing at Cal Expo, in Sacramento, California, until 2030," said Webis in its release. The contract is for five years to November 15, 2027, with an option to renew for a further five years. "WatchandWager understand that the Arizona Department of Gaming will consider the provision of regulatory approval, currently expected to be in the summer of 2022," continued Webis. "Shareholders will be kept up to date with progress on the approval process and the plans for live racing at the new venue." Formerly known as Yavapai Downs and Prescott Downs, Arizona Downs is located approximately 90 minutes north of Phoenix. The track hosted thoroughbred racing in 2021. Scene A Magician prevailed off a perfect pocket trip, shooting up the passing lane for the mild upset in the featured $13,000 Preferred 2 & 3 Handicap Trot on Friday night (April 8) at The Raceway at Western Fair District. A regular in the driver's seat behind Scene A Magician this season, Garrett Rooney secured the pocket spot for the 8-1 shot behind the 4-5 favourite Willyorwonthe (Colin Kelly), who charged three-wide into the first turn to clear through a :27.2 opening quarter. After middle splits of :57.4 and 1:27.2, Rooney moved his mount to the passing lane as outside pressure was mounting on the leader by Franks Angel (Jason Ryan) and others moving wide for the stretch drive. Scene A Magician shot through late and had the jump on the last-closing mare Power And Grace (Brett MacDonald), who won the top trot last week and rallied widest of all from the back to finish within a half-length of the 1:58.4 winner this time out. Finishing 1-3/4 lengths behind, Willyorwonthe held on for third over Esquire (Tyler Borth). Scene A Magician returned $18.30 for the mild upset. A back-to-back Preferred winner during the winter, the eight-year-old Daylon Magician gelding is now three-for-11 this year with six other top three finishes and $33,544 banked in purses for trainer/owner Jennifer Pinkerton. Scene A Magician, who is closing in on the $300,000 mark for earnings, made his 23rd trip to the winner's circle. The evening's 10th race finale was declared a 'No Contest' after Darryl Laver's four-year-old trotting gelding Petro Dealin (Jason Ryan) was pulled up behind the starting gate and remained on the track towards the outside near the first turn. AGCO judges declared the race a 'No Contest' due to the safety risk of the pulled up horse to the rest of the field. According to raceway officials, Petro Dealin was humanely euthanized. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Petro Dealin. To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Western Fair Raceway Winbak Farm has announced the passing of 2009 USHWA Trotting Broodmare of the Year, Yankee Blondie, at the age of 26. The dam of Muscle Hill was euthanized on Wednesday, April 6 due to complications from colic. We are heartbroken over the loss of Yankee Blondie, said Jack Burke, General Manager. She may have lived until the age of 26 but her death still seems unexpected because she was in great shape for her golden years. The daughter of American Winner was a half-sister to T V Yankee, 2, 1:56 ($572,024) and Yankee Yankee, 2, 2:00.2q ($272,638). We are proud to have been the owners of a mare as great as Yankee Blondie, said Joe Thomson, Winbak Farm owner. We were privileged to be able to raise and sell her offspring. We will always cherish the memories of Yankee Blondies son Muscle Hill and the thrills that he brought us, said Burke. Muscle Hill winning the Hambletonian is still one of my favourite victories by a Winbak graduate. Yankee Blondie was best known for being the dam of 2009 USHWA and OBrien Horse of the Year, Muscle Hill, 2, 1:53.3; 3, 1:50.1 ($3,318,682). Muscle Hill was the USHWA Two-Year-Old Trotting Colt of the Year. He was also the Dan Patch and OBrien Three-Year-Old Trotting Colt of the Year. Muscle Hill was a world champion and winner of 20 races. At two, Muscle Hill won the Breeders Crown elimination and final, Peter Haughton elimination and final, New Jersey Sire Stakes final, Bluegrass Stakes, International Stallion Stakes and Simpson Stakes. At three, he won the Hambletonian elimination and final, Canadian Trotting Classic elimination and final, Breeders Crown final, World Trotting Derby, Kentucky Futurity elimination and final, American-National Stakes, Stanley Dancer Memorial, and a New Jersey Sire Stakes leg and final. Muscle Hill was inducted into Harness Racings Hall of Fame in 2016. He is the sire of offspring that have earned $85,344,986. Muscle Hill was one of the best trotters to ever look through a bridle, said Burke. As a sire, his impact on the breed is unmeasurable and it all started with Yankee Blondie producing a world champion. Yankee Blondie was also the dam of Diesel Don, 2, 1:56.4; 3, 1:55.3 ($247,117). At two, Diesel Don won the American-National Stakes and Valley Victory Stakes elimination and final. Her last foal, All Star Yankee, is now two. He is in training with the Blake Macintosh Stable. Yankee Blondies legacy will continue to impact Winbak Farms broodmare band. Winbak Farm is the proud owner of Yankee Blondies daughter, Mets Rival, and granddaughters, Commando Queen and Mets Inn, said Burke. Commando Queen is the second dam of millionaire Gimpanzee and Mets Inn is the dam of millionaire Mets Hall. Yankee Blondie will be fondly remembered by the Winbak Farm team. Yankee Blondie will be missed, said Burke. She was a truly special horse and we will be forever grateful for her and the impact she had on our farm. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Yankee Blondie. (With files from Winbak Farm) This week's edition of Rewind takes a trip back in time to 1977; 45 years ago. Robert Smith recalls a number of happenings that were then "in the news" from various geographical areas. The short stories and accompanying pictures recall the times and the people who were then making headlines. As fans and followers of harness racing we have become somewhat "spoiled" by the modern day coverage of news events. We literally find out as soon as something of importance happens; no waiting, no wondering. All possible because of the Internet and the Standardbred Canada website. It wasn't always that way, not so long ago we waited patiently until the mail arrived and with it came our favourite racing publication and we got up to speed on what was happening. The following items were reported on around the dates of mid to late June and early July of 1977. I hope I have chosen some interesting subjects and along with them a few old photographs. All of the items were covered in the Standardbred Record as it was then called and it was published at Acton, Ont. by editor / publisher Barbara Lennox. These items were not copied but rather used as a source for a shorter version of what was then the latest news. Painter Lobell Wins 1977 Connaught Cup The 10th annual Connaught Cup went to the outstanding pacer Painter Lobell, a four-year-old son of Overtrick. Held on June 26, a Sunday afternoon, the event carried a purse of $15,000. The winner was driven by Duncan MacTavish and marked his first victory in this event. Finishing second was Bohems Dauntless with Vocal Minority third. Time for the mile was 2:01.2 which was well off the stakes record of 1:58.4 set back in 1972 by Silent Majority and Stanley Dancer. This event was a popular race at the old Connaught track and always attracted some top notch aged performers. The inaugural race held in 1968 was won by Replica Herbert and driver Paul Radley for The Herbert Stable of Lambeth, Ont. A very popular winner early in this race's history was local favourite Earlylakes John owned and driven by Earl Lake. This popular duo took home the second Cup. In the decade of the 80's a horse named Banker Fretz with co-owner Garth Gordon training and driving won this race a record three times. Hie Brothers Take Six of 10 Races at Kawartha The three Hie brothers, Doug, Roger and Carman of Cobourg, Ont. started July off with some fireworks of their own on a Thursday night at Kawartha Downs taking six of the 10 events carded. Doug led the way with four trips to the charmed circle while Carman and Roger each scored a single victory. Doug's wins came behind Ima Comin, Trebor Bob, Friendly Native and Mooreland's Cindy. Roger was a winner with his own Roger Bye Bye and lit up the tote board with a $68.10 win payoff! Carman won the night's featured Invitation Handicap as he piloted Pinedale Mick to a 2:03.1 victory for owner Morley Brethour of nearby Sunderland. First Confederation Cup Scheduled For Sept. 3rd A report from racing officials at Flamboro Downs indicates that early sales of tickets to attend the inaugural Confederation Cup to be held on Labour Day weekend are going well. It is expected that this race will be one of the gems of the Canadian racing scene. A field of the finest three-year-old pacing talent in all of North America is expected. The afternoon card will begin at 1:00 p.m.. Racing fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in the main lobby at Flamboro on any racing night. Trivia Question: Who won the very first Confederation Cup? While you're at it, name not only the horse but also the winning driver. A recent announcement advises that this race will now have a new name "The Charles Juravinski Memorial Cup" a very fitting tribute to a man who recently passed. New Track Record At Clinton The fastest mile in the history of harness racing up to this point in time at the Clinton, Ont. oval was recorded on July 3 as part of the OHHA Series for Ontario-sired four-year-olds. That honour went to Scarlet Son and driver Carl MacArthur as they went wire to wire in 2:02.3. The winning margin was a scant head as the gelded son of Scarlet Wave edged out Sunday Freight at the wire. This event was raced in two divisions with the second one taken by Wilcor Stephen handled by Terry Kerr for owner Greg Drew of Merlin. Their time was 2:03.2, a bit short of the newly minted record. Joe O'Brien Celebrates His 60th Birthday at Mohawk World famous driver and the man who would later have Canada's top awards named after him was the driving hero at Mohawk on his 60th birthday, June 25, 1977. Competing in an O.S.S. event for three-year-old fillies, O'Brien scored a one length victory with Armbro Sonnet (shown above). Bred and owned by the famed Armstrong Bros. stable of nearby Brampton, the daughter of Armbro Jet - Cassandra Hanover covered the mile in 2:06.2. This victory evened the score with her main opponent in earlier OSS action Shawland Dawn and driver Larry Walker. In the other division of this OSS event Vera's Last was victorious in a slightly slower 2:07.3. This was her second win in five starts and raised her season's earnings to almost $19,000. The daughter of Camper out of Vera Riddell was owned jointly by Wilma and Harry Shantz of Hyde Park and Dave Wall who also trained and drove. Second was Exceptional Girl (Bill Carroll) with third spot going to Nila Herbert with Jack Herbert driving. Mohawk's Oldest Record Falls Twice Mohawk's longest existing track record which dated back to August 24, 1968 (almost nine years) was broken not once but twice within a span of 24 hours. The old record of 2:03.4 for two-year-old pacers set in 1968, belonged to Keystone Adage and driver Phil Dussault. This was the last time a summer meeting had been held at this location until the current session which perhaps explained its lengthy existence in the record books. First to better the track record was Tarbesto Hanover driven by Keith Waples for owner Ray Hobin of Stittsville, Ont. Their time of 2:03.1 shaved three-fifths of a second off the old standard. The following night which marked the closing of the Mohawk meet, the record was once again lowered. This time the new mark was set by the filly Ladalia Hanover, a daughter of Columbia George owned by the Adlington Stable of Denfield, On. With Ken Hardy in the bike, the filly sped to a rather easy 6-1/2 length win going wire to wire in 2:02.1. Bill Gale Leads USTA Dash winners At the midway point of the 1977 racing season Bill Gale led the sport in dashes won with 145 wins. He held a slim lead of just three wins over 21-year-old Donald Dancer. The race at this point couldn't have been much closer as only six wins separated the top five drivers. Gale's name was not in the top 10 money winning drivers and it was pointed out that the purse structure at the Meadowlands track was undoubtedly the key. Seven of the 10 leading money-winning teamsters were regulars at the New Jersey track. Gale competed mainly in the Windsor-Detroit circuit and the Ont. Jockey Club tracks as well as OSS competition. Somewhat conspicuous in his absence was the perennial leader in most categories, Herve Filion. He was currently in 10th spot in dashes won and off the board in the money race although he held down the 11th spot. The previous year he had won both categories. This was an unusual pace for him but interestingly he was on a bit of an upsurge at this time. Quote For The Week: "No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings." - William Blake, English poet and painter. Who Is It? Can you recognize this driver and correctly name him? Who Else Is It? #1 Who is this fellow winning a race at Flamboro? Who Else Is It? #2 Who is the man in the pilot's seat behind No. 2 in this photo? Be sure to stay tuned during the coming week to see the correct answers. With the scheduled date of the 2022 Pepsi North America Cup just over two months away, Trot Insider will profile some of the race's top contenders as horses ready to compete for one of Canadian harness racing's biggest prizes. Betterhavemymoney continues the countdown, coming in at #8 in TROT Magazine's 2022 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book assessed odds of 18-1. Named Canada's Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year at the 2021 O'Brien Awards, Betterhavemymoney (Betterthancheddar - Whosluckierthanme) hit the board in seven of 10 races for breeder / owner Millar Farms of Stoufville, Ont., with four wins and more than $335,000 in earnings. The highlight of his season was a sweep of the elimination and final of Grand River Raceways signature event, The Battle of Waterloo, for trainer Nick Gallucci and driver James MacDonald. Trot Insider caught up with Gallucci for an update on the award-winning pacer, one of three 2021 O'Brien Award finalists and two O'Brien Award winners along with filly Prohibition Legal campaigned by the conditioner who was himself an O'Brien Award finalist. "We took a chip out of his back ankle, it kind of started bothering him towards the end of the year and that's maybe why he tailed off a bit," Gallucci said of Betterhavemymoney. "He ended up having some stall rest and we never ended up bringing him back until February 1." Where did he winter? "We just kept him here at the farm." Have you noticed any changes from last year to this year? "Physically, he seems like he's filled out a little bit more. He was already a pretty big colt. He seems a little bit more muscular. Mentally, he seems like the same horse. He's just a good feeling horse all the time. He doesn't really seem to know when it's not go time; he's just always on his toes." Where are you at with him now and what will his early schedule look like leading up to the Pepsi North America Cup? "We trained him in 2:20 the other day so we're aiming for a start towards the end of May. We skipped the SBOA and we're just going to make sure he's ready to go especially for the Somebeachsomewhere and then the North America Cup. "2:20 doesn't sound like a lot but he's had a lot of slower conditioning miles so he's ready to drop...personally, I just like to make sure they have a good foundation in them and, you know, he's going to go a few fast miles before he qualifies anyway. So we'll just play it by ear with him, and he'll let us know when he's ready." What does his tentative schedule look like after the Pepsi North America Cup? "We have all Ontario-sired horses. It's such a great program [in Ontario]. I just kept him in all the big races up here. So he'll have the Simcoe and Breeders Crown, and then possibly the Matron after that but it's going to depend on how he finishes the year." What's his biggest asset / strength? "It's a tough question; at the start of the year when he was racing really well, he was very versatile and he seems like he's gotten back to that state now. Towards the end of last year, he was wasn't really rateable. This year, coming back, he seems like his old self; he seems really relaxed and he's waiting for us to tell him what to do. I think that's the biggest thing with any horse: as long as they're relaxed and you're not fighting with you the whole time, they're going to race better that way. "There's usually a reason why they start acting like that. Usually it's a soundness problem; they just start to be a little more aggressive and they're just not as happy doing their job. Usually if they're sound they're going to be a little quieter and a lot happier." Did the surgery have a role to play with this as well? "Oh yeah, I think so. Like I said there was a bit of an issue there that was definitely bothering him towards the end of the year. We got that rectified and hopefully we get the old Betterhavemymoney back." At what point last year did you think this horse was North America Cup material? "Definitely after his first lifetime start. Up until then, you know, he never showed anything flashy but he always did everything right. He always had a good attitude, very good gait, but you don't really know until you start racing what caliber of horse they're going to end up being. He was just so dominant for a couple of races, you're thinking about getting through the two-year-old year, but you're definitely hoping they're good enough for our signature race." How does it feel to have your colt mentioned as a contender in, like you say, one of Canada's signature events? "It's definitely very exciting. You know, it's one of those races in Canada you hope to have one in, and if you get a piece of it that's even better. Definitely looking forward to it." The Virginia War Memorial is seeking personal photos of Virginias Vietnam War veterans taken during their service in Southeast Asia. The photos will be reviewed by the memorial staff and may be used for its upcoming exhibit, 50 Years Beyond: The Vietnam War Experience. We plan to feature photos of 50 Vietnam veterans from Virginia in the exhibit which will open January 27, 2023 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Paris Peace Accords which officially ended the Vietnam War, Dr. Clay Mountcastle, the memorials director, said in a statement. These photos will be used alongside professional photo portraits of the selected veterans taken today. The Virginia War Memorial is collaborating with award-winning photographer and Navy veteran Laura Hatcher to take the contemporary photos of veterans. The memorial staff is collecting in-country photos from the Vietnam War, personal correspondence, mementos and oral histories of veterans who served. Virginias Vietnam War veterans should submit digital photos in jpg, tiff or PDF formats to the Virginia War Memorial by April 30 for consideration in the exhibit. We greatly appreciate the assistance of Vietnam veterans and their families in this project. Please be assured that the Virginia War Memorial will not reproduce, publish or copy any photos submitted during the selection phase for the exhibit, Mountcastle said. Once 50 veterans are selected, the memorial will secure written permission from the veteran submitting the photo for use. Submit photos and other materials at vawarmemorial.org/50yearsbeyond. After three months of declining cases, COVID-19 is gaining steam slightly in Virginia. While transmission remains low, cases have increased in each of the past seven days. The seven-day daily average was 871 cases in the state as of Friday, a pittance compared to the nearly 19,000 at the peak of omicron. Its unclear if the rise in cases represents the beginning of a bump or a surge, as the BA.2 variant has become predominant in the United States. But the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts are preparing for the worst possible outcome anyway. The end of the downswing comes as COVID protocols continue to loosen and vaccine demand wanes. And it comes as Gov. Glenn Youngkin has celebrated the number of Virginians who received one shota partial measure of success in combating the virus. While cases are going up, hospitalizations continue trending downward. There were 233 average COVID hospitalizations in the state, down from a high of 3,800 in January. The BA.2 variant, a subvariant of omicron, has become the most common version of coronavirus in the United States and has caused surges recently in western Europe. There were an estimated 4.9 million cases in the United Kingdom during the last week of March. In Virginia, the BA.2 variant accounted for less than half of COVID infections last week. Projections from the University of Virginia predict cases in Virginia will rise for at least the next two and a half months, based on its current course. But mitigating effectssuch as higher vaccination ratescould cause cases to subside after a mild bump. We are keeping a very close eye on the subvariant BA.2, said Dr. Melissa Viray, director for the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts. Typically, surges in the U.K. and wider Europe have presaged surges in the United States. But high levels of immunity through vaccination and previous infection could send the U.S. in a different direction. Were not having the same experience in the U.S. theyre having in the U.K., so its hard to predict exactly what its going to do, Viray said. Hospitalizations will be the key metric moving forward, she added, as the BA.2 variant, like the original omicron before it, is believed to be more contagious and less severe. With the possibility of another surge, the local health districts continue to distribute at-home tests. It has given away 11,000 since mid-February and will distribute another 10,000 to child care facilities starting this week. While they do expire, at-home COVID tests generally last several months, and tests purchased during the omicron surge are still effective. The health districts will conduct fewer mass testing events, but it has the ability to ramp them up again if cases surge. The health districts will conduct fewer big events and distribute more rapid tests, which became peoples preference during the omicron surge. To spot a rise in cases before they happen, the VDH has begun testing wastewater for COVID at 25 facilities across the state. Wastewater testing, which has been used on some college campuses since 2020, can detect a rise in cases about a week before the people infected display symptoms. Recent testing has not shown a significant increase in viral load, said Rekha Singh, the VDHs waste water surveillance manager. In recent weeks, the number of plants showing minimal or no trace of COVID has gone up. In the most recent round of testing, 19 of 25 wastewater treatment plants showed minimal or no signs of COVID-19. Viray recommended residents have tests ready in case they become necessary and to catch up on vaccination. Interest in vaccination has slowed lately. In Virginia, 6.2 million people are fully vaccinated73% of the population. Among them, almost half have received one booster. On Thursday, Youngkin celebrated the number of people who have received one shot surpassing 7 million, or 82% of the population. But there are roughly 700,000 Virginians who received a first shot and never returned for a second shot of Pfizer and Moderna. Some vaccine recipients felt sick after receiving their first shota common occurrenceand were too discouraged to receive a second, experts have said. Partially vaccinated individuals are less protected. Youngkin called the 7 million an incredible milestone on our path towards normalcy and demonstrates that Virginia is leading in the fight against COVID-19. On social media, some used the opportunity to push back against vaccines, which are widely believed to be safe and effective. Respondents celebrated their unvaccinated status. The Richmond area lags behind the rest of the state in vaccination rates. Only 63% of Richmond residents have at least one shot, and only a third of kids ages 5 to 11 have done so. In Henrico and Chesterfield, about 75% of residents have received at least one shot. Viray said one shot is a good marker of progress but not a good marker of overall immunity. For residents who are older or immunocompromised, its even more important to be fully vaccinated, she said. Residents who are over 50 or immunocompromised are now eligible for a second booster. Through the Doses on Demand program, the Richmond and Henrico districts have delivered 30 vaccinations to residents at home and at long-term care facilities in the past two weeks. Any resident in Richmond and Henrico can receive a vaccine at home. Residents of Chesterfield, Hanover and the surrounding Richmond area can receive an at-home vaccine if they have limited mobility. Cheyenne County Tourism Director Kevin Howard will retire from his tourism role after serving several western Nebraska communities since 1997. Tourism had been a passion for Howard growing up and caused his family to sell their homestead south of McGrew to pursue a family venture the Oregon Trail Wagon Train at Chimney Rock in Bayard. Over his career, Howard served stints in Scotts Bluff County, the City of Alliance and Cheyenne County as a tourism director. Each move offered him a chance to get a fresh perspective to keep it interesting and attract tourists to the area. Tourism takes a hold of you and wont let go, Howard said. Its one of those things that I just have a passion for. Discovering a passion While Howard worked on his grandfathers homestead south of McGrew, his parents sought to start their own business venture, the Oregon Trail Wagon Train in Bayard. The Howard family struggled to get financing from any banks after pitching the idea of purchasing a covered wagon and a team of horses to give people rides along the Oregon Trail. Selling farm equipment for money to start the business, Howard would help give tours with his parents. Thats when he discovered his passion for tourism. I found out that I had more interest in the wagon train than I did farming, so we sold the farm and all of the equipment and put that into the wagon train, he said. He worked full-time at the wagon train, also commonly referred to as Gordon Howards although Howard said his father hated that people called it that. During his time giving visitors tours, Howard said he fostered lifelong friendships. I had people who would come once a week, every week to eat a steak with us, he said. We made good friends there. We took people out on the Oregon Trail in that covered wagon and you get to know those people. I have friends all over the world that I still keep in touch with. We had some great experiences and met some great people while we were all out there for a shared interest. He worked alongside his parents, Gordon and Patty, and his wife, Bonnie, for 26 years. Then, he took a position as the tourism director for Scotts Bluff County in 1998, which he held for 12 years. Tourism as a career It was a chance to do something new, he said. I had interests, but I didnt always have time to do those interests like get into the legislation. Besides, grandpa used to say teachers and preachers need to move around once in a while. That is true with tourism people, too. As the Scotts Bluff County tourism director, Howard had an opportunity to get involved in forming legislation while he worked to get the original lodging tax laws enacted. When I first had my words make it into the law books, I thought, Thats pretty cool, Howard said. So I had the interest in statewide tourism and the legislature. I had interest in what motivated people to go somewhere and how to promote more people to come and thats what tourism is. Howard wanted to help tourists enjoy their trip and make the most of their time in the communities through good customer service with the goal that they will return in the future. Through those efforts, he helped grow communities. You can make a difference in a community through tourism, he said. The tourist dollar in Nebraska is worth 2.5 times of what you and I would spend. The tourist spending a dollar is the same as us spending $2.50 because of the economic impact to it. His fondest memory was creating the Nebraskas Landmark Country brand through a collaborative effort with all of the Scotts Bluff County communities. Prior to that, I was using Visit the Valley because the valley rang through with our local folks and nobody thought about Nebraska having a valley, so it was a little bit of surprise, he said. But then we got into this and got input from all of the communities. It was almost Monument Valley, but thats in Utah. Howard then took the tourism director position for the City of Alliance in 2011, serving the community for nearly eight years. The total solar eclipse in 2017 was a big tourism event during his tenure with the city that required a year and a half of planning. The event attracted an estimated 25,000 people to Alliance for the eclipse, with about 5,000 people at Carhenge, a copy of Englands Stonehenge built with classic American cars. We worked statewide with that to promote the whole state of Nebraska, he said. None of us is an island. We have to work together because we all share the same visitors. The Alliance community opened up their homes, rented out their pastures and served meals to tourists. We had some great speakers on astronomy and free programs at the performing arts center in Alliance, he said. It was cool. Working toward retiring The past four years, Howard has worked as the Cheyenne County tourism director in Sidney. His arrival corresponded with a restructuring of Cabelas that moved nearly 120 jobs from the Sidney operation to corporate headquarters in Springfield, Missouri. Its the shark investors who forced the sale. It wasnt Bass Pro, it wasnt the Cabelas family. It was the people who came in and forced the sale, made money and left, Howard said. Our lodging tax was down 43% when I came here in 2018, so thats a heck of a deficit to try and build back. Over the past three years, Sidneys lodging tax has teetered from negative to positive with the current numbers back to 2015 levels. I thought I could probably help down here, he said. Its been a great and interesting time. Howard submitted his resignation to the Cheyenne County commissioners Jan. 18. He does not have a retirement date, stating he wants to support the next tourism director with the transition. I cant, in good conscience, leave a community flat-footed, Howard said. I want to be able to help the new person understand the rules and regulations. The hardest part is going to be stepping out of the way when theyre ready. He said his future plans are to spend time with his family and go fishing. While he jokes, its a horrible disease, that tourism, the passion he has for promoting attractions has impacted multiple communities. He hopes his work has made a difference and will continue to serve the communities interests as he leaves behind a legacy of promoting the valleys, quirky landmarks and communities of western Nebraska. Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Nine of the 12 candidates vying for a seat on the Gering School Board outlined their positions on key issues during a candidate forum Thursday. The forum, organized by the Scottsbluff/Gering United Chamber of Commerces governmental affairs committee, brought together candidates Krista Baird, Brian Copsey, Mike Eble, Rick Kinnaman, John Maser, Gloria Rita Morales, Brandon Smith, Greg Trautman and Kolene Woodward. Three candidates did not attend, Jordan Long Sr., James Jackson and Justin Reinmuth. However, Jackson and Reinmuth both provided statements to be read. Only six candidates can move forward into the general election, with three seats up for election. Copsey is the only incumbent running for re-election. The other nine candidates at the forum tackled key issues facing the school district, including parental involvement, health standards and the districts grading scale. All nine candidates were in consensus that parental involvement is essential in curriculum development and other issues involving a childs education. Parents know their children best, Morales said. They know where they want their children to be in the future, where they want to see their path to go. Maser said, If we were to be selected as board members, we are the liaison between the public (and the district). Thats our job, to listen to the parents, and thats just another avenue to bring to the board meetings, so we can decide whats the best route to go with for the curriculum. A couple of candidates saw a difference between parents involvement in their childrens education and in curriculum. Parent involvement in curriculum and then parent involvement are two very distinct issues, Copsey said. Parent involvement in curriculum is an issue that we have policies for where they can visit with (teachers) and if they have concerns or issues, they can take that up with teachers, administrators, where there is a definite policy of development of that curriculum as it goes through the district. The candidates also discussed the appropriate age for sex education, including concepts of gender identity. When should we start teaching this to children of certain age? Its difficult, because all children develop differently, Eble said. There are some children that develop earlier than others. That makes it very difficult for not only school but for the parents. Ebles sentiments were shared by the majority of the group in varying degrees. Woodward said she felt that shouldnt be the schools job to teach about sexual education. I believe that is up to parents, and I believe that parents are the ones that have to decide how theyre going to handle that situation, she said. I dont believe the school has that job. I dont think its their job at all. Kinnaman, a former Gering High School teacher, wanted to take a biological approach to the subject, as well as getting the parents involved. For sex education, I think when youre talking about survival of the species, thats when you should be talking about that, he said. As far as the other issues, I think the parental involvement that others have mentioned should come into play. I know its an ever-changing society, but I think the line needs drawn somewhere. While perhaps not the most controversial issue facing education, the candidates differed most on the question of the grading scale, with their views practically splitting down the middle. Currently, students at Gering have to score 94-100 for an A, 86-93 for a B, 78-85 for a C, 70-77 for a D and anything under that would be an F. Some candidates said they would like to see a 10-point scale, as is often used in higher education. It is a detriment to kids because, although it makes some people strive to get better, that is a minority, Smith said. The majority of the student body does not view it that way. That strive, that pressure, along with hormones and life changes and dealing with social stances and stuff like that, it makes it difficult as it is Am I saying you shouldnt (have that drive)? No. But just not everybodys built the same, and I think the majority of the students get hurt by that. Baird said she noticed the current system encouraged her daughter to seek a teachers help. If she was on that bubble, between a B and a C or an A and a B, it made her more proactive in pursuing the higher grade... Trautman said he couldnt express an opinion one way or another because he doesnt know much about the benefits and drawbacks of the current scale. I would have to have some knowledge of what the benefit is in the classroom and to the students, because I think ultimately, thats what were all up here for is to benefit the student and to help the teachers teach, he said. So if I heard that a rigorous grading scale benefits everybody, great, keep it. If were missing dollars and people are missing opportunities to join college or to go into certain careers because of their grades, then Ill stand at a different point. Other topics discussed included finances, potential future collaboration with Scottsbluff and career pathways. Overall, most of the candidates stated they were there to make a change. Jackson said in his statement that he hasnt been happy with some board decisions and rather than complaining about the issues, I decided to try to do something about it. Since 11 others are throwing their hat into the ring, I feel that this shows that Im probably not alone in wanting to make a change with the school board. Reinmuth concurred, Im running for the Gering School Board in hopes of positive change. There was similar sentiment throughout the forum. To view the entire event, see the video at starherald.com. Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A team of Chinese experts visits the Mahosot Hospital for exchanges over COVID-19 testing and treatment in Vientiane, Laos, April 8, 2022. After arriving in Vientiane on Feb. 7, the experts of medical testing and traditional Chinese medicine who are all from southwest China's Yunnan Province, besides making every effort to complete their main job to assist in the nucleic acid testing of Chinese air passengers in Laos, have been actively engaged in exchanges with their Lao colleagues. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua) VIENTIANE, April 8 (Xinhua) -- A team of Chinese experts went to the Mahosot Hospital in Lao capital Vientiane for exchanges over COVID-19 testing and treatment on Friday. The six-strong Chinese expert team inspected the testing capacity and equipment of the hospital, while Khaysy Rassavong, the deputy director general of the hospital gave an introduction on the nucleic acid test in the hospital and learned about the practices and opinions of the Chinese counterparts at this regard. Khaysy expressed gratitude to the Chinese experts for sharing their experience and know-how on the treatment and testing of the virus. "The exchange has brought a lot of new information to our hospital," he told Xinhua. After arriving in Vientiane on Feb. 7, the experts of medical testing and traditional Chinese medicine who are all from southwest China's Yunnan Province, besides making every effort to complete their main job to assist in the nucleic acid testing of Chinese air passengers in Laos, have been actively engaged in exchanges with their Lao colleagues. Earlier on March 11, the Chinese experts went to the Lao Ministry of Health to communicate with various departments under the ministry, including those in charge of infectious disease control, medical treatment, food and drug administration and the national center for laboratory and epidemiology. Deputy Minister of the Lao Health Ministry Phaivanh Keopaseuth thanked the experts' work and hoped that they would give more guidance to the Lao side on the formulation of nucleic acid testing standards and testing technologies. A team of Chinese experts visits the Mahosot Hospital for exchanges over COVID-19 testing and treatment in Vientiane, Laos, April 8, 2022. After arriving in Vientiane on Feb. 7, the experts of medical testing and traditional Chinese medicine who are all from southwest China's Yunnan Province, besides making every effort to complete their main job to assist in the nucleic acid testing of Chinese air passengers in Laos, have been actively engaged in exchanges with their Lao colleagues. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua) A team of Chinese experts visits the Mahosot Hospital for exchanges over COVID-19 testing and treatment in Vientiane, Laos, April 8, 2022. After arriving in Vientiane on Feb. 7, the experts of medical testing and traditional Chinese medicine who are all from southwest China's Yunnan Province, besides making every effort to complete their main job to assist in the nucleic acid testing of Chinese air passengers in Laos, have been actively engaged in exchanges with their Lao colleagues. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua) Candidates for five county positions faced off in forums Wednesday, April 6, in the Scotts Bluff County commissioners chambers. They were featured in the second of three forums organized by the Scottsbluff/Gering United Chamber of Commerce. The candidates will be on the primary ballot May 10. All candidates are running as Republicans. The winners of the primary election May 10 will advance to the general election in November and will run unopposed, unless write-in candidates step forward. Candidates who did not move forward in the primary election are not eligible to file as write-in candidates in the general election. District I Six candidates are competing for the District I County Board seat this election cycle. Four of them attended the forum: incumbent Mark Reichert and challengers Michael Blue, Clint Riesen and Nancy Bentley. Candidates Rex Wilson and Timothy Reichert were unable to attend. Asked what areas of government interested them the most, Riesen said he was focused on economics. Bentley said her priority was infrastructure. Reichert said he wanted to look out for the taxpayers. Blue said he wanted to help law enforcement at the detention center and to see more cooperation between the commissioners, officials and the community. Bentley and Blue said they were open as to the number of holidays county employees should have. Reichert said they should have 12. Extra holidays would be money spent for service not rendered, he said. Riesen said the county should reduce the number of paid holidays and raise wages instead. Theyre hardworking, good people, he said of the employees, and they deserve to be paid for their time. When asked what theyd consider a success after a term in office, Reichert said he wanted at least 10 miles of paved road a year. Bentley wanted better rapport with employees and to cut commissioner salaries in half. Blue wanted all areas of the county to run efficiently; Riesen said he wanted to attract more industry. All candidates said the county should encourage businesses to come to the area without funding housing. They were all against unfunded mandates and said commissioners should not micromanage county employees. They all agreed that revenue from a horse racing track should be put toward fixing county roads. District I covers the eastern half of the county and a portion of southeast Gering. District III The District III race this year will be between incumbent Charlie Knapper and Tim Beamon. Beamon could not attend, but in a statement he wrote, As a candidate for county commissioner, my goal would be to make Scotts Bluff County a prosperous, safe place that our citizens would be proud to call home. He said he has no agenda. Knapper said he supports recognizing Juneteenth as a paid holiday, but the number of holidays for county employees should remain at 12. He said he supports performance evaluations of county departments as well. We need to stay out of the day-to-day micromanaging of departments, but we need to have a presence ... thats how we get the most out of our employees, he said. As for a proposed racetrack in Gering, he said the county was projected to receive $12.5 million in revenues over 10 years. That money needs to go to long-term investments: roads, bridges, HVAC improvements (and) capital improvements around the facilities. Knapper said he was against unfunded mandates, calling them a way for the state to blame property tax increases on other polities. District III covers most of Gering. District V Three candidates are in the running for the District V seat. Incumbent Mark Harris and challenger Jessica Laughlin attended the forum. Candidate Kellian Strey could not attend but submitted a statement. I believe it is time for the younger generation to get involved in the community, it read. Strey wrote that he wanted to find solutions to issues instead of sitting on the sidelines. Harris described himself as a strong, fiscal conservative and said, All the times Ive ran, I simply want to give back to the community. He said he wanted to lower property taxes and to be tough on crime. Laughlin said an issue she was interested in was the professionalism of the board. I think that professionalism in government should be an utmost priority because we deal with the public directly on a daily basis, she said. She added that more communication is needed between county board members and elected officials. The number of holidays for county employees was a contentious issue between the candidates. Laughlin said she wanted 13 to align the county with federal and state governments enacting Juneteenth as a federal holiday in 2021. Harris said he wanted 12 holidays and said hed proposed a half day for Christmas Eve as a compromise. Its not easy to say no. Its easy to say yes, he said. Harris also said hed encourage housing development by having the private sector step up. He said creating jobs was the key to getting more people to come to the area. Laughlin agreed, saying the county should encourage businesses to come to the area and shouldnt fund housing. She said the county should work to attract young professionals. A get-rich quick scheme wouldnt work for Scotts Bluff ... what we need is slow growth that is steady, she said. Both candidates at the forum opposed unfunded mandates. They also both favored using excess revenue from a proposed racetrack in Gering to repair roads and lower property taxes. District V encompasses northern Scottsbluff. Register of Deeds Register of Deeds Jean Bauer is challenged this year by candidate Angie Hernandez. Hernandez is running for the first time. Im a go-getter, she said. I like to try things to advance myself and test myself. Bauer has been the countys register of deeds for almost two dozen years and helped create the states register of deeds workshop. I feel like myself and my team have accomplished quite a bit ... and we still have a lot to accomplish, she said. Bauer said she wants to implement an ID protection plan, while Hernandez said shed want records filed properly. Bauer said she had a good relationship with banks, attorneys and title companies, while Hernandez said shed work on building those relationships anew if elected. Surveyor Incumbent Dennis Sullivan and challenger Scott Bosse will compete in the race for surveyor. Bosse was unable to attend Wednesdays forum. Its a job I take very seriously, Sullivan said of the position. ... We take the time to go out and find the corners, dig the corners, find the records. He has been a licensed surveyor in Nebraska since 2000 and also holds Colorado, Wyoming and South Dakota licenses. He said a goal of his is getting land survey records online. The forums can be viewed in their entirety on starherald.com. Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Handmade Music School and Floyd Country Store will host a launch party on April 23 for Music of Our Mountains, an interactive website that will chronicle the heritage of southwest Virginia. The first phase of the living-document style project will focus on the counties surrounding Floyd County (Franklin, Patrick, Carroll and Grayson) before the Great Depression. The music of this time and place Mountain Music developed as traditional English, Scots-Irish, German, French, African and Indigenous cultures traded ideas and culture, producing music that made no delineations between origin, race or gender, a release about the launch stated. The rich heritage of this particular region of southwestern Virginia became a fertile crescent for old-time music one of a number of areas in North America that served as a hub for the earliest recorded Country music. Key figures from the Blue Ridge Plateau (including Blind Alfred Reed, Posey Rorer, Ernest Stoneman and Henry Whitter) and how they changed the music world will be featured in the first chapter. As the project grows, anyone and everyone is invited to share stories for the collection. Music Of Our Mountains, which is made possible by a grant from the Virginia Humanities, will be updated regularly with new personal histories, shared content from published books about the subject as well as content from various university archives. The launch event begins at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 23, and it is free with donations welcome to benefit the project. The Floyd Country Store, located at 206 S. Locust St., has been the site of community gatherings since the early 1900s. Learn more about the April 23 event at www.floydcountrystore.com/event/music-of-our-mountains-launch-event-2022-04-23. Find the project online at www.musicofourmountains.com after the April 23 launch. The Kelso location of a regional car dealership is petitioning the city to expand its one-story building by roughly 7,300 square feet. People can comment on how the proposal will affect the environment until 5 p.m. Monday. Public comment Phone: 360-577-3321. Email: mmurray@kelso.gov Mail: Mike Murray, City of Kelso, P.O. Box 819, Kelso WA 98626. Dick Hannah Dealerships, which has locations in Vancouver and Portland, houses a roughly 21,000-square foot Toyota dealership on 5 acres off Interstate 5s southbound exit 368 or northbound exit 432 in the 2600 block of Coweeman Park Drive. The company is looking to expand its six Toyota service bays, as well as add a customer drop-off lane on the north side of the building, totaling about 6,300-square-feet, according to city documents. The company also plans to add a new, metal detail bay on the east side of the building, which would be roughly 988 square feet. The plan proposes to eliminate about 51 painted parking spots in the back and side of the building to make room for the expansion. The companys proposal shows 35 spaces would be re-added, for a loss of 16 spaces overall. About two landscape strips north of the building also would be removed. Up to 60 people are expected to work at the complete site, according to a company proposal. Dick Hannah Dealerships is a family-owned business founded in 1949. The company owns dealerships, auto bodies and financing services. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Kelso resident and former Awakenings clinic manager Meghan DeGallier was named Social Worker of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers Washington State Chapter. I was absolutely honored to have been selected, and quite humbled by it really, she said. I really feel like Im a representative for rural social work, which is something I think sometimes can be overlooked. But its an extremely important practice in the field to provide for folks in rural communities. Last month DeGallier left Awakenings, a Longview substance use disorder and mental health treatment provider, for a position with the state Health Care Authoritys Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery. To have been recognized for the work I did with Awakenings was really awesome, she said. I will miss working with that population, but Im excited about the change too. Im hoping to bring a spotlight to rural behavioral health services and the need in a community like ours. Born and raised in Kelso, DeGallier, 37, said she went to school for social work about seven years ago after her own substance use and recovery. Recovery ... talks about being a productive member of society. Social work seemed like the avenue for me to do that and I was interested in behavioral health issues overall, she said. I knew what I had experienced in my community and I wanted to be a positive agent. DeGallier began working at Awakenings in 2018 after she graduated with her masters degree in social work, starting off as a mental health professional before becoming the mental health clinic manager in 2019. A major focus of her work was serving people with co-occurring substance use disorders and behavioral health problems, she said. Through the pandemic, DeGallier said she did what she could to help insure access to treatment and therapy services under unexpected circumstances. In her new position, DeGallier will work on programs to help people access services in the community, rather than the hospital, and organize two of the the states major mental health education conferences. DeGallier said her new job also allows her more time at home with her young children. When you love what you do and feel like it has a purpose, get to see impact, its definitely an honor and totally worth it, she said. Im grateful to Awakenings to have that experience. Love 14 Funny 8 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. Xiaomi 12 Pro 5G is all set to launch in India soon. Special announcement on April 12, Xiaomi India revealed. Check details here. The Xiaomi 12 Pro is all set to launch in India soon. Though the launch date is not yet out, expectations are already high. Xiaomi India is also going to make a special announcement related to the phone on April 12, 2022. Informing about the same Xiaomi India tweeted, "Ultimate performance will meet absolute elegance with the #Xiaomi12Pro 5G. is bound to leave you stunned. Stay tuned to our page for a special announcement on the 12th of April 2022." 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. "The will tell. #12 5G is coming soon!," he tweeted. Ultimate performance will meet absolute elegance with the #Xiaomi12Pro 5G. is bound to leave you stunned. Stay tuned to our page for a special announcement on the 12th of April 2022. pic.twitter.com/vVqoUpFDWB Xiaomi India (@XiaomiIndia) April 6, 2022 The specifications and details about the Indian variant of the Xiaomi 12 Pro 5G has not yet been disclosed but the phone is expected to carry similar specifications like the international model. And now a tipster has got his hands on the pricing of the phone. As per the information provided by tipster Yogesh Brar, the Xiaomi 12 Pro is expected to carry a price tag of Rs. 65,000 in India. The Xiaomi 12 Pro 5G is a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 flagship that comes with up to 12GB LPDDR5 RAM and up to 256GB UFS 3.1 storage. The phone supports a 4600mAh battery and brings along a 120W wired fast charging as well as 50W wireless charging. The phone also supports 10W reverse wireless charging. 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 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. People who are waiting for the Xiaomi 12 Pro 5G to hit the Indian market need to wait for official announcement regarding the specifications, details of the phone and the launch date. TEHRAN, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Iran's nuclear chief on Saturday asked the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to remain committed to its legal responsibilities and stop acquiescing to excessive demands and pressures, according to the official news agency IRNA. Mohammad Eslami, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), made the remarks while addressing a ceremony marking the National Nuclear Technology Day, noting the AEOI is making constant efforts to eliminate the influence of Iran's enemies and add professionalism to its cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog. Eslami said Iran will hand over IAEA a framework for the national nuclear program once it's completed, adding that Iran's previous attempts had been neglected, providing the ill-wishers the opportunity to raise doubts about Iran's peaceful nuclear program through lying and psychological operations. The AEOI chief said Iran seeks to make exponential progress in its nuclear industry. Iran signed a nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with world powers in July 2015. However, former U.S. President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the agreement in May 2018 and reimposed unilateral sanctions on Iran, prompting the latter to drop some of its nuclear commitments under the agreement, by increasing the number of its centrifuges and purity of enrichment. Since April 2021, eight rounds of talks have been held in Vienna between Iran and the remaining JCPOA parties, namely China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany, to revive the deal. Iran has called on the United States to guarantee not to drop the deal again and to lift its sanctions in a verifiable manner. Amanda Buenger, executive director of Unbound Bryan College Station, is expanding her work of helping prevent human trafficking by joining Unbound Global at the border of Poland and Ukraine. Buenger and the other five members who have been there since Monday and will stay until April 11 are the third Unbound team to travel to the border, and other teams will follow. Her team includes another representative from the local office, as well as others from the Austin and Waco locations. The amazing thing, Buenger said, is seeing all of the agencies from across the world working collaboratively to get food, clothing and toiletries to the refugees and tend to any other needs they may have. Its a weird, interesting world, she said about the scene at the border crossings. Its just lots of people, a lot of chaos, a lot of moving parts, but its just amazing to see the support of all of the organizations here and the beautiful spirit of the Ukrainian people; the courage, and the smiles on these beautiful childrens faces, despite what theyre going through, is absolutely incredible. Its this very weird combination of joy and courage and beauty with a lot of pain and desperation and a lot of chaos. The lines are made even longer as people from the southeastern part of the country that is now the target of Russian bombings have made it to the border, she said. These people, as we communicated with them in the lines with translators, are just in absolute desperation, she said. They have literally left their cities being bombed. They have come 24 hours of traveling to get to the border. Most of them have left family behind. They have no resources. Theyre traveling with young children; all thats with them is their bag. That desperation is what leads to a lot of the human trafficking situations, Buenger said. The Ukrainians are looking for anything from a safe place to stay, a ride to reach somewhere or even just someone to help them understand how to cross the border. She said they will believe anyone giving them false promises to provide that. Im going across the Ukraine and Poland border every day, and I had no idea what that experience was going to be like; they dont either, and they want someone to help them across, she said. And so people are telling them, Well pay me this, and Ill get you across and Ill get you a ride on the other side. And these are very exploitative types of tactics that are happening right now. Thousands of information cards are being passed out, Buenger said, with a human trafficking hotline number specific to Poland and basic tips to avoid being a human trafficking victim. Those tips include that it is free to cross the border, reminding people to not provide their passport or documentation information to anyone other than official border patrol who are checking passports out of Ukraine and into Poland and confirming the identity of the driver of the car if they are using a private driver. They also watch at points of contact where women and children are getting on and off buses and connecting with drivers. On Thursday, they intercepted a trafficking situation of three women and children, she said. They saw the group giving their passport information and money to a woman, and they approached the group and had an intentional conversation, telling them what is listed on the information card. She said she told them that it did not cost money to cross the border and they should not give their passport information to anyone other than border patrol. One of the women, Buenger said, had a bad feeling about the situation and was not sure it was safe. We ended up walking with these women and children to the border crossing, and the [potential trafficker] followed us all the way to the line and just got frustrated. She knew we intercepted it and basically just ran off, Buenger said. A detective on their team ran facial recognition on the woman and determined she was connected with people in the human trafficking world. Beyond the help Unbound is able to provide in preventing human trafficking situations, Buenger said they offer small acts of kindness such as offering to hold a womans baby, change a diaper or get them food or a stroller. Its a really true honor, she said to help on the border. And the courage and the spirit Ive seen out of them is unbelievable. We were standing just along the border line with them one day, and they just spontaneously broke out in the Ukrainian national anthem and sang, and it was kind of this very sacred time. I mean, it was like no one spoke. Just the passion for their country, the resolve they carry with them through just desperate times, and the courage that they carry to the border to cross and start a different life, one they didnt want to, is kind of hard to put into words really. They do not have much time to process the stories they hear or the scenes they experience in the moment, she said, because their focus is meeting the next need and loving the next person. She called it an honor to hear the stories and see the challenges the refugees have overcome and said it has shifted her perspective and world outlook. You kind of have this perspective of what you think youre going to go into a war-torn crisis situation, and I think Ive been blown away by the strength and courage of these people, Buenger said. Rightfully so, they are desperate; they are hurting. But the joy Ive seen in them, the strength Ive seen in them, the courage that Ive seen in them, the love for their country that Ive seen in them, I think its just changed me in a way that it just makes me proud of humanity in the best of ways. I see a lot of the bad, but Ive seen so much good in this place. Before her current weeklong trip to the Poland-Ukraine border, Buenger has previously gone on Unbound Global international trips to Mongolia and Indonesia. She said her daughters have been involved in this trip through FaceTime and messages, and she hopes she can empower them to go on similar trips and continue the work to fight human trafficking throughout the world. One of the goals of being at the Poland-Ukraine border, she said, is to establish a more long-term team that can remain in the area to do the work throughout the current crisis and then continue it in the future. There are multiple options to get involved in Unbound. People can volunteer or donate to Unbound Bryan-College Station that serves human trafficking survivors locally, or they can donate to Unbound Global to help on a global scale. 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. James M. Timmerman of Alda was sentenced Wednesday to six to eight years in prison for an assault and robbery that occurred in Alda last September. Hall County District Court Judge Patrick Lee sentenced Timmerman to five to seven years for use of a firearm to commit a felony and one to two years for robbery. The sentences will run consecutively. Timmerman, 37, was given credit for 191 days already served. On Sept. 23, 2021, Timmerman pointed a handgun at a woman and threatened to shoot her at their home in Alda. Timmerman also physically assaulted the victim and stole items from her. Timmerman transported the victim to the Grand Island Regional Medical Center after she complained of an injury. He accompanied her into the hospital but left shortly afterward. He was arrested Sept. 28 at 7 Venus St. in Alda. Hall County Sheriffs deputies were assisted by the Grand Island Police Departments Tactical Response Team and members of the Nebraska State Patrol. Nearby residents were contacted and advised to vacate or move to the basement. After negotiations, Timmerman came out of the house and was arrested for a Hall County arrest warrant. Six charges against Timmerman were dismissed. They were first-degree false imprisonment, terroristic threats, strangulation, third-degree domestic assault (first offense) and two counts of use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony. The Nebraska State Fair 1868 Foundation expressed gratitude for Fridays approval by the Nebraska State Legislature of LR1014. The bill was approved on a 40-4 vote. We are grateful for todays vote and the support and passion of our legislative leaders, local office holders, and community stakeholders who helped us reach this point, Lindsey Koepke, executive director of the 1868 Foundation, said in a news release. These funds will help significantly improve the Fonner Park campus for all users. The bill now goes to Gov. Pete Ricketts desk for consideration. LR1014 was the appropriations bill for monies available to Nebraska provided under the federal American Rescue Plan Act. More than $1 billion in total funding was allotted in LR1014. The bill includes $20 million in ARPA funding for infrastructure projects at Fonner Park, home of the Nebraska State Fair. Fonner Park Chief Executive Officer Chris Kotulak said in a statement, There are quite a few big ideas that have surfaced for the Fonner Park campus that will take much bigger funding. But without the surface infrastructure aid it would have been hard to imagine anything getting off the ground. I am grateful that Gov. Ricketts has embraced the importance of this endeavor that was spearheaded and guided by the 1868 Foundation. The 1868 Foundation has served as sponsor acting on behalf of entities that utilize and support the Fonner Park campus. Groups represented in this effort included Fonner Park, Nebraska State Fair, Heartland Events Center, Grand Island Livestock Complex Authority, the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce, Grand Island and Hall County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Hall County Agricultural Society, Grow Grand Island, Hall County and the city of Grand Island. The passage of the bill completes a cohesive community fast track effort getting from conception and vision for Fonner Park, the solicitation of public input and a legislative decision in just over six month, according to the news release. Renowned global design firm Populous Inc. engaged and led the many stakeholders over a highly condensed six-month work period of identifying significant critical infrastructure improvements requiring attention before new facilities could be considered for the grounds, the release reads. The original plan for the grounds was released in a master plan document in January. These funds will make a greater future possible for Fonner Park and all its users and guests, said Bill Ogg, executive director of the State Fair, in the release. Growth and expansion of the facilities could not happen without infrastructure improvements and repairs. Todays vote facilitates significant progress for an exciting future. To give a gift to support the 1868 Foundation, visit 1868foundation.org. The mission of the Nebraska State Fair 1868 Foundation is to raise funds and resources for the overall improvement of the Nebraska State Fair. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. Lt. Gov. Mike Foley praised Grand Island at a special event at the newly expanded Pathway Bank. The bank, at 3333 W. State St., celebrated its reopening and expansion with a ribbon-cutting Thursday hosted by Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce. Despite the days insistent winds and icy rain, Foley said he was glad to attend. I wanted to be here because Grand Island is such a critically important community for our state, he said. West of Lincoln, this is obviously the largest population center, and a very important hub for business and commerce for Nebraska. At the event, Foley touted the passing of LB783, calling it one of the most sweeping tax reduction bills in the history of our state. The bill cuts property taxes and income taxes, and completely phases out taxation of Social Security during the next five years, Foley said. For those of us with gray hair, or no hair, thats a good thing, he said. (Gov. Pete Ricketts) and I are doing everything we can possibly do to create a culture in our state thats conducive to the growth of business. Lowering taxes is not enough, Foley said. We need forward-thinking business leaders who will invest in a community and we need great bankers, he said. You cant go anywhere without great bankers, and look at this magnificent bank. This is spectacular. What a great new asset for Grand Island. He added, Congratulations to all those who worked so hard to get this expansion completed in such a magnificent way. Pathway Senior Strategist Tanya Stephens, speaking to a large group gathered in the banks lobby, emphasized that it is not a new location for the bank. If youre in this room right here, this was the existing bank a year ago and that was our outside wall, Stephens said. They took the wall down, and we did not shut down the bank for one day during this project. She added, The bank team and construction team worked in tandem to construct the building and serve our customers, and they had tremendous teamwork. Chamber President Cindy Johnson applauded Pathways expansion. When Tanya told me they were looking at expanding this building, I could not wrap my head around that, she said. I could not figure out where they were going to get one inch, let alone enough space to do all the things she told me were going to happen here. Johnson offered a special kudos for using local companies for the project. We love buying local. We love looking local, she said. Because its the local companies, the local people with their roots in the Heartland, with their commitment to community growth, that makes a community grow. It isnt nameless, faceless people from faraway who make the decisions that impact your lives. She added, Were really committed and supportive of businesses that are committed back to the community. Pathway started in Cairo more than 100 years ago, Stephens said, describing the community bank as fiercely independent. It has locations in Ord and Burwell, as well as Grand Island. With over 90% of our shareholders living and working in central Nebraska, you can be sure the decisions are made here, locally, said Stephens. Pathway has expanded recently into commercial lending and multi-state lending, and offers consumer and business accounts, online and mobile banking, financial planning, mortgages and loans, among other services. For more information, visit www.pathwaybank.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. Have some old documents that need shredding? Donate them Sunday to Grand Island Area Habitat for Humanity. GI Habitat is hosting a paper-shredding fundraiser at St. Pauls Lutheran Church, 1515 S. Harrison St., in Grand Island, from 3 p.m.-5 p.m. For the event, GI Habitat is partnering with Nebraska Region Thrivent Member Network and the Arbor Day Foundation. Thrivent will donate $10 to GI Habitat for every vehicle that brings paper documents, up to four banker boxes worth, for shredding Sunday. And for each vehicle that participates Sunday, Arbor Day Foundation will plant two trees in Nebraskas National Forest. The funds will benefit GI Habitat programs and services, GI Habitat Executive Director Alyssa Heagy told The Independent, specifically GI Habitats current project, House No. 111. The maximum amount Thrivent will donate is $750, and that would cover the cost of the two exterior doors, she said. The partnership opportunity is thrilling, said Heagy. Ive only been here since July, but Thrivent is one of the first partnerships and relationships I was entered into, and their support for Habitat across the Nebraska region and nationwide is phenomenal, she said. You dont see that from a lot of large corporations. GI Habitat is still collecting aluminum cans at its various drop sites. The funds from the cans go to GI Habitat projects, and allow the local nonprofit to compete for national grants. Cans are now up to 90 cents per pound. Its a huge windfall for us, Heagy said. Ace Hardware just had 422 pounds on Thursday for us, and Im just so thrilled. There are five donation sites for aluminum cans in Grand Island: Pump & Pantry at Highway 81 and North Capital Avenue, at Highway 281 and Stolley Park Drive, at Shady Bend Road and Bismarck Road, and at South Locust Street, and at Ace Hardware on Third Street. There are also donations drop sites in Aurora, Cairo, Central City, Chapman, Doniphan, St. Libory, St. Paul and at the Wood River United Methodist Church. Grand Island Area Habitat for Humanity provides 0% interest home loans to applicants. To qualify for the program, individuals must be low-income based on household size. The need for decent, affordable housing is also considered, and a willingness to be a partner. All of our home loan applicants, in order to receive a house, have to complete 500 hours of volunteer work, Heagy explained. For more information about Grand Island Area Habitat for Humanity services and volunteer opportunities, visit www.gihabitat.org. 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. BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- The asset scale of China's individual investors' securities accounts increased in 2021, according to a survey conducted by the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. Assets of the securities accounts of individual investors averaged 606,000 yuan (about 95,203 U.S. dollars) last year, up 9,000 yuan from 2020, data from the survey showed. The sampled survey, covering 342 cities in the country, collected 29,100 valid questionnaires from investors who traded stocks on the Shanghai or Shenzhen bourses over the past 12 months. Investors demonstrated interest in the infrastructure real estate investment trusts (REITs) that were first launched last year in the country, with 76.4 percent of them having some knowledge about these products. REITs were regarded as fit for long-term investments as they were capable of producing stable and high proportions of dividends, the survey showed. The news that SkyWest Airlines intends to stop passenger service to 29 airports across the country including Barkley Regional Airport in Paducah, Kentucky and Cape Girardeau Regional Airport in Missouri has those two communities seeking new air carriers. The announcement is also prompting passengers across Southern Illinois to search for a new way to get to Chicago. Early last month, SkyWest, a regional airline which books flights through United Express at the two airports, indicated to the U.S. Department of Transportation that it would pull out of the airports after 90 days. The airline blamed pilot shortages and rising fuel costs for its departure. Because both airports are part of the Essential Air Service program, a federal operative that gives small communities air access, the federal government will require SkyWest to continue service to the airports, perhaps beyond the 90 days and through the remainder of their contracts or until another provider is in place. The DOT also has indicated it will assist the two communities in securing new passenger service carriers. Both airports offer flights to Chicago. According to 2019 Federal Aviation Administration data, SkyWest served 11,838 passengers out of Cape Girardeau and 17,982 from Paducah. While we knew that there certainly is a pilot shortage and that the industry was in a turmoil because of the pandemic, I will admit this particular announcement was a surprise. It was a punch in the gut, said Paducah Mayor George Bray. But we have to roll with the punches. Bray was chairman of the Barley Regional Airport Authority prior to his election as mayor. He said efforts are already underway to secure new passenger service for the airport. I dont think we really know exactly whats going to happen yet because the industry is reacting to SkyWests announcement, but there are airlines that are adjusting and preparing to ramp up service to communities, Bray explained. Were out talking with different airlines that we think would provide credible service to the community, but I think we are some months away from any decision. The potential absence of air service has some Southern Illinoisans who used the United-branded SkyWest service for traveling to Chicago. Theres not much we can do, but logistically, this could be an issue for the entire area, said Trish Steckenrider, executive director of the Greater Metropolis Convention and Tourism Board. It is usually so easy to use the airport to get to Chicago. You can leave in the morning and literally be back that evening. Its definitely going to be impactful to people in the area. She expressed concerns specifically about the annual Superman Celebration. We have people that come in from all over the country and even the world. So this could make the logistical part of the celebration coming up in June more difficult, she said. Illinois State Senator Dale Fowler, R-Harrisburg, said he is aware of the vital role air service plays for the region. "Connecting people to destinations through air service plays a critical role for tourism in any part of the country including southern Illinois," he said. "With many exciting touristic things to come in our region like the opening of the Walker's Bluff Resort and much more, I will continue to advocate for essential transportation services. As Essential Air Service communities, the federal government is required to ensure Paducah and Cape Girardeau have passenger flights. However, Doug Kimmel, airport director for Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois in Marion which is not impacted by SkyWests announcement said it may be difficult for the airports to find a replacement for SkyWest. The problem currently is who else is out there with the ability to take on new markets? he wondered. He said he did not know whether Cape Air, which provides passenger air service from Marion to St. Louis and Nashville, would be interested in serving the other two airports. SkyWest was one of the carriers considered by Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois several years ago to provide its service, but ultimately, the contract was awarded to Cape Air. Representatives from Cape Air declined to be interviewed. Kimmel said potentially SkyWest could be held to its contract to serve Cape Girardeau and Paducah but that service could mean fewer flights and less reliable air service, perhaps just a few flights per week. Cape Girardeau Regional Airport Manager Katrina Amos downplayed concerns. Theres always a chance that we could be without passenger service, but I think were in a really good position, so thats not a concern. I dont think we will be without service anytime. Were working really aggressively to secure another service, she said. Amos said the goal of the airport is to avoid a disruption in service. We want to make sure that there is very minimal impact to the community, she said. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 PANA The Illinois State Police just released dash-camera footage of the officer-involved shooting in Pana on Saturday. The homicide suspect involved in the pursuit received serious life-threatening injuries, according to the Illinois State Police. The video during the pursuit, which was in connection with the murder of two women in the Collinsville area, has been released. At approximately 11:14 a.m. on Saturday, April 2, ISP received information from the Madison County Sheriffs Office concerning the suspect wanted for a double homicide. Shortly after 1:00 p.m. local law enforcement located the vehicle northbound on Illinois Route 127 near Hillsboro. A pursuit ensued after officers attempted a traffic stop, ISP said. ISP Troopers later joined the pursuit. The pursuit crossed Illinois Route 16 and then north onto U.S. Route 51. The suspect vehicle came to a stop on U.S. Route 51 just north of Pana at approximately 1:53 p.m. after becoming partially disabled, ISP said. The driver of the suspect vehicle allegedly exited and pointed a firearm in the direction of an ISP Trooper. The ISP Trooper fired their duty weapon in the direction of the suspect. The suspect was taken to a regional hospital for the treatment of serious, life-threatening injuries, ISP said. However, the cause and nature of those injuries is under investigation. No law enforcement officers were injured in this incident. The involved ISP Trooper is a 26-year veteran of the Illinois State Police. Special Agents of the Illinois State Police Division of Internal Investigation are investigating these events involved in the pursuit. The Madison County Sheriffs Office is investigating the double homicide in the Collinsville area. This investigation is open and ongoing, and all evidence and facts will be submitted for review upon completion of the investigation to the Christian County States Attorney's Office. 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. A Nebraska jury Friday found an Illinois man not guilty of four felony gun charges in connection to a search of an SUV along Interstate 80 west of Lincoln in 2020. And the judge dismissed the case against Tydarious James, 24, of Belleville. On Jan. 30, 2020, Lancaster County, Nebraska, Sheriffs deputies arrested James and two others, Kiondre Fitzgerald and Deangelo Gilmore, after an officer in the Criminal Interdiction Task Force stopped them for following too closely about 5 miles west of the Northwest 48th Street exit. The officer smelled marijuana coming from their 2015 Dodge Journey and found a baggy of marijuana in one of the mens pockets. It led to a search of the SUV, which turned up two handguns wrapped in a T-shirt hidden in an access panel near the steering wheel. One of them, a loaded Ruger 9 mm pistol, was reported stolen in Memphis, Tennessee. The other, a loaded Smith & Wesson 9 mm handgun, was defaced. James was charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, of a stolen firearm, of a defaced firearm and of money while violating drug laws and would have faced a minimum of three years in prison if convicted. James' jury trial started Monday, with the verdict coming Friday afternoon. After, defense attorney Carlos Monzon said improperly handled evidence and an improperly investigated case resulted in the State Crime Lab not being able to do its job. "The only ones that did their job correctly was the jury. Acquitting an innocent young man," he said. The case against Fitzgerald previously was dismissed, leaving the last of the three, Gilmore, awaiting trial. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 COLUMBIA At the first Certified SC Showcase, South Carolina farmers and food producers connected with local and regional buyers from grocery stores, wholesalers and restaurants an opportunity for South Carolina agriculture to show off its abundant produce, specialty food products and strong industry support. The event grew out of the South Carolina Department of Agricultures successful Grower-Buyer Mash-Up, which for the past four years has brought together Certified South Carolina food producers and buyers to network and learn. This year, SCDA moved the event to the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center and expanded its scope. Gov. Henry McMaster addressed the 230 attendees at the March 14-15 event, praising it as an opportunity to communicate, collaborate and cooperate. Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers explained the importance of showcasing South Carolina farmer and products in such a setting. Were putting South Carolina farming on the map, Weathers said. During COVID, we learned that people want to know more about where their foods coming from, whos growing it and if I can trust them and sourcing more Certified South Carolina products is one way to answer those questions. Eric McClam, who runs Columbia farm City Roots, called the showcase incredibly beneficial. McClam said, It was an intimate event that allowed us to reconnect and foster existing relationships and to gain new sales with regional and national grocery retailers and food service distribution companies. The educational section of the event included a panel discussion featuring buyers from various outlets, from wholesale to grocery to restaurants. They explained how they work with growers to ensure freshness and maximum profit. Being able to market your own brand and share your story is key, because then we can share that with customers, Lauren Horning, Local Product Specialist with Freshpoint, told farmers. The event also incorporated The Taste of South Carolina, a networking reception featuring Certified South Carolina hors doeuvres, sponsored by Arbor One and AgSouth Farm Credit. The Taste of South Carolina was formerly held each year during the SC AgriBiz and Farm Expo in Florence. Event lead Katie Pfeiffer, SCDAs market development coordinator, said the inaugural Certified SC Showcase was a huge success and South Carolina farmers can expect an expanded event next year. We loved the opportunity to show off South Carolinas diverse, year-round bounty of food and farm products and the people who make it possible, Pfeiffer said. South Carolina has so much to offer. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A minister says justice was not served when an Orangeburg man pleaded guilty to assaulting his daughter on Friday. In reality, justice will not be served here today and this is but a formalized stage of a prearranged dance that was choreographed in secrecy and is nothing the victims support, the Rev. Dr. Darren Bess said in court. Bowen Gray Turner, 19, had been charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct in the attack on Chloe Bess, formerly of Orangeburg. On Friday, Turner pleaded guilty to first-degree assault and battery in the incident that occurred in Orangeburg County on June 2, 2019. Circuit Judge Markley Dennis sentenced him under the Youthful Offender Act not to exceed six years, suspended to five years of probation. The probation term may not be shortened. Turner must adhere to the rules for the sex offender registry for probation. If he follows the rules, he wont be registered as a sex offender. If Turner commits any violation of the sex offender probation conditions within five years, he must register as a sex offender, Dennis said. Second Circuit Deputy Solicitor David Miller said the incident occurred around 3 a.m. at a pond house where Chloe Bess, Turner and other teens were at a party. Chloe Bess walked outside of the pond house to call a friend when Turner approached her. She told law enforcement officers that Turner pulled her behind a truck and put her on the ground, Miller said. She also claimed that Turner pulled her shirt down, exposing her bra, and then pulled her pants and underwear off and forced himself sexually on her. When Turner was charged in that incident, he was also out on bond on a charge of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with aggravated force in connection with a Bamberg County case. Dallas Hayes Stoller made the allegations against Turner on Oct. 7, 2018. Stoller died on Nov. 14, 2021. Prior to Fridays hearing, Miller told The T&D that the Bamberg County charge is being dismissed because Stoller is no longer alive. Dallas Stollers family feels like her case didnt matter to the 2nd Circuit Solicitors Office. Her father, Karl Stoller, told the court Friday, Dallas attended a party in Bamberg County. She was brought home from the party heavily intoxicated and would ultimately be found to be sexually assaulted later that night after she reported to the Regional Medical Center in Orangeburg. He said his daughter, made the difficult decision to move forward with the case, all the while knowing because of who her alleged attacker was, she would be a target of personal attacks and insults in the community. Todays events are nothing more than a public show with the intent for the defendant to not spend one moment in jail; seemingly fully supported by the (Second Circuit) Solicitors Office the one agency who was tasked to be the voice of the victims and to do the very best they could to find justice for them, he said. I could fully accept whatever outcome was decided if I felt and fully believed all families were well-represented by the solicitors office and they truly did the best job they could, he said. This is indeed a very sad day for victims in our state. The S.C. Law Enforcement Division also investigated a rape allegation made by a third accuser, however, the agency didnt bring any charges. Bess said his daughter and other accusers, Not only feel victimized by the defendant but also by the very system of justice that was meant to protect our daughter and others. We have experienced a catastrophic failure of this system and it impacts my family daily, he said. Bess was a pastor in Orangeburg when Turner assaulted his daughter. Chloe Bess has publicly identified herself as the victim in the case. She and her parents now live out of state. Miller would not comment after Fridays hearing. Sarah Ford, of the S.C. Victim Assistance Network, said she plans to appeal Turners sentence. The network represents the accusers in the incidents. On Wednesday, Ford filed motions asking the court to approve taking Turner into custody immediately, citing over 50 alleged violations of Turners house arrest conditions based on the GPS tracking device he was wearing. Contact the writer: mbrown@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5545. Follow on Twitter: @MRBrownTandD Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 9 Sad 5 Angry 38 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. DP World Americas plans to develop parcels at its 1,322-acre South Carolina Gateway" Industrial Park in Santee for the placement of speculative buildings. Orangeburg County Council agreed Monday to provide DP World with financial incentives to develop parcels for future buildings. Council gave unanimous first reading to an ordinance placing the parcels into a multi-county industrial/business park with Dorchester County. The multi-county park is an incentive mechanism designed to encourage economic development. Orangeburg County attorney Jerrod Anderson said the company wants the multicounty industrial park designation to woo lessors to the county to lease and do business in the county. Two pads have been built at the site to house future speculative buildings. One pad is on a 22-acre site and will house a 250,000-square-foot speculative building. The other pad is on a 20-acre site and will house a 125,000-square-foot speculative building, according to the project's website. The 125,000-square-foot building will be an expandable Class A structure with tilt walls that can be subdivided for smaller users. The park's master plan projects upwards of 6.5 million square feet of building space. About 350 acres are currently available for sale or built-to-suit development at DP World Americas. According to an OCDC flyer, about 806 acres of the site can be developed. Project officials say the park can handle industrial, warehousing, manufacturing and ancillary services. DP World Americas plans are just the latest movement at the park. Georgia-based shelling company Premium Peanut announced that it plans to invest $64 million in the park and to bring 130 new jobs to the area over the next five years. The investment will include $27.5 million in buildings and $36.8 million in equipment. The company will occupy about 42 acres. The DP World Americas site has power through Tri-County Electric Cooperative, natural gas from Dominion, water from the Lake Marion Regional Water System, sewer service from Orangeburg County/Santee, telecommunications through Verizon and Frontier and fire protection from the Santee Fire Service and Orangeburg County Fire Service. The site also has access to CSX rail. The property is also certified by the S.C. Department of Commerce, meaning that substantial wetlands, environmental, geotechnical and archaeological studies have been performed. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. After spending nearly 30 years in the South Carolina House of Representatives, a veteran legislator is seeking to implement a new kind of change as the states new superintendent of education. District 95 Rep. Jerry Govan, D-Orangeburg, said that after a S.C. House remapping plan essentially redrew his district and diluted his electoral base, he decided to pursue a position that he ran for in 2014. Govan has opposed the remapping plan, saying it fractured the Orangeburg county and city's community of interest and weakened city and county interests in Columbia. It also moved Govan out of District 95 and placed him in District 93 with incumbent Democratic Rep. Russell Ott. Fellow veteran state Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter has represented S.C. House District 66 since 1992, but the seat was redrawn to place it in fast-growing York County. Shes now a resident of the new District 95, and has filed for re-election. So for the first time, central Orangeburg, including the city and the suburban areas, does not have a resident representative. Essentially when they redrew this district, it was specifically designed to dilute my electoral base. It meant that I would have a really diminished opportunity. ... So it was strategic and purposeful, but thats all well and good, Govan said. He now has his eyes on improving the quality of education for every child. He has several ways of working to do that. Seen the system from the bottom up Its not a new interest. I actually ran for state superintendent of education back in 2014, when I got involved in the Democratic primary. So this idea of me running for state superintendent of education is not something that I have haphazardly thought about. Education, I believe, is going to drive this ticket, Govan said. He continued, I think even though people look upon it as a down-ballot race, I believe it is the most important race on the ticket because were talking about dealing with the education of the children of our state, which should be of primary importance. Neither of his parents received their high school diploma, he said, but hes grateful for the opportunities that education provided him. Education is still the ticket, the great equalizer, the very thing that gives all of us access, that levels the playing field. I look at the impact education has had on my life and my family in terms of from a generational standpoint, Govan said. Govan, who currently sits on the House Education and Public Works Committee, has also served as Orangeburg Countys attendance supervisor, dropout prevention coordinator and a parent educator. He graduated from South Carolina State University. What makes his candidacy for state superintendent of education unique? We need an advocate-in-chief at the state Department of Education. When you consider the onslaught of attacks of people questioning the relationship between educators and the community, I think my skill set is even more important, Govan said. Its not just about having a technocrat in that particular office. I think, yes, you need to be knowledgeable of education and education issues, but, you know, in addition to their role as an advocate, the state superintendent of education has to be a good manager and one who can build consensus, he said. Govan said he is the one who can address issues of mistrust in the education realm. We see that on the news every day in terms of citizens raising questions about whats happening in their schools and how their kids are being impacted. Quite frankly, this pandemic and what weve gone through over the last two years has really exposed a lot of those things that really have kind of flown under the radar screen, he said. Disparities in broadband access is one of them, the legislator said. We see what happens, what years of neglect and underfunding can do to areas, particularly in our rural and more economically challenged communities in the state. We also see what was not recognized as much in the past, and that is in terms of the importance of mental health and how that plays in terms of the ability of children to learn and adjust, Govan said. He said his background in education, including a masters-plus degree with an emphasis in early childhood education, and his past roles as, for example, a parent education and dropout prevention specialist have prepared him for the role of education superintendent. Ive kind of been a journeyman that has basically seen the system from the bottom up, said Govan, whos also worked in the area of alcohol and drug abuse prevention and is an ordained minister. Weve had an opioid crisis in addition to the other crises that other families deal with, how that impacts the lives of children. I just think that Ive been prepared over the course of my life for this moment. Thats what I think we bring to the table, and hopefully itll resonate in terms of the voters, he said. Govan said he is a major advocate of school safety. I authored a bill that created a School Safety Task Force that came out with 62 recommendations in terms of dealing with school safety. Many of those items were adopted, dealing with threat assessment, increasing the number of SROs in the schools. All of this took place after the school shootings that took place across the country. We took several practical steps as a state as a result of that task force, Govan said. He also implemented a study of higher education in the state, he said. Im the senior ranking member of the House Education Committee, and we took that on. That task force came up with recommendations looking at how we access and look at higher education in the state, Govan said. As a legislator, he said he also worked to make early childhood education a priority in the state, including with the reauthorization of First Steps. My skill set is pretty broad, having touched on those things that impact families and children. Ive also served on a national advisory board dealing with early childhood education with the National Conference of State Legislators, he said. Another priority is looking at that whole apparatus in terms of administration, teachers and school boards and state government, Govan said, noting that he is not in favor of making the states school board elections partisan. Weve seen legislation introduced basically to make school boards partisan. We need to take the politics out of education. This particular issue isnt off the table, but rather its been further delayed. I believe this particular issue is going to end up back at the forefront and, coupled with all the other stuff thats being pushed, will further point to a more divisive public discourse over this issue of education. Its a distraction, quite frankly, from whats really important, he said, noting that he has co-sponsored a bill with Rep. Wendy Brawley of Richland County to make school board seats nonpartisan positions. Weve made some progress Govan said the states serious teacher shortage and the lack of broadband access in certain areas of the state are among the numerous challenges faced in education, but they are not insurmountable. The challenges are daunting, but people who know me know that Im one that believes strongly in having a never-give-up, never-say-die spirit. I draw a lot upon my faith in terms of how I live my life and pursue these things, he said. It calls for not only visionary leadership but those willing to make and demonstrate a willingness to step outside ones comfort zone and try to build consensus, build bridges. So I think that if we do that, then we can see our way back, Govan said. He said the state has improved in the areas of teacher pay and preparation. Weve made some progress in some areas. This upcoming year, the starting salary for a teacher will be approximately $40,000 a year should the budget pass the Senate. The average starting teacher salary for a teacher in this state is projected to exceed $50,000 a year. I can recall when I moved into the House, the average starting salary for a teacher was, I think, $23,000 a year. So things have improved incrementally in the state, Govan said. He continued, We were going to raise the base student cost this year. In the House budget, what weve done is try to address a decades-long struggle in terms of the archaic and out-of-date funding formula by which we basically fund public schools and our school districts. Under the leadership of (Chairman) Murrell Smith and the Ways and Means Committee, weve tried to address that. I believe the superintendents role at this point is now to try to bring about some healing in terms of regaining the trust of parents, try to build bridges. Weve had some fights in the legislature over everything from vouchers and school choice ... but the bottom line is were now in an era in which one size does not fit all. Govan said, Its important to bridge the gap in terms of what were producing through our teacher education programs, whether theyre still meeting the needs and producing the kind of teachers that we need as were preparing them for jobs. You cant keep doing the same thing and expect better results. Ive been privileged to serve Both the S.C. House and S.C. Senate have approved redistricting maps for both bodies, and the maps have been signed into law by Gov. Henry McMaster. The law has been legally challenged by the South Carolina branches of the NAACP; the NAACP Legal Defense Fund; the national American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of South Carolina, as well as private entities. The lawsuit is pending, and Govan said he has not ruled out another run for political office in 2024. We dont know how the courts are going to rule. I have some folks out there that have supported me through the years that really did not want to see me step out. They wanted to see me run again. The sad part about that is my options were pretty limited, he said. Govan said he did not feel forced into running for education superintendent, but rather it was something he felt was important for him to do. My passion for pursuing the state superintendent of education has nothing to do with doing so because there werent any other options. I could have exercised (other) options, or chose not to do anything. But I believe that this is really important, or else I wouldnt be doing it, Govan said. Were in this thing to win because it matters. It matters not only to me personally because I believe in and love education, but it matters to me as a grandfather and as a father. I believe we have to look at education from the cradle to the grave. ... Learning is lifelong, and if we want to move forward as a state and nation, he said, it has to be put first. Im going to pursue it with all the gusto and passion that I can and, by the grace of God, I believe that were going to be victorious, Govan said. In the meantime, he said he will miss serving his constituents. My interest has always been 150% vested in doing whats right by this community that Ive been privileged to serve for the past 30 years in the House. In this capacity as the next state superintendent of education, I hope to continue to provide that kind of service of being a careful, thoughtful individual that the public can trust, he said. Contact the writer: dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5534. Follow "Good News with Gleaton" on Twitter at @DionneTandD Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. JUBA, April 8 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan's parties on Friday agreed to cease hostilities in the wake of recent fighting in northern Upper Nile and Unity states. Thoi Chany Reat, deputy head of the South Sudan army (SSPDF), said after meeting his counterparts from Sudan People's Liberation Army-in opposition (SPLA-IO) and South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) in Juba, capital of South Sudan. "We urge the security mechanisms to speed up the process of graduation of the unified forces, and also spare no efforts in preparing for phase two of the unification of forces," said Reat. "On behalf of the chief of defense forces and the command of SSPDF, we direct all forces to cease hostilities and uphold the cessation of hostilities agreement," he added during the joint meeting attended by top commanders of both government and opposition forces. The SPLA-IO and SSPDF clashed last week in Koch County of Unity state and Maiwut in Upper Nile state. President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar, leader of SPLA-IO, agreed on April 3 to share ratios within the unified army command structure to be set up next week. Gabriel Duop Lam, the acting chief of general staff for the SPLA-IO under Machar, said all the top commanders of SSPDF, SSOA and SPLA-IO will soon meet and form high-level committee to enforce the ceasefire in hotspot areas. Julius Tabuley, head of SSOA forces, said the screening, streamlining of ranks has already completed paving way for the graduation of the 83,000 unified forces. "In December last year, we sent committees to various training centers and their work was to screen, reorganize and unify the forces in those centers this work was concluded successfully. By next week there will be decree on the composition of the unified army command," said Tabuley. (TBTCO) - Tai ai hoi ong co ong VPBank 2021, ngan hang nay a uoc thong qua cac phuong an tang von ieu le cho nam 2022, ua von ieu le cua ngan hang nay len 79.334 ty ong, cao nhat toan he thong. Looking for family friendly Easter events in the Casper area? Theres plenty going on, from an egg hunt downtown to brunch on Casper Mountain. Egg Hunts Easter Shop Hop in downtown Casper The Downtown Casper Business Association is organizing an Easter egg hunt April 13-16 in downtown Casper. Patrons can visit participating stores to find Easter eggs filled with coupons and goodies. Businesses taking part in the event include: The Cadillac Cowgirl, Gear Up, The Pink Lion Design Co., Jade Elephant and A Place for Passion. For more information, see the associations Facebook event. Casper community egg hunt Boy Scouts of Americas Doc Robertson Memorial Service Center, located at 3939 Casper Mountain Road, will host a community Easter egg hunt at 10 a.m. on April 16. Egg hunt at College Heights Baptist Church College Heights Baptist Church, located at 1927 S. Walnut St., will host a childrens egg hunt at 11 a.m. on April 16. The event will be followed by a mens chili cook-off. Bar Nunn egg hunt The Bar Nunn Parks and Recreation will hold Easter egg hunts for children from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Antelope Park, located at the intersection of Antelope Drive and Palomino Avenue in Bar Nunn. The hunts are separated by age groups. Easter Brunches Hogadon Basin Lodge When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 17 Where: Hogadon Basin Lodge, located at 2500 Hogadon Road Prices and info: Seats for adults are $35, seats for children ages 4 to 10 are $19. Reservations are required from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. To reserve a table and view the menu, visit the Ford Wyoming Centers website. Casper Country Club When: 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 17 Where: Casper Country Club, located at 4149 Country Club Road Prices and info: Adults are $39.95. Children ages 6 through 12 $15.95. Reservations are required. To reserve a table, call 307-235-5777. To view the menu, visit Casper Country Clubs website. Occasions by Cory When: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 17 Where: Occasions by Cory, located at 303 S. Wolcott. Prices and info: Adult seats cost $36.95, and kids cost $13.95. Reservations are required. To reserve seats, and to see the menu, check out Occasions by Corys website. Other events Easter bunny photo day at Old Town Family Fun On Saturday from noon to 2 p.m., Old Town Family Fun is offering free photos with the Easter bunny. Old Town Family Fun is located at 301 W. E. St. Easter craft for kids at the Natrona County Library Kindergartners through sixth graders are invited to make Easter egg-shaped houses at the Natrona County Library at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Materials will be provided. The library is located at 307 E. Second St. 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. The University of Wyomings general education review process is under the spotlight from lawmakers this year. The UW Next Generation General Education Committee had its first meeting this week about the schools general education program. There are 26 members from across the university on the committee. English professor Susan Aronstein, law professor and School of Culture, Gender and Social Justice Director Jacquelyn Bridgeman and senior lecturer in English Rick Fisher are the committees co-chairs. The meeting is part of the longer process of reformulating the general education program. That happens every 10 years. The university last reviewed its general education requirements in 2012. It put in place the current requirements in 2015. The current program has 30 required credit hours. Every student has to complete these credits to graduate. These requirements are meant to equip students with the basic skills and knowledge to engage with the world. This time around, the process is under heightened scrutiny from lawmakers. Sen. Cheri Steinmetz, R-Lingle, introduced an amendment to the budget bill this legislative session that took aim at the funding for the universitys Gender and Womens Studies Department. Steinmetz said the department is training activists. But legislators reached a compromise and ended up scaling back the amendment. Instead of removing the departments funding, they approved a provision that requires the university to report on its general education program to the Joint Appropriations and Joint Education committees. The university will also have to outline any policies or regulations that might incentivize or disincentivize students from taking certain courses outside of their majors. One legislator pointed, for example, to UWs required alcohol education and sexual assault prevention training onboarding material. These onboarding materials dont count for academic credit, but students will generally get a hold on their registration if they dont complete the modules. Both trainings are standard practice in many other universities. The latter is required under Title IX. UW Vice Provost for Strategic Planning Anne Alexander said an internal group will meet next week to talk about the reporting required under the new provision. Its not clear at this point what the next steps will be or what exactly that report will look like. But the university will deliver some kind of report to the Joint Appropriations and Joint Education committees by June. The committee heading the process is gathering feedback about the new general education program. People can submit a first round of comments and learn about other opportunities to give feedback at www.uwyo.edu/usp/next-gen/index.html through April 29. 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. JACKSON (WNE) Jackson Hole Mountain Resort plans in about two weeks to start building three four-story buildings to house its workers. Were not looking to make money or even break even on these units, said Ty Hoath, the resorts vice president of human resources. The 30 new units of employee housing, totaling 31,000 square feet, are Phase 2 of the 2014 Powderhorn units in west Jackson, which are about 20 minutes from the resort. The project will double what was included in the first phase of the Powderhorn complex 92 beds with 90 more. Construction is expected to take 16 to 18 months and be completed for the 2023-24 winter season. There will be a mix of one, two and four-bedroom apartment-style units. The top three floors will have the four-bedroom units with lock-off bedrooms, two bathrooms, communal kitchens and kitchen areas. One and two-bedroom units will be on the ground floors. This year, Hoath said, the resort is putting employees up in 390 beds, in either temporary master leases or resort-owned housing. Workforce deed restrictions were voluntarily placed on all units in the new development, according to the Jackson/Teton County Housing Department and Town Planning Department. With no affordable restrictions from the Housing Department, Hoath said, the resort independently determines how much employees can afford to pay to make units affordable. Hoath said each employee pays under the affordability standard from the federal government, or 30% of gross income. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Wyoming Legislatures Joint Revenue Committee plans to examine how the state could make money off of certain, possibly nefarious, trust funds. Thanks to weak oversight and the states strong privacy laws, wealthy people from across the globe have started to funnel their money into a special form of trust fund here, the Washington Post reported late last year. These secretive trust funds consist of a Wyoming-based trust with nested private companies. The Post referred to this as a Cowboy Cocktail. The Wyoming trust magic formula is well known in the area of people who want to evade revenues and remain anonymous, said Sen. Cale Case, R-Lander, who co-chairs the revenue committee. These types of trusts funds are of renewed importance because of the war between Russia and Ukraine. There is evidence that some of the trusts may contain huge sums of money belonging to Russian oligarchs. Case said that the war was not a part of the original motivation behind reviewing the trusts as a topic during the interim. The Wyoming Legislatures Management Council decided Friday which topics legislative committees would take up during the interim, the time between now and next years general session. During that period, the committees hear from the public, stakeholders and other lawmakers on some of the most pressing issues in the state. From those debates, committees will sometimes draft bills. Case gave no indication that the interim revenue committee will produce a bill that would tax or expose trust funds in Wyoming; he plans for his committee to explore and learn about the topic. It might not be this year or even the next five years, he said. There are still a number of questions surrounding the Cowboy Cocktail. Chief among them is the question about how many such trusts here contain ill-begotten gains, let alone money from out of the U.S. We got to be careful here, Case said. A lot of people have trusts. Ordinary people working fairly ordinary jobs can accumulate enough money to form a trust. Its unclear how many of the trusts contain money from outside of the U.S. and how many are linked to Wyoming families. Theres several of us scratching our heads on this, said Ashley Harpstreith, executive director of the Wyoming Taxpayers Association. Equality State Policy Center Executive Director Jenn Lowe raised the trust fund issue to the revenue committee a few weeks ago. When it was pitched, she was on the same page as Case: She wants the topic to be explored, first and foremost. Lowe declined the Star-Tribunes request for comment. Wyomings culture may play an important role with the upcoming debate on the Cowboy Cocktail. Wyomings always had a strong sense of Lets not assume people are doing bad things. Lets give people anonymity, Case said. Wyoming residents also possess deep national pride, and the state has seen notable opposition to the war in Ukraine. At the same time, Wyoming has a long history of being anti-tax and has struggled to pass various taxes on the wealthy that could have generated revenue for the state. Follow state politics reporter Victoria Eavis on Twitter @Victoria_Eavis Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. THE annual sunflower (Helianthus annus) has a long history in North America, with evidence of its cultivation for food, ceremonial and medical use by Native Americans dating back to at least 1,000 BC. Sunflower seeds are said to have been brought to Europe by Spanish explorers around the late 16th century, and eventually found their way to Eastern Europe. Ukraine is now the worlds leading producer of the plants.